Russian grind label SoulFlesh Collector announced the first release. It is split of three bands: CADAVERIC INCUBATOR (Finland), FETAL DECAY (Russia, Saratov), MORTALIZED (Russia, Kazan'). The most famous of them is the band from Saratov, they showed high level, excelent material was played and mixed as well as it possible. Finns demonstrated qualitative old-school brutal death with special perverted vocal. Young guys from Kazan' made music which have never been in Russia. Riffs in style of MORTICIAN but rocking drums - you should listen it Total time - 50:10
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, will film their New Year's Eve 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.
ENSIFERUM, who recently parted ways with drummer Oliver Fokin and replaced him with Janne Parviainen, will enter Sonic Pump studios in Helsinki later in the month to record a mini-CD containing one new track, new studio recordings of several old demo songs, and a couple of traditional Finnish folk covers. The as-yet-untitled effort will be released in early 2006. The group's next full-length release is scheduled to be recorded in the summer of 2006. A European tour is tentatively slated to kick off in March 2006.
ENSIFERUM's sophomore album, "Iron", was released in April 2004 through Spinefarm Records. The follow-up to 2001's "Ensiferum" was recorded in the summer of 2003 at Sweet Silence studios in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, ARTILLERY, MORBID ANGEL).
Have you written any new material? When will a new record be released?
We are composing new songs this period. We are planning to start recording our 3rd album in January, but I cannot say when the CD will be released ’cause we have no label agreement at the moment.
In the second album there is an evolution in the sound of Cadaveria and your voice. Will we see another evolution in the future?
For sure. People change and the music they play changes with them. There will be more middle temples and very strange guitar riffs. The voice will be always both growl and clear, with a prevalence of melodic parts. The songs’ structure seems to be a bit less complex than in the past.
Do you consider using Black Metal vocals again in Cadaveria in a next release?
Yes, less screaming and more Death Metal.
You are a member of Cadaveria and DyNAbyte too. Do you have any other projects? Would you like to create a Black Metal band?
Two bands are enough. There are many other projects in my mind but they don’t concern music. I started painting this summer and I like it very much!
Do you think that Scarlet Records is the most suitable label for you?
The contract with Scarlet finished with "Far Away From Conformity (2003). We will surely involve Scarlet in listening to the new material, but it is not sure that we will sign with them. We will propose the master to a series of label and see what happens.
In "Far Away From Conformity" you covered Blondie’s "Call Me". Do you consider attempting something like this again?
You mean to do a cover? Why not. Actually we are thinking about it but we have not chosen the song yet.
What are the musical influences of the band?
Many, ’cause each member of the band listens to a different Metal genre. Actually I listen to Tool and Rammstein, John is more into Fear Factory and Motorhead and so on...
What do you imagine yourself doing, except from music?
Exactly what I’m doing now besides music.
Do you read? Which is your favorite literature style and maybe your favorite book?
Yes, I’m used to reading. I just finished Dan Brown’s "The Da Vinci Code and "Angels and Demons" and now I’m reading "Io Uccido" by Italian writer Faletti. I like all well written books that talk about strange stories.
What inspires you when writing lyrics?
My life, people I meet, emotions I feel, thoughts passing through my mind....
The Italian Metal scene is very strong at the moment. What do you think of that? Do you know/like any of these bands?
I’m very happy things are going well for Italian Metal, but honestly I’ve been a bit out of the scene lately.
Cadaveria could be characterized more as an underground band rather than a mainstream one. Does this bother you?
No, it is the truth. I play music ’cause I like doing this, not to be defined as a popular band.
What is going on with your project DyNAbyte. When will the new album be released? Are you making any new performances?
Actually I’ve totally dedicating myself to Cadaveria’s new songs. DyNAbyte’s new album will come after Cadaveria’s new one, even if a mini tour in Holland is going to take place with DNA in April 06.
Which are the 5 best albums ever written in your opinion?
"Killers" (Iron Maiden), "The Sound of Perseverance" (Death), "Aenima" (Tool), "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath), "Post Orgasmic Chill" (Skunk Anansie).
Do you think that a female vocalist can give credit to a band or is this a disadvantage?
It depends on the female vocalist.
Some last words for your fans. Thanks for the interview!!
Let me thank all fans following and supporting me since 1993. A great hail to you all, stay metal and be yourselves! Don’t miss our next album... by that time enjoy www.cadaveria.com.
Back in June I heard about your upcoming album "Come Clarity". When is the expected release date?
I think in Europe it’s February 6th and in the States I’m not sure about it, maybe a couple of weeks after. The reason it’s delayed is because we’re in between signing contracts with labels. We’re actually looking for a label right now to release it in the States so, early next year.
How does this album compare to your previous albums?
It’s no doubt the best one we’ve ever done, of course. It’s kind of a mixture between the new stuff and the old stuff. Like the previous 2 albums were a little bit experimental for us, we changed producers and we changed studios. So we took all the good stuff from the old stuff and the new and we did this album and it’s brilliant. It’s awesome.
Is there a particular story to it?
I haven’t really read the lyrics, so I don’t know. I don’t think there is. Musically it’s more up tempo, more melodic to show that we have so much more to give and we’re really hungry. The best album is yet to come.
When you first announced the new album, the title was "Crawl Through Knives". Why did you change it?
That was more or less a working title and at the time. It was one of the first songs that we wrote. We thought it was a cool title and we had a concept for the cover and everything. But then we wrote "Come Clarity" and we thought that would be a better title. We still have the song "Crawl Through Knives" though.
Back in February In Flames won the Swedish Grammy Awards. What was that like?
That was great. It was like "at last we got it". Because we were nominated for a couple of years but then other bands took it from us. We think we deserved it because we’ve been around for so long and we’ve released so many albums and had kind of an impact on the Swedish scene, so we think we deserved it.
You’re also a big influence on a lot of the American Metal bands today. How do you feel about that fact?
In Flames amongst a lot of other bands from Sweden. It’s kind of funny to hear a lot of today’s new Metal sound. I can hear stuff that we did like 10 years ago and now it’s such a big thing. It’s cool that there are so many bands that are influenced by the little bands from Sweden; it’s flattering. That means that we’re doing something good, I guess. It’s great knowing that we’re an inspiration for other bands and younger bands.
Does it work both ways? Are there any American bands that influence your sound?
It goes around. One of my absolute favorite bands is Killswitch Engage. I guess I wouldn’t say that they are an influence for me, but I can listen to their music and get inspired to write my own songs. I love that band.
What are your thoughts about being on Ozzfest?
It’s great to be here. It’s a really long tour. Everyone is ready to go home but its great exposure for us. It would be nicer to play on the second stage because on this stage we’re opening up and we’re playing in front of empty seats. But still there are a lot of people here to see us. It’s good publicity and it’s good promotion for us. We just can’t wait to come back and play the headlining tour to play a long set, to play the new stuff.
Awesome. I’ve been waiting a few years to see you guys but to see you actually play a headlining show will be cool.
Yeah, we can’t wait for it either. We’re gonna be back soon.
After Ozzfest, you’ll be going on tour with Motorhead. How is it to support such a notorious Metal band?
It’s a great chance for us to come to the U.K. and play a little bit bigger venues because the U.K. is kind of new for us. Usually when we do the European tours, we only stop in London. We only did seven dates with Slipknot 4 years ago, that’s it. So it’s a great chance for us. It’s a pretty long tour, three and a half weeks, we go to Ireland and Scotland so it’s gonna be great.
What are some bands that you listen to these days?
Sevendust, Children of Bodom, the new Mudvayne. I listen to a lot of Swedish folk music and jazz stuff. I get pretty tired of Metal right now, so when I put on a CD it’s usually like singer/songwriter stuff, the lonely girl with the guitar, that’s what I like. [Laughs]
That’s actually funny to think. Hearing your music then thinking that at the end of the day you’re listen to something on the complete other end of the spectrum.
Yeah, it is. [Laughs]
Any last words?
Well, no, just that we’re gonna be back soon and I hope to see everyone there, wherever "there" is. [Laughs]
[Then he points to my Macabre sticker on my book, that matches the one on his neck, and gives the horns.] - Yeah, they’re one of my favorite’s too. Dennis (The Menace - drummer) is a friend of mine.
Oh yeah? I love those guys. They are brilliant. You tell Dennis that Jesper says "hi".
San Diego film company ZU33 is currently developing "Lords of Chaos", a fiction film based on true events in the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. The project goes into pre-production in November, with physical production scheduled to begin in Februrary 2006. The screenplay was written by Hans Fjellestad, Ryan Page and Adam Parfrey. Fjellestad is set to direct.
The movie is based on the book "Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" (view cover/details at ' ), which documents some of the events that have occurred in black metal's history, including the murder of MAYHEM's Aasarth Oystein (better known as Euronymous) at the hands of BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes (a.k.a. Count Grishnackh).
ZU33 described the movie as follows: "Equal parts music, true crime, occult, and subcultural anthropology, the book by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind chronicles the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. Since that time, nearly 100 churches have been torched and desecrated by adherents of black metal, the most extreme form of underground music on the planet. In an escalating unholy war, black metal bands and their obsessive fans have left a grim legacy of suicide, murder and terrorism spreading from Norway to Germany, Russia, America and beyond. The feature film will focus on the relationship between legendary figures Varg Vikernes and Euronymous and the rest of the 'Black Circle' as they wage war against the powers that be in their native country."
"Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground" was originally published in 1998 by Feral House U.S. A second edition followed in 2003 which documents black metal activities since 1997.
Hans Fjellestad will make his feature film directorial debut with "Lords of Chaos" after two highly successful and critically acclaimed documentary films, "Moog" (2004, Plexifilm) and "Frontier Life" (2002, Third World Newsreel).
Reactivated Finnish melodic extreme metal band ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW are continuing work on their as-yet-untitled fifth album for a tentative March/April 2006 release via Spinefarm Records. According to the band, "The material for the fifth album is heavier, much more diverse and more guitar-orientated compared to the fourth album 'A Virgin and a Whore' [2001]."
ETERNAL TEARS OF SORROW's current lineup is as follows:
Altti Veteläinen - Bass, Vocals Jarmo Puolakanaho - Guitar Risto Ruuth - Lead Guitar Janne Tolsa - Keyboards Petri Sankala - Drums
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have issued the following update on the recording proces for their long-awaited sixth album:
"The musical instruments for the sixth BAL-SAGOTH album have finally been recorded after a long delay. The vocal session can now begin imminently, which will be followed by the final mix. Fans who are impatiently awaiting the much anticipated sixth album can understand that the band always seeks to ensure their work is of the absolute highest standard, and to achieve that standard sometimes takes a considerable amount of time. But finally, the album is almost complete and the wait is almost over!
"Just some of the highlights fans can look forward to on the sixth album are:
1) The thrilling second chapter of the epic 'Obsidian Crown' saga, which began way back on the second BAL-SAGOTH album 'Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule' from 1996! Fans who have waited almost ten years to find out what happens next in this thrilling story will finally get their wish!
2) The best and most dynamic organic orchestral synth sounds ever heard! Much time and effort has been put into refining the famousBAL-SAGOTH keyboard sound to its ultimate level, and every advance in modern audial technology has been taken advantage of. On the sixth album fans will experience amazing symphonic sounds which exceed every other release, sounding totally and uncannily genuine. Real orchestra! Real choirs! Real metal!
3) Incredible new artwork and expansive lyric booklet! The lyric booklet for the sixth album will be the biggest and most elaborate one yet. Multiple full colour pages, in depth text and amazing new artwork by renowned fantasy artist Martin Hanford. The packaging for the sixth album will be the best publication so far."
German "dark Satanic metal band" MYSTIC CIRCLE have cancelled their previously announced live appearances between November 26 and December 17 due to "drummer problems." The group are currently seeking a new drummer for their upcoming world tour in support of their seventh full-length album, "The Bloody Path of God", tentatively due in early 2006 via Dockyard 1, the new company formed by Dirk Putzke, Christine Stephan (both ex-Sanctuary/Noise Records) and Piet Sielck (IRON SAVIOR). The new CD is being recorded with former MYSTIC CIRCLE drummer Necrodemon at the production helm.
MYSTIC CIRCLE issued a "best of" album, entitled "Mystic Circle Unholy Chronicles 1992–2004", last November via Massacre Records. The CD, which contains 18 songs spanning the group's entire career, includes a bonus DVD, featuring concert and backstage footage, as well as interviews and a video clip.
Finnish extreme metallers IMPALED NAZARENE have set "Pro Patria Finlandia" as the title of their ninth studio album, tentatively due on March 28, 2006 via Osmose Productions. The band will enter Sonic Pump studio in mid-November with producer Tapio Pennanen to begin recording the follow-up to 2003's "All That You Fear". Songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Cancer", "For Those Who Have Fallen", "KUT", "Contempt" and "Hate-Despise-Arrogance". The group had previously described the new material as "fast, brutal as fuck, in-your-face IMPALED NAZARENE."
In other news, IMPALED NAZARENE will embark on a Latin American tour in late January 2006. Three shows in Mexico have already been confirmed, with more to follow.
As previously reported, the double 10" version of IMPALED NAZARENE's "Death Comes In 26 Carefully Selected Pieces" live album was released in September, limited to 500 copies. The band's "Latex Cult" (1996) and "Rapture" (1998) albums will be released in digipack format with new artwork and layout. Both CDs will be remastered at Finnvox studio and will include videos as an extra bonus.
DARK FUNERAL's new album, "Attera Totus Sanctus", has entered the Swedish national chart at position No. 35. It has also debuted on the Swedish heavy metal chart at No. 3.
As previously reported, the limited digipack version of "Attera Totus Sanctus" has been delayed until January 2006 "due to a complicated manufacturing process." The regular edition of the album was released in Europe on October 24 via Regain Records. The CD will arrive in the U.S. on November 29 via Candlelight Records USA.
DARK FUNERAL have uploaded two tracks from "Attera Totus Sanctus" at their official web site. Check out the songs "Godhate" ' and "666 Voices Inside" ' .
DARK FUNERAL's new album was recorded and mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (MESHUGGAH, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, IN FLAMES, BEHEMOTH) and Örjan Örnkloo (MISERY LOVES CO.) at Dug-Out studios in Uppsala, Sweden between May 23 and July 15, and August 8 and August 19, 2005. Mastering duties were handled by Tomas Eberger at the Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden. The CD features a guest appearance by former MESHUGGAH bassist Gustaf Hielm.
DARK FUNERAL currently features vocalist/bassist Emperor Magnus Caligula, guitarist Lord Ahriman, guitarist Chaq Mol, and drummer Matte Modin.
Swedish black/death metallers THE LEGION, featuring current MARDUK drummer Emil Dragutinovic, have set "Revocation" as the title of their sophomore album, tentatively due in early 2006 via France's Listenable Records. The artwork was once again designed by Kris Verwimp (MARDUK, ABSU, IMMORTAL), who had previously worked with the group on their debut album, "Unseen to Creation".
THE LEGION's debut album, "Unseen to Creation" was released in October 2003 through Listenable. The CD was recorded at Abyss Studios with producer Tommy Tägtgren and features "ten songs of complex and eclectic black/death metal, ranging in style from MORBID ANGEL to SETHERIAL."
"The album 'In the Depths of R'lyeh' is finished and will soon be in the process of mastering. No exact release date is set as of yet (early 2006), but it will be available first and immediately through Moribund Records, and soon thereafter at other distros around the world." Samples will be available within the next couple of weeks.
Tracklisting; I. In the Depths of R'lyeh II. Dead Dripping City III. At the Edge of the Abyss IV. Where No Light Hath Shone... (But For That of the Moon) V. Fallen Into Shadow VI. Awakening of the World's Doom (Reprise)
' recently conducted an interview with former ANCIENT frontwoman Deadly Kristin. An excerpt from the question-and-answer session follows:
HailMetal.com: I'd like to start with a question which was on everyone's mind for a long time. Have you converted to Islam and how do you combine the religion (or Sufism) in your case with Satanism?
Deadly Kristin: "Wow, we begin with a very sharp and good question. I can't say I have converted, as I didn't have any religion prior to Islam. My mind had always been troubled by existential questions since when I was a kid. I have always been deep and always questioned what I was being told. I wanted to think with my own head as most of the things adults were saying didn't make sense to me. I started to observe life around me, the human behaviour, I started to study science, philosophy, astronomy, biology, physics, chemistry and builded myself a culture. I observed nature and the laws that rule it, I spent nights in deep meditation wondering about the meaning of life, the meaning of death, the creation of the universe. I put together the pieces of the big puzzle and I saw what all these sciences had in common. Starting from that basis, I began to formulate my own theories on life, on the universe, on everything. In these years I spent hundreds of beautiful hours talking with intellectual and educated people from different countries, different cultures and different backgrounds. We discussed existential topics and exchanged views and ideas. I exposed my own theories which were often considered very interesting and valuable. Still some things were driving me insane as in my theories I had some gaps, some things to which I still didn't have an answer. I couldn't see the totality of things because in my head I was denying the concept of divinity, of a surpreme entity that dominated the creation. I didn't think there was a god because of the multitude of bad and unfair things that happen in this world. I was thinking: if there is a god, why doesn't he show himself, why does he allow these things to happen?
"At a point of my life, I even thought that if there was a god then he must have been good and evil at the same time. That would have been the only explanation to everything. To why we are given life and then it is taken away from us, to why we have to go through injustice, pain and suffering. To why we are given the blessing of having a family and lovely people around us and then we see them die, leaving us in total despair and agony.
"When I first met Abdullah Hamzah of CELT ISLAM SOUNDSYSTEM and Dawoud Kringle, who are now my best friends and band mates in ANALOGUE FAKIR, we started talking about all this. They were the first people I was talking to who could not only understand perfectly my theories, but could also fill me in where I had gaps. They introduced me to sufism and to Islam. When I started to read the Qur'an I was very curious and eager to see if I could find something similar to my theories there...and not only I did find it, I even got to know more about what I had assumed and found the answer to all the questions that always troubled my heart. Believe me, I am someone who doesn't get influenced very easily, I was the biggest non-believer and I always based my theories on matter of facts not on dogma. The Qur'an is an incredible source of information on life itself and its meaning. You can read precise and scientific details on how the universe was created, on the laws that dominate it, details on the relation of time and space, of the phases of development of embryos! Plus also incredible important revelations for oceanology, astrology etc. The Qur'an was written in 610 A.D., in a time where science was very basic and technology didn't exist. The funny thing is that modern science is discovering NOW, at the present moment what already was explained in the Qur'an about 1.400 years ago! The theory of the big bang for istance, the very recent discovery that the universe is actually in constant expansion (and not stable and immobile within its limits like it was always thought), the also very recent theory of the Big Crunch, which says that one day the universe will collapse on itself and return to the condition of its origin the one that originated the big bang. All this and more is written in the Qur'an and there is no doubt for me that is the word of God, because any other explanation wouldn't be possible. If you are interested in reading about the scientific miracles of the Qur'an I can reccomand this wonderful website: miraclesofthequran.com. As far as my old idea of God that could be good and evil at the same time, Allah represents this very well. He is the infinitely merciful but also an incredible punisher. The bad things that happen in life are tests on people and everything happens for a reason. The reason why a lot of evil and disgusting people get all the money and power is to give them the illusion they are sufficient to themselves and increase their lack of faith. The more they have the more they become ungrateful, the more they become their own gods, the more they become arrogant...and the greater punishment will have in the afterlife, which is the real life, not this one.
"As far as Satanism [is concerned], I never claimed to be a satanist. In fact in the past I didnt even believe in Satan just like I didnt believe in God as I thought they were just an invention of Christianity. I wrote anti-religious lyrics in the past because I was very pissed off at people who claimed to be religious and they don't even know what their religion is about. They just believe in what they have been told and they don't use their heads. I don't have much appreciation for people who are like sheep and don't use their brains. My choice for Islam was motivated and studied for long. On another note you may want to realize that most bands use 'Satan' as a symbol of rebellion, as a metaphore. They dont go out and slaughter goats and rape babies during black masses. If they do they are really stupid. To my eyes who adores Satan was just as dumb as someone who adored Jesus Christ or any other god. For the same reasons I told you before."
Norwegian black metallers KEEP OF KALESSIN, featuring Obsidian C. (a.k.a. Arnt GrГёnbech, also a touring guitarist for SATYRICON) on guitars/bass/synth, have set a March 27, 2006 release date for their new album, entitled "Armada". "KEEP OF KALESSIN has currently picked up working on the album and will finish it by 1st December," the band write on their web site. "A huge promo campaign is planned and the album is already anticipated as one of the best metal releases of 2006! Combining the atmosphere of EMPEROR's 'In the Nightside Eclipse' with a great dynamic production and the takeoffs in 'Come Damnation', you will experience chills down your spine on every song!!"
KEEP OF KALESSIN's "Armada" will be released via the Norwegian label Tabu Recordings, a division of Tuba Records. Vyl is playing drums on the album and a new bass player, Wizziac, is being introduced. MAYHEM singer Attila Chisar is doing some additional vocals, but he will not be the frontman anymore. The band will try out different vocalists in the studio to find the one who matches the music best. The group's complete lineup will be revealed when the recording sessions are completed.
KEEP OF KALESSIN's most recent mini-album, "Reclaim", was released in December 2003 through FaceFront Records. The group's first release since 1999's "Agnen: A Journey through the Dark" (Avantgarde), "Reclaim" has been described as a new milestone in Norwegian black metal by the Norwegian press. "Reclaim" is available in the U.S. through The End mail-order.
Russian grind label SoulFlesh Collector announced the first release. It is split of three bands: CADAVERIC INCUBATOR (Finland), FETAL DECAY (Russia, Saratov), MORTALIZED (Russia, Kazan')..jpg)
Finnish folk-influenced melodic death metal band ENSIFERUM, now featuring in its ranks NORTHER frontman Petri Lindroos, will film their New Year's Eve 10-year anniversary concert at the Nosturi in Helsinki, Finland for an upcoming DVD.
Have you written any new material? When will a new record be released?
Back in June I heard about your upcoming album "Come Clarity". When is the expected release date?
San Diego film company ZU33 is currently developing "Lords of Chaos", a fiction film based on true events in the Norwegian black metal music scene in the early 1990s. The project goes into pre-production in November, with physical production scheduled to begin in Februrary 2006. The screenplay was written by Hans Fjellestad, Ryan Page and Adam Parfrey. Fjellestad is set to direct.
U.K.-based black/death quintet BAL-SAGOTH have issued the following update on the recording proces for their long-awaited sixth album:
"The album 'In the Depths of R'lyeh' is finished and will soon be in the process of mastering. No exact release date is set as of yet (early 2006), but it will be available first and immediately through Moribund Records, and soon thereafter at other distros around the world." Samples will be available within the next couple of weeks.
CD-Maximum Records have licensed for the CIS market following titles: