Live Report: Covenant Festival III
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The Covenant Festival began in 2015 as an extension of the organiser’s black/death vinyl nights. The first edition, while commanding an impressive line-up, consisted of mostly bands from the region while the second event branched out further by bringing a number of more higher profile acts from overseas. For the third iteration, Covenant architect Sebastian Montesi – of Auroch and Mitochondrion – and his circle of conspirators curated a bloody, pestilent feast for fans of extreme black and death metal, drawing those near and far for the event.
The first night took place at the Red Room, normally a dance club but host to the odd metal show. In terms of volume it was a softer start, with only five acts on the bill, merciful for the Thursday night crowd. Musically speaking, however, it was anything but.
Randall Collier Ford introduced proceedings with a brief electronic set before giving way to Vancouver’s Ceremonial Bloodbath. It was the first time I’d had a chance to catch them and after hearing their Command Sacrifice demo. They did not disappoint. With members from Ahna and Haggatha, their slow, crushing riffs welcomed attendees to the weekend in devastating fashion.
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Ceremonial Bloodbath at Covenant
Ceremonial Bloodbath (2 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (3 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (4 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (5 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (6 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (7 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (8 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (9 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (10 of 11)
Ceremonial Bloodbath (11 of 11)
…
Another stalwart local band, Firecult, was up next. One of the most reliable black metal bands in the city, their sound is fairly orthodox – they were the only black metal band in a weekend chock full of them to don corpse paint – but they do it very well and always put on an excellent show.
…
…
Edmonton’s Phylactery followed; a pretty straightforward death metal power trio that featured some wonderfully vile vocals from drummer Kevin Trueblood, also of Dire Omen. Though their forthcoming debut Necromancy Enthroned will certainly be on my radar when it drops this summer, I was mostly just anticipating Blood Incantation by the time their set wrapped up.
…
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
…
Blood Incantation was the only band of the weekend with the distinction of having also appeared at last year’s festival. The 2016 rendition was an opening slot and preceded the release of their highly acclaimed debut album Starspawn, so to see them return for a longer set this year was deeply satisfying.
It began like nearly every other set that weekend, with a plea to the soundman for max reverb on the vocals, and then the Red Room was launched through the star-gate. Besides being a total riff factory, full of frenetic energy and blistering solos, they also brandished a fantastically nerdy sense of humour. Delivered in a deadpan monotone, questions like “How do you guys feel about Kurt Russell?” and “What’s really going on in Antarctica?” delighted the heshers up front. I would be more than happy to see them back every year.
…
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
st-test (saifur): backdated post will be deleted after testing
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum
- is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
- Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s,
- when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
- It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry.
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
[caption id="attachment_56285" align="alignnone" width="1600"] test caption[/caption]
Lorem Ipsum is
dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
∀
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
ST Test: Featured Image
Nunc nulla. Vestibulum ullamcorper mauris at ligula. Duis arcu tortor, suscipit eget, imperdiet nec, imperdiet iaculis, ipsum. Duis leo. Etiam feugiat lorem non metus.
Duis lobortis massa imperdiet quam. Sed lectus. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Praesent porttitor, nulla vitae posuere iaculis, arcu nisl dignissim dolor, a pretium mi sem ut ipsum.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
Celestial Sanctuary – Insatiable Thirst for Torment
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
“Trapped Within the Rank Membrane:” Celestial Sanctuary’s Death Metal Closes In (Video Premiere)
There's perhaps no better way to demonstrate Celestial Sanctuary's incredibly potent death metal than to cram the band into a hallway-sized room and let them rip. In the band's new studio playthrough, the quartet rampages through "Trapped Within the Rank Membrane" in excellent form. Taken from their second full-length album Insatiable Thirst for Torment, released in August, the track packs in plenty of well-executed death-metal-isms, lurching from one nasty section to another with razor-sharp start/stops and even a fun bass-and-drum break. The tight angles of the videos highlight all the acrobatics that go into this, and the tightly-packed guitarists and rhythm section are mesmerizing to watch as an interlocked force of severe grievance. Watch the video below, complete with dingy grading to really lock into the aesthetic.
...
...
As the opening track off the record, "Trapped WIthin the Rank Membrane" is literally just the beginning of what lays in store on Insatiable Thirst for Torment, and this video highlights what makes the record so appealing--high-intensity, creative annihilation. The four-piece band writes death metal designed to be performed by a four-piece, so there's no studio magic or overdubs needed to complete the picture here--kind of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get situation. Seeing it in action maybe removes some of the mystery behind the band, but it does make what they do much more impressive.
...
...
Insatiable Thirst for Torment released August 25th via Church Road Records.
…
Night two was a much earlier start, and the first of two nights at The Rickshaw Theatre. Nestled in the heart of Vancouver’s notorious downtown eastside, the Rickshaw – and surrounding venues like the Astoria – is the host of most metal shows in the city. Bigger name tours may land on the touristy Granville strip once in awhile, but the bulk of them take place there, in one of the poorest zip codes in North America. It is a familiar area to most local metalheads and the sights of the city’s destitute is unfortunately commonplace, so it is always interesting when bands roll through town to note their reactions to it.
As with the previous night, and the one to follow, a set of dark-ambient electronic music kicked things off – this time by Vancouver’s own Kanashibari. The subtlety of said ambiance was reduced to ashes once Amphisbaena took the stage for what was apparently their first ever performance. I was only vaguely familiar with them beforehand – made up of members of Antediluvian and Rites of thy Degringolade with an EP to their name – but they were absolutely ferocious. Timothy Grieco, the intimidating figure who can be seen most publicly as the touring bassist and barker for Revenge, was on vocal duties and gave a legitimately creepy performance. Stalking the stage adorned in rags and a disturbing paper mache-looking mask, his otherworldly growls and shrieks coupled with the bludgeoning force of the music to make a memorable chaotic cocktail.
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Portland’s Shroud of the Heretic was next. After having to cancel their performance from last year’s festival I was looking forward to finally seeing them. Unfortunately it seemed their set was marred by sound issues. At first it was just the drums that needed to be turned up, but for most of the set the band kept looking at one another as if they could not hear each other. Perhaps it was their intention, but they produced a wall of sound so impenetrable that I could hardly tell what was going on.
…
Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
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Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction,” directed by Dylan Pecora (Merzbow, Ecology: HomeStones):
The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate their surrealist approach. They found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit.
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
OLDEST SEA cover
OLDEST-SEA-Nov-tour
Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
…
…
Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction”:
"The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate his surrealist approach. He found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit."
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
…
To further drive home the perplexing nature of their sound issues, Phoenix AZ’s Harvest Gulgaltha followed with a set that was crystal clear; or as clear as death metal can be. Even the lyrics were intelligible! Their set was tailor made head banging material: doom-laden riffs and double kicks interspersed with precise blasts. However, it was still on the earlier side for a Friday night and the crowd was fairly sparse, though that would not last much longer. As more attendees drifted in, they poked through the tables from vendors like Cavity Curiosity and Kaos Kult, checking out pendants, drinking horns, animal skulls, occult books, and other manner of esoteric souvenirs.
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Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
…
…
Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction”:
"The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate his surrealist approach. He found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit."
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
…
…
Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction”:
"The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate his surrealist approach. He found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit."
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
…
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
…
…
Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction,” directed by Dylan Pecora (Merzbow, Ecology: HomeStones):
The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate their surrealist approach. They found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit.
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
Change is a Powerful Constant On Oldest Sea’s “Sacred Destruction” (Video Premiere)
A husband-and-wife duo from rural New Jersey, Oldest Sea have a penchant for dark beauty in a way that touches upon folk music and isn’t afraid to reveal itself to funeral doom fanatics. Their slow and powerful music features plenty of dark turns, so it is no wonder that they have shared the same stage with Bell Witch, Mizmor and others of said ilk. Their new album A Birdsong, A Ghost drops on December 1st, adding fuel to the late fall tones that the record takes on. Today, we're premiering the fascinating video for “Sacred Destruction”.
…
…
Vocalist Samanatha Marandola had this to say about the video for “Sacred Destruction,” directed by Dylan Pecora (Merzbow, Ecology: HomeStones):
The song is about letting go of a former self. Dylan's video captures everything that's meant to be conveyed in that song, and I really appreciate their surrealist approach. They found a way to seamlessly unify song and film so that they're essentially one unit.
This comes across in the video with various scenes of a hand and face, plaster casts of a female figure, slowly destroying themselves and seeking out something different, something new. It's a swirl of bizarre visuals that somehow fit: a face revealed beneath clay, slime obscuring another, slithering chains, and much more. It all illustrates a tale of creation and change that's probably more haunting than anything else.
A Birdsong, A Ghost releases December 1st and can be preordered here.
Oldest Sea is on tour this fall:
Naïve Magic: A Dungeon Synth Digest #18 —Roundup
Urulókë (plural Urulóki) is the Quenya name of the fire-drakes, meaning "fire-serpent” or "fire-dragon".
-Taken from Tolkien Gateway
I have talked at length about the releases of Spanish artist Frostgard. Most of the coverage has been a way not only to celebrate a fantastic artist in the community but also to talk about Tolkien as Frostgard’s entire career has been built on the lore of Middle Earth. Here is another chance! One of my favorite hobbies is listening to the new record and spending time on Tolkien Gateway looking at song and album titles. Urulókë, aside from being cool since it talks about dragons, is another chapter in this artist’s career paying tribute to old school dungeon synth not only in sound but also deep in spirit. Frostgard continues to be a person of interest in the scope of dungeon synth who make songs about cool things like dragons.
...
…
The year 2020 felt like it was a century ago, and May 2020 was a time fraught with anxiety and tension. This might have felt like an odd time to revel in a blanket of medieval melodies, but Swedish artist Treasure Seeker released Quests for the Secrets Beyond Time in the spring of 2020 and has since been a moment of golden sunshine in an otherwise dark time. Secret of Aiun breaks a three-year silence with music that would fill smokey taverns bursting with bustling patrons. Treasure Seeker, much like its name, is a gem that seems to only operate irregularly, and for this moment I am content with music that will play for the next few years.
…
…
“Wands of the Minor Arcana is the solo ambient project of Harman Burns. Her work is inspired by nature, folklore, the occult, and bodily transfiguration.”
Along with the ambient focused work of Burns, her work in Plasticine Cowboy also touches on electroacoustic and prepared instrument work which is both bizarre and delightful. Into the Gloaming Ilse is Burns' foray into dungeon synth adjacent ambient and debut as the artist Wands of the Minor Arcana. <i>Into the Gloaming Ilse</i> is a delightful pastiche of environmental ambient and VGM sounding melodies as if Hiroshi Yoshimura made the Stardew Valley soundtrack.
Wands of The Minor Arcana is dedicated to a story, as Into the Gloaming Isle comes with a lengthy description about a place which could be a dream landscape or a campaign setting for future adventures. For an idea, a story, and a sound, Burns has exceeded the bar for intrigue, as this release is more than adequate for an opening introduction.
…
…
Valen is the work of an artist who some know as Seregost. Along with this act who performed at the 2023 North East Dungeon Siege, Seregost is also behind acts such as The Night Keep, Throne of Anguish, and the operations of Obsidian Relic Records. Of Kings And Destiny was originally released in 2021 and presented a martial dungeon synth combined with bleak atmospheres which presented battlefields covered in horror and darkness. Gondolin Records reintroduces the world to this record along with Side A of a 2022 demo which was limited in its editions to six lathe cuts records. Gondolin continues to be one of the biggest archivists for dungeon synth, presenting tapes as if they were museum exhibits for the public to hear.
…
…
“Hypnotic lo-fi techno. Esoteric electronics and magical realism.” Musician Evergreen Rupe continues to experiment on their private label Windkey Tapes and release things without advance notice. I have always enjoyed things which stray into new territory, and the world of lofi ambient techno is certainly a new direction. Though there are more percussive elements and a tribute to the ‘80’s and ‘90’s sounds which filled parties and clubs, the hazy ambience which has been a hallmark of Evergreens music is still present just adding a new wing onto an already elaborate mansion.
…
…
HDK (Heimat der Katastrophe) has a long history with tabletop RPGs blurring the line between music and games and creating a hybrid between. The Lost City is the newest release by the entity GNOLL and dedicates itself to the classic module of the same name by famous creator Tom Moldvay. GNOLL’s release serves as an unofficial soundtrack to the module but realistically would be an official soundtrack if made in 1982. Both GNOLL and HDK continue to be dungeon synth’s most astute scholars when it comes to the subject of old school RPG material.
…
…
There are many releases I could talk about regarding Weregnome Records. One could be the Shibuya-kei / power pop alchemy of Flower Ranger, the minimal stillness of Rhosgobel, or even the raw black ferocity of The Pale Stillness. Those are all wonderful as well as the cover with the Goblin and the title which mimics a very late installment on the Friday the 13th series. Retrogoblin are a party, and through their releases, they very much are on the side that are always laughing. Over this laughter, though, is an immersive landscape of chiptune which could be the soundtrack to a horror side scroller where ninjas pop out of manholes.
…
…
You have probably seen a Coniferous Myst release on Bandcamp/in someone's collection. It was probably monochrome artwork that looked like a tape cover just folded out and hastily cropped along with an unlabeled dubbed tape. Since 2022, Myst and the label Lost Armor have served as staging areas for various projects by the creator. Knight of The Wyvern Covenant IV is the newest offering from Lost Armor and continues to be a delightful mix of old-school dungeon synth with an emphasis on imperfections and decay. This is raw dungeon synth from a creator who is championing the sound.
…
…
Genres: medieval ambient pop adventure synth comfy synth dungeon synth medieval music medieval synth neo medieval Helsinki. There are, of course, commas in there, but it is more fun without. I was sent this by the editors with a line saying “This is sure something.” It certainly is and I’m here for it. I do not know if the genre of avant-pop with a bedroom medieval tone to it is an aesthetic yet, but I sure hope it becomes one since this is intoxicating and delightful.
…
…
By the time England’s Qrixkuor took the stage, masked and anonymous, the venue had filled out significantly. For the kind of music they play – cavernous, suffocating black/death metal with run-times of nearly 15 minutes per song – it wouldn’t have been shocking if things got a little monotonous, but Qrixkuor were riveting throughout. Long though the songs are, they were always dynamic and the band themselves put on an energetic performance.
…
…
While it had all the intensity of the previous bands, Sortilegia’s performance was a much more introspective affair. All lights, save two that pointed to a projection of the band’s logo on either side of the stage, were turned off. The only other illumination came from a few candles on a makeshift altar at the front of the stage, also bearing several sticks of incense. Guitarist and vocalist Anastasia approached the altar in a black robe with her face covered in blood and the ritual began. It was a staggering set of tortured banshee howls, mournful shredding and lightning fast blast beats from drummer Cameron Warrack, who may as well have been a spectre in the shadows for all you could see in the hazy darkness. Anastasia swayed and wailed looking to be as lost in the music as the transfixed people in the crowd.
Still, it was the final act of night that held my rapt attention most. Bolzer’s first appearance in Vancouver was a few years previous and their set felt much shorter than I would have hoped, so it was nice to see them back so soon. It was also incredibly fitting to have them as the centerpiece for the third Covenant Festival seeing as their last album HERO had such a focus on the mystical quality of trinities and the valknut in particular.
…
Naïve Magic: A Dungeon Synth Digest #18 —Roundup
Urulókë (plural Urulóki) is the Quenya name of the fire-drakes, meaning "fire-serpent” or "fire-dragon".
-Taken from Tolkien Gateway
I have talked at length about the releases of Spanish artist Frostgard. Most of the coverage has been a way not only to celebrate a fantastic artist in the community but also to talk about Tolkien as Frostgard’s entire career has been built on the lore of Middle Earth. Here is another chance! One of my favorite hobbies is listening to the new record and spending time on Tolkien Gateway looking at song and album titles. Urulókë, aside from being cool since it talks about dragons, is another chapter in this artist’s career paying tribute to old school dungeon synth not only in sound but also deep in spirit. Frostgard continues to be a person of interest in the scope of dungeon synth who make songs about cool things like dragons.
...
…
The year 2020 felt like it was a century ago, and May 2020 was a time fraught with anxiety and tension. This might have felt like an odd time to revel in a blanket of medieval melodies, but Swedish artist Treasure Seeker released Quests for the Secrets Beyond Time in the spring of 2020 and has since been a moment of golden sunshine in an otherwise dark time. Secret of Aiun breaks a three-year silence with music that would fill smokey taverns bursting with bustling patrons. Treasure Seeker, much like its name, is a gem that seems to only operate irregularly, and for this moment I am content with music that will play for the next few years.
…
…
“Wands of the Minor Arcana is the solo ambient project of Harman Burns. Her work is inspired by nature, folklore, the occult, and bodily transfiguration.”
Along with the ambient focused work of Burns, her work in Plasticine Cowboy also touches on electroacoustic and prepared instrument work which is both bizarre and delightful. Into the Gloaming Ilse is Burns' foray into dungeon synth adjacent ambient and debut as the artist Wands of the Minor Arcana. <i>Into the Gloaming Ilse</i> is a delightful pastiche of environmental ambient and VGM sounding melodies as if Hiroshi Yoshimura made the Stardew Valley soundtrack.
Wands of The Minor Arcana is dedicated to a story, as Into the Gloaming Isle comes with a lengthy description about a place which could be a dream landscape or a campaign setting for future adventures. For an idea, a story, and a sound, Burns has exceeded the bar for intrigue, as this release is more than adequate for an opening introduction.
…
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3116986244/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://gondolinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/of-kings-and-destiny">Of Kings And Destiny by Valen</a></iframe>
…
Valen is the work of an artist who some know as Seregost. Along with this act who performed at the 2023 North East Dungeon Siege, Seregost is also behind acts such as The Night Keep, Throne of Anguish, and the operations of Obsidian Relic Records. Of Kings And Destiny was originally released in 2021 and presented a martial dungeon synth combined with bleak atmospheres which presented battlefields covered in horror and darkness. Gondolin Records reintroduces the world to this record along with Side A of a 2022 demo which was limited in its editions to six lathe cuts records. Gondolin continues to be one of the biggest archivists for dungeon synth, presenting tapes as if they were museum exhibits for the public to hear.
…
…
“Hypnotic lo-fi techno. Esoteric electronics and magical realism.” Musician Evergreen Rupe continues to experiment on their private label Windkey Tapes and release things without advance notice. I have always enjoyed things which stray into new territory, and the world of lofi ambient techno is certainly a new direction. Though there are more percussive elements and a tribute to the ‘80’s and ‘90’s sounds which filled parties and clubs, the hazy ambience which has been a hallmark of Evergreens music is still present just adding a new wing onto an already elaborate mansion.
…
…
HDK (Heimat der Katastrophe) has a long history with tabletop RPGs blurring the line between music and games and creating a hybrid between. The Lost City is the newest release by the entity GNOLL and dedicates itself to the classic module of the same name by famous creator Tom Moldvay. GNOLL’s release serves as an unofficial soundtrack to the module but realistically would be an official soundtrack if made in 1982. Both GNOLL and HDK continue to be dungeon synth’s most astute scholars when it comes to the subject of old school RPG material.
…
…
There are many releases I could talk about regarding Weregnome Records. One could be the Shibuya-kei / power pop alchemy of Flower Ranger, the minimal stillness of Rhosgobel, or even the raw black ferocity of The Pale Stillness. Those are all wonderful as well as the cover with the Goblin and the title which mimics a very late installment on the Friday the 13th series. Retrogoblin are a party, and through their releases, they very much are on the side that are always laughing. Over this laughter, though, is an immersive landscape of chiptune which could be the soundtrack to a horror side scroller where ninjas pop out of manholes.
…
…
You have probably seen a Coniferous Myst release on Bandcamp/in someone's collection. It was probably monochrome artwork that looked like a tape cover just folded out and hastily cropped along with an unlabeled dubbed tape. Since 2022, Myst and the label Lost Armor have served as staging areas for various projects by the creator. Knight of The Wyvern Covenant IV is the newest offering from Lost Armor and continues to be a delightful mix of old-school dungeon synth with an emphasis on imperfections and decay. This is raw dungeon synth from a creator who is championing the sound.
…
…
Genres: medieval ambient pop adventure synth comfy synth dungeon synth medieval music medieval synth neo medieval Helsinki. There are, of course, commas in there, but it is more fun without. I was sent this by the editors with a line saying “This is sure something.” It certainly is and I’m here for it. I do not know if the genre of avant-pop with a bedroom medieval tone to it is an aesthetic yet, but I sure hope it becomes one since this is intoxicating and delightful.
…
Naïve Magic: A Dungeon Synth Digest #18 —Roundup
Urulókë (plural Urulóki) is the Quenya name of the fire-drakes, meaning "fire-serpent” or "fire-dragon".
-Taken from Tolkien Gateway
I have talked at length about the releases of Spanish artist Frostgard. Most of the coverage has been a way not only to celebrate a fantastic artist in the community but also to talk about Tolkien as Frostgard’s entire career has been built on the lore of Middle Earth. Here is another chance! One of my favorite hobbies is listening to the new record and spending time on Tolkien Gateway looking at song and album titles. Urulókë, aside from being cool since it talks about dragons, is another chapter in this artist’s career paying tribute to old school dungeon synth not only in sound but also deep in spirit. Frostgard continues to be a person of interest in the scope of dungeon synth who make songs about cool things like dragons.
...
…
The year 2020 felt like it was a century ago, and May 2020 was a time fraught with anxiety and tension. This might have felt like an odd time to revel in a blanket of medieval melodies, but Swedish artist Treasure Seeker released Quests for the Secrets Beyond Time in the spring of 2020 and has since been a moment of golden sunshine in an otherwise dark time. Secret of Aiun breaks a three-year silence with music that would fill smokey taverns bursting with bustling patrons. Treasure Seeker, much like its name, is a gem that seems to only operate irregularly, and for this moment I am content with music that will play for the next few years.
…
…
“Wands of the Minor Arcana is the solo ambient project of Harman Burns. Her work is inspired by nature, folklore, the occult, and bodily transfiguration.”
Along with the ambient focused work of Burns, her work in Plasticine Cowboy also touches on electroacoustic and prepared instrument work which is both bizarre and delightful. Into the Gloaming Ilse is Burns' foray into dungeon synth adjacent ambient and debut as the artist Wands of the Minor Arcana. <i>Into the Gloaming Ilse</i> is a delightful pastiche of environmental ambient and VGM sounding melodies as if Hiroshi Yoshimura made the Stardew Valley soundtrack.
Wands of The Minor Arcana is dedicated to a story, as Into the Gloaming Isle comes with a lengthy description about a place which could be a dream landscape or a campaign setting for future adventures. For an idea, a story, and a sound, Burns has exceeded the bar for intrigue, as this release is more than adequate for an opening introduction.
…
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3116986244/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" seamless><a href="https://gondolinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/of-kings-and-destiny">Of Kings And Destiny by Valen</a></iframe>
…
Valen is the work of an artist who some know as Seregost. Along with this act who performed at the 2023 North East Dungeon Siege, Seregost is also behind acts such as The Night Keep, Throne of Anguish, and the operations of Obsidian Relic Records. Of Kings And Destiny was originally released in 2021 and presented a martial dungeon synth combined with bleak atmospheres which presented battlefields covered in horror and darkness. Gondolin Records reintroduces the world to this record along with Side A of a 2022 demo which was limited in its editions to six lathe cuts records. Gondolin continues to be one of the biggest archivists for dungeon synth, presenting tapes as if they were museum exhibits for the public to hear.
…
…
“Hypnotic lo-fi techno. Esoteric electronics and magical realism.” Musician Evergreen Rupe continues to experiment on their private label Windkey Tapes and release things without advance notice. I have always enjoyed things which stray into new territory, and the world of lofi ambient techno is certainly a new direction. Though there are more percussive elements and a tribute to the ‘80’s and ‘90’s sounds which filled parties and clubs, the hazy ambience which has been a hallmark of Evergreens music is still present just adding a new wing onto an already elaborate mansion.
…
…
HDK (Heimat der Katastrophe) has a long history with tabletop RPGs blurring the line between music and games and creating a hybrid between. The Lost City is the newest release by the entity GNOLL and dedicates itself to the classic module of the same name by famous creator Tom Moldvay. GNOLL’s release serves as an unofficial soundtrack to the module but realistically would be an official soundtrack if made in 1982. Both GNOLL and HDK continue to be dungeon synth’s most astute scholars when it comes to the subject of old school RPG material.
…
…
There are many releases I could talk about regarding Weregnome Records. One could be the Shibuya-kei / power pop alchemy of Flower Ranger, the minimal stillness of Rhosgobel, or even the raw black ferocity of The Pale Stillness. Those are all wonderful as well as the cover with the Goblin and the title which mimics a very late installment on the Friday the 13th series. Retrogoblin are a party, and through their releases, they very much are on the side that are always laughing. Over this laughter, though, is an immersive landscape of chiptune which could be the soundtrack to a horror side scroller where ninjas pop out of manholes.
…
…
You have probably seen a Coniferous Myst release on Bandcamp/in someone's collection. It was probably monochrome artwork that looked like a tape cover just folded out and hastily cropped along with an unlabeled dubbed tape. Since 2022, Myst and the label Lost Armor have served as staging areas for various projects by the creator. Knight of The Wyvern Covenant IV is the newest offering from Lost Armor and continues to be a delightful mix of old-school dungeon synth with an emphasis on imperfections and decay. This is raw dungeon synth from a creator who is championing the sound.
…
…
Genres: medieval ambient pop adventure synth comfy synth dungeon synth medieval music medieval synth neo medieval Helsinki. There are, of course, commas in there, but it is more fun without. I was sent this by the editors with a line saying “This is sure something.” It certainly is and I’m here for it. I do not know if the genre of avant-pop with a bedroom medieval tone to it is an aesthetic yet, but I sure hope it becomes one since this is intoxicating and delightful.
…
Naïve Magic: A Dungeon Synth Digest #18 —Roundup
Urulókë (plural Urulóki) is the Quenya name of the fire-drakes, meaning "fire-serpent” or "fire-dragon".
-Taken from Tolkien Gateway
I have talked at length about the releases of Spanish artist Frostgard. Most of the coverage has been a way not only to celebrate a fantastic artist in the community but also to talk about Tolkien as Frostgard’s entire career has been built on the lore of Middle Earth. Here is another chance! One of my favorite hobbies is listening to the new record and spending time on Tolkien Gateway looking at song and album titles. Urulókë, aside from being cool since it talks about dragons, is another chapter in this artist’s career paying tribute to old school dungeon synth not only in sound but also deep in spirit. Frostgard continues to be a person of interest in the scope of dungeon synth who make songs about cool things like dragons.
...
…
The year 2020 felt like it was a century ago, and May 2020 was a time fraught with anxiety and tension. This might have felt like an odd time to revel in a blanket of medieval melodies, but Swedish artist Treasure Seeker released Quests for the Secrets Beyond Time in the spring of 2020 and has since been a moment of golden sunshine in an otherwise dark time. Secret of Aiun breaks a three-year silence with music that would fill smokey taverns bursting with bustling patrons. Treasure Seeker, much like its name, is a gem that seems to only operate irregularly, and for this moment I am content with music that will play for the next few years.
…
…
“Wands of the Minor Arcana is the solo ambient project of Harman Burns. Her work is inspired by nature, folklore, the occult, and bodily transfiguration.”
Along with the ambient focused work of Burns, her work in Plasticine Cowboy also touches on electroacoustic and prepared instrument work which is both bizarre and delightful. Into the Gloaming Ilse is Burns' foray into dungeon synth adjacent ambient and debut as the artist Wands of the Minor Arcana. <i>Into the Gloaming Ilse</i> is a delightful pastiche of environmental ambient and VGM sounding melodies as if Hiroshi Yoshimura made the Stardew Valley soundtrack.
Wands of The Minor Arcana is dedicated to a story, as Into the Gloaming Isle comes with a lengthy description about a place which could be a dream landscape or a campaign setting for future adventures. For an idea, a story, and a sound, Burns has exceeded the bar for intrigue, as this release is more than adequate for an opening introduction.
…
…
Valen is the work of an artist who some know as Seregost. Along with this act who performed at the 2023 North East Dungeon Siege, Seregost is also behind acts such as The Night Keep, Throne of Anguish, and the operations of Obsidian Relic Records. Of Kings And Destiny was originally released in 2021 and presented a martial dungeon synth combined with bleak atmospheres which presented battlefields covered in horror and darkness. Gondolin Records reintroduces the world to this record along with Side A of a 2022 demo which was limited in its editions to six lathe cuts records. Gondolin continues to be one of the biggest archivists for dungeon synth, presenting tapes as if they were museum exhibits for the public to hear.
…
…
“Hypnotic lo-fi techno. Esoteric electronics and magical realism.” Musician Evergreen Rupe continues to experiment on their private label Windkey Tapes and release things without advance notice. I have always enjoyed things which stray into new territory, and the world of lofi ambient techno is certainly a new direction. Though there are more percussive elements and a tribute to the ‘80’s and ‘90’s sounds which filled parties and clubs, the hazy ambience which has been a hallmark of Evergreens music is still present just adding a new wing onto an already elaborate mansion.
…
…
HDK (Heimat der Katastrophe) has a long history with tabletop RPGs blurring the line between music and games and creating a hybrid between. The Lost City is the newest release by the entity GNOLL and dedicates itself to the classic module of the same name by famous creator Tom Moldvay. GNOLL’s release serves as an unofficial soundtrack to the module but realistically would be an official soundtrack if made in 1982. Both GNOLL and HDK continue to be dungeon synth’s most astute scholars when it comes to the subject of old school RPG material.
…
…
There are many releases I could talk about regarding Weregnome Records. One could be the Shibuya-kei / power pop alchemy of Flower Ranger, the minimal stillness of Rhosgobel, or even the raw black ferocity of The Pale Stillness. Those are all wonderful as well as the cover with the Goblin and the title which mimics a very late installment on the Friday the 13th series. Retrogoblin are a party, and through their releases, they very much are on the side that are always laughing. Over this laughter, though, is an immersive landscape of chiptune which could be the soundtrack to a horror side scroller where ninjas pop out of manholes.
…
…
You have probably seen a Coniferous Myst release on Bandcamp/in someone's collection. It was probably monochrome artwork that looked like a tape cover just folded out and hastily cropped along with an unlabeled dubbed tape. Since 2022, Myst and the label Lost Armor have served as staging areas for various projects by the creator. Knight of The Wyvern Covenant IV is the newest offering from Lost Armor and continues to be a delightful mix of old-school dungeon synth with an emphasis on imperfections and decay. This is raw dungeon synth from a creator who is championing the sound.
…
…
Genres: medieval ambient pop adventure synth comfy synth dungeon synth medieval music medieval synth neo medieval Helsinki. There are, of course, commas in there, but it is more fun without. I was sent this by the editors with a line saying “This is sure something.” It certainly is and I’m here for it. I do not know if the genre of avant-pop with a bedroom medieval tone to it is an aesthetic yet, but I sure hope it becomes one since this is intoxicating and delightful.
…
Naïve Magic: A Dungeon Synth Digest #18 —Roundup
Urulókë (plural Urulóki) is the Quenya name of the fire-drakes, meaning "fire-serpent” or "fire-dragon".
-Taken from Tolkien Gateway
I have talked at length about the releases of Spanish artist Frostgard. Most of the coverage has been a way not only to celebrate a fantastic artist in the community but also to talk about Tolkien as Frostgard’s entire career has been built on the lore of Middle Earth. Here is another chance! One of my favorite hobbies is listening to the new record and spending time on Tolkien Gateway looking at song and album titles. Urulókë, aside from being cool since it talks about dragons, is another chapter in this artist’s career paying tribute to old school dungeon synth not only in sound but also deep in spirit. Frostgard continues to be a person of interest in the scope of dungeon synth who make songs about cool things like dragons.
...
…
The year 2020 felt like it was a century ago, and May 2020 was a time fraught with anxiety and tension. This might have felt like an odd time to revel in a blanket of medieval melodies, but Swedish artist Treasure Seeker released Quests for the Secrets Beyond Time in the spring of 2020 and has since been a moment of golden sunshine in an otherwise dark time. Secret of Aiun breaks a three-year silence with music that would fill smokey taverns bursting with bustling patrons. Treasure Seeker, much like its name, is a gem that seems to only operate irregularly, and for this moment I am content with music that will play for the next few years.
…
…
“Wands of the Minor Arcana is the solo ambient project of Harman Burns. Her work is inspired by nature, folklore, the occult, and bodily transfiguration.”
Along with the ambient focused work of Burns, her work in Plasticine Cowboy also touches on electroacoustic and prepared instrument work which is both bizarre and delightful. Into the Gloaming Ilse is Burns' foray into dungeon synth adjacent ambient and debut as the artist Wands of the Minor Arcana. <i>Into the Gloaming Ilse</i> is a delightful pastiche of environmental ambient and VGM sounding melodies as if Hiroshi Yoshimura made the Stardew Valley soundtrack.
Wands of The Minor Arcana is dedicated to a story, as Into the Gloaming Isle comes with a lengthy description about a place which could be a dream landscape or a campaign setting for future adventures. For an idea, a story, and a sound, Burns has exceeded the bar for intrigue, as this release is more than adequate for an opening introduction.
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Valen is the work of an artist who some know as Seregost. Along with this act who performed at the 2023 North East Dungeon Siege, Seregost is also behind acts such as The Night Keep, Throne of Anguish, and the operations of Obsidian Relic Records. Of Kings And Destiny was originally released in 2021 and presented a martial dungeon synth combined with bleak atmospheres which presented battlefields covered in horror and darkness. Gondolin Records reintroduces the world to this record along with Side A of a 2022 demo which was limited in its editions to six lathe cuts records. Gondolin continues to be one of the biggest archivists for dungeon synth, presenting tapes as if they were museum exhibits for the public to hear.
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“Hypnotic lo-fi techno. Esoteric electronics and magical realism.” Musician Evergreen Rupe continues to experiment on their private label Windkey Tapes and release things without advance notice. I have always enjoyed things which stray into new territory, and the world of lofi ambient techno is certainly a new direction. Though there are more percussive elements and a tribute to the ‘80’s and ‘90’s sounds which filled parties and clubs, the hazy ambience which has been a hallmark of Evergreens music is still present just adding a new wing onto an already elaborate mansion.
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HDK (Heimat der Katastrophe) has a long history with tabletop RPGs blurring the line between music and games and creating a hybrid between. The Lost City is the newest release by the entity GNOLL and dedicates itself to the classic module of the same name by famous creator Tom Moldvay. GNOLL’s release serves as an unofficial soundtrack to the module but realistically would be an official soundtrack if made in 1982. Both GNOLL and HDK continue to be dungeon synth’s most astute scholars when it comes to the subject of old school RPG material.
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There are many releases I could talk about regarding Weregnome Records. One could be the Shibuya-kei / power pop alchemy of Flower Ranger, the minimal stillness of Rhosgobel, or even the raw black ferocity of The Pale Stillness. Those are all wonderful as well as the cover with the Goblin and the title which mimics a very late installment on the Friday the 13th series. Retrogoblin are a party, and through their releases, they very much are on the side that are always laughing. Over this laughter, though, is an immersive landscape of chiptune which could be the soundtrack to a horror side scroller where ninjas pop out of manholes.
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You have probably seen a Coniferous Myst release on Bandcamp/in someone's collection. It was probably monochrome artwork that looked like a tape cover just folded out and hastily cropped along with an unlabeled dubbed tape. Since 2022, Myst and the label Lost Armor have served as staging areas for various projects by the creator. Knight of The Wyvern Covenant IV is the newest offering from Lost Armor and continues to be a delightful mix of old-school dungeon synth with an emphasis on imperfections and decay. This is raw dungeon synth from a creator who is championing the sound.
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Genres: medieval ambient pop adventure synth comfy synth dungeon synth medieval music medieval synth neo medieval Helsinki. There are, of course, commas in there, but it is more fun without. I was sent this by the editors with a line saying “This is sure something.” It certainly is and I’m here for it. I do not know if the genre of avant-pop with a bedroom medieval tone to it is an aesthetic yet, but I sure hope it becomes one since this is intoxicating and delightful.
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Laster on Inscrutable Black Metal (Interview)
The masked Dutch trio Laster’s evolution from inscrutable black metal to what they describe as “obscure dance music” has been one of the year’s best surprises. It certainly wasn’t foretold on their dense 2014 album De verste verte is hier, which sounds like an entirely different band compared to the Laster that recorded the recently-released Andermans Mijne, despite the fact they were made by the same members. What’s also surprising is how much they’ve appeared on Invisible Oranges in 2023.
Earlier this year, guitarist and vocalist Nicky H. interviewed Archspire’s Dean Lamb with the enthusiasm of a child getting their band memorabilia officially autographed. Nicky also contributed to Colin Williams’ inspection of the Utrecht black metal scene, which claims some of the most forward-thinking bands in the genre. The city’s philosophy is that black metal is a foundation rather than a rulebook, and Laster reflect that mentality on Andermans Mijne. They pay homage to black metal but are ultimately more interested in combining its elements with post-punk and dance music tenets. As Richard Currie said in his review, “You’re not required to undergo a demonic ritual under a funeral moon to get jiggy with what the band yearns to do.”
Thus, obscure dance music ceases to be a prescriptive term but a deductive conclusion. Andermans Mijne is far away from the negative existentialism black metal grapples with so well. Laster would rather engage with immediate subjects, like modernity’s humdrum gray palette and how it affects the individual, even though it’s cloaked by jaunty rhythms and gothic flirtations. Without being overly saccharine, Laster espouse a modest optimism that’s absent from black metal, both on an auditory and a conceptual level. Group members Nicky, Sylwin, and Wessel were kind enough to explain their reasons for expanding their musical palette, the origins of their obscure dance music title, and showcase their stellar sense of humor.
…
…
You have a great sense of humor, evidenced by your answer that “blast beats make music coherent” here and your long list of influences here—How does your humor interact with your music?
Nicky: Occasionally, little jokes sneak into the music. Sometimes as a quick moment, other times as a fully-fledged segment. More importantly, though, humor keeps us somewhat grounded amidst the heavier themes we approach and explore.
In several interviews, you’ve mentioned your music is about the mundane aspects of your lives. How do you think your music and art act as a way for you to better appreciate and reflect on life’s mundanity?
Sylwin: Music and art in general provide loose though fundamental frameworks for reflections and acts. They motivate and provide purpose. They generate bliss when you get to (finally) dance.
Wessel: As we are human creatures, we naturally seek to connect. Even though we initially became friends because we started to write music together, the friendship itself has grown deeply and allowed me as a person to grow. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for this. Our daily lives have become intertwined with each other as well. We eat at each other's homes weekly; we laugh and cry together, see relations come and go, all of it. To NOT talk about these very essential things in our art would feel dissociated and fake to me. It’s a necessity.
Your music has shifted away from overt black metal and towards art rock. How has your perception and relationship with black metal changed over the years with Laster?
Nicky: I no longer actively search for it. Collectively grinding through the depths of SoulSeek and Blogspot as teens and adolescents gave a rich understanding of the genre’s beginnings and developments up until the 2010s. After that, I lost sight of things. I still occasionally check in to get a grasp of current developments—but the genre has surely shifted from being a strong part of my identity to an appreciated toolset.
Sylwin: I have never been an overt black metal fan, but the approach of primitive blast beats and punk-ish styles of percussion in accordance with atmosphere is still part of what I crave in music—sometimes when I write music on my own, for example. Though not with Laster, because our band carries other potentials artistically and often does not fit with black metal elements. We just want to travel a lot.
Wessel: Some black metal bands have shown me all kinds of possibilities within the genre. Maybe (black metal is) one of the fewer metal styles that is a bit ambiguous within itself. What black metal should be has never interested me. Some elements get me more excited, some less. I’m both a big fan of steady, catchy rock beats as well as full-on blasting. Over the past few years, I’ve been playing all of ‘em and with a lot of joy. As far as shifting away from one style to another, did we really? All elements have been there, and probably always will be. Maybe more immersive.
Andermans Mijne, out of all your albums, best fits your self-identified “obscure dance music” label. What made you three identify with that idea?
Wessel: Thank you for this comment! I think we came up with this term when we were working on De verste verte is hier. We had written and recorded all four songs and noticed that the title song was diverting a lot from the other three songs in regards to style. To me, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about IF we would place this song on the record, but it did raise the question about WHAT we were trying to achieve stylistically.
The waviness and goth elements in this song felt very natural, and it was very fun to play, and I think I’ve never made such a poppy song before. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It made me so much more excited than the other songs on the record, actually, because it gave a glimpse of what we could be doing instead of just playing black metal music. It gave us the hope that our future music was going to be something different. So we decided to come up with our own interpretation of our style. If there’s anybody who should name this kind of music, it was going to be us. So we did. Surely, over the course of the past years, we kept reflecting on our self-fulfilling prophecy, and we think we actually made the music even more danceable, haha. So, glad that you agree.
On a similar note, what are the different lessons you learned from dance music that you didn’t learn from black metal, and vice versa?
Nicky: Groove teaches us to nurture the spiritual by including the physical.
Sylwin: The pink elephant called euphoric sensations.
Earlier this year, you spoke to our Colin Williams about Utrecht and DIY scenes in the city. How did the spirit of those scenes impact Laster’s ideology?
Sylwin: It did impact us for a while. Most importantly through how we came to work with other artists from other bands, formed new bands, played shows together, each other's attitudes, learned new stuff from all that. Frankly enough, Laster has developed into a very tight friendship built on shared values of musical creativity, openness, and aspiration. This I share most intensively with these two guys.
Similarly, you guys play it pretty loose with black metal. How do you think Utrecht black metal bands like Grey Aura and others affected your ambitions? Is it, as the saying goes, something in the water in Utrecht?
Nicky: Recent research reveals that the Netherlands boasts the highest levels of MDMA and THC-COOH in their sewage waters compared to other European nations.
Sylwin: Being a part of Grey Aura myself, I believe that in both bands, we like to be challenged to travel and go on an adventure not really knowing where to end up.
How do your masks play into your music and appearance? What do they provide to you as a musician that you couldn’t do without them?
Nicky: Sweat. Buckets, no, truckloads of sweat.
Sylwin: A visual linkage to the music through which the latter becomes more tangible.
Laster 2023
Laster on Inscrutable Black Metal (Interview)
The masked Dutch trio Laster’s evolution from inscrutable black metal to what they describe as “obscure dance music” has been one of the year’s best surprises. It certainly wasn’t foretold on their dense 2014 album De verste verte is hier, which sounds like an entirely different band compared to the Laster that recorded the recently-released Andermans Mijne, despite the fact they were made by the same members. What’s also surprising is how much they’ve appeared on Invisible Oranges in 2023.
Earlier this year, guitarist and vocalist Nicky H. interviewed Archspire’s Dean Lamb with the enthusiasm of a child getting their band memorabilia officially autographed. Nicky also contributed to Colin Williams’ inspection of the Utrecht black metal scene, which claims some of the most forward-thinking bands in the genre. The city’s philosophy is that black metal is a foundation rather than a rulebook, and Laster reflect that mentality on Andermans Mijne. They pay homage to black metal but are ultimately more interested in combining its elements with post-punk and dance music tenets. As Richard Currie said in his review, “You’re not required to undergo a demonic ritual under a funeral moon to get jiggy with what the band yearns to do.”
Thus, obscure dance music ceases to be a prescriptive term but a deductive conclusion. Andermans Mijne is far away from the negative existentialism black metal grapples with so well. Laster would rather engage with immediate subjects, like modernity’s humdrum gray palette and how it affects the individual, even though it’s cloaked by jaunty rhythms and gothic flirtations. Without being overly saccharine, Laster espouse a modest optimism that’s absent from black metal, both on an auditory and a conceptual level. Group members Nicky, Sylwin, and Wessel were kind enough to explain their reasons for expanding their musical palette, the origins of their obscure dance music title, and showcase their stellar sense of humor.
…
…
You have a great sense of humor, evidenced by your answer that “blast beats make music coherent” here and your long list of influences here—How does your humor interact with your music?
Nicky: Occasionally, little jokes sneak into the music. Sometimes as a quick moment, other times as a fully-fledged segment. More importantly, though, humor keeps us somewhat grounded amidst the heavier themes we approach and explore.
In several interviews, you’ve mentioned your music is about the mundane aspects of your lives. How do you think your music and art act as a way for you to better appreciate and reflect on life’s mundanity?
Sylwin: Music and art in general provide loose though fundamental frameworks for reflections and acts. They motivate and provide purpose. They generate bliss when you get to (finally) dance.
Wessel: As we are human creatures, we naturally seek to connect. Even though we initially became friends because we started to write music together, the friendship itself has grown deeply and allowed me as a person to grow. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for this. Our daily lives have become intertwined with each other as well. We eat at each other's homes weekly; we laugh and cry together, see relations come and go, all of it. To NOT talk about these very essential things in our art would feel dissociated and fake to me. It’s a necessity.
Your music has shifted away from overt black metal and towards art rock. How has your perception and relationship with black metal changed over the years with Laster?
Nicky: I no longer actively search for it. Collectively grinding through the depths of SoulSeek and Blogspot as teens and adolescents gave a rich understanding of the genre’s beginnings and developments up until the 2010s. After that, I lost sight of things. I still occasionally check in to get a grasp of current developments—but the genre has surely shifted from being a strong part of my identity to an appreciated toolset.
Sylwin: I have never been an overt black metal fan, but the approach of primitive blast beats and punk-ish styles of percussion in accordance with atmosphere is still part of what I crave in music—sometimes when I write music on my own, for example. Though not with Laster, because our band carries other potentials artistically and often does not fit with black metal elements. We just want to travel a lot.
Wessel: Some black metal bands have shown me all kinds of possibilities within the genre. Maybe (black metal is) one of the fewer metal styles that is a bit ambiguous within itself. What black metal should be has never interested me. Some elements get me more excited, some less. I’m both a big fan of steady, catchy rock beats as well as full-on blasting. Over the past few years, I’ve been playing all of ‘em and with a lot of joy. As far as shifting away from one style to another, did we really? All elements have been there, and probably always will be. Maybe more immersive.
Andermans Mijne, out of all your albums, best fits your self-identified “obscure dance music” label. What made you three identify with that idea?
Wessel: Thank you for this comment! I think we came up with this term when we were working on De verste verte is hier. We had written and recorded all four songs and noticed that the title song was diverting a lot from the other three songs in regards to style. To me, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about IF we would place this song on the record, but it did raise the question about WHAT we were trying to achieve stylistically.
The waviness and goth elements in this song felt very natural, and it was very fun to play, and I think I’ve never made such a poppy song before. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It made me so much more excited than the other songs on the record, actually, because it gave a glimpse of what we could be doing instead of just playing black metal music. It gave us the hope that our future music was going to be something different. So we decided to come up with our own interpretation of our style. If there’s anybody who should name this kind of music, it was going to be us. So we did. Surely, over the course of the past years, we kept reflecting on our self-fulfilling prophecy, and we think we actually made the music even more danceable, haha. So, glad that you agree.
On a similar note, what are the different lessons you learned from dance music that you didn’t learn from black metal, and vice versa?
Nicky: Groove teaches us to nurture the spiritual by including the physical.
Sylwin: The pink elephant called euphoric sensations.
Earlier this year, you spoke to our Colin Williams about Utrecht and DIY scenes in the city. How did the spirit of those scenes impact Laster’s ideology?
Sylwin: It did impact us for a while. Most importantly through how we came to work with other artists from other bands, formed new bands, played shows together, each other's attitudes, learned new stuff from all that. Frankly enough, Laster has developed into a very tight friendship built on shared values of musical creativity, openness, and aspiration. This I share most intensively with these two guys.
Similarly, you guys play it pretty loose with black metal. How do you think Utrecht black metal bands like Grey Aura and others affected your ambitions? Is it, as the saying goes, something in the water in Utrecht?
Nicky: Recent research reveals that the Netherlands boasts the highest levels of MDMA and THC-COOH in their sewage waters compared to other European nations.
Sylwin: Being a part of Grey Aura myself, I believe that in both bands, we like to be challenged to travel and go on an adventure not really knowing where to end up.
How do your masks play into your music and appearance? What do they provide to you as a musician that you couldn’t do without them?
Nicky: Sweat. Buckets, no, truckloads of sweat.
Sylwin: A visual linkage to the music through which the latter becomes more tangible.
Laster on Inscrutable Black Metal (Interview)
The masked Dutch trio Laster’s evolution from inscrutable black metal to what they describe as “obscure dance music” has been one of the year’s best surprises. It certainly wasn’t foretold on their dense 2014 album De verste verte is hier, which sounds like an entirely different band compared to the Laster that recorded the recently-released Andermans Mijne, despite the fact they were made by the same members. What’s also surprising is how much they’ve appeared on Invisible Oranges in 2023.
Earlier this year, guitarist and vocalist Nicky H. interviewed Archspire’s Dean Lamb with the enthusiasm of a child getting their band memorabilia officially autographed. Nicky also contributed to Colin Williams’ inspection of the Utrecht black metal scene, which claims some of the most forward-thinking bands in the genre. The city’s philosophy is that black metal is a foundation rather than a rulebook, and Laster reflect that mentality on Andermans Mijne. They pay homage to black metal but are ultimately more interested in combining its elements with post-punk and dance music tenets. As Richard Currie said in his review, “You’re not required to undergo a demonic ritual under a funeral moon to get jiggy with what the band yearns to do.”
Thus, obscure dance music ceases to be a prescriptive term but a deductive conclusion. Andermans Mijne is far away from the negative existentialism black metal grapples with so well. Laster would rather engage with immediate subjects, like modernity’s humdrum gray palette and how it affects the individual, even though it’s cloaked by jaunty rhythms and gothic flirtations. Without being overly saccharine, Laster espouse a modest optimism that’s absent from black metal, both on an auditory and a conceptual level. Group members Nicky, Sylwin, and Wessel were kind enough to explain their reasons for expanding their musical palette, the origins of their obscure dance music title, and showcase their stellar sense of humor.
…
…
You have a great sense of humor, evidenced by your answer that “blast beats make music coherent” here and your long list of influences here—How does your humor interact with your music?
Nicky: Occasionally, little jokes sneak into the music. Sometimes as a quick moment, other times as a fully-fledged segment. More importantly, though, humor keeps us somewhat grounded amidst the heavier themes we approach and explore.
In several interviews, you’ve mentioned your music is about the mundane aspects of your lives. How do you think your music and art act as a way for you to better appreciate and reflect on life’s mundanity?
Sylwin: Music and art in general provide loose though fundamental frameworks for reflections and acts. They motivate and provide purpose. They generate bliss when you get to (finally) dance.
Wessel: As we are human creatures, we naturally seek to connect. Even though we initially became friends because we started to write music together, the friendship itself has grown deeply and allowed me as a person to grow. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for this. Our daily lives have become intertwined with each other as well. We eat at each other's homes weekly; we laugh and cry together, see relations come and go, all of it. To NOT talk about these very essential things in our art would feel dissociated and fake to me. It’s a necessity.
Your music has shifted away from overt black metal and towards art rock. How has your perception and relationship with black metal changed over the years with Laster?
Nicky: I no longer actively search for it. Collectively grinding through the depths of SoulSeek and Blogspot as teens and adolescents gave a rich understanding of the genre’s beginnings and developments up until the 2010s. After that, I lost sight of things. I still occasionally check in to get a grasp of current developments—but the genre has surely shifted from being a strong part of my identity to an appreciated toolset.
Sylwin: I have never been an overt black metal fan, but the approach of primitive blast beats and punk-ish styles of percussion in accordance with atmosphere is still part of what I crave in music—sometimes when I write music on my own, for example. Though not with Laster, because our band carries other potentials artistically and often does not fit with black metal elements. We just want to travel a lot.
Wessel: Some black metal bands have shown me all kinds of possibilities within the genre. Maybe (black metal is) one of the fewer metal styles that is a bit ambiguous within itself. What black metal should be has never interested me. Some elements get me more excited, some less. I’m both a big fan of steady, catchy rock beats as well as full-on blasting. Over the past few years, I’ve been playing all of ‘em and with a lot of joy. As far as shifting away from one style to another, did we really? All elements have been there, and probably always will be. Maybe more immersive.
Andermans Mijne, out of all your albums, best fits your self-identified “obscure dance music” label. What made you three identify with that idea?
Wessel: Thank you for this comment! I think we came up with this term when we were working on De verste verte is hier. We had written and recorded all four songs and noticed that the title song was diverting a lot from the other three songs in regards to style. To me, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about IF we would place this song on the record, but it did raise the question about WHAT we were trying to achieve stylistically.
The waviness and goth elements in this song felt very natural, and it was very fun to play, and I think I’ve never made such a poppy song before. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It made me so much more excited than the other songs on the record, actually, because it gave a glimpse of what we could be doing instead of just playing black metal music. It gave us the hope that our future music was going to be something different. So we decided to come up with our own interpretation of our style. If there’s anybody who should name this kind of music, it was going to be us. So we did. Surely, over the course of the past years, we kept reflecting on our self-fulfilling prophecy, and we think we actually made the music even more danceable, haha. So, glad that you agree.
On a similar note, what are the different lessons you learned from dance music that you didn’t learn from black metal, and vice versa?
Nicky: Groove teaches us to nurture the spiritual by including the physical.
Sylwin: The pink elephant called euphoric sensations.
Earlier this year, you spoke to our Colin Williams about Utrecht and DIY scenes in the city. How did the spirit of those scenes impact Laster’s ideology?
Sylwin: It did impact us for a while. Most importantly through how we came to work with other artists from other bands, formed new bands, played shows together, each other's attitudes, learned new stuff from all that. Frankly enough, Laster has developed into a very tight friendship built on shared values of musical creativity, openness, and aspiration. This I share most intensively with these two guys.
Similarly, you guys play it pretty loose with black metal. How do you think Utrecht black metal bands like Grey Aura and others affected your ambitions? Is it, as the saying goes, something in the water in Utrecht?
Nicky: Recent research reveals that the Netherlands boasts the highest levels of MDMA and THC-COOH in their sewage waters compared to other European nations.
Sylwin: Being a part of Grey Aura myself, I believe that in both bands, we like to be challenged to travel and go on an adventure not really knowing where to end up.
How do your masks play into your music and appearance? What do they provide to you as a musician that you couldn’t do without them?
Nicky: Sweat. Buckets, no, truckloads of sweat.
Sylwin: A visual linkage to the music through which the latter becomes more tangible.
Laster on Inscrutable Black Metal (Interview)
The masked Dutch trio Laster’s evolution from inscrutable black metal to what they describe as “obscure dance music” has been one of the year’s best surprises. It certainly wasn’t foretold on their dense 2014 album De verste verte is hier, which sounds like an entirely different band compared to the Laster that recorded the recently-released Andermans Mijne, despite the fact they were made by the same members. What’s also surprising is how much they’ve appeared on Invisible Oranges in 2023.
Earlier this year, guitarist and vocalist Nicky H. interviewed Archspire’s Dean Lamb with the enthusiasm of a child getting their band memorabilia officially autographed. Nicky also contributed to Colin Williams’ inspection of the Utrecht black metal scene, which claims some of the most forward-thinking bands in the genre. The city’s philosophy is that black metal is a foundation rather than a rulebook, and Laster reflect that mentality on Andermans Mijne. They pay homage to black metal but are ultimately more interested in combining its elements with post-punk and dance music tenets. As Richard Currie said in his review, “You’re not required to undergo a demonic ritual under a funeral moon to get jiggy with what the band yearns to do.”
Thus, obscure dance music ceases to be a prescriptive term but a deductive conclusion. Andermans Mijne is far away from the negative existentialism black metal grapples with so well. Laster would rather engage with immediate subjects, like modernity’s humdrum gray palette and how it affects the individual, even though it’s cloaked by jaunty rhythms and gothic flirtations. Without being overly saccharine, Laster espouse a modest optimism that’s absent from black metal, both on an auditory and a conceptual level. Group members Nicky, Sylwin, and Wessel were kind enough to explain their reasons for expanding their musical palette, the origins of their obscure dance music title, and showcase their stellar sense of humor.
…
…
You have a great sense of humor, evidenced by your answer that “blast beats make music coherent” here and your long list of influences here—How does your humor interact with your music?
Nicky: Occasionally, little jokes sneak into the music. Sometimes as a quick moment, other times as a fully-fledged segment. More importantly, though, humor keeps us somewhat grounded amidst the heavier themes we approach and explore.
In several interviews, you’ve mentioned your music is about the mundane aspects of your lives. How do you think your music and art act as a way for you to better appreciate and reflect on life’s mundanity?
Sylwin: Music and art in general provide loose though fundamental frameworks for reflections and acts. They motivate and provide purpose. They generate bliss when you get to (finally) dance.
Wessel: As we are human creatures, we naturally seek to connect. Even though we initially became friends because we started to write music together, the friendship itself has grown deeply and allowed me as a person to grow. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for this. Our daily lives have become intertwined with each other as well. We eat at each other's homes weekly; we laugh and cry together, see relations come and go, all of it. To NOT talk about these very essential things in our art would feel dissociated and fake to me. It’s a necessity.
Your music has shifted away from overt black metal and towards art rock. How has your perception and relationship with black metal changed over the years with Laster?
Nicky: I no longer actively search for it. Collectively grinding through the depths of SoulSeek and Blogspot as teens and adolescents gave a rich understanding of the genre’s beginnings and developments up until the 2010s. After that, I lost sight of things. I still occasionally check in to get a grasp of current developments—but the genre has surely shifted from being a strong part of my identity to an appreciated toolset.
Sylwin: I have never been an overt black metal fan, but the approach of primitive blast beats and punk-ish styles of percussion in accordance with atmosphere is still part of what I crave in music—sometimes when I write music on my own, for example. Though not with Laster, because our band carries other potentials artistically and often does not fit with black metal elements. We just want to travel a lot.
Wessel: Some black metal bands have shown me all kinds of possibilities within the genre. Maybe (black metal is) one of the fewer metal styles that is a bit ambiguous within itself. What black metal should be has never interested me. Some elements get me more excited, some less. I’m both a big fan of steady, catchy rock beats as well as full-on blasting. Over the past few years, I’ve been playing all of ‘em and with a lot of joy. As far as shifting away from one style to another, did we really? All elements have been there, and probably always will be. Maybe more immersive.
Andermans Mijne, out of all your albums, best fits your self-identified “obscure dance music” label. What made you three identify with that idea?
Wessel: Thank you for this comment! I think we came up with this term when we were working on De verste verte is hier. We had written and recorded all four songs and noticed that the title song was diverting a lot from the other three songs in regards to style. To me, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about IF we would place this song on the record, but it did raise the question about WHAT we were trying to achieve stylistically.
The waviness and goth elements in this song felt very natural, and it was very fun to play, and I think I’ve never made such a poppy song before. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It made me so much more excited than the other songs on the record, actually, because it gave a glimpse of what we could be doing instead of just playing black metal music. It gave us the hope that our future music was going to be something different. So we decided to come up with our own interpretation of our style. If there’s anybody who should name this kind of music, it was going to be us. So we did. Surely, over the course of the past years, we kept reflecting on our self-fulfilling prophecy, and we think we actually made the music even more danceable, haha. So, glad that you agree.
On a similar note, what are the different lessons you learned from dance music that you didn’t learn from black metal, and vice versa?
Nicky: Groove teaches us to nurture the spiritual by including the physical.
Sylwin: The pink elephant called euphoric sensations.
Earlier this year, you spoke to our Colin Williams about Utrecht and DIY scenes in the city. How did the spirit of those scenes impact Laster’s ideology?
Sylwin: It did impact us for a while. Most importantly through how we came to work with other artists from other bands, formed new bands, played shows together, each other's attitudes, learned new stuff from all that. Frankly enough, Laster has developed into a very tight friendship built on shared values of musical creativity, openness, and aspiration. This I share most intensively with these two guys.
Similarly, you guys play it pretty loose with black metal. How do you think Utrecht black metal bands like Grey Aura and others affected your ambitions? Is it, as the saying goes, something in the water in Utrecht?
Nicky: Recent research reveals that the Netherlands boasts the highest levels of MDMA and THC-COOH in their sewage waters compared to other European nations.
Sylwin: Being a part of Grey Aura myself, I believe that in both bands, we like to be challenged to travel and go on an adventure not really knowing where to end up.
How do your masks play into your music and appearance? What do they provide to you as a musician that you couldn’t do without them?
Nicky: Sweat. Buckets, no, truckloads of sweat.
Sylwin: A visual linkage to the music through which the latter becomes more tangible.
…
Their performance was a primal rite bathed in dry ice; KzR’s growls and thunderous riffs and HzR’s martial drums urged the night on into oblivion. The sound was, thankfully, flawless and the band itself was as tight as ever. The set leaned heavily on HERO with much applauded appearances from Aura, the EP that essentially brought them to the world stage. The crowd was in its most frenzied state of the evening and I glanced over to see the fellows in Harvest Gulgaltha at the front of the stage going the craziest. It must have had some impact as Bolzer finished their set, bowing to the crowd, and after chants for more, returned stating “We never do this, so thank you” before playing an encore of “Zuess – Seducer of Hearts” from their Roman Acupuncture demo.
The final day of Covenant saw things commence with the “Hangover” Vendors Market set up at the Black Lab, an all-ages DIY space across the street from the Rickshaw. Those who were feeling spry enough could venture there as early as noon and sip mimosas while they poked through the various records, shirts, and occult wares available.
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Laster on Inscrutable Black Metal (Interview)
The masked Dutch trio Laster’s evolution from inscrutable black metal to what they describe as “obscure dance music” has been one of the year’s best surprises. It certainly wasn’t foretold on their dense 2014 album De verste verte is hier, which sounds like an entirely different band compared to the Laster that recorded the recently-released Andermans Mijne, despite the fact they were made by the same members. What’s also surprising is how much they’ve appeared on Invisible Oranges in 2023.
Earlier this year, guitarist and vocalist Nicky H. interviewed Archspire’s Dean Lamb with the enthusiasm of a child getting their band memorabilia officially autographed. Nicky also contributed to Colin Williams’ inspection of the Utrecht black metal scene, which claims some of the most forward-thinking bands in the genre. The city’s philosophy is that black metal is a foundation rather than a rulebook, and Laster reflect that mentality on Andermans Mijne. They pay homage to black metal but are ultimately more interested in combining its elements with post-punk and dance music tenets. As Richard Currie said in his review, “You’re not required to undergo a demonic ritual under a funeral moon to get jiggy with what the band yearns to do.”
Thus, obscure dance music ceases to be a prescriptive term but a deductive conclusion. Andermans Mijne is far away from the negative existentialism black metal grapples with so well. Laster would rather engage with immediate subjects, like modernity’s humdrum gray palette and how it affects the individual, even though it’s cloaked by jaunty rhythms and gothic flirtations. Without being overly saccharine, Laster espouse a modest optimism that’s absent from black metal, both on an auditory and a conceptual level. Group members Nicky, Sylwin, and Wessel were kind enough to explain their reasons for expanding their musical palette, the origins of their obscure dance music title, and showcase their stellar sense of humor.
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…
You have a great sense of humor, evidenced by your answer that “blast beats make music coherent” here and your long list of influences here—How does your humor interact with your music?
Nicky: Occasionally, little jokes sneak into the music. Sometimes as a quick moment, other times as a fully-fledged segment. More importantly, though, humor keeps us somewhat grounded amidst the heavier themes we approach and explore.
In several interviews, you’ve mentioned your music is about the mundane aspects of your lives. How do you think your music and art act as a way for you to better appreciate and reflect on life’s mundanity?
Sylwin: Music and art in general provide loose though fundamental frameworks for reflections and acts. They motivate and provide purpose. They generate bliss when you get to (finally) dance.
Wessel: As we are human creatures, we naturally seek to connect. Even though we initially became friends because we started to write music together, the friendship itself has grown deeply and allowed me as a person to grow. I cannot say enough how grateful I am for this. Our daily lives have become intertwined with each other as well. We eat at each other's homes weekly; we laugh and cry together, see relations come and go, all of it. To NOT talk about these very essential things in our art would feel dissociated and fake to me. It’s a necessity.
Your music has shifted away from overt black metal and towards art rock. How has your perception and relationship with black metal changed over the years with Laster?
Nicky: I no longer actively search for it. Collectively grinding through the depths of SoulSeek and Blogspot as teens and adolescents gave a rich understanding of the genre’s beginnings and developments up until the 2010s. After that, I lost sight of things. I still occasionally check in to get a grasp of current developments—but the genre has surely shifted from being a strong part of my identity to an appreciated toolset.
Sylwin: I have never been an overt black metal fan, but the approach of primitive blast beats and punk-ish styles of percussion in accordance with atmosphere is still part of what I crave in music—sometimes when I write music on my own, for example. Though not with Laster, because our band carries other potentials artistically and often does not fit with black metal elements. We just want to travel a lot.
Wessel: Some black metal bands have shown me all kinds of possibilities within the genre. Maybe (black metal is) one of the fewer metal styles that is a bit ambiguous within itself. What black metal should be has never interested me. Some elements get me more excited, some less. I’m both a big fan of steady, catchy rock beats as well as full-on blasting. Over the past few years, I’ve been playing all of ‘em and with a lot of joy. As far as shifting away from one style to another, did we really? All elements have been there, and probably always will be. Maybe more immersive.
Andermans Mijne, out of all your albums, best fits your self-identified “obscure dance music” label. What made you three identify with that idea?
Wessel: Thank you for this comment! I think we came up with this term when we were working on De verste verte is hier. We had written and recorded all four songs and noticed that the title song was diverting a lot from the other three songs in regards to style. To me, there wasn’t a single moment of hesitation about IF we would place this song on the record, but it did raise the question about WHAT we were trying to achieve stylistically.
The waviness and goth elements in this song felt very natural, and it was very fun to play, and I think I’ve never made such a poppy song before. It was new, fresh, and exciting. It made me so much more excited than the other songs on the record, actually, because it gave a glimpse of what we could be doing instead of just playing black metal music. It gave us the hope that our future music was going to be something different. So we decided to come up with our own interpretation of our style. If there’s anybody who should name this kind of music, it was going to be us. So we did. Surely, over the course of the past years, we kept reflecting on our self-fulfilling prophecy, and we think we actually made the music even more danceable, haha. So, glad that you agree.
On a similar note, what are the different lessons you learned from dance music that you didn’t learn from black metal, and vice versa?
Nicky: Groove teaches us to nurture the spiritual by including the physical.
Sylwin: The pink elephant called euphoric sensations.
Earlier this year, you spoke to our Colin Williams about Utrecht and DIY scenes in the city. How did the spirit of those scenes impact Laster’s ideology?
Sylwin: It did impact us for a while. Most importantly through how we came to work with other artists from other bands, formed new bands, played shows together, each other's attitudes, learned new stuff from all that. Frankly enough, Laster has developed into a very tight friendship built on shared values of musical creativity, openness, and aspiration. This I share most intensively with these two guys.
Similarly, you guys play it pretty loose with black metal. How do you think Utrecht black metal bands like Grey Aura and others affected your ambitions? Is it, as the saying goes, something in the water in Utrecht?
Nicky: Recent research reveals that the Netherlands boasts the highest levels of MDMA and THC-COOH in their sewage waters compared to other European nations.
Sylwin: Being a part of Grey Aura myself, I believe that in both bands, we like to be challenged to travel and go on an adventure not really knowing where to end up.
How do your masks play into your music and appearance? What do they provide to you as a musician that you couldn’t do without them?
Nicky: Sweat. Buckets, no, truckloads of sweat.
Sylwin: A visual linkage to the music through which the latter becomes more tangible.
“Atrocity Machine” Ramps Up Body Void’s Oppressive Vision (Interview)
Sludge trio Body Void are best surmised by repurposing a quote from the legendary techno-surrealist film Videodrome: They have a philosophy, and that’s what makes them dangerous. The band are virtuoso chroniclers of humanity’s downfall, be it the unfolding global ecological catastrophe on previous LP Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth to state violence and late-capitalist horror on their latest full-length Atrocity Machine.
Crucially, however, Body Void refuse to celebrate society’s downfall. Instead, the lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Willow Ryan satirically lament it with razor-sharp precision and a keen eye for unique macabre imagery. This acute vision extends to Body Void’s sonics, which are equally abrasive and pointed. On Atrocity Machine, they’ve incorporated an oppressive air of electronics that serves as a harsh, omnipresent bedrock for their intense sludge metal.
Body Void are a band in full control of their vision, right down to their new album’s artwork created by Primitive Man’s Ethan McCarthy. Atrocity Machine is a vital album for its thrilling heaviness, humanistic worldview and as proof that metal has a unique role to play in confronting our current era of seemingly-endless crises.
We spoke to Willow about Body Void’s vision, Atrocity Machine’s production, and the role of nihilism in art.
…
…
I found a lovely phrase from a previous interview where you said that “transformation is the central theme of Body Void.” Leading up to the release of this new album, how has this transformation recently manifested itself ?
That’s a good question. I suppose one of the earliest ideas behind Atrocity Machine was a human transforming into a machine, so it’s thematically on point. Then, in terms of the band, we wanted to do something more mechanical and industrial musically, adding synths and noise to what was already there.
On that note, the music of this album feels so hot and close; is this a deliberate aesthetic choice?
I like hearing that. For me, approaching this album, we had so many ideas that we wanted to do. With this kind of music, the mix becomes so dense, and we wanted to add even more to that. A big part of this record involved saying, “We have this amount of space; how do we make this additional electronic element fit into it?” It’s interesting because I think there is only a certain amount of space there; I think we made it sound thicker. I’ve never thought of it as hot; I like that.
The runtimes here caught my eye. Across your last three albums, the runtimes of your tracks have gotten increasingly shorter. Is that a conscious decision?
It’s definitely intentional, but also a natural extension. We wanted to make the songs tighter. That mindset has resulted in shorter times. A lot of it is also because playing really long songs live gets exhausting, particularly when you can only play, like, two songs in a set.
Does the finished product of Atrocity Machine resemble the thing you imagined when you were writing and recording it?
Yes and no. From the abstract, we wanted to introduce electronics, and I think we did that. But I think the results were still surprising. Hearing what our vision sounded like was a pleasant surprise. It was really fun to make because it didn’t feel like anything we’d done before or anything else we’d heard.
You worked with Ben Greenberg on this one. Is he the kind of producer who gives advice on things like arrangement, or is he more there to help with the textures and atmospherics?
He was heavily involved, giving notes and stuff on things like, “Maybe end the song this way,” or, “Add this to it.” Also, the electronics side—He was there to help that along. I think without him, it was more an abstract idea; then with him, it worked. Even down to suggesting types of synths we should use. He was a big, hands-on producer which is something we’ve never done before and was really cool.
I feel like, as epitomized by the artwork, this album’s aesthetic is more mechanistic in contrast to your previous album’s more ecological focus. Is that a correct assessment?
Definitely. If the last one was human-to-nature, then this one is human-to-machine.
I love the imagery in your lyrics. In and out of music, what are some of your influences?
I went to school for writing, and I grew up writing a lot of poetry. I listened to a lot of hip-hop when I was younger; that was a big influence. Approaching lyrics for this band, it often feels like I’m fitting the words to the music. I can’t really bring lyrics to the song.
Specifically on this album, Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Akira are big influences, also Kurt Vonnuget. I was really interested in taking the themes of modern-day America and using extreme imagery to convey the feelings of living in this country. It’s hard to point to any specific lyric writers; I’m just generally influenced by punk rock finger-pointing. Although for this one, I wanted to move out of my comfort zone and write satirical, absurd stuff.
Some people’s perception of this type of music is that it’s nihilistic; however, your music is the opposite. It’s deeply compassionate. Do you think nihilism has any place in terms of the radical potential of art?
That’s a good question because in my day-to-day, I definitely bounce between cynical nihilism and being hopeful for the future. I feel like, no matter what I believe, I’m still going to try to do my best for my community and the world. Whether I believe that it’ll have any effect, it won’t change my actions.
I approach Body Void as if, even though the world might be ending, we still have to live day-to-day. We’re gonna need to do our best and, for example, (with) this record, chronicle what we’re going through and fight for something better. If it works it works, but if it doesn’t, well…
At least you’ve gone down swinging?
Yeah.
…
Atrocity Machine released October 13th via Prosthetic Records.
“Atrocity Machine” Ramps Up Body Void’s Oppressive Vision (Interview)
Sludge trio Body Void are best surmised by repurposing a quote from the legendary techno-surrealist film Videodrome: They have a philosophy, and that’s what makes them dangerous. The band are virtuoso chroniclers of humanity’s downfall, be it the unfolding global ecological catastrophe on previous LP Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth to state violence and late-capitalist horror on their latest full-length Atrocity Machine.
Crucially, however, Body Void refuse to celebrate society’s downfall. Instead, the lyrics of vocalist/guitarist Willow Ryan satirically lament it with razor-sharp precision and a keen eye for unique macabre imagery. This acute vision extends to Body Void’s sonics, which are equally abrasive and pointed. On Atrocity Machine, they’ve incorporated an oppressive air of electronics that serves as a harsh, omnipresent bedrock for their intense sludge metal.
Body Void are a band in full control of their vision, right down to their new album’s artwork created by Primitive Man’s Ethan McCarthy. Atrocity Machine is a vital album for its thrilling heaviness, humanistic worldview and as proof that metal has a unique role to play in confronting our current era of seemingly-endless crises.
We spoke to Willow about Body Void’s vision, Atrocity Machine’s production, and the role of nihilism in art.
…
…
I found a lovely phrase from a previous interview where you said that “transformation is the central theme of Body Void.” Leading up to the release of this new album, how has this transformation recently manifested itself ?
That’s a good question. I suppose one of the earliest ideas behind Atrocity Machine was a human transforming into a machine, so it’s thematically on point. Then, in terms of the band, we wanted to do something more mechanical and industrial musically, adding synths and noise to what was already there.
On that note, the music of this album feels so hot and close; is this a deliberate aesthetic choice?
I like hearing that. For me, approaching this album, we had so many ideas that we wanted to do. With this kind of music, the mix becomes so dense, and we wanted to add even more to that. A big part of this record involved saying, “We have this amount of space; how do we make this additional electronic element fit into it?” It’s interesting because I think there is only a certain amount of space there; I think we made it sound thicker. I’ve never thought of it as hot; I like that.
The runtimes here caught my eye. Across your last three albums, the runtimes of your tracks have gotten increasingly shorter. Is that a conscious decision?
It’s definitely intentional, but also a natural extension. We wanted to make the songs tighter. That mindset has resulted in shorter times. A lot of it is also because playing really long songs live gets exhausting, particularly when you can only play, like, two songs in a set.
Does the finished product of Atrocity Machine resemble the thing you imagined when you were writing and recording it?
Yes and no. From the abstract, we wanted to introduce electronics, and I think we did that. But I think the results were still surprising. Hearing what our vision sounded like was a pleasant surprise. It was really fun to make because it didn’t feel like anything we’d done before or anything else we’d heard.
You worked with Ben Greenberg on this one. Is he the kind of producer who gives advice on things like arrangement, or is he more there to help with the textures and atmospherics?
He was heavily involved, giving notes and stuff on things like, “Maybe end the song this way,” or, “Add this to it.” Also, the electronics side—He was there to help that along. I think without him, it was more an abstract idea; then with him, it worked. Even down to suggesting types of synths we should use. He was a big, hands-on producer which is something we’ve never done before and was really cool.
I feel like, as epitomized by the artwork, this album’s aesthetic is more mechanistic in contrast to your previous album’s more ecological focus. Is that a correct assessment?
Definitely. If the last one was human-to-nature, then this one is human-to-machine.
I love the imagery in your lyrics. In and out of music, what are some of your influences?
I went to school for writing, and I grew up writing a lot of poetry. I listened to a lot of hip-hop when I was younger; that was a big influence. Approaching lyrics for this band, it often feels like I’m fitting the words to the music. I can’t really bring lyrics to the song.
Specifically on this album, Tetsuo: The Iron Man and Akira are big influences, also Kurt Vonnuget. I was really interested in taking the themes of modern-day America and using extreme imagery to convey the feelings of living in this country. It’s hard to point to any specific lyric writers; I’m just generally influenced by punk rock finger-pointing. Although for this one, I wanted to move out of my comfort zone and write satirical, absurd stuff.
Some people’s perception of this type of music is that it’s nihilistic; however, your music is the opposite. It’s deeply compassionate. Do you think nihilism has any place in terms of the radical potential of art?
That’s a good question because in my day-to-day, I definitely bounce between cynical nihilism and being hopeful for the future. I feel like, no matter what I believe, I’m still going to try to do my best for my community and the world. Whether I believe that it’ll have any effect, it won’t change my actions.
I approach Body Void as if, even though the world might be ending, we still have to live day-to-day. We’re gonna need to do our best and, for example, (with) this record, chronicle what we’re going through and fight for something better. If it works it works, but if it doesn’t, well…
At least you’ve gone down swinging?
Yeah.
…
Atrocity Machine released October 13th via Prosthetic Records.
Mortal Vision Not-So-Gently Discourages Indifference on “Body Without Bones” (Early Track Stream)
When I last discussed Mortal Vision, we found them executing exquisitely old-school death thrash on their debut album Mind Manipulation. The Ukrainian band is back this year with a new single, and I'll note two things about it to start us off here: one, the single's art gets intriguingly close, but not lawsuit-close, to Master of Puppets, and two, more importantly, it's a goddamn ripper. Listen below:
...
. .
Banging along at a breakneck pace and staying delightfully on the razor's edge of falling apart, "Body Without Bones" pulls out one vicious, acrobatic riff after another without feeling like a direct imitation of anything the late 1980s had to offer. It's just creative heavy metal that taps into that fleeting period where death metal and thrash metal didn't sound all too dissimilar. Don't expect verse-chorus mediocrity here, as Mortal Vision is continuously unafraid of trying new stuff out mid-track. Hit this, and then hit Mind Manipulation if you missed it.
The band comments:
"Your words are nothing they want only you to serve
Empty-headed hand puppet you’ll get what you deserve"
This song is dedicated to those individuals who have no opinion, no position, no respect for anything. Those who waste their own and other people’s time, while causing trouble and damage due to their indifference and amoebic behavior. We hate them.
...
Follow Mortal Vision on Bandcamp here.
White Tundra Downshifts Their Stoner Rock on “Byting” (Early Track Stream)
Putting the longest song at the end of the record isn't just a time-honored tradition in stoner rock, but it's a practice that feels especially well-suited for the doom-adjacent genre. Norwegian stoner rockers White Tundra follow in the steps of giants in this fashion on their upcoming self-titled debut, with the nearly eight-minute "Byting" capping things off. It's a fitting conclusion, as the rest of the band's debut illustrates their command of stoner rock as a larger spectrum, so getting a little slower and longer here makes sense. Listen to the track below.
...
...
Taken on its own, "Byting" is a doom-laden, sinister affair that methodically shaves off all the whimsy and strange humor of the record that precedes it, focusing on dour melodies and a skull-crusher of a main riff. It's not purely grim, though, with a killer mid-section that showcases White Tundra's versatile and adventurously melodic approach to heavy rock.
The band comments:
The last track on the album, Byting (meaning: changeling) is a rendition of the old folklore about people getting their babies exchanged with creatures from the underworld, and finding an unknown, troubled child in their bed.
...
White Tundra releases October 27th via All Good Clean Records.
…
A cluster of bands were also on offer – Negative Vortex from Oakland, Victoria’s Human Agony and Vancouver’s own Ahna – to warm things up. At the last minute Blood Incantation also hopped on the bill for their second set of the weekend. Though it was tempting, I opted to instead to catch a few songs of depressive black metal from Edmonton’s Brulvanahtu in what may have been their first ever live show. Triumvir Foul followed with their brand of crust-infused OSDM in what turned out to be one of my favourite sets of the weekend. The Portland three piece’s dual vocal attack, filthy riffs, and galloping beats served as yet another lesson in making sure to catch the openers.
…
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face at crucial moments. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
…
Rites of Thy Degringolade was up next, and the excitement in the crowd was palpable. They had served as a headliner for the first edition of Covenant fest, and as the organizers themselves put it on their own facebook page “without them there would be no Covenant as it is”. Aside from a few quick mic issues for drummer/founding member Paulus Kressman, the band was front-to-back, rock solid. Kressman stood up from his kit at his great height announcing each song in stream-of-consciousness growls before unleashing the next invocation. All four members of the band took turns on vocals, at points becoming a cacophonous chorus of shrieks. They were incredibly tight and looked as if they’ve been playing together for years rather than a few isolated gigs since their resurrection in 2015. The only song they’ve released since reformation, called “The Universe in Three Parts”, made an appearance – perhaps another coincidental tribute to the third day of the third Covenant – and hopefully serves as indication of more great things to come.
New Zealand’s Heresiarch arrived with a set of pummelling, straight ahead, Cro-Magnon death metal. The band stood nearly motionless for the duration of the set. Save for the odd raised fist, vocalist N.H. stood firmly planted, scowling at the audience as though he wanted to kill everyone in the room. It was intense in its own way, but served as a much needed break for myself. There was still much more to come.
…
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face at crucial moments. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Degenerate Synapse Deny Pretense On Debut EP (Full EP Stream)
Have you ever wanted to stop thinking so much? Metal nowadays has so much thought to it. Manifestos, philosophy, interviews, credos, progressions, and other things that involve brain power to fully digest. Don't you just wish it could stop so you could take a brain-breather? On their debut EP, Chicago deathgrind quartet Degenerate Synapse are the answer to your problem. Pure lizard-brain, meat-and-potatoes ignorance found somewhere between (actual) death metal's brawn and grindcore's speed–complete with the occasional two-step, because this is actual -core–Degenerate Synapse's debut EP is the kind of music where you find yourself making the Patrick Bateman "Ooh" face at crucial moments. It's just so satisfying, and, more importantly, there is absolutely zero pretense. Degenerate Synapse are here to craft heavy chaos and that is it, and with a pedigree that boasts former members of Sea of Shit and Chicago Thrash Ensemble–two seminal Chicago acts–among others (vocalist Dave "Hoffa" Hofer is also a local music historian whose Bandcamp is worth perusing), Degenerate Synapse will be a crucial addition to your death metal, grind, and/or deathgrind playlists. Stop thinking so much.
Listen to Degenerate Synapse's debut EP ahead of its Friday release below.
…
…
Degenerate Synapse releases on CD tomorrow (with cassette incoming sometime soon),
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
721415
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
…
Necroholocaust began as you would expect them to: by adorning the stage in skulls and large goat pentagrams. After fourteen years of various festival appearances in other countries, they were bringing their brand of goat worship to a hometown show for the first time and there were clearly some die hards in the room.
Vocalist/bassist David Nasz came out wearing an inverted-cross of Flava Flav proportions; you could have bludgeoned someone to death with it, and maybe that was the point. The bulk of the set was wall-to-wall blast beats and savage riffing, but there was the odd breakdown, to keep oneself from getting totally lost in the buzzing vortex of sound. Live guitarist/vocalist Kevin Smith (aka Peversor of Unholy Disorder), who plays in a slew of local bands including Chapel and Radioactive Vomit, shredded and snarled his way through the set, his demeanour always bordering on being totally unhinged. Before I knew it, he tossed an empty beer can into the crowd and the ritual was complete.
…
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
Italian Metal Trio Vertebra Atlantis Speaks With The Eeriest Sublime On New Album (Album Stream)
Musician Gabriele Gramaglia, otherwise known as G.G., has been on quite the adventure over the past decade. From The Clearing Path's atmospheric black metal-meets-prog-meets-post-hardcore to Summit's adventurous post-metal, Cosmic Putrefaction's space-age putridity, and more, this young creative's spirit speaks of progressive, odd-ball metal in volumes and celestial tomes rather than a specifically pointed career. In full-band Vertebra Atlantis' sophomore album, we are presented with something overwhelming, an atmospheric, progressive form of black and death metal together which terrestrially grooves as hard as it gazes skyward with otherworldly ambiance. A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime finds a middle ground between the heavens and the Earth, and from that does Vertebra Atlantis (and, by association, G.G. and his bandmates R.R. and G.S.) hover just slightly above the ground in an uncanny, uncomfortable way. It's complex. It's thoughtful. It's grandiose. This is a big, big album which takes some time to get used to, but when it "clicks," it is really something to behold. Gramaglia's trajectory has been quite the adventure, and Vertebra Atlantis' newest album is an apex in his discography.
Listen to A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime ahead of its official release below.
…
…
A Dialogue With The Eeriest Sublime releases tomorrow, October 20th, via I, Voidhanger Records.
The Best Heavy Metal from 2023 Q3
With year-end lists on the horizon (somehow), it felt like a good time to get a pulse on what was good in the last few months. As we did earlier in the year for Q1, we asked our writers to give us five albums released specifically in the last quarter, or in this case July 1st through September 30th.
Below, you'll find a list of the albums that came up across multiple writers' lists, as well as some highlighted favorites from our crew.
Keep scrolling and see if you missed anything from the last quarter.
...
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
September 15th (Prosthetic Records)
The Enduring Spirit is a bold step forward from the Canadian death metal group. Dreamlike progressive elements play a big role here, but so does riff-packed death metal. It’s a strange combination, but a fun one.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/15/2023
...
...
Agriculture - Agriculture
July 21st (The Flenser)
Agriculture break a lot of black metal’s perceived boundaries on this album, ditching misanthropic trappings for their self-described ‘ecstatic’ black metal sound and re-imagining how the key parts of the genre can fit together. Lap steel, violin, and saxophone all play a part in this, though they’re skillfully applied as interesting embellishments, not stand-alone gimmicks. Altogether, Agriculture has created something that genuinely does feel new, and that’s incredibly rare. Read Luke Jackson’s excellent interview to learn more about the album.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
August 25th (Debemur Morti Productions)
The mystique of Blut Aus Nord extends to more than their music as the French band take on new aspects with each release. Treading the very edges of the abyss, BaN (led by Vindsval), either veer towards horror or enlightenment and the second instalment of Disharmonium tends towards the former. Taking Lovecraft as the base and encompassing all that Blut Aus Nord have done before, Disharmonium – Nahab is a distressing and manic voyage into the greatest unknowns. Black metal horror and it’s most terrifying.
–Cheryl Carter, Upcoming Metal Releases 8/23/2023
...
...
Hexvessel - Polar Veil
September 22nd (Svart Records)
From Luke Jackson's interview with Hexvessel:
The band makes change look easy, pulsing through folk, psych rock and Americana like an author adding chapters to a novel.
With their new album Polar Veil, McNerney retreats deep into the Finnish landscape he calls home, summoning a blizzard of black metal texture to serve as a foundation for the band’s odes to place and belonging.
...
...
Urfaust - Untergang
August 18th (Ván Records)
Droning and hallucinatory at points and fiercely invasive at others, Untergang is a fantastic capstone to the bizarre Dutch band's career. "Bands that sound like Urfaust" has always basically been a trick question, and that's true again here: maybe one of their million facets could be found elsewhere, but never in the same place.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Colony Drop - Brace for Impact
August 25th (Nameless Grave Records)
From Tom Campagna's interview with Colony Drop:
Schafer’s vocals can at times remind you of GWAR’s Sexecutioner, which he himself refers to as his 'anime villain voice.' It adds another layer of complexity to the songs that are in your face and well curated with an attention to detail that is tough to compare against. Guitarists Ben Burton and Ryan Moon channel the very best to ever do twin leads, Ari Rosenschein’s bass and Eric Harris's d-beats, “Tank Beats”, and more keep things chaotic yet stable.
...
...
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
September 29th (Avantgarde Music)
Energetic and driving, Moonlight Sorcery leans heavily into the ‘melodic’ side of power metal, combining orchestral pads and wild solos into something glorious.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/27/2023
...
...
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium
July 1st (Metal Blade)
For fans of: synth-laced technical death metal, mechanical perfection, and terrifying feats of rhythmic intensity.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon
September 22nd (Vigor Deconstruct)
From Jon Rosenthal's premiere:
Across its length, Ushangvagush blasts and melts into many different forms, but what makes this particular album so special is that it doesn't feel as long as it actually is. Remaining exciting and interesting across its 45 minute stay, Pestmo'qon is a refreshing new entry into the ever-changing US black metal landscape.
...
...
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
May 19th (No Remorse)
Grecian heavy/power metal that ventures into epic territory. The killer vocals are a standout feature, but so is the sense of grand adventure that runs throughout the record.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
The Night Eternal - Fatale
July 14th (Ván Records)
Gothic-tinged, yet invariably heavy metal at its core, Fatale is a joyful descent into luxurious darkness. Come for the over-the-top trappings, stay for the powerful songwriting and killer chops.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Filth is Eternal - Find Out
September 29th (MNRK Heavy)
This album is a triumph and somehow manages to both be one of the catchiest and heaviest albums of the year and also the most heartfelt. Every song is a banger and also memorable, and we can't wait to hear what's next for Filth is Eternal.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
[Read Tom Campagna's interview with Filth Eternal here]
...
...
Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit
The Best Heavy Metal from 2023 Q3
With year-end lists on the horizon (somehow), it felt like a good time to get a pulse on what was good in the last few months. As we did in Q1, we asked our writers to give us five albums released from July 1st through September 30th.
Below, you'll find a list of the albums that came up across multiple writers' lists, as well as some personal favorites from our crew.
Keep scrolling and see if you missed anything from the last quarter.
...
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
September 15th (Prosthetic Records)
The Enduring Spirit is a bold step forward from the Canadian death metal group. Dreamlike progressive elements play a big role here, but so does riff-packed death metal. It’s a strange combination, but a fun one.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/15/2023
...
...
Agriculture - Agriculture
July 21st (The Flenser)
Agriculture break a lot of black metal’s perceived boundaries on this album, ditching misanthropic trappings for their self-described ‘ecstatic’ black metal sound and re-imagining how the key parts of the genre can fit together. Lap steel, violin, and saxophone all play a part in this, though they’re skillfully applied as interesting embellishments, not stand-alone gimmicks. Altogether, Agriculture has created something that genuinely does feel new, and that’s incredibly rare. Read Luke Jackson’s excellent interview to learn more about the album.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
August 25th (Debemur Morti Productions)
The mystique of Blut Aus Nord extends to more than their music as the French band take on new aspects with each release. Treading the very edges of the abyss, BaN (led by Vindsval), either veer towards horror or enlightenment and the second instalment of Disharmonium tends towards the former. Taking Lovecraft as the base and encompassing all that Blut Aus Nord have done before, Disharmonium – Nahab is a distressing and manic voyage into the greatest unknowns. Black metal horror and it’s most terrifying.
–Cheryl Carter, Upcoming Metal Releases 8/23/2023
...
...
Hexvessel - Polar Veil
September 22nd (Svart Records)
From Luke Jackson's interview with Hexvessel:
The band makes change look easy, pulsing through folk, psych rock and Americana like an author adding chapters to a novel.
With their new album Polar Veil, McNerney retreats deep into the Finnish landscape he calls home, summoning a blizzard of black metal texture to serve as a foundation for the band’s odes to place and belonging.
...
...
Urfaust - Untergang
August 18th (Ván Records)
Droning and hallucinatory at points and fiercely invasive at others, Untergang is a fantastic capstone to the bizarre Dutch band's career. "Bands that sound like Urfaust" has always basically been a trick question, and that's true again here: maybe one of their million facets could be found elsewhere, but never in the same place.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Colony Drop - Brace for Impact
August 25th (Nameless Grave Records)
From Tom Campagna's interview with Colony Drop:
Schafer’s vocals can at times remind you of GWAR’s Sexecutioner, which he himself refers to as his 'anime villain voice.' It adds another layer of complexity to the songs that are in your face and well curated with an attention to detail that is tough to compare against. Guitarists Ben Burton and Ryan Moon channel the very best to ever do twin leads, Ari Rosenschein’s bass and Eric Harris's d-beats, “Tank Beats”, and more keep things chaotic yet stable.
...
...
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
September 29th (Avantgarde Music)
Energetic and driving, Moonlight Sorcery leans heavily into the ‘melodic’ side of power metal, combining orchestral pads and wild solos into something glorious.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/27/2023
...
...
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium
July 1st (Metal Blade)
For fans of: synth-laced technical death metal, mechanical perfection, and terrifying feats of rhythmic intensity.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon
September 22nd (Vigor Deconstruct)
From Jon Rosenthal's premiere:
Across its length, Ushangvagush blasts and melts into many different forms, but what makes this particular album so special is that it doesn't feel as long as it actually is. Remaining exciting and interesting across its 45 minute stay, Pestmo'qon is a refreshing new entry into the ever-changing US black metal landscape.
...
...
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
May 19th (No Remorse)
Grecian heavy/power metal that ventures into epic territory. The killer vocals are a standout feature, but so is the sense of grand adventure that runs throughout the record.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
The Night Eternal - Fatale
July 14th (Ván Records)
Gothic-tinged, yet invariably heavy metal at its core, Fatale is a joyful descent into luxurious darkness. Come for the over-the-top trappings, stay for the powerful songwriting and killer chops.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Filth is Eternal - Find Out
September 29th (MNRK Heavy)
This album is a triumph and somehow manages to both be one of the catchiest and heaviest albums of the year and also the most heartfelt. Every song is a banger and also memorable, and we can't wait to hear what's next for Filth is Eternal.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
[Read Tom Campagna's interview with Filth Eternal here]
...
...
The Best Heavy Metal from 2023 Q3
With year-end lists on the horizon (somehow), it felt like a good time to get a pulse on what was good in the last few months. As we did in Q1, we asked our writers to give us five albums released from July 1st through September 30th.
Below, you'll find a list of the albums that came up across multiple writers' lists, as well as some personal favorites from our crew.
Keep scrolling and see if you missed anything from the last quarter.
...
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
September 15th (Prosthetic Records)
The Enduring Spirit is a bold step forward from the Canadian death metal group. Dreamlike progressive elements play a big role here, but so does riff-packed death metal. It’s a strange combination, but a fun one.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/15/2023
...
...
Agriculture - Agriculture
July 21st (The Flenser)
Agriculture break a lot of black metal’s perceived boundaries on this album, ditching misanthropic trappings for their self-described ‘ecstatic’ black metal sound and re-imagining how the key parts of the genre can fit together. Lap steel, violin, and saxophone all play a part in this, though they’re skillfully applied as interesting embellishments, not stand-alone gimmicks. Altogether, Agriculture has created something that genuinely does feel new, and that’s incredibly rare. Read Luke Jackson’s excellent interview to learn more about the album.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
August 25th (Debemur Morti Productions)
The mystique of Blut Aus Nord extends to more than their music as the French band take on new aspects with each release. Treading the very edges of the abyss, BaN (led by Vindsval), either veer towards horror or enlightenment and the second instalment of Disharmonium tends towards the former. Taking Lovecraft as the base and encompassing all that Blut Aus Nord have done before, Disharmonium – Nahab is a distressing and manic voyage into the greatest unknowns. Black metal horror and it’s most terrifying.
–Cheryl Carter, Upcoming Metal Releases 8/23/2023
...
...
Hexvessel - Polar Veil
September 22nd (Svart Records)
From Luke Jackson's interview with Hexvessel:
The band makes change look easy, pulsing through folk, psych rock and Americana like an author adding chapters to a novel.
With their new album Polar Veil, McNerney retreats deep into the Finnish landscape he calls home, summoning a blizzard of black metal texture to serve as a foundation for the band’s odes to place and belonging.
...
...
Urfaust - Untergang
August 18th (Ván Records)
Droning and hallucinatory at points and fiercely invasive at others, Untergang is a fantastic capstone to the bizarre Dutch band's career. "Bands that sound like Urfaust" has always basically been a trick question, and that's true again here: maybe one of their million facets could be found elsewhere, but never in the same place.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Colony Drop - Brace for Impact
August 25th (Nameless Grave Records)
From Tom Campagna's interview with Colony Drop:
Schafer’s vocals can at times remind you of GWAR’s Sexecutioner, which he himself refers to as his 'anime villain voice.' It adds another layer of complexity to the songs that are in your face and well curated with an attention to detail that is tough to compare against. Guitarists Ben Burton and Ryan Moon channel the very best to ever do twin leads, Ari Rosenschein’s bass and Eric Harris's d-beats, “Tank Beats”, and more keep things chaotic yet stable.
...
...
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
September 29th (Avantgarde Music)
Energetic and driving, Moonlight Sorcery leans heavily into the ‘melodic’ side of power metal, combining orchestral pads and wild solos into something glorious.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/27/2023
...
...
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium
July 1st (Metal Blade)
For fans of: synth-laced technical death metal, mechanical perfection, and terrifying feats of rhythmic intensity.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon
September 22nd (Vigor Deconstruct)
From Jon Rosenthal's premiere:
Across its length, Ushangvagush blasts and melts into many different forms, but what makes this particular album so special is that it doesn't feel as long as it actually is. Remaining exciting and interesting across its 45 minute stay, Pestmo'qon is a refreshing new entry into the ever-changing US black metal landscape.
...
...
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
May 19th (No Remorse)
Grecian heavy/power metal that ventures into epic territory. The killer vocals are a standout feature, but so is the sense of grand adventure that runs throughout the record.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
The Night Eternal - Fatale
July 14th (Ván Records)
Gothic-tinged, yet invariably heavy metal at its core, Fatale is a joyful descent into luxurious darkness. Come for the over-the-top trappings, stay for the powerful songwriting and killer chops.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Filth is Eternal - Find Out
September 29th (MNRK Heavy)
This album is a triumph and somehow manages to both be one of the catchiest and heaviest albums of the year and also the most heartfelt. Every song is a banger and also memorable, and we can't wait to hear what's next for Filth is Eternal.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
[Read Tom Campagna's interview with Filth Eternal here]
...
...
The Best Heavy Metal from 2023 Q3
With year-end lists on the horizon (somehow), it felt like a good time to get a pulse on what was good in the last few months. As we did earlier in the year for Q1, we asked our writers to give us five albums released specifically in the last quarter, or in this case July 1st through September 30th.
Below, you'll find a list of the albums that came up across multiple writers' lists, as well as some highlighted favorites from our crew.
Keep scrolling and see if you missed anything from the last quarter.
...
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
September 15th (Prosthetic Records)
The Enduring Spirit is a bold step forward from the Canadian death metal group. Dreamlike progressive elements play a big role here, but so does riff-packed death metal. It’s a strange combination, but a fun one.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/15/2023
...
...
Agriculture - Agriculture
July 21st (The Flenser)
Agriculture break a lot of black metal’s perceived boundaries on this album, ditching misanthropic trappings for their self-described ‘ecstatic’ black metal sound and re-imagining how the key parts of the genre can fit together. Lap steel, violin, and saxophone all play a part in this, though they’re skillfully applied as interesting embellishments, not stand-alone gimmicks. Altogether, Agriculture has created something that genuinely does feel new, and that’s incredibly rare. Read Luke Jackson’s excellent interview to learn more about the album.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
August 25th (Debemur Morti Productions)
The mystique of Blut Aus Nord extends to more than their music as the French band take on new aspects with each release. Treading the very edges of the abyss, BaN (led by Vindsval), either veer towards horror or enlightenment and the second instalment of Disharmonium tends towards the former. Taking Lovecraft as the base and encompassing all that Blut Aus Nord have done before, Disharmonium – Nahab is a distressing and manic voyage into the greatest unknowns. Black metal horror and it’s most terrifying.
–Cheryl Carter, Upcoming Metal Releases 8/23/2023
...
...
Hexvessel - Polar Veil
September 22nd (Svart Records)
From Luke Jackson's interview with Hexvessel:
The band makes change look easy, pulsing through folk, psych rock and Americana like an author adding chapters to a novel.
With their new album Polar Veil, McNerney retreats deep into the Finnish landscape he calls home, summoning a blizzard of black metal texture to serve as a foundation for the band’s odes to place and belonging.
...
...
Urfaust - Untergang
August 18th (Ván Records)
Droning and hallucinatory at points and fiercely invasive at others, Untergang is a fantastic capstone to the bizarre Dutch band's career. "Bands that sound like Urfaust" has always basically been a trick question, and that's true again here: maybe one of their million facets could be found elsewhere, but never in the same place.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Colony Drop - Brace for Impact
August 25th (Nameless Grave Records)
From Tom Campagna's interview with Colony Drop:
Schafer’s vocals can at times remind you of GWAR’s Sexecutioner, which he himself refers to as his 'anime villain voice.' It adds another layer of complexity to the songs that are in your face and well curated with an attention to detail that is tough to compare against. Guitarists Ben Burton and Ryan Moon channel the very best to ever do twin leads, Ari Rosenschein’s bass and Eric Harris's d-beats, “Tank Beats”, and more keep things chaotic yet stable.
...
...
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
September 29th (Avantgarde Music)
Energetic and driving, Moonlight Sorcery leans heavily into the ‘melodic’ side of power metal, combining orchestral pads and wild solos into something glorious.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/27/2023
...
...
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium
July 1st (Metal Blade)
For fans of: synth-laced technical death metal, mechanical perfection, and terrifying feats of rhythmic intensity.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon
September 22nd (Vigor Deconstruct)
From Jon Rosenthal's premiere:
Across its length, Ushangvagush blasts and melts into many different forms, but what makes this particular album so special is that it doesn't feel as long as it actually is. Remaining exciting and interesting across its 45 minute stay, Pestmo'qon is a refreshing new entry into the ever-changing US black metal landscape.
...
...
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
May 19th (No Remorse)
Grecian heavy/power metal that ventures into epic territory. The killer vocals are a standout feature, but so is the sense of grand adventure that runs throughout the record.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
The Night Eternal - Fatale
July 14th (Ván Records)
Gothic-tinged, yet invariably heavy metal at its core, Fatale is a joyful descent into luxurious darkness. Come for the over-the-top trappings, stay for the powerful songwriting and killer chops.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Filth is Eternal - Find Out
September 29th (MNRK Heavy)
This album is a triumph and somehow manages to both be one of the catchiest and heaviest albums of the year and also the most heartfelt. Every song is a banger and also memorable, and we can't wait to hear what's next for Filth is Eternal.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
[Read Tom Campagna's interview with Filth Eternal here]
...
...
The Best Heavy Metal from 2023 Q3
With year-end lists on the horizon (somehow), it felt like a good time to get a pulse on what was good in the last few months. As we did earlier in the year for Q1, we asked our writers to give us five albums released specifically in the last quarter, or in this case July 1st through September 30th.
Below, you'll find a list of the albums that came up across multiple writers' lists, as well as some highlighted favorites from our crew.
Keep scrolling and see if you missed anything from the last quarter.
...
Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
September 15th (Prosthetic Records)
The Enduring Spirit is a bold step forward from the Canadian death metal group. Dreamlike progressive elements play a big role here, but so does riff-packed death metal. It’s a strange combination, but a fun one.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/15/2023
...
...
Agriculture - Agriculture
July 21st (The Flenser)
Agriculture break a lot of black metal’s perceived boundaries on this album, ditching misanthropic trappings for their self-described ‘ecstatic’ black metal sound and re-imagining how the key parts of the genre can fit together. Lap steel, violin, and saxophone all play a part in this, though they’re skillfully applied as interesting embellishments, not stand-alone gimmicks. Altogether, Agriculture has created something that genuinely does feel new, and that’s incredibly rare. Read Luke Jackson’s excellent interview to learn more about the album.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Nahab
August 25th (Debemur Morti Productions)
The mystique of Blut Aus Nord extends to more than their music as the French band take on new aspects with each release. Treading the very edges of the abyss, BaN (led by Vindsval), either veer towards horror or enlightenment and the second instalment of Disharmonium tends towards the former. Taking Lovecraft as the base and encompassing all that Blut Aus Nord have done before, Disharmonium – Nahab is a distressing and manic voyage into the greatest unknowns. Black metal horror and it’s most terrifying.
–Cheryl Carter, Upcoming Metal Releases 8/23/2023
...
...
Hexvessel - Polar Veil
September 22nd (Svart Records)
From Luke Jackson's interview with Hexvessel:
The band makes change look easy, pulsing through folk, psych rock and Americana like an author adding chapters to a novel.
With their new album Polar Veil, McNerney retreats deep into the Finnish landscape he calls home, summoning a blizzard of black metal texture to serve as a foundation for the band’s odes to place and belonging.
...
...
Urfaust - Untergang
August 18th (Ván Records)
Droning and hallucinatory at points and fiercely invasive at others, Untergang is a fantastic capstone to the bizarre Dutch band's career. "Bands that sound like Urfaust" has always basically been a trick question, and that's true again here: maybe one of their million facets could be found elsewhere, but never in the same place.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Colony Drop - Brace for Impact
August 25th (Nameless Grave Records)
From Tom Campagna's interview with Colony Drop:
Schafer’s vocals can at times remind you of GWAR’s Sexecutioner, which he himself refers to as his 'anime villain voice.' It adds another layer of complexity to the songs that are in your face and well curated with an attention to detail that is tough to compare against. Guitarists Ben Burton and Ryan Moon channel the very best to ever do twin leads, Ari Rosenschein’s bass and Eric Harris's d-beats, “Tank Beats”, and more keep things chaotic yet stable.
...
...
Moonlight Sorcery - Horned Lord of the Thorned Castle
September 29th (Avantgarde Music)
Energetic and driving, Moonlight Sorcery leans heavily into the ‘melodic’ side of power metal, combining orchestral pads and wild solos into something glorious.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 9/27/2023
...
...
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium
July 1st (Metal Blade)
For fans of: synth-laced technical death metal, mechanical perfection, and terrifying feats of rhythmic intensity.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
Ushangvagush - Pestmo'qon
September 22nd (Vigor Deconstruct)
From Jon Rosenthal's premiere:
Across its length, Ushangvagush blasts and melts into many different forms, but what makes this particular album so special is that it doesn't feel as long as it actually is. Remaining exciting and interesting across its 45 minute stay, Pestmo'qon is a refreshing new entry into the ever-changing US black metal landscape.
...
...
Sacred Outcry - Towers of Gold
May 19th (No Remorse)
Grecian heavy/power metal that ventures into epic territory. The killer vocals are a standout feature, but so is the sense of grand adventure that runs throughout the record.
-Ted Nubel
...
...
The Night Eternal - Fatale
July 14th (Ván Records)
Gothic-tinged, yet invariably heavy metal at its core, Fatale is a joyful descent into luxurious darkness. Come for the over-the-top trappings, stay for the powerful songwriting and killer chops.
-Ted Nubel, Upcoming Metal Releases 7/21/2023
...
...
Filth is Eternal - Find Out
September 29th (MNRK Heavy)
This album is a triumph and somehow manages to both be one of the catchiest and heaviest albums of the year and also the most heartfelt. Every song is a banger and also memorable, and we can't wait to hear what's next for Filth is Eternal.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
[Read Tom Campagna's interview with Filth Eternal here]
...
...
Until The Pipe Takes Us: Up In Smoke With Dimmu Bongir (Interview)
Humor and black metal simply do not mix, you say, arms crossed and looking rather grumpy. But–and imagine me saying this in my best Slavoj Žižek voice–what if the opposite was true?
Norwegian stoners Dimmu Bongir (yes, you read that right) walk a difficult tightrope. For all intents and purposes, their debut Hvis pipen tar oss (ha ha) is a great album. It sounds like the classic output by their namesake, with a few other early Norwegian and Greek influences thrown in for good measure, which is a good thing. You know the sound: lots of keyboards, very triumphant, a little spooky, very overwrought. The songs are catchy and true to style, filled with memorable riffs and the occasional ICS Vortex impression thrown in. Hvis pipen tar oss emulates all the perfect points found in early-to-mid-'90s black metal, except for one key part: it's… funny.
Blasphemy, you say.
Yes, this is an album about marijuana. Smoking it. Eating it. Getting the munchies. Being taken away by a giant pipe. This is all standard stuff–are you keeping up? God dammit, there's even an anthemic song called "Transylvanian Munchies" (which is in English, and yes, there is a lyric about ordering a Domino's pizza). Though drugs are definitely a part of the greater black metal story, such a humorous and playful representation of the consumption of illicit materials is… not very kvlt to most black metal listeners.
This begs a question: does being funny take away from what is actually an enjoyable, stylistically competent listen? Can black metal be funny? Well, let's take a look at a few things. Can you understand what's being said? Probably not, as vocalist Gahll (ha ha) has an indecipherable screech most of the time, and I severely doubt most of you actually speak nor read Norwegian. Does the music reveal that it's about weed? No, this sounds like castles and dorks in LARP gear, which means it rules.
So, we're left with the superficial things: an obscured pot leaf in the sky and a silly name that references both one of the best black metal bands to ever record music and also a "water pipe." Yeah, sure, these can be big things, but are we really about to let superficialities define something so purportedly spiritually deep and super smart as black metal? Are we really going to let the profound and artistic genre of black metal be redefined and also defeated by funny weed joke ha ha? Most of you ignore blatant Nazi bullshit, anyway, so why not look into this band's music beyond their very intentional humor? Most importantly, they made me laugh. Checkmate, black metallers. Point: Dimmu Bongir.
We spoke with member Hashiah, who is credited with drums, guitars, bass, keys and backing vocals on Hvis pipen tar oss, in the band's first official interview. Tvrn on, tvne in, drop out.
…
…
Black metal is known for its humorlessness. Though Dimmu Bongir musically exemplifies an older and highly revered type of black metal, why heavily focus on humor?
Why try to have some fun indeed, a most brilliant question. In a world where pain heavily outweighs pleasure at every corner there should certainly be no need for such things as humor. However, even though we are cave dwelling, church burning, fun hating norwegian black metal artists, I guess we simply couldn't help ourselves to be so blasphemous and iconoclastic as to dedicate one of our many projects to simply having a bit of a laugh. Why in this style though one may ask. Another brilliant question I must admit. In this case the name came before the music. So since it was the debut of Dimmu Bongir, we thought it would be fitting to do so in the older and revered style that Dimmu Borgir was a large part of developing.
Why do you think black metal fans focus so heavily and negatively on humor when it is an element in black metal?
When it comes to why the fans have a rather negative focus on humor there could be a number of reasons I think. Some of these reasons could be explained by a group mentality fostered by some early developers of the style and still exercised by some fans, though for others the reason might be more personal. Perhaps some think it's not trve enough, perhaps some feel like it's making fun of something that is closely tied to their identity, perhaps some simply forgot that a lot of 90's black metal was actually pretty silly and maybe even some people simply love the theater surrounding the genre and thus feel like humor sort of breaks the illusion. The reasons could be many.
Though the pageantry is definitely silly to varying degrees, why break this illusion that partially defines black metal?
The only reason for breaking the illusion is plain and simple because it amuse us to play with the tropes and in the process make something unexpected. I find no other deeper meaning in music outside of amusement, and thus we find no genre or subject so holy as to keep it in higher regard than entertainment. There is never a reason why not to have fun white creating something, especially art. Also it is more fun to have fun when one is not allowed to have fun, like in black metal (in which most artists rarely take it as seriously as the fans).
Though drugs and drug use have played a big part in the black metal story, something as playful as "lol weed" hasn't necessarily been embraced by the greater black metal scene. Why approach this particular subject with such playfulness?
And the same answer goes for why approaching the subject with such playfulness. The concept that is Dimmu Bongir is probably about ten years old, and I originally came up with it as a black metal version of Cannabis Corpse. Through the years we've had many a sensible chuckle discussing this project, so when it came time to make reality of ancient threats we saw no reason to make the subject less playful than it in reality is.
People have been surprised by the dichotomy of quality vs self-awareness when it comes to Dimmu Bongir. I think people expect humorous projects to not be as high of a caliber as opposed to hyper serious, LARP-y ones. Why do you think humorous silliness and LARP-y silliness are viewed differently?
Interesting question. I think perhaps in some cases one uses the entertainment one surrounds one self with as a means of building an identity or character. As most metal contributes to a power fantasy of sorts I guess silliness sort of ruins the entire facade whereas LARP-y silliness does not. In one way or another it has to come down to people taking it perhaps a bit too seriously and feeling attacked when what they take very seriously is apparently in some form ridiculed, intentionally or not. That's my best guess at least.
Black metal fans definitely preoccupy themselves with their music taste as a means of identity in totality, and I feel that Dimmu Bongir challenges that with what is simultaneously a quality album and a total piss take. Even so, what would you say to someone who completely writes off Hvis pipen tar oss without giving it a fair chance?
Like you've mentioned, we produce proper music. If someone is so uptight as to dismiss something because it tries to be somewhat funny, then they will live poorer lives as a result. Humor is a large part of the human experience, to deny oneself this will only make the temporary experience that is our lives less interesting. As for the music, they probably will miss a potentially classic old school sounding record. We're not the only ones doing this though, so if having fun makes you sad then you should probably check out a more serious project. Perhaps For All Tid by Dimmu Borgir. We would of course stress the fact that we're not trying to force anyone into liking our stuff, but it's a good sounding record that includes a lot of Norwegian tracks that most people will have no predisposition to understand any way, so there's no need to even pay attention to the humorous aspect of it. Of course the best thing would be to listen to what one would like to listen to, so we would recommend everyone doing that.
Moving to the music itself, I was very impressed with the super convincing ICS Vortex clean voice impression which can be found on a few songs. Many have certainly tried to sound like him, but this is the first truly persuasive impression I've heard. How did you discover you could do this?
Well. It's a rather boring story honestly. Our vocalist, who has a talent for impressions and vocal gymnastics in general, simply thought of a melody for the chorus of "Hunnerkongens sorgsvarte skrap i pipen sin." He then sang it as convincingly he could in that style, and I laughed. That's how we found out that it could and would be done. We are however both educated musicians, and Gahll (the vocalist) is even to a degree classically trained vocally. So writing and phrasing a melody is not an issue at all.
It works to your advantage, though it does also meld two different Dimmu Borgir eras at the same time (which isn't a bad thing). Emulation is definitely the name of the game when it comes to this album, where I hear influences like the obvious Dimmu Borgir, but also First Spell-era Gehenna, old Varathron, and other seminal black metal acts. Though the concept was to make something akin to a black metal Cannabis Corpse, what was it about this older school sound in particular (lots of keyboards, mid-paced, triumphant) that appealed so much to the Dimmu Bongir development?
Since you ask I'm going to give you the full story. Like mentioned this was a name and a concept I (Hashiah) have been joking around with for over ten years. However, it was only when introducing the idea to Gahll that the style of the project really developed. He was at a younger age a huge fan of this particular style and had always wanted to make something along those lines. When introduced to this idea he found it a wonderful opportunity to pay homage to this style that, after all, was a large part of his adolescent years. Thus, he convinced me with very little effort that this was the way to go. I have, myself, dabbled in the esoteric art that is dungeon synth, so we had all the tools needed for completing such a project. It was also important for us to do something different with this project. We have many projects that play very serious black metal in styles more akin to Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, or Thorns, and there was certainly no need to repeat ourselves musically. Also, since the name was a parody of a band that started out in this style, it also seemed even more fitting.
Do you see Dimmu Bongir making further material?
Oh why yes, indeed. We are going to make some more albums–of that there should be no doubt at all. We don't know when we will start creating our next album, but I do feel like there will be a blaze in the northern skies sometime during the winter season. And when the day has come, there will be more keyboards, more clean vocals, more triumphant riffs and probably even more illegal substances. So everyone should definitely keep their eye out for that.
Blazing it in the Northern Sky sounds like a great time. Count me in. Any final thoughts?
Final thoughts, let's see. Follow your dreams, eat your vegetables, contemplate the inevitability of mortality, hail Satan, and say no to drugs kids.
…
Hvis pipen tar oss is out now on Bad Noise Records.
…
The final act of the festival announced itself with an air-raid siren played over top of the timeless “Here is a man…” Taxi Driver monologue. It was the first headlining set for long running Edmonton war-metal-cult Revenge in our fair city, and it was abundantly clear from all the shirts in the room what band most people had come to see. It was my first time seeing them and I was eager to see legendary drummer and Revenge mastermind J. Read in action. The opening dirge of “Us and Them” kicked things off and from there until the end, the mass assembled at the Rickshaw were subjected to a torrent of vicious blasts, manic squealing solos and screams from vocalist/guitarist Vermin, and a barrage of disgusting growls from Grieco on bass. There was also, of course, the almost obligatory dedication to the old guard of Blasphemy, the members of who are always in attendance to witness bands of their flock. The sheer violence of Revenge’s songs is one thing on a set of headphones and quite another to be seen live. As a testament to their inspirations I glanced towards the pit to see the hulking guitarist from Heresiarch shirtless and arms aloft, stalking around the floor as if the animal was taking over.
I noticed Anastasia of Sortilegia and the fellows in Bolzer nodding along, raising fists and drinks alike. It was a simple reminder of the sort of event that Covenant is: an intimate gathering of peers to celebrate death and underground extreme metal. It is not a case of “entertainers and entertained”; it is a place where, often, artist and fan are one and the same; where the bands playing are simply the events revolving around the community itself. For a festival filled to the brim with darkness and death, it was a paradoxically warm event with plenty of laughs amid old friends reuniting and new allegiances formed. May the Covenant reign upon us all again next year.
…
[Editor’s Note: An earlier version of the article attributed the photos to Milton Stille. The photos were taken by Abi En]