Monday, December 17, 2012

Vorum/Poisoned Void/Woodcut Records/Dark Descent Records/2013 CD Review


  Vorum  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  death  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Poisoned  Void"  which  will  be  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Woodcut  Records  and  Dark  Descent  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being utilized  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from s low,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  old  school  European  death  metal  with  doom  metal  as  well  as  some  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  old  school  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  from  old  school  deep death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  occult themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  strong,  powerful  and  heavy  sound  in  the  early  90's  tradition.

  In  my  opinion  Vorum  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  doom  and  old  school  death  metal  and  if  you  are    a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death's  Stains"  "Evil  Seed"  and  "Dance  Of  Heresy".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Lethargia/Divine Madness/Metal Scrap Records 2012 CD Review


  Lethargia  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doom,  death,  atmospheric  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Divine  Madness"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Scrap  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  keyboards  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  gothic  sound  to  the  music,  as for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  death,  doom,  atmospheric  and  gothic  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their own  with  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  to  enhance  the  darkness  that  is  coming  out  of  the  music.

  Vocals  range  from  clean  singing,  whispers,  deep  death  metal  growls  and  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  in  addition  there  are  some  female  vocals  being  utilized  on  one  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Satanism,  and  Occult  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  and  you  can  hear  all of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Lethargia  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  hybrid  of  gothic,  doom  and  melodic  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grief  Of  Satan"  "Divine  Madness"  "Witchcraft And  Possession"  and  "Evil  Habits".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Dira Mortis/Euphoric Convulsions/Let It Bleed Records/2012 CD Review


  Dira  Mortis  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Euphoric  Convulsions"  which  was  released  by  Let  It  Bleed  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  the  heaviest  and  darkest  elements  of  doom  and  death  metal  together,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  sounding  death metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  all  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  spoken word  parts  and  samples  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  the  undead,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  heavy,  brutal,  powerful  and  professional  sound  to  it  bringing  back  the  classic  doom/death  metal  sound.

  In  my  opinion  Dira  Mortis  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  hybrid  of  death  and doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Abyss  Of  The  Damned"  and  "Pulverized  Remnants  Of  Existence".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Magnum Itiner Interius/Departure At The Betrayal Of Life/Vic Records/2012 CD Review


  Magnum  Itiner  Interius  are  a  1  man  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  an  instrumental  form  of  ambient/doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  "Departure  At  The  Betrayal  Of  Life"  which was  released  by  Vic  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing or  blast  beats,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  dark  ambient  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing that  is  coming out   of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  melodic  doom  metal  with  some  death  metal  elements  as  well  as a brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic sounding  doom  metal  guitar  solos  and leads,  as  for  the  classical  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  enhance  the  darkness  that  is  coming  out  of  the  music.

  Vocals  and  songwriting  are  all  absent  from  this  recording  with  the  music  being  all  instrumental  except  for  a  brief use  of  spoken  word  parts,  while  the  song  themes  cover  darkness  and  depression,  as  for  the  production it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to it.

  In my  opinion  Magnum  Itiner  Interius  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  ambient/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Mirage  Of  Your  Journey"  "The  Shattered  Dream"  "From  Nothingness  Comes  Eternity"  and  "Departure  At  The  Betrayal  Of  Your  Life".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Zatokrev/The Bat The Wheel And The Long Road To Nowhere/Candlelight Records/2013 CD Review


  Zatokrev  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "The  Bat  The  Wheel  And  The  Long  Road  To  Nowhere"  which  will  be  released  by  Candlelight  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  through  out  the  recording

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  the heaviness  of  death  metal  mixed  in  with  some  noisy  distorted  and  melodic  sounding  riffing  as  well  as  some soft  and  clean  paying  in  addition  there  is  a  brief  use  of  black  metal  influences  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  sludge  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  slide  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  bring  a  blues  sound  to  the  music.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  sludge  style  screams  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing  industrial  style  vocals  being  utilized  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  Of  English,  Chezch,  and  Slovak and  they  cover  dark  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Zatokrev  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Goddam Lights"  "Roded  With  Snakes"  "Medium"  and  "The  Bat".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Incantation Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days? Alex: We are about to release the new record "Vanquish in Vengeance".And gearing up to start doing some shows in the next few months.We are also writing for the next record as well.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous recordings? Alex: It is more of a live vibe.Most of the record was done that way.I think it is well produced but at the same time extremely raw and ugly sounding!

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release? Alex: I think it expresses the power of all religion that it has over this world.The suffering and control of people.As well as our interest in the Occult and the beyond!

4. Out of all the shows and tours that the band has done so far, which one did you enjoy the most? Alex: For me it was the tour we did in Brazil with our long time friends in Immolation.It was a pleasure to tour with great friends and the whole organization was run very well.A lot of fun!! And Brazil is a amazing place.Also I have to say one of my fave tours was with Divine Eve in 2010.Great friends as well and a very good time.

5. What are the touring plans for the new release? Alex: Nothing planned yet. But I am sure we will be touring in early 2013.

6. The band has been around for more than 20 years, what is it that motivates the band to keep going after 2 decades? Alex: We still have a vision and are all very much inspired to do this.It is who we are!! And we all enjoy working with each other.If we did not enjoy what we were doing we would all stop.And for me I need to create and express myself.

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your new album by death metal fans? Don,t know yet!! Alex: It has not come out yet!
 
8. What is going on with Ibex Moon and the other musical projects these days?
John: As a label we lost a lot of money over the last 4 years and I had to put the label on hiatus for a while. I need to pay of some debt's I incurred and I want to pay them off then make a decision what to do next with the label. Right now Ibex Moon Records has an uncertain future. We do have some back stock that we are liquidating if anyone is interested get in touch.
 
9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases? Alex: I see us going even darker!! Like I said earlier we are writing new material now for the new one.We will keep pushing ourselves and this band to continue to get better and better as we go along.But I can promise you we never steer away from what Incantation is all about.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?Alex: I cant say that I really have been influenced anything new.As far as listening to lately the same stuff I grew up with Maiden,Purple,Angel Witch,Voivod,Sabbath,Priest,Rush and some new bands such as In Solitude and Darkest Grove.I have to mention I have been listening to a lot of my old demos from Mutilated(Fra),Nihilist,Autopsy,Death/Mantis etc…
 
11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Alex:Sleeping when I can.
John: I work as a screen printer, besides that I like jamming with my other band Funerus and hanging out with my wife and dog.
12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
John:
Thanks for the support! We look forward to doing shows in support of the new album. It great to have a new album out after many years Also, check out my other band Funerus if you like old school death metal.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Decrepitaph/Forgotten Scriptures - The Collection/Selfmadegod Records/2012 CD Compilation Review


  Decrepitaph  are  a band  from  San  Diego,  California  that  plays  a  very  old  school,  dark  and  heavy  form  of  death/doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  compilation  album  Forgotten  Scriptures  -  The  Collection"  which  was  released  by  Selfmadegod  Records.

  Drums range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  only  a  small  amount  of  fast  playing  and  no  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a very  strong  and  powerful  sound  to  them, as  for the  sound  effects  they  are  only  used  on  the  intro's  and  outro's  and  they  bring  a  very  dark  and  evil  sound  to the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  old  school  death  metal  with  the  darkest  and  heaviest  elements  of  doom  metal  along  with  some  dark  and  evil  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  anywhere  on  this  recording.

  Vocals are  all  deep  death/doom  metal  growls  along  with  some  horror  film  samples,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Anti  Christian  and  Gore  themes,  as  for t he  production  it  has  a very  dark,  heavy,  strong  and  powerful  sound  to  it.  

  In   my  opinion  Decrepitaph  are  a very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  old  school  death  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should c heck out t his  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rot  In  The  Grave"  "Throne  Of  The  Diabolical  Ones"  "Forever  Christ  Forsaken"  and  "Horrid  Visions  Of  Mutilation".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

Incantation/Vanquish In Vengeance/Listenable Records/2012 CD Review


  Incantation  are  a  band  from  Ohio  that  has  been  around  for  a  long  time  and  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  combines  dark  and  blasphemous  death  metal  with  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Vanquish  In  Vengeance"  which  was  released  by  Listenable  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being thrown  into  the  music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they h ave  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

   Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combines  the  darkest  and  heaviest  elements  of  death  metal  with  doom  metal  along  with  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  being  thrown  into  the  music  at  times  in  addition  there  is  a  brief  spoken  word  part  being  utilized  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  numerous  genocides  committed  in  the  name  of  religion,  as  for  the  production  it has  a  very  dark,  heavy,  strong,  powerful  and  professional  sound  to  it  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another great  recording  from  Incantation  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his b and,  you  should  enjoy t his  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Invoked  Infinity"  "The  Hellions  Genesis"  "Transcend  Into  Absolute  Dissolution"  and  "Legion  Of  Dis".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.        

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Dimicandum/The Legacy Of Gaia/Metal Scrap Records/2012 CD Review


  Dimicandum  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  atmospheric  metal  which  combines  doom,  gothic, and  death  metal  with  metalcore  and  traditional  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "The  Legacy  Of  Gaia"  which  was  released  by  Metal  Scrap  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  keyboards  bring  a  very  dark  and  atmospheric  sound  to t he  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  the  atmospheric  elements  of  death,  doom,  gothic  and  traditional  metal  with  metalcore  along  with  a  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into the  riffing  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  soft  and  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  heavy  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  high  pitched  screams  to  deep  death  metal  growls  that  have  somewhat  of  a  metalcore  edge  to  them  at  times  as  well  as  some  high  pitched  screams  that  bring  a  slight  black metal  influence  to  the  music,  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  variety  of  occult  topics  such  as  Gaia,  Sumerian,  and  Atlantis  along  with  other dark  and  metaphysical  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it

  In  my  opinion  Dimicandum  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "At  The  Gates  Of  Ishtar"  "Sumerian's  Warning"  and  "Bring  Me  Down  To  MY  Atlantis".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Crown/St Valley/Split/2012 EP Review



  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  France's  Crown  and  St  Valley  which  was  self  released  in  2012  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Crown  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  more  sludge/doom  sound  but  put  a  black  metal  song  on  this  recording.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  used  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  black  metal  riffs  that  are  very  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sounding  while  still  retaining  some  sludge  and  doom  elements,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  depressive  sounding  black  metal  guitar  leads.

  Vocals  are  all  grim  sounding  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  heavy,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it  capturing  the  modern  day  black  metal  sound.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  song  from  Crown  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  primitive  sounding  black  metal  with  some  sludge  and  doom  elements,  you  should  check  out  this  tune.  RECOMMENDED.

  Next  up  is  St  Valley  which  is  a  side  project  from  one  of  the  members  of  Crown  which  plays  a  folk  style  of  music.

  Acoustic  guitars  are  very  dark,  melodic  and  depressive  sounding  with  a  mixture  of  finger  picking  and  full  chords,  while  the vocals  are  all  clean  singing.

  Lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  only  vocals  and guitars  being  the  instruments  present  on  their  side  of  the  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  great  song  from  St  Valley  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  music,  you  should  check  out  this  song.  RECOMMENDED.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  this  to  all  fans  of black  metal,  doom,  sludge,  and  folk  rock.  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

    

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Gardnerz/It All Fades Away/Abyss Records/2012 CD Review


  The  Gardnerz  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  I  would  describe  as  being  melodic  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "It  All  Fades  Away"  which  was  released  by  Abyss  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  to  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  death  with  doom  metal  with  a  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into the  riffing  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  soft  and  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  are  very  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for t he  acoustic  guitars  which  are  only  used  briefly  they  use  full  chords  and  finger  picking  to  enhance  the  darkness  that  .

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death/doom  metal  growls  with  some  clean  singing  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  black  metal  screams  in  addition  there  are  some  female  clean  vocals  on  the  cover  of  Darkthrone's  "Transylvanian  Hunger"  which  sounds  nothing  like  the  original,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  anti  christian  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful  and  heavy  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  with  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  this  is another  great  recording  from  The  Gardernz  and  if  you  where  a  fan  of  their  previous  efforts,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Horrible  Disease"  and  "It  All  Fades  Away".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Yellowtooth Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Henry:  Mostly jamming as of late and trying to get together as often as possible. We’ve started to write riffs for the 2nd YT album and have been mixing new material we’ve written with some of the older riffs we wrote over 4 years ago.  Aside from that, just drinking beer and looking to do a few shows when the opportunies present themselves.  

How would you describe the musical sound of the new album?

Henry:  I’d say it’s a culmination of our influences over the years, but basically it's a good start. We've all known each other for a very long time (two of us in one band and Pete in several others) but we never jammed together so this idea is becoming reality. It took time to find each other musically though.  Figuring out where this riff is going and what the other is thinking. I guess the short answer is something like Sabbath, Entombed and Motorhead meets Lynyrd Skynyrd all thrashed together in a blender.


What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Henry: Life, movies, documentaries, fiction, horror. Just look outside your window & your hit with a spectrum full of ideas.  Pete always has his “ghost/spectre” tunes and that ended up being “Soulstalker.”  “Wizard Dust” is about drug use while “On The Trail of Lewis Medlock” subject is from a classic 70’s movie we’ve all seen.  Will let you guess which one.



What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

Henry:  Actually that's Pete's story. Legend has it he was out drinking somewhere years ago and he heard his old drummer get into an argument with some woman.  It got pretty intense and his drummer called the woman a fat yellow-toothed bitch.  I think that little voice in his head couldn't stop laughing because he never forgot it. Besides, what else makes people cringe and evokes a look of disgust?


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Henry:  I'd have to say most of them have been cool but we don't do as many shows as we would like because of our work schedules.  The way we see it, we appreciate anyone coming out to see us and watch the band. So will try to give them a good show, play tight and leave a lasting impression.  That’s the basis for a YELLOWTOOTH show I’m guessing.                                                                


6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?

Henry:  Not right now. Just playing selective shows when we can & hoping our work schedules allow us to hit Michigan, Illinois & Wisconsin to jam with other killer bands in the area.  There is a lot of great bands out here in the Midwest.


7. Can you tell us a little bit more about the record label Orchestrated Misery?

Henry:  I'll tell you the guy that runs it is a real son of bitch, I know that! No seriously, that's our bass player Pete's label. He started it before Yellowtooth ever existed. He released Catapult the Smoke’s first couple of cds & started to release a few others but this year has been hectic, so he's had to just concentrate on YELLOWTOOTH debut.


8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge, stoner and doom metal?

Henry:  I think positive so far. It's just starting to get circulated and hopefully people can see it for what it is. It's an honest album in the sense that it's the beginning of something we all enjoy doing. Three friends getting together to write and record some tunes, drink beer and do the occasional show when possible.


9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Henry:  A lot of what is on DISGUST is really, like I said earlier, us finding each other musically. I think the next release we will progress a bit more but perhaps take an even darker element of death or sludge/stoner and mix them in the songs. Whatever happens the Tooth will still be Yellow and disgusting with amps to eleven

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Henry:  Influences? What a long list:  From Black Sabbath to Thin Lizzy, Slayer to The Allman Brothers. It's really all over the place. If it is heavy I'm usually drawn to it. As for what I'm listening to now. Grand Magus, Machinehead, Volbeat, Red Fang, Testament.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Henry:  NFL football (Chicago Bears), grilling out with family & friends, writing new tunes on the guitar, campfires, movies, Xbox, beer & the almighty sleep.



12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Henry:  Thanks for the interest in YELLOWTOOTH.  As we've said it before:  We are not trying to reinvent the wheel here but maybe just throw some mud, blood and beer into the mix.  Plus that nice burnt-tire smell for the ride home lends a nice aroma.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Yellowtooth/Disgust/Orchestrated Misery Recordings/2012 CD Review


  Yellowtooth  are  a  band  from  Michigan  City,  Indiana  that  plays  a  mixture  of  stoner,  sludge,  doom and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Disgust"  which  was  released  by  Orchestrated  Misery  Recordings.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  with  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  that  brings  a  classic  rock  feeling  to  the  music,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  stoner  rock  guitar  solos  and  leads  in  the  70's  vein.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  high  pitched  sludge  screams  and  samples  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Yellowtooth  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  stoner,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wizard  Dust"  "John  Wilkes  Booth" "Prophetic  Ramblings" and  "Decaying  From  Within".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Monday, August 13, 2012

Daylight Dies/A Frail Becoming/Candlelight Records/2012 CD Review


  Daylight  Dies  are  a  band  from  North  Carolina  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "A  Frail  Becoming"  which  was  released  by  Candlelight  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  keyboards  when  they  are  utilized  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  gothic  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  melodic  death  metal  with  doom  and  gothic  metal  with  some  of  the  lighter  side  of  black  metal  influencing  the  riffing  as  well  as  some  clean  and  soft  playing  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  enhance  the  darkness  and  depression  that  is  coming  out  of  the  music.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  clean  singing  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  and  depression,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it  bring  a  modern  approach  to  the  doom/death  metal  genre.

  In  my  opinion  Daylight  Dies  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  doom/death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style  of  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Infidel" "Sunset"  "Ghosting"  and  "An Heir  To  Emptiness".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Haarp/Husks/Housecore/2012 CD Review


  Haarp  are  a  band  from  New  Orleans,  Louisiana  that  plays  sludge/doom  metal  with  influences  from    death  metal  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Husks"  which  was  released  by  Housecore.

  Drums range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  sludge/doom  metal  riffs  that  combine  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  with  some  influences  from  hardcore  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  present   on  this  recording.

  Vocal  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls,  high  pitched  screams  and  hardcore  style  vocals,  while the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  nature  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  with  the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Haarp  are  a  very  great  sounding  sludge/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style  of  music,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Deadman/Rabbit".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Ever-Frost/Departing Of Time/2012 CD Review


  Ever-Frost  are  a  band   from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  with  a  musical  style  that  mixes  melodic  death  metal  and  gothic  metal  together  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released 2012  album  "Departing  Of  Time".

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  melodic  death  metal  riffs  that  have  some  gothic  metal  influences  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  also  mix  in  influences  from  power  and  traditional  metal,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  full  chords  to  add  more  depression  to t he  music.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  melodic  death  metal  screams  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  depressive  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  for  being  a  self  released  recording  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  recording  from  Ever-Frost  and  if  you  where  a  fan  of  their  previous  music,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Glance  Into  The  End"  "Cosmic  Evolution"    and  "Tear  Down  The  Sky".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Crypt Of Kerberos/World Of Myths/Pulverised Records/2012 CD Re-Issue Review


  Crypt  Of  Kerberos  are  a  band  from  Sweden that h as  a  history  dating  back  20  years  with  a  musical  style  that  combines  doom,  death  metal  and  progressive  music  together  and  this  is  a  review of  their  1993  album  "World  of  Myths"  which  was  released  by  Pulverised  Records  during  the  year  of  2012.

  Drums  range  from  slow, mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the music  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  progressive  death  metal  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording,  as  for  the synths  when  they  are  utilized  they  bring  a  progressive  metal  feeling  to  the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  doom,  Swedish  style  death  metal  and  progressive  music  together  with  a  great  amount  of  avant  garde  time  changes  being thrown  into  the  riffing  as  well  as  some  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic,  progressive  and  technical sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  utilize  a  great  amount  of  skill  and  talent,  as  for  the  classical  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  add  more  variety  to  the  music.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls,  high  pitched  screams  and  clean  singing,  while t he  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  as  for  the  production  it has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording,  in  addition  the  bonus  tracks  are  demo  versions  which  have  a  more  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  them.

  In  my  opinion  Crypt  Of  Kerberos  where  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid of  death,  doom  metal  and  progressive  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  style,  you  should  check out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cyclone  of  Insanity"  "Ancient  War"  "Sleeping  God"  and  "World  Of  Myths".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.     

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Process Of Guilt Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We just finished a number of concerts in Portugal in order to promote and present our latest album,“Faemin”. The first show was in one of the main national festivals, SWR Metalfest and the last was in Lisbon, just a few days ago. Right now we´re focused on the continued promotion and disclosure of the record, to the public and to the press, while we're in the process of booking a European tour for late October.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous recordings.

            This time the composition process was different. We started it from scratch, just with the conviction of creating a more intense and oppressive album than the previous ones. It was a more laborious process, but, in the end, it was definitely a more rewarding one. All things were seen in detail, all the composition was thought and performed with more dedication than before. We wanted the final sound of the record to stay closer to what we play live, organic but cohesive at the same time, more “in your face”. We can say that “Faemin” is a more direct and concise album, the songs are rawer and less melodic than the approach in “Erosion”. This time one of our main purposes was to build up rhythmically compelling songs, exploring different dynamics and textures. It's not of our interest doing the same songs or album over and over again, therefore we see “Faemin” as a step forward, a natural evolution in our work, the album that we wanted to do for so long and much more in line with what Process of Guilt is nowadays.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?
           
            All our work has our own personal experience as its mainly source of inspiration. We draw our inspiration from everything that surround us, mainly all the brutality associated to that reality and our thoughts about the negativity of this subjects. Therefore, as a result, we try to explore and develop environments and atmospheres related with despair, depression and desolation. I guess the day-to-day life has much to offer in these aspects, and for us is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
The main subject behind “Faemin” is the concept of starvation, scarcity, in the sense of maximum state of decay of the human being. For us, it represents the ultimate level in which the human being can’t ensure his own subsistence, the failure of mankind as an all, our own personal failure. We use our music to express and deal with our own feelings, anxieties, anger and concerns, what we conceive as our personal vision of what surrounds us, like a kind of “personal catharsis”.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

             We consider “guilt” and his process of evaluation as a feeling implicit in much of the things that move us in the everyday life. When we started, the idea was precisely performing music that could act for us as a purge of the day-to-day life. An act of externalization of our anxieties and frustrations before what surrounded us, trying to “expel” those feelings through music. So the name “Process of Guilt” proven to be a good designation for what we wanted it to be our musical expression.


5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
           
In Portugal I will highlight the concerts supporting Katatonia, A Storm of Light and Minsk and also our participation in some of the the main Portuguese metal festivals, like the last editions of the main underground portugueses fests: SWR2012, Amplifest and Bracara Extreme Fest. In another level the Dutch Doom Days VIII in Holland and Madrid Is The Dark Fest in Spain were also very good shows and very special ones, since we had the chance to present our work to another audience, outside our country. The feedback was very good, contacts were made and we´re always looking for these kind of opportunities. We understand our work as a channel through which we express our most deep and personal feelings, so playing live is, in fact, an opportunity we have to share with the public what we feel when we´re playing our music. It´s an extension of what we feel in the moment and we seek to transmit that in a very sincere and raw way. On stage you can expect a very intense, emotive and honest show. We love playing live, always searching for new places with the adequate conditions to exhibit our work, since our goal is to provide the best show possible, with quality and intensity, for us and the public.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?

            Yes, we´re right now in the process of booking some shows in Europe for later this year. We are still analyzing the routing plan, doing some contacts and I believe we are half way there. But of course, for us it would be a big step forward, an opportunity that we aspire for a long time.

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of extreme music?

            Before the official release we had a good number of pre-orders sold, our biggest number for a pre-order so far. The album is a co-edition between Bleak Recordings and Division Records and it was exclusively released in Portugal by Bleak, and worldwide by Division in early June. The feedback has been a very positive one so far, both fans and press seem to like the direction of the album. We had a very positive feedback regarding the release shows, with a very enthusiastic reception by the public, what for us is an important sign of appreciation of what we're trying to achieve in our live performance. “Faemin” was the album of the month in the main metal magazine here in Portugal, “Loud!” and is gathering great reviews among the international press, like in “Pitchfork” or “Rock-A-Rolla Magazine”. Things so far have gone well, but we know that for this phase this is only the beginning, our ambition is to grow much more but always with our feet firmly on the ground.

8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this full time line up?
           
In the past we all had other projects and we played with other bands, but since some time ago our focus and dedication is only with this band. We started in 2002, the formation is the same since then, “Faemin” is our 3rd full length album but we´re still an underground band with all its ups and downs. We wish we could have more time to dedicate to our music, but with our day-to-day jobs and bills to pay by the end of the month, sometimes things get a little bit delayed. But our musical expression is 100% channeled to Process of Guilt where we concentrate our full energy and therefore we do not feel any need to do other things in music, since we are very happy and motivated with all the work we're doing right now.


9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

            As I mentioned before, we are not interested in doing the same songs over and over again. In between albums, many things can happen. We will change and evolve both as individuals and as musicians,  and as a result, since we use our music to express and deal with our particular points of view, it's highly probable that our music will also evolve. We don´t feel stuck to a rigid and immutable music style, so we are not afraid to explore other kind of textures and dynamics, like we did in "Faemin. For now we don´t have a concrete idea of how the successor of “Faemin” will be, but of one thing we are sure, you can always expect intense and dark music through strong and honest compositions.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

In the beginning when we recorded our two demos we can say that some of our main influences were bands like Katatonia, Nefilim with “Zoon” and Doom/Death in general. But even back then we were all into other kind of bands and music, not only restricted to metal; our background was, and is, diverse and vast. Over the years our tastes, points of view and ways of dealing with all what surrounds us has changed. We can say that Doom Metal is still the base of our sound but our music and expression goes far beyond that. I understand that putting a label in music is a facilitator mode of classify a band to the market and to public in general, but it's also a reductive way of putting things, often misleading. For us more important than belonging to a certain style is to do music with which we identify ourselves and take pleasure with it. Through our music we´re more concerned in creating an intense and emotive experience, with a raw and tense atmosphere, always seeking for the “purity of the riff”, for us the essence of Doom. In some recent “Faemin” reviews, acts like Neurosis and Godflesh are mentioned as influences, what for us is a big compliment, since we really like and respect both bands. Of course, both as musicians and listeners we all have several points in common, bands we all like and consider as references, as the two names mentioned before, but overall I consider us as having an eclectic taste. Personally and nowadays in my mp3 I´m listening the new albums of Tragedy and Unsane, but also bands like Kyuss, Amenra, Trap Them and Acid Bath; and also some good and old Morbid Angel works, like “Covenant” and “Domination”.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

            I can speak mainly of my tastes. Besides music, I´m interested in cinema, almost all kind of movies but particularly the dark ones; like in music I prefer those with tough and heavy atmospheres that explore the crudity of reality, the complexity of human relations, with their hopes, fears, ambitions and weaknesses. I love to read books, travel and meet new places, hang out with my friends, things like that. I have a degree in Sociology, so it´s an area in which I also have interest.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

            Thank you and Doom To Darkness for the interest in Process of Guilt and for this interview. And just say that “Faemin” is available in full streaming at our internet page (processofguilt.com) and that all news and updates concerning Process of Guilt can be followed through our Facebook page. If anyone feels in tune with some of what I wrote before, please visit us over the internet and support us!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Samothrace/Reverence To Stone/20 Buck Spin/2012 CD Review


  Samothrace  are  a  band  from  Seattle,  Washington  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doom/death  metal  with  elements  of  sludge  and  crustcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Reverence  To  Stone"  which  was  released  by  20  Buck  Spin.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats  with  some  percussion  playing  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording,  as  for  the  sound  effects  when  they  are  utilized  they  bring  in  elements  of  ambient,  drone  and  noise  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  doom  metal  riffs  that  utilize  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  and  mix  in  influences  from  sludge  and  crustcore  to create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  throwing  in  dark  sounding  melodies  in  the  riffing  in  addition  there  is  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  doom/death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  sludge  screams,  while  the  lyrics cover  dark  and  depressing  themes,  as for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording,  in  addition  the  2  songs  that  are  present  on  this  recording  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Samathrace  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style  of  music,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "When  We  Emerged".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

    

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

As Autumn Calls Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Andrew:  We are in the early stages of recording our upcoming album ‘Cold, Black & Everlasting’.  It’s a bit of a different process for us this time around as we now have four band members all contributing to the recording process.  We are going to try a few different things in the studio and see how they work out for us.  It has been a long time coming for this one for James and myself.  James actually started writing some of this material for this album while we were mixing the ‘Emotionless’ EP in 2009, so we’re very excited to finally start recording it with an end date in sight.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material and how it differs from the older recordings?
James: The newer material is a decent mixture of our previous releases. Like the Emotionless EP the music is colder and darker with more of a black metal quality to it than An Autumn Departure. We’ve added more acoustic arrangements in the new material and there is more emphasis on creating depressive atmospheres through the keyboards and other elements. 

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Andrew:  The lyrical topics all tend to be depressing in nature and revolve around loss and despair in some way, but there isn’t a per-determined focus or a theme to the lyrical topics and subjects beyond that really.  James does most of the writing for the lyrics and that’s just the writing style he’s always had.  On the new album, as well as the ‘Emotionless’ EP in fact, the songs actually have a storyline to them and we have found that works well for us – not just in writing lyrics, but in the mood and melody of the music  itself.  

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band’s name?
James:  The name pretty well fell into our laps. We wanted something that would reflect the style and theme of our music.  At the time we created the band Andrew and I were listening a lot the band Estatic Fear. The third track on their first release Somnium Obmutum is titled “As Autumn Calls” and we thought that name sounded good and so it stuck in our heads.   

5. Has the band been able to play out live or is this a studio project?
Andrew:  So far we haven’t played a live show.  The band started out as just James and myself and was only intended to be a studio project.  We never even entertained the idea of adding other members and playing live shows back when we first started.  Now that we have added Darren and Brendan to the lineup, playing some shows is definitely in the future.  It’s hard to say when this will happen, how many shows we might play, or how far from home we’ll venture, but we’ll turn our focus to live shows once we’ve finished recording the album.  Our label has suggested on a few occasions that we make the trip to Germany to play some shows, but I don’t think that is in the cards just yet.

6. When can we expect newer material?
James: That’s a good question. Our intention is to record and release the new album “Cold, Black & Everlasting” sometime in early 2013. At this point I guess it really depends on the release schedule of our label. 

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom/death metal?
Andrew:  We’ve been getting some really good feedback now from a lot of people and websites overseas.  We’re probably better known in areas of Europe and South America than we are in our home town!  We are hoping that will change when we finally play some live shows, but we really appreciate all of the great reviews and kind words we have received from people all over the world.  And we’re hoping our next album will reach even more people because we feel this will be our best release to date.

8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?
James:  Our drummer Darren is involved (not as a drummer) with two amazing bands, Finnr’s Cane and Wolven Ancestry. He’s involved with a few more but these are the big ones. Andrew and I have a side project with a couple really talented musicians called Forodren which is a kind of depressive/folk black metal mix.  We will be releasing our debut full length sometime in 2013.

9. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
Andrew:  We haven’t really defined our musical path after ‘Cold, Black & Everlasting’.  All we have discussed is a completely different way of writing the music that will better draw from all of our different musical influences and backgrounds.  So it’s probably safe to say at this point we have no idea where any future album will take us.  We don’t want to be a band who limits ourselves to one sound or formula for albums.  Whatever we come up with, it will still be in our style and sound, but will probably even be a surprise to us!

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
James:  I think for both Andrew and I bands like Agalloch, Estatic Fear, Katatonia/October Tide, Opeth, Saturnus, Morgion, Swallow the Sun, My Dying Bride, Draconian, Shape of Despair, Anathema , Forest of Shadows and Empyrium have been a major influences on our music. I could go on and on since so many different bands of various styles have inspired or influenced us in various ways.  
For me personally I’m listening to a lot different stuff but if I must name a few I’d say Agalloch, Empyrium, Saturnus and Loss  are always within reach as well as a lot of really good underground stuff that ranges from doom, black metal to dark ambient/neo-classical.

11. Does Paganism or Occultism play any role in your music?
Andrew:  No, not at all.  The music for us is just about the music.  There is no role played by any type of belief or ideals within the band when it comes to the writing lyrics or music.

12. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
James: Not a whole lot. My family first and foremost.  I’m a huge F1 race fan, I enjoy watching the Discovery and History Channels and I enjoy drinking beer.
Andrew:  I’m also a big fan of beer!  Family is definitely first for myself.  I’m also into a variety of sports, as well as hunting and fishing.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Andrew:  We just want to thank everyone for their support so far and we can’t wait to unleash the new album and get some feedback on ‘Cold, Black & Everlasting’.  We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!