Archive for May, 2013

Norwegian Black Metallers ENDEZZMA are set to headline the Erotik Nekrosis Mini Tour at the beginning of June, with dates lined up in Germany and the Netherlands.  Also on the tour will be Germany’s  KRATER and TOTAL HATE.   Dates for the Erotik Nekrosis Mini Tour, named after the band’s latest release, as follows:

6  June – The Raven, Straubing, Germany
7  June – The Jack, Eindhoven ,  Netherlands
8  June – J.C. de Dukdalf,  Schi Wieringerwerf, Netherlands
9  June – Cafe Mukkes, Leeuwarden,  Netherlands

“Erotik Nekrosis”, ENDEZZMA’s first full-length album, and a follow up to 2007’s “Alone” MCD,  was released on Agonia Records in Europe  at the end of last year and hit the streets in the USA in February of this year following a series of delays and the death of guitarist Trondr Nefas, making this the last new release he would ever record.  Very much a showcase of ENDEZZMA’s trademark sound, with its cold atmosphere and eerie seductive compositions, “Erotik Nekrosis” boasts a  lineup on the album that includes musicians from some of Norway’s iconic bands, with founder and frontman Morten Shax on vocals, the late Trondr Nefas (URGEHAL, BEASTCRAFT, VULTURE LORD) and Thomas Myrvold (VULTURE LORD) on guitars, Sregroth (URGEHAL, ÅSMEGIN) on bass,  Jarle Uruz Byberg  (URGEHAL, ex SHINING) on drums and  L.F.Frøislie (WOBBLER, IN LINGUA MORTUA) on synth.

The band’s recently debuted first official video “Junkyard Oblivion”, is dedicated to ENDEZZMA guitarist and URGEHAL frontman Trondr Nefas. The video “Junkyard Oblivion”, which is the opening track from “Erotik Nekrosis”, can be seen below or on the band’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/NZtQ9xPZF5U

More information about ENDEZZMA can be found at http://www.facebook.com/endezzma

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/endezzma
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/endezzma-official
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/endezzma
Band Contact & Booking: endezzma@online.no
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/
Agonia Records: promotion@agoniarecords.com
http://agoniarecords.com/

CARPATHIAN FOREST frontman Nattefrost is one more in the long line of Scandinavian Black Metal musicians who have been unable to gain entry into the United States due to the labyrinthine and draconian immigration laws that have so often denied US fans the opportunity to see their favourite European bands.  Despite this setback, CARPATHIAN FOREST, whose remaining four members had been granted visas, was still aiming to appear at the Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore on the 26th May as scheduled, but as a four-piece, with guitarist BloodPervertor taking on vocals.  Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, the embassy was not able to return drummer Kobro’s passport in time for the band to leave, and CARPATHIAN FOREST has therefore been forced to pull out of the festival completely.  However, three members – guitarists Tchort and BloodPervertor and bassist Vrangsinn will attend and will be available to talk to fans.

It is only under very exceptional circumstances that CARPATHIAN FOREST play without Nattefrost, the only other occasion having been when BloodPervertor stepped in to cover vocals on a handful of dates during the No Mercy Tour in 2004 when Nattefrost broke his collar bone.   Commenting on the original decision to go ahead despite the absence of the band’s iconic frontman and then still being forced to cancel, guitarist Tchort  had this to say: “When we decided to make the trip without Nattefrost, we knew that many  fans would be disappointed, but at the same time we didn’t want to let down the organisers who have been so supportive throughout the whole visa process, and have done everything they could possibly to do to try and make it happen.  We were also very aware that CARPATHIAN FOREST has many fans in the United States who have waited a long, long time to see the band live, and, given the circumstances, there is always the possibility that Nattefrost may never be granted a visa, so this might have been the only opportunity our US fans will have to see us on stage, albeit minus one member.  To then have to pull out completely because of whatever delays occurred even though Kobro’s visa was granted, was a big disappointment for everyone”.

CARPATHIAN FOREST recently returned to the scene after a period of stasis, and will spend most of 2013 playing a series of one-off shows and festivals while they prepare to record the long-awaited follow up to 2006’s “Fuck You All!!!!”  More information about the band can be found on the Official CARPATHIAN FOREST Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/carpathianforest

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carpathianforest
MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/blackshiningleather
Management: https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/
Contact: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
European Booking: mark@mythology-live.com

Ukrainian Black Metallers BALFOR are streaming pre-production versions of two tracks as a demo of what is to come on the band’s sophomore full-length album.  “Heralds of the Fall” and “Wolfbreed” were recorded  in November 2012 at the Blacklight Studio, Ukraine, with long-time BALFOR producer Dmitry “Yrt Glormkhaoth” Shulgin (VERMIS MYSTERIIS) recording the bass guitars, whilst the band’s former guitarist Alexander “Agnarr” Takhmazov (CONQUEST) recorded lead guitars.  Keyboards are by Ivan Popov (AFTERMOON, INFERNO).   It is expected that BALFOR will enter the studio to record the full album in the autumn of this year.   The two tracks can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud page at http://soundcloud.com/balfor

Having recently announced a lineup change that saw all the former members aside from founder and frontman Thorgeir leave the band, BALFOR is set to play its first show with the new lineup of Thorgeir on vocals and guitars, Warider on guitars and backing vocals, Athamas (DEFERUM SACRUM and RAVENTALE) on bass and vocals and Khaoth (KHORS) on drums, on the 23rd June at the Kilkim Zaibu Festival in Lithuania along with bands like DESTRUCTION, TURISAS, EINHERJER and SOLSTAFIR.  BALFOR will play a one hour set which will include old and new songs.

More information about BALFOR can be found on the band’s website at http://balfor.info/

Fan-filmed footage of BALFOR performing “In the Thunder of Ancient Glory” from the “Barbaric Blood” album live at the Metal Head’s Mission Festival in 2011 can be seen below or at http://youtu.be/yTN8U5ukYOk

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Website: http://balfor.info/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balforofficial
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/balforhorde
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/balfor
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/balforhorde
Band Contact: balforhorde@gmail.com
PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

 

Norwegian black Metallers GRAVDAL announced today that they are parting company with guitarist Specter.  The parting is completely amicable, with Specter deciding that he needs to commit more time to other projects, something that GRAVDAL both supports and understands.  Commenting on the split, guitarist Phobos said:  “It was a big decision to have to take since Specter has been with us for seven years, and he has been instrumental in shaping GRAVDAL’s music into what it is today.  But the music business has always been very fluid, and although we will miss him both as a musician and as a person, we fully support his decision and would like to thank him for his massive contribution to GRAVDAL, as well as for all the good times, and we wish him well for the future”.

Things on the GRAVDAL front have been somewhat quiet since the release of the band’s sophomore full-length album “Torturmantra” in 2010, due in part to Phobos’ recording commitments with AETERNUS, for whom he is found in his more usual role behind the drumkit, as well as with GALAR.  But the band have now started working on the follow up to “Torturmantra”, which featured a show-stopping guest performance by SHINING’s Niklas Kvarforth on the track “Mishandlet”.  According to Phobos, “We are ready to reveal that the album will be called “Kadaverin” but more than that we can’t say at the moment.  With our second album we took a huge step forward, expanding the range of the band considerably so rest assured that with “Kadaverin” we will be taking things even further”.

GRAVDAL was formed in 2005 by Phobos and drummer Taakesjel (BIZARREKULT).  With their music firmly rooted in Bergen’s legendary Black Metal scene, the duo started out with the idea of remaining a studio band, and recruited vocalist Galge to record and release the “Massegrav” demo in 2005.  Following the release of the demo it became clear to the members that they wanted more from the band, and with the arrival of Specter, and then-bassist Daud, GRAVDAL became a fully active band, releasing their debut album “Sadist”, which was mixed and mastered by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen,  in 2008 and playing a series of tours and festivals.  It was the release of “Torturmantra”, once again helmed by Herbrand Larsen and co-produced by VULTURE INDUSTRIES’ Bjornar Nilsen and ENSLAVED’s Arve Isdal, which really confirmed GRAVDAL’s ability to innovate and experiment, whilst still remaining true to their Black Metal roots.

More information about GRAVDAL can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/gravdalofficial

Footage of GRAVDAL performing the track “Selvmord” from the album “Sadist” can be seen below or at http://youtu.be/7ZqeDXb_9sg

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.myspace.com/gravdalofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/gravdal
Official Store: http://gravdal.bigcartel.com/
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/taakesjel
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gravdal
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/gravdal
Band Contact and Booking: info@gravdalsadist.com
Management and Booking: email: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

 

FROSTWORK, the Ambient Black Metal solo project of vocalist Dagon (HEATHEN DEITY, THORNLAND) has signed with UKEM Records for the release of a split album with the label’s other new signing CRUELTY’s HEART.  The album is slated for release in early 2014.

A founding member of HEATHEN DEITY, one of the UK’s longest serving Black Metal bands, frontman Dagon started working on FROSTWORK in 2007, seeing it as a way to give voice to his own visions and ideas which did not necessarily fit in with the Old School Black Metal style of HEATHEN DEITY.  With the release of 2008’s “The Rites of Winter: The First Storm” demo, it was clear right from the start that FROSTWORK would take the coldness and misanthropy of Black Metal, and combine it with themes from nature and folklore to create a sound that epitomised both the beauty and the harsh reality that nature can sometimes manifest.   The release of the  debut full-length album ‘Lore of Winter – Ealdspell’ in November 2012 on Ƿodfreca Soncræftas (Wodfreca Records) confirmed that FROSTWORK was much more than a side project, and that Dagon was fully committed to developing his solo work much further.

Currently working on the next FROSTWORK album in his home studio in Derbyshire, England, Dagon had this to say about both the album and his upcoming collaboration with UKEM Records: “I’m more than happy to be working with UKEM Records, which, in my opinion, has become one of the UK’s best independent extreme music labels.   As soon as the work on the next FROSTORK album is completed, I will start writing for the split with CRUELTY’s HEART and I already have some ideas about the sound I want to aim for.  As far as FROSTWORK’s new album itself is concerned I will be building up from where I left off with “Lore of Winter – Ealdspell”.  I’m very satisfied with the way FROSTWORK’s sound has developed and grown, and will continue to grow, but you can be sure that at its heart there will always be that cold, bleak, uncompromising, raw atmospheric English Black Metal”.

More information about FROSTWORK can be found on the band’s Official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/frostworkofficial

Eight tracks from FROSTWORK, including the complete 2008 demo “The Rites of Winter: The First Storm” and “Dunkleheit” the BURZUM cover that appeared on 2012’s “Forsvunnet Filosofem – A Tribute to Burzum” can be heard on the player above and on the band’s SoundCloud page at  http://soundcloud.com/frostwork/sets/frostwork

The official video for the track “Cast from his Wings” from FROSTWORK’s 2012 album “Lore of Winter – Ealdspell” can be seen below and at http://youtu.be/hvheoK4QrMI

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/frostworkofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/frostwork
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FROSTWORKuk/videos
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/frostworkuk
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/frostwork
Band Contact:  frostwork_uk@yahoo.co.uk
Management & PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
UKEM Records: http://www.ukemrecords.co.uk/

Seven years after the release of “The Uncreation”, Black Metal’s WRITTEN IN TORMENT returns with its debut full-length album “Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes” which sees its release on the UK label Glorious North Productions on the 14th May.  The ten-track album was recorded, mixed and mastered by BAL SAGOTH’s Jonny Maudling at his Wayland’s Forge Studios.  Maudling also performs session keyboards on the album.  “Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes” is released in CD version with a twelve page booklet, and is also available for digital download in various formats, including high quality MP3 and FLAC.  The entire album is streaming on BandCamp and can be heard at http://gloriousnorth.bandcamp.com/album/bellum-omnium-contra-omnes

Track listing for “Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes” as follows:

1)  Earth Decimated
2)  Eternities of Suffering Endured
3)  Beast of the Depth
4)  Descent into Total Madness
5)  O’ Fortuna
6)  Grief
7)  Solitude
8)  Behold the Trinity Maimed and Rotten
9)  A Pig Hung in Golgotha
10) Necessary Evil

Formed in the UK as a solo project by Leviathan, WRITTEN IN TORMENT gave him the opportunity to write and perform his own musical vision, as opposed to having to follow the dictates of the various bands for whom he had been a drummer.  A self-taught guitarist, Leviathan drew his initial inspiration from bands such as EMPEROR, DISSECTION and ABYSSOS, and went on to add influences from classical composers as well as Thrash and other forms of metal. “Whilst I do have external influences, which musician doesn’t,” says Leviathan, “my compositions are all very much about what I am feeling at the time I am writing them, so each piece always has its own identity and feel to it. Commenting on the new album, the multi-instrumentalist, who performs all vocals, guitars, bass and drum parts, says: “Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes”, which translated from the original Latin means “The War of All Against All” focuses heavily on the subject of warfare throughout the ages, something I am particularly interested in.   It’s a cataclysmic soundtrack to the art of war from the Crusades through to nuclear attack, as well as an exploration of human suffering and a nod in the direction of biblical mockery”.

More information about WRITTEN IN TORMENT can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/writtenintormentofficial

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
BandCamp:  http://gloriousnorth.bandcamp.com/album/bellum-omnium-contra-omnes
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/writtenintormentofficial
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/writtenintorment
Band contact: writtenintorment@live.co.uk
Glorious North Productions: www.gloriousnorth.co.uk
Label contact: gloriousnorth@hotmail.co.uk
Management & PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

Ukrainian Black Metallers BALFOR have announced a line up change that sees virtually the whole band depart, with only frontman and guitarist Thorgeir remaining.  Commenting on the reason for such a drastic change, Thorgeir said: “We parted ways for a variety of reasons and we hadn’t actually worked together for a very long time. This decision was not an easy one, but it was a necessary one that took into account the needs and interests of all the band members, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the guys for all this time we worked together, it was a great experience! But sometimes a change is necessary if you want to move forward”

With work having begun on the sophomore full-length album, BALFOR’s new line up, which consists of Thorgeir on vocals and guitars, Warider on guitars and backing vocals, Athamas on bass and vocals and Khaoth on drums, marks a new stage in the band’s development, one that Thorgeir is very positive  about. “We have been rehearsing together since the beginning of the year, and I am now very sure that the new line up works just as well, if not better, than the previous incarnation of BALFOR, because new blood has brought a fresh perspective to the band’s music and a lot of enthusiasm.  Warider, the new guitarist, is quite young, but hugely promising, whilst Khaoth has honed his considerable drumming skills with Dark Metallers KHORS.  Athamas brings with him not only the experience he has gained with bands like DEFERUM SACRUM and RAVENTALE, but he is also a great vocalist, which is able to give an additional perspective to the BALFOR sound”.

Formed in November 1997 as a side project by Thorgeir and then-guitarist Svart, BALFOR set out to play fast, but melodic, Black Metal and released the “Volki Severa” MCD, in 2002.  Encouraged by the response to the release, Thorgeir decided to concentrate all his energies on BALFOR, and developed the band’s style further; creating what he terms “Barbaric Black Metal” in tribute to the history of BALFOR’s homeland.

BALFOR’s four-track “Pure Barbaric” EP was released for free download via a net label in 2006, a calculated risk that was successful in bringing the band to the attention of a wider audience. With Thorgeir able to switch from aggressive black, to soaring melodic clean vocals with consummate ease, BALFOR’s effortless ability to cross the melodic/black/death/extreme metal genres drew the attention of Pulverised Records, who released the band’s debut full-length album “Barbaric Blood” in 2010.

More information about BALFOR can be found on the band’s page at http://balfor.info/

Fan-filmed footage of BALFOR performing “In the Thunder of Ancient Glory” from the “Barbaric Blood” album live at the Metal Head’s Mission Festival in 2011 can be seen below or  at http://youtu.be/yTN8U5ukYOk

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Website: http://balfor.info/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balforofficial
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/balforhorde
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/balfor
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/balforhorde
Band Contact: balforhorde@gmail.com
PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com

 

 

SLEGEST, the solo project of former VREID guitarist Ese, has inked a deal with Dark Essence Records for the release of the band’s debut full length album.  No release date has yet been set, but it is anticipated that the album will appear world-wide towards the end of 2013.

Formed in 2010, it was the intention of Ese to create Black Sabbath inspired music with harsh vocals.  An idea he took further, developing SLEGEST into the entity it is today with its rock-orientated sound distinguished by a distinctive Black Metal edge.  SLEGEST’s first release was the self-titled 2012 EP, which appeared as both a digital release and as a 7” vinyl on Ese’s own label Systrond Recordings.   Work on writing new material for the as yet untitled debut full-length album began in 2012, and the drum tracks have already been laid down at the Conclave and Earshot Studios in Bergen, Norway.

Whilst many maintain that solo projects can be limiting, Ese sees things very differently. As SLEGEST’s man (and only) man explains:  “When you have to play every instrument yourself it does impose certain limitations on what you can, and cannot, do.  But I have always had a very definite vision as to how I want SLEGEST to sound, and these limitations are very positive for the fulfilment of that vision”.

More information about SLEGEST can be found at http://www.slegest.no/

Five tracks from SLEGEST can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud player above or at http://soundcloud.com/slegest/sets/slegest-slegest-ep

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Slegest Contact:  slegest@slegest.no
Slegest Website: http://www.slegest.no/
Slegest Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slegest
Slegest SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/slegest

Italo-Norwegian Hard-Industrial-Electro Extreme Metallers ABORYM have released a series of stills taken during the filming of the band’s new video for the title track of their upcoming album “Dirty”.  Directed by Alberto Falcone the video, which is currently being edited,  will feature all three band members as well as actors, and, according to frontman and founder Fabban, the title of the track pretty much sums up the subject matter of the video.  The photo stills from the video can be seen on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/aborymofficial

Formed in 1992 by frontman Fabban, ABORYM started life as a covers band and went through several transformations, eventually pioneering what the band calls Hard-Industrial-Electro Extreme Metal.  Today’s line up consists of Italians Fabban on vocals, bass and Synths and Paolo Pieri (HOUR OF PENANCE) on guitars, keyboards and programming, together with Norway’s Bard “Faust” Eithun (BLOOD TSUNAMI, MONGO NINJA, ex EMPEROR) on drums.

The double album, “Dirty”, is the 6th full-length album ABORYM, and is set for release on Agonia Records on the 28th May in Europe and the 11th June in the USA/North America in digipak, jewel case and gatefold double LP formats.  The first CD will feature completely new material, whilst the second CD will include two completely re-arranged and re-recorded tracks from previous albums, covers of tracks by IRON MAIDEN, PINK FLOYD and NINE INCH NAILS, as well as a previously unreleased track which has been written by Alberto Penzin (CO2, ex Schizo) and is performed by both established musicians as well as several fans and spliced together from all the different sources.

More information about ABORYM can be found on the band’s website at www.aborym.it

Six tracks from ABORYM, including two tracks from “Dirty” can be heard on the band’s SoundCloud player above and at http://soundcloud.com/aborymofficial/sets/aborym

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Official site: www.aborym.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aborymofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aborym1992
SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/aborymofficial/
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/aborym
Myspace: www.myspace.com/aborym666
Band email: info.aborym@gmail.com
Booking: www.theflamingarts.eu
Management & PR: Patricia Thomas Management https://patriciathomasmanagement.com/
email: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Agonia Records: http://agoniarecords.com/
email: promotion@agoniarecords.com

Extreme Pagan Metallers FORTID have begun work on what will be the band’s fifth full-length album.  Recording is set to take place in the early summer, and, whilst not wanting to give too much away, the band have revealed that all the lyrics for the album will be in Icelandic and that they already have a lot of material, more so than for previous albums.  The as yet untitled album will be the follow up to 2012’s much lauded “Pagan Prophecies”.

Formed in Iceland in 2002 by Einar Thorberg as a solo project, FORTID’s reputation was firmly established following the release of three full-length albums. Collectively known as the Völuspá Trilogy, the three albums, “Thor’s Anger”, “The Arrival of Fenris” and “Fall of the Ages”, were released between 2002 and 2010. Between the release of the second and third parts of the Trilogy, Thorberg moved to Norway where he recruited a permanent line up and FORTID became a fully functioning studio and live band.   Aside from Thorberg on guitars and vocals FORTID’s current lineup includes Øystein Hansen (ex THORNBOUND) on guitars, Rikard Jonsson (FORSEFED HORSEHEAD, ex DEJECT) on bass and Daniel Theobald (CURSE, DEN SAAKALDTE, ETHERIAL FOREST, SARKOM) on drums.

FORTID is set to play the remaining three dates of the NORTHERN CHAOS TOUR in May along with Sweden’s GRÁ and Finland’s ANTAGONIST ZERO.  Dates as follows:

Thu 09 May, PRKL Club, Helsinki, Finland
FRI 10 May, Taidetehdas, Porvoo, Finland
Sat 11 May, Club Tapper, Tallinn, Estonia

More information about FORTID can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fortid

Live footage of the FORTID playing the track “Ragnarök Army from the East” from the album “Völuspá Part III Fall of the Ages” can be seen below or on the band’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/T_7TByVWx0o

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortid
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FortidNorway
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fortid
Web Shop: http://fortid.bigcartel.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/fortidofficial
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/fortid
Band Contact and Booking: ehrecords@yahoo.com
Management and Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com