ISSUE 1
(printed in 1999)
Reviews by L. Buscaino except where indicated.
ABIGOR (AUT) "Channeling the Quintessence of Satan" (1999) Playing time: 41,20"
After their "immortal" previous album that was out only 1 year ago and after the reprinting of their demos into CD by Napalm Rec., this majestic black metal band, to me one of the most talented ones, is coming back with a new "Opus ". Probably you have already understood I'm talking about the prolific (they realised 6 albums -4 full-length plus 2 mini from 1994) Austrian (surprise! they are not Norwegian!!) Abigor and I am really glad their artistic music could delight my ears again. As every albums also "Channeling The Quintessence of Satan" is the perfect "Equilibrium" of the opposites: technical skills, modern recordings together with their ability to create and aggressive and raw sound that on the contrary reminds me past times.... making their sound so particular and interesting. I have always been really fond of their music as I think it's really difficult to find a band that sounds "evil and "intelligent" at the same time, don't you? Probably they really found the "Quintessence of Satan" and they channelled it into their music. So, come on black metal guys out there do you want to taste the "quintessence" of Satan or are you scared about?
ALLEGIANCE (SWE) "Vedre" (1999)[NO FASHION REC.]Playing time: 38.41"
I was waiting for this album from January 1999 and finally after 5 long months I can finally listen to it and it's simply fantastic. Most of the songs are really fast and violent but you could also listen to many tempo's variations as in "Hrodvitners rike". Even though Allegiance mostly sounds black metal in Dark Funeral, Marduk (maybe is the influence of the mighty drummer Fredrik Andersson from this famous band?) it's really interesting to listen to some cool guitars riffs which remind me the Swedish death(!) metal king Dismember (listen to "Stjärnoras skugga" and you will be agree with me) and other ones more in the heavy metal vein. In my opinion, "Vedre" is the best album of this band as it sounds more aggressive and more various at the same time. These proud Swedish guys who declare themselves the King of Sweden should be really proud of their music too.
ANATHEMA "Alternative 4" (1998) [MUSIC FOR NATIONS]]
Of course I'm agree nowadays the four guys from England sound more in seventies' vein than death metal one but to me their sound is so original and full of unique emotions (from the really charismatic and evocative Vincent's vocals to the dreaming guitar riffs) so it's impossible to compare them to other bands. And after many years Anathema is still the weeping willow along the river of feelings.
AURANOIR "Deep tracts of hell" (1998) [HAMMERHEART]
"Deep tracts of hell" is the last slaughterous creature of the two merciless entities, Apollyon and Agressor: raw music that in some parts has astonished me a lot as it reminds me more death metal USA riffs (are they also Cannibal Corpse's fans?!?) than 80ies thrash ones of their first album "Blood must be shed". Vocals are really in my taste: obscure and cruel as in the Darkthrone's ones. This is for fans of raw music.
BEHEMOTH POL) "Pandemonic Incantations" (1998) [SOLISTITIUM]
Surely Behemoth is a very professional band. It is undeniable that they have trodden a long path since their debut enhancing the songwriting, the technique and, as often happens in this case, their popularity. This album is well-produced, well-played and well-wrapped and probably it will be also well-sold. The first thing one can immediately note is the cleaning of the sound that reveals the good execution of the songs. In particular we have noticed a good drumming and entangled riffs, quite rare features in the black metal genre. So a very good product, however, is an album that won't like very much to the lovers of "Sventevith". The atmosphere one could breathe in that album is very different from the one of the latest one. Maybe in that album the songs were not so fast and well executed but they could leave more different feelings that "Pandemonic Incantations" will never be able to infuse.
Reviewed by Paolo P.
BLOODTHORN (NOR) "In the shadow of your black Wings" [MERCILESS REC.]
The Bloodthorn's saga begins with this full-length album "In the shadows of your black wings" (that in vinyl's' version also contains 2 songs "March to War" and "Natteskyggen" from the demo). They invited you to listen to an ancient legend, just the legend of Bloodthorn that Alf Svenson (ex At the Gates, now Oxiplegatz) turned into significant images. But what about the music of these bold and skilled guys from Trondheim? Their music perfectly suits to the atmospheres of their lyrics: they don't need to play fast to have an obscure mood as the guitarist Tom (ex-Manes) show us; on the contrary the mid-tempo show us their mighty and intensity. Moreover, enchanting female chants and keyboards parts add perfectly to the depressive atmospheres of their songs. It really seems that the bands from Trondheim prefer far-fetched intense & deep atmospheres to the more usual "fast & raw" ones. Are you fairly educious to listen their slaughterous story? Anyway, the saga goes on...
BORKNAGAR (NOR) "The Archaic Course" (1998) [CENTURY MEDIA]
As the country side band Arcturus also the out standing Borknagar likes to experiment with new ideas: is not possible to give a flat label to their music as it is surely not flat, on the contrary it is really rich in imagination and in interesting elements which the band took from metal music but not only. As the music also lyrics are really deep and sublime and remind me the "cosmic pessimism"!! The mighty waves of "Oceans Rise" will drag you to new unreal worlds and your mind will lose every landmarks in "Universal" and when the final notes of "Fields of Long Gone Presence" will sound, your mind will continue to wander and wander in "The Archaic Course".
CARPATHIAN FOREST (NOR) "Leather skin" (1998) [AVANTGARDE MUSIC]
Carpathian Forest has been one of my favourite band since I've listened to their gloomy MCD "Through chasm, caves and Titan woods". Unfortunately, after this excellent work, the band disappeared and after many years of totally silence I gave up the hope to listen to a new album from this misanthropic band. Their future was surrounded by a dense mysterious fog that only the label Avantgarde cleared away with the reprinting of the old and grim demo "Bloodlust & Perversion". Anyway, nothing let me foresee what would happen. So I was really astonished and of course glad to know about a forthcoming album. The jewel, "Leather Skin" has nothing to envy to the previous one as the music still sounds wicked, evil and insane! The grim songs and obscure intermezzi follow one another without a break for "sweet" melodies.. Nattefrost and Nordavind have a really dark soul that they have also showed use in the previous work with the song "Raven" inspired by the lyrics of one of the most macabre poet, E.A. Poe. and now in "Leather Skin" with the original cover of "A Forest" by Cure. To me, together with Darkthrone, Carpathian Forest is, definitively, the most obscure black metal band.
CRYPTOPSY "Whisper Supremacy" (1998)[CENTURY MEDIA] Playing time: 31.10"
If you are looking for music that bombs your ears and aren't scared they could explode this is the CD for you. I'm talking about the last album of Cryptopsy "Whisper Supremacy" that, even though brutal death is not my favourite music, I have found a real "bomb" album: Cryptopsy wants you stand up from your seats and nag your heads during all the violent 8 songs of their last album. Probably my words are less enthusiastic than a fanatic of death metal so, I guess everyone who is fond of brutal death will be a crazy to lose it. I only like to add a message for all the shitty brutal (and, of course, not only brutal ones) bands and naked-mind out there: play brutal doesn't mean to play without technical skills! And Cryptopsy really show us this.
DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED (FIN) "Witch-Hunts" (1999) [SPINEFARM] Playing time: 41.38"
What the hell did happened? I'm really confused by the evolution of this Finnish band: first of all a really good recording, a lot of synths in Dimmu Borgir vein (listen for example to "The preacher came to Town) but "Witch-Hunts" is also heavy metal riffs and a really interesting concept about witches. Someone declares their new album is a revelation but even thought the production is really good my sixth sense tells me there's something strange (probably it's only I miss the fast and a bit raw black metal with folk parts of their previous realises) or maybe not... only time shall tell.
DEATH (USA) "The sound of perseverance" (1998) [NUCLEAR BLAST]
About Death every albums is a good investment. Their sound (or better I should say the sound of Chuck Schuldiner & members) is technically perfect since many albums but every time they realise a new one it seems to be more perfect than the previous one! "The sound of Perseverance" (no title should have been more suitable the their sound) is the right continuation of the long and honourable band's story. The complexity is another sign of their technical skills: in the same song, as for example "Spirit crusher" they easily change between wide and mighty mid-tempo and fast ones. Naturally all is stuffed by the excellent more & more sharp vocals of Mr. Schuldiner. To me all this should be enough but the band gives us another present: the cover of Painkiller" by Judas Priest.
DIABOLICAL MASQUERADE (SWE) "Nightwork" (1998) [AVANTGARDE MUSIC]
Blackheim is a great and deep musician [forever Katatonia!] and the third work of his solo-project is a really "diabolical" creature. It's really well-played and it consists of 7 hymns dedicated to the darkness: evil guitar riffs with heavy metal influences as in the previous works, keyboards that create diabolical and mysterious atmospheres but also melancholic and depressed ones as in the obscure "Cryztalline Fiends", bonus track in the vinyl's version. When a dark soul will listen to "Nightwork" around him the air will become strange, a lot of diabolical creatures will appear and suddenly dark will surround his thoughts, giving him the eternal sublime peace.
DIMMU BORGIR (NOR) "Spiritual Black Dimension" (1999) [NUCLEAR BLAST]
Dimmu Borgir is a band that likes to evolve itself and to ameliorate the technical skills of their sound and the last album "Spiritual black dimension" is another proof of this. Even though the sound of this work is opened to new frontiers (I know it's difficult to things about others innovations as they have already given a lots of these to the metal scene) as the employ of choirs and clean vocals borrowed from the ancestors Arcturus (in fact the vocalist is Simen Hestnæs ex-vocalist of this superb band) which surely the listeners will appreciate as they adds elegance and wideness to the songs., Anyway, Dimmu Borgir doesn't leave the peculiar elements which made their sound so famous as the considerable keyboards's employ (more and more in this work) to create "diabolical" atmospheres (anyway I still think they're not so useful as many bands are able to create obscure atmospheres without using them but everyone takes his own choice... ). So, after their MCD "Godless Savage Garden" that, to be honest, disappointed me, I really appreciate the new one that is really vigorous, making me trust again in this band. It's more violent (even if to me their music is not so obscure and "evil" now) due also the good recordings but I guess it's also the most meditated of their albums: one of the new albums I most appreciate. To end this review, as I'm really tired of all the hypocrite speeches in this too much populated metal "city", I want to add that everyone is free to tell his own opinion about their music but no ones can deny they're skilled musicians and no one can be sure they don't believe in what they play. To me they're of course more credible than the stupid and arrogant joke-band which define their sound "the true old black metal" ! To these ones I only say: if you don't like this sound you're free to not listen to and employ that time to learn how to play otherwise your words are only useless ones as you!
EMPEROR (NOR) "IX Equilibrium" (1999) [CANDLELIGHT]
The slaughterous Emperor of black metal are come back. Of course, "IX equilibrium" sounds a bit different from their previous release but it's mostly due to the variety and richness of its sound so, surely, it needs more than a superficial listening. They like to experiment using a lot of tempo and style's variations from black metal to heavy metal music and using a lot of different vocals too: screaming, cleaning (and charming!) and choirs. Probably someone will find this work too complicated but to me it's a really deep and, of course, the most accurate work of this band from layout (look to the enchanting cover and designs by Stephen O'Malley and Samoth) to recordings. I've found really interesting these "experiments" (except for the vocals in "The source of Icone" which are not in my taste) and their evolution.
ENOCHIAN CRESCENT (FIN) "Babalon patrale de telocvovim" (1998) [AVANTGARDE MUSIC] Playing time: 17.09
A deadly bell introduces us the macabre march of "Pestilence & honey" (and the Wind will help to remember its depressive sound till the last song "A Mathilde"), first song of this MCD of grim black metal from Finland that consists of 4 songs plus an original cover about "Thirteen candles" by Bathory. I've found their music really interesting: they could be violent with mangling screams, mighty riffs together with an impetuous drumming structure but they also show us the other side of evil sound: charismatic clean vocals, interesting tempo variations and breaks which also create good atmospheres, showing us keyboards are not always necessary, since abused in most of black metal albums lately. If you haven't still understood how they work out in play so original, the only advice I could give you is to buy "Babalon patrale de telocvovim" and discover it by yourselves!
ENSLAVED (NOR) "Blodhemn" (1998) [OSMOSE]
I've heard some impressions about the new album of Enslaved and the conclusion is clear: everyone is a bit confused from the new release. I was a bit too as surely too "Blodheim" sounds a bit different from the previous works probably due to the "too professional" recording in the Abyss Studio not really typical of Enslaved's sound! Anyway, all the typical elements of Enslaved's sound are still present in "Blodheim", even though they're surely less evident than in the previous releases, so my advice is to listen the new album with more attention: more you will listen and less you will be confused!
ENTHRAL (NOR) "The Mirror Opposite's End" (1998) [HOT RECORDS] Playing time: 73.46"
When I was in Norway two years ago Hot Records presented me the fantastic debut album "Prophecies of the dying" of a really worth Norwegian band called Enthral (to me one of the most talented band I've listened to) and I was really enthusiastic about their enchanting music. "The Mirror's Opposite End" is the long (but never boring) second chapter (and if you still haven't their first one I really advice you to buy it too) of Enthral's music that is really difficult to label as these skilled (finally I'm proud to present you a drummer who is really able to handle his instrument to create suitable atmospheres) Norwegian musicians play really good black metal but they are also able to put in their music different elements in a really intelligent and harmonious way: slow deep parts which remind me the feelings of doom metal, other ones which remind me Celtic(!) music as in "Call of the Horned Piper- The Sabbat Song", symphonic atmospheres using keyboards (by ex-Dimmu Borgir Stian Aarstad), cool breaks, spoken parts, clean vocals, female vocals and cello as in "Passion Swept" and other interesting effects which adds perfectly to their full of dark and discouraged feelings music. And when your ears will be satisfied by this rich music also your eyes will be delight by the fantastic paintings on the booklet. All music, lyrics and paintings are really deep so this album needs more than a superficial listening, reading, look(!): like a mirror of emotions that is so beautiful to see but not easy to read.
(If you are enchanted by Enthral's music too and you desire to continue this idyllic mood you can read their interview, playing their album one more time.)
ENTIRETY (ITA) "The moth of hate" Adv. tape (1999) [H.S.P.]
The new work of the Italian Entirity, following the previous mini CD "In caelo omnio acciederunt", will be out soon under H.S.P. productions. The line-up is really different from the debut work so you surely will remark the different vocals: dry black metal screams which to be honest is the only thing of "The moth of hate " that is not in my taste: it isn't not so bad but I listen to the singer in other situations (doom/death metal) using more growl vocals so I know his real value and to be honest "The moth of hate" doesn't pay homage to him so I'm a bit confused about his performance. Anyway, the really good result of this work is not so much influenced by this. In fact, on the contrary their style, a good black/death metal, is not so different from their good debut album even though it is more and more aggressive. So, I advice you to order "The moth of hate" that consist of 7 really aggressive songs plus a really original outro (I don't want to spoil the surprise to you...) for: Lit.22000 (Italy)/ $14(everywhere) to: H.S.P. c/o STEFANO ZANDARIN, VIA TORINO 12, 13020 PALAZZOLO (VC) ITALY. Band contact: ENTIRETY c/o MACCHI DAVIDE, VIA GIROLA 1, 21050 GORLA MAGGIORE (VA), ITALY.
EUCHARIST (SWE) "Mirrorworlds" (1998)
What a fantastic surprise: after many years the Swedish death metal band Eucharist is come back with a new mighty album called "Mirrorworlds". Well, which world you will see in this brilliant mirror? A deep, obscure and sorrowful one as the skilled band is still able to create bleeding, obscure atmospheres but also deep and melancholic ones as in the wonderful "In nakedness" . To all of you who are familiar with this worth band I only add: this time recording is better than "A velvet creation" one! Great band, great work!
GODKILLER(MON) "The end of the World" (1998) [WOUNDED LOVE REC.].
From the little and rich principality of Monaco arrives to us a new jewel through the Italian label Wounded Love rec. This is the first full-length of Godkiller, a solo project of Duke Satanäel, that this time leaves the medieval atmospheres of the previous "The rebirth of the middle Age" (even though it still reminds me something of ancient) to employ more detached and modern means of torture: of course he employ more "electronic" atmospheres but what I've found really interesting is the ability to create a link between past and future… the end of the World?!? Maybe Godkiller tries to prepare us about this with its freezing notes of obscure black metal.
GORGOROTH (NOR) "Destroyer" (1998) [NUCLEAR BLAST]
Great new release from this very prolific Norwegian band. This is their fourth "full-length" album (not so lengthy, however) that confirms the opinions had of the previous ones. Raw black-metal music filled with rotten voice and a lot of violence, recorded in a 80's way (that is to say noisy and raw) is what they offer. What we like of Gorgoroth's music is their skill to put together the old thrash/black stuff with some modern ideas and with a lot of class. What is original in Gorgoroth' s proposal is not the music itself but the sound they are able to create. And this skills has enhanced album after album. Surely they sell a lot but the impression that they play their music with the heart [black heart! -Ed] is out of the question.
[Paolo]
HORRID (ITA) "Behind the golden rules" (1999) [BEYOND THE MASK]
An Italian band who plays good Swedish death metal.?!? It is not so incredible if you know they have been very fond of Swedish sound from many years and the are inspired by bands as Dismember, first Entombed and Grave and last but not least you have to know this MCD was recorded just by Tomas Skogsberg at the "cradle" of the Swedish sound, the Sunlight Studios. "Behind the golden rules" consists of 4 songs for 20 minutes about of aggressive bass and guitars structure, brutal vocals and impetuous drumming. Don't you still believe me? Well, the only thing I can add is: listen to the album and you will agree with me! Contacts: HORRID c/o RENDINA MATTEO, VIALE DEI TIGLI 16, 20020 BUSTO GAROLFO (MI), ITALY.
HYPOCRISY (SWE) "Destroys Wacken" (1999) [NUCLEAR BLAST] Playing time: 65.12"
After a long career and many great albums in which they show us their evolution, the three guys from Hypocrisy deserve to have a live album (you'll find also some tracks of the forthcoming new albums!): here there is "Destroys Wacken" that was recorded at the Wacken Festival, 8th August 1999. The big crowd was really enthusiastic and the band answered to such an enthusiasm, playing as violent and good as possible. Usually is really difficult to channel the emotions one could feel being at concerts but the sound engineer L. Johanson was really good to make it possible and I guees you could believe me as I'm one of the survivors of such a slaughterous massacre! So be careful to listen to this album as the loud and violent sound of Hypocrisy could drag you into restless crowd. Do you want to be part of it?("Destroys Wacken" is also available as video with also really funny images...)
IMMORTAL (NOR) "At the heart of the Winter" (1999) [OSMOSE]
The Norwegian black metal "triad" (Emperor-Enslaved-Immortal) is complete now as "At the heart of the Winter" is the new Immortal's album. During the realization of this album Abbath said that he wanted to create a more various and complex sound with also longer songs but that also reminds to the mysterious sound of their earlier albums. Well, he is a man of his word as "At the heart of the Winter" is exactly in this way and it is exactly fantastic! Follow Immortal into the coldest Norwegian black metal.
INDUNGEON (SWE) "Misathropocalypse" (1998) [INVASION REC.]
These prolific Swedish musicians (also with Thy Primordial and Mithotyn) are come back with their second realise, "Misathropocalypse". This time they are produced by Invasion Records but their music still consists of raw & mighty sounds in the thrash metal vein together with more melodic death metal ones. An interesting combination for an album to listen and enjoy at once.
IN RUINS (USA) "Four Seasons of grey" (1998) [METAL BLADE]
If you only look the enchanting cover (a dark castle nearby a silvery lake) and listen to their emotional doom/death music with a lot of dark influences, probably you will imagine the band comes from England. On the contrary In ruins comes from USA but their last albums "Four seasons of grey" contains 8 songs of depressive and gloomy music: some guitars riifs as for example in "The haunted moon" and in the title track song remind me the great Katatonia (but this band is still incomparable!) even though some parts are more aggressive as in "Beyond the black lake" and also in "Forest of the impaled" that is more near to black metal sound! You could also find other influences in their various music as in the folk/Celtic song "Nocturne" or in "Vampire, garden if thorns" and "Black thorns" more in the dark vein, Such a variety, together with the perfect synth performances add perfectly to the atmosphere of their deep and wise music, is another food contribute to the beauty of "Four seasons of grey", an album full of feelings and atmosphere. The American Katatonia!
KAMPFAR (NOR) "Norse" (1998) [HAMMERHEART REC.] Playing time: 12.05
Dolk's music has been really interesting since when he played "Viking metal" under the monicker Mock. This MCD lets me imagine how should be the forthcoming new album... probably fantastic as these three songs are a really good fusion between black metal and folk music and it's really enjoyable to listen to folk music with black metal vocal as in "Tæring" song. Feelings and ancient atmospheres will be engraved in your mind as the cover of "Norse" seems to suggest us.
LOVE HISTORY (CZE) "Gallileo, Figaro-Magnificó..." (1998) [SHINDY PROD.]
The dreaming music of Love History is among us again. After a lot of troubles with the Italian label Northern Darkness who had to produce their full-length album, in 1998 the Czech band decided to stop the long and useless wait and they realised "Gallileo, Figaro-Magnificó..." on tape under Shindy Prod. This is the good and anguished result: sorrowful atmospheres from the harmonious vocals to the elegant keyboards. Soon the band will visit the Studio again to record a new album under the American label, "The end record". Waiting for their new jewel you could ask for this one ('zine, distro, radio, label send a blank tape) and the demo "The Astral Silence" that is still available for $4/50Kc to: LOVE HISTORY, 26.DUBNA 219 OSTRAVA 27, 725 27 CZRCH REPUBLIC
MARDUK "Panzer Division Marduk" (1999) [OSMOSE]
Probably you have already listen to many magazines' reviews which describe the new album "Panzer Division Marduk" of the sumerean divinity Marduk, as the faster & most powerful black metal album. Well, I'm totally agree with them! Every members of the band (listen for example to "the black metal machine" F. Andersson!) gave the best to achieve this lethal music. Marduk really act coherently (and this is a not an usual skills nowadays) but even though you've already appreciated their violent music in the previous works I guess you will have a gasp the same to listen to this.
MAYHEM (NOR) "Mediolanum Capta Est" (1999) [AVANTGARDE MUSIC]
Well, I should say that lately live albums about black & death metal bands are more & more professional: we had a jewel as "live in Germania" from Marduk and "Destroys Wacken" from Hypocrisy and now the legend of the black metal Mayhem gives us "Mediolanum Capta Est" that is about the gig they took in Milan or I should say "Mediolanum" the 2nd November 1998. Obscure Plasma (nowadays Avantgarde music) have already given us their first official live album (the famous "Live in Leipzig") in 1993 and now, after a lot of obscure years and more obscure happenings, the band and this Italian labels decide it was time to record their second official live album. A journey of 12 songs "From the dark [and raw!] past" featuring also Attila Csihar as vocalist to new but "Ancient Skin". You could also enjoy to compare with the performance in 1990 in songs as "Deathcrush", "Carnage", "The Freezing Moon", "Necrolust", "Chainsaw Gustfuck", "Pure fucking Armageddon". You could find this live album in 3 version: vinyl, CD and picture disc and don't forget to look the exclusive pictures inside ...well, maybe I should be a bit partial about these ones, so it's up to you to judge them. The legend goes on...
MORGUL (NOR) "Parody of the Mass" (1998) [NAPALM REC.] Playing time: 38.51"
I was really astonished by their first obscure release "Lost in shadows Grey" so I was curious to listen to their new one "Parody of the Mass". First, the sound recording is better as this time they recorded at the Abyss Studio. Of course they play dark black metal but you can also listen some parts which, are more in death metal vein (probably due to the influences of Abyss sound). The two lugubrious guys from Morgul have written cruelty and decadent words on the booklet and their music is really in this way: they are really able to create obscure atmospheres using also keyboards and slow parts as in the piano performance in "Torn" song that surely will astonished you after the previous violent parts: the decadent melancholy of a bleeding rose among a gray cemetery. The rage explodes again in "Author of pain" before to leave us with the gloomy notes of "The End". Finally a fresh wind among all the graves where too many black metal bands are resting!
MORNINGRISE (ITA) "Dragons of the sun" (1998) [SELF PRODUCTION]
This is a new band from Italy that plays a really various music with different influences from death metal (in Crematory's vein) to heavy/power ones. The good thing of this variety is that the result of their different influences, that you could listen to in this MCD "Dragons of the sun", is not chaotic; on the contrary they match perfectly as, for example, in the harmonious and enchanting song "Crystal Suite". The band seems to be inspired by the world of fantasy and nature but "Dragons of the sun" concept, that really suits to Morningrise's music, is also dedicated to ancient myths as you could easily understand reading, for example, the lyrics of "Lordly it was" that is about Caesar and his Empire. I advice you to order this MCD, that consists of five songs, through the brave band as it is a selfproduction: MORNINGRISE c/o MICHELE ERCOLANO, VIA C. PISACANE 14, 21052 BUSTO ARSIZIO (VA), ITALY. Check the interview out!!!!
MY DYING BRIDE (UK) "34,788%" (1998) [MFN]
My dying bride's music tents more and more towards dark/progressive music. So, I advice all the old fans, who still hope in a return to death/doom roots, to listen to this album the same but without prejudices and forgetting their glorious past for a while, as for the violin that strewed their music with melancholic notes. I know it's difficult but it's well worth it. In this way you could understand the different but still deep essence of their new sound: listen, for example, to Aaron's vocals which you will probably find less mighty and wild than in their earlier albums but which are still evocative and maybe more charming in "34,788%". Of course, their music is not able to affect me as in the past but it still remain the ethereal melancholy of an empty room: fill it with their notes! For open-minded listeners.
NAGLFAR (SWE) "Vittra" (1998) [WAR MUSIC]
Playing time: 44.58"
Swedish death/black is one of my favourite kind of music [Dissection rules!] so I have surely really appreciated Naglfar's last album. It's simple to say they are more matured than in their good debut album "Vittra" as "Diabolical" consists of eight songs of skill, intense, furious, impetuous, might (is it enough?) death/black metal plus an elegant break with the melancholic notes of "A departure in solitude" and to end a secret demoniac "poem". Superb! He, he.... interview too!
NORTHAUNT (NOR) "Når landet ligger øde" (1998)[SELF PRODUCTION] Playing time: 34.58"
If you only look for technical sound and Abyss Studio quality recording, it's probably better you stop reading this review as most of the songs in this CD were originally recorded for a private tapes. On the contrary, if you seek obscure mood, emotional feelings and enchanting atmospheres this album is for you. It's difficult to explain their music in the details but I can say that if you think that Burzum with its black/ambient was at the edge of crazy, you have to listen to this to discover the alternative side of metal, naturally under the fullmoon...
NORTHAUNT (NOR) "The Ominous Silence" adv. CD (1999)
This is not music for the masses and who is familiar with this kind of music surely also know how is difficult to describe it. Of course, it's enchanting, depressive, melancholic and insane ambient music but it's more... the sound of dew-drops which are failing down from green leaves in a new sad and shady morning or maybe the sound of blood's drops which are slowly empting a body that is too much tired to see a new sad sunset in this empty life? The ambient music more than other kinds of music makes more easy to begin a tormented journey with the mind into dreams and memories. These ones sometimes remind the deepest melancholy as that ethereal lightness of a dew-drop and sometimes else remind the desolate explosion of madness as that heaviness of a blood's drop that is falling, falling, falling into the deepest nothing. For who is able to endure strong emotions and who thinks will be able to come back from these deep journeys of the soul or maybe for who doesn't want to come back anymore. (Contact: E-mail:Herleifl@hotmail.com or: Ketih8_@hotmail.com)
OLD MAN'S CHILD (NOR) "Ill natured spiritual invasion" (1998) [CENTURY MEDIA]
Old Man's Child has always been a skilled band since the production of their demo into MCD "In the shades of life" by Hot Records and the debut album "Born of the flickering" (now reprinted under Century Media) and also this time Garm, who has always been the mind of the band, chose skilled musicians as, for example, the drummer Gene Hogland to record the new mighty album "Ill natured spiritual vision": slaughterous (as for the bomb drummer!) and melodic black metal at the same time. Don't lose it! [Check the interview with Garm out!]
OXIPLEGATZ (SWE) "Sidereal journey" [SEASON OF MIST] Playing time: 41,46"
I love this! That's crazy and fantastic at the same time,. Alf the man behind Oxiplegatz seems to leave for a journey into space after his departure from At The Gates (R.I.P.) and probably he's an E.T. too, who is visiting our "strange" world spreading his culture through such a wonderful music. Of course it's impossible to define the original 33 (!!) tracks composing such a great album but Alf invites you directly to listen to it, following him in such a sidereal journey...into space.
PRIMORDIAL (IRE) "A journey's end" (1998) [MISANTHROPY]
The Irish Primordial is come back with an enchanting album: "A journey's end" that consist of 7 songs of emotional and deep music with ethereal acoustic passages (which remind me Ulver of "Kvelsfanger") and a really evocative voice that sometimes explodes into furious screams of pain, following impetuous riffs. This album needs more than an superficial listening, so lay down on your bed and let you be carried away by their music into a deep solitary, depressive and melancholic journey...
RAISE HELL (SWE) "Holy Target" (1998) [NUCLEAR BLAST] Playing time: 41.52"
I was really astonished by the fantastic Raise Hell 's debut album: a young but skilled (listen for example to the fast and mighty drummer Dennis Ekdahl) Swedish band who shows us a violent black/death metal with many thrash influences. I've also really appreciated the raw and original vocals by Jonas Nilsson, which suit this furious music really well. In addiction to this the recordings (The Abyss Studio) and production is really professional so "Holy Target" sound more and more a mighty album. Probably someone will have a doubts about these musician as they are so young and as their debut album is under the big label Nuclear Blast but I advice you to listen to their music before to judge them. After this you'll agree with me "holy Target" is a bomb album and it's only the debut one... I'm yearning for a new one!
SKYMNING SWE) "Stormchoirs" (1998) [INVASION REC.] Playing time: 54.08"
Invasion Rec. has lately produced a lot of interesting bands as such a young Swedish one. Skymning plays melodic death metal in Dark Tranquillity vein but with more heavy metal influences and some good thrash riffs too as, for example, in "Sweeping the World" song. Even though they are really young they have nothing to envy to the most famous bands: they already sound aggressive, various and probably more fresh than these ones, using many changes of tempo, impetuous guitar solo, melodic and melancholic parts too. It's really difficult to choice a song among the 10 tracks of "Stormchoirs" as in every one you can find these good elements. Anyway, to me the delights are "Above" and "The question" which in beginning caress you and try to open your soul to music by their melancholic and depressive sweetness... but after a while such a suffering changes into the violent rage to live such a hell called life. There is really nothing to complain about this album: good skills, good sound (engineered by Andy La Roque) and good layout... good luck, guys!
STILLE VOLK (FRA)"Ex-uvies" (1998) [HOLY REC.] Playing time: 43.15"
The French elves are come back! They have been on the moon and with "Ex-uvies" album they present to us the more and more original and innovative sounds they have found there. Probably someone will not able to understand their enigmatic and enchanting music but who appreciated the folk/ambient metal eccentricities in their debut album "Hantaoma" will really enjoy to explore "Ex-uvies" too as it still contains a lot of evocative folk parts as in the instrumental song "Selena Koronna": the harmonious union between past & future, reality and fantasy. Besides this I have to make my congratulation to "Le Studio d'Albret" as the recording is really strong but clear about every instruments. If you like to listen to different kind of music, going over the bound of metal and maybe beyond reality this is the album for you! (Interview and an interesting Patrice's article in these pages!)
THE EMBRACED (NOR) "In my dreams... I am Armageddon" (1998) [AFTERMATH MUSIC] Playing time: 55.31"
This promising band comes from the enchanting Trondheim's city but the interesting music they propose to us is not black metal as you probably imagine, indeed it is a really good Swedish(!) death metal that, especially about the vocals, reminds me the "never forgotten" At The Gates: it is fast and mighty music with a melodic touch by using female vocals, enchanting acoustic guitar intro in most of the songs, acoustic intermezzi and tempo's variations as in "The Demon Storm" and "Autumn leaves" songs, giving a fresh touch of originality to their sound. Probably this is the main reason why the Swedish label Invasion Records decided to produce their new album out soon, probably in the end of 1999. If you are familiar with the Sunlight's sound, you will surely be enthusiastic of "In my dreams... I am Armageddon" too. Really great work!
THE HAUNTED (SWE) (1998) [EARECHE]
As soon as the music begins I have a gasp: this is what my ears want to listen to. The guitars riffs seem to be influenced by the great Swedish death sound. Unfortunately, after a while also vocals begin and this is the end of a short beautiful dream as they aren't surely in my taste: this way to sing remind me hardcore music and latest Anthrax' albums... of course, really far from the Swedish sound and from my taste too but probably it's just the way they want to sound.
THERION (SWE) "Vovin" (1998) [NUCLEAR BLAST]
The fervid mind of Christofer Johnsson has created a new elegant creature called "Vovin" in which you can listen to the typical elements of Therion 's sound from the original wide orchestral choirs to the technical heavy metal guitar riffs... so, of course, all the fans of "Theli" album will appreciated the new one too.
TWIN OBSCENITY (NOR) "For Blood, honour and soil" (1998) [CENTURY MEDIA]
Twin Obscenity's music sometimes reminds Dimmu Borgir one (probably this is mostly due to keyboards' parts) and Enthral about the tempo' variations and female chants but it's really astonished how they are able to play different kinds of music in the same album. In fact, "For Blood, honour and soil" is mostly a black metal album but sometimes the three Norwegian guys like to express themselves in a different way: so you can listen for example to acoustic parts and guitar riffs à la Dissection. Probably the first time you will listen to their new album you will be a bit confused by such a variety but I advice you to listen it more and more and I guess you will really appreciate it.
ULVER (NOR) "Themes from William Blake's
The marriage of heaven and hell" [JESTER RECORDS] Playing time: 101.16"
This work received a lot of critics only beacause it sounds too much strange to be called metal. Of course they are so far from metal but to me this is not a reason to judge it. Eccentricity could be a merit not a fault and about Ulver' last work I guess it's just in this way. Moreover Ulver has always been an out standing band so I can't really understand the reasons why people is so astonished by their sound. On the contrary I've really appreciated this piece of Art as it is the honest expression of feelings into music without bounds. These great musicians were able to translate an enchanting form of art, literature, into their own one that is music. So, this album is the perfect "marriage" between poetry and music through the sounds Ulver decided to employ. Of course, their research, supported also by other enigmatic musicians, Fenriz, Ihsahn, Samoth, who gave birth to the charming "A song of Liberty", wasn't surely limited about metal's context. Now it's up to you to choice if you want to lose this piece of Art, that of course it's only for opened-mind, or not. Wolves still remain wild; don't try to domesticate them!
UNHOLY (FIN) "Gracefallen" [AVANTGARDE MUSIC] Playing time: 62.12"
The first thing I remarked when I listened to the new album of the obscure Finnish band Unholy was the massive use of female vocals that is nothing bad, on the contrary it adds elegance and "grace" to their depressed music that brings the listener into a dark/doom gracefallen. Of course their music sounds a bit more melodic than their early gloomy works and it's more similar to "Rapture" one but the typical elements of Unholy sound remain: their music is still melancholy and graceful as their female vocals, deep as their growl vocals, strong and depressive at the same time as their guitar riffs and insane as their keyboards parts. Unholy is an outstanding band and the dark jewel they present to us is not easy to define but I'm mostly agree with their label who describes it as avantgarde(!) doom metal.
VINTERSORG (SWE) "Till Fjälls" (1998) [NAPALM REC.]
Among the great forest of the North of Sweden you could meet an icy creature called Vintersorg, a solo project of Mr. Hedlund (who also plays with Otyg) even if he also employs some famous guests musicians as, for example, Vargher from the extremely raw Bewitched. "Till Fjälls" consist of Nordic folk songs with enchanting female chants and acoustic parts (but they're still far away from the great Norwegian Ulver of "Bergtatt"!) but also some furious black metal songs too. It's not an album for everyone but if you are fond of Scandinavian folk metal this is the CD for you.
WAYLANDER (IRE) "Reawakening Pride Once Lost" (1998) [CENTURY MEDIA] Playing time: 48.15"
The music that Waylander offers to us is the refreshing union between folk music and metal one. Their work "Reawakening Pride Once Lost" derives its mighty from metal music but also from more ethereal and ancient forces, the "Celtic" ones. So, if your ancient soul is pining to visit the green and magic lands of Ireland again, let your mind free to journey through their notes.
(Read the interesting interview with Ciàran and his article in this pages!)
