Před námi se otevřela scéna, která mohla s klidem konkurovat těm nejkrvavějším a nejhnusnějším hororovým filmům. Mrtvá těla, nasekaná na kusy. Vesnice v horách, která si žila poklidným životem. Potom přišli oni, ti o niž se nemluví. Démoni bez tváří, se zbraněmi, které byly použity k mučení, zohavování. Vše působí až groteskně a vzduchem se vznáší mrtvolný puch rozkládajících se těl. Smrt má mnoho podob a tahle patří k nejhnusnějším.
Death metal byl vždy o ošklivých věcech. Upozorňoval na to, jací lidé dokáží být. Každý v nás v sobě máme temnotu, kus bestie. Jsou tu kapely jako polští TORTURED CORPSE, které o podobných zvěrstvech hrají. A dělají to velmi zkušeně, elegantně. Vítejte v morbidní galerii smrti!
I nadále tahle smečka odkazuje na to, co nám zanechaly kapely jako CANNIBAL CORPSE, ROTTREVORE, NUNSLAUGHTER, IMPETIGO, REPULSION, CARCASS, AUTOPSY. Samozřejmě, s vlastním výrazem a způsobem, který nenechá nikoho na pochybách - zde se hraje opravdově, prašivě, uvěřitelně. Jedná se přesně o takový ten undergroundový smrtící kov, který jsme kdysi dávno v devadesátých letech sbírali na kazetách a vyměňovali mezi sebou. Sedávali jsme u reproduktorů, hltali každý riff, každý motiv. U těchto polských maniaků to mám stejně. Je jasné, že pánové a dáma neobjevují nic nového, ale rozhodně se nejedná jenom od dobře odvedené řemeslo. Ve skladbách je něco navíc, kus shnilého srdce, touha ničit hudbou, rozsekat vás na kusy. Až zase jednou budete znechuceni z dnešního divného světa a bude na vás všechno padat, tak si pusťte "Cavernous Lobotomy" pořádně nahlas. Někdy mám pocit, že sedím svázaný v domě šílenství a vrtají mi do hlavy. Kývám se do rytmu, užívám si jednotlivé melodie, utíkám do záhrobí, objevuji další a další místa, na kterých se stalo něco hnusného a děsivého. Zvuk i obal jsou povedené, stylové a náležitě špinavé a syrové. Přesně takhle to mám asi nejraději. Nikde nic nepřebývá, nikde nic nechybí. Před námi se otevře scéna, která by mohla s klidem konkurovat těm nejkrvavějším a nejhnusnějším hororovým filmům. Mrtvá těla, nasekaná na kusy. Vše působí až groteskně a a vzduchem se vznáší mrtvolný puch rozkládajících se těl. Smrt má mnoho podob a tahle patří k nejhnusnějším. Morbidní, zahnívající death metalová tortura! Masakr v temné márnici!
Asphyx says:
A scene opened up before us that could easily rival the bloodiest and nastiest of horror films. Dead bodies, chopped into pieces. A village in the mountains, living a peaceful life. Then they came, the ones you don't talk about. Faceless demons, with weapons that were used to torture, mutilate. Everything looks almost grotesque, and the dead stench of decomposing bodies floats through the air. Death takes many forms, and this is one of the ugliest.
Death metal has always been about ugly things. It's been about what people can be. We all have a darkness in us, a piece of the beast. There are bands like Poland's TORTURED CORPSE that play about similar atrocities. And they do it in a very skilled, elegant way. Welcome to the morbid gallery of death!
This pack still refers to what bands like CANNIBAL CORPSE, ROTTREVORE, NUNSLAUGHTER, IMPETIGO, REPULSION, CARCASS, AUTOPSY left us. Of course, with their own expression and in a way that leaves no one in doubt - here they play real, dirty, believable. This is exactly the kind of underground death metal that we used to collect on cassettes and trade with each other back in the 90s. We used to sit at the speakers, devouring every riff, every motif. I feel the same way about these Polish maniacs. It's clear that the gentlemen and lady are not discovering anything new, but it's definitely not just a craft well done. There is something extra in the songs, a piece of rotten heart, a desire to destroy with music, to cut you to pieces. When you're once again disgusted with today's weird world and everything is coming down on you, give "Cavernous Lobotomy" a good listen. Sometimes I feel like I'm sitting tied up in a madhouse and they're drilling into my head. I sway to the rhythm, enjoying each tune, escaping into the beyond, discovering more and more places where something nasty and horrible has happened. The sound and cover are hilarious, stylish and appropriately dirty and raw. That's probably how I like it best. Nothing is missing, nothing is missing anywhere. A scene opens up before us that could easily rival the bloodiest and nastiest horror films. Dead bodies, chopped into pieces. It's almost grotesque, and the stench of decomposing corpses wafts through the air. Death comes in many forms, and this is one of the ugliest. Morbid, rotting death metal torture! Massacre in a dark morgue!
Pokaždé, když přejdu na druhou stranu, tak se do mě dá chlad. Pronikne až do morku mých kostí. Mozek se vaří ve vlastní šťávě a vnitřnosti napadne zákeřná choroba. Existuje nekonečné množství způsobů, jak můžete zemřít. Vždy ale záleží na tom, čím zaplatíte převozníkovi. Ten je znázorněný i na novém albu německých tmářů DENOMINATION. Osobně vždy volím nějakou dobrou hudbu. Platím pomocí CD "The Last Companion" a Cháron spokojeně kývá hlavou.
Není divu, hraje se zde nejen pro něj, ale i pro všechny nemrtvé, démony a fanoušky prašivého klasického death metalu. Z reproduktorů se na vás ihned vyhrne shnilá smršť surových riffů, chladu, nahrubo nasekané tmy a beznaděje. Opět dostanete velmi výživnou porci toho, co máme všichni na death metalu rádi - tlak, energii a zkaženou krev. Mé kosti se rozpadají v prach.
Kývám se do rytmu, hledám jen ty nejkrásnější zombie. Tančíme na na vlastních hrobech, platíme prokletou duší. A to vše v podobných rytmech jako ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, GRAVE, ENTRAILS, PESTILENCE, MASSACRE, OBITUARY, CARNAGE, NIHILIST. Zkrátka a dobře, téhle německé smečce koluje v žilách stejná krev jako mě. Také tráví dlouhé hodiny v márnicích, na starých pohřebištích, v kobkách, ve kterých lze potkat smrt v mnoha jejich morbidních podobách. Podřízeno je tomu vše - masivní, surový zvuk (Jörn Michutta - mixing, mastering, revording - je podepsán i pod albem "Ungod" slovutných MORGOTH) i temný, záhadný i děsivý obal (autorem je Timon Kokott). Dostanete pořádnou porci poctivého, velmi dobře zahraného a opravdového death metalu. DENOMINATION se sice drží mezi mantinely stylu, nijak nevybočují, ani neexperimentují, ale to rozhodně není na závadu. Naopak, mám rád kapely, které jsou true a ortodoxní. Patřím ještě ke generaci, která musí muzice věřit. Vždy to pro mě bylo víc než nějaké technické finesy. A mohu vám podepsat vlastní krví, že na tuhle smečku je stoprocentní spolehnutí. Důkazem budiž i letošní novinka "The Last Companion", která nejen že je zcela zničující, ale zároveň náležitě chladná a temná, jako ruka dobře uleželé mrtvoly. Až zase jednou budete stát u řeky Styx a přemýšlet o tom, čím zaplatíte převozníkovi, tak vám garantuji, že tahle nahrávka ho rozhodně potěší. A nejen jeho. Je to dokonalá esence toho, co mám na smrtícím kovu rád. Hudba vám pronikne až do morku kostí. Mozek se uvaří ve vlastní šťávě a vnitřnosti napadne zákeřná choroba. Existuje nekonečné množství způsobů, jak můžete zemřít. Tenhle vám mohu jenom doporučit. Temný a chladný death metal, který vás roztrhá na kusy! Budete převezeni na druhou stranu, do říše nemrtvých!
Asphyx says:
Every time I cross over to the other side, it puts a chill in me. It penetrates to the core of my bones. My brain boils in its own juices and my insides are attacked by an insidious disease. There are an infinite number of ways you can die. But it always depends on what you pay the ferryman with. This is also depicted on the new album by German darkies DENOMINATION. Personally, I always opt for some good music. I pay with the CD "The Last Companion" and Charon nods his head in satisfaction.
No wonder, it is played not only for him, but also for all undead, demons and fans of dusty classic death metal. A rotten whirlwind of raw riffs, coldness, coarsely chopped darkness and hopelessness immediately bursts out of the speakers. Once again, you get a very nutritious serving of what we all love about death metal - pressure, energy and bad blood. My bones are crumbling into dust.
I sway to the beat, looking for only the most beautiful zombies. We dance on our own graves, we pay with our cursed souls. And all to similar rhythms as ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, GRAVE, ENTRAILS, PESTILENCE, MASSACRE, OBITUARY, CARNAGE, NIHILIST. In short, this German pack has the same blood in their veins as I do. They also spend long hours in morgues, in old burial grounds, in dungeons where death in its many morbid forms can be encountered. Everything is subordinated to this - the massive, raw sound (Jörn Michutta - mixing, mastering, revording - is also signed to the album "Ungod" by the famous MORGOTH) and the dark, mysterious and terrifying cover (by Timon Kokott). You will get a good portion of honest, very well played and real death metal. DENOMINATION keeps themselves between the boundaries of style, they don't break out or experiment, but that's definitely not a bad thing. On the contrary, I like bands that are true and orthodox. I still belong to the generation that has to believe in music. It's always been more than technical finesse for me. And I can sign with my own blood that this pack is 100% reliable. The proof is in this year's new release "The Last Companion", which is not only utterly devastating, but also appropriately cold and dark, like the hand of a well-laid corpse. The next time you're standing by the River Styx wondering what you're going to pay the ferryman with, I guarantee this record will definitely please him. And not just him. It's the perfect essence of what I love about death metal. The music will penetrate you to the core. Your brain will boil in its own juices and your insides will be attacked by an insidious disease. There are an infinite number of ways you can die. I can only recommend this one. Dark and cold death metal that will tear you apart! You will be transported to the other side, to the realm of the undead!
CD 2024, Me Saco Un Ojo Records, BlackSeed Productions
for english please scroll down
První dny jsem měl ještě naději. Jenže ta mě postupně opustila. Zavřený a odsouzený k smrti, v jedné staré chladné kobce, čekám na démony. Rozmlouvám s nemrtvými, nevím, co je jen děsivá představa a co krutá realita. Mám horečku a krysy kolem mě tančí a čekají na svůj díl masa. Stanu se jenom hromadou kostí, kterou možná rozemelou na prach a rozházejí na louce za krematoriem. Nebudu mít pohřeb, nebudu mít ani hrob. Než se tak ale stane, tak budu nadále poslouchat nové album španělských tmářů SANCTUARIUM.
Jsou to šílené, maniakální ozvěny ze záhrobí. Smrt má mnoho podob a tu, kterou nám tihle maniaci předkládají, je hnusná, mokvající a šílená. Pánové jdou až k samé podstatě death metalu, vše ohlodali na kost. A dělají to velmi uvěřitelně, opravdově. Vše je zahalené do sirnaté krvavé mlhy.
Představte si dávno opuštěný, znesvěcený kostel, v jehož sklepeních se ukrývají rakve padlých kněží. Už u prvního těla zjistíte, že se zde hraje hudba, kterou ocení hlavně všichni nemrtví, démoni i přízraky. Kývám se spokojeně do rytmu, beru do rukou opět lopatu a užívám si hudbu, která je volně inspirovaná kapelami jako AUTOPSY, INCANTATION. Španělé na to jdou surově, nebojí se říznout do živého. Prosévám zase jednou mezi prsty prach, nasávám mrtvolnou atmosféru, kopu další hrob. Je určen samozřejmě pro mě samotného. Zvuk, obal, celkové provedení, vše je na perfektní úrovni. Můžete si tak vychutnat veškeré záhrobní melodie, ostré riffy, chorobný vokál, zničující bicí. Poslouchat "Melted and Decomposed" je jako se dívat na řeku smrti, na smradlavou stoku, ve které se vznášejí kusy těl. Pánové vytáhli na povrch temnotu a zlo, které byly dlouho uložené v plesnivých hrobech. Jedná se o velmi zkušeně umíchaný koktejl deathu metal a doomu, který když ochutnáte, tak budete dlouhé hodiny umírat v neskutečných křečích. Rád a často se zavírám ve svém pokoji, zhasínám všechna světla a poslouchám podobné nahrávky. Nebo beru do rukou lopatu a vydávám se na hřbitov za městem. Počkám, až se setmí a začnu kopat. Otevřu rakev a ulehnu do ní, smířený se svým osudem. Z márnice mi hraje tohle album a já zase jednou vím, že se jedná o album, ke kterému se budu rád a často vracet. Uloží mě do hrobu, dusím se vlastní krví, pomalu přecházím na druhou stranu. A "Melted and Decomposed" poslouchám stále dokola. Jedná se totiž o desku, která má v sobě velké množství temné energie. Mrtvolně mokvající, surový death metal s příchutí zkažené krve! Nahrubo nasekaná tma!
Asphyx says:
The first few days I still had hope. But it gradually left me. Locked up and condemned to death, in a cold old dungeon, waiting for demons. I talk to the undead, not knowing what is a horrible fantasy and what is a cruel reality. I have a fever and the rats dance around me, waiting for their share of flesh. I'll become just a pile of bones, perhaps to be ground to dust and scattered in the meadow behind the crematorium. I won't have a funeral, I won't have a grave. But until that happens, I will continue to listen to the new album by Spanish darkies SANCTUARIUM.
It's crazy, manic echoes from beyond the grave. Death takes many forms and the one these maniacs present to us is ugly, swamping and insane. The gentlemen go to the very essence of death metal, they gnaw everything to the bone. And they do it in a very believable, real way. Everything is shrouded in a sulphurous, bloody fog.
Imagine a long-abandoned, desecrated church in whose vaults the coffins of fallen priests are hidden. Already at the first body you will find that there is music playing, which is appreciated especially by all the undead, demons and ghosts. I sway contentedly to the rhythm, pick up the shovel again and enjoy the music, which is loosely inspired by bands like AUTOPSY, INCANTATION. The Spaniards go at it raw, not afraid to cut into the live. I sift the dust between my fingers once more, soaking up the dead atmosphere, digging another grave. It's meant for myself, of course. The sound, the cover, the overall performance, everything is at a perfect level. You can enjoy all the sepulchral melodies, the sharp riffs, the morbid vocals, the devastating drums. Listening to "Melted and Decomposed" is like looking at a river of death, a stinking sewer with pieces of bodies floating in it. The gentlemen have brought to the surface the darkness and evil that has long been stored in moldy graves. This is a very expertly mixed cocktail of death metal and doom that, when you taste it, will leave you dying in unbelievable convulsions for hours. I like and often lock myself in my room, turn off all the lights and listen to records like this. Or I take a shovel and go to the cemetery outside of town. I wait until it's dark and start digging. I open the coffin and lie in it, resigned to my fate. This album plays from the morgue and I know once again that this is an album I will revisit often and gladly. I'm laid in my grave, choking on my own blood, slowly making my way to the other side. And I listen to "Melted and Decomposed" over and over again. It's a record that has a lot of dark energy in it. Dead-wetting, pissing, raw death metal with a taste of tainted blood! Coarsely chopped darkness!
Recenze/review - SANCTUARIUM - Into the Mephitic Abyss (2023):
Zemřelí, kteří čekají na svůj pohřeb, mezi sebou rozmlouvají. Pokud tomu nevěříte, tak se nechte zavřít na několik nocí do staré márnice, poslouchejte u toho nové EP švédských démonů PAGANIZER a uslyšíte sami. Většinou si stěžují na své životy. Na způsob smrti, kterým odešli ze světa. Je to těžké období, pochmurné je čekání. Nikdy nevíte, jestli půjdete do pekla nebo jen shnijete v chladné zemi. Než se tak ale stane, měli byste do sebe nasát tuhle neopakovatelnou atmosféru.
Přestavte si malý hřbitov, vysoko v horách. Lidé tu ještě věří na přízraky a mají samozřejmě pravdu. Mrtví někdy, když je dobrá konstelace a hudba se opravdu povede, vylézají z hrobů. Máte rádi rukopis Roggy Johanssona, líbí se vám staré desky PAGANIZER? Tak potom budete spokojeni i s EP "Forest of Shub Niggurath". Na tuhle smečku je spolehnutí, amen!
Tentokrát je smrt a utrpení znázorněna a připodobněna ke světu H.P. Lovercrafta. Jeho děsivý les, který se klidně může nacházet i kousek za vaším městem (stačí mít bohatou představivost), vás zcela pohltí. Stejně tak hudba, která je jako vždy drtivá, chladně melodická, drásavá a bolestivá takovým tím krásným morbidním způsobem. Dávejte si pozor, kdo stojí ve stínu. Zvuk je v pořádku, tradice se musí dodržovat a obal se také povedl. Pokud máte rádi kapely jako GRAVE, GOD MACABRE, ABRAMELIN, EDGE OF SANITY, CARNAGE (samozřejmě s vlastním výrazem a signací PAGANIZER), tak budete určitě spokojeni. Jedná se totiž o klasický severský masakr v márnici, o drcení starých kostí, o exhumaci pradávných hrobů, které vydávají další a další svědectví a smrti a utrpení. Přiznám se, a není to žádným tajemstvím, že mám pro tenhle druh morbidní hudby velkou slabost. Sleduji kapelu od jejich začátků (a mám s Roggou i rozhovor, který je stejně jako recenze na další desky, odkazován dole pod článkem) a jako starý pes jsem spokojen. Jasně, pánové nepřinášejí nic nového, ani převratného, ale s tím se tak nějak počítá. My vlastně ani nechceme nějaké stylové změny, nám stačí pořádná porce nahrubo nasekaného shnilého masa. A to jsme opět dostali. Pamatujte na to, že smrt časti číhá ve stínu. Usmívá se a brousí stále dokola svoji rezavou kosu. Ještě to asi bude chvilku trvat, než do mě zasekne svůj dráp, ale než se tak stane, tak budu desky jako je "Forest of Shub Niggurath" poslouchat stále dál. Zemřelí, kteří čekají na svůj pohřeb, mezi sebou rozmlouvají. Tentokrát přišli z temného a děsivého lesa plného monster a bestií. Nezbývá, než podlehnout jim, i téhle nahrávce. Vždy Jejich chvála a hojnost Černé koze z lesů. Já! Shub-Niggurath! Já! Shub-Niggurath! Černá koza z lesů s tisíci mláďaty! Zkáza přichází z prokletého temného lesa! Oldschool swedish death metal s drtivým účinkem!
Asphyx says:
The deceased, waiting for their funeral, talk among themselves. If you don't believe it, then get yourself locked in an old morgue for a few nights, listen to the new EP from Swedish demons PAGANIZER and hear for yourself. Mostly they're complaining about their lives. The way they died, the way they left the world. It's a hard time, the waiting is grim. You never know if you'll go to hell or just rot in the cold earth. But before you do, you should soak up this unique atmosphere.
Imagine a small cemetery, high in the mountains. People here still believe in ghosts, and they're right, of course. The dead sometimes, when the constellation is right and the music is really good, come out of their graves. Do you like Roggy Johansson's handwriting, do you like the old PAGANIZER records? Then you will be happy with the EP "Forest of Shub Niggurath". You can count on this pack, amen!
This time, death and suffering are depicted and likened to the world of H.P. Lovercraft. His eerie forest, which may well be just outside your town (you just need a rich imagination), will completely engulf you. As does the music, which is as crushing, coldly melodic, poignant and painful in that beautiful morbid way it always is. Beware who stands in the shadows. The sound is fine, the tradition must be followed and the cover art is good too. If you like bands like GRAVE, GOD MACABRE, ABRAMELIN, EDGE OF SANITY, CARNAGE (of course with their own expression and PAGANIZER signage), you will definitely be satisfied. This is a classic Nordic massacre in the morgue, the crushing of old bones, the exhumation of ancient graves that give more and more testimony and death and suffering. I confess, and it's no secret, that I have a great fondness for this kind of morbid music. I've been following the band since their early days (and have an interview with Rogga, which, like the reviews of their other albums, is linked at the bottom of this article) and like an old dog I'm satisfied. Sure, the gentlemen don't bring anything new or groundbreaking, but that's kind of expected. We actually don't even want any stylistic changes, a good portion of roughly chopped rotten meat is enough for us. And that's what we got again. Remember, death lurks in the shadows. It smiles and sharpens its rusty scythe over and over again. It'll probably be a while before it sinks its claw into me, but until it does, I'll keep listening to records like "Forest of Shub Niggurath". The dead, waiting for their funeral, talking among themselves. This time they came from a dark and terrifying forest full of monsters and beasts. There's nothing to do but succumb to them, and to this recording. Always their praise and abundance to the Black Goat of the woods. Me! Shub-Niggurath! I! Shub-Niggurath! The black goat of the woods with a thousand young! Destruction comes from the cursed dark forest! Oldschool swedish death metal with a crushing effect!
Prešovskí veteráni Perversity už takmer tri desaťročia cibria svoje umenie a vďaka odhodlaniu, vytrvalosti a nekompromisnému prístupu sa stali pilierom slovenského death metalu. Svoju povesť neľútostne brutálnej a precíznej skupiny potvrdzujú v novom singli Venom Divine. Skladba pochádza z ich nového štúdiového albumu Spiritual Negation.
„Venom Divine dobre reprezentuje celý album. Je agresívnejšia a má stredné aj brutálne pasáže,“ vysvetľuje Jozef „Dodi“ Košč, gitarista, skladateľ a jediný pôvodný člen Perversity.
„Spomínam si, ako sme ju nahrávali v štúdiu,“ pokračuje. „Vtedy som sa poriadne zapotil. Nahrávali sme u Martina Barlu a on je veľký pedant. Nám sa zdalo, že to, čo sme zahrali, znelo dobre, ale on mi na monitore ukázal, že nestíham hrať presne. Po gitarovej stránke má skladba rýchle riffy a ja som si musel riadne zamakať, aby som ich zahral v správnej rýchlosti.“
V priebehu júna nakrútili Perversity ku skladbe klip. Scenár napísal bubeník Marek Baran. „Klip je postavený okolo hlavnej myšlienky textu, ale necháme fanúšikov, aby si v ňom našli svoj vlastný význam. Nakrúcali sme ho v divadle Alexandra Duchnoviča v Prešove. Bola to úžasná skúsenosť. Priestory divadla sú krásne a majestátne. Doteraz sme robili len jednoduché klipy, väčšinou zostrihané zábery z koncertov, ale tentoraz to bolo úplne iné. Prišli sa pozrieť aj ľudia z divadla a všetci nám držali palce,“ hovorí s nadšením Dodi.
Nový klip je zároveň pozvánkou na krst albumu Spiritual Negation. „Album vyšiel na dve etapy - v marci tohto roka na vinyle a v júni ako digipak. Keďže v lete boli ľudia rozlietaní, rozhodli sme sa krst spraviť 21.septembra. Konať sa bude v prešovskom klube Stromoradie. Krstnými rodičmi budú Edo Kopček a Lenka Serafinová. Obaja patria do našej prešovskej partie. Edo nám od začiatku veľmi pomáhal s koncertami a Lenka hosťuje na albume a pomaly sa stáva „šiestym“ členom našej kapely.“
Ako špeciálni hostia si na krste zahrajú ďalšie stálice slovenskej metalovej scény Brute a Craniotomy. „Brute sú naši parťáci z brandže. Už dlhšie nehrali naživo, preto sme radi, že sa nám ich poradilo dotiahnuť. Craniotomy mali pred rokom hrať na krste nášho vedľajšieho projektu Constipation, ale kvôli chorobe z toho zišlo. Sľúbili, že tentokrát už si ďalší krst nenechajú ujsť. V Prešove už dlho tiež nehrali.“
Album Spiritual Negation je v poradí šiestym štúdiovým albumom Perversity. Vinyl vyšiel v limitovanej edícii 250 kusov prostredníctvom slovenského vydavateľstva
Metal Age Production. Vydanie digipak verzie zastrešil francúzsky vydavateľ Great Dane Records.
Pozitívne ohlasy na nový album prešovčanov prichádzajú zo všetkých smerov. Francúzsky portál radiograndr.fr hovorí o slovenskom death metale v celej svojej kráse, na ktorý sa oplatilo čakať sedem rokov. Prorocker.sk dokonca hovorí o prekonaní predchodcu Idolatry, ktorý bol nominovaný na Radio_Head Awards v kategórii Hard & Heavy.
„Na tento album vyšlo najviac recenzií v našej kariére, najmä v zahraničí,“ teší sa Dodi. „Stúpol nám aj počet poslucháčov na Spotify. Hoci je Great Dane Records stále undergroundové vydavateľstvo, vidím, že našu hudbu posúva ďalej.“
Aktuálnu zostavu Perversity tvoria gitarista Jozef „Dodi" Košč, spevák Juraj „Kazateľ“ Handzuš, gitarista Martin „Fetus“ Calko, basgitarista Patrik „Paddy“ Biľ a bubeník Marek Baran.
-recorded, mixed and mastered by Martin Barla Studio, Poprad Slovakia 6-10 2023
-all lyrics by Juraj Handzus, all music by Perversity
- track „Feasting“ and intro to „Wrath Manifest“ created by Marek Baran
-special guests in song “Epitome Of Diabolization“: female vocals by Lenka “Ena“ Serafinova, guitar solo by Rene Blahusiak of Breaking The Tarot /Ex-Dementor/ band
- the title cover was painted by Jana Varadyova alias JanaVe Art
Tančíme na vlastních hrobech, abychom zapomněli na smrt. Skáčeme z pódia, pijeme hektolitry piva, abychom unikli ze současného divného světa. Točíme se v mosh-pitu a nedá se to nijak vysvětlit. Fascinuje nás temnota a chlad dávno opuštěných kobek. Nakonec nám jde hlavně o muziku, o které dlouze diskutujeme, abychom potom řvali texty spolu s kapelou. Mám rád smečky, které mi dokáží přelámat všechny kosti v těle.
Mám ale vždy několik podmínek. Základem je dobrý zvuk, s chutí se podívám na zajímavý obal. Hudba mě potom musí rozervat na kusy. Musím mít chuť se k ní vracet a přidávat volume. Maniaky HEREZA sleduji od jejich počátků (recenze a rozhovory si můžete přečíst dole pod článkem). Novinku jsem očekával s velkým napětím. Zapnul jsem play a začal tančit na svém vlastním hrobě.
Opět se jedná o surově namíchanou směs prašivého death metalu a punku. To vše zahrané s přístupem starých mistrů. Skladby mají jasné a zřetelné motivy, které se mi pokaždé zadřou pod kůži. Je v tom kus rebelie, je v tom kus srdce. Mám to takhle rád. Jsem starý metalový pes, který zvedá hlavu už jen v případě, když ho nějaké album přikove na zeď. HEREZA tohle všechno umí a dělá to velmi elegantně. Stačilo několik prvních setkání a pamatuji si každý motiv, každý riff, notu, úder bicích. Jsme zkrátka a dobře jedné krve. Fanoušci třeba takových ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, BOMBS OF HADES, BLACK BREATH, SKINEFATHER, TRAP THEM, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MOTORHEAD, mi určitě má slova potvrdí. Je to jízda od začátku do konce. A směřuje, jak jinak, rovnou do pekla. Nevím, jak to máte ve svém životě vy, ale já potřebuji hudbu k tomu, abych přežil. Je pro mě relaxem, ale i nutností. Poslouchám ji v autě, v práci, doma, když si čtu a v pátek mám vždycky sto chutí vyrazit do zaplivaného špinavého klubu někde v podzemí. Tam tahle smečka patří a tam síla její hudby vynikne nejvíce. Je to underground toho nejhrubšího zrna, je to kus syrového masa, které vám hodí kapela do ksichtu. Líbí se mi i určitá nadsázka, touha ničit muzikou, které z nové desky "Decomposed Beyond Recognition" odkapávají jako čerstvá krev z proříznuté tepny. Tohle je metal a punk, ohlodaný na kost. Naživo výborní, na nahrávkách zničující. Takže přátelé, říkám fuck off všem debilům a pozérům a přidávám volume úplně doprava. Tančím na vlastním hrobě, abych zapomněl na smrt. Skáču z pódia, piju hektolitry piva, abych unikl ze současného divného světa. Točím se v mosh-pitu a neumím to nijak vysvětlit. Nahrubo nasekaná, surová death punk metalová tma, chlad a syrové maso! Popraskají vám všechny kosti v těle!
Asphyx says:
We dance on our own graves to forget death. We jump off the stage, drink hectolitres of beer to escape the strange world of today. We're spinning in mosh-pits and there's no way to explain it. We're fascinated by the darkness and coldness of long-abandoned dungeons. At the end of the day, it's all about the music, which we discuss at length, then scream the lyrics along with the band. I like a pack that can break every bone in my body.
But I always have a few conditions. The basic thing is a good sound, and I'm happy to look at an interesting cover. Then the music has to tear me apart. I have to want to go back to it and turn up the volume. I've been following the HEREZA maniacs since their early days (you can read reviews and interviews below the article). I awaited the new release with great anticipation. I put it on play and started dancing on my own grave.
Again, it is a raw mix of dusty death metal and punk. All played with the attitude of the old masters. The songs have clear and distinct themes that get under my skin every time. There's a piece of rebellion in it, there's a piece of heart in it. I like it that way. I'm an old metal dog who only raises his head when an album nails him to the wall. HEREZA can do all that and does it very elegantly. Just the first few meetings and I remember every motif, every riff, every note, every drum beat. We are, in short, of one blood. Fans of such bands as ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER, BOMBS OF HADES, BLACK BREATH, SKINEFATHER, TRAP THEM, MALEVOLENT CREATION, MOTORHEAD will surely confirm my words. It's a ride from start to finish. And it goes straight to hell. I don't know about your life, but I need music to survive. It's a relaxation for me, but it's also a necessity. I listen to it in the car, at work, at home, when I'm reading, and on Fridays I always feel like going to a dirty filthy club somewhere underground. That's where this pack belongs and where the power of their music shines through the most. It's underground of the coarsest grain, it's a piece of raw meat that the band throws in your face. I also like a certain exaggeration, a desire to destroy with music that drips from the new album "Decomposed Beyond Recognition" like fresh blood from a cut artery. This is metal and punk, gnawed to the bone. Great live, devastating on record. So friends, I say fuck off to all the assholes and posers and turn the volume all the way to the right. I'm dancing on my own grave to forget death. I'm jumping off the stage, drinking hectoliters of beer to escape the weird world of today. I'm spinning in mosh-pits and I can't explain it. Coarsely chopped, raw death punk metal darkness, cold and raw meat! It'll crack every bone in your body!
Tracklist: 01. Demons Among Us 02. Piggy's Palace 03. A Shrine of Skulls 04. Born to Raise Hell (feat. Casket Schorsch) 05. Handsome Devil 06. Decomposed Beyond Recognition 07. Aileen 08. Dead End (feat. Hellknife Ralf) 09. Serial Slasher (feat. Digest! Tommi) 10. El Matador
Musíte překročit několik zahnívajících mrtvol, abyste se dostali do staré smradlavé kobky. Právě tu hrají japonští maniaci IMMORTAL DEATH. Na hromadě prašivých kostí, drtí svými ostrými riffy všechno živé. Jakoby byla mezi nebohé smrtelníky vypuštěna nějaká starodávná choroba. Takové byly moje pocity ze stejnojmenné demo nahrávky, když v roce 2022 vyšla poprvé. Vyloženě undergroundová záležitost na kazetě, pouze pro vyvolené.
Z nekonečných chodeb podsvětí se znovu ozývá nářek mučených. Japonci demo znovu vydávají a to jak na kazetě, tak na CD, a to u finského labelu Werewolf Records, který se na podobná ďábelská zvěrstva soustředí. Nutno rovnou dodat, že odvádí vynikající práci. Jestli jste byli kdysi dávno prokleti jako já, tak se určitě na jejich nabídku podívejte.
Odpor proti všemu dobrému, bezbožné rouhání, divoké motivy, hnilobný zvuk, melodie plné temných stínů, tohle všechno jsou IMMORTAL DEATH. Totální underground pro všechny, kteří věří v existenci Satana a jeho přisluhovačů. Při poslechu mě ve vnitřnostech hlodá a kouše neskutečná bolest. Smrt přichází nejdříve pomalu a potom vás sejme jako kat sekyrou svoji oběť. Prosévám mezi prsty prach z čerstvě exhumovaného hrobu a užívám si prašivý zvuk, stylový obal, je to pro mě jako návrat někam na začátek devadesátých let minulého století. Myslím, že fanoušci třeba takových NECROVORE, PISSGRAVE, INFESTER, DEICIDE, AMON, DEATHCHURCH mi dají určitě za pravdu. Tohle není hudba pro slabé povahy, ani pro pozéry, tady se hraje krutě a hnusně. Maso vám bude odpadávat od kostí, budete se modlit k obrácenému kříži a užívat si morbidně podmanivou atmosféru. V každém z nás je kus ďábla, každý máme své temné stránky. Japonci je vzali a vytáhli je na povrch. Hrobníci i patologové se setkávají se smrtí v různých podobách a ta, kterou nám předkládají IMMORTAL DEATH je mokvající, surová, děsivá. Demo je šílenou noční můrou, která se stala hroznou realitou. Otevírám další rakev, zapínám znovu play a ocitám se několik metrů pod zemí. Musel jsem překročit několik zahnívajících mrtvol, abych se dostal do staré smradlavé kobky. Právě tu hrají japonští maniaci IMMORTAL DEATH. Na hromadě prašivých kostí, drtí svými ostrými riffy všechno živé. Zkaženou krví nasáklý morbidní death metal, starodávná choroba z onoho světa! Pekelná záležitost!
Asphyx says:
You have to step over several rotting corpses to get to the old stinking dungeon. This is where Japanese maniacs IMMORTAL DEATH play. On a pile of mangy bones, they crush everything alive with their sharp riffs. It's as if some ancient disease has been unleashed among the poor mortals. Such were my feelings about the demo of the same name when it was first released in 2022. A purely underground affair on cassette, for the chosen few only.
From the endless corridors of the underworld, the cries of the tortured are heard again. The Japanese are re-releasing the demo, both on cassette and CD, on the Finnish label Werewolf Records, which focuses on similar diabolical atrocities. It must be added that they do an excellent job. If you were cursed like me a long time ago, be sure to check out their offerings.
Resistance against everything good, unholy blasphemy, wild themes, rotten sound, melodies full of dark shadows, these are all IMMORTAL DEATH. Totally underground for all those who believe in the existence of Satan and his minions. Listening to it, an unbelievable pain gnaws and bites my insides. Death comes slowly at first and then it takes you down like an executioner axing his victim. Sifting the dust from a freshly exhumed grave between my fingers and enjoying the dusty sound, the stylish cover art, it's like returning to somewhere in the early 1990s. I think fans of the likes of NECROVORE, PISSGRAVE, INFESTER, DEICIDE, AMON, DEATHCHURCH will definitely agree with me. This is not music for weak characters, nor for posers, the playing here is cruel and ugly. The flesh will fall off your bones, you will pray to the inverted cross and enjoy the morbidly captivating atmosphere. There's a bit of the devil in all of us, we all have our dark sides. The Japanese have taken them and brought them to the surface. Gravediggers and pathologists alike encounter death in various forms and the one presented to us by IMMORTAL DEATH is swamping, raw, horrifying. The demo is a mad nightmare that has become a horrible reality. I open another coffin, turn the play back on and find myself several feet underground. I had to step over several rotting corpses to get to the old smelly dungeon. This is where the Japanese maniacs IMMORTAL DEATH play. On a pile of mangy bones, they crush everything alive with their sharp riffs. Corrupted blood-soaked morbid death metal, an ancient disease from the other world! A hell of a thing!
Ave OFFICIUM TRISTE! To start our conversation with a short story...I got up early and went into the woods. It was quiet and the sun was slowly rising over the horizon. I came to the ruins of an old church. In the ruins, I sat down for a while and listened to your new album "Hortus Venenum". It was at the end of July, the album had come to me for review earlier. I wasn't able to write anything until last week, I preferred to keep listening. Welcome to Hooland and thank you very much for your new album. How did the album come about, when did the first ideas and thoughts come about? What is the basic theme of the whole record?
Thanks for the story.
Just after the release of The Death of Gaia late 2019 we were confronted with the pandemic, which meant we couldn’t actually promote the album doing live shows and so on. So, we started working on new material since we couldn’t do anything else. We actually wrote a lot of new material and carefully decided which songs would end up on a new album. We did record and release a single in between. Late 2022 we started recording the new album. We always take our time doing so and in January 2024 we were finished. In general we always work on ideas that we all like and those become actual finished songs. There’s no special thought behind it. Along the way I usually come up with song titles and lyrics, although this time Martin presented the title Behind Closed Doors.
I first came up with the title Poison Garden and later on decided to translate it into Latin as we have done before. This title is a metaphor for the world we live in. And even when the subjects of the particular songs differ a lot, there’s always a link to the behaviour of mankind on this planet.
I listen mostly to fast music, raw death metal, black and thrash, but doom metal is kind of in my blood since the first albums PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE. A long time ago, when I was still in college, I discovered this style with my future wife. How did you get into this style? And what is it like to play doom metal in Holland? To be honest, I don't know many bands like that from you.
Before we started with Officium Triste we were called Reïncremated and played death metal. But at that time we already listened to bands such as Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Katatonia, Type O Negative or Winter to name a few. For our keyboard player Martin, who started out as our drummer, the show of My Dying Bride in early 1994 here in Tilburg in the Netherlands was the trigger to quit Reïncremated and reform as Officium Triste.
Being a doom metal band in the Netherlands is tough. It’s not the most popular genre. There are quite a few bands active though. One of our inspirations Celestial Season is active again and releasing cool albums with classic doom/death. Other than that there are a couple bands that are more underground, like Façade or Sad Whisperings.
I personally discovered you at a gig with OCTOBER TIDE in Pilsen in 2015. I must admit that I was literally fascinated by the atmosphere you were able to create. I immediately ran to buy a CD with a friend and didn't listen to anything else for two months. Every time I'm in a "sad" mood or need to stop, I choose doom metal. Do you remember the tour with OCTOBER TIDE? What do you think about the Czech fans?
I remember that gig well. Also the day after when Nifelheim had to perform for instance. This was our first time in the Czech Republic and we enjoyed it a lot. Especially the reception we got from the Czech audience. And last but not least; to taste pilsner beer in the city where it was invented was cool too. We even did a brewery tour.
If you saw my library, you might be surprised. You'll find old historical books and novels as well as modern detective stories, science fiction. I'm the same with books as I am with music. I like to sample. I'll go to a grindcore concert, listen to black metal. But doom metal is a very specific kind of music. It's got every note, drum beat, vocal. How do you actually compose such music? I'm interested in the process of creating a new song? Is that a motif you can hear somewhere? In the ether, in your head? For me, for example, the words for reviews come to mind most early in the morning when I'm walking to work. I write them down on my phone and then use them when I start writing. How do you do it?
It’s a bit hard fort me to tell as the others usually come up with the ideas en melodies. But I know from them inspiration often comes unexpected. And it comes from different aspects in life. Once an idea is presented we work on the arrangements as a band. And when the composition is almost finished I start working on lyrics. Ideas on lyrics also can come from anywhere. First and foremost they must fit the feeling I get from the music.
I also write down words or sentences in my phone. It’s my little note book i use when I actually start writing lyrics.
I'll confess to one thing. You know what literally fascinates me about Hortus Venenum? The vocals! You have a very urgent voice, it complements and enhances the music perfectly. It's like you guys have a special connection in the band? Do you have a musical background? Do you take singing lessons, for example?
I am completely self-taught. You know, back in 1992 or so, we were a big group of friends who were all active in bands. Ceremony lost their singer and asked the singer of Profane. I tried out for Profane, but I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, Profane asked the then singer of Reïncremated. I was good friends with the bass player of Reïncremated so I started out there. And I just learned going along. Practice makes perfect, right? As you know Reïncremated turned into Officium Triste and we’re still here.
Within the band we get along really fine and it just all comes naturally. No big secrets here.
You're from Rotterdam. I don't know if it's true, but it seems to me that the sea and the surrounding nature must have inspired you a lot? Or am I wrong? I imagine you're walking along the beach or visiting an old church and suddenly you think of a new motif for a song. Because I feel this strange melancholy from the new record, which is something that not only British doom bands have, but also bands from Finland. Does the environment influence you a lot in your work? Where do you actually like to go? What about you and nature, sights?
Well, Rotterdam is a city and at times a rather bleak one. This does inspire me. Together with our bass player Theo I am the only one in the band still living in or very near Rotterdam. The rest of the band lives in other parts of the Netherlands. Martin, our keyboard player moved to Germany many years ago and he actually lives in a part with great nature.
As the lyricist my inspiration largely comes from other sources like books, movies and real life. You know, stuff you see on the news. The state the world is in for instance.
Me personally I like cities, museums, history, literature and nature from time to time too. If you open your eyes there’s a lot of intriguing and beautiful stuff in this rotten world.
How are you on the gigging side of things? Do you play a lot and often? We have a few good doom bands in Pilsen and the gigs tend to be really poorly attended. This is a pity, although I understand that this music is not for everyone. How many people come to the club to see you? And what are the Dutch fans like? Do they support the bands?
It is not that different here I suppose. We do play regularly but not a lot. Putting on doom shows is hard. The attendance isn’t that good. The only way to attract more people to a show is to mix it up with other styles. Or to do a festival type thing, which I have been doing with Dutch Doom Days since 2002. Then you’ll attract a bit more people.
I have been wondering about this for a long time. And it all boils down to people. Why do bands like My Dying Bride or Candlemass sell out bigger venues? And why aren‘t 90% of the people attending those shows interested in gigs by similar bands? Something I don’t understand myself as I love to check out new bands or go see bands I haven’t seen live before. I guess I’m part of that small die-hard group of fans.
In the Netherlands you always see the same people at doom gigs. These are also the die-hards.
I also feel bands from abroad get more support opposed to Dutch bands. And I really don’t know why. We have so many great bands here.
Most bands have rather fluctuating quality in their discographies. But it's different for you. I don't think you've recorded a bad album yet. How do you explain that? Are you perfectionists? Or does everything happen only under the "guidance" of one person? They say a band is like a family. Well, yeah, but there's always got to be someone in the band who has the final say. How is it with OFFICIUM TRISTE?
Okay, instead of family I prefer to see the band as being in a relationship. And when things don’t work anymore you’ve got to make changes. That’s why we have had some line-up changes in the past. As a band we do function as a unit, where we decide on everything together. We don’t really have a leader. Creating music is a group process. One person delivers the basic idea, but we work on the song together till everyone is happy. Recording your music is like a snapshot. You deliver the best you can at that moment. You might strife for perfection but there’s always things you can improve or that you might not be totally happy about afterwards. This is only good, because this will make you work harder on your next release and try to do better. Also, if you deliver a perfect album it is time to quit, because perfection can’t be surpassed.
As I'm getting older, I'm becoming more and more aware of what things are important. There's a lot of chaos all around us these days. Social media, the news, wars, depression, it all affects us and every moment we stop and maybe just sit and look at the ruins of old churches and listen to music is terribly precious. Actually, for me, music is not only relaxation, but also a kind of therapy, it helps me to survive in the strange world of today. What does music mean to you as a creator and musician? And why doom metal?
You hit the nail on its head here. Our albums are fuelled by this man made hell on earth.
To me personally music or art in general is one of the things that make life still worthwhile. It indeed is therapeutic. Reading a book or watching a movie (both art forms) for instance make you drift away from all the misery around you. For a moment you don’t have to think about politics, war or stupidity. Creating art yourself is part of the same process. Enjoying art or creating art are both sides of the same coin. And doing this is a relief from every day life and you even learn from it as well.
The fact we decided to play doom metal is basically because of the beauty of this art form. It’s our vessel.
Could you please tell us how your lyrics are created and who is the author? Do you draw from literature, philosophy? But how does it come about that you think - this particular lyric, passage, book appealed to me and would be worth translating into music?
I write all lyrics and I basically try to come up with something that suits the actual music. Inspiration can come from anything. Let me give a few examples. The album’s title, which translates to Poison Garden, I wrote down when I saw the James Bond Movie No Time To Die. To me a Poison Garden is a great metaphor for the world we live in. The song My Poison Garden however has to do with mental problems a person can have. Something that more and more people seem to suffer from.
Angels with Broken Wings was something I came up with when I saw on TV what the impact of war on children is. This was an item about Ukraine but it can be situated anywhere.
Anna’s Woe is based on the story of the last witch sentenced to death in 1608 in the part of the Netherlands that was then called Holland. This happened in the city I was born and grew up in.
So, three different subjects inspired by different sources. It can be anything really as long as it fits the music. Like I said before, I write down things in my phone. Works like a charm for me.
One more trip into history, please. How did you get started in music? Who was your first role model? What about your first concert? And the first performance on stage?
Okay, when I grew up there was always music in our house and from an early stage I really liked music a lot. Still do. I listen to a wide variety of styles. And I love to collect. When I was 9 I got my first album from my oldest sister, which was One Step Beyond by Madness. I still have this record and it was a great start for my collection. In 1982 I went to my first concert. This was a gig by Doe Maar, a Dutch band that was huge around that time. They played reggae/ska inspired music with Dutch lyrics. Around that time I daydreamed about being in a band and I remember I wanted to be Ali Campbell of UB40.
I actually started out being in a band as I told before. But I had no real role model as far as the death metal vocal style is concerned. I just listened to plenty of bands and tried my best.
First live performance was with Reïncremated early 1994 a couple of months before we reformed as Officium Triste.
What are OFFICIUM TRISTE planning in the near future? Do you have anything to say to your fans? Here is the space.
We have a few gigs planned and hopefully we can do a few more. Since we still have quite a few ideas in storage I hope we can write some new songs soon. I know we take a lot of time between albums, but maybe we can return a bit sooner.
I also hope that our new album will be received well and that people will enjoy our music. We are very pleased with it and hopefully you are too!
I was up early preparing these questions, it's also the weekend and it's about to dawn. You can probably guess where I'm going. I've got my headphones ready, "Hortus Venenum" in them, and I'm looking forward to the woods. I'd like to finish by thanking you very much for your music. Thank you of course also for the interview and I wish you lots of inspiration and good ideas. May you do well in your private life too! Playing again...
Recenze/review - OFFICIUM TRISTE - Hortus Venenum (2024):
