DEAD METAL

For an introduction to Antichrist, see here . Funebrarum, the band's drummer, answered these questions. 1. Pax Moriendi is an outstanding album, how has the response been so far? The response has been too good, both in our country and around the world. We never imagined that this humble project would come so far, made above all with the passion we feel for the underground. 2. Antichrist originally formed in 2004, and was active for many years before splitting in 2010 and reforming in 2011... was any material recorded during that first incarnation of the band? Only some homemade recordings, nothing was edited in those years. 3. How would you describe your sound? Antichrist evokes the dead and dense sound of the glory era of death metal. 4. Could you talk a little about the band’s lyrical content? Although many think the band would have directly satanic lyrics, that isn't the reality. We take our  name in honor of the book The Antichrist, by Friedrich Nietzsc...

This post focuses on the four Gorgoroth albums that we feel we can wholeheartedly recommend. These Norwegian black metal titans got together in 1992 and are still active today. There have been plenty of member changes in the band's history, though... Original vocalist Hat only features on the debut (Pentagram) and half of the sophomore effort (Antichrist) - since he was replaced during its recording by Pest. Antichrist is a cohesive work in spite of the division of vocal duties, perhaps even surpassing the debut, but both are outstanding  Bathory -influenced offerings. Pentagram ( Embassy/Wild Rags, 1994 ): Antichrist ( Malicious, 1996 ): Pest later went on to be replaced by controversial figure Gaahl; but returned for 2009's outstanding comeback album, Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt (as well as the impressive 2011 re-recording Of Under The Sign Of Hell ). 2015's Instinctus Bestialis is also well worth picking it up; but you guessed it - it features a different ...

Antichrist's debut full-length is brought to us by Iron Bonehead. The band hails from Peru, and plays funeral death-doom with hints of dISEMBOWELMENT  and Evoken . They have been active for many years, but this is their first official release; and it was well worth the wait - Pax Moriendi is a highly accomplished work. A monstrous, crushing release; but it's also extremely immersive and atmospheric, and features a healthy dose of melody. Five tracks, forty-five minutes... of intense mournful darkness. You can listen to the album below, and buy it  here .

01  Krypts  -  Remnants Of Expansion  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 02  Evoken  -  Atra Mors  ( Profound Lore ,  2012 ) 03  Antichrist  -  Pax Moriendi  ( Iron Bonehead ,  2018 ) 04  Blood Incantation  -  Starspawn  ( Dark Descent ,  2016 ) 05  None  -  Damp Chill Of Life  ( Hypnotic Dirge ,  2019 ) 06  Carcass  -  Surgical Steel  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2013 ) 07  Immolation  -  Atonement  ( Nuclear Blast ,  2017 ) 08  Necrot  -  Blood Offerings  ( Tankcrimes ,  2017 ) 09  Burzum  -  Belus  ( Byelobog ,  2010 ) 10  Spectral Voice  -  Necrotic Doom  ( Dark Descent ,  2015 )

If you don't already know Sanguisugabogg, see here first. The band's guitarist, Cameron Boggs, kindly answered these questions. 1. Pornographic Seizures is an exceptional demo, how has the response been so far? The response has been pretty nuts, and good. It’s really weird to see where a four song demo has taken us already but I can’t complain. Really excited for what’s coming up, and to have some fun.  2. How did the relationship with Maggot Stomp come about? I was drunk on Instagram messaging Scott about tacos or something, and I slipped a Dropbox link with our demos to him out of the blue. He liked it a lot, so now he’s our best bud/dad/label daddy.  3. You have just announced that you're about to start recording your debut album, what can we expect from that (as compared with the EP or in general)? It has some crazier riffing. It’s heavier than fuck, and heavier than the EP, but I’d say musically it’s stepped up a level and I’m really excited about...

01  Evoken - Hypnagogia  (Profound Lore) 02  Dysylumn - Occultation  (Egregor) 03  Ov Shadows - The Darkness Between Stars  (Black Market) 04  1914 - The Blind Leading The Blind  (Redefining Darkness/Archaic) 05  Monstrosity - The Passage Of Existence  (Metal Blade) 06  Memoriam - The Silent Vigil  (Nuclear Blast) 07  Assumption - Absconditus  (Everlasting Spew/Sentient Ruin) 08  Ataraxy - Where All Hope Fades  (Dark Descent/Me Saco Un Ojo) 09 Hostil - Infernal Rites  (Not On Label) 10  Void Rot - Consumed By Oblivion  (Everlasting Spew/Sentient Ruin) *edit* Antichrist - Pax Moriendi  and  Deicide - Overtures Of Blasphemy should have made this list

We interviewed Andy Whale (of Bolt Thrower fame)  previously , with his Memoriam hat on. This time we caught up with the legendary drummer to ask a few questions about his latest project,  Darkened . 1. Darkened is something of a 'supergroup', how did you guys get together? Darkened started as an idea between myself and Daryl (Kahan) . We've known each other for quite a few years. We grew up liking and playing the same kind of music (punk, hardcore, death metal) but on different sides of the Atlantic.  We'd talked about doing a band together for a while, but never got around to doing  anything. When we started the ball rolling, it all sort of fell into place. Daryl suggested Hempa (Brynolfsson) , who had some amazing ideas for songs.  Hempa in turn suggested Linus (Nirbrant) , who is amazing at structuring songs.  Hempa and Linus also work together on the mixing side of things.  The hard person to find was the vocalist. We got a f...

For an introduction to Frozen Soul, see here . This interview is with guitarist Michael Munday. 1. Encased In Ice is an exceptional demo, how has the response been so far? The response has been incredible. We didn’t think that Encased In Ice would get this much attention and praise, it’s very humbling to see.  2. How did the relationship with Maggot Stomp come about? I was already a fan of what Maggot Stomp was releasing, and I had interacted a bit on their social media. Shortly after we recorded the demo I just said “f*ck it” and DM’d a dropbox link to our songs, and Maggot Stomp loved it. We’ve had a great relationship since then. 3. Do you have a new release/new releases in the pipeline? What can we expect from the new material, as compared with the EP or in general? We’ll be releasing a full length LP this year. The new songs we have are even groovier and heavier than what we’ve already released. Expect to hear some punishing death metal.  4. It’s...

An introduction to Beast Of Revelation can be found here . Drummer Bob Bagchus (formerly of Asphyx) answered these questions. 1. The Ancient Ritual Of Death is an exceptional album, you must be very pleased with it? Thanks for the kind words. Yes, we are very pleased with the way it came out. It sounds exactly the way we wanted it to be - heavy, doomy and dark. 2. How did Beast of Revelation form? A.J. ( van Drenth - guitars, bass, backing vocals ) asked me a few years ago if I was interested in doing a doom project with him since we already did the doom/black metal project Throne in 1995.  He sent me some riffs and I loved them instantly so we started from there. Since we also needed a vocalist A.J. asked John from Incantation who said he would love to be part of the Beast. We recorded the album with the three of us; and Eric Daniels and Robbie Woning did some great guest solos. 3. What were your main musical influences when starting the project? Old Cathedral, ol...

If you don't already know Graceless, then see here first. This interview is with Jasper Aptroot, who plays bass for the band. 1. Shadowlands (2017) is an outstanding album, how has the response been to that? The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Everything that has happened since the release has exceeded our expectations and we are very grateful for all the support we have received. 2. You've announced that you will be releasing a new album this year, what can we expect from it (as compared to your debut, or in general)? We really love the Dutch death metal sound and we will always stay true to these roots. The new album is going to be a logical next step following Shadowlands. If you liked our first album then I'm confident you will not be disappointed with the second release. 3. It’s a clichéd question, but who are your main influences (if indeed you feel you have influences)? We play ourselves but most of all we are fans of extreme metal. There...

Transcendence was recently mentioned in  this  post. Phantasm (guitarist) and Putrefaction (vocalist) answered these questions. 1. Towards Obscurities Beyond is an exceptional album, how has the response been so far? When we were recording this album we had no idea what people would think of it, considering our style seems to be something most people aren’t into these days. But so far we’ve gotten positive reviews and overall people seem to really enjoy it.  2. Your sound is really quite unique, how would you describe it? Towards Obscurities Beyond is a collection of our work from 2015 to 2019. It is our search for an evil yet melodic sound that we could call our own. The metal of death in our vision has been found and is currently being expanded on. 3. It’s a cliched question, but who are your main influences? Well of course we all have our own personal tastes, though as a band we’ve come together for our love of old school Scandinavian death and black metal and hatred f...

If you are unfamiliar with Void Rot, see here first. This interview is with vocalist and guitarist John Hancock. 1. Your debut EP (Consumed By Oblivion) is outstanding, how has the response to that been? We've been really happy with the response! Consumed was the first time any of us recorded something for real so I'm just happy a couple of people don't think it's total garbage! We were so excited to show up on several people's year-end EP lists as well as Cvlt Nation's top 15 death/doom albums. A highlight for sure. 2. Your forthcoming split with Atavisma is also excellent, how did that release come about? After we put out Consumed we knew that we wanted to get going on a full-length right away, so by the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 we had "Necrotic Deity" and "Accursed Earth" written with that in mind. Then Giorgio and Tito from Everlasting Spew told us they were bringing Atavisma over (awesome!) and thought it would be a go...

See here for an introduction to Malignant Altar. These questions were answered by the band's guitarist, Beau Beasleybeau. 1. Retribution Of Jealous Gods is an exceptional demo, how has the response been so far? It's been great. I didn’t really know what to expect when we were about to release the tape but the amount of letters, reviews (yours included) and tape orders have really blown me away. The amount of help that both Maggot Stomp and The Other Records have given us has really helped get the demo into a lot of people's hands and I’m forever in both of their debts for this.  2. Ceremonial Decapitator (live demo) is also great, have you been doing many live shows? So far we have only done two shows. When we started the band we all kind of made the decision to not play many shows, but maybe do three or four really sick shows a year. I've always been a fan of bands who didn’t play much because I feel it lends a level of mystique to what they do. We ...

See here for an introduction to Worm. Main man Phantom Slaughter answered these questions. 1. Gloomlord is an incredible album, how has the response been so far? I really don't try to go out of my way to know what people think as I see my work as being done once I give the label the album and it is not my experience anymore, but quite a few people have been interested in interviewing the band this time around and that is something of a new experience for me. I think it is a natural growth, I have just been getting better at my craft I feel with every release so it is only right that it gets out to more people every time around. I know this album was a big deal for me because it was the first I recorded in an actual local studio instead of in my home rehearsal space called "The Swamp Crypt". I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and see what would come of it. Worm does not have any social media so I really do not have a direct link of communication with people i...

If you are unfamiliar with Necronomicon, see here first. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Rob The Witch did us the honour of answering these questions. 1. You've announced that you will be releasing a new album this year, what can we expect from it (as compared to previous albums, or in general)? The new album has some more extreme parts as well as some parts that sound almost commercial, if I can use that term considering the kind of music we do. Also we have pushed to another level with the production. We wanted to have something that reflects on our 30 years but at the same time isn't restrained by anything - so again we let ourselves go to new things that we never did before, in terms of how some parts in some songs are composed. People who like raw and extreme music will be served, as well as the those who like more ambient and emotional stuff. 2. Rise Of The Elder Ones (2013) was an outstanding album, do you have fond memories of recording and releasing it? ...