REVIEW: THEMSELVES - ...IN THE LAST CHIMERA

THEMSELVES - ...IN THE LAST CHIMERA (Independent, 2001)

Produced By: Themselves

Tracks: 1- Within, 2- Time To Rise, 3- Fightin´against Myself, 4- Where, 5- Home, 6- Out of Control

Cover Art by Fabio

Recorded at TS Studio 

Themselves shows us how well they can play their metal style on this CD. Their music can be described as heavy metal with touches of bands like Black Sabbath (in certain slower riffs) and some influence of classical death metal (in the sound of the guitars). But the main thing here is the great combination of complex guitar riffs with melodies and the vocal harmonies (this is essential to the Themselves sound). One of the best things here is the amazing work of the guitars that go from playing heavy riffs to playing melodies and harmonizations (some aprts are really complex) but at the same time constructing each of the songs carefully. I think that Themselves is a good choice for people who is looking for metal with some classical features but at the same time with new elements that give the band their own identity.

Favorite tracks: The six !!

Contact: http://themselves.cjb.net

REVIEW: THEATRES DES VAMPIRES - SUICIDE VAMPIRE

 

THEATRES DES VAMPIRES - SUICIDE VAMPIRE (Blackend Records, 2002)

Produced By: Theatres des Vampires

Tracks: 1- Theatre of Horrors, 2- Lilith Master Inferorum, 3- La Danse Macabre Du Vampire, 4- Queen of the Damned, 5- Bloodlust, 6- Tenebra Deutro, 7- Suicide Vampire, 8- Il Vampiro, 9- Der Makabere Tanz des Vampires (german extended version), 10- Enthrone the Dark Angel (version 2002)

Cover Art by Giada Giusti

Recorded at Alfa Music Studio

Theatres Des Vampires have succesfully mixed black metal with gothic metal with many dark orchestrations creating their own sound and establishing themselves as one of the most interesting abnds in the genre. Here we have the combination of aggression and depression, the combination of fast guitars with extremely heavy sound with keyboards and orchestral arrangements, the combination of black metal vocals with female ones and magnificent choruses. Here we have interesting drumming with multiple changes and great double bass work on each of the tracks. And we have guitars that don´t hesitate in constructing the heaviest of riffs and the darkest of melodies. The mix of this album is great adding more power to each of the compositions and making them sound darker than hell. This is one of the darkest releases of the year.

Favorite tracks: "Il Vampiro", "Queen of the Damned" and "La Danse Macabre..."

Contact: www.blackendrecords.com

INTERVIEW WITH KILL BY INCHES

 

Interview with Kev (bass/vocals) of the powerful Kill By Inches:

Is your new release ready? How can you describe the music on it?

Our last release, the 5th Kill By Inches cd, came out in 2002, which feels like a million years ago. The music on that cd was a real cross section of what we do as a band. It has 4 tracks on it, Nu-metal, Rap-core, Metal amd Hard Rock. It's done fairly well her in the underground scene and a few places abroad.

Since then, we've been playing our asses off. In January 2004, we decided to stop performing until we finished our next record, which still isn't done. Believe it or not, we ran out of money. The studio costs are crazy-$75 an hour. A few days in the studio can cost up to a months pay!

How would you compare your newer music to the one in for example "In the Flesh"?

"In The Flesh" was us as babys. We were just starting off. The record was basically metal/hardcore but even then, you could hear our style starting to grow. Now, our music has a very unique, very New York City sound. In NYC, you are exposed to so many different kinds of music, food and culture. I think KBI is a blend of all that is heavy in NYC.

How is the process of composing a Kill By Inches track?

Usually one of us comes in with an idea and then the other guys fuck it up! But seriously, we all build on everyones ideas so that the final product sounds like KBI.

How did you team with famous producer Jim Sabella?

Pete, the guitarist is very good at getting in touch with people. A year ago, he got in touch with porno star Brittany Andrews and had an interview with her in hotel room (very, fuckin' hot!) Anyway, we knew Jim Sabella had work with rap ground breakers "Public Enemy" and Death metal legends "Suffocation", so we felt he was our man.

How do you feel about songs like "Man With No country" going up in the metal charts?

We're very thankful to all of the music fans for voting for us and listening to the song. If you readers haven't heard it, they can download the song at www.killbyinches.com/noise and as always, please drop us a line to let us know what you think of the song at kbi@killbyinches.com

What are Kill By Inches lyrics about?

There usually coming from an angry perspective, but not in a self-destructive way, more like, I'm fuckin' pissed, but let's do something about it! The self titled cd touches on being away from home and feeling a little lost or ungrounded, trying to be the best at something so people will take notice and tearing shit up.

How would you describe a typical Kill By inches show?

Here in NY, it's tough to get a good crowd going. There are so many other things to do here in NYC, movies, dance clubs, restaurants or just staying at home and watching television that people don't always come out for local shows. We did open up for Cro Mags singer John Joseph's new band "Bloodclot" who has members of Biohazard, H2o and Sick Of It All, which was a good show. A lot of hardcore kids going crazy so it really pumps us up. A lot of jumping around and sweating!

Which is your live and studio equipment?

Live, our drummer Steve plays a monster Pearl kit, Guitarist Pete uses a Marshall set up specially made for his 7 string ESP guitar! (he's trying to get Les Paul to make him a custom 7 string!) I play out of a Harke bass rig and use a Wasburn bass.

Any final words?

I'd like to thank Music Extreme and all of your readers for keeping the underground music alive. Keep spreading the word of different bands and especially local bands in your area. Without you, we are nothing! Keep It Fuckin hard....kEv from KILL BY INCHES!

KILL BY INCHES WEBSITE: www.killbyinches.com

REVIEW: THE NEMESI - NEW DAWN

 

THE NEMESI - NEW DAWN (Independent, 2002 )

Produced By: The Nemesi

Tracks: 1- End of Time, 2- Free Rage, 3- Live For Myself, 4- New Dawn, 5- Eve of the New World

Cover Art by The Nemesi

Recorded by Andrea Garavaglia 

The Nemesi music can be described as pure metal. Yes, they have a lot of elements of styles like death metal (mainly in the screaming vocals and some riffs), black metal (in some of the vocals and the fast melodic riffs done at full speed) and classical heavy metal (in the guitar melodies and in many solos). But the band has mixed this styles and added a personal dark touch to the sound (this guys have a lot of technical skills too) and they have obtained the "The Nemesi Sound" that can be fully appreciated on the five tracks that we have here on this CD. The thing that I like a lot about this band´s music is that while being aggressive and brutal they have reatined a lot of melodies that helps them to establish their own personality. The problem is that this MCD leaves you wanting more from the Nemesi (they say that on february 2003 they will record their new demo) !!!!!!

Favorite tracks: The five !!

Contact: www.thenemesi.it

REVIEW: THE GREAT KAT - WAGNER´S WAR

 

THE GREAT KAT - WAGNER´S WAR (Independent, 2002 )

Produced By: The Great Kat

Tracks: 1- Wagner´s The Ride of the Valkyries for Symphony, Orchestra, Band and Opera Singers, 2- War, 3- Terror, 4- Punishment, 5- Humiliation, 6- Liszt´s Hungarian Rhapsody #2 for Symphony Orchestra and Band, 7- Sarasate´s "Zapateado" for violin, piano and Band

Mixed by Dug and The Great Kat

Engineered by Brian Harding

The Great Kat has been combining her two favorite styles (classical music and hyper wild metal) since the late eighties. The Great Kat here shows us again her hyper fast riffs and solos (and also her super speed on the violins that she plays with great skills). On this recording she has chosen to combine her own composition which are really wild and shredding with her adaptation of classics by Wagner ("Ride of the Valkyries"), Liszt (Hungarian Rhapsody #2) and Sarasate ("Zapateando"). The tracks are short and played at full speed, but The Great Kat doesn´t miss a note and plays the classics and her own compositions with total accuracy. The Great Kat´s compositions are played at full speed and are really wild, going from ultra fast thrash (with screaming and guttural vocals) and adding a lot of classical arrangements and parts. Drummer and bass player have done a big effort to follow the speed of this track without losing the timing. Lovers of guitar will surely have to check this album.

Favorite tracks: All the CD

Contact: www.greatkat.com

REVIEW: THE CIRCLE´S END - LIGHTER THIEVES

 THE CIRCLE´S END - LIGHTER THIEVES (SAMPLER)(Independent, 2002)

Produced By: The Circle´s End

Tracks: 1- Kid Viejo, 2- What to Do, 3- Model Citizen, 4- Crazy

Photo by Brandy Ivins

Here we have a band that combines a lot of modern new metal sounds with hip hop and rapping giving some interesting climatic twists to their music using a lot of electronics in order to add a lot of different flavours to their music. Here we have three tracks from their forthcoming EP called "Light Thieves" that will be released really soon. There are some lyrics that are in Spanish, adding a latin feeling to tracks like "Kid Viejo". The tracks. The first track is the one that is more electronic, but the other three are more rocking (I would mix everything a little bit louder, with volume closer to the one on "Kid Viejo"). There are some guitars that give energy to the tracks and contrast with the electronic elements creating an interesting clash. This is an album for lovers of new tendencies in underground music .

Favorite tracks: "Kid Viejo" and "Model Citizen"

Contact: www.circlesendband.com

INTERVIEW WITH BENIGHTED

How has been "Insane Cephalic Production" received in the underground?

"ICP" is the third album of Benighted. It's available since last February on the label Adipocere Records and the reviews we could read are fantastic! We received lots of propositions of concerts and we could play with this album with bands like Dying Fetus, Impaled Nazarene, In Extremo, Soulfly, Fear Factory, Nasum, Slipknot... and we've done lots of interviews for mags, webzines, radios, fanzines... This album opened us several gates.

Since you are coming from different backgrounds such as black metal and death metal...how did you reach the sound that is characteristic of Benighted?

We worked for a long time to have the actual sound of Benighted, we want a sound which shall be powerful, heavy and crushing! As we recorded at the Kohlekeller studio in Germany, it helped us to find the best sound for each of our instruments.

How was the process of composing the music in "Insane Cephalic Production"?

The process of composition in Benighted is the same since the beginning. A guitarist comes with riffs and a beginning of structure for a track and we work together to make this track find its final version. It's the work of all the members which gave it's identity to the music of Benighted.

Are you satisfied with the deal with Adipocere?

Adipocere trusts in us since our first album, they always helped us to become well-known and gave the money for the recordings and the promotion. From album to album, they do more and more for us and we've got very good relations with all the team of Adipocere. We'll continue with them for the following releases.

How would you compare "Insane..." with "Psychose" or "Benighted"?

"ICP" is more direct and brutal than the other albums, the way of composition was more instinctive and the tracks are more powerful and easy to remember. These songs are the best tracks we've never composed. There's a big difference of sound too because the last album has the best production we never had before! It's our best album!

What are the lyrics in "Insane..." about?

The concept of Benighted is about psychiatric pathologies as I work in a psychiatric hospital in France. "Psychose" was about adult psychosis and persecution delirium and "ICP" is about mental madness of the child and the woman in pregnancy. All the lyrics are inspired by real facts and pathologies. I'm not talking about a fucking bad horror movie. Lots of bands talk about mental pathologies but many don't know what they're talking about.

Which is your equipment live and in studio?

In studio we're using our personal material as on stage as well. We play with guitars like Washburn or Jackson and the drummer use Pearl but as I'm just a vocalist, I can't tell you more! (laughts)

Which are your memories on your older bands such as Osgiliath and Darkness Fire?

We've got very good memories because it was for each of us the first band but when we decided to create Benighted together, we understood this band had a bigger potential. We had no time for the other bands any more and Benighted became for each of us the absolute priority!

Any final words?

I just want to thank you for this interview! I hope the people in your country will discover our music and enjoy it! I send you all our greetings from France!!! Stay brutal!!!

BENIGHTED WEBSITE: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/benighted/

REVIEW: THE BLOOD DIVINE - RISE PANTHEON DREAMS

 

THE BLOOD DIVINE - RISE PANTHEON DREAMS (Peaceville Records, 2002)

Produced By: The Blood Divine

Tracks: 1- Aureole, 2- Visions in Blue, 3- As Rapture Fades, 4- Revolt, 5- Wilderness, 6- Sensual Ecstasy, 7- Enhanced By Your Touch, 8- I will Bleed, 9- The Passion Reigns, 10- Leaving Me Helpless, 11- Forever Belongs, 12- So Serene, 13- Crazy Horses (live), 14- Aureole (live)

Taken from Mystica, Awaken and unreleased tracks

This band was like a selection of musicians from the underground that created great music. Here we had ex Anathema singer Darren White, three original Cradle of Filth members (Paul Ryan, Ben Ryan and Paul Allender) and an ex member of Extreme Noise Terror (Was Sarginson on drums). The music on thsi album is a selection of tracks from both The Blood Divine albums and there are also some unreleased and demo tracks that make this album essential for any collector. Here we have this rocking and climatic music created from this twisted minds. The songs here have been mixed and the sound is better than in their original versions adding a lot of energy to the compositions (Darren White is killer here with his powerful vocals combined with a total different music from the one he used to do with Anathema. Here we have fourteen tracks of essential listening for lovers of each of the bands mentioned before and dark powerful music in general.

Favorite tracks: "Aureole", "Visions in Blue" and "I will Bleed"

Contact: www.peaceville.com

INTERVIEW WITH OMNISCIENT

Interview with Leslie Hargrave (keyboards), James Hargrave (drums) and Andy Hargrave (guitars) from the brutal Omniscient

Your music is extremely brutal...can we describe it as death metal with black metal elements or is this definition too narrow for you?

That is a pretty good definition. Being called strictly black metal would definately be too narrow. We have always considered ourselves to be brutal symphonic death metal. But we have several other elements that we regularly incorporate into our music such as thrash, speed metal, classical and shred.

How has been you album received in the underground?

The reaction so far has been very good. Considering we did all our own promotion, we have been very happy with the response. Our fan base has grown from national to international fairly rapidly.

How is the process of composing an Omniscient song?

None of our songs have been written in any set pattern. Some start on keyboards, others on guitar. Once we have several riffs that we like, we put them together in the way we feel works best. The lyrics are then written according to what inspires us from the song.

What are Omniscient lyrics about?

Our lyrics are mostly in reference to the idiocy of mankind, life, death, and brillance. Some of the lyrics are so deep and metaphoric that it is hard to describe them in just a few words.

Which element is more important in Omniscient´s music: aggression, rhythms, speed?

A combination of aggression and rhythms. But our intensity and technical, powerful writing is equally important to making memorable songs.

How would you describe an Omniscient show?

Intense. Very Intense. Full of energy that you dont get from just listening to the cd. A certain mixture of brutality and melody thats critical to Omniscient's message.

Which is the band´s live and studio equipment?

Andy uses Jackson guitars and Crate amps and speakers.

Steve uses Kramer and BC Rich guitars, and Peavey amps and speakers.

David uses Jackson professional basses, Carvin amps and speakers, and Shure wireless systems.

Bob uses Shure mics.

Leslie uses Korg keyboards.

James uses Tama rockstar drumset and Vic Firth drum sticks.

Which are the band´s main influences?

Jason Becker, Limbonic Art, Hirojoshi, Emperor, Chopin, Myrkskog, Old Mans Child, classical composers, Kitaro, Vangelis, and Dimmu Borgir.

Any final words?

The Omniscient has been unleashed.

OMNISCIENT´S WEB SITE: www.omniscientgods.com

REVIEW: THE ALL ANGELS CONCERT 1999-2001

 

THE ALL ANGELS CONCERT 1999-2001 (Emanem Disc, 2002)

Compiled by: Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell

Tracks:

CD 1: 1- J´allume La Lumiére, 2- Your Guess is as Good as Mine, 3- Unquiet Night in Turnham Green, 4- Meteor of Birds, 5- Hardy Annuals Nº1 (Delphinium Consolida)

CD 2: 1- a) Knife, b) Fork, c) Spoon, 2- M&S At St Michel, 3- On the Point of a Needle, 4- Hommage, 5- Even Angels Die

Recorded by Tim Fletcher

The musical pieces contained on this 2 cd set were recorded in different concerts that were played in the St. Michael & All Angels Church, a place with incredible acoustic and resonance as one can listen on the music here. And here we have great musicians doing improvisations with total spontaneity. Some of the artists that played on this concerts have been reviewed by us before like for example John Butcher, Steve Beresfor, Roger Turner and Veryan Weston whose musical quality has been remarked in previews review. Also we have some surprises here that I would like to point out. First is Fabienne Audéoud who is doing the first track of this recording using only amazing vocals showing the incredible vocal range and technique that this artist has. Then Simon Vincent whose work I didn´t know until now. He plays electronics on the track "Hommage" adding special sounds to this concert series. And the grand finale is Veryan Weston playing the church organ with free imagination and extremely open mind (as ll his musical pieces are). One of the best experimental releases of all time.

Favorite tracks: A must

Contact: www.emanemdisc.com