Saturday, July 30, 2011

In Slaughter Natives/Self Titled/Cold Meat Industry Records/2011 CD Review


  In Slaughter Natives are a dark industrial band from Sweden and this is a review of their self titled 1990 album which was released by Cold Meat Industry Records.

Drum machines have a very militant sound that is very industrial sounding while the synths have a very dark feel that bring some ambience to the music, as for the samples they are mostly political.

Vocals when they are utilized are mostly clean singing that have a pagan feel mixed in with some spoken word passages and female opera style vocals, while the lyrics are very political and anti religion, as for the production on this recording it has a very dark sound.

In my opinion In Slaughter Natives are a very good dark industrial band and if you are a fan of this style you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Death, just only death.." "Cryptic Slaughter" "Then Gothic" and "Dusk Of Hope". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.facebook.com/inslaughternatives/

Mournful Congregation/The Unspoken Hymns/20 Buck Spin/2011 CD Review


  Mournful Congregation are a band from Australia that plays a musical style that I would describe as being funeral doom metal and this is a review of their 2011 album "The Unspoken Hymns" which was released by 20 Buck Spin.

Drums are all slow drumming with no fast playing or blast beats present on this recording, while the bass playing has a very dark and heavy tone with some crushing doomy riffing.

Rhythm guitars are all slow funeral doom/death metal riffs that are very dark and melodic at times with some slow soft playing being used at times while the lead guitars are very tragic sounding doom metal leads, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they use finger picking to bring a very dark and depressive sound to the music.

Vocals are all deep doom/death metal growls with some occasional high pitched screams that have a black metal feel to them, while the lyrics touch on sorrow, despair and depression, as for the production it sounds very dark and heavy but still professional enough up to the point where you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.

In my opinion Mournful Congregation are a very good funeral doom metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Epitome Of Gods And Men Alike" and "Descent Into The Flames". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.facebook.com/mournfulcongregation/

Friday, July 29, 2011

Le Testament De La Lumiere/Echoes Out Of Time/Steinklang/2010 CD Review


  Le Testament De La Lumiere are a band that mixes dark ambient with neo-classical and martial-industrial and this is a review of their 2010 album "Echoes Out Of Time" which was released by Steinklang.

Synths sound very dark in an ambient way, while the noise effects range from soft to harsh, as for the vocals they are mostly spoken word passages with some clean singing and slow shamanistic drum beats being used at times that are also very militaristic when the song calls for it.

Lyrics are written in a mixture of English and German and are very ritualistic with tales from the forgotten times and many references to Greek gods, while the production has a very dark and raw feel to it, as for the samples they are taken out of classic films.

In my opinion Le Testament De La Lumiere are a very food dark ambient/noise band that should appeal to all fans of this genre. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Retaliation...And The Gods Have Smiled" "Standing Stones" "The Wind Tells From Forgotten Times" and "Erebus". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://steinklangindustries.bandcamp.com/album/sk47-le-testament-de-la-lumi-re-echoes-out-of-time-2010

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Ordo Equibrio/Reaping The Fallen...The First Harvest/Cold Meat Industry Records/1997 CD Review


  Ordo Equibrio are a dark ambient/neo-folk band from Sweden and this is a review of their 1997 album "Reaping The Fallen...The First Harvest" which was released by Cold Meat Industry Records.

Synths are very dark and avant garde sounding giving the music an ambient noise edge, while the acoustic guitars use a lot of open chords that gives the music a neo-folk fell.

Male vocals are all clean singing with the female vocals being very ritualistic with some spoken word passages, while the lyrics are influenced by the Church Of Satan, with some gnostic, s & m, depressing and Luciferian themes being covered, as for the production it has a very dark but professional sound.

In my opinion Ordo Equibrio are a very good dark ambient/neo-folk band and if you are a fan of such styles as well as black ambient you should check this band out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Reaping The Fallen The First Harvest" "Safe Lane And Consensual" "Angels Of The Highest Order...We Are Seraphim" and "In Nomeni Dei Nostri, Satanas Luciferi Excelsi-In Hoe Signo Vinces". RECOMMENDED BUY

https://www.facebook.com/ordorosariusequilibrio/

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Larrnakh Interview


1. Can you tell us a little bit about this project and introduce it to readers that might not be familiar with your music?
1. LARRNAKH formed in 2005. The reason why I created it was to establish a form of musical expression, in which I can produce music I like, based solely on my own concepts without any compromise. All decisions, thus all responsibility is mine, but this is how it should be, this band is my way, no one else can be in control! Of course there are people helping me, but they entirely follow my ideas and directions.

2. How would you describe the musical sound that you are working on?
2. The sound of LARNNAKH changes all the time, and it might be safe to say this is ideal, as it has to adapt to the current lyrical concept, and to the concept of the given album or song. However, my hope is that a certain proud and militant attitude accompanies my compositions, as my music is constant struggle for the innermost truths.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics that you are trying to portray in the music?
3. I try to portray musically the emotions, moods within myself, with varying result of course, as the spiritual of music is often cannier than me. It is an interesting challenge to look for the incomprehensible, and besides, a marvelous illusion.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band's name?
4. It is a secret, which I will only reveal if someone finds out the solution by chance. Anyway, you are welcome to have a guess on our myspace page...

5. I have read somewhere that you use outside musicians to play live shows, what are some of the best live shows that you have played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
5. Yes, many guests co-operated with LARRNAKH either live or on the albums. Currently Gresz Ágnes and Alexander Rády is in the band, but others also join us for shorter episodes.
Although I prefer working in the studio, I find it important to show the strength of the band in the form of concerts as well, from time to time. Keeping this in mind, I would never want to turn LARRNAKH into a touring band with a repertoire! Accordingly, we limit the number of our performances.

6. What releases have you put out so far?
6. Our debut material was intended to be a promo-material, which was released by Polish War Office Propaganda, as part of their legendary Scontrum series. We had several collaborations with Croatian/German BLEIBURG, and we produced songs for 4 compilations. With a short delay, our debut album is also out since May, on Austrian Steinklang Industries.

7. How has the feedback been to your music so far by music fans worldwide?
7. I have no reason to complain, the reactions so far all had a positive tone.

8. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
8. My music evolves, takes on new forms continuously as per the current concept and my mood. Numerous impulses affect me, from both positive and negative directions, and obviously these influence my music. At the moment I am working on material for the second LARRNAKH album, which should be out in 2011.

9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
9. Music surrounds and influences me all the time, even inspires me occasionally, but this is natural for me. I try to create by myself all the while, pursuing my own conceptions, following my own path.
I listen to a lot of music, although lately I tend to listen to older albums released before 2000.
My three all-time favourites: CURRENT 93, DEATH IN JUNE, SOL INVICTUS.
Furthermore, NEUTRAL, DARKWOOD, ARDITI, NON/Boyd Rice, LUFTWAFFE, ACTUS, SCIVIAS, LES JOYAUX DE LA PRINCESSE, WAPPENBUND, ANENZEPHALIA, STAHLWERK 9, ULVER,, JUDAS ISCARIOT, MAYHEM, BURZUM, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, GRAVELAND, NEUROSIS and GODFLESH(etc., etc.) is also a frequent guest in my CD player, and the list goes on and on.

10. Does Paganism or Occultism play any role in the music?
10. Personal experiences inspire me the most, but of course on a literary scale I do deal with the subjects you mention.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
11. Literature, cinema, various sports, and last but not least, I am a big pet lover. Slasher, my dog is my pride and joy.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?
12. Thank you for your interest!

So... Thank you for the interview! Please, send a link!
Stay in contact!

Gergő

https://www.facebook.com/Larrnakh-144753175606599/

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Larrnakh/Now Will You Believe/Stienklang/2010 CD Review


  Larrnakh are a band from Hungary that mixes neo-folk with Ritual/Dark Ambient and NeoClassical and this is a review of their 2010 album "Now Will You Believe" which was released by Stienklang.

Drums on this recording are mostly slow beats that are very tribal and ritualistic sounding, while the violins sound very dark, as for the harps they bring a lot of beauty to the music.

Pianos on this album sound very tragic, while the harps have a very ancient feel to them with some pagan sounding trumpets being used at times mixed in with some noise effects that bring out the Ritual/Dark Ambient feel in the music.

Acoustic guitars on this album use a lot of full chords to give the music a neo-folk feel, while the vocals alternate between clean singing and spoken word ritualistic passages, as for the lyrics they seem to be very ritualistic with a very raw and dark sounding production beneath the music.

In my opinion Larrnakh are a very good band that should appeal to all fans of dark ambient, neo-folk, ritual and neo-classical, if you are looking for a group that combines all of these styles together, check this band out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "If There Were" "Sacramental Obligation" and "Drift". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.facebook.com/Larrnakh-144753175606599/

Friday, July 8, 2011

Allerseelen/Rauche Schale/Ahnstern/2010 CD Review


  Allerseelen are a band from Austria that is a supergroup of some sorts with members from Svarrog, Eluviette, and Blood Axis that plays a musical style that combines industrial, metal, folklore, and pop and this is a review of their 2010 album "Rauche Schale" which was released by Ahnstern.

Drums are mostly slow beats with no fast playing with some industrial drum programming being used at times, while the violins have an European folk music feel to them, as for the bass playing it is mixed down low in the mix with slow riffs and has a powerful sound at times.

Rhythm guitars are mostly industrial style riffs that are very simplistic and have some metal influences, while the acoustic guitars bring an apocalyptic folk music feel to the music, as for the noise effects they have an avant garde feel to them mixed in with pianos that have a classical music edge.

Vocals are all clean singing vocals with some female singing being used at times, while the lyrics are written in German and cover nature and the philosophical/alchemical writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, Ernst Jünger, Carl Jung, Julius Evola with the lyrics being mostly influenced by Gerhard Hallstatt, as for the production it still sounds very dark while retaining a professional feel and you can hear all of the instruments that are on the album.

In my opinion Allerseelen are a very good band that should appeal too anybody that likes a combination of industrial, folk, and metal. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Die Klange" Herbsttlied" "Rauchnachtsalz" and "Niemandsland". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.facebook.com/allerseelen.allerseelen/

Thursday, July 7, 2011

13 Candles/Come Out Of The Dark/Nightbreed Recordings/1995 CD Review


13 Candles where a band from England that played a very dark form of gothic rock/darkwave and this is a review of their 1995 album "Come Out Of The Dark" which was released by Nightbreed Records.

Drum programming is mostly slow to mid paced beats that get real fast at times with some real drums being used at times as well as an industrial feel, while the keyboards are very atmospheric and gothic sounding with an ambient edge being employed at times, as for the bass playing it has a very strong sound with some really dark gothic rock sounding riffs.

Rhythm guitars when  they  are  played are very heavy sounding gothic rock riffs that have a heavy metal edge to them, while the lead guitars are very depressing death rock style guitar leads with some distortion effects being used at times.

Vocals are mostly clean singing gothic rock vocals that have a bit of aggression to them, while the lyrics cover dying, depression, love and other dark themes, as for the production on this recording which was recorded at Bandwagon Studios in Mansfield , England has a very dark and somewhat professional sound to it.

In my opinion 13 Candles are a very good dark gothic rock/darkwave band that should appeal to all fans of this genre. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Disbelievers" "What Is Death" "the Hunted" and "Come Out Of The Dark". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.facebook.com/13candlesofficial/

N.A.O.S/Melancholia/Cacophonous Records/1996 CD Review


N.A.O.S are a band from Greece that is a side project of Necromantia, that plays a mixture of gothic rock, darkwave and neo-classical with somewhat of a black metal influence and this is a review of their 1996 album "Melancholia" which was released by Cacophonous Records.

Drum programming is mostly slow beats that speed up go  in  a more mid paced direction, while the keyboards are very melancholic, gothic and symphonic sounding with an occasional industrial edge and on one song there is a flute being utilized that brings a very tragic sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very strong sound to it with some gothic rock sounding riffs.

Rhythm guitars are mostly mid paced gothic rock riffs that take some influences from metal, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding gothic rock guitar solos.

Vocals are mostly clean singing gothic rock vocals with some spoken word passages and the occasional black metal scream, while the lyrics cover Satanism, Occultism, and Shamanism, as for the production on this recording which was recorded at SIN ENA studio in April and May of 1996 sounds very professional and you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.

In my opinion N.A.O.S are a very good band and if you are a fan of occult orientated gothic rock/darkwave/neo-classical, you should check this band out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Occulta" "To Hell With The Devil" "Shaman's Tears" and "Ourovoros". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/N.A.O.S./6219