Bethlehem are a German band that was formed with the intention of adding sorrow, melancholy and madness into extreme metal. Their first opus “Dark Metal” used a mixture of black metal, slower primitive death metal and the melancholic rock inspired British sound that bands like My Dying Bride were developing. (more…)
12 CommentsTags: 1996, bethlehem, Black Metal, dark metal, dictius te necare
As the successive death- and black metal craze of the 1990s lost its grip over Scandinavia, many musicians started a journey back towards their earliest of musical infatuations. Often this meant a return to classic 1980s heavy metal, although filtered through contemporary developments in the metal craft and coupled, at least in the more auspicious of cases, with a melodic flair distinctive of the region. One of few interesting products of this slightly schizoid period is the one-man and seemingly one-off project Defender, brain-child of a certain Phillip von Segebaden. (more…)
6 CommentsTags: 1999, defender, power metal, Sweden, they came over the high pass
Upon listening to this album, the listener familiar with the classic Norwegian black metal albums from the first half of the ninetiess will undoubtedly be reminded of Emperor In the Nightside Eclipse (1994). But apart from the way in which the keyboards are used for effect, the first Blood Stained Dusk is quite distinct in songwriting approach and in the crafting of individual sections. And while less clear and profficient in expression than Emperor, relegating the present release to a lower tier, Dirge of Death’s Silence is still a highly suggestive and imaginative work of black metal.
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Tags: 2001, Black Metal, blood stained dusk, dirge of death's silence, emperor, immortal
Ebay is allegedly facing their worst day in two years, with stock holders panicking because of the forecasted lower revenue. Also, eBay is conducting a “mass layoff” in the Bay Area, consisting of an estimated loss of more than 260 jobs. It is repeatedly reported that the company has suffered massive revenue losses, and we may hope it may be the death of eBay.
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Tags: ebay, mystery, underground
Evil dead is considered a cult horror movie due to its ability to reinvent the codes of horror movies that Halloween has imposed at the time of time of release and the lack of funds from investment. This film would also serve as a source of inspiration to many metal bands though not because of its story telling methods nor narrative development. The outdated gore and the fact that the movie is clearly trapped in its time make this a fun movie for most but apart from some interesting lore there isn’t much to see here.
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Tags: 1981, Evil Dead, Horror Myth Films 1
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
While it may appear pandering to many that we constantly bring certain albums to the forefront of our discussion, the reason for doing this is that the state of maturity which metal as a whole attained was only able to knock on the door of the mysterious experience transmitted through music. Different albums discovered different doorways, uncovered overgrown pathways, and scaled mountains. Ildjarn found contemplation of the absolute in the eye of stormy rage through elated freneticism. At the Gates reached hitherto unmatched heights of craft and musicality. All rasping and scratching while blindfolded, a crossing of the threshold by different means and interpretations. Fewer still are the music albums, metal or otherwise, which struck at a purity of sound that needed no interpretation.
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Tags: burzum, darkthrone, Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, morton feldman, Rothko Chapel, the elusive sound, Transilvanian Hunger
With a total of 18 podcasts in conducted in Spanish, programs by La Vanguardia Subterránea are worth the time of non-Spanish speakers wishing to spend an evening exploring dark and twisted music. (more…)
No CommentsTags: abominacion, Black Metal, la vanguardia subterranea, underground metal
This is a split with contributions from four different bands, each of which present three full recordings, making the release altogether rich and diverse. Most, if not all, of the tracks sound under produced, which is a good thing when the listener wants to dig into the real bones of the band, undistracted by the direct impression of “great sound.” While none of the bands here is particularly original, or even possessing a clear line of musical development, the split is enjoyable as a forcefully elaborate underground effort to develop expression within the modern black metal (actual black metal, that is) context.
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Tags: 2016, Black Metal, diabolus amator, gravespawn, Infirmos Vocat Deus Fidei, split, vesterian, wormreich
Article by Belisario
Alpha Hydrae is a rather recent metal outfit hailing from Monterrey, northern Mexico. Their only official release to date is their full-length Venomous Devotion – The Hematic Lust from 2013. Despite its misleading title, this is no symphonic metal, but rather old-style melodic black metal with a strong use of keyboards. It could be described as “gothic” as well, not in reference to the terrible metal subgenre of the same name (that swarm of early-Paradise Lost copycats), but according to its ambiance and obsession with tales of vampiric fantasies.
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Tags: 2013, alpha hydrae, Black Metal, mexico, the hematic lust, venomous devotion
