BÖLZER "Roman Acupuncture"

"Roman Acupuncture", the debut demo of BÖLZER will be available soon on CD Format through Invictus Productions.  "Soma", the new work of this great band is almost ready to be published. Cult!

GOATWHORE Constricting Rage of The Merciless!

GOATWHORE will release their new album "Constricting Rage of The Merciless" next July 8th via Metal Blade Records. The balnd unveiled lyric video of the song "FBS".....

INCUBUS EP Reissued!

Great news for all Old-School Death Metal fans...INCUBUS three track Self-titled EP from 1989 will be reissued on June 16th through Vic Records.

ENTOMBED A.D. "Back to The Front"

"Back To The Front" is the title of the new ENTOMBED [now ENTOMBED A.D.] supposed to be released last year now the official reelease date is August 4th in Europe and August 5th in North America Through Century Media Records.  The band unveiled the first single "Bedlam Attack", check it out...

INTERVIEW with INTO DARKNESS

Into darkness from Italy formed in 2011 and they quickly made with a good reputation in the underground. Their releases so far are proof of their high artistic quality and now they are ready to launch more dark and powerfull music. Here is an interview with founding member, vocalist-guitarrist Doomed Warrior. Now look deep Into Darkness...  

Hi Doomed Warrior! When did you get involved with metal and when did you decide to form the band? How was the formation of Into Darkness?

Hi Chris ! Into Darkness is a small, recent band, but the history behind is complex enough. I'm addicted to Death Metal since I was 15 years old (and to Metal in general since I was 11), and it was during those days my first attempt to start a female Doom Death Metal project. Unfortunately it didn’t work as expected, so I kept on working on my other band Sign of Evil, where I was singer and bassist.

In September 2011 finally I found other people interested in the project, so we started to write the first s/t demo. But it was only with two line-up changes, some gigs and releases, and another studio session that Into Darkness became the stable band of these days. The current line-up: Pide Guts (drums, also drummer in Necro), Ken Hunakau (guitar/bass/backing vocals, also bassist in Fuoco Fatuo), and me, guitar/vocals.

What inspired the band’s name? What is the essence of INTO DARKNESS?

It's quite simple to imagine where the name Into Darkness came from. It refers to the Winter (USA) masterpiece, a sort of tribute. So this name is a good compromise between the ideology behind the band and the music genre we play: the term "Into Darkness" is also a metaphore of the ignorance of men, and how the human kind is far from the truth. We're nothing compared to the infinity of Cosmo, what we call "knowledge" is no more than the smallest part of the Unknown we've been able to discover. This name is the perfect "business card" to represent the Death Metal style of Into Darkness and the topics we talk about.

How would you describe INTO DARKNESS music? How does it sound inside your mind, heart and soul?

Not a simple question. The truth is that I started Into Darkness following the Death Doom oriented way, mainly to pay tribute to my favourite band (Asphyx). But now I don't care if the riffing is too fast, too slow, too swedish style, too strange, or not in 4/4, etc. It's Death Metal, it's catastrophic, it's heavy. This is what I care about.

Now the song writing is more complex: the other two members are really involved into the band, so it's easier to compose something original without repeat yourself in every riff. To write a song completely by yourself, with the passing of years, is stressing: you have not a realistic, objective vision of the compositions.

What are the main influences that turned INTO DARKNESS musically into what you are now? What do you think were the most important bands, albums and singers that influenced you?

The bands that influenced us mainly in the beginning were Asphyx/Soulburn, Mythic, Derkéta, Crypt of Kerberos and Eternal Darkness; lately, even Bolt Thrower, Incantation, Funebrarum, Grotesque, Rottrevore ... Maybe isn't useful to list Into Darkness influences. Obviously the most is taken from our listenings, but now - unlike the early days - we're trying to create something more atypical, a cacophony of sounds entangled into the farthest corners of the Deep Universe. Do you know that every Astronomical Object has an own personal sound ?

Astronomy and astrology seem to be a great source to create a dark and catastrophic cosmic concept, where do you draw your inspiration for the lyrics?

Astronomy and Astrology are two really different things, two different sciences (if we want to definite Astrology as a "science" ...) Into Darkness don't feel the need to write about the ordinary things. Personally I don't care to communicate my religious beliefs or my personal feelings and opinions. Why talking ALWAYS about human feelings and emotions when there are more interesting things in which get involved to ?

It seems that, according to astrological predictions for the period 2104-2015 the number of negative astrological configurations [the worst since World War II period] indicates great turmoil ahead for the world, there will be catastrophic natural events and political challenges. Something not very difficult to predict since the world is downfall quite some time, do you believe in these signs and their influence in a period of global turmoil?

I believe in things we can prove.

It is obvious that the visual appearance and the work of the whole concept is one of the strengths of the band.  What is the proper role of the artwork in the music of INTO DARKNESS? How important is it for one to understand INTO DARKNESS music and meaning through illustrations and symbols within its work?

You got the point. People who listen to our music is helped by the image and the concept to understand and give a meaning to this band and its correlations. Mainly the appearance, I think. Because to be honest I don't know if someone read our lyrics !

Your Debut demo was released by three different labels, one for each format Please describe what means for you each of the designs used for the tape, LP and CD.

Artwork is an important aspect of the band. The tape cover is taken by a Gustave Dorè drawing, which shows a step from the Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso". On the CD you can see a representation of an astrolabe, an ancient astronomical instrument through which it was possible to locate astronomical object. The illustrations on the LP are taken by the "Margarita Philosophica", drawn by the cosmographer G. Reisch. 

Tell me about your logo, I found it an amazing design and utterly old- school! Who was responsible for the drawing?

An italian guy made our first logo, and the new one has been created by Daniel Corcuera - that I thank again - is indeed a tribute to Old School Death Metal. The image of the band isn't focused only into astronomy and science, but even into the Real Death Metal tradition.

The "vinyl" 7 Transmigration of cosmic creatures Into the Unknown "released last year through Doomentia records was a killer release and had a great impact on the underground! Are you satisfied with the response received from the public ?

I’m surprised myself, but I personally don't care too much about it, while I was really anxious about the demo. I think the other guys are satisfied. I tend to care of a very few “selected” opinions and not if my band is the “flavour of the day” in the current scene or not. Some people describe us as an "esoteric” or “occult” band when it comes to the image and as  "Death Doom" when it comes to the music. Truth is that we changed a lot from our demo that was indeed very doomy, and the lyrics never dealt with occultism.

Tell us about the cover art. How did Chris Moyen get involved?

I wrote him through facebook asking for a cover artwork. We had a good deal together. I wanted Chris Moyen to draw a cover artwork as a symbolic tribute to the Old School Metal: he's an icon of Real Death Metal and Black Metal. We had no doubts about this choice !

How is the actual scene in Italy, what do you think about having cult bands like Bulldozer, Necrodeath, Schizo, OperaIX and Mortuary Drape?

There are some really talented, devoted and serious bands, label owners, live promoters and fans, but also too much backstabbing, shit talking, retarded gossiping, internet posing and ass kissing, to call it “a Scene”, in my opinion. But probably is pretty much the same everywhere, more or less.

I like Mortuary Drape - even the last works, but less than the older ones - early Bulldozer and early Necrodeath too. I have to admit that I never listened to Schizo.

Concerning your live appearances, what can be expected from your shows?

I'd like to answer "nothing", but I'm afraid this is no possible for the most of metalheads. We always have expectations about live shows, both for the newest bands and for historical ones; I'm the first person who thinks this way, maybe we should try to judge taking care about the musical influences, the band's lifetime and the scene in which this one took life.

The band have had line-up changes despite its short existence, would you say that now you have strong line-up?

Sure. It took a lot of time have a stable line-up, but now we're working hard together as one, everyone of us gives its own contribution to the band, which for the first time is taking another direction, especially about musical influences and songwriting. The reason could be the strong match between us, we have no fear to communicate our preferences or disagreement each other.

How do you reckon your musical career will develop over the years?

To be honest I don't know. Into Darkness will exist till we have something to say, I think.

You have announced the forthcoming release of “Shifted To The Red End Of The Spectrum” and a split 7” with Profanal, could you advance some details?  Has the release date been fixed yet for both releases?

There isn't a release date for both of them yet (first one is currently at press), but I can say you this new material is heavier and faster than the first s/t demo. And the new stuff we're working on these days is totally into this way, even more complex and brutal ! Maybe we'll return to a more doomy sound on an hypothetical full lenght... or maybe not…

What´s the strangest place and the most shocking place you have been?

My empty bedroom without my CD’s.

Thanks for your time…Any last words to end this interview?

We want to thank you and everyone who supported us, in a way or another.

ENTRAILS "...Demo Collection"

ENTRAILS announced  "Resurrected From The Grave-Demo Collection" to be released next July 18th [Europe] and July 22nd [North America] via Metal Blade. The album will be available as Digi-CD and vinyl [Europe],  while in North america it will be available  on CD and digitally.  "Resurrected..." features 18 tracks from the demos "Reborn" and "Human Decay".  Below you can check the tracklisting and stream the single "Blood Red"...

Reborn Intro

Evil Obsession

The Morgue

Your Dead Dog Smile

Voices

Triumph Of The Sinners

Stormy Death

Midnight Death

Breath of Blood

Entrails

Depression

Dust to Dust Intro

Blood Red

Euthanasia

Evil Terror

Total Death

Human Decay

Casket Garden (Dismember cover) 

DEATHCULT Demo MMXII Repress!

DEATHCULT Demo MMXII will be available again early June. Invictus Productions will repress it, strictly limited to 200 copies directly from Invictus Productions shop. The band will have some copies available at their appearance at Hell´s Pleasure Metalfest next July.

POWER FROM HELL - "The True Metal"

The vinyl reissue of classic debut album "The True Metal" from Brazilian POWER FROM HELL is available on regular black vinyl and special splatter vinyl through Duplicate records [here] and Negative Existance [here]  

INCANTATION - "Debauchery"

 

INCANTATION  unveiled a new song "Debauchery" from their upcoming album "Dirges Of Elysium", to be released next June 10th in Europe and June 24th in North America via Listenable Records. Play it loud!...

MASTERS HAMMER - New Album Out!

After the release of a new split 7" EP with Blackosh released on April 5th, CULT band MASTER'S HAMMER released a couple of days a go their sixth full lenght entitled "Vagus Vetus" through their own label Jihosound Records.  The CD is available to order through their e-shop here.  A vinyl release will follow this autumn. Here is the official album trailer.

VADER "Triumph Of Death"

Official track "Triumph Of Death" from VADER´s upcoming album "Tibi Et Igni" out next May 30th through Nuclear Blast.

H.R. GIGER [1940-2014] R.I.P.

THE GALLERY...

 

Kjærlighet Og Smerte [aka Vampyr]-Love And Pain [aka Vampire]

Edvard Munch

1894-95 Oil on canvas

Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway 

MASSACRA - First Three Albums Reissue!

Cult French Death Metal band MASSACRA will reissue the first three albums "Final Holocaust" [1990], the magnificent "Enjoy The Violence" [1991] and "Signs Of The Decline" [1992].  Next June 2nd Century Media will release the albums specially mastered for vinyl and feature heavy 180grm vinyl, and 30x30cm 4 pages booklet.  There will be a CD release featuring 24 pages booklet and bonus tracks. 

Vinyl editions and limitations:

Final Holocaust:

200 copies : Balck Vinyl

400 copies : Transparent Blue Vinyl

400 copies : Clear Vinyl

Enjoy The Violence

200 copies : Black Vinyl

400 copies : Solid White Vinyl

400 copies : Clear Vinyl

Signs Of The Decline

200 copies : Black Vinyl

400 copies : Red Vinyl

400 copies : Clear Vinyl

BELPHEGOR "Conjuring The Dead"

BELPHEGOR unveiled cover artwork for their forthcoming album "Conjuring The Dead", The 10th studio album of the band was recorded at Mana studios in Florida under the direction of  Erik Rutan and will be released through Nuclear Blast on August 8th [ EU/North America] and August 11th [UK/France] 

UNDER THE CHURCH "Denial Of Death"

 

Swedish UNDER THE CHURCH premiere new track "Denial of Death" from the upcoming  7 tracks EP entitled "Under The Church" to be released next June 16th through Pulverised Records! 

INTERVIEW with NUCLEARHAMMER

THIS DARK AND VIOLENT BAND FROM TORONTO HAVE JUST RELEASED THEIR SECOND FULL LENGHT THROUGH NUCLEAR WAR NOW. "SERPENTINE HERMETIC LUCIFER" IS A MONUMENTAL EXPRESION OF HATEFUL MORBID MUSIC AND HYPNOTIC DARKNESS. REASONS ENOUGH TO CONTACT AXAAZAROTH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS LUCIFERIAN HORDE NAMED...NUCLEARHAMMER 

Hails, how are you doing, anxious to see your second full-length “Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer” released? 

Yes quite anxious but now its out and so far very positive feedback.

What was the songwriting process like?

It was interesting, we have definitely gotten more advanced and mature as far as our writing process goes.

Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer,  why this title?

I was reading some Kenneth Grant and Aleister Crowley books, mainly Grant's The Magical Revival and I came across a quote that I felt fit exactly what we wanted to say with this record and specifically the artwork. Myself and Doomhammer came up with the actual title of "Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer" but it was inspired by this quote:
“‘The Devil’ is, historically, the God of any people that one personally dislikes. This has led to so much confusion of thought that THE BEAST 666 has preferred to let names stand as they are, and to proclaim simply that AIWAZ — the solar-phallic-hermetic ‘Lucifer’ is His own Holy Guardian Angel, and ‘The Devil’ SATAN or HADIT of our particular unit of the Starry Universe. This serpent, SATAN, is not the enemy of Man, but He who made Gods of our race, knowing Good and Evil; He bade ‘Know Thyself!’ and taught Initiation. He is ‘the Devil’ of the Book of Thoth, and His emblem is BAPHOMET, the Androgyne who is the hieroglyph of arcane perfection.” [emphasis added]-Magick in Theory & Practice, ch.21

I really dig the cover artwork, who was responsible for this concept and how do this concept relate to the album´s music?

The art was done by Krag, vocalist of Paroxsihzem. Myself and Doomhammer were behind the entire concept, there are many different aspects to it but I'll get into that later.

Back to the songwriting, there is an aura of darkness and violence in the music,  In your own words, how would you describe the sound and style?

Vicious and hateful violence with a very dark aura of entrancing hypnosis which is what we have always been going for but are getting more and more extreme with it on each new release, expect even more hypnotic and oppressive darkness on the next one!

An unusual and peculiar thing is the length of the songs, from 12minutes 13 seconds the longest to 8 seconds the shortest, the duration of the songs reflect the mood at the time of its creation?

Yes the length of tracks is something I knew would make a lot of peoples heads spin which was the point, no limits, rules or set laws on what we do, its all very sporadic and embodies the essence of universal chaos.

There are some songs that I define as “dark alien sound” used as interludes or nexus between the “metal” songs.  What inspired you to compose these dark ambient compositions?

The idea for the album was to have these crazy "dark alien" as you say interludes in between each song to signify a rite of passage, so listening to the whole album is like one long experience of different stages instead of a typical track by track kinda deal. I also do a few harsh noise/power electronics/dark ambient projects on the side in the style of Deathkey, Whorebutcher, Bizarre Uproar, Content Nullity, Deathpile, Survival Unit, Final Solution, however the stuff you hear on the album I tried to keep very different sounding from my full on noise/ambient projects and just keep things as ominous and sickening as possible.

Some song titles refer to “cells” [24-Cell (Octoplex), 120-Cell (Hyperdodecahedron) 600-Cell (Hexacosichoron) and other songs titles refers to “H3po4”] Can you explain the concept and meaning behind these titles?

The first half of the album focuses on multi-dimensional/hyper-dimensional geometry and the later half focuses on phosphorus chemicals, the first song on side A of the LP for example is "Multidimentional..." and the first song on side B is "Phosphorus Clouds...", thus the themes go along with both for the layout of songs.  

What philosophies, ideologies, or occult themes have contributed to the essence of the content of your lyrics?

Our lyrics always deal with a wide variety of subjects but at their very core they are Satanic and mostly deal with hatred, destruction and exposing of ones sworn enemies for who they really are, not who they "claim" to be. I strongly believe in the philosophy of eye for an eye and that's what you get with the lyrics on "Serpentine..." for the most part. However, the concepts around the album itself are Lucifer, Occultism, altered mind states, earthly matter, mathematics and the INFINITY of the UNIVERSE which also exist within these lyrics.

Would you say that this album is a major step ahead on NUCLEARHAMMER´s career? What would you say is the main difference compared to your debut full-length? How do you look back at Obliteration Ritual nowadays?

Yeah I'd say its a major step for sure, there's many differences compared to the first album, I sort of look at our releases since the first full-length as a trilogy of sorts, Obliteration Ritual was FIRE, Frozen Misery was ICE while Serpentine is TIME and SPACE. As far as how I look back on Obliteration Ritual, I still think it was a great record but there are some things I would of definitely liked to of changed musically but there's no point in dwelling on that now, we're only interested in moving forward into battle!

What bands have had the most profound influence on the sound of NUCLEARHAMMER? How would you say your style evolved since your demos and previous EPs and splits?

TOO MANY TO MENTION! I will just say that we're not really interested in having any tags, most people view us as "bestial black death", "war metal", "goat metal" etc and those are all fine because to me all those titles and tags represent are the FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS of first and second wave black and death metal inspired by Hellhammer/early Celtic Frost, Sarcofago, Holocausto, Blasphemy, (the true)Von, Beherit, Nuclear Death, Autopsy, Necrovore, Possessed etc etc. But I am not interested in a tag itself because it seems to go along with the whole stereotype that we only play and sound like this ONE thing, which is complete bullshit because even though we stick to our roots and what we know, we also incorporate other sounds and influences from other genres into what we do in a very cryptic manner and anyone who says we don't can fuck off and die because they're clearly NOT paying attention to whats going on. So the misguided and misinformed opinions of weaklings have no impact on me since I can usually see right through them like glass. I'd say our sound has evolved a great deal since the early days though.

Will you continue releasing splits and EPs or will you focus on your next full-length?

Next release will most likely be a split with Hell Paso Texas' own Satanic Warmongers NYOGTHAEBLISZ, all vermin will be crushed into dust when this atomic bomb of a release is dropped on human scum!

You have recorded many cover songs from bands such as Sarcófago, Blasphemy, Discharge, Slaughter…which of these covers is your favourite? Which band that you didn´t covered yet would you like to cover in the future?

I like all the covers we've done, don't really have a favorite, they were all done for a reason. I think in the future I'd like to properly cover Hellhammer's Messiah, also something by Naked Whipper, Angelcorpse and Bestial Warlust. We were working on an Incantation cover of Emaciated Holy Figure not too long ago, we might eventually finish that and release it on something, also I wanted to cover a Sacramentary Abolishment song off The Distracting Stone album years ago but we ended up slacking on doing covers and focused on writing our own songs more which definitely isn't a bad thing since most of the songs I mentioned here can NOT be recreated to match their original glory so unless you can fuck around with it and do something interesting, there's no point. But any cover we do will always be done our way and done as a TRIBUTE to the creators.

How is the current scene in Canada and particularly in Toronto? Are there any bands that you would recommend?

The scene in Canada is great depending where you go, there's always good and bad. The only bands to look out for in Toronto however are Malaria, Into Oblivion, Adversarial, Paroxsihzem, Sortilegia and Apokrypha as far as black/death goes and on the more traditional metal side of things Cromlech, Demontage and Desekratewhore who are all good comrades of ours. Theres no real scene in this city, its mostly trendy heavy metal fans, death/goregrind jocks in tapout shirts and norsecore wannabe bullshit which we have no interest in.

How many live shows have you performed so far? What is to be expected at an NUCLEARHAMMER show?

I couldn't tell you how many shows we've played since our existence but some of the best ones have been in the USA. As far as what to expect, lots of hostility, anger, hypnotic violence, possession, chaos and blood!

Same as Obliteration Ritual, serpentine will be released by Nuclear war now, are you satisfied with the attention you have received from  them?

Actually Obliteration Ritual was released by Morbid Moon not Nuclear War Now. Serpentine is the first album we are doing with NWN!  [yes, mea culpa! and I knew about it! I don´t do drugs so I have no excuse, what the fuck was I thinking...?!!! Ed]

Do you have any upcoming plans for tours?

We're playing Edmonton at the end of June and then we're playing Satan's Unholy Abomination Fest in Maryland in December with Blood Storm, Nyogthaeblisz, Hellvetron, Nexul, Martyrvore and a bunch of other wicked bands, but that's all I can say for now.

What is the strangest place and the most shocking one that you have been?

DETROIT! when we played there the next day we drove around some of the worst spots to see it in person before we left for Chicago and we went through Highland Park, John R and 7 Mile, West Robinwood Street and Hollywood Street plus a bunch of other places there and I can tell you its definitely the most BRUTAL and dangerous place to be in on the east coast. Toronto is only a 3 hour drive from Detroit and our bassist Abyssious has been there a couple dozen times so he knows the murder city quite well but yeah its just utter ruin, decay and lawlessness. We also went through Flint Michigan which was also pretty deadly, as well as the south side of Chicago on our way back to Canada, crazy shit! but most of us, myself especially, are no strangers to such areas, I don't care much for bands singing about their so called darkness, death and evil when they've never lived or been in any real evil and dangerous places before, even just for mere exploration! practice what you preach.

Thanks for your time, any last words to end this interview?

Thanks for the interview. ASCEND DO WE NOW INTO INFINITE ORDER!!! AMSG!!!

THE GALLERY...

Finis Gloriae Mundi

Juan De Valdés Leal

1671-72 Oil on canvas

Hospital de la caridad, Sevilla, Spain

...Detail [Below]

LOUDBLAST -"Ascending Straight In Circles"

LOUDBLAST official video "Ascending Straight In Circles" from "Burial Ground" out now via Listenable Records.

INCANTATION - Premiere "Carrion prophecy"

INCANTATION premiere new track "Carrion Prophecy" from the fortchoming album "Dirges of Elysium", coming out on June 10th [Europe] and June 24th [U.S.] via Listeanable Records.