Austrian Black Metallers HELLSAW have been confirmed to appear at Wacken 2011, which is scheduled to take place from the 5th to the 7th August. As soon as we have confirmed timings we will announce them.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hellsawofficial
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/hellsawmusic
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/hellsaw
Following the release in November of “Åsgards Fall”, Norwegian Viking Metallers HELHEIM have released a video for a track taken from the MCD. “Dualitet og Ulver”, which features a guest appearance by TAAKE’s Hoest, both on the track itself and on the video, was filmed in the mountains surrounding the band’s home town of Bergen. The video can be seen on HELHEIM’s YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_fw_nsSHeA
Always a band that celebrates and respects its ancient Nordic heritage, HELHEIM has taken the story of two wolves, Hati and Skoll, for “Dualitet og Ulver”, which translated means “Duality and Wolves”. Legend has it that the two wolves tried swallow the sun and the moon, and the song uses this imagery to illustrate that there can be no light without darkness and no day without night. If either is destroyed, be it by natural catastrophe, or human actions, only primordial chaos will remain. Both are hanging by a fragile thread that can easily be torn apart by the wolf, which is one of earth’s natural predators. The duality of light and darkness must therefore be preserved and balanced not only by nature, but also my humans.
The six-track “Åsgards Fall” MCD, which was released on Dark Essence Records, contains two epic new tracks, written especially for this release, as well as a new recording of the HELLHEIM classic “Jernskogen”, originally found on the “Blod & Ild” album. “Dualitet og Ulver” itself is the video-mix of the track that will appear on the band’s forthcoming full-length release “Heiðenðomr ok Motgangr”, due out at the beginning of 2011. Recorded at the Conclave and Earshot studios in Bergen, “Åsgards Fall” was produced by HELHEIM and Bjornar Nilsen (VULTURE INDUSTRIES, BLACK HOLE GENERATOR), and was mastered by Herbrand Larsen (ENSLAVED, AUDREY HORNE).
The next live appearance by HELHEIM will be at the launch of “Heiðenðomr ok Motgangr” at Kvarteret, Bergen. More information about the band can be found on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/helheimnorway
Below you can see the video of HELHEIM’s “Dualitet og Ulver”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Helheim MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/helheimnorway
Helheim Website: http://www.helheim.com
Helheim Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway
Band Contact: helheim@helheim.com
Promo & Additional Info: post@karismarecords.no
Norwegian Extreme Metallers Pantheon I announced today that guitarist AETHYRIS McKAY, who recently quit the Texas-based mythological occult metal band ABSU, will be joining the line up as guitarist. This is a surprise move from the band who recently announced a search for a new vocalist to give front man ANDRE KVEBEK a chance to concentrate more on guitars and leave the vocalist to range free on stage. However, as PANTHEON I’s manager explains “We received a big response from musicians all over Europe and auditioned vocalists of exceptional ability, all of whom we would have been proud to have front the band, however, it quickly became clear that we had overlooked the obvious, which was that KVEBEK’s voice is a defining aspect of PANTHEON I’s music, and that to replace it with someone else would have altered the whole dynamic of the band”.
PANTHEON I and AETHYRIS first met when the band supported ABSU on their European tour at the end of 2009. AETHYRIS joined PANTHEON I on stage for a song during the tour, and forged a strong relationship with the band’s music and the musicians themselves. Commenting on his new role the American guitarist, who has now relocated to Norway, said: “Joining PANTHEON I has been outstanding thus far. I feel as though I fit right in here and I love the passion and conviction that encompasses the material. This is an incredible arrangement of musicians and people that I can’t wait to assault the world with!” Regarding his departure from ABSU, AETHYRIS commented: “There aren’t words enough to say what being a part of ABSU has meant to me. Working with a great friend and talented individual such as PROSCRIPTOR McGOVERN, was an experience only to be described as Magical! The entire cult of ABSU will always hold a special place with me and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
Whilst KVEBEK (ex 1349) will concentrate on vocals on stage and leave the live guitar work to Sagstad (TROLLFEST, SARKOM, METAL MILITIA) and AETHYRIS, he will continue to write for PANTHEON I and will record guitars along with the band’s two guitarists. Other members of the line up include classically trained cellist LIVE JULIANNE COSTOL, TRS (1349, TYRANN) on bass and MADS G (THE ALLSEEING I) on drums. AETHYRIS will also be bringing an additional perspective to PANTHEON I by performing clean vocals both live and in the studio.
PANTHEON I are currently in the pre production stage of their fourth full length album, which will be a follow up to the critically acclaimed “Worlds I Create” and which will include guest appearances from several well known artists from the Extreme metal scene. The band will play two dates in Norway in November, which will mark AETHYRIS’ live debut, and is also due to embark on a tour of Germany in December, along with fellow Norwegians TROLLFEST and the German bands FINSTERFORST and UNLIGHT.
Upcoming live dates as follows:
November – Norway
Thu 25, RockIn Metal Bar, Oslo
Fri 26, Hjornet, Kristiansand
December – Ende Der Zeit Tour, Germany
Fri 17, Klangstation, Bonn
Sat 18, Black Troll Winterfest,Eisenberg
Sun 19, HSK, Cottbus
Mon 20, K17, Berlin
Tue 21, Traincontrol, Freiberg
Wed 22, Schwarzer Adler, Egelsee
More information about PANTHEON I can be found on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/pantheoni
Below you can see the official video for the track “Serpent Christ” from the PANTHEON I album “Worlds I Create”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/pantheoni
Website: http://www.pantheon-i.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pantheoni
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/pantheoni
Band Contact & Booking: pantheon@hotmail.com
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
German Thrash Metallers NECRONOMICON have released a special edition vinyl of the band’s first album on High Roller Records. The self-titled album was first released on CD in 1986, and the vinyl release includes not only the original 8 tracks, but also NECRONOMICON’s 1985 “Blind Destruction” demo and two additional tracks that have appeared on different compilations. The double LP comes in a heavy gatefold cover, embossed with the band logo, and with a cardboard lyric insert. It is limited to 666 copies, with the first 100 copies on gold vinyl and including a free woven patch, while the next 200 are on a silver/black “blend” vinyl, and the remaining 366 copies on black vinyl. Full track listing as follows:
Side 1
1. Dark Land
2. Possessed By Evil
3. Bloody Revenge
4. Insanity
Side 2
5. Blind Destruction
6. Hades Invasion
7. Magic Forest
8. Iron Charm
Side 3
9. Intro / Iron Charm
10. Possessed By Evil
11. Insanity
12. Blind Destruction
Side 4
13. Bloody Revenge
14. Possessed By Evil
15. Blind Destruction
Formed in Southern Germany in 1983 by front man Freddy, and then members Axel and Lala, NECRONOMICON is one of Germany’s longest running Thrash Metal bands, whose founder members started out on the Punk scene, but who developed a love of Thrash Metal and steered the band in a completely new direction. Since then NECRONOMICON has garnered a strong following both in Europe and world-wide. The band is currently in the studio working on their seventh album, which will be a double CD and will include both live tracks and acoustic songs.
More information about NECRONOMICON can be found on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/possessedbythrash
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/possessedbythrash
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/necronomiconofficial
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/necronomicon
Band Contact & Booking: freddy@necronomicon-online.de
Management & Booking: Patricia Thomas Band Management – patriciathomas@btinternet.com
High Roller Records: http://www.hrrecords.de
Info and Promos: info@high-roller-records.de
This has been something of an exceptional year for BLODARV so it’s time for us to look back over what has been happening, and look forward to the future.
You could say that 2010 started out on a low point when our session drummer YNLEBORGAZ was forced to undergo knee surgery in January. Unsure as to whether he would recover fully, or whether his career as a drummer was over, we were very concerned for him on a personal level, and at the same time found ourselves in a state of limbo waiting to see if we still had one of the best drummers around in our ranks. Fortunately, after four months of recuperation, YNLEBORGAZ was able to climb back behind the drum kit, and during June’s rehearsals it was obvious that he was not just 100% fit, but 110%, and that BLODARV would be ready to go back to performing live in 2011.
It may seem to some that BLODARV has been a little less active than usual, but don’t be deceived. The fact that we were unable to play live has given us a chance to work on new material and prepare for some new releases. We have completed work on the tracks that will be used for the “Shadows of Tragedy” split album, which will be released on Self Mutilation Services at the end of this year. More details on that one will follow. Right now we are working on new tracks for the next full length album which we plan to record in the usual BLODARV way, which means that will not be entering the studio for a 14 day stretch to record the whole album in one go. Instead we will be recording throughout the coming year, and so far we have begun to record the guitars for the first four tracks.
Which brings us to our recording studio. BLODARV has built a new studio and rehearsal facility on the island of Bornholm. The HammerArt and Studios, as we’ve named it, gives those of us who live on Bornholm access 24-7 which is a huge advantage, and it is of course open to any bands who would like to record, so if you are interested, please feel free to get in touch. You can find out more information about the facilities, including photos at http://www.myspace.com/hammerartstudios
2010 was also the year when BLODARV signed with professional management when we approached Patricia Thomas, a specialist in Black and Extreme Metal, and she agreed to work with the band. Patricia manages and works with established artists such as former MAYHEM vocalist MANIAC, NIKLAS KVARFORTH and SHINING, CARPATHIAN FOREST, NATTEFROST, DANIEL VRANGSINN, PANTHEON I, as well as some of the most interesting upcoming black and extreme metal bands out there. Patricia will handle all the business and promotional side for BLODARV and get some organisation into our lives.
We’ve now made it easy for fans to buy CDs and merchandise directly from the band by setting up a BLODARV on-line store. At the moment we have CDs, Ts, Patches, Pens and Pins in stock, as well as special packages and items that you will not be able to find elsewhere and we will be happy to sign any merchandise, all you have to do is ask us. You can check out the store at http://www.blodarvshop.bigcartel.com/ . Ordering is very easy, and payment is via PayPal so need to worry about sending cash hidden in envelopes anymore!
We’ve also increased our presence on the internet so that fans can interact with the band more easily. A lot of people seem to prefer Facebook these days so we’ve set up an official page at http://www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial with music and videos, and where you can easily keep up to date with all the news. You can also find us on YouTube, Twitter and ReverbNation, you’ll find all the links at the end.
Throughout the year, interviews and features on BLODARV have appeared both in print and on the internet. The most significant of these is probably the 15 page interview that appears in “SUBKULTUR – Undergrund og Modkultur”, PETER GRØNLUND’s book on Danish Subculture, which was published by the Bogkompagniet on the 2nd October of this year. It was a particularly interesting project to be involved in, and not unnaturally I focus on Satanism and Black Metal.
Individual BLODARV members have also been busy outside of BLODARV. I (Hugin) re-recorded some old SANSÂGER tracks, and am currently talking to various labels about a vinyl release this coming year, whilst bass player HUUL has been working on his own project, and, if all goes as planned, the first album will be recorded in 2011.
To sum it all up, 2010 has been a year that started out with a sense of uncertainty, but which ended with a great deal of progress having been made in all aspects of the BLODARV, and we now look forward to what the future will offer, including new releases and hitting the stage once more. We’re more than ready for it!
Hugin of BLODARV October 2010
BLODARV ON THE NET
MySpace : http://www.myspace.com/blodarv
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/blodarvofficial
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/huginofblodarv
Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/blodarv
Reverbnation : http://www.reverbnation.com/blodarv
Web Shop: http://www.blodarvshop.bigcartel.com/
HammerArt Studios: http://www.myspace.com/hammerartstudios
ALL REQUESTS FOR BOOKINGS, INTERVIEWS, PROMOS ETC SHOULD BE SENT EITHER DIRECTLY TO THE BAND OR TO BLODARV’S MANAGEMENT:
Management: Patricia Thomas Band Management
http://www.myspace.com/viewfromthebacksofmirrors
Contact: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Booking: stafahugin@hotmail.com or patriciathomas@btinternet.com
The 3rd October sees the release of “Death Reclaims the Earth”, by Black Metallers EPISODE 13, on Norway’s Misantrof ANTIRecords label. The seven- track albums is the third full length release from EPISODE 13, and, as with all releases on Misantrof, it is available for free download at http://episode13.misantrof.net/
Cover art for “Death Reclaims the Earth” is by the US artists Seraph + Splendor, who specialise in portraying darker, more sinister subjects, and who have used blood to create the eerie image for the album. Track listing for “Death Reclaims the Earth” as follows:
1 – Ars Moriendi
2 – Physical Comatose & Mental Overdose
3 – Unmensch
4 – Ignorance Is Bliss
5 – Ultimate Sterilization
6 – Worthless
7 – Spread His Word
Founded in 2001 by frontman Ozan Aklol, guitarist Murat and drummer Nursuz (ZIFIR), and with a line up that also includes Serkan Zengin on guitars and Sermet Durusan on bass, EPISODE 13 is one of only a very small handful of Turkish bands of any genre, let alone Black Metal, that has not only gained acceptance, but also found a large audience, outside of its own country. The band regularly appears at festivals such as Norway’s Inferno Festival and London’s Infernal Damnation Fest, and has tours in Russia, Finland and Denmark already under its belt.
Regarding the decision to sign with Misantrof, the label headed by CARPATHIAN FOREST bassist Daniel Vrangsinn which offers all its releases for free download and allows all the artists themselves to retain complete control of all aspects of their work, as opposed to signing with one of the mainstream labels, drummer Nursuz had this to say: “Death Reclaims the Earth” very much defines the direction EPISODE 13 is taking, and we wanted to get it released as quickly as possible. We already have a lot of new music we are working on, and we didn’t want to find ourselves in limbo while we waited to release and promote “Death Reclaims the Earth”. Our manager Patricia Thomas also manages Vrangsinn, and she had introduced us to him when we were playing in Oslo, so we asked her to send him the album to get his opinion. All the other offers we had gave us vague dates such as “sometime late this year or early next year”, but Vrangsinn heard the album and straight away said “name the date you want it released”. CARPATHIAN FOREST is a band that has been inspirational to the formation of a whole generation of Black Metal bands and the chance to work with Vrangsinn, who we have admired as a musician and producer since we started out, was really too good an opportunity to turn down”.
More information about EPISODE 13 can be found on the band’s MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/episode13
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
“Death Reclaims the Earth” free download: http://episode13.misantrof.net/
Episode 13 on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/episode13
Episode 13 on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com /episode13official
Episode 13 on ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/episode13
Management & Booking: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Misantrof ANTIRecords: http://www.misantrof.net
Misantrof Contact: vrangsinn@misantrof.net
Seraph + Splendor http://www.myspace.com/seraphsplendor
We’re now moving towards the close of the year, and it’s been a very eventful year for GRAVDAL, so we thought it was time for an update on what has been happening with the band, and a look ahead to the future.
The biggest event for GRAVDAL in 2010 was of course the release of our second full-length album “Torturmantra”, which was produced by ENSLAVED’s Herbrand Larsen, and recorded by Larsen, Bjørnar E. Nilsen and Arve Isdal. We saw “Torturmantra” as a big step forward from our first album “Sadist”, and an expansion of our ideas and sound for the band. The track that probably surprised most of you was of course the slower ballad-like “Mishandlet”, a song that was new territory for us, and for which we were able to feature SHINING’s NIKLAS KVARFORTH on vocals. We have been very happy with the response to the album both from the fans and the press, and the feedback we have been getting has greatly encouraged us.
2010 also saw a lot of live activity for the band with appearances at festivals like Inferno and Hole in the Sky, and a tour with GORGOROTH and KEEP OF KALESSIN, which coincided perfectly with the release of “Torturmantra”. Even the explosion of the volcano with the unpronounceable name could not halt the tour, but it did mean that it took us a long time to get back by a very circuitous route, which is not the best thing to happen after a tour!
There have also been developments amongst the members of GRAVDAL, with drummer Taakesjel working on his BIZARREKULT project, and guitarist Specter joining me in AETERNUS, the band that sees me in my more usual place behind the drum kit. He has been busy familiarising himself with the band’s material and we are both getting ready to work on the new album.
So, what does the rest of the year hold for GRAVDAL? We don’t plan on doing any more touring before 2011, but we will consider any one-off gigs that look interesting. In the meantime the rest of the guys will be able to stand down from GRAVDAL duties for a couple of weeks while I hit the road with SULPHUR as session live drummer on the Dark Essence Records tour between the 28th October and 7th November, which is something I’m very much looking forward to as it means I will be with touring with fellow Bergen bands TAAKE, HELHEIM and VULTURE INDUSTRIES, so I’m anticipating a lot of hard work and an equal amount of fun.
And next year? Well, we have been spurred on by the reaction to “Torturmantra” and the response we received from the audiences during our live shows and we are now looking ahead to the next album. We already have a title, so we will be starting to write the music and the lyrics and play around with the ideas that we have. We have also just started to work with the German booking agency Heavy Space, so look out for more live dates in 2011.
To close our update, on behalf of GRAVDAL I would like to thank various people who have helped us in many different ways. A big thank you goes to the following: Our Manager Patricia Thomas for her insight and dedication to GRAVDAL and for taking care of us and all the business and promotion side of things so that we can concentrate on our music. Herbrand & Co for the great production (not forgetting Bjornar’s dog Leif for keeping us company in the studio!). Fellow musicians Niklas (SHINING) for his vocals, and Ares (AETERNUS), Martin Legreid (HELLISH OUTCAST), Ole Walaunet (THE BATALLION/GRIMFIST) for lending us some bad ass equipment for the album, S.Otto Unnison (LEADSLEDGE, BETATT, Ex HELLISH OUTCAST) for pre production and technical help. Robert Høyem for the fantastic cover art. Isak Strand @ Little Dollar Studio for mastering the album and for letting us use his face on the cover! Bjarne Skintveit for shooting great pictures. Vidar H.H. for his economic support and investment. Hole in the Sky and Inferno Festivals for booking us. Dreggen for live bass work and Christina for taking his place. GORGOROTH, KEEP OF KALESSIN and the Crew for an awesome tour. And last, but definitely not least, all of you have supported us, and those who bought our album and of course, those who came to see us live and gave us such a great reception. We enjoyed playing for you, and meeting you all. Here’s to a lot more of the same, but even better, in the future.
Phobos
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/gravdal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gravdalofficial
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/gravdal
Band Contact: info@gravdalsadist.com
Management – Patricia Thomas Band Management: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Booking: info@gravdalsadist.com or patriciathomas@btinternet.com
PATRICIA THOMAS BAND MANAGEMENT 
