DEATH, THRASH, BLACK, HEAVY, DOOM AND ROCK METAL ZINE

- REVIEWS, REPORTS, INTERVIEWS - SUPPORT METAL UNDERGROUND

Zobrazují se příspěvky se štítkemold school deathmetal. Zobrazit všechny příspěvky
Zobrazují se příspěvky se štítkemold school deathmetal. Zobrazit všechny příspěvky

pondělí 11. března 2024

Recenze/review - DAMNATION - Fátum (2024)


DAMNATION - Fátum
CD 2024, Pest Records

for english please scroll down

Když jsem otevřel tuhle hrobku poprvé, nevěděl jsem, co čekat. Stála v rohu hřbitova a nikdo ji nenavštěvoval dlouhá léta. Měla nad vchodem nápis DAMNATION a uvnitř ležely rakve pohřbené někdy v devadesátých let minulého století. Vstoupil jsem dovnitř, poslechl si několikrát nové album "Fátum" a ihned jsem věděl, že jsem zde správně. Vedle rakví hořel věčný plamen a stačilo několik prvních tónů a mrtvoly se probudily. Vrátily se na náš svět, ze záhrobí, aby v něm šířily zlo a nenávist. A udělaly to pomocí téhle desky. 

Stále mě baví přehrabovat se ve starých kostech, pořád mám chuť objevovat nové kapely. Pokaždé si sednu a nechám na sebe jejich hudbu působit. Potom uvidím, jestli o ní napíšu, nebo se v duchu omluvím a jdu dál. DAMNATION mě přesvědčili, jsou z Maďarska a jejich hudba je stará jako death metal samotný. Je opředená pavučinami a když budete poslouchat pozorně, ztuhne vám krev v žilách. 


Jedná se o debutové album kapely a měl bych být trošku shovívavý, ale nemusím. Po zvukové stránce je vše v nejlepším pořádku (Árpád Szenti recording, mixing and mastering). Líbí se mi i stylový obal. Hlavní je ale hudba a ta je zde velmi syrová, zničující. Praskají u ní staré kosti a děje se tak v podobných rymtech jako u kapel typu INCANTATION, MORBID ANGEL, GOREFEST, DECAPITATED, DEICIDE. Pánové odvedli skvělý výkon. Není divu, jedná se o zkušené muzikanty, o staré protřelé psy, kteří moc dobře vědí, jak se nám dostat pod kůži. Působili ve smečkách jako MORBID CARNAGE, GORT, NEEDLESS. To by samo o sobě ještě nebylo zárukou kvality. Jenže je, mezi muzikanty totiž funguje pověstná chemie a vy si tak můžete vychutnat velmi dobrou porci morbidních ozvěn ze záhrobí. Skladby připomínají kusy zahnívajícího masa, které vám kapela hodí přímo do obličeje. Jasně, nikdo zde neobjevuje nic nového, netvoří se zde dějiny v metalu, ale to ani není účelem. Novinka "Fátum" je ale nejen velmi dobrým řemeslem. Deska má v sobě i něco navíc, kus temnoty, opravdovosti, které dělají s obyčejných nahrávek ty výborné. To vám klidně podepíšu vlastní krví. Přidávám postupně hlasitost, kývám se do rytmu a podvědomě vím, že nastal čas na exhumaci. Vyneseme rakve na světlo a ony shoří na popel. Zůstane po nich jenom kov smrti, který bude znít hřbitovem, jako mementum starých časů. Mám to takhle rád a tak mi nezbývá nic jiného, než vám album doporučit. Shoříte v pekle! Temný, ryzí, jedovatý death metal, u kterého vám pukne lebka tlakem! Katakomby byly otevřeny! Bestie se probudila!


Asphyx says:

When I first opened this tomb, I didn't know what to expect. It stood in the corner of the cemetery and hadn't been visited in years. It had a DAMNATION sign above the entrance and inside were coffins buried sometime in the 1990s. I walked in, listened to the new album "Fatum" a few times and immediately knew I was in the right place. An eternal flame burned next to the coffins and all it took was the first few notes to wake the corpses. They have returned to our world, from beyond the grave, to spread evil and hatred. And they did it with this record. 

I still enjoy digging through old bones, I still want to discover new bands. Every time I sit down and let their music affect me. Then I'll see if I'll write about it, or make a mental apology and move on. DAMNATION convinced me, they are from Hungary and their music is as old as death metal itself. It's shrouded in cobwebs and if you listen carefully, your blood will stiffen in your veins.


This is the band's debut album and I should be a bit reticent, but I don't have to be. Sound-wise, everything is in the best order (Árpád Szenti recording, mixing and mastering). I also like the stylish cover. But the main thing is the music and it is very raw and devastating here. It cracks old bones and it happens in similar rhythms as bands like INCANTATION, MORBID ANGEL, GOREFEST, DECAPITATED, DEICIDE. The gentlemen did a great job. No wonder, these are experienced musicians, old dogs who know very well how to get under our skin. They worked in packs like MORBID CARNAGE, GORT, NEEDLESS. That in itself would not be a guarantee of quality. But it is, because there is a chemistry between the musicians and you can enjoy a very good portion of morbid echoes from beyond the grave. The songs resemble pieces of rotting meat that the band throws right in your face. Sure, no one is discovering anything new here, no history is being made in metal, but that's not the point either. But the new album "Fátum" is not only a very good craft. The record has something extra, a piece of darkness, a realness that make ordinary records the great ones. I'll sign it with my own blood. I gradually turn up the volume, swaying to the rhythm and subconsciously I know that it's time for exhumation. We'll bring the coffins out into the light and they'll burn to ashes. All that will be left is the metal of death that will ring through the cemetery, a memento of the old days. I like it that way and so I have no choice but to recommend the album to you. You will burn in hell! Dark, pure, poisonous death metal that will make your skull crack from the pressure! The catacombs have been opened! The beast has awakened!


Tracklist:
01. Belső Kapuk A Világűrbe 
02. Halandó Mindenség 
03. Lennvilág 
04. Múlás 
05. Antiverzum 
06. Holocén Alkony 
07. A Paraziták Vándorlása 
08. Rejtőzködő Fajok A Kvantumok Birodalmában 
09. Zsigerlét 
10. Az Idő Áramlatai

neděle 10. března 2024

A few questions - interview with sludge death grind band from Australia - RESIN TOMB.


A few questions - interview with sludge death grind band from Australia - RESIN TOMB.

Answered By Matthew Budge (Vocalist)

Recenze/review - RESIN TOMB - Cerebral Purgatory (2024):

Ave, can you introduce your band to our readers? – When was it founded and what style of music do you play etc.?

Resin Tomb was founded in 2019, we started as a 3 piece, became a 4 piece by the time we wrote the "Unconsecrated // Ascendancy” 2-Track, and have now been a 5 piece since the writing of ‘Cerebral Purgatory’. We play DIssonant-Death Metal, that's heavily influenced by Blackened Grind.

Where and under what conditions were you recording the new album? Who was in charge of sound, production and mastering?

We are very fortunate to have Brendan Auld (Pip) from Black Blood Audio as our guitarist/songwriter/producer. At the time of writing Cerebral Purgatory, Pip was still operation Black Blood Audio from the studio he built under his house. Pips a mad man, he would stay up writing demos until all hours of the night, sending us through mixes at 3am in the morning. He wrote all the demos in around 2 weeks, and then as a unit we fine tuned them for awhile, then recorded. Everything was recorded in house by Pip at Black Blood Audio (except for drum tracking, it was still recorded by Brendan, but at Qsound Audio Services at the Gold Coast). He then took care of all the mixing, and we sent it off to be mastered by Arthur Rizk.


How many copies were released and which medium was used for this new edition (CD, digital, vinyl, cassette)?

Vinyl: 200 Copies (2 Variants)

CD: 300 Copies

Tape: 100 Copies

Who is the author of the lyrics and how were they created and about what do the lyrics deal with?

I (Budge - Vocalist) wrote all the lyrics for this album. Every song is a short story about a horrible death or equally shit existence. The futility of existence can be brutal. I've always found real life much more terrifying than an exaggerated Hollywood concept. Life is disposable and that is absolutely terrifying.

Who created the logo of the band, and who took care of the graphics and the website? What about you and social networks? Do you consider these things important?

The logo was created by a dude called Necro Frost. He's an Indonesian artist, check him out on Instagram. As for the Bandcamp, that's all taken care of by our Bassist - Mitch Long, he works in design so it's very handy having him on board.


Which label did you choose for releasing your album and why this label? Are you satisfied by how your label represents you and takes care about you?

Transcending Obscurity hit up Pip about releasing a Snorlax record via them, and he already had a label for that project, so he sent Kunal the demos for the Cerebral Purgatory and he was keen immediately, so we actually didn't shop it around, we already really liked Transcending as a label so when he was on board we ran with it.

Which bands do you idolise and where do you get your inspiration?

It varies from each member, but some notable band favourites are; Artificial Brain, Gorguts, Ulcerate, Hexis, Disentomb, Wiegedood, Dragged Into Sunlight, Wake, Primitive Man, Whorls, Teeth, Faceless Burial and Dead Congregation.

Did you send your record to some Labels - which are the labels? How was the response?

No, only Transcending Obscurity.


How many gigs have you played? Which type of gigs do you prefer, whether it's (clubs or festivals) and which of your performances would you consider as the best?

It’s hard to say, if I had to guess I'd say maybe like 30ish gigs as Resin Tomb. Festivals are nice for an interstate gig as they tend to have a larger audience to try and convert, but we also love a good intimate club show in your hometown.

What about your plans for the future? What do you want to achieve with the band?

We would love to do some touring in the near future. It's difficult to predict, we are all between 33/34, so we are at the stage in our lives where we are buying houses, having kids and getting married. Resin Tomb is a huge passion for us all, but the stars have to align pretty nicely for us all to have time to do anything big together.


How and where can your fans contact you? Can you provide some contact information?

We are pretty responsive on both Instagram and Facebook Messenger (more so Instagram) and we can be contacted via email at resintombdeath@gmail.com.

Thanx for the interview.

Thanks!



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

sobota 9. března 2024

Interview - ACRID DEATH - Rotten, swelling echoes from the most putrid death metal catacombs!


Interview with death metal band from Germany - ACRID DEATH.

Answered Volker, Thomas and Tobi, thank you!

Recenze/review - ACRID DEATH - Abominable Presence of Blight (2024):

Ave ACRID DEATH! I haven’t found any interview in the Czech language with you, yet. So please, first introduce the band to our readers who don’t know you. You could start from the early beginnings and describe the whole ACRID DEATH history.

Hi man, this is Volker from Acrid Death! Glad to answer your questions!

So, there's not that much to tell yet actually, as we're a pretty new band! The members all have been making underground metal for decades, but we as a band only really started when the pandemic was over, I think spring 2022-ish.

Thomas, Tobias and I played at Driven by Entropy already and when Thomas said „man, I wanna do some old-school shit, like real nasty HM-2 stuff“ I said „sure, let's go!“ and went to work, writing some riffs, finding a sound and putting together the first couple songs. Then we started looking for a band and of course asked Tobi first who immediately said yes and brought along his All Its Grace buddy Christian. I then asked my buddy Philipp from Synchronic to play drums and here we are!


I’m just listening to your new record „Abominable Presence of Blight“ and I feel like as if I am closed in some tomb together with DISMEMBER, GRAVE, ENTRAILS, SORCERY, INTERMENT, CENTINEX. The record has a great Swedish sound. Where did you record it and how satisfied you are with it? Did you have the "last word" concerning the resulting sound?

Yeah, that's exactly what we were going for! Entrails, man, The Tomb Awaits is such a great album, love it! So yeah, it sounds exactly as we want it, recorded and mixed by Emil Cezanne of Nighttime Productions, who had just finished working on the latest All Its Grace record, and mastered by Brad Boatright of Audiosiege who has worked with amazing bands like Nails, Gatecreeper, Obituary and many more.

How was the new material for album „Abominable Presence of Blight“ created? How exactly ACRID DEATH writes the music?

Usually it starts with me recording some parts at home, sometimes whole songs. Then I bring that stuff to the rehearsal sessions with the guys and we start tweaking it, re-arranging, adding parts, removing parts etc., and when the general structure is set Tobi starts writing vocals.


„Abominable Presence of Blight“ has dark and morbid cover art. Who is an author? I really like his work. How did you actually choose the idea of the cover and what exactly illustrates?

I’m going to hand this one over to Thomas as he did pretty much all the work there, so Thomas, there you go:

The cover was created by an artist called Denis Cardan, who I got from Vladyslav from All4Bands. It was important to me that the cover wasn't just a cover, but a part of the album in itself. I'm afraid that people have unfortunately lost sight of that nowadays. The idea came from Denis, based on my specifications. At first I simply said: "Suffering people, wasted country!". With these words, I was handed the record Fathomless Mastery by Bloodbath in 2009, which is still my undisputed favorite record in death metal today.

In principle, the idea behind it is simple. We as humanity are (once again) in the process of opening the door to hell, be it through man-made climate change, recurring nationalism, brutal wars of aggression, unbelievably stupid populism, hatred, exploitation and oppression, etc., to name just a few things. All of this is represented by the beast, which comes out of this burning gate with its helpers. So these aspects are also mirrored in the album title „Abominable Presence Of Blight“

Of course our record will contribute to the destruction of the world...okay, just kidding.


Could you reveal us who is an author of the lyrics and what is their background? Where did you take inspiration for certain topics?

This one is for our vocalist, so there you go Tobi:

First of all, I am always happy when someone shows interest and asks about the lyrics. It doesn’t happen that often.

I write all of them and for most songs, I tried kind of a dual approach. I have a general topic I want to write about, which then needs to be “packaged” into something fitting for Death Metal songs and has an eerie or even threatening atmosphere. Like “Huntsmen” being about the hubris of parts of the human species, but is told by describing being hunted and devoured by something nasty like a giant spider.

Inspirations and topics can be very different. So, to give a few examples: On one hand there’s books like “House of Leaves” (Danielewski) which I just love in general or “Ship of Theseus” (Dorst, Abrams) that found its way into our song “Heave”. The song itself is about losing your directions in life and being horrified because your are being overwhelmed.

I also love video games and for example the title for “Dreg Heap” came from an area in Dark Souls III.

Then on the other hand there are songs about more specific topics. “Presence” is about a psychiatric phenomenon called fugue state and “Shadows” deals with changing mental states while facing a looming threat of complete psychological breakdowns. “Negative Space” tries to explore existential dread by using the vast emptiness and unknown horrors of space as a symbol.

And while I think it is inevitable to also have personal issues and experiences find their way into stuff you write, I mostly try to keep it a bit more vague in order to leave space for the individual interpretations of everyone who is interested to spend time and try to read and understand the lyrics.

Well, and of course I love reading the lyrics of other bands to get inspired. The list here would be endless and contain bands from Pig Destroyer to Radiohead and many things in between.


The new album was released by Rising Nemesis Records. This label has a very good name in the underground scene and does a very good job. However, didn't you want to release a record in some bigger label? Did you ask some other label? How you are actually satisfied with Rising Nemesis Records?

Nasar, who runs Rising Nemesis, is a buddy of Thomas, so he was the first guy we asked if he wanted to release the record and he said yes, so here we are! It's exactly the kind of label we need, small and agile, giving us the freedom to do our thing without any pressure, that's how we like it! I would subscribe to that (note from the interviewer).

You play typical, classical Swedish old school death metal. You have never changed the direction, you are let's say „orthodox“. Personally, this is one reason why I like your music so much. But, didn’t you think about try to play something different, somehow to make the ACRID DEATH music more unusual?

The whole idea behind Acrid Death was to do this exact thing. We all have other bands that make other, more modern kinds of music, but AD gives us the opportunity to go old-school, which is exactly what we wanted to do here.

It is obvious that you as a band are still working on yourself. How often do you rehearsal together? Are you a "hard-working" band, which practices regularly or are you more „punk“ in the rehearsal task?

Kinda in between. We're all experienced musicians so we don't need to rehearse every week, and we also all have full-time jobs and some of us have families so we have to be careful with our time, but usually we manage to do at least two sessions a month, sometimes more sometimes less.


Do you have some goal, which you would like to achieve? Someone wants to release an album with a large label; other wants to play on one stage with some famous band. What about you?

Life goal right now: Play PartySan in Germany or even better Brutal Assault in Czechia!

Can you recommend some new albums, which impressed you at the latest time?

Carnation – Cursed Mortality

Awseome HM-2 death metal, kinda like us but way better

Une Misère – Damned

Ultra-angry metalcore from Iceland, those guys were my discovery 2019 when I stumbled across them at Summer Breeze, and now they have a new EP out that's just absolutely insane!

Do you know and listen to some metal bands from the Czech Republic?

When we went to Prague for Thomas‘ 40th birthday in 2020, right before COVID, I went to Metal Bar Error and learned about Root, this ultra-nasty czech black metal band, Zjevení is still my go to song when I’m REALLY drunk!

We are slowly approaching the end of the interview so I would like to ask one more philosophical question. How would you define the Swedish death metal style? What represents this music for you and why did you choose exactly this genre?

So there's the obvious thing, the sound. That nasty HM-2 guitar tone is definitely a signature thing here. But it's also the fact that this type of death metal owes more to punk and hardcore than American death metal does, it's groovier, not as technical and amelodic and goes really well with beer. For me.

Stockholm style is more fun than „normal“ death metal, even though I absolutely adore stuff like Cannibal Corpse, Cryptopsy etc.

What ACRID DEATH is planning for the next few months?

Playing as many shows as we can, release some live videos and start writing the next record!

Thank you for the interview and I wish you a lot of sold CDs, hundreds of crazy fans and tons of great ideas.

Thank you for having us!


Recenze/review - ACRID DEATH - Abominable Presence of Blight (2024):

Rozhovor - ACRID DEATH - Hnilobné, mokvající ozvěny z těch nejhnisavějších death metalových katakomb!


Rozhovor s death metalovou skupinou z Německa - ACRID DEATH.

Odpovídali Volker, Thomas a Tobi, děkujeme!

Recenze/review - ACRID DEATH - Abominable Presence of Blight (2024):

Ave ACRID DEATH! Nikde jsem s vámi nenašel žádný rozhovor v češtině. Poprosím tě tedy nejdřív, abys čtenářům, kteří vás ještě neznají, představil kapelu. Můžeš klidně začít úplně od začátku a provést nás celou historií ACRID DEATH.

Ahoj, tady Volker z Acrid Death! Rád odpovím na tvé otázky!

Vlastně toho zatím není moc co říct, protože jsme docela nová kapela! Všichni členové dělají undergroundový metal už desítky let, ale my jako kapela jsme vlastně začali až po skončení pandemie, myslím, že na jaře 2022-asi.

Thomas, Tobias a já jsme hráli už v Driven by Entropy, a když Thomas řekl: "Člověče, já chci dělat nějaký oldschoolový sračky, jako pořádně hnusný HM-2 věci", řekl jsem: "Jasně, jdeme na to!" a dal jsem se do práce, napsal pár riffů, našel zvuk a dal dohromady prvních pár písní. Pak jsme začali hledat kapelu a samozřejmě jsme se nejdřív zeptali Tobiho, který okamžitě souhlasil a přivedl s sebou svého kámoše Christiana z All Its Grace. Pak jsem požádal svého kamaráda Philippa ze Synchronic, aby hrál na bicí, a jsme tady!


Právě poslouchám vaši novinku „Abominable Presence of Blight“ a připadám si, jako bych byl zavřený v nějaké kobce spolu s DISMEMBER, GRAVE, ENTRAILS, SORCERY, INTERMENT, CENTINEX. Deska má skvělý švédský sound. Kde jste album nahrávali a jak jste s výsledkem spokojen? Mluvili jste nějak do výsledného zvuku?

Jo, přesně o to nám šlo! Entrails, chlape, The Tomb Awaits je tak skvělé album, miluju ho! Takže jo, zní to přesně tak, jak jsme chtěli, nahrál a smíchal to Emil Cezanne z Nighttime Productions, který právě dokončil práci na poslední desce All Its Grace, a masteroval to Brad Boatright z Audiosiege, který pracoval s úžasnými kapelami jako Nails, Gatecreeper, Obituary a mnoha dalšími.

Jakým způsobem vznikal nový materiál pro „Abominable Presence of Blight“? Jak vlastně tvoří/skládají ACRID DEATH?

Obvykle to začíná tím, že si doma nahraji některé části, někdy i celé písně. Pak je přinesu na zkoušku s klukama a začneme je upravovat, "přearanžovávat", přidávat části, ubírat části atd., a když je celková struktura ustálená, Tobi začne psát vokály.


„Abominable Presence of Blight“ má temný morbidní obal. Kdo je pod ním podepsán? Jeho práce se mi líbí, Jak jste vůbec nápad na obal vybírali a co má znázorňovat?

Tuhle otázku předám Thomasovi, protože on odvedl téměř veškerou práci, takže Thomasi, tady to máš:

Obal vytvořil umělec jménem Denis Cardan, kterého jsem získal od Vladyslava z All4Bands. Bylo pro mě důležité, aby obal nebyl jen obalem, ale součástí alba jako takového. Obávám se, že v dnešní době to lidé bohužel přestali vnímat. S nápadem přišel Denis na základě mého zadání. Nejdřív jsem prostě řekl: "Trpící lidé, zmařená země!". S těmito slovy jsem v roce 2009 dostal do ruky desku Fathomless Mastery od Bloodbath, která je dodnes mou nesporně nejoblíbenější deathmetalovou nahrávkou.

Myšlenka, která za ní stojí, je v zásadě jednoduchá. My jako lidstvo jsme (opět) v procesu otevírání dveří do pekla, ať už jde o člověkem způsobené klimatické změny, opakující se nacionalismus, brutální agresivní války, neuvěřitelně hloupý populismus, nenávist, vykořisťování a útlak atd., abychom jmenovali jen některé věci. To vše představuje šelma, která z této hořící brány vychází se svými pomocníky. Tyto aspekty se tedy zrcadlí i v názvu alba "Abominable Presence Of Blight" (Ohavná přítomnost zkázy).

Naše deska samozřejmě přispěje ke zničení světa... Dobře, dělám si legraci.


Kdo je autorem textů a o čem pojednávají? Kde pro témata berete inspiraci?

Tenhle je pro našeho zpěváka, takže tady máš Tobiho:

Především mě vždycky potěší, když někdo projeví zájem a zeptá se na text. Nestává se to tak často.

Píšu je všechny a u většiny písniček jsem zkusil takový dvojí přístup. Mám nějaké obecné téma, o kterém chci psát, a to je pak potřeba "zabalit" do něčeho, co se hodí do death metalových písní a má děsivou nebo dokonce hrozivou atmosféru. Třeba "Huntsmen" je o pýše části lidského druhu, ale je vyprávěná popisem toho, jak je lovena a požírána něčím odporným, třeba obřím pavoukem.

Inspirace a témata mohou být velmi odlišná. Takže uvedu několik příkladů: Na jedné straně jsou tu knihy jako "Dům z listí" (Danielewski), kterou prostě obecně miluju, nebo "Theseova loď" (Dorst, Abrams), která si našla cestu do naší písně "Heave". Samotná píseň je o tom, že v životě ztrácíte orientaci a jste zděšeni, protože vás někdo zahlcuje.

Také miluji videohry a například název pro "Dreg Heap" pochází z jedné oblasti ve hře Dark Souls III.

Na druhou stranu existují písně o konkrétnějších tématech. "Presence" je o psychiatrickém fenoménu zvaném fuga a "Shadows" pojednává o měnících se duševních stavech, zatímco čelíme hrozícímu nebezpečí úplného psychického zhroucení. "Negative Space" se pokouší zkoumat existenciální hrůzu tím, že jako symbol používá obrovskou prázdnotu a neznámé hrůzy vesmíru.

A i když si myslím, že je nevyhnutelné, aby si do věcí, které člověk píše, našly cestu i osobní problémy a zkušenosti, většinou se je snažím držet trochu vágněji, abych ponechal prostor pro individuální interpretaci každého, kdo má zájem věnovat čas a pokusit se texty číst a pochopit.

No a samozřejmě si rád čtu texty jiných kapel, abych se inspiroval. Seznam by zde byl nekonečný a obsahoval by kapely od Pig Destroyer po Radiohead a mnoho věcí mezi tím.


Novinka vyšla na CD u Rising Nemesis Records. Label má v undergroundu velmi dobré jméno a odvádí skvělou práci, ale nelákalo vás vydat album u nějaké větší firmy? Oslovili jste nějaké? Jak jste vlastně spokojeni s Rising Nemesis Records?

Nasar, který vede Rising Nemesis, je Thomasův kamarád, takže to byl první člověk, kterého jsme se zeptali, jestli chce desku vydat, a on souhlasil, takže jsme tady! Je to přesně ten typ labelu, který potřebujeme, malý a agilní, dává nám svobodu dělat naše věci bez jakéhokoli tlaku, tak to máme rádi! Pod to bych se podepsal (poznámka autora rozhovoru).

Hrajete typický, klasický starý švédský death metal. Nikdy jste z téhle cesty neuhnuli, jste „ortodoxní“. Osobně je to jeden z důvodů, proč se mi vaše tvorba tolik líbí, ale nelákalo vás někdy zkusit hrát něco trošku jiného, nějak tvorbu ACRID DEATH S ozvláštnit?

Celá myšlenka kapely Acrid Death spočívala přesně v tomhle. Všichni máme jiné kapely, které dělají jiné, modernější druhy hudby, ale AD nám dává možnost jít do staré školy, což je přesně to, co jsme chtěli udělat.

Je hodně znát, že na sobě jako kapela pracujete. Jak často vlastně ACRID DEATH zkouší? Jste poctivou skupinou, která se pravidelně schází, nebo jste spíš pankáči, kteří tomu nechávají volný průběh?

Něco mezi tím. Všichni jsme zkušení muzikanti, takže nemusíme zkoušet každý týden, a také máme všichni práci na plný úvazek a někteří z nás mají rodiny, takže si musíme dávat pozor na čas, ale většinou se nám podaří udělat alespoň dvě sezení měsíčně, někdy více, někdy méně.


Máte nějaký cíl, kterého byste chtěli dosáhnout? Pro někoho to je slavné vydavatelství, jiný si chce třeba zahrát se slavnou kapelu.

Životní cíl právě teď: Hrát na PartySan v Německu nebo ještě lépe Brutal Assault v Česku!

Jsou nějaké desky, které tě v poslední době oslovily?

Carnation - Cursed Mortality

Úžasný HM-2 death metal, něco jako my, ale mnohem lepší.

Une Misère - Damned

Ultra-angry metalcore z Islandu, tihle kluci byli mým objevem roku 2019, když jsem na ně narazil na Summer Breeze, a teď mají venku nové EP, které je naprosto šílené!

Znáš, posloucháš nějaké kapely z České republiky?

Když jsme jeli do Prahy na Thomasovy 40. narozeniny v roce 2020, těsně před COVIDem, zašel jsem do Metal Baru Error a dozvěděl se o Root, téhle ultra odporné české black metalové kapele, Zjevení je dodnes moje písnička, když jsem OPRAVDU opilý!

Blížíme se k závěru a tak bych zkusil jednu více filozofickou otázku. Jak byste definovali styl zvaný švédský death metal? Čím pro vás tato hudba je a proč jste si vybrali právě tento styl?

Takže to je zřejmá věc, zvuk. Ten hnusný kytarový tón HM-2 je tady rozhodně charakteristický. Ale taky je to tím, že tenhle typ death metalu vděčí víc punku a hardcoru než americký death metal, je groovovější, ne tak technický a a melodický a hodí se k pivu. Pro mě.

Stockholmský styl je zábavnější než "normální" death metal, i když naprosto zbožňuju věci jako Cannibal Corpse, Cryptopsy atd.

Co chystají ACRID DEATH v nejbližších měsících?

Odehrajeme co nejvíce koncertů, vydáme nějaká živá videa a začneme psát další desku!

Děkuji za rozhovor a přeji spoustu prodaných nosičů, stovky šílených fanoušků a tuny dobrých nápadů.

Děkujeme, že jste nás oslovili!


Recenze/review - ACRID DEATH - Abominable Presence of Blight (2024):

čtvrtek 7. března 2024

Recenze/review - SLIMELORD - Chytridiomycosis Relinquished (2024)


SLIMELORD - Chytridiomycosis Relinquished
CD 2024, 20 Buck Spin

for english please scroll down

Podvědomě jsem věděl, že je něco špatně. Všechno vypadalo jako každé ráno, ale v některých momentech byl čas pozadu. Lidé vypadali stejně, ale měli divný pohled a usmívali se způsobem, jakoby vás chtěli zabít. V kostech se mi usadil strach a mrazilo mě v zádech. Měl to být den jako každý jiný. Obyčejný stereotyp. Jenže nebyl. Všichni byli dávno mrtví. Procházel jsem se ulicemi a sledoval přízraky. Poslouchal jsem u toho první dlouhohrající desku britských SLIMELORD a přemýšlel jsem, jestli ještě patřím mezi živé. 

Po třech EP a jednom živém záznamu přicházejí Britové s materiálem, který je velmi naléhavý, drásající, bolestivý. Dostanete jedovatý koktejl umíchaný z poctivého death metalu, doomu a spousty technických progresivních prvků. Výsledkem je nahrávka, ke které se budete stále dokola vracet. Alespoň v mém případě to platilo. 


Gentlemani v některých momentech odkazují na diSEMBOWELMENT, ANATOMIA, SPECTRAL VOICE. Jinak se jedná o album, které vyznívá originálně, nezaměnitelně. Na desce najdete spoustu zajímavých a neotřelých pasáží. SLIMELORD přistupují k hudbě přeci jen jinak, než všichni ostatní. V některých momentech jsou až "nepříjemní". Připomínají pradávné démony, kteří se přišli pomstít za všechny hříchy. Každá skladba je složena s nadšením a odhodláním. Vy tak budete jako archeologové, kteří postupně odhalují jednotlivé vrstvy. Zpočátku je poslech náročný na pozornost a fantazii, ale když se vše usadí, tak vylezou na povrch motivy, které jste dříve neslyšeli. Vše je zahalené do nepropustné mlhy, zabarvené do šedých barev. Připadám si jako svázaný. Právě prořízli nějakému nebožákovi přede mnou tepnu a já nemůžu nic dělat. Jen se mu dívat do očí a sledovat, jak mu uniká život. Možná je to kruté přirovnání, ale prostou pravdou je, že se mi tahle nahrávka dostala do žil. Koluje v nich, jako již zmiňovaný jed. O zvuku, obalu a dalších formálních věcech není nutné diskutovat, vše je v nejlepším pořádku. Představte si sychravý podzim. Listí, pomalu padající k zemi. Příroda se ukládá ke spánku. Přesto je letos něco úplně jinak, než obvykle. Z nové desky cítím obrovské množství do černé zahalených nálad. Atmosféra je opravdu zcela strhující. Nemůžu jinak, než hodnotit velmi vysoko. Pokud máte rádi kapely, které jsou odlišné, zajímavé a jiné, potom poslouchejte pozorně. Podvědomě jsem věděl, že je něco špatně. Všechno vypadalo jako každé ráno, ale v některých momentech byl čas pozadu. Lidé vypadali stejně, ale měli divný pohled a usmívali se  způsobem, jakoby vás chtěli zabít. V kostech se mi usadil strach a mrazilo mě v zádech. Měl to být den jako každý jiný. Obyčejný stereotyp. Jenže nebyl. Zhoubný, tajemný, neklidný doom death metal zahalený do nepropustné mlhy věčnosti! Tohle album rozdrásá vaši duši! 

Asphyx says:

Subconsciously, I knew something was wrong. Everything seemed like every morning, but at some points time was behind. People looked the same, but they had weird looks and smiled in a way that made you feel like they were going to kill you. Fear settled in my bones and sent chills down my spine. It was going to be a day like any other. A normal stereotype. Only it wasn't. Everyone was long dead. I walked the streets and watched the ghosts. I listened to the first long-playing British SLIMELORD album and wondered if I was still alive. 

After three EPs and one live record, the Brits have come up with material that is very urgent, wrenching, painful. You get a poisonous cocktail mixed from honest death metal, doom and a lot of technical progressive elements. The result is a record you'll come back to again and again. At least in my case it did.


Gentlemen at some points refer to diSEMBOWELMENT, ANATOMY, SPECTRAL VOICE. Otherwise it is an album that sounds original, unmistakable. There are a lot of interesting and novel passages on the album. SLIMELORD approach music differently than everyone else. In some moments they are even "unpleasant". They remind us of ancient demons who came to take revenge for all sins. Each song is composed with passion and determination. You will be like archaeologists who gradually uncover the layers. At first, listening is demanding on your attention and imagination, but when everything settles down, themes you haven't heard before come to the surface. Everything is shrouded in an impenetrable fog, tinged with grey colours. I feel like I'm tied up. They've just cut some poor guy's artery in front of me and there's nothing I can do. Just look into his eyes and watch his life slip away. Maybe it's a harsh comparison, but the simple truth is that this record got into my veins. It's like the aforementioned poison. There is no need to discuss the sound, packaging and other formal things, everything is in the best order. Imagine a drizzly autumn. Leaves slowly falling to the ground. Nature going to sleep. Yet this year, something is very different than usual. I can sense a huge amount of moods shrouded in black from the new record. The atmosphere is really quite haunting. I can't help but rate it very highly. If you like bands that are different, interesting and different, then listen closely. I subconsciously knew something was wrong. Everything seemed to be like every morning, but at some points time was behind. People looked the same, but they had weird looks and smiled in a way as if they wanted to kill you. Fear settled in my bones and sent chills down my spine. It was going to be a day like any other. A normal stereotype. Only it wasn't. Pernicious, mysterious, restless doom death metal shrouded in an impenetrable fog of eternity! This album will tear your soul apart!


TRACKLIST
1. The Beckoning Bell
2. Gut-Brain Axis
3. Splayed Mudscape
4. Batrachomorpha Resurrections Chamber
5. The Hissing Moor
6. Tidal Slaughtermarsh
7. Heroic Demise

LINE-UP
Alexander Bradley - Electric guitars, acoustic guitars, additional vocals, fire drum & tree branch, leaf rustling
Ryan Sheperson - Drums
Andrew Ashworth - Lead vocals
John Riley - Fretless bass, detuned piano
Krystian Zamojski - Electric guitars


středa 6. března 2024

Recenze/review - PUTERAEON - Quindecennial Horror (2024)


PUTERAEON - Quindecennial Horror
EP 2024, Emanzipation Productions

for english please scroll down

Pradávná fascinace smrtí. Hluboko ukrytá temnota, která je v každém z nás. Záleží jen na příležitosti a pudu sebezáchovy. Vozí nám sem každý den několik mrtvých. Každý se tváří úplně jinak. Někdo odešel vyděšený a s neskutečnou bolestí na tváři. Jiný jakoby se usmíval a v klidu usnul. Říká se, že jaký si žil život, tak také zemřeš. Jsou ale výjimky. Zlí a prokletí lidé, monstra, která dokáží škodit i dlouho po smrti. Vracejí se jako nemrtví, jako temné přízraky. I o těch je nové EP PUTERAEON. 

Včera mi zavolali, že našli v lesích opuštěný dům. V něm děsivý sklep, plný mrtvol. Vstoupil jsem dovnitř a ponořil se do tmy, do bolesti. Atmosféra byla velmi podobná,  jako na "Quindecennial Horror". Ještě ho nechytili, prý zmizel ve tmě. Bestie, krvelačná šelma v lidské podobě. Poslouchám dál a stávám se obětí. Tahle nahrávka řeže tou správnou stranou nože. 

Téhle smečce se věnuji od jejich počátků (recenze a rozhovory jsou odkazovány dole pod článkem). Protože je opravdová, true a ortodoxní. Stále nese vlajku starého, prašivého death metalu hrdě vztyčenou. Letos pánové pokračují ve své morbidní práci. Líbí se mi, že se zaobírají typicky stylovými tématy. Zombie, Cthulhu mýty, horory. Vše zamíchané v poctivém a jedovatém koktejlu. Základem je samozřejmě švédská klasika (DISMEMBER, NIHILIST, ENTRAILS, GRAVE, ENTOMBED), přidávány jsou potom zahnívající kusy nahrubo nasekaného masa a tmy. Pánové chřestí pytlem plným kostí a dělají to zkušeně a s nadšením. O zvuk se postaral Dan Swanö, což je jako vždy záruka kvality. Fanoušek pohřbů do země dostane přesně to, co potřebuje. Temnotu, chlad, ozvěny z těch nejhlubších katakomb. Společná setkání s PUTERAEON mi připomínají pradávné rituály smrti, pořádané kdysi v devadesátých letech minulého století na mnohých severských hřbitovech. Bylo mi opět velkou ctí potkat ty nejkrásnější zombie, potřást si rukou s přízraky i s nemrtvými. Démoni moc dobře vědí, o čem píšu. Dejte mi někdo kladivo, dneska bude dlouhá noc. Dům v lesích je plný mrtvol a pochybuji, že tohle způsobil člověk. Stejně jako hudba, má tohle místo neskutečně mrtvolnou atmosféru. Nezbývá mi opět nic jiného, než  označit nové EP vysokou známkou kvality. Pradávná fascinace smrtí. Hluboko ukrytá temnota, která je v každém z nás. Záleží jen na příležitosti a pudu sebezáchovy. Ryzí old school death metal! Vysoce kvalitní, ušlechtilá švédská ocel!



Asphyx says:

An ancient fascination with death. The deep hidden darkness that is in all of us. It's just a matter of opportunity and self-preservation. They bring us a few dead every day. Each with a completely different face. Someone left terrified and with incredible pain on their face. Another seems to smile and sleep peacefully. They say that as you lived your life, so shall you die. But there are exceptions. Evil and cursed people, monsters who can do harm long after death. They come back as the undead, as dark phantoms. The new PUTERAEON EP is about them too. 

Yesterday I got a call that they found an abandoned house in the woods. A creepy basement full of dead bodies. I went inside and plunged into darkness, into pain. The atmosphere was very similar to "Quindecennial Horror". They haven't caught him yet, they say he disappeared in the dark. A beast, a bloodthirsty beast in human form. I keep listening and I become a victim. This record cuts with the right side of the knife.

I've been following this pack since their early days (reviews and interviews are linked below the article). Because it is real, true and orthodox. They still carry the flag of old, grimy death metal proudly flying. This year the gentlemen continue their morbid work. I like the fact that they deal with typical stylistic themes. Zombies, Cthulhu myths, horror. All mixed up in an honest and poisonous cocktail. The base is of course the Swedish classics (DISMEMBER, NIHILIST, ENTRAILS, GRAVE, ENTOMBED), then rotting chunks of roughly chopped meat and darkness are added. The gentlemen rattle a bag full of bones and do it with experience and enthusiasm. Dan Swanö has taken care of the sound, which as always is a guarantee of quality. A fan of in-ground funerals gets exactly what they need. Darkness, cold, echoes from the deepest catacombs. The common encounters with PUTERAEON remind me of the ancient death rituals once held in many Nordic cemeteries in the 1990s. It was again a great honour to meet the most beautiful zombies, to shake hands with the ghosts and the undead. The demons know very well what I write about. Somebody get me a hammer, it's gonna be a long night. The house in the woods is full of corpses, and I doubt this is man-made. Like the music, this place has an incredibly deadpan atmosphere. Again, I have no choice but to give the new EP a high mark for quality. An ancient fascination with death. The deep hidden darkness that is in all of us. It's just a matter of opportunity and the instinct for self-preservation. Pure old school death metal! High-quality, noble Swedish steel!




Tracklist:
The Plague
Whispers of the Dead
Graverobber
Dead Once More
Storms Over Devil’s Reef

Lineup:
Daniel Vandija - bass
Anders Malmström - drums
Jonas Lindblood - vocals, guitars
Rune Foss - guitars


úterý 5. března 2024

Interview - DROWNED - An ancient, dark death metal ritual soaked in pus and rot!

Interview with death metal band from Germany - DROWNED.

Answered Tlmnn (guitars), thank you!

Recenze/review - DROWNED - Procul His (2024):

Ave DROWNED! Greetings to the catacombs of Berlin. It's been nine years since I last saw you live. It was in a small club in Prague. I remember RAVENCULT played with you. I bought your first album there, which came out in 2014. For playing since 1992, you definitely don't suffer from overproduction. The new album "Procul His" is only your second full-length. So the first question is. Why is that?

Aha, nice! Very much appreciated, thanks for coming out! That was one of the not-so-crowded shows on the tour as far as I rememeber ... To answer your question, for about three years following the release of “Idola Specus“ we played lots of shows and rehearsed rarely due to colliding schedules, day jobs etc., and when rehearsing, we basically had to prepare for the next show.

The fact is that the previous album and this one literally blew me away. How did you take a long time to compose the new album "Procul His", how was the material created and where did you want to go after these long ten years?

Thanks! After the first album, and in addition to the fact that we couldn’t rehearse very often for a certain period, I also had a bit of an issue with songwriting; for a while I just wasn’t satisfied with what I was coming up with, so the whole process just dragged out. From the album, “Blue Moth Vault“ and “Man In Devil In Man“ are from 2017/2018, while most of the other tracks were finished between 2020 and early 2023. That being said, many riffs are quite old, but sometimes it took years until they had found their place. As for direction, I basically only wanted the new songs to gain a bit complexity, speed and tempo changes.


Sound is always very important in death metal. You have it massive, dark and cold. Clear and animalistic at the same time, if you know what I mean. Where did you record the album? Who is responsible for the mixing and mastering? How was the recording process?

Just like previous album, it was recorded by our drummer Tobias at our rehearsal place. He is a professional sound engineer, and the place is stuffed with recording equipment. For drums and guitar we got a helping hand from Michael Zech (also an audio engineer and guitar player in Ruins of Beverast, Secrets of the Moon ...). The mixing was done by Tobias, and the mastering by Patrick W. Engel (Temple of Disharmony).

Both albums have such strange covers. On the one hand they are very original, no skulls or graves, but on the other hand, I don't really know what they are supposed to represent? For example, this year I think it's a picture of a rock, but it could easily be falling leaves. Who is the author of the cover and could you please explain a bit how the motif relates to the music?

I created both artworks, and both are photographs. “Idola Specus” is a super-enlarged macro photography, whereas “Procul His” is just a still life. As you can see from the liner notes, the “Procul His” piece is actually the back wall of F. W. Murnau’s sepulchre, covered with ivy. It is a negative with slightly altered colours which makes it a very surreal and strange image.


I don't have the original CD with me yet so I would like to ask what the lyrics are about. Who wrote them and where did they get their inspiration? They sound occult, mysterious, magical.

Greg wrote most of the lyrics this time, except for “Malachite Mirror“ and parts of “Blue Moth Vault“ which were contributed by myself, as well as the title for “Man In Devil In Man“. You could say that our lyrics are rather symbolistic, a collection of atmospheres and impressions, as opposed to storytelling.

Up until 2014, you've only released demos and one EP. You've also had a pretty inconsistent line-up. It's only since 2010 that you seem to have found yourselves. The only original member is the guitarist Tlmnn. Does that mean that he is the main author of the music? Please take us through the history of DROWNED.

True, I write all the music, but of course we make occasional changes to the arrangements when rehearsing, and I don’t pen out the drums. So it’s a group effort nonetheless.

As for the history of the band, from 1992 up until 1998 the core of Drowned was me and then-drummer G. Vermilion with all kinds of other musicians throughout the years. Drowned was then hibernating from 1998 until 2001 when it was resurrected with me and Theby on drums (formerly of Tha-Norr). In 2001 we wrote three of the songs that later appeared on “Viscera Terrae“ (2006). Theby and me relocated to different cities which made rehearsing difficult, and so we called it quits in 2009. In 2010 the constellation with Tobias and Greg materialized, but because everybody was busy with other bands (Essenz, Necros Christos, Android Empire), it wasn’t until 2012 that we started rehearsing on a weekly basis and preparing “Idola Specus“.


You are exactly what I imagine an underground band to be. You play great death metal, but I think only true fans will appreciate it. What are your goals with DROWNED? Would you like to go on a longer tour? Or a big festival? Is there anything else you would like to achieve?

Well, since we aren’t a full-time band, we can only do a certain amount of shows per year. We’ve played a good number of bigger festivals in the past, and are of course looking into playing more now that “Procul His” has been released. We’re currently also planning a small tour for autumn 2024 with our friends in Lucifericon. In addition to that, there might be a couple of shows with Vircolac at some later point.

How did you start with music? Did you go to art school, for example? Or are you self-taught? What were your beginnings? What about your first gig? First performance with a band?

I had about three years of classical guitar lessons as a teenager, so that laid some foundations. The others also had some basic lessons as far as I know, but not much. We are basically dilettantes and proud, haha.


Everybody's influenced by somebody. Who was your role model, your inspiration when you first started and who is today? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?

Oh well ... Too many to mention! Black Sabbath are an eternal inspiration, Celtic Frost, Voivod ... Also Darkthrone through all their stages; the fact that they still find new approaches to what they do, whilst maintaining a high level of quality.

I have a very wide-ranging and eclectic taste, from electronic music to 70s rock and what not. From Klaus Schulze to Rapoon to Drexciya to Bo Hansson to all forms of Metal ... It’s all possible. Today I listened to “The Courage of Others“ by Midlake and “The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other“ by Van der Graaf Generator.

What are DROWNED's plans for the next few months? What can we fans look forward to?

As mentioned above, some more live activity!

Thank you so much for the interview. I really appreciate it. I'll be looking forward to some DROWNED shows. I just hope it doesn't take another ten years. I wish the new album to sell as well as possible and that you have concerts packed to bursting. May you do well in your private life as well.

Thanks Jakub! All the best to you as well.

Recenze/review - DROWNED - Procul His (2024):

about DROWNED on DEADLY STORM ZINE:

Recenze/review - DROWNED – Idola Specus (2014)





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWITTER

@deadlystormzine https://twitter.com/deadlystormzine