MESSIAH
"Choir Of Horrors"
Choir Of Horrors
1991 Noise Records
28 August 2018
27 August 2018
INTERVIEW with PUTREFIANCE
PUTREFIANCE from France, hailing the good old stench of death and putrid sounds. Morbid and raw old school death metal, no more no less. Read the following interview with Olivier (Guitars) and rot in Magnificent Putridity...
What brought about
the formation of Putrefiance? Please introduce the line up to the readers.
Fran
(drums) and I began to jam together in
mid 2017, then Régis (bass, vocals) join us in june. They already played
together in several crust/grind bands like Geriatric Slaughter, NHE, and Mise
en Bière.
How did you come up
with the band´s name?
I don't
know, we wanted something old fashionned, something really clear about what we
play.
Let´s talk about the
debut demo that you just recently released, how are your feelings now it is
out. What can you tell us about the recording process? How has the response been so far?
We are cool with the demo, the first original press is sold out, which is quite easy with 30 copies. We recorded it at Cripple Room Studio, tun by Guillaume, the main man behind french gore grind legends Pulmonary Fibrosis.
We Recorded all songs live, then we added a guitar and the vocals, everything in one single day.
We got cool responses so far, people seems to like the old school vibe.
There will be 2 others pressings for the demo, 70 copies by Unpure Records in Poland, and 70 copies by Garrote Vil Records in Spain, both on pro k7, pro printed artwork etc.
We are cool with the demo, the first original press is sold out, which is quite easy with 30 copies. We recorded it at Cripple Room Studio, tun by Guillaume, the main man behind french gore grind legends Pulmonary Fibrosis.
We Recorded all songs live, then we added a guitar and the vocals, everything in one single day.
We got cool responses so far, people seems to like the old school vibe.
There will be 2 others pressings for the demo, 70 copies by Unpure Records in Poland, and 70 copies by Garrote Vil Records in Spain, both on pro k7, pro printed artwork etc.
Are you completely
satisfied with the sound achieved? Is it the sound you had in mind before
entering the studio?
Yes,
we're ok with the sound. Regis and Fran already recorded there w/ Geriatric
Slaughter. I personally thought it would be more « amateur », kind of
rehearsal with cool sound, and it turns out to be semi pro recording as
Guillaume knows his job very well.
Tell us about the
inclusion of the Onslaught cover of “Thermonuclear Devastation” (killer track),
their dirty and aggressive early hardcore style, why did you choose to record
this track?
Well, it's 2 riffs and
D-beat, so it was easy to learn ! It brings some freshness to our live
set, and represents our punk influences. We like punk music, GBH, Discharge,
Black Uniforms, anarcho punk, crust etc. The punk scene is strong here in
Bordeaux, with bands like Sexplosion, Fraude, Bombardement, Shock, Slakteri...
How do you describe
your sound and style? Love the slower parts, I guess you have a good taste for doom
and doom death bands, so tell us about the bands that you consider your main
influences…
It's
plain death metal, simple, no trend no skills, with slow parts and punkish
parts. I think we're influenced by the classic bands fom late 80's to mid 90's,
let's name Autopsy, Obituary, Celtic Frost, Repulsion, Slayer, Pungent Stench,
Bolt Thrower... Also nowadays bands like Blood Incantation, Dead Void, Spectral
Voice, Corpsessed, Encoffination... About the doom genre I like early My Dying
Bride, early Paradise Lost, early Candlemass, Cathedral first LP...
Morbid face of
desolation is probably my fave track. It´s perfect, the slow doomy parts and
the classic fast main death metal riff, what is your fave song or songs on the
demo?
I know
Fran's fave is Mental Lesion, with an unusual drum pattern for us at the
beginning of the track, Regis likes Magnificent Putridity and Voices of
Pandemia. Mine is Order from Malevolence, the first slow riff is really old, I
got it nearly 25 years ago, and has never been used 'till now, its like
exhuming the riff, so the track has a « true » old school vibe to me.
Tell us about the
simple yet cool old school style cover artwork…
The
artwork has been done by Melloul, a friend of us with whom I used to play in a
punk band called Dëviänce Pörcine, he is a great drummer and an illustrator. We
asked for a Bic pen artwork, with zombies and stuffs, like when he was 16 and
bored at school. We think it suits the music very well : ugly, simple and
effective.
Besides the modern
digital format there is a limited edition on tape, quite limited though, what
can you tell about this edition?
It's a
C20 grey tape, dubbed at home, in a black sprayed cardboard case with insert,
it has 6 tracks, and is limited to 30. Black/white artwork and insert.
What can you tell
about your lyrics, with cool classic old school song titles like magnificent
putridity, mental lesion and morbid face of desolation, is there an overall
theme to the songs on the album? Where do you draw your inspiration?
No
overall themes, just cool titles that suits the music well.
Will the new songs change
from now on? Are you willing to try different things regarding sound and
structures?
Maybe we'll put more German
thrash in it, as we also love fast parts and evil sounding riffs.
What does bands
like Massacra, Mutilated and Loudblast mean for you guys?
Pionners who never get the
recognition they deserve, except for Loudblast. (Massacra is pure Cult! and I love Mutilated demos - specially "Psychodeath Lunatics", pity they didn´t release more stuff - Chris)
What´s your view
about the current French scene? I love Necrowretch´s Satanic slavery, released
last year, would you recommend us more, French bands/releases for us?
Skelethal,
Atavisma, Fall of Seraphs, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Rotten, Grinder Bueno, Angoisse,
Ad Patres...
Who has been the best band you ever seen live?
The best show was Slayer,
Paris 1991, with the original line-up. Napalm Death in Lievin (fr) 1993 if I'm
correct, with more people on stage than in the pit. Cathedral in Bordeaux 2003
was great too.
What´s the strangest
place and the most shocking place you have been?
I used to work in dynamite
some years ago : I had to prepare explosives to pierce a tunnel. One day
the miners told me if I wanted to go down with them in the tunnel, to see an
explosion. We were hidden maybe 100meters far from the explosives, down under
the Pyrenean moutain, anyway the blast put me on my knees. For a moment it was
defeaning, unbreathable, but still a strong experience.
What can we expect
from Putrefiance in the near future? Do you have new songs completed?
No new songs completed, but some new songs in the work. A lot of rehearsal before our show with Necrot, Lust for Death and Agoisse on september 29th
No new songs completed, but some new songs in the work. A lot of rehearsal before our show with Necrot, Lust for Death and Agoisse on september 29th
Thanks you for
your time, last words are yours...
Thank you
for covering Putrefiance ! Long live the blog !
DEATH...IS JUST THE BEGINNING MMXVIII
"Death...Is Just The Beginning" returns! Yes, if your are an Old School metaller or you were in the scene in late 80s/early 90s then you are very aware of this famous compliation by Nuclear Blast, In fact the first "Death...Is Just The Beginning" was released in 1990.
This time this compilation includes 16 bands re-recording classic tracks, Nuclear Blast bands performing covers of classic songs from other Nuclear Blast artists, demos and rarities of previously releases and unreleased songs.
"Death...Is Just The Beginning MMXVIII" will be released on October 19th. Pre-orders for the different formats available here.
Check out full tracklisting and official trailer below...
Tracklist:
BENEDICTION "Tear Of TheseFucking Wings" (unreleased demo of new song)
KATAKLYSM "The Awakener" (re-recorded)
HYPOCRISY "They Lie" (The Exploited cover)
THE SPIRIT "Illuminte The Night Sky"
MEMORIAM "The War Rages On" (demo)
INSIDIOUS DISEASE "Soul Excavation" (unreleased new song)
POSSESSED "Abandoned" (unreleased demo of new song)
THY ART IS MURDER "The Son Of Misery"
IMMOLATION "Morbid Visions" (feat. Max Cavlera) (Sepultura cover)
NAILED TO OBSCURITY "King Delusion" (unreleased new song)
BLEEDING GODS "Beloved By Artemis"
DECAPITATED "Sane" (Meshuggah cover)
AENIMUS "Before The Eons" (unreleased new song)
PARADISE LOST "Frozen Illusion" (previously released Japanese only b-side)
CARCASS "A Wrait In The Aparatus"
BRUJERIA "Viva Presidente Trump" (previously only available digitally and on vinyl)
24 August 2018
UNLEASHED To Release "The Hunt For White Christ"
Napalm Records announce the release of UNLEASHED´s 13th full length "The Hunt For White Christ". The album will be out on October 26.
The press info includes the following words from Johnny Hedlund about the album:
"On our way towards the bands 30th anniversary in 2019, come the release of our 13th full length album, The Hunt for White Christ". The band is very much looking forward to meeting our warriors all ove the world on tours and festivals to hear your comments on the new album. And make no mistake, Odalheim will be ours! Let the hunt begin!"
Pre-order available here.
23 August 2018
INTERVIEW with CHEVALIER
CHEVALIER is a great band from Finland that burst onto the scene in
2016. They have recently released their second EP showing that their medieval
aura and their obscure sound of old school heavy metal seem to be unstoppable.
Tommi (guitars) and Emma (vocals) answered the following questions. Ride with the Chevalier…
Tell about the
beginning of the band, how did all the members met? What led you to form a band
to play this kind of music?
Tommi: The idea had been around for some years but the wheels finally started turning when I moved to Helsinki in the autumn of 2015 and started talking to potential members to join a band I had a clear vision for.
Tommi: The idea had been around for some years but the wheels finally started turning when I moved to Helsinki in the autumn of 2015 and started talking to potential members to join a band I had a clear vision for.
How were the first rehearsals,
was it easy to find the style and the sound? Did all the pieces connect
easily?
Since most of A Call to Arms was already written when we started rehearsing, the sound and style was pretty much already there, we just started playing the songs and it all came together quite naturally.
Since most of A Call to Arms was already written when we started rehearsing, the sound and style was pretty much already there, we just started playing the songs and it all came together quite naturally.
Classic heavy metal
seems to be your obvious influence, which bands influenced you? Do you have
other influences besides heavy metal?
In the beginning the basis for the sound was a combination of French
heavy/speed metal and US power metal, most of all ADX and Omen, but the
influence turned more into the way of thinking and coming up with something
original rather than copying a certain band or sound. For example the more
complex song structures evident on the latest demo Chapitre II were influenced
by Mercyful Fate and Hell (UK) without trying to sound exactly like either of
those bands but their way of building up massive songs, and several other
unique acts which strived for their own path despite not getting big with that
decision inspired us to forge something of our own regardless of the huge
demand for easy-listening retro garbage out there. One big problem with this
kind of revival sound and style is that it’s always limited to a certain era by
the artists who try hard to recreate that specific magic, whereas I think that
doing music after several decades of different styles already inside the metal
world allows one to combine different influences and come up with something
more original, rather than trying to sound like it’s 1984 again, for example. I
have been into black metal longer than into traditional heavy metal so I think
it shows here and there in Chevalier and gives the sound some kind of a unique
twist.
Who came up with the
band´s name? Was there any concept in mind on which the sound and image of the
band was based?
I had the English version of the name Cavalier already in plans several years ago but the strong influence from the French bands made me choose the French version of the name and I’m glad I did. The name, sound and image all fit the concept of our medieval speed metal.
I had the English version of the name Cavalier already in plans several years ago but the strong influence from the French bands made me choose the French version of the name and I’m glad I did. The name, sound and image all fit the concept of our medieval speed metal.
Where do you draw the inspiration from for the
lyrics? Do you have any non-musical influences, like
literature, movies or other forms of art?
Emma: I look for song themes in my own experiences, that way I can better portray the story and empathize to what I sing. I take what I know and feel and veil it to fit in with the desirable scenery. There is no point in scribbling cool heavy metal words one after another especially if there is nothing to say, or just copying old stories without understanding them. Looking, reading and listening to all kinds of stuff and just observing life in general inspires me. It all get’s crammed into ones head and then hopefully starts popping up at the right moment.
Tommi: For me influence might come from other sources but mostly unconsciously, and I always write the music first and then think what the song should be about. As hinted by Emma, the main point is always to have some sort of message and/or a story in the lyrics with something worthwhile of your own to say, some typical “evil” nonsense lyrics have been so overdone by now that they have completely lost the effect and wouldn’t fit our sound anyways.
Emma: I look for song themes in my own experiences, that way I can better portray the story and empathize to what I sing. I take what I know and feel and veil it to fit in with the desirable scenery. There is no point in scribbling cool heavy metal words one after another especially if there is nothing to say, or just copying old stories without understanding them. Looking, reading and listening to all kinds of stuff and just observing life in general inspires me. It all get’s crammed into ones head and then hopefully starts popping up at the right moment.
Tommi: For me influence might come from other sources but mostly unconsciously, and I always write the music first and then think what the song should be about. As hinted by Emma, the main point is always to have some sort of message and/or a story in the lyrics with something worthwhile of your own to say, some typical “evil” nonsense lyrics have been so overdone by now that they have completely lost the effect and wouldn’t fit our sound anyways.
Your debut recording
was “A Call to Arms”, which was a very impressive debut, though it was recorded
at your rehearsal place, what can you tell about the recording session?
We rehearsed the songs to a point that we felt ready to record them, set up a couple of microphones in the rehearsal room, hit the record button and played them live, excluding vocals and solos. The result was satisfying and we did the same for other releases as well to keep it sounding natural and at times almost chaotic.
We rehearsed the songs to a point that we felt ready to record them, set up a couple of microphones in the rehearsal room, hit the record button and played them live, excluding vocals and solos. The result was satisfying and we did the same for other releases as well to keep it sounding natural and at times almost chaotic.
The songs and the
sound are quite good, and I think it had a good response in the scene, what was
your impression about it after it was released?
We were satisfied and humbled by the good feedback, but personally I always think of stuff that could be done better and concentrate on the new songs and new releases when the previous one is out. It has its own charm and sounds like what I set out to do at the beginning but the vision has grown ever since.
We were satisfied and humbled by the good feedback, but personally I always think of stuff that could be done better and concentrate on the new songs and new releases when the previous one is out. It has its own charm and sounds like what I set out to do at the beginning but the vision has grown ever since.
The EP was
released also on a nice and limited vinyl edition (if I’m not wrong is already sold
out), it has a different and cool cover artwork, give us more details about it.
Will “Chapitre II” have a vinyl release too?
It’s sold out from the label Gates of Hell Records but still widely available from other sources I think, the permit to use an artwork that fits the lyrics perfectly we got from a local art museum and we wanted to have something else for the CD and vinyl since the cover art I drew for the tape release myself was just meant to fit a cassette. Chapitre II is also coming out on vinyl from Gates of Hell in September, with an exclusive bonus track which is a cover of Brocas Helm’s Fly High from the album Black Death, which in fact has been the biggest influence on the desired production of Chevalier’s music.
It’s sold out from the label Gates of Hell Records but still widely available from other sources I think, the permit to use an artwork that fits the lyrics perfectly we got from a local art museum and we wanted to have something else for the CD and vinyl since the cover art I drew for the tape release myself was just meant to fit a cassette. Chapitre II is also coming out on vinyl from Gates of Hell in September, with an exclusive bonus track which is a cover of Brocas Helm’s Fly High from the album Black Death, which in fact has been the biggest influence on the desired production of Chevalier’s music.
“A Call…” was recorded
during the winter of 2016/2017, and then you recorded the songs of “Chapitre
II” in December 2017. How do you see the evolution of the band during that
period?
I think we got a lot tighter, playing a few of our first gigs between those two releases helped a lot with that. The song structures became a bit more complex after getting some experience on how to do it, and as I mentioned earlier, the vision of Chevalier’s sound evolved a bit after the debut release.
I think we got a lot tighter, playing a few of our first gigs between those two releases helped a lot with that. The song structures became a bit more complex after getting some experience on how to do it, and as I mentioned earlier, the vision of Chevalier’s sound evolved a bit after the debut release.
This time the band
sounds heavier and tighter, how was the recording session? Did all the band members
have studio experience?
Not all of us did, but like mentioned, Chapitre II was also recorded live in our rehearsal room over a couple of days.
Not all of us did, but like mentioned, Chapitre II was also recorded live in our rehearsal room over a couple of days.
I would like to ask
Emma about her powerful vocal style, which female and/or male voices have
inspired you to sing this way?
Emma: My all time favorite singers must be Rob Halford and Janis Joplin. They just get it to you! They have skills combined to soul! There are so many brilliant singers with very different voices and within countless genres that I admire, that it gets my head mixed up. I try to remember what I liked about each singer and why and then make my own cocktail! I also try not to overthink… that kind of kills the whole thing. I aim to learn strong technique to be able to easily reach the note and color of voice that I want and then just throw myself to the music.
Emma: My all time favorite singers must be Rob Halford and Janis Joplin. They just get it to you! They have skills combined to soul! There are so many brilliant singers with very different voices and within countless genres that I admire, that it gets my head mixed up. I try to remember what I liked about each singer and why and then make my own cocktail! I also try not to overthink… that kind of kills the whole thing. I aim to learn strong technique to be able to easily reach the note and color of voice that I want and then just throw myself to the music.
Before the release
of “Chapitre II” you released a split with Legionnaire, another Finnish heavy
metal band. Please give us more details about the split 7”, and please tell us
about the heavy metal scene in Finland among many successful black and death metal
bands…
We decided to record a split 7” together since both bands share some influences and mentality regarding heavy metal, there’s not too much music like this being made in Finland even though in the recent couple of years some more bands have turned up. There’s not much to be said about the heavy metal scene here, black and death metal are still way bigger things, but fortunately we have a solid group of people to have traditional metal gigs happening as well.
We decided to record a split 7” together since both bands share some influences and mentality regarding heavy metal, there’s not too much music like this being made in Finland even though in the recent couple of years some more bands have turned up. There’s not much to be said about the heavy metal scene here, black and death metal are still way bigger things, but fortunately we have a solid group of people to have traditional metal gigs happening as well.
What can you tell
about your shows,
what has been the best show you have done so far? Which whit bands did
you share stage?
I think we played our best show in Deinze, Belgium in May in the middle of our minitour. Due to some problems with the car we arrived at the venue quite late and all seemed very chaotic until we hit the stage, the place was packed and the audience was very much into it, huge contrast to most shows we’ve played in Finland. Our latest gig was warming up for Manilla Road in Helsinki which was a huge honour and unfortunately the last time when that will happen.
I think we played our best show in Deinze, Belgium in May in the middle of our minitour. Due to some problems with the car we arrived at the venue quite late and all seemed very chaotic until we hit the stage, the place was packed and the audience was very much into it, huge contrast to most shows we’ve played in Finland. Our latest gig was warming up for Manilla Road in Helsinki which was a huge honour and unfortunately the last time when that will happen.
What´s your opinion
about Judas Priest´s Firepower? What records have been spinning a lot at your
home lately?
Firepower is in my opinion the best Priest album they’ve released since
Painkiller! Sure, it’s nothing groundbreaking or phenomenal like Stained Class
etc., but damn enjoyable as well as memorable, same can’t be said about many
other new albums by the old titans of metal. For obvious reasons Manilla Road
records have been on heavy rotation lately, especially Out of the Abyss which
is a real hidden gem in their vast discography, and also a lot of Katharsis and
Negative Plane now that the autumn is kicking in.
Which albums impressed
you lately?
The album is not out yet but after hearing 3 tracks live last weekend from the upcoming Nocturnus AD debut, I am already impressed by the stuff they’ve come up with as a continuation for the monumental classic The Key. A few fairly recent highlights have been the new albums from Solstice, Vomitor, Master’s Hammer and Malokarpatan.
The album is not out yet but after hearing 3 tracks live last weekend from the upcoming Nocturnus AD debut, I am already impressed by the stuff they’ve come up with as a continuation for the monumental classic The Key. A few fairly recent highlights have been the new albums from Solstice, Vomitor, Master’s Hammer and Malokarpatan.
What´s the strangest
place and the most shocking place you have been?
Inside my head… Well one of the strangest sensations was the first time I
visited the Sedlec Ossuary in Czech Republic and got to stare an endless amount
of human skulls in their empty eye sockets from a close distance, it was an
almost magical experience until a flock of Japanese tourists stormed in.
Are you planning to
release the debut full length soon? Did you have contacts with labels to
release it?
We are going to record it later this year and Gates of Hell Records will release it hopefully during the first quarter of 2019.
We are going to record it later this year and Gates of Hell Records will release it hopefully during the first quarter of 2019.
Do you have songs
ready? Can you advance some song titles?
Everything for the album has been written, most songs already ages ago but we want to spend enough time to let them shape up properly before recording, expect some energetic but dark epic speed metal by titles like The Immurement, In the Grip of Night or A Warrior’s Lament…
Everything for the album has been written, most songs already ages ago but we want to spend enough time to let them shape up properly before recording, expect some energetic but dark epic speed metal by titles like The Immurement, In the Grip of Night or A Warrior’s Lament…
Thanks you for
your time, last words are yours...
Thanks for the interview, heed the call to arms!
Thanks for the interview, heed the call to arms!
22 August 2018
SOUNDS FROM THE DARK PAST...
DEMOLITION HAMMER
"Skull Fracturing Nightmare"
Epidemic Of Violence
1992 Century Media
20 August 2018
SOUNDS FROM THE DARK PAST...
DEATH
"Beyond The Unholy Grave"
Scream Bloody Gore (Reissue)
1987 Combat Records
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