Sunday, December 25, 2011

Nephelium/Coils Of Entropy/2012 CD Review


  Nephelium  are  a  band  originally  from  the  United  Arab  Emirates  but  now  has  relocated  to  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  brutal  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released   album  "Coils Of  Entropy"  which  will be released   in  Feburary  of  2012.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats  being  thrown  in  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  have  a  very powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  brutal  death  metal  riffs  that  utilize  alot  of  harmonics,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic,  technical  and  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  annihilation,  vengeance  and  ancient  mythology,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful  and  professional  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Nephilium  are  a  very  great  sounding  brutal  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECEMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hellborne"  "Coils  Of  Entropy".  RECEMMENDED  BUY.





















Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Truth Corroded Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
 
Interview is with Greg Shaw, bass player, band manager.
 
We are about to do our first ever tour of Europe in support of ' Worship The Bled '. Truth Corroded will be supporting Krisiun , Malevolent Creation and Vital Remains on the Sounds of Extreme Tour from Jan 27 to Feb 19.
 
In April we released the album in Australia and toured across Australia, Japan and South East Asia. In September the album was released in Europe and officially in Japan.
 
On top of that we have recently also filmed a clip for the song ' Pride of Demise ' which will be available early next year. A live clip featuring footage from our April tour  for the song ' Knives Of The Betrayed ' is currently online.
 
We are also starting the writing process for our next album.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
 
It is a heavier and at times more extreme album. It is also more dynamic. Our sound is thrash, or extreme thrash, and I think this album has pushed the extremes to the point where some songs border on a death metal edge.
 
The album is also more dynamic in that Mark ( guitar ) and myself looked at what we had created with our last album ' Upon The Warlords Crawl ' and looked to expand the bands scope further, while maintaining our distinct sound.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?
 
The album ranges from the personal to the political with Worship The Bled. This is unlike our previous two albums which were almost all political.
 
Mark ( guitars ) and myself explored a range of subjects and topics on Worship The Bled. The album looks at fundamentalist religious beliefs ( Tear Out The Eyes Of Your God ) U.S political ideals behind the war on terror ( Pride Of Demise ) frail notions of personal power ( Hunt All Heroes ) through to songs such as Remnants and Scavengers, both of which were reactions to the Cormac McCarthy book ' The Road '.
 
 

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
 
Mark ( guitars ) came up with the name. It means that truth is subject to the designs of the powerful, or even the designs of the individual, to be shaped to what serves such interests. As such, it is corroded from its true form. The name is a declaration that to find the truth it requires seeing the true form, and find how it has been corroded, and why.
 

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
 
Playing in Japan has always been incredible - likewise touring China. We have played two of our most intense shows ever in Guang Zhou, China - in 08 and 09.
 
Supporting Lamb Of God to a sold out venue in our home state of South Australia was huge. Supporting Behemoth in Beijing, China was also immense.
 
But for the founding members - three supports are very important, because they were with bands we grew up listening to - Sepultura, Death Angel and Forbidden.
 
When we perform we give it our all - and always look to make the best of any show - no matter how large or small. It is just great to be able to travel and play and for that we are very fortunate and grateful.
 

6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
 
As stated above, we are about to tour Europe with Malevolent Creation, Krisiun and Vital Remains. We are then looking to return to Europe during the summer festival period - we are currently working on that.
 
If we can get back to Japan, and possibly China or South Korea late 2012, that will be killer also.
 
 

7. On a worldwide level how has your new album been recieved by extreme metal fans?
 
On a critical / media level the album has received really strong and positive reviews from Australia, the U.S and Europe. Our last album, Upon The Warlords Crawl likewise had really good reviews and it was the first time our music really reached out to foreign media - thanks to our publicist Alex, who has really helped develop our international profile. So it is really great to see that the new album has so far been received very well.
 
Extreme metal fans can identify with our music, particularly if they listen to bands that started out in the late 80's or early 90's U.S and European thrash and death metal movement - that is where our roots come from.

8. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
 
I think we really expanded the dynamic further with Worship The Bled. While we aim to create an album that has the aggression of early Sepultura or Slayer, we also look to bring a level of heaviness and range that has been inspired by bands such as Neurosis or Cult Of Luna. To a point that has been achieved - I do not think we have gone as far as we want in expanding our boundaries with that element of our sound as yet, but the new album definitely has pushed a bit further to achieve that. So that will be one part of our sound that will develop on future releases.
 
But the other side to our future music is that the thrash sound is our identity - and that is the sound we will continue to develop - both in the context of the core influences that have shaped our sound, and as a continuing growth of Truth Corroded as a band. Both of these elements will continue to shape our future releases, and each album I believe will build on from the previous recording.
 
 

9. Are there any projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?
 
This is a full time line up. Each new band member has been involved in previous bands that are no longer active, such as Closed Casket and A Red Dawn. Our new drummer Kieren also plays in an extreme death metal band, Five Finger Disintegrator.
 
Mark and myself have always had a side project called Wasted Gods that we talk about getting active. It is always a possibilty, as we both have a drive for grind in the vein of Nasum, Pig Destroyer, Napalm Death and Lock Up.
 
But Truth Corroded is a full time band for all of us, and demands alot of work.
 

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
 
The main bands that have influenced our music are late 80's / early 90's thrash and death metal bands such as Sepultura, Slayer, Testament, Vio-lence, Dark Angel, Forbidden, Exhorder, Malevolent Creation, Obituary and Entombed. These bands form our roots - and the albums released between 1986 - 1993 had a major influence on our sound. Bands such as Testament, Kreator, Exodus, Forbidden and Death Angel continue to release incredible music - perhaps some of their best music - to this day, and that continues to inspire us.
 
Other bands that have been a major influence include first and foremost Neurosis - for the original band members of the band, Neurosis have been an immense inspiration since hearing Enemy Of The Sun. Other bands over the years include Gojira, Lamb Of God, Mastodon, Misery Index, Napalm Death, Behemoth, Decapitated, Machine Head ( selected albums ), Fear factory ( selected albums ), Cult Of Luna and Burnt By The Sun.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
 
Each of us is different. Some of us have a common appreciation for movies, particularly Asian film - Korean, Japanese - and also particularly French film, movies that are challenging and confronting. Some band members are avid about English and European league soccer. I really appreciate food and wine of late - maybe too much haha, but also have an interest in martial arts. Politics is a constant interest, and an inspiration to Mark and myself lyrically and thematically. But one interest we all share in common - good beer !!! And one thing we all do far to well is drink good beer excessively after we play - so this tour in Europe will be fun but punishing haha.

12. Any final words or thought before we wrap up this interview?
 
If you are reading this interview - thank you, and please continue to support Hatred Means Warzine. If have not heard us - then please check us out and spread the word - visit www.truthcorroded.com or seek out our album Worship The Bled through Ultimhate Records in Europe and Japan. If you live in Europe, please get along and catch us on tour with Malevolent Creation and Krisiun Jan / Feb. Thanks !

Friday, December 16, 2011

Blood Mortized Interview


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



Sure I can! I am now mixing the upcoming album which is called "The Key To A Black Heart", it will be released in Feb/March 2012 on CD via FDA Rekotz and on vinyl via Chaos Records. We recorded the album at my studio Underworld Recording and it will once again be a true DIY project. We have our favorite artist, Thomas Kynst doing the artwork for both editions, the vinyl artwork will be revealed soon and it will be released as a really grim gatefold vinyl. The vinyl will have a bonus track called "Burn & Die". The CD version will also feature amazing art from Kynst and have a new recording of "Shadow Of The Quarter Sun" as a bonus track. You can check out Kynsts´s work onwww.kynst.com

 
2. How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the new ep and how it differs from the previous full length?

The first album was a bit chaotic in terms of song writing and the styles were shooting off in a bit too many directions, if you ask me at least. For the EP we really focused on writing songs and we tried to find a Blood Mortized style, which I think we managed to do. I mean of course you hear that we are a Swedish band but I think that we have our own twist musically speaking as well as sound wise. I also recorded, mixed, mastered and produced the whole EP while for the first album we recorded all parts in different studios (I mixed it though...).  The EP sounds more like what I have in mind production wise which is raw and dirty death metal the way we like it.

 
3. How would you describe the lyrical content of the newer material?

Parkkila and me shared writing the lyrics for the new album. They deal with, surprise tadaaaaa! Death, insanity and the fall of mankind. Most of the lyrics have a story behind them, but like always it´s up to the listener to decode them.

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

Haha! It just means Deah Metal the old way! Of course there is a story behind it and there is a meaning behind it, but I prefer to not go into details how the name came about.  Hmm, a small clue would be: take a look on the inside of the jewelcase of the debut album, you can see a photo, which in one way or another has something to do with the name Blood Mortized.  Who knows, you might just solve the riddle behind the name!

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

Well here´s the thing, for the new album we do have a full line-up. For the full length debut we did not have a bass player (Anders and Benny played bass on the debut album) and on the EP Anders played all guitars and also bass. We now have a new guitar player, Gustav Myrin, an old friend of Anders who made very cool solos on the new album, and we have a new bass player, Mattias Söderlund who put his own and really unique touch on the bass playing. This means that with the new material we will be able to go out and play live gigs. So far, because of the line-up, we haven´t played any gigs with Blood Mortized, but they are coming. We only have one thing in mind, get up on stage and play the crap out of our songs... So stay tuned and swing by when we drop by your town!

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

We have a few gigs booked, in March we play in Wolfsburg and then the Blusvente festival in Berlin. We will see what the future holds in terms of playing live and touring. 

7 On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by death metal fans?

So far so good! Well to be honest the debut got mixed critisicm, some loved it while some loved to hate it haha... The EP has only gotten very very good reviews and feedback which of course feels great. I should point out that none of us do this in order to please others, we do what we want the way we want to do it, if some one else likes it that´s a great bonus of course!

 
8. What is going on with the other projects these days?

I just recorded all my percussion parts and some choir for the upcoming Arcana album it will be released early 2012, Parkkila has been busy with Malfeitor and they will release a full length next year, Söderlund is playing gigs with the punk legends Charta 77 and Anders has written some songs for a "Biazzi" project.

 

9. What direction do you see the music heding into on future releases?

The same direction as the "Bestial" EP and our upcoming album "The Key To A Black Heart", raw, dirty, unpolished with good songs, that´s the thing we aim for with this band. Pretty simple actually...

10. In your opinion who do you feel are the most important death metal bands or albums that have came out?

Oh, for me personally it would be Bathory: Blood, Fire, Death, Slayer: Reign In Blood and Bolt Thrower: Realm Of Chaos. Bathory and Slayer are maybe not the traditional take on Death Metal, but for me very important. 

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

I don´t have the time for anything else, I work with music in one way or another 7 days per week. I would like to get more into for example layout and video editing and photography though, I guess if I ever retire that would give me some more time haha... Biazzi is a barbecue maniac so maybe that is his main interest? Haha! Oh, that´s right, he is also really into collecting Special Editions of cult movies. Parkkila likes football (I mean soccer just for the record) so I guess he likes to watch football games (maybe because football and beer go well together, at least if you only watching and not playing haha!) Söderlund told me to tell you that his interest is to cook small animals haha, but he likes to talk about food which means he is also into cooking it. Myrin is also into football, he´s a football fanatic (that might also lead us to the conclusion that beer and watching football is a great combination hehe)

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

Thanks for the support, truly appreciated! Be sure to get your dirty hands on the "Bestial" EP out now via Chaos Records and keep them dead eyes of yours open for the upcoming album "The Key To A Black Heart" out early 2012! Cheers!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Horrendous/The Chills/Dark Decent Records/2011 CD Review



  Horrendous  are  a  band  from  the  east  coast  that  has  had  their  previous  album  as  well  as  being  interviewed  by  this  zine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  Florida  and  Swedish  style  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "The Chills  which  was  released  by  Dark  Descent  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  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,  as  for  the  synths  they  are  only  used  briefly  on  one  song  and  they  add  a  darker  edge  to  the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,   mid  paced  to  fast  90's  style  death  metal  riffs  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  and  melodic  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  that  are  very  easy  to  understand  with  some  spoken  word  passages  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  standard  dark  and  gory  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  heavy 90's  style  death  metal  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  album  from  Horreendous  and  if  you  where  a  fan  of  their  previous  album,  you  will  not  be  dissapointed.  RECEMMONDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Womb"  "Altars"  "The  Ritual"  and  "The  Eyes  Of  Madness".  RECEMMONDED  BUY.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Blood Mortized/Bestial/Chaos Records/2011 CD Review


  Blood  Mortized  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  consists  of  many  veterans  from  the  death  metal  scene that  plays  a  very  old  school  style  of  Swedish  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "Bestial"  which  was  released  by  Chaos  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats  being  thrown  in,  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  Swedish  style  death  metal  riffs  that  have  the  early  90's  feeling  to  them  as  well  as  producing  some  dark  sounding  melodies,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  chaotic  and  melodic  sounding  death  metal guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  high  pitched  screams,  spoken  word  parts  and  samples,  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  gore  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  heavy  and  powerful  sounds  in  the  90's  death  metal style.

  In  my  opinion  Blood  Mortized  are  a  very  great  sounding  classic  style  Swedish  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECEMMONDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bestial"  and  "Shadow  Of  The  Quarter  Sun".  RECEMMONDED  BUY.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Hate Squad Interview

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

Our new album is just released in Europe and we#re preparing us for the upcoming tour in early 2012. Also do we have to replace one of our old buddy’s on guitar.

2.How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
The previous album “deguello wartunes” got more influences from hardcore.
Our new album is more thrash metal/death metal and less hardcore

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that the band explores with on the new release?
our life, everything what’s up today and in the past what is real and  happens in our daily life.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
We are a group of strong men loaded with hate!!!

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
Difficult to say but for me 1998 at the With Full Force Festival!!
Our show was then very wild and powerful

Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
Sure, for 2012 we’re just checking out with our booking agency

6.On a worldwide level how has your new album been recieved by fans of extreme metal and metalcore?
so far I saw and read, went  the reviews and reactions  very good, our label are happy too so should be cool in the end of the day

7.I have seen the band being labeled as metalcore but when I listen to the music I hear a little bit more death metal and thrash how do you feel about that label?
You ‘are right but when we started we sound more crossover between death metal and hardcore

8.Are there any other projects besides this one or is this a full time line-up?
our singer got some more projects but this is his and our full time band

What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
its up to who is writing the songs and how many are involved, but we won’t play pop music or country, we will be heavy as always with little differences you know

9.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Bay area bands like Testament, Exodus for example, I listen to a lot hardcore like Terror, and right now Ghost Inside is my favorite band

10.Outside of music what are some of your interests?
All kind of sports, my girlfriend, my family and my label named Swell Creek records est.2000

11.Any final words or thought before we wrap up this interview?
-believe in yourself and do it your own way “my life, my way” god bless you all and buy the album, thanks!!!

Bauke de Groot (bass player)