DEAD METAL

If you would like to win the two CDs pictured above, just head over to  the Dead Metal Facebook page  and comment on the post about this giveaway there. It's open to anyone worldwide, but you do need to have 'liked' the Facebook page to qualify. The competition closes at midnight (GMT) this Thursday (1st March). A winner will then be chosen at random, and notified on Facebook.

If you aren't familiar with Solothus, see here first. This interview is with Kari Kankaanpää, the band's vocalist. 1. No King Reigns Eternal was one of the best albums of 2016, how was the response? The response was immensely positive. Seemed to garner a lot of good feedback from media and listeners alike. It will be released on vinyl early this year too.  2. How would you describe the transition from 2013's Summoned From The Void, to No King Reigns Eternal? Summoned From The Void had some older songs on it. With No King Reigns Eternal we only had new material, with which we more or less found our sound. I think our vision for Solothus was crystallised on our last album, and that it will evolve on our third album. 3. It’s a clichéd question, but who are your main influences (if indeed you feel you have influences)? I would say that our influences are from doom and death metal - bands such as Candlemass, Black Sabbath, Cathedral, Bolt Thrower, Autopsy e...

If you don't know Morta Skuld, you can find out about them (and pick up their releases)  here . You really should know them, though - assuming that you're into death metal at least. Guitarist and vocalist (and founding member) Dave Gregor kindly took the time... 1. Your debut album, Dying Remains (1993), is a death metal masterpiece. Do you have fond memories of recording and releasing it? Just being in the studio was a very important time for us, as we were about to record our first album and didn't know what would come of it. I was going through some rough times and a divorce, but despite that I was still excited to create this album. I also thank you for your words about this album, which is still my favourite. 2. The following year (1994) you released As Humanity Fades, which is also a masterpiece. Could you tell us some of your memories of recording and releasing that one? The band and myself had some disagreements, and they went their way ...

More suggested listening, for anyone that is new to the genre. Sepultura - Beneath the Remains ( R/C, 1989 ): Slayer - World Painted Blood ( American, 2009 ): Kreator - Extreme Aggression ( Noise International, 1989 ): Kreator - Enemy of God ( Steamhammer, 2005 ): Kreator - Gods of Violence ( Nuclear Blast, 2017 ): Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction ( Capitol, 1992 ): Anthrax - Among the Living ( Island/Megaforce, 1987 ): Metallica - Kill 'Em All ( Megaforce, 1983 ):

Solothus are from Finland; and they play epic, atmospheric death-doom. Haunting lyrics, powerful vocals, tight percussion, rumbling bass, crushing riffs, melodic leads... The band's debut, Summoned From The Void , was released by Memento Mori in 2013. A track from that is below: 2016 saw the release of a second album,  No King Reigns Eternal , on Doomentia Records. A track from that can be found below: Both CDs are well worth picking up. And downloading 2011's Ritual of the Horned Skull demo is also advisable.

Agretator were from Sweden, and this was their only full-length. Released by Crypta in 1994, and reissued by Dark Symphonies in 2016, Delusions is a thrashy death metal gem. Hints of Death, Pestilence, and other better-known bands; but this is original stuff. Clever time signature changes, tight drum and guitar work, and some interesting musical twists. The opening track can be heard below, and you can grab a copy  here .

This is a split CD, from Finland's Maveth and Greece's Embrace of Thorns. Released by Dark Descent in 2014, the two 'sides' of the release compliment each other very well. Four crushing tracks from each band here, totalling around 37 minutes. A Plague Through The Heavens is blackened death metal at its best. You can listen to it below, and buy it here .