Už jako dítě si se nikdy neusmíval. Žádní kamarádi, jenom bolest a trápení. Díval ses do tmy a přemýšlel si, jak bys všem ublížil. Začalo to mrtvými zvířaty. Fascinace krví. Stal si se stínem, zlým svědomím. Tvé oči žhnuly nenávistí. Násilí, zabití, ponížení. Líbilo se ti hledět do očí, do kterých přicházela smrt. Pomalu, s provazem kolem krku. Teď tu sedíš a nechápeš, co se stalo. Zabíjení je tvojí přirozeností. Poslední dny před popravou přemýšlíš nad dalšími děsivými fantaziemi.
Norští black metalisté KHOLD se na své nové desce zaobírají právě lidmi odsouzenými na smrt. Jdou v této oblasti hluboko do historie své země. Zajímavé téma, které perfektně doplňuje už tak temnou a chladnou atmosféru. Tohle je železo ukované těmi nejlepšími. Doporučuji při poslechu navštívit popravčí místo ve vašem městě. Zážitek bude o to víc bolestivější, intenzivnější, mocnější a záhadnější.
Není žádným tajemstvím, že je kapela složena ze samých zkušených a skvělých muzikantů. Zmínit musím samozřejmě jejich působení v kapelách jako SARKE, TULUS, SATYRICON. A právě k poslední legendě bych KHOLD klidně přirovnal. Potom také k DARKTHRONE. Pánové na to jsou velmi ryze a opravdově. Poslouchat novou desku "Du dømmes til Død" je jako sedět v cele smrti a přemýšlet, jaké to je, zemřít oběšený na šibenici. Norové se pohybují převážně ve středních a pomalejších tempech. Naplno tak vynikne mrazivá atmosféra. Přispívá k tomu samozřejmě jako vždy vynikající zvuk i obal. Všechny skladby se vám postupně dostanou do žil. Jsou jako jed, který je dávkován tak, abyste umírali s děsem v očích. Je prostým faktem, že se nové album velmi dobře poslouchá. Tak nějak samozřejmě, lehce. Přesto je neklidné, jestli mi rozumíte. Každý ze songů je samostatným opusem, přesto vše drží v pevném a komplexním celku. Nahrávku jsem nejčastěji poslouchal velmi brzy ráno, když město ještě spalo. Právě byl zatčen člověk, zrůda, která vraždila v ulicích. Chodil jsem náhodou na stejných místech a můžu vám říci, že mě mrazilo v zádech. Netušil jsem, že se zde stalo něco hrozného. Přesně takový pocit mám i z letošní desky "Du dømmes til Død". Zmínit musím i to, že jsou texty v norštině, které nerozumím ani slovo. Přesto mi přijde, že rozumím každé sloce, každému rýmu. Hudba zde spojuje všechny přízraky, prokleté i démony. O KHOLD to platí na sto procent. To vám klidně podepíšu vlastní krví. Pokud máte rádi hudbu po okraj narvanou kousky ledu a zkaženou krví, tak neváhejte ani chvilku. Jedná se o velmi povedenou záležitost po všech stránkách. Zlověstný, mrazivý, temný black metal z dalekého severu! Budete se dívat do obličeje těch, kteří jdou na smrt!
Asphyx says:
You never smiled as a kid. No friends, just pain and misery. You'd stare into the darkness and think about how you'd hurt everyone. It started with dead animals. A fascination with blood. You became a shadow, an evil conscience. Your eyes glowed with hatred. Violence, killing, humiliation. You liked to stare into the eyes where death came. Slowly, with a rope around your neck. Now you sit here and you don't understand what happened. Killing is your nature. In the last days before your execution, you think of more horrible fantasies.
Norwegian black metallers KHOLD deal with people condemned to death on their new album. They go deep into their country's history in this area. An interesting theme that perfectly complements the already dark and cold atmosphere. This is iron forged by the best. I recommend visiting the execution site in your town while listening. The experience will be all the more poignant, intense, powerful and mysterious.
It is no secret that the band is composed of all experienced and great musicians. Of course I have to mention their work in bands like SARKE, TULUS, SATYRICON. And it is to the last legend that I would compare KHOLD. Then also to DARKTHRONE. Gentlemen are very pure and real about it. Listening to the new album "Du dømmes til Død" is like sitting on death row and wondering what it's like to die hanging from the gallows. The Norwegians are mostly in the middle and slower tempos. This makes the chilling atmosphere fully stand out. This is of course helped by the excellent sound and packaging as always. All the tracks gradually get into your veins. They are like poison that is dosed to make you die with terror in your eyes. The simple fact is that the new album is very easy to listen to. Sort of naturally, easily. Yet it's unsettling, if you know what I mean. Each of the songs is a standalone opus, yet everything holds together in a tight and complex whole. I mostly listened to the recording very early in the morning when the city was still sleeping. A man had just been arrested, a monster who was murdering in the streets. I happened to walk in the same places, and I can tell you, I got chills down my spine. I had no idea that something terrible had happened here. That's exactly the feeling I got from this year's album "Du dømmes til Død". I must also mention that there are lyrics in Norwegian, which I don't understand a word of. Yet I feel like I understand every verse, every rhyme. The music here connects all the ghosts, the damned and the demons. This is true of KHOLD one hundred percent. I'll sign it with my own blood. If you like your music packed to the brim with chunks of ice and tainted blood, don't hesitate a moment. This is a very successful affair all round. Sinister, frosty, dark black metal from the far north! You'll be looking into the faces of those who are going to die!
TRACKLIST
1. Myrdynk
2. Vanviddfaren
3. Heks (du dømmes til død)
4. Skoggangsmann
5. Misgrep
6. Trolldomsdømt
7. Lædel
8. Galgeberg og Retterbakke
9. Dølgsmål
LINE-UP
Gard - Vocals + Guitar
Rinn - Guitar
Steinar - Bass
Sarke - Drums
CREDITS
Music by Khold. Lyrics by Hildr.
Recorded, mixed and Mastered by Andy La Rocque at Sonic Train Studios, Sweden. October 2023.
"Heks (du dømmes til død)" lead guitar intro by Andy La Rocque.
Historie mučení nás dodnes překvapuje svojí brutalitou. Věříš si v jiného boha? Potom tě zavřeme do studené kobky. Bez jídla, beze světla. Pak tě vytáhneme ven a budeme tě natahovat k prasknutí, lámat v kole, budeme ti drtit kosti různými nástroji. Odtrháme ti maso od kostí. Budeš se modlit, abys zemřel. Středověké způsoby výslechu musely být hrozné. Nejhorší je, že spousta z nich se v některých částech světa používá dodnes. Pověšen na háky se znovu houpeš do rytmu šílených melodií. Novým objevem je elektrický proud, který ti pustí do již tak zuboženého těla.
Brutální death metal v provedení BRODEQUIN byl vždy totálním masakrem. Krutou a syrovou realitou, které je schopen jenom lidský druh. Letos přicházejí pánové po dlouhých 20 letech s novým dlouhohrajícím albem. Je až fascinující, s jakým nadšením a odhodláním nám američtí maniaci opět vystřelí mozek z hlavy. Pohodlně se usaďte do elektrického křesla, přidejte volume doprava a poslouchejte pozorně. Tohle je muzika, která se vám dostane do morku kostí.
Fanoušek dostane přesně to, co si žádá. Pořádnou porci klasického, tradičního brutálního death metalu, opatřeného ochrannou známkou BRODEQUIN. Na téhle smečce se mi vždy hrozně líbil fakt, že dokáže do svých skladeb propašovat temnou atmosféru. Není to tak jenom zničující nářez, ale kolem se vznáší hnilobné nálady. Pach rozkládajícího se masa, mokvajících ran, které vám způsobili vaši mučitelé. Již na první poslech se zdá, že je vše perfektní. Živočišný a divoký zvuk (Josh Welshman - mastering and mixing) dodává desce na ještě větší uvěřitelnosti. Mozek se vám začne vařit ve vlastní šťávě. Neexistuje nic jiného, než jenom vaše morbidní představy a tahle nekompromisní, přesto zajímavá a pestrá hudba. Šílené rytmy, vokál nasáklý chorobami, melodie ostré jako čerstvě nabroušený skalpel. Američané jsou ve skvělé formě, to je bez debat. Vybrousili si kdysi dávno svůj styl k dokonalosti, přesto, když se budete soustředit, najdete lehký vývoj v rámci vlastních nápadů. Dívám se na obal od Jose de Brita a říkám si, jak je perfektně vybraný a jak sedne krásně k songům samotným. Najednou to vypadá, že středověk nikdy neskončil. Je stále i díky albům, jako je "Harbinger of Woe", otištěn v našich myslích. Jako bych se procházel starodávnou morbidní galerii smrti. Na jednotlivých obrazech jsou motivy plné krutostí, lidské zvrácenosti a bolest z nich doslova prýští. Stejné to je i s novou deskou. Alespoň tak ji vnímám já. BRODEQUIN jsou zpět a působí jako politi mrtvou vodou. Lidská historie je plná násilí. Vždycky budu raději, když ji potkám v extrémní muzice, než v realitě. Novinku si opravdu jako starý fanoušek užívám. Nelze jinak, než doporučit. Tortura těla, tortura mysli! Absolutně devastující návrat brutálně death metalové legendy! U tohoto alba budete viset pověšeni za háky! Totální masakr s temnou atmosférou!
Asphyx says:
The history of torture still surprises us today with its brutality. Do you believe in another god? Then we'll put you in a cold dungeon. No food, no light. Then we take you out and stretch you to the breaking point, break you in a wheel, crush your bones with various instruments. We'll tear your flesh from your bones. You will pray to die. Medieval interrogation methods must have been horrible. The worst part is that many of them are still used in some parts of the world today. You're hung from hooks and you're swinging to the rhythm of crazy tunes again. The new discovery is an electric current that's released into your already ravaged body.
BRODEQUIN's brutal death metal has always been a total massacre. A cruel and raw reality that only the human species is capable of. This year the gentlemen come after 20 long years with a new full-length album. It's fascinating how enthusiastic and determined the American maniacs are to blow our brains out again. Sit back in your electric chair, turn the volume to the right and listen carefully. This is music that will get to your bones.
The fan gets exactly what he asks for. A good portion of classic, traditional brutal death metal, bearing the BRODEQUIN trademark. What I've always loved about this pack is the fact that they can smuggle a dark atmosphere into their songs. It's not so much just a devastating onslaught, but there's a rotten mood floating around. The smell of decomposing flesh, of festering wounds inflicted by your tormentors. On first listen, everything seems perfect. The animalistic and savage sound (Josh Welshman - mastering and mixing) adds to the believability of the record. Your brain starts to boil in its own juice. There is nothing but your morbid imaginings and this uncompromising, yet interesting and colorful music. Crazy rhythms, disease-soaked vocals, melodies as sharp as a freshly sharpened scalpel. The Americans are in great shape, no question about it. They honed their style to perfection once upon a time, yet if you concentrate, you will find a slight evolution within your own ideas. I look at Jose de Brito's cover and think how perfectly chosen it is and how it fits beautifully with the songs themselves. Suddenly it seems like the Middle Ages never ended. It's still imprinted in our minds, even with albums like "Harbinger of Woe". It's like walking through an ancient morbid gallery of death. In each painting, the motifs are full of cruelty, human depravity, and the pain literally oozes out of them. It's the same with the new album. At least that's how I perceive it. BRODEQUIN are back and they seem to be pouring dead water. Human history is full of violence. I will always prefer to see it in extreme music than in reality. I really enjoy the new stuff as an old fan. Can't recommend it highly enough. Torture of the body, torture of the mind! Absolutely devastating return of a brutal death metal legend! You will be hanging by the hooks with this album! Total carnage with a dark atmosphere!
Tracklist
1. Diabolical Edict (3:29)
2. Fall Of The Leaf (2:33)
3. Theresiana (3:03)
4. Of Pillars and Trees (4:03)
5. Tenaillement (2:53)
6. Maleficium (3:09)
7. VII Nails (2:17)
8. Vredens Dag (3:20)
9. Suffocation in Ash (3:05)
10. Harbinger of Woe (4:04)
Line up:
Jamie Bailey: Bass/Vocals
Mike Bailey: Guitar
Brennan Shackelford: Drums
Joaquin Chavez: (Live) Guitar
Recording
Drums recorded at Brennan's Drum Room in Dallas, Texas.
Guitar, bass and vocals recorded at Navarre 24 in Harriman, Tennessee
Ave BOMBARDER! Greetings, my friends. When I got my first metal album on cassette from my cousin in 1988, you guys had already been playing for two years. I'm sorry to start from the beginning, but I think we have a lot in common. We both grew up in former socialist countries, we both started metal in times that were very turbulent. I was wondering what band did you first hear and how did the idea of starting BOMBARDER come about?
Hello there! Yes, we started middle 80’s and it was great time here back then. Yugoslavia wasn’t into CCCCP so we were something in between East and West. We had all official LP licenses of metal, rock releases etc. There were many bands back then and scene was huge. We liked then of course Motorhead, Exciter, Rave. Many old demos circulated here so listened many of these oldschool speed thrash bands.
You probably had a similar musical development to me. For me personally, the encounter with SODOM music was absolutely crucial. It was the speed, the rawness, the power, the fury. We were walking around the estate with cassette players on our shoulders. We were hanging out in the tenements. You know, pretty girls, lots of beer and metal. It was a good time. But then the revolution came. It was pretty peaceful here, but you started the war on March 31st. How did it affect you? I read somewhere (I hope I'm not mistaken) that you had to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina for Serbia? It must have been terrible.
Sodom were killer, yes we liked them as well. Sure, split up of Yugoslavia wasn’t peaceful as Czechoslovakia. Here everything ended in bloody war for many years and caused many pain and devastation. War is shit, I hate war and I hate politicians and big wordwide guns who make profits on wars and start them all around the globe! I wish them sure and painful death! Since middle 90’s I live in Belgrade, Serbia and Bombarder is active here until nowadays.
We had a friend in our group who was from Croatia. Both his parents died in the war and a couple in our town adopted him. So we had all the first-hand information. I remember tapes of bands like HELLER, EVIL BLOOD. It was a beautiful time, albeit a wild one. Lots of memories. Anyway, what bands influenced you in your early days? What about the gigs at that time? In our country, it was mainly in community centres.
Old Yugoslavian bands as Heller, Evil Blood, Sarcasm, Annathema, Ludilo, Epidemic Zone.... many bands played extreme speed thrash back then. Also lather death metal as Bloodbath, Mortuary, Necrophobia... We had many shows and big metal festivals in big halls with couple of thousands of visitors as Balkan Horror Opera, YU Metal Attack etc.
In our country, it was always said that if a band was good, they played with their hearts. Somehow that attitude has stayed with me to this day. I have to believe in the music and the new BOMBARDER album is exactly the kind of raw ride to hell that I love. I listen to more death metal nowadays, but when I heard "Sa dna dna graba" for the first time, I knew - fuck, this is it! How was the album made? Was the approach different than last time? I find the record more raw, faster.
Yes, Sa dna groba is more brutal and raw. It is inspiration we got from the world around us. Look at what’s happening at many places in this rotten planet? Just pain and missery, death and evil...We feel all this, we can’t be calm and positive when so many are suffering around. Sa dna groba is oda to nowadays!
Are you singing in Bosnian or Serbian, Croatian? The translator shows me a different language every time. As a Czech, I understand the content of the lyrics, but I don't understand everything. Can you please tell us where did you get the inspiration for the lyrics? Who is the author and how were they created?
Back in Yugoslavia we all spoke Serbocroatian. Nowadays this is the same language but everybody is calling this different... Stupid people with stupid rules... As I said in previous answer, inspiration is everywhere around us.
The sound is excellent! No doubt about it. Old school, raw, rough, animalistic. It really reminds me of the 90's recordings. Where did you record? Who's responsible for the mastering and mixing? Look, let's face it, this is a massacre!
Thank you for your words! We all like the final result and it’s great. We recorded as previous time in Citadela Studio and our guitarist Luka Matkovic is producer. Many domestic bands record their albums in his studio. It is like center of Serbian metal scene.
I used to go to the former Yugoslavia for holidays. You know, the sea, beer (of course Karlovačko, Ožujsko, and Rakije in the evening), I love it here. I have beautiful memories from my childhood, but even today, when I go to the sea, I always relax. You have beautiful nature and women, but to be honest I don't meet many metalheads here. Maybe they are hidden in the hinterland, but what is it like with extreme metal in your country? Recently I interviewed METUZALEM from Croatia and they told me that it is a terrible problem to organize a concert, to find musicians? What do you think?
Heh probably metalheads don’t like sea side and hot weather:)). Here in Serbia there are several centers of good scene as Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and there it’s not problem to organize shows. Also there are many, many young bands and they all ;play very often on single shows or small local festivals. But also big festivals as Exit festival in Novi Sad.
You are rightly considered a legend. You have a long history. Is there anything else you would like to achieve? To play a big festival? Or go on tour? I'd love to see you somewhere, have a beer and get my head bashed in.
Thank you. I don’t consider myself as a legend but younger meatlheads think that. I like to support all of them and when ever I can I do this. For me personally it’s important to push the band further, play good shows and some nice festivals. No, tours are not so into my plans. I’m older and it’s not so easy. But I prefer to concentrate on quality single shows and festival shows. I’d like to play in Czech, that’s for sure!
In Bombarder III you have a guest appearance by Per "Hellbutcher" Gustavsson from NIFELHEIM, NECROCURSE. How did you guys get together in the first place?
Hellbutcher is a huge fan of Bombarder. He with his band recorded cover version of Speed Metal song for Hail to Bombarder tribute and since then we are in touch. When we invited him to be guest on our new song he immediately agreed and he did a great work there. I’m very proud on this cooperation. Also we recorded Sodomizer cover as paying our respect to almighty Nifelheim!
Everybody started somehow. Who was your musical role model in the 90s? I remember it was quite difficult to find instruments, tablature, everything. What was your first gig as a fan? And what was your first one on stage? Please reminisce.
Sure, it wasn’t so easy to organize everything for the band back in 80’s but we made it with help of other older rock and metal musicians from the scene who were already in big heavy metal bands etc. Some of first shows were big concerts of Yugoslavian heavy rock bands from early 80’s as Divlje Jagode, Atomsko Skloniste etc.... I can’t remember exactly our first show but it was in Sarajevo. Crazy and wild meatl energy it was!
I think you'll agree with me that metal is a curse. People around me don't get it, even after all these years. It's still worth buying new records, T-shirts, going to shows. For me personally, this music is a relaxation, a way to survive. How do you feel about metal? What does this music give you and why do you listen to it?
Metal is my life 100% and thanx to metal I stayed normal and survived all these hellish war years back in 90’s. Bombarder is my power and my life energy.
Necessary question at the end. What is BOMBARDER going to do in the next few months? If you want to say something to the fans, here is the space.
This year we will dedicate to promotion of Sa dna groba album. Soon CD and cassette will be released and then later LP as well. We will play selected promotional shows and make hell on the stage!
Thank you very much for your answers. I really appreciate them. It was a great honor! I hope to see you live sometime and if so, have a beer with me. Thank you actually for all the great music you make as well. May you have the best of luck! BOMBARDER rules!
Many thanx metal brother! I appreciate your support and nice words for our music. Stay yourself, do the things with opet heart, never neal in front of anyone, fuck the system, fuck authorities and just stay rebellious and metal forever. Life is short, live it with full power! RAZVALJUJ!!!!!
Ave BOMBARDER! Zdravím vás přátelé. Když jsem v roce 1988 dostal od svého bratrance své první metalové album na kazetě, vy už jste dva roky hráli. Nezlob se, že začínám takhle od začátku, ale myslím si, že nás mnohé spojuje. Oba jsme vyrůstali v bývalých socialistických zemích, oba jsme začínali s metalem v dobách, které byly hodně neklidné. Zajímalo by mě, jakou kapelu si slyšel poprvé ty a jak vlastně vznikl nápad, založit BOMBARDER?
Dobrý den! Ano, začínali jsme v polovině 80. let a tehdy to tu bylo skvělé. Jugoslávie nebyla v Sovětském svazu, takže jsme byli něco mezi východem a západem. Měli jsme všechny oficiální licence LP metalových, rockových desek atd. Tehdy tu bylo hodně kapel a scéna byla obrovská. Měli jsme tehdy rádi samozřejmě Motorhead, Exciter, Rave. Kolovalo tu hodně starých demáčů, takže jsme poslouchali hodně těchto oldschoolových speed thrashových kapel.
Asi si měl podobný hudební vývoj jako já. Pro mě osobně bylo absolutně zásadní setkání s hudbou SODOM. To byla rychlost, dravost, síla, vztek. Chodili jsme po sídlišti s přehrávači na kazety na ramenou. Poflakovali jsme se mezi paneláky. Znáš to, hezký holky, spousta piva a metalu. Byly to krásný doby. Do toho ale přišla revoluce. U nás probíhala vcelku klidně, ale u vás začala 31. března válka. Jak vás ovlivnila? Někde jsem četl (snad se nepletu), že jste museli odejít z Bosny a Hercegoviny do Srbska? Muselo to být hrozné.
Sodom byli zabijáci, ano, také jsme je měli rádi. Jistě, rozdělení Jugoslávie nebylo mírumilovné jako v Československu. Zde vše skončilo krvavou válkou na mnoho let a způsobilo mnoho bolesti a devastace. Válka je svinstvo, nenávidím válku a nenávidím politiky a velké světové společnosti, které na válkách vydělávají a rozpoutávají je po celé zeměkouli! Přeji jim jistou a bolestivou smrt! Od poloviny 90. let žiji v Bělehradě v Srbsku a Bombarder zde působí dodnes.
Měli jsme v partě právě jednoho kamaráda, který byl z Chorvatska. Umřeli mu ve válce oba rodiče a jedna dvojice u nás ve městě jej adoptovala. Měli jsme tak všechny informace z první ruky. Pamatuji si na kazety s kapelami jako HELLER, EVIL BLOOD. Byla to krásná doba, i když divoká. Spousta vzpomínek. Nicméně, jaké smečky vás ovlivnily ve vašich začátcích? Co koncerty v té době? U nás se hrálo hlavně v kulturních domech.
Staré jugoslávské kapely jako Heller, Evil Blood, Sarcasm, Annathema, Ludilo, Epidemic Zone.... tehdy hrály extrémní speed thrash. Také death metal jako Bloodbath, Mortuary, Necrophobia... Měli jsme mnoho koncertů a velkých metalových festivalů ve velkých halách s několika tisíci návštěvníky jako Balkan Horror Opera, YU Metal Attack atd.
U nás se vždycky říkalo, když byla nějaká kapela dobrá, že hraje srdcem. Nějak mi tenhle přístup zůstal dodnes. Musím hudbě věřit a nové album BOMBARDER je přesně takovou tou syrovou jízdou do pekla, kterou mám moc rád. Poslouchám už dnes spíš death metal, ale když jsem slyšel „Sa dna groba“ poprvé, věděl jsem – kurva, to je přesně ono! Jak album vznikalo? Byl přístup jiný, než minule? Mě připadá nahrávka syrovější, rychlejší.
Ano, Sa dna groba je brutálnější a syrovější. Je to inspirace, kterou jsme získali ze světa kolem nás. Podívejte se, co se děje na mnoha místech této prohnilé planety? Jen bolest a neštěstí, smrt a zlo... To všechno cítíme, nemůžeme být klidní a pozitivní, když kolem nás tolik lidí trpí. Sa dna groba je óda na dnešní dobu!
Zpíváte bosensky, nebo srbsky, chorvatsky? Překladač mi pokaždé ukazuje jiný jazyk. Jako Čech chápu obsah textů, ale nerozumím všemu. Můžeš nám prosím prozradit, kde jste brali pro texty inspiraci? Kdo je jejich autorem a jakým způsobem vznikaly?
V Jugoslávii jsme všichni mluvili srbochorvatsky. Dnes je to stejný jazyk, ale každý mu říká jinak... Hloupí lidé s hloupými pravidly... Jak už jsem řekl v předchozí odpovědi, inspirace je všude kolem nás.
Zvuk je vynikající! Bez debat. Old schoolový, syrový, drsný, živočišný. Opravdu mi připomíná nahrávky z devadesátých letech. Kde jste nahrávali? Kdo je podepsán pod masteringem a mixem? Hele, na rovinu, to je masakr!
Děkujeme za vaše slova! Konečný výsledek se nám všem líbí a je skvělý. Nahrávali jsme stejně jako minule ve studiu Citadela a producentem je náš kytarista Luka Matkovič. V jeho studiu nahrává svá alba řada tuzemských kapel. Je to takové centrum srbské metalové scény.
Jezdil jsem ještě do bývalé Jugoslávie na dovolenou. Znáš to, moře, pivo (jasně že Karlovačko, Ožujsko, a večer pak Rakije), miluji to u vás. Mám krásné vzpomínky z dětství, ale i dnes, když vyrazím k moři, tak si vždycky odpočinu. Máte nádhernou přírodu i ženy, ale abych pravdu přiznal, tak metalistů u vás moc nepotkávám. Možná jsou ukryti ve vnitrozemí, ale jaké to vlastně u vás je s extrémním metalem? Nedávno jsem dělal rozhovor s kapelou METUZALEM z Chorvatska a ti mi říkali, že je hrozný problém vůbec nějaký koncert zorganizovat, najít muzikanty? Jaký máš názor ty?
Heh, metalisté asi nemají rádi moře a horko:)). Tady v Srbsku je několik center dobré scény jako Bělehrad, Novi Sad, Kragujevac a tam není problém pořádat koncerty. Taky je tam hodně, hodně mladých kapel a všechny hrají velmi často na samostatných koncertech nebo malých místních festivalech. Ale také na velkých festivalech, jako je Exit festival v Novém Sadu.
Jste právem považováni za legendu. Máte za sebou dlouhou historii. Je ještě něco, čeho byste chtěli dosáhnout? Zahrát si třeba na nějakém velkém festivalu? Nebo vyrazit na turné? Hrozně rád bych vás někde viděl, dal si pivo a pořádně si vymlátil hlavu.
Děkujeme. Nepovažuji se za legendu, ale mladší masožravci si to myslí. Rád je všechny podpořím, a když můžu, tak to udělám. Pro mě osobně je důležité posouvat kapelu dál, hrát dobré koncerty a nějaké pěkné festivaly. Ne, turné do mých plánů až tak nezapadá. Jsem starší a není to tak jednoduché. Ale raději se soustředím na kvalitní samostatné koncerty a festivalová vystoupení. Rád bych si zahrál v Česku, to je jasné!
Ve skladbě Bombarder III vám hostuje Per "Hellbutcher" Gustavsson z NIFELHEIM, NECROCURSE. Jak jste se dali vůbec dohromady?
Hellbutcher je velkým fanouškem Bombardéru. Se svou kapelou nahrál coververzi speedmetalové písně pro Hail to Bombarder tribute a od té doby jsme v kontaktu. Když jsme ho pozvali jako hosta do naší nové písně, okamžitě souhlasil a odvedl tam skvělou práci. Jsem na tuto spolupráci velmi hrdý. Také jsme nahráli cover Sodomizer jako vyjádření úcty všemocnému Nifelheimu!
Každý nějak začínal. Kdo byl tvým hudebním vzorem v devadesátých letech? Pamatuji si, že bývalo docela těžké vůbec sehnat nástroje, tabulatury, vlastně všechno. Jaký byl tvůj první koncert jako fanouška? A jaký první na pódiu? Zavzpomínej prosím.
Jistě, v osmdesátých letech nebylo tak snadné všechno zorganizovat, ale zvládli jsme to s pomocí dalších starších rockových a metalových muzikantů z té doby, kteří už působili ve velkých heavymetalových kapelách atd. Jedny z prvních koncertů byly velké koncerty jugoslávských heavy rockových kapel z počátku 80. let jako Divlje Jagode, Atomsko Skloniste atd...... Nepamatuji si přesně náš první koncert, ale bylo to v Sarajevu. Šílená a divoká metalová energie to byla!
Asi se mnou budeš souhlasit, že metal je prokletí. Lidé okolo mě nechápou, ani po všech těch letech. Pořád mi stojí za to kupovat nové desky, trička, chodit na koncerty. Pro mě osobně je tahle hudba relaxem, způsobem, jak přežít. Jak vnímáš metal ty? Co ti tahle muzika dává a proč ji posloucháš?
Metal je můj život na 100 % a díky němu jsem zůstal normální a přežil všechna ta pekelná válečná léta v 90. letech. Bombarder je moje síla a životní energie.
Nezbytná otázka na konec. Co chystají BOMBARDER v nejbližších měsících? Pokud chceš něco vzkázat fanouškům, zde je prostor.
Letošní rok věnujeme propagaci alba Sa dna groba. Brzy vyjde CD a kazeta a později i LP. Budeme hrát na vybraných promo koncertech a dělat peklo na pódiu!
Děkuji moc za tvé odpovědi. Opravdu si jich vážím. Bylo mi velkou ctí! Doufám, že vás uvidím někdy naživo a pokud ano, tak u mě máte pivo. Děkuji vám vlastně i za všechnu tu skvělou hudbu, kterou děláte. Ať se vám daří co nejlépe! BOMBARDER rules!
Mnohokrát děkuji metalový bratře! Vážím si tvé podpory a pěkných slov pro naši hudbu. Zůstaň sám sebou, dělej věci s otevřeným srdcem, nikdy se před nikým nepředváděj, kašli na systém, kašli na autority a prostě zůstaň navždy rebel a metalista. Život je krátký, žij ho naplno! RAZVALJUJ!!!!!
NECROPHOBIC - In the Twilight Grey CD 2024, Century Media Records
for english please scroll down
Plačící duchové lesa. Vyjící andělé. Vlci na lovu. Běžíš tmou a větve tě šlehají do tváře. Zmrzlé nohy se boří do sněhu. Nevíš, jestli si oběť nebo lovec. Jsi si jistý jedinou věcí. Bílou děsivou smrtí, několika okamžiky v temnotě. Krev všude kolem. Naříkající les, přecházíš pomalu na druhou stranu, do země nekonečných stínů. Mraky jsou nízko a vzduch je těžký a nestravitelný. Padáš do hlubin. Vznešené pocity z létání, i tělo, polámané, zničené. Mysl roztrhaná na kusy. Takové byly moje první dojmy z nové desky "In the Twilight Grey".
Vlastně jsem nikdy nedokázal novinku poslouchat v klidu. Pokaždé do mě zasekla svůj dráp a nepustila mě, dokud jsem ji nevypnul. Ne, neseděl jsem doma u přehrávače, ale pokaždé jsem běžel tmou. Někde daleko, na severu, v mrazu a sněhu. Cíl byl vždy stejný. Zemřel jsem, abych se znovu pokaždé narodil. Silný a nabitý zvláštní energií, kterou má tahle kapela již od svých počátků.
Spousta fanoušků nedá dopustit na klasické nahrávky z devadesátých let, které si již dávno získaly doslova legendární status. Jsem stejného názoru. Sleduji ale celou cestu téhle originální smečky a vždy se k jejich albům velice rád vracím. Nová deska se mezi ostatními rozhodně neztratí. NECROPHOBIC se sice již asi nikdy nevymaní ze svého stínu, ale na rovinu, on to po nich ani nikdo nechce. Jsou pro mě pevným záchytným bodem ve vesmíru. Za ty dlouhé roky, co nám přinášejí další a další ozvěny ze záhrobí, si vybrousili svůj originální styl k dokonalosti. Chlad a tma, ledový vítr v korunách stoletých stromů. To je pro mě definice celé tvorby, nový počin nevyjímaje. Fredrik Folkare opatřil album majestátním a velmi dobře čitelným i živelným zvukem. Mrazí mě v kostech! Obal, na němž je možná démon, kterého zmiňuji i v úvodu dnešního článku, nahání strach, je tajemný a zlověstný. Autorem je Jens Rydén. Také velmi povedená práce. Byli jste někdy sami v lese uprostřed noci? Nebo brzy ráno, když padne k zemi chlad a vy se probudíte do zdánlivého klidu. Je to samozřejmě omyl, přízraky nikdy nespí. Pokud budete poslouchat "In the Twilight Grey" stále dokola jako já, určitě vás přijdou navštívit. Ucítíte jejich přítomnost a krve by se ve vás nedořezal. Líbí se mi poctivost, samozřejmost, spousta nápadů, které doslova tryskají na všechny strany. To vše zamotané ve starých pavučinách, držící pevně pohromadě. Jako skála, jako láva, prýštící pomocí riffů, melodií ven, z nitra země. Letos jsou Švédi opět jako přírodní živel. Neuchopitelní, mocní, tajemní. Nelze jinak, než doporučit všem, kteří je mají rádi. Dostanete k dokonalosti vytesaný amulet ze starých kostí. Vzduchem se budou vznášet pradávné legendy a vy se budete usmívat. Plačící duchové lesa. Vyjící andělé. Vlci na lovu. Běžíš tmou a větve tě šlehají do tváře. Zmrzlé nohy se boří do sněhu. Nevíš, jestli si oběť nebo lovec. Jsi si jistý jedinou věcí. Bílou děsivou smrtí, několika okamžiky v temnotě. Krev všude kolem. Démonický, syrový a chladný vichr ze severu! Black death metalová mlha plná děsivých stínů a zkažené krve!
Asphyx says:
Weeping spirits of the forest. Howling angels. Wolves on the prowl. You run through the darkness and the branches whip you in the face. Frozen feet sinking into the snow. You don't know if you're the victim or the hunter. You're sure of one thing. A white, terrifying death, a few moments in the dark. Blood all around. The wailing forest, you cross slowly to the other side, into the land of endless shadows. The clouds are low and the air is heavy and indigestible. You fall into the depths. The sublime sensation of flying, and the body, broken, destroyed. The mind torn to pieces. These were my first impressions of the new album "In the Twilight Grey".
Actually, I've never been able to listen to a new album in peace. Every time it stuck its claw into me and wouldn't let go until I turned it off. No, I wasn't sitting at home with the player, but I was running in the dark every time. Somewhere far away, up north, in the cold and snow. The destination was always the same. I died to be born again every time. Strong and charged with the special energy that this band has had since its beginnings.
A lot of fans can't get enough of the classic recordings from the nineties, which have long since gained a legendary status. I am of the same opinion. But I've been following the whole journey of this original pack and I always love to come back to their albums. The new album will definitely not get lost among the others. NECROPHOBIC will probably never come out of their shadow, but frankly, nobody wants them to. They are a solid clue in the universe for me. Over the many years they have brought us more and more echoes from beyond the grave, they have honed their original style to perfection. The cold and dark, the icy wind in the tops of the centuries-old trees. This is for me the definition of the whole work, not excluding the new one. Fredrik Folkare has equipped the album with a majestic and very well read and elemental sound. It chills my bones! The cover art, which may feature the demon I mention in the introduction of today's article, is haunting, mysterious and ominous. The author is Jens Rydén. Also a very hilarious work. Have you ever been alone in the woods in the middle of the night? Or early in the morning, when the cold falls to the ground and you wake up to apparent peace. It's a mistake of course, ghosts never sleep. If you listen to "In the Twilight Grey" over and over like I do, they'll definitely come visit you. You'll feel their presence, and you won't get any blood in you. I like the honesty, the obviousness, the many ideas that literally gush out in all directions. All tangled in old cobwebs, held tightly together. Like a rock, like lava, gushing out through riffs, melodies, from the heart of the earth. This year the Swedes are again like a natural element. Elusive, powerful, mysterious. I can't help but recommend them to everyone who likes them. You get an amulet carved to perfection from old bones. Ancient legends will float through the air and make you smile. Weeping spirits of the forest. Howling angels. Wolves on the prowl. You run through the darkness and the branches whip you in the face. Frozen feet sinking into the snow. You don't know if you're the victim or the hunter. You're sure of one thing. A white, terrifying death, a few moments in the dark. Blood all around. A demonic, raw and cold wind from the north! Black death metal fog full of horrible shadows and corrupted blood!
Ave MALEDICTION! I guess we can't start our conversation any other way than by welcoming you back. I can't tell you how much I've been looking forward to hearing new music from you. I belong to the generation of old fans. So thanks a lot! But I have to start by asking... Damn, what took you so long?
Hey mate, thank you, I’m glad there were people out there who were actually waiting for this to happen!
Doing more Malediction has been on the agenda for us for quite a few years. I think we originally agreed on it probably seven or eight years ago, this was when Shaun was still living and working in the US, we were going to do some new long-distance recordings, the plan then was to do a new 7“ with two songs on it or something.
Anyway, both Mark McGowan and I had since then tried to come up with some new Malediction material without much success. I had loads of new riffs but couldn’t quite get them to work together for a new song. Some of these riffs were what ended up becoming “Black Narcissus.” Anyway, during the pandemic, mid-2021 I tried an experiment and challenged myself to write something completely new in one week from scratch and this worked and got me out of the terrible writers block I’d been suffering from. “The Omerta Masquerade” was the song and this then helped me to finish “Black Narcissus” as well although that took a couple of attempts before I was entirely happy with it. I then quite quickly wrote some other new stuff as well as completing new arrangements for the old songs that are also on the new EP.
It took us a long time, and finishing the EP also took me a long time for a variety of reasons that I won’t go into here, but it was finished and now it’s out. I’m happy. I’m also happy be able to tell you that I am writing new material faster than I ever have done and we are on track to be able to record our debut album in 2024.
I popped the news into the player, got comfortable, and after half an hour was bouncing around the room like I was seventeen again. The family was looking at me, the kids were tapping their foreheads. But I can't help it. The new EP is short, but it's really good. Death metal, grind, but also unmistakable atmosphere and your signature. Well, beautiful! Can you tell us how the new EP was made? Did you change your approach after all these years?
A conscious decision was made with the new material to keep this direct and to the point and not go off into the 6-7 minute realm we explored in some of the later stuff we did in the 1990s. I think “Black Narcissus” was at the time the shortest song I’d ever written. We didn’t want to outstay our welcome and made the songs work in shorter timescales. “The Omerta Masquerade” is a bit longer, but mainly due to the outro riff.
Secondly, the EP was made with the awareness that this was the relaunch of the band and that we couldn’t rely on anyone remembering us or knowing who we are, which is why we re-recorded “Infestation” and the other old songs. We wanted people to have new versions of those songs, but we didn’t want them to be on a debut album, hence they’re on the EP. The second side of the EP is also a kind of celebration of thirty years of the “System Fear” 7”.
The cover art is tinted green and I think it's really hilarious. Daniel Bechthold from Germany painted it. Why him? How did you guys get together? I confess I don't know his work that well, could you tell us more about this very talented artist?
Me and Shaun were throwing links at each other, trying to work out who we could ask to do the cover art and Daniel was in the mix. We both really liked the piece he did for Leipa for their “Reue” release. Shaun messaged Daniel, found out he was a cool guy and interested in collaborating with us and we took it from there.
I really like what he came up with and it’s grown on me even more.
Raw, dark and cold sound is the basis. This year he was really good. You recorded with Dan Mullins, who is also the drummer of MY DYING BRIDE. That's a completely different kind of music! I really have to bow down to the ground because the new EP literally kills. It reminds me of old productions from somewhere in the late 90's. How did you achieve this sound, how did the recording process work?
We recorded the drums first in early August 2022 at Vibrations Studios here in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England. Dan engineered the drum recording and him and Jon our drummer cooked up the drum sound between them. Everything else was recorded in my home studio between August 2022 and March 2023. Most of it was recorded in August and September 2022. I had a bit of a wobble with my health in the middle of it, which meant I didn’t finish until early March 2023. The only things that were really left to do were the guitar solos, but I was really struggling with my confidence over doing them so ended up writing and recording them all in a week, which wasn’t ideal, but it got the thing finished.
Dan Mullins did the final mix and mastering and was sending us rough mixes throughout the process. He sent a rough mix of “Black Narcissus” that absolutely blew me away. I find it hard to be objective about my own stuff and couldn’t really tell from listening to it whether it was any good or not. But when I heard this mix of “Black Narcissus” it totally blew me away. I was like “this is the sound that the EP needs.” Dan did some re-amping of the guitars to add a bit of an HM-2ness to them. I’m very proud to say that the bass sound is pretty much all my own work. I learned so much doing this EP. Experience that you can’t buy. We’ll be doing the album in the same way, and we’ll be working with Dan again on that too. The brief for the EP was “modern, but with old-school sensibilities.”
Once we had everything recorded, I went over to Dan’s a couple of times, and we mixed and edited together to get it across the finish line. It was a great and extremely collaborative process.
Yes, Dan drums for MDB bit he also drums in his band BLASPHEMER who are a lot more straight down the line death metal. Their new EP “Marked for Death” on Macho Records is killer!
Also, times have changed a lot. Today's technology is different. Artificial intelligence, the cloud, you know. How do you as musicians deal with these changes? It must be very different from 30 years ago. Do you follow new trends?
Yes. I’ve had to. It’s been necessary to record in the way that we have done. The only way this new recording was ever going to see the light of day was if it utterly smoked all of our old releases and to do that, I needed to become producer and engineer so that I could be really deeply involved in all stages of the recording and mixing process.
A proud moment for me was after handing over all the tracks I’d recorded and engineered to Dan, I asked him whether what I’d done was of sufficient quality for him to say that the work was “exceptional”. But everyone knocked their contribution out of the park on this, Jon kills on drums, Shaun has never sounded better. I’ve never played as well as I have on this recording. The only people we were in competition with was ourselves and I personally think that we exceeded all of our aims for this recording and that absolutely never happens.
Of course, it’s a double-edged sword because the album has to be even better!
I'm an old dog too, and like everyone I like to remember my youth. I'm sure our readers will be interested to know how did you actually put the band together back in the day? If I'm not mistaken, you were originally called NEUROSIS. Will you reminisce for us please? When and how did MALEDICTION was formed?
That’s correct. The band started in 1989 and I wrote “Infestation” that year. We were just messing about initially with the first lineup.
Myself, Shaun, and Mark Fox knew each other at Teesside Polytechnic, in the Northeast of England and had talked about starting a band, I don’t think we thought it’d still be a thing thirty-four years later though!
Then during 1990 things got more serious, Alastair joined on drums and Darren on second guitar, and we took it from there. We recorded the “Infestation” demo in August 1990 and the “System Fear” 7” later in 1990 and things just progressed from that point on.
It’s cool to have a legacy from back in the early 1990s, but this new version of MALEDICTION has been really about not repeating the past. The legacy is extremely helpful and has given us a bit of a leg-up since we reformed, but for me it’s very much eyes forward, what can we do next, how can we improve.
I remember in my younger days waiting for long hours in line outside the store to buy a new record. My friends and I didn't have money, so we would copy tapes and then argue for endless hours about which band was better. It was a great time, of course. How did you get started in music? Who was your role model? When did you first pick up an instrument? What about your first gig? And the first live performance? Tell me, exaggerate...
I have quite diverse influences, some of the guitar bands of the mid 80s inspired me to try to learn to play. I then progressed by getting into prog rock, a lot of the 1980s new prog/prog revival bands before I got into metal. Thrash bands really appealed to me in a way that traditional metal bands had not up to that point. I liked the “street” attitude, just their wearing every-day clothes and I loved the fact that their songs were about the real world, not dragons and wizards.
I started playing the guitar in 1986, so it wasn’t long between my starting and forming this band, three years or something.
The first gig I played was the first Malediction gig. We weren’t very good, but you have to start somewhere.
You're from Middlesbrough. What's your background in underground music? Do you have any clubs? Or do you have to go to London? I'd be interested in the current state of your scene. What about gigs? Fans? How many people do you get when you play somewhere?
The band was based in Middlesbrough because we were at Teesside Polytechnic (now a university). There wasn’t much of a scene, it was mainly hardcore punk bands. We had the perennial problem of being to punk for the metallers and too metal for the punks. But we got one, we played with punk and crust bands, it was fine. I only ever went to a couple of gigs in London, not somewhere I went.
We just headline Dead of Winter Festival in Glasgow, Scotland. This was our first gig back since reforming. The festival featured eleven underground death metal bands from the UK, we felt extremely fortunate to be asked to play this festival, let alone headline it. The festival sold out and we played to a three hundred capacity crowd.
We have another show coming up in March with BLASPHEMER who are great guys and then in May we’re playing Incineration Festival in London, which is a huge opportunity for us. We’ve not been short on offers to do gigs, in the quality of the gigs is very high, it’s not like in the old days of playing a random pub to a handful of people, these are bigger shows for us. It’s been very gratifying to be organically invited to play prestigious shows in the UK capital.
A very important question for us fans! How and where do you want MALEDICTION to go in the future? We want a first full-length album! No seriously, what are you planning in the near future?
Debut full length will be recorded in 2024 for sure. I have the album sketched out, I have four new songs that I’ve written for it and they’re the best stuff I’ve ever written. We’re going to revisit 2-3 old songs and I’m hopeful that Mark and Rik will also have at least one new song each on it. We’re aiming for 9-10 tracks, 40 minutes max. We’re in a good position, we have more material than we need, so we’ll record a bunch of stuff and choose the best. There might be a new EP in there too that could follow the album closely.
What does music mean to you? Why did you start playing death metal and grindcore in particular? How does music influence your life and world view? What has music given and taken away from you?
I listen to a lot of music from a lot of different genres, but DM is special to me, and it’s been a real pleasure in the last few years to re-immerse myself in the scene and get to know some of the current bands. I think I’ll always be a metal musician; I love other genres, but my skillset was really mostly in metal and its various subgenres.
I got a lot of my worldview from artists that I have listened to, music has been helpful to me in developing an ideological and political framework for my life. Some of my earliest exposure to ethical issues was via the music I was listening to.
On the negative side, music is demanding work and often for little or no reward. We spend hundreds and even thousands of hours honing our craft and spend thousands of pounds on gear to what is often a disinterested world. The tortured artist may be a cliché, but it’s a quite accurate cliché for the most part.
It was a great honor to interview you. I wish you all the best for the new EP to sell out worldwide and for you to have a gig packed to bursting. May you do well in your private life. You know what? I'm gonna go play "The Soil Throne" again! Massacre!
It was my pleasure to answer your questions, sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. Thank you so much for your kind words about “The Soil Throne” EP, it is very much appreciated!
If anyone wants to get in touch with us, they can visit www.malediction.co.uk which has links to our Bandcamp and all our socials.
Recenze/review - MALEDICTION - The Soil Throne (2023):
