REVIEW: WINDS - OF ENTITY AND MIND

 

WINDS - OF ENTITY AND MIND (Avantgarde Music, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Toproom Studios

Engineered and Mixed by Borge Finstas and Winds

Design and Layout by Sub-Frequency.

Track List: 1- Inception Perspective, 2- In All Reflections, 3- Bloodstained and Sworn, 4- Mirrored in Time, 5- An Eternity of Dreams

Well, here we have another supergroup coming from the black metal scene of Norway. And as in most of them we have Mr. Von Blomberg (Hellhammer) behind the drumkit. The music here is dark and full of keyboards and at the same time powerful (warning: it is not black metal...it is more like a dark experimentation). The singer, Lars Eric Si, reminds me of Faith No More´s Mike Patton because of his vocal inflections in some parts and in others he sounds much darker. Here speed is not the main element (in fact the tracks are slow most of the time, except in some changes and parts where they speed a little bit before getting in the deeper parts. The only low point here is that the album is only 21 minutes long....well, we have to wait for a longer one. Favorite tracks: "An Eternity of Dreams", "In All Reflections" and "Bloodstained and Sworn". Contact: www.avantgardemusic.com 

REVIEW: VIRULENCE - A CONFLICT SCENARIO

 

VIRULENCE - A CONFLICT SCENARIO (Morbid Recs., 2001):

Track List: 1- Entrance, 2- Reptilian Triangle, 3- Painting, 4- Texture Shock, 5- Evolutionary Masquerade, 6- Cementing With Introspection, 7- Pipeline Dialogue, 8- Your Own Palestine

Do you remember the great late american band Cynic? Did you know Believer? Well, put this two bands together with a powerful an fast death metal band and you will have an idea of what Virulence sounds like. We have extreme musicianship here: that is ...the drums are not playing the common 4/4 beats most of the time and the guitars follow it in this odd tempo patterns. There are altered chords in a lot of places when the guitars are clean (I hear some Allan Holdsworth influences in this guys...great he is one of my favorite guitar players), like some diminished chords, some dominant ones. The bassist is a killer one that seems to have both a fusion background and a more metal one. Check for example the passages in "Painting " (0:15) , can I say that this tracks is a mix of Return To Forever with Cannibal Corpse or Meshuggah? I think I wouldn´t be too wrong if I say that. This is the type of bands that I like most...the onses that show many different ideas through each song and they are not afraid to show them and experiment twisting them to the limit. This album is a must for music lovers. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.morbidrecords.de

REVIEW: VINTERRIKET - PROMO 2001

 

VINTERRIKET - PROMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Endzeit, 2- Der Tod Wuotans (Burzum), 3- Sorgens Dis, 4- Det Svake Lys, 5- Nattefrost, 6- Zauber Der Nacht, 7- På Tåkete Enger Og Myrer, 8- Dødens Bris, 9- Mørkets Slave, 10- I Skogens Favn, 11- Visjoner Av En Evighet

This are three works of this band on one CD. Here we have their "Gjennom Tåkete Skogen" demo from 2000, the "Det Svake Lys 7" EP and their part of the Split Demo 2001 with Lebzul. Here we have a much more climatic side of Vinterriket´s music...and I love this one, full of keyboards (almost built all the songs on them). How beautiful are the melodies here! And how strange and ancient they seem at the same time ! In the first five tracks there are not even guitars or drums (and you will not miss them, believe me)...and it includes a Burzum track called "Der Tod Wuotans"...How beautiful is "Nattefrost" with its key passages and the female vocals contrasting with the guitars (this time mixed better for my taste) and the drums. Do you like atmospheric music? Then Vinterriket is a great option for you. Favorite tracks: "Sorgens Dis", "Nattefrost" and "Mørkets Slave". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

REVIEW: VINTERRIKET - STÜRME DER LETZTEN STILLE - DEMO 2001

 

VINTERRIKET - STÜRME DER LETZTEN STILLE - DEMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Der Letzte Weg, 2- Kerker bitterer Kälte, 3- Zauber der Nacht, 4- Morgengrauen (Einklang), 5- Äon deer Unendlichkeit, 6- ...Im Abendrot (Ausklang)

I wouldn´t define Vinterriket´s music as black metal even if it is closer related to the style. Why? Because this can give a mistaken idea to the reader of what the music is like. In fact there are blast beats in some places and muddy guitars, but the main feature here are two: one the awesome keyboards which are the main instrument here and the songs are created based completely on them, being the main skeleton through which the tracks are built. The second feature are the vocals that are clean and more in a gothic way (this combined to the german language gives a great combination for this grim and sad atmosphere). Also the tracks are not at full speed, they are slower and more climatic prefaring to use more drum patterns than the usual blast beat. I would like a couple of changes nevertheless in the sound, maybe a different sound in the guitars (mixed a little bit higher), and I would like the vocals mixed a litlle bit lower so they don´t seem so apart from the music. Favorite tracks: "Kerker bitterer Kälte", "Morgengrauen"and "Im Abendrot". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

REVIEW: VENEFICUM - DYSPHORIA

 

VENEFICUM - DYSPHORIA (Forever Underground Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded, Mixeed and Mastered at Studio Black Aura

Produced by Antarktis with Veneficum

Design and Layout by Antarktis with G. Reymond.

Track List: 1- Grace Overthrown, 2- A Releasement Black Aura, 3- Twisted Emotional Silence, 4- The Manifestation Nocturne, 5- Overture Bizarre

This guys have no mercy for the listener !! They start at full speed with their raw black metal!!! The main characteristic here is that even is the band is really raw and full of hatred, they have predominant keyboards,a nd I think that this keyboards are really well played and ad a flavor to the music that is different from what one is accustomed to listen in the style. The five tracks here have a lot of dark feeling and that is because this orchestration fills every space that the rest of the band allows with its sad melodies. What can we feel here? Hatred !! and Darkness !!. My absolute favorite track is "The Manifestation Nocturne", the more climatic one with the use of different types of voices and with the keyboard at the top of its possibilities. Favorite tracks: "The Manifestation Nocturne" and "A Releasement Black Aura". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

REVIEW: VALHALLA - POWER AND MIGHT

 

VALHALLA - POWER AND MIGHT (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded between Nov-2000 and Aug 2001.

Track List: 1- Gloom of War, 2- Sacrifice, 3- The Dragon Rides Again, 4- Still Alive, 5- The Sword of My Father, 6- Stayin Alive, 7- Wotan, 8- Highway To Hell, 9- Tears of Mortality

 This is Valhalla´s new album...full of rarities and covers. Featuring a better sound than in all of their previous efforts and an omniprescent keyboard, plus the soft vocals of Ines Barth in some tracks which adds a new dimension to Valhalla´s sound. Here we have five previously unreleased tracks from the band, plus a live version of "The Sword of My Father" recorded in Sonnberg on May 5th, 2001. Also this CD features a cover of Bathory´s "Sacrifice", of AC/DC´s "Highway To Hell" and a completely reworked version of the Bee Gee´s "Staying Alive" (in a really thrash version with new lyrics written by Valthor). Favorite tracks: " Gloom of War", "Sacrifice" and "Tears of Mortality". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

REVIEW: VALHALLA - DESTINATION DAY

 

VALHALLA - DESTINATION DAY (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded on eight track demo machine June-July 2000.

Front and Back cover by Bernhard Kast.

Track List: 1- destination Day, 2- Stronger Than Ever Before, 3- Die For The Gods, 4- the Burning Force, 5- The Power of Steel, 6- For Glory, 7- Banished in Hell, 8- Sacred leather, 9- Mights of All Storms, 10- RagnArök, 11- Eternal Night

Detination Day is the third Valhalla demo and it features a much better sound than in the two previous recording. In fact most of the tracks here are from those previous albums, but they have improved a lot the sound by recording them again on an eight track demo machine. The sound is still raw and with quite a lot of melodies. Valthor´s vocals sound here like a mix between Cronos (Venom) and Tom Angelripper (Sodom) giving their particular style of metal his particular touch. Favorite tracks: " The Burning Force", "The Power of Steel" and "Die For The Gods". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

REVIEW: VALHALLA - BY THE GODS

 

VALHALLA - BY THE GODS (Independent, 2000):

Technical data:

Recorded on eight track demo machine.

Produced, mixed and engineered by Valthor

Cover by Luca Giordano.

Track List: 1-Heroes of Desolation, 2- Eternal Night, 3- the First Dominion, 4- Arrows of Chaos Part 1, 5- Die for the Gods, 6- Mights of All Storms, 7- Sword of Dawn, 8- Bring Forth The King, 9- Into My Destiny, 10- Blacknight Warrior, 11- Sacred Leather, 12- Ragnarök

This was the second step in Valhalla´s career. And it was a step forward in their sound and their compositions. Twelve tracks of their blend of thrash and death metal with their particular influences and keyboards. In fact, this is the first Valhalla recording that features more keyboards and orchestration. The overall sound here is better than in "Thoughts of Glory" and the songs are better composed and they have put an emphasis on some arrangements that could not have been done without the keyboards. Favorite tracks: " Eternal Night", "Die For The Gods" and "Into My Destiny". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

REVIEW: VALHALLA - THOUGHTS OF GLORY

 

VALHALLA - THOUGHTS OF GLORY (Independent, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Styria Records International.

Mixeed and Engineered by Michael Kackl

Design and Layout by Kurt HB, Alex S and Valthor.

Track List: 1- Ride The Storm (Intro), 2-Messiah, 3- For Glory, 4- Stronger Than Ever Before, 5- Silver Halls, 6- The Power of Steel, 7- Ancient Gods Calling (Outro)

This is Valhalla´s debut demo. And it shows the embryo of what was going to come later in albums like "Destination Day" (with tracks rerecorded) or "Northman" (their best album for my taste). That is a thrash/death metal with influences of great bands like Celtic Frost, Sodom and Coroner. This was a good first effort and only a prelude of what was going to come later. In fact this album does not feature keyboards as they would use later in "Northman" for example. This first album is really raw and powerful. Favorite tracks: " For Glory", "The Power of Steel" and "Messiah". Contact: www.truemetal.org/legion-of-eternity

REVIEW: UMBAKRAIL - IN UNITY "PAIENNE

 

UMBAKRAIL - IN UNITY "PAIENNE" (Deadsun Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed by S´aam ed .

Front Cover by Allan Lee.

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- On Blaspheme Mes Rois, 3- Mélants Néants, Desastres Et Soumissions, 4- In Our Hearts, 5- Like an Orckean Hunger, 6- Dome, 7- The Pagan Ceremony, 8- In Unity "Päienne"

What is this? This is black metal with a distinctive saturated sound and electronic drums. The ideas here are really good but I think that the guitar sound which is terribly saturated in combination with some electronic hihat parts ruin some parts that would have been better with a different sound. In fact some interesting guitar rhyths suddenly get lost when the blast beats or parts with more hihat appear. S´aam ed the only man behind Umbakrail has many good ideas as is shown for example in the keyboard parts in "On Blaspheme Mes Rois" which plays a simple melody over the fast rhythms before getting into a more mid paced part at 1: 32 or in the many different types of vocals that are used through the recording. I think that he must change the guitar sound in order to obtain better results...maybe the frequencies of the hihat and guitar cancel each other, I don´t know. Favorite tracks: "In Our Hearts", "Dome" and "The Pagan Ceremony". Contact: www.deadsun.multimania.com

REVIEW: TRIBUTO A RATA BLANCA - LA LEYENDA CONTINÚA

 

TRIBUTO A RATA BLANCA - LA LEYENDA CONTINÚA (Nems Enterprises, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at La Nave de Oseberg by Martín Toledo, Diego Martinez and Sebastian Manta. Except bass, drums and rhythm guitar on "La leyenda..." recorded in Caverrock Studios by Tero Kinnunen

Mix and mix production: Piet Salck, power House Studios, Germany

Mastering by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios

Cover and Logo: Eric Philippe

Design and Layout by Andrea Yeber

Track List: 1- Rompe el Hechizo (Azeroth), 2- Los Ojos del Dragón (Humanimal), 3- La Misma Mujer (JAF), 4- Guerrero del Arco Iris (Beto Vazquez Infinity), 5- Herederos de la Fe (Devenir), 6- Asesinos (Lörihen), 7- El Sueño de la Gitana (Saúl Blanch), 8- Agord la bruja (Jeriko+Walter Meza), 9- Jerusalem (Presto Vivace), 10- Abrazando al Rock´n´roll (Rosacruz), 11- Chico Callejero (Selidor+Mario Ian), 12- Mujer Amante (Barrozo, Perini, Takara, Bistolfi, Leonetti), 13- Sólo para Amarte (Coria, Lis, Scarcella, Marian, Sánchez), 14- La Leyenda del hada y el Mago (Giardino, Barilari, Johansson, Vuorinen, Nevalainen, Vänskä)

Like in all tribute albums or compilations here we have different results depending on the song that was chosen to cover and of the band that is doing it.

Here we have fourteen Rata Blanca classics and I must say that here I am getting subjective: I like more the first Rata Blanca album and the "Entre el Cielo y el Infierno" one. And I like more the bands that have chosen not to cover the song in an almost identical way than the original. That is why I like more tracks like "La misma mujer" done by JAF who has a completely different type of voice than the original singer Saul Blanch. Eventhough the same happens with "Chico Callejero", I find that the result is not as effective as in the aforementioned song, I think that here the vocals doesn´t achieve the power that the songs deserve. On "El sueño de la Gitana" original singer Saul Blanch does an almost exact version than the original. Another of my favorites is "Agord, la Bruja done by Jeriko and Horcas singer Walter Meza. This is a musically very even tribute. Favorite tracks: "La Misma Mujer", "Agord la Bruja" and "Jerusalem". Contact: www.nems.com.ar

REVIEW: TRAIL OF TEARS - PROFUNDEMONIUM

 

TRAIL OF TEARS - PROFUNDEMONIUM (Scarecrow Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at jailhouse Studios, Norway.

Produced by Hans Eidskard and Trail of Tears.

Design and Layout by travis Smith.

Track List: 1- Countdown to Ruin, 2- Driven Through the Ruins, 3- Fragile Emotional Disorder, 4- Profundemonium, 5- Sign of the Shameless, 6- In Frustration´s Preludioum, 7- In Frustration´s Web, 8- Released at Last, 9- Image of Hope, 10- Dissapointment´s True Face, 11- The Haunted

Trail of tears is one of the Norwegian revelation bands. Their sounds is a climatic death metal with female vocals in the way that Tristania did in their first recording. The vocals of Ronny Thorsen are pure death metal, prefering to be effective and clear than guttural and Helena Michaelsen´s ones (she was replaced by Cathrine Paulsen) are the perfect contrast, destiling passion and pain (and using very effectively her middle range instead of abusing the highest notes she can reach). Obviously here we have a lot of keyboards and orchestrations that construct effectively the songs interacting with the heavier guitars and the voices. This is what I would call a very baroque death metal release, full of ornaments and arrangements. Favorite tracks: "Driven through the Ruins", "Sign of the Shameless" and "Image of Hope". Contact: www.redheaven.com .

REVIEW: TED KILLIAN - FLUX AETERNA

 

TED KILLIAN - FLUX AETERNA (pf MENTUM, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Fusion Post Productions.

Mixeed and Mastered by Jeff Kaiser, March/April 2001

Design and Layout by Ted Killian.

Track List: 1- Hubble, 2- Leaving Medford, 3- Cauterant Baptism, 4- Last Sparrow, 5- Recurvate Plaint, 6- Nocturnal Interstices, 7- Reverse Logics, 8- Convocation Solitaires, 9- Gravity Suspended, 10- Flux Aeterna

Really atmospheric use of electronics and guitar on this recording by master Ted Killian. It is interesting to see how this man creates certain waves of sounds, some of them more rhythmic, some of the more melodic, some of them more noisy and he starts to put one over the other to create this unique pieces. In my mind this is like the sea...when one wave dissapears then another one comes to replace it without leaving any holes. Here is the same...you have one sound in the background...then another one covers it gently and the first one stays in the back or goes away. If this sound dissapears, another one takes it places letting silence appear only to remark the dynamics. Ted Killian is really experimenting here and I love guys like this one who have the mind so open to achieve this results. Ten tracks of exploring new soils in the musical world. Favorite tracks: "Leaving Medford", "Recurvate Plaint" and "Reverse Logic". Contact: www.pfmentum.com

REVIEW: SUMMON - BAPTIZED BY FIRE

 

SUMMON - BAPTIZED BY FIRE (The Plague, 1999):

Technical data:

Recorded at Laud Studio.

Produced by Tim Lau and Summon

Digital Rendering and Art Execution by Michael Riddick.

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Sons of Wrath, 3- Visions of Apocalyptic Grace, 4- Baptized by Fire, 5- The Silence of Chaos, 6- Dark Descent of Fallen Souls, 7- Realm of No Return, 8- Burning Black Desire, 9- Beyond the Gates of Storm, 10- Eve of Anti Creation, 11- Eternal Darkness, 12- Outro

I reviewed Summon´s latest offering on last issue of Music Extreme. This time I have in my hand Summon´s previous album "Baptized by Fire". And I can see that the band has not evolved too much since this release. Is that good or bad? That is up to you. Here is their extreme and brutal fast death metal with some black metal parts. Here is also that machine like drummer who does not miss a beat and plays extremely fast blast beats and interesting double bass patterns. Here are the guttural vocals that are so important in this style to transport you directly to hell. And here is also the really good sound that this recording has, were you can clearly listen everything that is going on while this guys play their instruments. I would compare this to albums like "Blizzard beasts" by Immortal but with a better sound. I can do an equation: speed + brutality + intense musicianship = Summon. Favorite tracks: "The Silence of Chaos", "Realm of No Return" and "Eve of Anti-Creation". Contact: www.hammerheart.com

REVIEW: SERBERUS - OUR DYING GRACE

 

SERBERUS - OUR DYING GRACE (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Hellion Studios.

Produced by Dave Otero

Collage Layout by Nick Jackson.

Track List: 1- Prologue, 2- Our Dying Grace, 3- Dark Dream, 4- Ancient Throne, 5- Curse The Gods, 6- Multimedia Section: 2 live videos, the In Eternity EP in MP3 format, biography, discography, reviews, interview, lyrics, etc.

This is one of the best sounding black metal bands that I have listened in a while. In fact I think we could call the Serberus style as black/death metal because they have elements of both styles while retaining original ideas, specially in the guitar riffs (check the ones in "Our Dying Grace" with twin bridges to see why I am saying this and check the final part that is really slower with intriguing melodies and an extremely dark aura). "Dark Dream" starts fast and melodically in a way that wouldn´t be out of place in bands like In Flames or Dark tranquility. The main attraction in the band is how intersting their riffs are and how catchy are the choruses ( I can relate this to bands like Samael or Carcass whose choruses you can sing or scream along while remaining brutal) and this giives a lot of originality to the music. Plus this CD has a multimedia track were you can see two live videos of the band and check all the data, reviews, and the "In Eternity" EP in mp3 format. Favorite tracks: "Dark Dream", " Our Dying Grace" and "Ancient throne". Contact: www.serberus.com

REVIEW: SAREPTA - SOULSCARS

 

SAREPTA - SOULSCARS (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed by Boban Milunovic at Noise Art Studio.

Artwork by pascal, hannes and Leonam by.

Track List: 1- Lying Face Downward, 2- Stress Accelerator, 3- Fear Rush, 4- Blood, tears and Hate, 5- Hungry, 6- Revolution Train.7- Blackground, 8- Assholes First, 9- Lustheide, 10- The Clutter in your mind, 11- Awake, 12- Vempires, 13- Soulscars, 14- Vulgar Speech

This is what I call a powerful album. This is death metal with a modern sound (it is what Machine Head would do if they play more death like music). Full of intense riffs, excelent guitar solos and melodies. Remember what you felt the first time that you listened to "Burn My Eyes"? Well, this is the feeling that I got here...I crancked my stereo to a loud volume and let Sarepta hit me in the face !! How can a band blend melodie and riffs so intense in such a perfect way? There are also some Prong influences here and there and maybe some Fudge Tunnel and Slayer, all mixed up and surfacing with Sarepta´s identity. Here there are fourteen tracks of pure metal made by a band designed to crush the world. Do you want power? Here is Sarepta. Favorite tracks: "Fear Rush", "Revolution Train" and "Assholes First". Contact: www.sarepta.net

REVIEW: RUNE - RUNE

 

RUNE - RUNE (Crucial Blast Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at the Danger Room by Chris Commons

Cover Artwork by Germ?.

Layout by Dave

Track List: 1- Call of Hearts, 2- Four Season Landmark, 3- 106 Degrees

What a noisy guitar !!! This sounds like they are overdubbing a lot. Great, I like it ! And it sounds different from what one is expecting . This grind/death metal band has a big contrast within their sound which I like: this extremely loud and distorted guitars colliding with the clean bass and the extremely clean drums (they sound like in a band like for example Rage Against the Machine, spexially the snare drum).. I think the heavier parts are where this guys make breaks in their musics and there are a lot of them or on the midpaced tempos where the guitars and bass play in unison its lowest notes. The vocals are closer to death metal than to grindcore...in fact they sound like old Obituary in some parts. This is a three track EP and the three track are powerful and noisy at the same time. Recommended for fans of the styles (more death metal than grind). Contact: www.morenoise.com/crucialblast

INTERVIEW WITH ETOILE NOIRE

 

How would you define Etoile Noire´s music?

Ferruccio Milanesi: We usually define our music simply "gothic rock", because it's a very general definition: magazines call in this way really different bands, from MARYLIN MANSON to MISSION, to LACRIMOSA, to 69 EYES and we thought it could include also our music.

But it's really hard to find the right definition: probably "rock", with no other adjective, could be the best, because we have various influences, from gothic to stoner rock, punk and metal.

Pasquale Scotti: Yes, our promo starts with "Ascension", aggressive and direct, to finish with "Point Of No Return", with a melodic and calm first part soon becoming red-hot and with a painful atmosphere.

I think the key of our music is "Melt", fusion of dark/gothic and desert rock with a marked tendency to '70 rock.

Has the promo "Sleeping Black Eyes" been well received by the media?

Pasquale Scotti: "Sleeping Black Eyes" has received till now many reviews: the greatest part of them have really appreciated our attempt of mixing different styles, of doing something that could be considered our personal way of making music with something original. Only some of them, even if giving good opinions about our work, has lingered too much over on our yearning for '80 dark music: we're really honoured for they compared us to CHRISTIAN DEATH, but we don't think that it's a good comparison, because it's enough to listen to "Melt" or "Sleeping Black Eyes" to understand that we have a different approach, more rock oriented.

Ferruccio Milanesi: In general, media has been divided in two groups: the open-minded have listened to music we play, judging it for what it is, the others listened but were waiting something they wanted: so we were too dark for metal magazines, too metal for dark ones, too obscure for rock, too rock for gothic.

This is not a problem for us, because don't want to be a gothic band at any cost, to make a copy of any band of the past, or play what they expect from us to be sure they'll appreciate. We want only to be a straight rock 'n roll band, playing what we want, and we decided in this band to be free, so if a stoner riff could be good with a darkwave bass, or a straight rock song after an acoustic part with a violin, I think we have to ask nobody to do this. If people will apreciate (as many are doing) we are happy but if some magazine wants the same pre-cooked soup we are not the right band for it.

Are you planning to release a new album in 2002?

Ferruccio Milanesi: Yes, we hope that our first album will be out before the end of this year, but till now we have not found the right label for us and we're still searching

It seems to me that Pasquale´s vocals have something of a punk influence. Am I correct?

Pasquale Scotti: I don't think so... or I've not thought it till today. I listen so much to punk music but I'm strongly bound to dark rock and gothic. If your opinion about my voice is referred to its being really direct and sometimes filthy, and to the screaming, yes, you're right and I'm happy for this.

How is the process of composing all Etoile Noire´s songs?

Augusto Maiolini: There's no particular procedure, at least concerning the songs that started from my ideas: what I try to do is simply to transfer my grudges, my suffering into the songs I write. I think there's no procedure, this is what you have inside yourself and that's enough.

Ferruccio Milanesi: Usually one of us proposes an idea, and we work all togheter to arrange the song and to make it always better. Composition is for us a work that should be done with the contribution of every member of the band: each one has his own ideas and influences, and that's the way to make our music not unidimensional but the mix of different genres that is our characteristic.

Which are your plans for this year?

Alessio Sica: Our plans are to intensify live activity and at the same time to continue working on new songs: we do love live dimension and we find it's the best way to test new songs and find the best arrangement.

Which are the styles that have influenced more heavily Etoile Noire´s music?

Augusto Maiolini: As far as I'm concerned I'm influenced by every musical genre. Every music that succeed in being expressive could influence me. Music is evolution, not bound to a specific musical style. There are band I listen to more than others, as KYUSS, MOTORPSYCHO, PINK FLOYD, but I'm also interested in bands with a more modern attitude such as MASSIVE ATTACK or PORTISHED. I think that ETOILE NOIRE will be modern and people will like them as long as nobody will be able to define us and enclose in the ghetto of a single style.

Ferruccio Milanesi: I listen to a great variety of music, classical and rock, dark, every kind of metal from glam to grind, punk and industrial. I try to be open-minded, even if obviously I've my preferred styles and bands. I think Etoile Noire has to thank for its music at the same time BLACK SABBATH and CHRISTIAN DEATH, MOTÖRHEAD and KYUSS, CURE and MISFITS, CULT and JOY DIVISION, just to mention some.

How was your work in Amok´s "Ethereal traveller"?

Pasquale Scotti: AMOK was a collaboration between ETOILE NOIRE and our friend ALESSANDRO IZZO, a really talented artist doing electronic music. This project has been our way to attempt different genres and has received receive good consent from listeners and magazines.

The band split up because we listen to electronic music but we don't like too much to play it. But probably in the future we'll resume it, maybe we'll release something, because AMOK's promo "Ethereal Traveller" was really well reviewed by magazines.

What can you tell me about your collaboration with the dark/folk band Argine?

Ferruccio Milanesi: I joined ARGINE in 1998, and till now there has been a great collaboration: we've issued a live Lp, a mcd and the second album, not mentioning various tracks for compilations. We've played live in many italian cities and in Switzerland and I think they are a band with great chances for the future, even if they've been too often limited by labels with too underground attitude who didn't promote, distibute and reissue when necessary. They are finally returning to their post-punk origins and this is a good thing for me because they're coming out of the restricted scene of apocalyptic-folk and trying to reach the world outside. Yet, playing in aggressive way is surely more natural for me, while playing in acoustic concerts was sometimes hard. Probably we'll play live as ETOILE NOIRE togheter with them in some dates.

Alessio Sica: I was enchanted by that kind of music, so when ARGINE contacted me to play on "Luctamina In Rebus" album I did it with great pleasure. After some months they asked me to join the band and I accepted at once, above all cosidering the artistic quality of Corrado Videtta and his band.

What can you tell me about the other members projects?

Pasquale Scotti: I and Ferruccio have formed in 1998 ANIMA IN FIAMME, band dedited to neoclassic dark music, with the use of piano, cello, violin, harp and sometimes contaminated by industrial influences. We've released many tracks for compilation all over the world and the first album "Sub Occasum Solis" for French label PRIKOSNOVENIE.

Ferruccio Milanesi: Music is my life, and my work, so I play also as session bass player in various bands, and unfortunately they're not always playing music I like. I hope in the future I will dedicate all my time and eneregy to my projects, with no need of doing something else.

Yet, I love collaborations, and when some guy of a band I like asks me to play in a song or to work togheter I can't help accepting.

Something more that you want to add?

Ferruccio Milanesi: We really thank you for the interest you have shown in on our music and for the space you give us on your magazine.

If all the people working in extreme and underground music would seriously work and with devotion as you music such as dark, metal and punk could be not only a drop in sea of indifference.

Contacts: ETOILE NOIRE, c/o Ferruccio Milanesi, Via G. Jannelli 45/D, 80131 Naples, Italy

etoilenoire@katamail.com

www.etoilenoire.net

ETOILE NOIRE - DISCOGRAPHY

Sleeping Black Eyes - promo CD (2001)

 

ACTUAL LINEUP

Ferrucio Milanesi - bass

Pasquale Scotti - vocals, acoustic guitars

Augusto Maiolini - guitars

Alessio Sica - drums

REVIEW: RISING MOON - EUROPEAN ALIENS

 

RISING MOON - EUROPEAN ALIENS (Metal Fortress Entertainment, 2001):

Technical Data

Recorded at Temple of Noise Studio, Rome

Track List: 1- Brutal Katatonic(a), 2- Roswell File, 3- Alien Coil, 4- Temperatures, 5- Division Abductions

Can we mix extreme brutal fast death metal with a lot of guitar melodies and some riffs that can sound really power metal? Yes ! And here we have the prove. From Italy comes Rising Moon and this is a demonstration of the mix that I told before.  This is a band that will kick you in the stomach with their powerful sound and their furious blast beats while having in some tracks (for example on "Roswell Fire") some interesting riffs that wouldn´t had been out of place in Carcass masterpiece "Heartwork". In fact I think that this is the path the band has to explore more in the future...those guitar melodies and the way in which one guitar plays a rhythmic riff while the other one makes some melodies over it are what can give the band the opportunity to be a unique name in the death metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Roswell Fire" and "Temperatures". Contact: www.risingmoon.it

INTERVIEW WITH DICHOTIC

Dichotic´s music has been defined as death metal, avant garde and a lot of different styles. What lies behind the music of this young candians from Halifax. Vocalist Raland Kinley helped us to clear our minds.

Even though Dichotic's music seems to be related to death metal, it seems to be difficult to describe it. How would you describe your own music?

Well, we do play death metal. Although we try not to do what other bands are doing or what we have done in the past. I guess it's "original". That's the best way to describe Dichotic's music.

Can you tell me about the beginning of the band and its evolution through time?

Dichotic has existed in one form or another since 1993. There were a few lineup and band name changes before the Dichotic that exists today came to be. The band was never really intended to be a serious thing. Before recording "Collapse Into Despair" in 1998, the band had already demoed some of its material under a different moniker, but those demos were never shopped to labels. There is acually an MP3 from a demo called "Essence" (recorded in 1996) included in the multimedia section of "Lowest Common Denominator" (recorded in 1999). "Essence" was done before either myself (vocals) or bassist Scott Armstrong were in the band.

The current lineup features Neil Grandy on drums, Scott Armstrong on bass, Raland Kinley on vocals and Richard Guy on guitar. Jeff Calder also played guitar on "Collapse..." and "Lowest...", but he has since left the band.

We just write music and record CDs for fun. It's not a money-making thing at all, and we're well aware that no label of any consequence willl ever sign us. Dichotic will go on as long as we're willing and able to play.

Is the way you make the compositions conscious (for example you say...let´s do a really heavy song, etc.) or they are basically made through jamming?

Richard and Scott tend to write all the music. Scott usually writes a full song all at once and we just learn it. Richard usually has a few riffs, and writes more riffs and structures the music during practices. I write the lyrics and figure out the vocal patterns. We only write heavy stuff, but we always try to do something different.

Another question related to composition...When the riffs are composed, are they all put together into one song or maybe you mix the riffs and parts into different songs?

Usually, we only have enough new riffs to write "the next song". However, if a particular riff won't fit into a song we're writing, the riff will either be scrapped or it could appear in a future song.

I have read in Dichotic´s web page about your touring... Which are your plans of touring to support the new record that will come up soon?

Heh...we don't really tour. Dichotic is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. We live too far away from any of the major music scenes, and we all have careers and school to attend to, so there really isn't time or money left for touring. We do play a lot of local shows and a few road shows every year though.

Which are the main differences between "Lowest Common Denominator" and "Collapse Into Despair"?

"LCD" is less accessible than "CID". As a result, I would say that "LCD" is more original and has better ideas. "LCD" also sounds a lot more like what we really sound like. So the main differences are: "LCD" has better music and better sound than "CID".

Since "Collapse Into Despair" was released on October 1999...In which state is now the composition of the new album? Will it be released through Discorporate Music? (In this question I confused the names of the CDs…I am an asshole)

Um...actually, "CID" was released in September of 1998. Our latest CD, "LCD", was released in October of 1999. The next CD is a work in progress. It will be released on Discorporate Music, but it's far too early to speculate on a release date.

How do you see " Lowest Common denominator" and "Collapse into Despair" in the distance? Is there something you would have change?

I think we will try to perfect the production of our next CD. The music is quite solid on both of our previous releases, but we have never achieved the perfect sound we're looking for. There are not too many skilled producers who have worked with heavier bands in Halifax, so it's hard to get the sound you want sometimes.

Are there any words that you can say to your fans from Argentina?

Hmmm...I didn´t know we had any fans in Argentina. Although we appreciate support from people no matter where they are from.

 

DICHOTIC - DISCOGRAPHY

Collapse Into Despair - CD (1998)

Lowest Common Denominator - CD (1999)

Neoblast Compilation´99, contributed with "Precise"- CD (2000)

ACTUAL LINEUP

Neil Grandy - drums

Scott Armstrong - bass

Raland Kinley - vocals

Richard Guy - guitar

INTERVIEW WITH ESO-CHARIS

 

1- Why did you decide to form Eso-charis being members of Living Sacrifice?

Well, just to clear that up, eso-charis was formed in 1995, way before Arthur and i had anything to do with living sacrifice. we worked on the album for a little over two years and then recorded in 1997 with barry poynter. he had just finished working on the living sacrifice "reborn" album. we toured semi-heavy for the album, which was released on bruce fitzhugh (LS) label, seize the day. we broke up while we were wrapping up a month long european tour. arthur an i joined living sacrifice about a year later. The album was shelved again for a couple of years until solid state asked if they could release it for a third and final time....(the second release was to a european label, day-glo).

2- Are you satisfied with the way "Eso-charis" (the album) came out? Is there something you would like to change?

i would love to change the lyrics. if i could turn back time, they would be completely re-vamped. we were all really happy with the outcome of the album, especially considering that we recorded it in 3 days essentially, with one extra day to mix. i would have loved to spend more time. But it was expensive.

3- Are you planning some touring to support the album?

We did when it was released in 1998. we aren't planning on doing any shows to promote the re-release. we have been defunct for too long to try something like that.

4- How different is the music on the album compared to the one on the four song demo?

The same songs that appeared on the 4 song demo were re-recorded for the full length. some of the structures changed and the recording was about a jillion times better, but it is the same songs. how the heck did you know about the demo? we only sold those at local shows.

5- Why did you choose originally the name Elliot before changing it to Eso-charis?

Arthur and i were watching E.T. late one night, and we thought that the little boys name from the movie would make a good band name. he was really emotional and misunderstood, so he embodied all of the characteristics of the music we wanted to play. we had to change the name when another band of the same name started to become quite popular. i love the name Eso-charis about 100 times better anyway.

6- Is your main objective to write songs with hooks or the main point in Eso-charis is the energy within each track?

We always wrote whatever came out naturally. Gosh, we never tried to write hooks. i think that our main objective was to make every part of the song give maximum impact...no filler. That's why it took almost 3 years to write 8 songs. geez.

7- Why did you choose Barry Poynter to record the album?

Well, that was bruces idea. like i said earlier, he had just finished recording the "reborn" album and and everyone was obviously really happy with the way it sounded. it was located in little rock , so it wasn't a far drive and we could crash at bruce's place while we recorded. convenience was the key. zao came into the studio a few months after us to record the "blood and fire" album. eso-charis was the second metal band that barry ever recorded. i think he did great.

8- Are you planning to release new material on 2002?

Nope. We arent together and havent been for several years. our final release was in 2000. it was a seven inch with the last 2 songs we ever wrote. 10 songs in 5 years....what a run! it was released on deadself records. we recorded those songs for 3 months just to make them perfect. It is by far the best stuff we ever wrote. Good luck getting a hold if it though. it went out on print about 3 days after it was released. it was called "setting roots for the winter" and the songs were...'house left empty'.....'the absolute progress of a nothing day'. maybe you can find them on ebay or something.

9- Which are the band main influences?

ummm.....smashing pupkins....fugazi....angel hair....living sacrifice..the movie "singles"...alice in chains....honeywell...benchmark.....strongarm....quicksand...c.s. lewis ....blahblahblah..

10- Something more to add?

check out our new bands:

cory - the jade syndicate, welton

matthew - unwed sailor, snailhuntr, living sacrifice

jayson - the handshake murders

arthur - living sacrifice

here are a few links to find these bands:

www.treeofwoe.com

www.esocharis.com

www.livingsacrifice.com

www.unwedsailor.net

www.un-recordings.com

www.therecordcollection.com

www.weltonrock.com

ESO CHARIS - DISCOGRAPHY

4 Song Demo - demo (1998)

Eso-Charis - CD (2001)

REVIEW: REPROBATION - THE COLOUR OF GORE

 

REPROBATION - THE COLOUR OF GORE (Forever Underground Recs. - 2001):

Produced by Mike Sheffield and Reprobation

Photography by Jessi Virtuosio

Track list: 1- Sins of the Sick, 2- Butchered Souvenirs, 3- Crippled Minions, 4- Fuck the Rotted Meat, 5- Lament Suffering, 6- Entropy

Mini-CD from this guys dedicated to the most pure gore/grind/death. The six songs presented here are short and effective, in the vein of bands like Carcass or Incantation (mainly in the sound). A great effort from this band, which I think should use more of those crushing riffs that they use sometimes to avoid the fastest parts , making more original the compositions. I like a lot the work of Rob Whitworth and Shawn Connors on guitars with those pinch that they throw in the middle of the riffs. To remark also are the more rhythmic parts in the tracks (Mike Rees on drums). This band, with a little bit more of experimentation could be a big hit in the underground. Favorite tracks: "Butchered Souvenirs", "Sins of the Sick" and "Fuck the Rotted Meat" . Contact: www.foreverunderground.com or www.geocities.com/reprobation

REVIEW: PROFANITY - SLAUGHTERING THOUGHTS

 

PROFANITY - SLAUGHTERING THOUGHTS (Cudgel Agency Recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Recorded at the Brickhouse Studio (August-September 2000) by Albrecht Felsenstein and Profanity.

Produced by Profanity

Cover Art and layout by Profanity

Track list: 1-During the Hours of Darkness, 2-Drowned in Dusk, 3-Soultornado - Hate Burn inside, 4-The Springs Within, 5-Giants of Void Vortex, 6-Soulitude, 7-Strangulated with Thoughts, 8-When Colour Becomes Pallor

Germany´s Profanity have made a really heavy album. Death/thrash metal is the music they play full of souble bass drumming and no subtle things. Music design to crush you down like a ten ton hammer smashed on your head. Thomas Sartor vocals are guttural but at the same time understandable and fit perfectly the mood of the music that the band makes. It is amazing to see that this is a trio, because they have a really full sound, in fact I think that Martl has to make a lot of speed picking on his bass as a second guitar would do to fill every space. Profanity is a band designed to kick your ass and it seems to me that they have achieved their goals with this album (see "Drowned in Dusk" or "Soultornado-Hate Burn Inside" just to name a couple of the tracks presented here). Don´t ask melodies, don´t ask keyboards or female vocals. If brutality and power is what you wnat here is Profanity. Favorite Tracks: "Drowned in Dusk", "The Springs Within" and "Soulitude". Contact: www.profanity.de

REVIEW: PRIMAL DAWN - PRIMAL DAWN

 

PRIMAL DAWN - PRIMAL DAWN (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and Mixed at Salt Studios, Dublin.

Design by ADS, Dublin.

Track List: 1- Absorbing the Lies, 2- Let them Die, 3- Blood of The Land, 4-Pull the Trigger

Death metal directly from Ireland!!! I have read good reviews about this guys and they are fair. They are a crushing band and on this MCD they show a lot of brutality. Some of the recording reminded me of the german band Profanity which I think have in mind the same thing as this guys: pure brutality and heavy as hell music. What makes this guys so fucking heavy? First and main reason is the guitar sound which is like the sound you get cranking a Marshall amp up to 11 and cutting the middle ranges...that is a bigger than hell wall of sound!! . Also the interaction with the bass who is playing similar lines in a lower range. Then the drummer who is killer (I think that with a better sound here the results will be heavier). Finally the growling vocals of Mr. John Mc Ghee who adds the final touch to bring this unholy band to the fron of the death metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Absorbing the Lies" and "Blood of The Land". Contact: primaldawn@hotmail.com

REVIEW: PETTALOM - THE WINE OF THE NIGHT

 

PETTALOM - THE WINE OF THE NIGHT (Demise Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Voicing Studio.

Produced and Mixed by Alan de Augustinis and Celso Veagnoli

Design and Layout by Sergio Oliveira.

Track List: 1- Beyond The Castle´s Door, 2- Ashes Garden, 3- Berenice, 4- Irate Lizard, 5- Dungeon, 6- Feelings Buried Alive, 7- Serenade To A Sleeper Fairy, 8- Celibate, 9- Sons of The Light

Since I listened this CD for the first time in Orion Music Entertainment´s shop, I loved it. I think this is the perfect combination of operistic vocals with a really heavy music and instrumental harmonies. First of all I liked the keyboards and pianos which are used in a different way than in most of the bands (sometimes closer to jazz) playing arpegios instead of the usual chord progressions. Then I liked the changes in rhythms that the band has within each of the songs that are multiple (and this showcases the skills of the musicians of the band). And then I loved the omniprescent vocals of Kátia Santana who sounds like a very dark Tarja Turunen (Nightwish) but with a different approach (she uses more her middle range), contrasting with Marcos Riva´s vocals who are deep, sometimes almost spoken (like in bands as Moonspell for example). Also you have to check the guitars who play fast riffs and great solos having a great interaction with the keys and the vocals. One of the most promising bands this year. Don´t lose a step of this guys and girl. Favorite tracks: The whole album. Contact: www.demise.com.br 

REVIEW: PARADISE LOST - BELIEVE IN NOTHING

 

PARADISE LOST - BELIEVE IN NOTHING (EMI, 2001):

Track List: 1- I am Nothing, 2- Mouth, 3- Fader, 4- Look At Me Now, 5- Illumination, 6- Something Real, 7- Divided, 8- Sell It to the World, 9- Never Again, 10- Control, 11- No Reason, 12- World Pretending

I must admit that Paradise Lost is one of my favorite bands (if not my favorite) and I always have a big expectation on what movement they are doing next (they are always a surprise changing record after record). I must admit that even if I liked "Host" it was my least favorite recording from the band. I thought that one of then elements that made Paradise Lost so special as it was the combination of melodies with heavy guitars was gone. But I was completely wrong and here they are again. Crushing you since the beginning of "I am Nothing" here Aaron Aedy and Gregor Mackintosh have found again their sound (check for example "Sell It to the World"). Sounding like a mix of "One Second" and "Host", "Believe In Nothing" is one of the best recordings of the year. One thing that I always admired from Paradise Lost is how Nick Holmes vocals get better on each recording, and here is no exception, he is singing on top of the possibilities with his amazingly personal voice. While the songs are not like the ones in albums like "Shades of God", "Icon" or "Draconian Times", they are the perfect blend of heaviness and gothic flavors. Favorite tracks: All the album.

REVIEW: PAGANIZER - PROMOTING TOTAL DEATH

 

PAGANIZER- PROMOTING TOTAL DEATH (Forever Underground Recs., 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Necromorbus Studio, 1999.

Recorded, Produced and Mixed by Tore Stjerna

Design and Layout by Bill Smith.

Track List: 1- Promoting Total Death, 2- Brutal Way To Die, 3- Only Ashes Remain, 4- 16 Seconds Massacre, 5- At War, 6- All Hope is Dead, 7- Cyclone of Human Atrocity, 8- Life Slips Away, 9- Pain Has a Face

Some issues ago I interviewed Rogga from Paganizer....he told me that the band had changed the lineup and its name to Carve. I also reviewed the Carve promo. Maybe he decided to keep the Paganizer name after all. Now Forever Underground Recs. is releasing the recording that made Paganizer a famous underground act. "Promoting Total Death" is a burst of brutal death metal with extreme vocals. This is a death metal feast with brutal guitars that are really well mixed and a killer drummer who is a double bass nightmare. Also one point to remark is the bass that is helping to emphasize the guitar riffs while playing very tight with the drums adding heaviness to the final result. Judging from the wall of sound of this band and the quality of their riffs (made for jumping and moshing) I think they are a great band to see playing live. Favorite tracks: "Brutal Way To Die", "All Hope is Dead" and " Life Slips Away". Contact: www.foreverunderground.com

REVIEW: NECROPLASMA - DEMO 2001

 

NECROPLASMA - NECROPLASMA - DEMO 2001 (Neodawn Prods., 2001):

Track List: 1- Intro, 2- Dark Divine, 3- Nightmare (Devillust), 4- Darkness of Hell, 5- Razorwind, 6- Outro

 The sound of Dogs barking and growling and a strange creature scream open this recording of ultra fast and raw black metal. Even if Necroplasma is a band from Sweden, the music here is pure black metal in the Norwegian way. One thing that surprised me here is that the bass is clearly mixed...you can hear it in the fastest parts without having to listen very carefully and in some of the tracks it plays some interesting arrangements while still following the guitars. Bands like Mayhem or Dark throne or even old Bathory came into my mind while listening to this recording. Also it is interesting to listen how iun tracks like "Nightmare (Devillust)" the guitars start playing a slow melody while the drums and bass enter at full speed...The vocals in this recording are in the vein of the darkest bands in the black metal scene. Favorite tracks: "Darkness of Hell" and "Razorwind". Contact: http://go.to/neodawnproductions

REVIEW: NECRODEATH - FRAGMENTS OF INSANITY

 

NECRODEATH - FRAGMENTS OF INSANITY (Avantgarde Music, 2001):

Track List: 1- Choose Your Death, 2- Tanathoid, 3- State of Progressive Annihilation, 4- Metempsychosis, 5- Fragments of Insanity, 6- Enter my Subconscious, 7- Stillbirth, 8- Aucharistical Sacrifice

 Necrodeath is a classic death/thrash metal band from Italy. Avantgarde has released their classic 1989 album"Fragments of Insanity" because the band has now reunited to work on new material. The music here is lying heavily on thrash metal with death like vocals and it is primitive (I think that for the end of the eighties this was the standard, but nowadays...). To give you and idea this band has elements of Kreator, Destruction, Bathory, Slayer and some Celtic Frost. I would like to know which are their influences nowadays...I think that they must have changfe a little bit. In this bands that split up and then reunite after a long time it is always interesting to see the evolution that they suffer between the last recording before splitting up and the first one after reuniting. In this case I am waiting the new Necrodeath stuff to do this comparison. Favorite tracks: "Tanathoid", "Metempsychosis" and "Eucharistical Sacrifice". Contact: www.avantgardemusic.com

REVIEW: NAPALMED - MISCH MASCH MIKSASCH

 

NAPALMED - MISCH MASCH MIKSASCH (Independent, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded in 4 track by Radek Kopel.

Design and Layout by Radek Kopel.

Track List: 1- 13.31, 2- 11.56, 3- 5.42, 4- 13.45

What we have here is complete experimentation with sounds, noises and other elements that Napalmed main man Radek Kopel brings us. As I commented before Radek likes to combine sounds and mix them in certain ways where they get coherence and structure and then develope it as a musical piece. This is a more ambient and calm album compared to Never Mind the MSBR (which I commented before). The main element here is experimentation, so if you are not afraid of that check this release. Favorite tracks: "11.56" and "5.42". Contact: napalmed@volny.cz

INTERVIEW WITH DIVINE RAPTURE

Well,are you giving the final touches to your new release?

Actually we won't be recording until late Spring. Right now we are putting final touches on all midi files (we have a few surprises for the album), song technique, practicing, artwork, and other surprises... We are also wrapping up loose ends on funding for the album with our sponsorship program (see www.divinerapture.net) and attempting to secure a marketing and distribution contract.

How does it feel to be considered one of the best bands in the death metal scene today?

WOW!!! It's great you think that, brother! We try our best to bring all sorts of emotions to the table in our music and to deliver it with skill. Dynamics are a key to our formula. They express feeling and slight noticeable alterations in playing. It shows that a band has heart. You can feel it come through on the other end of the speakers. We take our playing and lyrics seriously. The lyrics are well thought-out and deep and we are continuously trying to grow as musicians by refining our technique. We've gotten a lot of reaction for the application of technique as an enhancement to the emotion. We really take our time when we write and it allows the song to stew and receive input from our sources. Our songs don't result from jam sessions together. We try to nurture a song enough through intense thought and application that the song becomes an entity in itself instead of just a bag of riffs and I think that shows.

How did you got in contact with Erik Rutan to produce your new songs? IS he going to produce the new album too?

We had been speaking with him before back and forth for awhile and it just so happened that when we were set to record the new songs, he was opening Dimensional Sound Studios. So we asked him if we could come down to Tampa and set a date. He's going to produce the full-length too so we're excited as hell because his ear for the type of sound we're looking for is exceptional!! He knows how to bring out that fullness... that overall clean sound that allows you to hear the articulation and still get an IN-YOUR-FACE pummelling. And he's a real pro. He's serious about tones and preparation and just about the way things get done in general. It's a lot of fun working with him.

Can you tell us a little bit about the beginnings of the band?

Well, my brother and I started the band back in the mid 90's. At the time I was writing all of the music and he was producing all of the artwork and lyrics. We ran a few demo tapes in the Philly area to show what we were up to. We also went through a bunch of member changes then. Members just had a hard time keeping up with the speed or just found that every time we reached another step in the process, more effort was required and they'd rather wallow in their own sloth. We eventually recorded a self-titled album and released that through as many distros and media as we possibly could. We really put a hell of a lot of effort into a marketing and distro campaign for that album. As a result, the word kept spreading. Things snowballed from there. Exceptional musicians joined the band. We performed at a lot of the fests. We ended up supporting Deicide, Dying Fetus, In Flames, Mortician, etc... and we really pushed hard to get as much international media exposure as possible. If you wanna check out more info on us, hit www.divinerapture.net

Which are the main differences between the new songs and the ones in your debut album?

The new songs are definitely way more expansive, harmonically complex and open than the older album. On the first album, I wrote all the music and Mike did all the artwork and lyrics. It was a different time in our musical development. You can hear it in the riffs. The feeling of that album is definitely more closed and grass roots...in an internalized, focused energy type of way. Babak and I write a lot of the material together now and feed off of each other's input so the guitar parts actually sound that way. They complement each other and that coupled with a general natural molting of our source and playing, opens the feeling of the music into a more positively, outward-directed, flow-from-a-massive-internal-energy-well type of way. We hardly even play the same things at the same time in each song anymore. Actually the lyrics on these new songs are in the same direction as the music - more outward directed and open. Just check out the difference. Black Moon Harvest and possibly Glimmer From Beneath off the first one reflect the beginning of the molt. You can hear how the feeling is beginning to change on those two songs.

How were Divine Rapture´s live shows experience up to now?

Live has been great!! We get a kick-ass reaction at live shows. People just really feel the music and it's a great give and take between us and the crowd. As the crowd reacts, gets in the pit and sings the lyrics back to us, we feel it more and naturally give more. We've always had an enthusiastic crowd man. A lot of people saw us at the last Metal Meltdown and said we had one of the biggest crowds at the festival and that definitely was one of our best performances ,energy-wise, to date besides Deicide. When we played with Deicide, the energy level from us and the crowd went through the roof.

Did you find a new bassist for the band? Who is he?

There are a couple of successful candidates we're still going through so we'll be in contact with them and we're holding open auditions too. If anybody wants to get in contact about the position, write info@divinerapture.net. Myself and Babak are covering bass right now...

Do you have planning of touring to support the new material?

Absolutely. We're going to try and get out there as much as we can to support this album. There are already a few things in the works this year that center around late spring, fall and winter. There's a bunch of different factors that go into touring and things are constantly in flux, so keep checking www.divinerapture.net for updates....

What are Divine Rapture´s lyrics about?

My brother, Mike, writes very well thought-out lyrics that just touch a chord with everyone's paths. Even though, they reflect issues that are very personal to him, you can find meanings in them that can be applied to your own personal path. They're definitely not your normal run-of-the-mill gore dribble. Each song has it's own theme in relation to a personal struggle. For the best explanation of subject matter though, he would be the one to ask...

What do you think of the US death metal scene?

The U.S. death scene is pretty good. It depends what area and who's on the bill also. With death metal bands touring on bigger tours (i.e. Morbid Angel with Pantera), the seed spreads more also. I'd like to see what it's like over in Europe. We haven't gotten a chance to come over yet and I hear very good things about the scene there.

 

Any final words?

Wait till you hear this new material! It is completely brutal and as expansive as those songs on the cd. The album's going to have a few surprises on it too. So make sure to keep a look out on www.divinerapture.net for updates about the album and tours!!!

Divine Rapture

P.O. Box 159

Chester Heights, PA 19017

Info@divinerapture.net

www.divinerapture.net

 

DIVINE RAPTURE - DISCOGRAPHY

Divine Rapture - CD (1999)

Promo 2001 - CD Promo (2001)