PRIMORDIAL - To the Nameless Dead CD review

PRIMORDIAL - To the Nameless Dead CD

This came recommended to me from someone who saw that I've been getting into alot of "Folk Metal" lately. PRIMORDIAL have been around for close to twenty years but this is my first time reviewing one of their releases. Obviously that's been a bad for me because after listening to "To the Nameless Dead" for weeks now. I've been completely at a loss for words to write something worthy of them. This is my seventh draft for a review so we'll see if I finish this one.

PRIMORDIAL are Celtic Folk meets epic Black Metal while being stranded out on an Irish countryside. Frontman Nailmass Nemtheanga has a powerful vocal delivery where he switches from a folksy homeland style to more harsh tones all across this release. Add to that is the music which is nothing less than a massive wall of orchestral sound and fury. Lyrically you can't deny that this is almost a call to arms for the fallen. A suffering troubadour calling out from the battlefield as the dark riffs carry over the countryside. Yeah this is one of those releases where you can just turn up the volume, sit back in your chair, close your eyes and let the music take you to foreign places. Let your imagination run with it as PRIMORDIAL transports you to places where monuments are crumbling, to the end of modern civilization, public executions, blood soaked battlefields of the past and funeral pyres.

It's releases like this that make Extreme Metal more important then the simplistic cliches we place upon it. "To the Nameless Dead" is more art than mere acting on a theme. Once in awhile you come across a release that effects you in a tribal way. It's as if just listening to this CD is far more important than what I or anyone else will write about it. I firmly believe that everyone who reads Scumfeast Metal should have a copy of this. Musically yes but more importantly for our psyche since it will bring out something alot better artistically that "Infernal Hails Dude". Nuff Said.
METAL BLADE RECORDS

http://www.metalblade.com
http://www.primordial.com

SEVERE TORTURE - Sworn Vengeance CD review

SEVERE TORTURE - Sworn Vengeance CDOne time a friend told me that the best way to describe Death Metal to someone was to turn the FM radio up and then turn the dial as fast as possible. Obviously he was trying to make a joke about the whole genre. I'm not one to joke about Death Metal but the guy did have a point. There are times when the genre can become stale and sterile to the point where you can't distinguish one band from another. But that can be said about almost all musical genres whether it's Extreme Music or the crap the losers listen to.

Which brings me to the latest release by SEVERE TORTURE, a band from my ancestral homeland of Holland. Yes I'm a Dutchman by heart and I'm also part German and Irish. Plus I'm an American which means with all of that heritage behind me, screw with me and you'll be devastated beyond belief. Which is what SEVERE TORTURE is probably doing right now since they're on the European Devastation 2008 Tour. Now as far as this Cd goes I will not say it blasts me out of my chair and across the room. But for Death Metal purists this is very "kick your fucking ass" type stuff. I will say for the so-called "experts" this might be Death Metal template rehash. Thankfully I'm not one of those bored little shits. "Sworn Vengeance" hark ens back to the days of CANNIBAL CORPSE and some of the more twisted aspects of MORBID ANGEL. Yeah we're talking traditional US style Death Metal here folks brought to us from the Dutch.

With this release SEVERE TORTURE are not trying to win you over with techno wizardry (boring) or some grand spectacle of sight & sound (wow theatrics). Instead this is Death Metal for people who have a devilish passion for having that grey matter vibrate within their skulls. If I were to choose a few tracks worthy of hunting down low rent west coast slobs too, I'd definitely say "Dogmasomatic Nausea". It's probably the most hate filled blast on here. Then I'd follow that up with "Countless Villains" and the title track for severe bloodletting fun. All in all this is a great release.
EARACHE RECORDS

http://www.myspace.com/severetorture
http://www.earache.com
http://www.severetorture.com

PAGAN FEST USA 2008 in Raleigh, NC

PAGAN FEST USA 2008 is coming to Volume 11 Tavern on May 20th here in Raleigh, North Carolina. This will be one of the best shows in 2008 for this area. Four great bands from the Viking/Folk Metal genre. They are:


ENSIFERUM from Helsinki, Finland


http://www.ensiferum.com

http://www.myspace.com/officialensiferum


TURISAS from Hameenlinna, Finland


http://www.turisas.com

http://www.myspace.com/turisasofficial




TYR from Runavik, Faroe Islands


http://www.tyr.net

http://www.myspace.com/tyr/




ELUVEITE from Switzerland


http://www.eluveite.ch

http://www.myspace.com/eluveite

MARK YOUR CALENDERS NOW AND TAKE THE FOLLOWING DAY OFF BECAUSE YOU'LL NEED IT. FOR MORE INFO ON PAGAN FEST USA GO TO:

http://www.myspace.com/paganfestusa

IMPALED NAZARENE - Manifest CD review

IMPALED NAZARENE - Manifest CD
The latest release from this long time Finnish Black Metal outfit is like listening to a metal genre crossing compilation. Not that it's a bad thing of course since IMAPLED NAZARENE have been doing this same across the board blasting on all of their nine previous releases. Unfortunately it creates havoc for all those music snobs on Forums/Groups who try to pin down bands in genre specific stations. You would figure that people who like Extreme Music would not act so childish. Well be that as it may, this thing is around 50 minutes of hell comes your house Extreme Metal. And if that's not good enough for you then I suggest you rethink your musical choices. Or in other words, go back to listening to crap. Just leave the good stuff like this to people like me who actually like Extreme Music. And stop writing "Imp Naz". What are you a fairy too scared to type out the band's full name?

Getting back to this release, IMPALED NAZARENE are not into slowly torturing you musically. From the opening "Into: Greater Wrath" and "The Antichrist Files" they are an overwhelming force charging into battle with only three goals, to convert, to kill and to break things. Other tracks that follow are simply variations on the same theme. "You Don't Rock Hard" is like old SODOM style Thrash. "Funeral for Despicable Pigs" has not only the best song title I've seen in weeks but it's also a doom and gloom ladened death march for those who've survived the initial onslaught. Like sending out the women and children after the battle to take lay waste to the enemy wounded. From there IMPALED NAZARENE continue on with the assault destroying everything and everyone in their path. "Blueprints for Your Culture's Apocalypse" is Thrash for planetary annihilation, along with the maniacal "Planet Nazarene". I played that last one five times in a row, with arms raised and horned fists hailing IMPALED NAZARENE in battle. Yeah some people say the music I listen to effects me in negative ways. Yeah, and your point is?

Finally when this Cd comes to a close, count yourself worthy to have survived. "When Violence Commands the Day" is pure blasphemy to everything in sight. It's like the photo on our Profile with a nuclear explosion of the horned fist of hate. "Manifest" is an apocalyptic nightmare come true to all the human garbage who share my air. Convert to this or die miserably, indeed. You're all fucked, who don't think so?
OSMOSE Records

http://www.campnazarene.com/
http://www.myspace.com/impalednazarene

ELECTRIC WIZARD - Witchcult Today CD review

ELECTRIC WIZARD - Witchcult Today Cd
I was really caught up in the hype of this, their sixth release. I was expecting drug induced black doom with Jus Oorn and Liz Buckingham humping while on top of the corpse of "Masters of Reality" era SABBATH. I was expecting "Dopethrone 2007" with extra sludge on the side. I was expecting hippies buried up to their necks in sand, with Charlie Manson coming at them on a riding lawnmower, tripping his brains out on a new designer psychedelic drug. Instead we've got the equivalent of sitting in a uncomfortable chair at an overly extended Narcotics Anonymous meeting. They should've titled this one "Dude, Who Pissed in My Bong?"

I'll admit that prior to getting this, I was listening to the PRE-ELECTRIC WIZARD CD alot, the late 80's ETERNAL being my favorite obviously. But what bothers me about "Witchcult Today" is for starters, the sequence of songs. "Satanic Rites of Drugula" should've opened this dirge up and not the title cut. I'm into listening and my only thought is to go get a beer. Whatever happened to the universe of doom that made listeners dive in head first? Plus "Satanic Rites of Drugula" is funny and inviting. A stoned out Dracula looking for people to get high by biting them? "Dunwich" is definitely a no-brainier since you need to wake up once in a while. The rest of this CD would induce sleep on coke head.

I just don't get the dumming down to which this band has come. Three years since their last release and we get the result of pothead released from jail after being straight for so long and having a relationship on the inside if you know what I mean. And I bet you do. The power was cut off on ELECTRIC WIZARD because somebody blew the bill money on bad weed.
RISE ABOVE RECORDS
http://www.riseaboverecords.com

Blut Aus Nord - Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination CD review

BLUT AUS NORD - Odinist: The Destruction of Reason by Illumination CD
While listening to this latest release by French three piece,BLUT AUS NORD, I picture some demonic machine or even a factory labyrinth. And as you enter the thing comes to life to reveal only horror within it's inner workings. The opening track seems to lure you with this atmospheric vibe but once inside the doors slam shut. You are then pounded by industrial strength Black Metal. The mechanical-like drumming keeps this nightmare intact throughout. The guitars are melodic as if patterning them after the rhythm of a echoing machine. At times it's like a conveyor belt of static shocks. Other instances it's a jackhammer pulverising it's
intended target to microscopic proportions. The keyboards seem to hold everything together like welding two competing forces bent on destroying one another into one horrific killing machine.

The most chilling aspect of this whole release are the vocals. Actually I wouldn't even call them vocals at all. Sometimes they are haunting rasps reaching out to grasp whatever they can get hold of. Then on other cuts they come at you like tortured screams of agony. Whether they're to repel or welcome you is another matter altogether. I like how the vocals are not competing for life with the guitar. The whole is layered together but with waves of one pouring out at the perfect times and then reseeding to allow the other to hurt you as well. All in all it's a great
effect which makes this thing like a dark secret come to life.

Something important to note is that this was produced by Jaz Coleman, the guy who introduced the world to Industrial Metal with KILLING JOKE years ago. Thankfully he didn't homogenize this thing down to the likes of his latter day work. Instead, BLUT AUS NORD are this crude out of control industrial age blackened machine of hate. I was expecting this thing to end with a ripping of flesh and guts. But a surprise, the CD exits as it entered in. The atmospheric opening returns to allow you to exit this horror of sound and imagination.

I can picture an elementary school field trip to a pork slaughterhouse. The class stands on a moving sidewalk and then enters the great hall of carnage. A monotone pre-recorded voice explains all the goings on as the children watch. Some are horrified to the point where they turn away in disgust. Others move off to vomit after seeing where their lunch had just come from. And then there is one left, a very stoic figure for a child. He stands enthralled as he watches in guilty delight all the goings on. The teacher, standing in the background, looks upon the child and makes a mental note to remember this one.

Yeah that's what this is all about. Dragging your imagination beyond those limits forced upon you before by zealots. BLUNT AUS NORD takes fantasy and ties it all into reality as if it were a true memory.
CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com

DODSFERD - Cursing Your Will To Live CD Review

(EDITOR'S NOTE: I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS CD SINCE DECEMBER 2007, AND I HAD THOUGHT THEY WERE REVIEWED AND POSTED UP ON THIS SITE. BUT MY LAST COMPUTER WAS DAMAGED IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER. THEREFORE I OBVIOUSLY HADN'T POSTED ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO HERE'S THE REVIEW OF
THIS. TRUST ME ON THIS, I'M PISSED OFF.)


DODSFERD - Cursing Your Will To Live CD

I became a fan of this one man Black Metal project from Greece in early 2007 after I picked up the FUCKING YOUR CREATION CD. I started listening to it every morning for a couple of weeks. Extremely hate filled music is very important to get your attitude right before you go out to face the world. You see after really listening to his music, whether it's this one or his previous two. You realize that Wrath really is a nihilist who has total disdain for almost all humanity. And CURSING YOUR WILL TO LIVE is the epitome of hate. It simply does not hold back one second.

The CD opens with a simple guitar drone "All of Them Are Dead", no vocals just pure noise. But it's this noise which is key to opening up all of the rage and hostility on this CD. When you're angry, really angry, imagine what your brain waves are doing? Now place that into a musical form, yes a droning sound that's like a fuse burning till it reaches the powder to explode. And what follows next on "Hypocritic Shitfuckers Still Breathing" is the explosion. The song is traditional DODSFERD black and roll style and it hates twice as much. What follows lends more to older Black Metal style. "You Call It Resurrection; I Call It Fairytale for Human Parasites, Your Kind" is not just a simple theological disagreement on the christ resurrection. It's a full on blasting rebuke of everything involved in it. Wrath
continues his venom spewing attacks on "Failure Was Described As Religion, As Heresy". What makes this more than just a simple anti-religious rant is Wrath's vocals, which go from these harsh screams to some hate filled rasps. This is laid over a raw as fuck Black Metal uptempo groove.

"I Was Challenged to Enter the Gates of Blasphemy" is by far the most hate filled cut on here. It's eight minutes of screams and howling laid over a simple continuous rhythm. It's as if a man was being tortured by an inquisitor and never gave in. What follows is obviously a companion piece, "Under A Broken Cross", a poetic rant spoken/screamed/grunted over an ambient drone for six minutes. Listen to this song five or six times in a row but leave your humanity behind. Your thoughts will drift off to a place which is beyond mere contempt. Then you'll be shocked back into reality by what follows. "Staring at the Ashes of a Forsaken Kingdom" is a harsh rocker reminiscent of lower tier NWOBHM meets IMMORTAL. In fact the main reason I like DODSFERD is that they are the hybrid link between DARKTHONE's "Transilvanian
Hunger" and IMMORTAL's "Battles of the North". Wrath's vocals might make that opinion a stretch since they are of a higher screech. But musically on the title cut, especially since Wrath does the guitar and vocals, but has two highly Black Metal influenced session musicians on bass and drums which help this thing along.

As I'm listening to the title cut, all nine plus minutes of it, I must say that this CD is at the pinnacle of modern Black Metal. To use an arborist's term, the roots hold it in place. The trunk has given it the ability to rise above everything else that surrounds it. The branches have grown to an expansion of limitless proportions. But to look at it as just a sum of it's parts would be wrong. It's the complete structure that's all important. "Cursing Your Will To Live" is that complete structure. I'm writing this just as I listen to "Your Death, My Propitiation", which is pure blackened thrash. Yes there is no mercy to the lame fucks who have crawled into the Black Metal scene. The final cut, "I Kept Standing with Disgust" to me is an ode to that with it's death metal like blast of intense defiance.

Wow what a long review but a quick read for you. It has taken me close to four hours to review this CD. I believe we have a record. But anyway, this CD is the I AM AND I'M STILL HERE STANDING IN DEFIANCE OF ALL WHO OPPOSE ME, type of release that the weak ones bemoan. But us with the will of steel, crave.
MORIBUND CULT RECORDS

http://www.myspace.com/dodsferd
http://www.moribundcult.com

BEHEMOTH NEWS

Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of BEHEMOTH!
Repost From Metal Blade Records: http://www.myspace.com/metalbladerecords
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of BEHEMOTH!

Metal Blade Records has inked a North American deal with Polish extreme metalers BEHEMOTH! The band recently finished up an extremely successful year which saw the band as direct support to headliners Hatebreed on the infamous second stage at Ozzfest and a co-headlining spot on the Radio Rebellion tour alongside now label-mates ob for a Cowboy. BEHEMOTH played over 150 shows in 2007 and has no plans on slowing down for 2008. Expect to see a new release in the form of an EP out in the summer/fall of 2008 along with a state side tour in the spring.

"I have to honestly admit that we've never been more enthusiastic about the future. For last few years things have been moving forward for us like a storm and we decided to leave some secured territories and look for a new home for us. We needed something refreshing and challenging at the same time. Metal Blade and Nuclear Blast are two of the strongest and most influential labels in today's metal scene. Persistence and determination is what we have in common with both and I'm sure our future collaboration will forge a new, inspiring chapter in Behemoth's history. I simply can't wait to start working with these companies. We are proud and honored to be partnering with such greatly forward looking people. Expect big things to happen. Now only sky is the limit."

"At the same time I'd like to show my appreciation for all the years of hard work and dedication with our past labels: Century Media and Regain Rec. I'm happy that throughout all those years we were not only business partners but also friends. I wish both nothing but success in the future." Nergal


"We are honored and very excited to work with Behemoth. The band has truly established themselves as one of the greatest bands at the forefront of the extreme metal movement and we can't wait to help continue their amazing career."

http://www.behemoth.pl/ | http://www.myspace.com/behemoth | http://www.youtube.com/behemothofficial



FROM THE SCUMFEAST METAL ZINE EDITOR:

WELL THAT'S FUCKIN GREAT BUT HOW ABOUT THIS GUYS. HOW ABOUT YOU GET THE FUCK OFF THE GODDAMM DISNEY TOUR LIKE OZZFEST SHIT AND PLAY SOME REAL CLUBS SO US ADULTS CAN SEE YOU THIS TIME AROUND. TRUST ME, WE'RE ALOT MORE DANGEROUS AND DOWNRIGHT EVIL THAN SOME 13 YEAR OLD BRAT WITH A CELL PHONE AND A CREDIT CARD. WE'RE JUST A LITTLE SICK AND TIRED OF PAYING ALOT OF MONEY TO JUST STAND IN A DAYCARE CENTER, BEING TOLD WE CAN'T SMOKE, AND HAVING TO PAY $8 TO $10 FOR A 10OZ CUP OF BEER THAT WE DON'T EVEN LIKE.

HEY HERE'S A SUGGESTION, PLAY RALEIGH, NC. WE ARE A STATE CAPITAL AND WE HAVE A LARGE METAL CLUB. THEY'RE EVEN HAVE AN ALL AGES SHOW FOR YOU SO IT'LL HAVE AN OZZFEST-LIKE ATMOSPHERE.

NO I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC. ATLEAST BY PLAYING A CLUB TO ADULTS YOU'LL WON'T BE SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN hatesneeze AND job for a faggot. ALSO ABOUT THAT EP YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COME OUT WITH. ADULTS BUY THOSE THINGS, KIDS ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD IT.

TRELLDOM - Til Minne CD review

TRELLDOM - Til Minne CD
History has shown that those who are the most hated and vilafied turn out to be genuises, be it in art, politics or music. I'm positive that Gaahl, vocalist for GORGOTH and TRELLDOM will be vindicated in some way as a messiah to his art. Respect this man or hate his fuckin guts, either way you will recognize him as the most important figure in Extreme Music of the present day. When Gaahl speaks there is consequence to the unfortunate and mastery to those who understand and join.

Which brings us to this CD, "Til Minne", which is the third full length by TRELLDOM and their first release since 1998. I'll call this one as absolute perfection as if the listener is transported back in time to the unholy days of Black Metal prominance. That should be no surprise since Gaahl founded TELLDOM way back in 1992. On here we are not reminded of total past qualities but it's all pushed forth to the modern degree thanks to guitarist Valgard, who keeps a foot planted firmly in both eras of Black Metal. Still this release will wake up those who need a flaming torch thrust into their face. Gaahl switches from intense screaming, like on the opener and title track. Ah but at the end he chants over a guitar riff that will literally freeze your bones. In between all of that we have songs of pure Blackened Evil which rarely can be fabricated.

Once again I'm pissed off that I did not get this until the beginning of this year and it was a 2007 release. I'm not about to do a should've been list. But I hope I won't have to wait another decade for another TRELLDOM release.
Regain Records

http://www.regainrecords.com

http://www.trelldom.no

VBS.tv has posted all five episodes of a series on Norwegian black metal, featuring interviews with Gaahl, online. You can view the documentary here:

REGAIN RECORDS NEWS Jan. 2008

REGAIN NEWS!!!!

REGAIN RECORDS goes YOUTUBE & STAGE6!!!
Please check our new pages at Youtube & Stage6! You can find shitloads of Regain-videos overthere!
www.youtube.com/regainrecords
www.stage6.com/user/regainrecords

REGAIN RECORDS hits it´s artists on summer festivals 2008!!!
PARTY.SAN OPEN AIR(Germany) - Behemoth, Endstille (www.party-san.de)
WACKEN OPEN AIR(Germany) - Nifelheim, Grave, Lord Belial (www.wacken.com)
SUMMER BREEZE(Germany) - Endstille (www.summer-breeze.de)
UNITED METAL MANIACS(Germany) - Nifelheim (www.united-metal-maniacs.de)
SWEDEN ROCK(Sweden) - Mustasch (www.swedenrock.com)
WITH FULL FORCE(Germany) - Dark Funeral (www.withfullforce.de)

GRAVE new album!!!
The new grave album will be called "Dominion VIII".
It will contain 9 tracks of sheer evil and massbrutality.
At this moment the vocal parts and mixing/mastering is left
to do and will be completed within the first weeks of January.
www.grave.se

DISMEMBER on tour!!!
Check out DISMEMBER on tour with Fall Of Serenity & Hatesphere!!! New album out soon - www.myspace.com/dismemberpromo !!!
08.02.08 GER Nurnberg @ K4
09.02.08 GER Trier @ Exhaus

10.02.08 BEL Vosselaar @ Biebob

11.02.08 HOL Arnhem @ Willem Een (new date!)

14.02.08 HOL Breda @ Mezz

15.02.08 HOL Purmerend @ P3

16.02.08 GER Essen @ Turock

17.02.08 GER Stuttgart @ Ika-Longhorn

18.02.08 A Worgl @ Komma (new date!)

19.02.08 A Traun @ Spinnerei

20.02.08 GER Munich @ Metropolis

21.02.08 CH Zurich @ Dynamo Werk 21

22.02.08 CH Martigny @ Les Caves de Manoir (new date!)

23.02.08 ITA Ravenna @ Rock Planet

24.02.08 SLO Nova Gorica @ Mostovna

25.02.08 A Wien @ Arena

26.02.08 CZ Prague @ Rock Café

27.02.08 GER Darmstadt @ Goldene Krone

28.02.08 GER Hannover @ Musikzentrum

29.02.08 GER Oelsnitz @ Schützenhaus

01.03.08 GER Bischofswerda @ East Club

02.03.08 GER Berlin @ K17

Booging:

Massive Music

www.massive-music.pl



SAHG new album!!!

Norwegian SAHG(feat. King Ov Hell on bass) return with a new album called "Sahg II" soon!!! Keep your eyes open!!!

www.sahgweb.com

THRONE OF KATARSIS - An Eternal Dark Horizon CD review

THRONE OF KATARSIS - An Eternal Dark Horizon CD
This full length debut by Norwegian Black Metal duo, THRONE OF KATARSIS contains five long songs that are all close to ten minutes in length. No this is not an CDEP. Actually each song has a variety of unexpected twists and so there's two or three songs within one. I like the way it all comes out and I'm pissed off that I didn't review this in Dec. because it would have been on my "best of 2007" list.

What makes this release so appealing to my Black Metal loving black heart is that along with the typical drones, blasts, and all around diabolical evil that you always get by almost all bands in this genre. Grimnisse (vocals,guitar,bass) and Vardalu (drums) add melody plus some acoustic guitar elements. These are not just five songs but five grand compositions that demand complete concentrated listening. For those of you who might not have read my past reviews. I listen to a release a number of times before I start writing about it. And then while I write, the CD is playing on my stereo. This time around I find myself stopping in the middle of writing this review just to listen to each song over and over again.

There's something about "An Eternal Dark Horizon" that grabs your attention and transports your conscience to a place where THRONE OF KATARSIS wants it to be. While the music plays in the background, I'll stare at the cover photo with Grimnisse running through the woods holding a shortened sling blade. Then it's as if I'm there standing off to the side watching all of this going on. Wow great, the CD induces astral projections/out of body experience sensations. Hey, please note that I'm just drinking coffee right now. The back cover photo has Vardalv standing in a snowy woodland setting at night holding a flaming torch aloft. It's almost a nightmarish vision that sits well with the music on here. Fans of past and present day Black Metal will find this release a worthy listening experience.
CANDLELIGHT Records

http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com

BLOOD RED THRONE - Come Death CD review

BLOOD RED THRONE - Come Death CD
Once in a while people call up my bar asking who's playing there on that night and what type of music do they play. Chris, one of our bartenders, likes to screw with these people. Whenever they ask "What does the band sound like", he tells them Norwegian Death Metal. Trust me, it's a total lie. But I always try to correct him, "it's Swedish Death Metal and Norwegian Black Metal". He now tells people it's Finnish Folk Metal ever since I got him hooked on that. Albeit whenever the subject of Death Metal from Scandinavia comes up, Norway isn't exactly where you would expect to hear from first. But BLOOD RED THRONE has done alot to change that attitude.

On this their fourth full length release, BLOOD RED THRONE have created an extremely assessable CD for fans of classic American Death Metal. Personally I'm tired of the technical death ecstasy, trigger drum mania, and gravel gargling of this new school of Death Metal. Give me some MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY, and DEATH! And that's what this release is all about.

There's nine cuts of brutality on here including a GORGUTS'cover "Disincarnated". The originals will literally pummel anyone who's been a long time Death Metal fan. Songs like "Slaying the Lamb" and "Taste of God" will kick your fucking ass. Plus they're just great song titles in their own right. Cliche? Sure but only those who think good Death Metal should be as intense as a calculus exam would not get into this. If you need math-rock blasting in your MP3 while you relax on the couch during your daily exercise of video game playing. Then this CD is not for a game boy loser like you. This CD is for people who like to jump around and break things. This CD is audio demolition. It's the soundtrack for the dismantling of "tech-death metal" overdose.
EARACHE Records

http://www.earache.com

ABRUPTUM - Evil Genius CD review

ABRUPTUM - Evil Genius CD

True story, I was playing this CD at work during Metal Monday Nights. It was after 11 PM so that's when I allow all HELL to break loose as far as the musical selections go. So I was locking up the front door when I saw a woman outside at the bus stop. It was cold that night so I opened up the door and shoutedout to her, asking if she would like to wait for the bus inside the bar. Well she was all happy about that so she came inside and waited by the window. Now I remind you that this CD was playing at the time. ABRUPTUM were a Swedish Black
Metal band from the 90s that even MAYHEM's Euronymous thought was pure fuckin evil. And let me add this important fact, the lady waiting for the bus was this big fat black woman.

Now I went into the kitchen to tell my friend Chris, the bartender, that I let this woman inside because it was cold outside. And as I turned to go back outside to the bar I just started laughing my ass off. I turned to Chris and reminded him of the music which was playing. Then he started laughing and after a minute or two I finally went back outside. So I see that the woman is gone. I figured she saw her bus coming and left. But when I looked out, there she was standing in the street. So from that point on I just yelled to Chris, telling him what was going on with this woman. Yes she was in the street and a bus did come. she practically ran out in front of it to flag it down. Hey I doubt it was the bus she even
wanted. She probably wanted any bus just to get her away from the "Devil Bar". Oh yeah, I bet she was telling the driver to stop at a church, any church even a catholic church just to get the devil off of her.

Yeah well ABRUPTUM will do that to the weak ones. This here CD is a compilation of their ABRUPTUM-90:"Hextum Galaem Zeloq" and "The Satanist Tunes" cassette only releases and their 7"er "Evil", plus "De Profundis Mors Vas Consumet" their tribute to Euronymous.All of which were done from 1990 and 91. Yes we are talking about some of the worst Radio Shack quality recorded filth and hatred ever put out to the masses. While their brethren in Norway were actually creating Black Metal music, ABRUPTUM (aka: IT and ALL, later replaced by EVIL) were into a more avant garde/ambient sound that was plodding destructively. As far as it being
considered "ambient" by today's standards, maybe you should ask that black woman who ran out scared for her immortal soul. I'm serious, this is not for all of you weak teenagers who think wearing corpses paint and running around your basement screaming "Hail Satan" when your parents are not at home.

This CD is pure evil to say the least. While I know there will be people reviewing this, trying to describe something they have no earthly clue about. "What genre should pure evil be put in?" I'm pretty sure the evil dwarf and his co-conspirator wanted nothing more then to piss people off. Which is why I like playing this to unsuspecting listeners. You should too!!!!!
Southern Lord Records

CANDLELIGHT RECORDS UPDATE

CANDLELIGHT RECORDS UPDATE

UPCOMING RELEASES
Marilyn Manson/Lord of Darkness
This delayed dvd release is finally to be released in the US on January 15. The dvd features the band's original line-up and is old footage of the band in their early days. For fans of the band this is a must-have addition to your collection.

Martriden/The Unsettling Dark
The full length debut from this rising Montana-based band is scheduled for US release on February 5. The band recently posted samples from the new album on their official MySpace page located at www.myspace.com/martriden. The album features guest appearance from James Murphy.

Averse Sefira/Advent Parallax
The full-length label debut from the respected Texas-based black metal band is set for US release on February 12. The band will team up with Rotting Christ, Immolation and Belphagor for a full US tour beginning February 4. For a list of the complete dates with cities and venues visit our official website at www.candlelightrecordsusa.com.

Electric Wizard/We Live
Electric Wizard/Let Us Prey
Candlelight completes the digipak reissues of England's Electric Wizard with the February 5 release of these two great records. Following the recent release of the band's latest album, the stunning Witchcult Today (selling out everywhere!), both contain previously unavailable material.

Taint/Secrets And Lies
The new album from Wales-based band is going to catch many off guard. A bit heavier than their amazing 2005 debut, Secrets and Lies will appeal to fans of Clutch, Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet and more.

To-Mera/Delusions
The second album from London-based prog/metal band is nothing short of impressive. Once again pushing their musical ideas forward to ever greater heights, the album displays a much broader range of moods, tempos and dynamics. Having performed in front of Dream Theater, Emperor and several high-profile European festivals, it is to be a busy year for this rising band.

Starofash/The Thread
The new solo album from Heidi Tveitan is an amazing musical voyage. Featuring guest appearance from Garm (Ulver), the album furthers the singer/songwriter's exploration of music. Spanning numerous styles it is a very adventurous album.

Onslaught/The Force
Onslaught/Power From Hell
Onslaught/In Search of Sanity
Coming March 11, Candlelight will make available domestically the long unavailable early catalog from England's thrash favorites.

Candlelight Winter Sampler
Available towards the end of January we are happy to confirm the release of our latest promotion sampler. Set to feature selections from Obituary, To-Mera, Martriden, Insomnium, Averse Sefira, Starofash, Taint, October File, Entombed, Sear Bliss, The Foreshadowing, Blut Aus Nord, Witchcraft, and many more, the sampler will be available at various retail outlets. All orders to our official webstore will receive the sampler as a value-added item in their orders (limited supplies).


COMING SOON
Ihsahn
Angl is the title of the second solo album from the former Emperor vocalist/guitarist. Expected for release mid-spring, the album is in its final completion stages now. Stay tuned for expanded details.

Daylight Dies
Lost to the Living is the third album from this North Carolina-based five-piece. Already in progress, the band reports that drums, acoustic and electric guitars are now recorded. The album is expected for release early summer. Visit the band's official website at www.daylightdies.com for ongoing updates from the studio.

Absu
Candlelight proudly announces the signing of American black metal pioneers Absu. The band are expected to enter the studio in February to begin recording of their new album anticipated for release sometime this summer. Stay tuned for expanded details.




www.candlelightrecordsusa.com

NIGHTWISH - Dark Passion Play CD Review

NIGHTWISH - Dark Passion Play CD
Since the canning of their former vocalist, Tarja Turunen, NIGHTWISH were of a questionable status as to what future they would have after the operatic one packed her bags and left. For all of you Tarja fans don't worry. Rumor has it that Tarja and former GATHERING vocalist, Anneke van Giersbergen, have planned a tour of their own. Although REVOLVER magazine won't be sponsoring this "hottest chicks in metal tour". I've heard that the tentative tour billing will be "Hot Scandinavian Divas in Blackest Africa Tour". The first date in supposed to be in the capital of Kenya.

Now be that as it may, Anette Olzon, from Sweden has taken over vocal duties for this Finnish Gothic/Progressive force. A new era for them has begun. Will their old fans accept the new NIGHTWISH on this their sixth full length? My guess after listening to this for a few weeks is an astounding YES! This CD opens with "The Poet and the Pendulum", here is where we get the full effect of Anette Olzon in operatic form. As if she is calling out from a snow swept valley. But then a more pop metal pours out from the speakers and it's here that we hear Anette Olzon at her best. She has a more traditional voice, not so avant garde as the one she replaced. That's a good thing. Unfortunately the opening 13 plus minute opus is not the best way to shine on her. Maybe if you're trying to prove you made the right choice for a replacement.

"Bye Bye Beautiful" should've been the opening cut especially since Anette Olzon duels vocals with guitarist/vocalist, Marco Hietala. The pair work well together on this cut. But it's on "Amaranth" where Anette Olzon really stands out among others within this genre. And pushes NIGHTWISH into a different musical direction. Like all of these Gothic/Progressive Euro bands, they need something more than symphonic arrangements, bombastic production, and melodic choruses to break through to US audiences. "Amaranth" is the hit cut on here to do that and appeal to a broader audience. On the other hand "Master Passion Greed" is the most heaviest thing this band ever attempted. Hey new blood in the band gives us some balls? "Sahara" is a blast of Gothic energy that harkens back to their old days. But "Whoever Brings the Night"enters a realm in which Anette Olzon shines as vixen on the opening lyrics and then shines on like an angelic being during the chorus. Which is followed by their next commercial hit "For the Heart I once Had". Yeah they'll win the Finnish Grammys for that one.
A few of the bottom CD cuts are pure folk with "Last of the Wilds" being the killer track, an instrumental. But in the end here we are given the last gasps of songwriting for the past diva who is far gone. Anette Olzon doesn't need to prove her vocal talents here at the end.Like I said in the beginning, the new NIGHTWISH era is upon us. But give this lady her due, she can sing!

Roadrunner Records

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com
http://www.nightwish.com

KROHM - The Haunting Place CD

KROHM - The Haunting Place CD
Imagine you woke one day and decided to create a Black Metal record that's key ingredients were misery and despair. Well then that would make you Numinas (aka:Dario Derna) the genius behind the one man project KROHM. Numinas did seek to make a release that was on par with some of the old 90s Black Metal stalwarts (BURZUM & DARKTHRONE). He definitely succeeded with this his third release. Although his second release is actually a reissue of early material.Some of you might remember Numinas (aka: Dario Derna) when he used to drum for EVOKEN as well as the band ABAZAGOTH. He also drums for label mates DRAWN AND QUARTERED.

But getting back to this CD, it's 7 tracks (56 plus minutes) of uncomfortable misery on an epic scale. This should be played on college radio stations during exam finals. There would be bodies flying out of dorm windows by the minute. Wouldn't that be fun to watch especially on a week night when there's nothing to do. Get together with friends, bring some lawn chairs and a cooler full of beer. Find yourself a good spot and then watch the festivities as "The Haunting Presence" blasts in the background. What I like about this CD is that each track is more nightmarish than the one preceding it. The opener "Bleak Shores" sets us in the mood for misery. It's followed by the melancholy, with the exception of the rapid fire drumming, "Lifeless Serenade" which is almost like a death march into some unseen as of yet oblivion. But you know something horrible awaits as Numinus's bellowing growls press you onward.

"I Respiri Delle Ombre" translated from Italian means "the breath of the shadows" and as the third song on this CD, it starts off at a rocking pace. But that's short lived since fun is not allowed. And so Numanis slows things down to a shoe gazer pace. By the way he sings the song in Italian which definitely drapes more misery onto a song worthy to die for. "Relic" is the most bombastic cut on this CD by far. Also it is the most reminiscent of early DARKTHRONE, while the rest is territory previously spat upon by Varg Vikernes. For all of you naysayers out there who still consider the USBM scene to be utter shit, the time has come to eat your words and choke upon them.

"Memories of the Flesh" is my obvious favorite cut on here for a number of very personal reasons. First and foremost, it's with the lyrics. "Trapped in the procession of time. Hatred stirs memories of the flesh. Uncovering a solace only found. In the loss of my humanity." It is these words that perfectly reflect my most recent past experiences, the truly painful crap. One person recently told me that I'm running. But in actuality I'm exploring the depths. And it's within this very song that I feel a kinship. As if I have totally disregarded everything in my recent past on purpose because it was the flesh which felt the pain. Undressing it was the best thing for me although losing my humanity was the cost of that decision. Oh yeah and the drumming is incredible on it.

Numinas follows that perfectly with another cut sung in Italian, "Tra La Carne E Il Nulla" or in English "Between Flesh and Nothingness". The song slowly lurches from shoe gazing in the lair of darkness onto an impressive pace of drum beat blasts and melodic guitar strumming. Added screamed vocals by Numinas rounds in out until it's eventual climax. The seventh and final cut is "Syndrome" a doomish dirge that slowly picks up speed. Until the end with it's frantic stretch of sludge. Yes it's time to leave, get the fuck out! Or for you weak ones, smash jewel CD case and slash wrists appropriately. Numanis even provides the perfect keyboard passage out as you begin to sleep for the final time.

Moribund Records

http://www.moribundcult.com

ANAAL NATHRAKH - Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here CD

ANAAL NATHRAKEH - Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here CD

What I like about this twisted British duo is how they mix EMPEROR style symphonic black metal with modern day psycho grindcore, right down to maniac screaming. Yeah the tagline for this genre is "blackened death grind" but medically this would fall under clinical psychoses. "The Final Asolution" is a cut that will either grab you in as a sicko fan or totally assault your metal snobbery. I'm a fucking freak so I dove in head first. Although the pace is not set to blistering speed throughout, ANAAL NATHRAKEH slow things down to a melodic mood after a while.Yeah we all need to breath now and then. But the power and brutality of this release really never breaks down to lose the listener. You're either in it for the long haul or you fell off the ride some time at the start. Hopefully you're lying somewhere in excruciating pain and no one can hear your pathetic screams for help.
At least not with this CD blasting, ha!
Feto Records

http://www.feto-records.com
http://www.myspace.com/anaalnathrakh

AFTER FOREVER - Self Titled CD + DVD

AFTER FOREVER - Self Titled CD + DVD
Since the band EVANESCENCE made it's breakthrough single into the US pop music airways. Female fronted progressive/symphonic/gothic metal bands from Europe are popping out faster than breasts during Spring Break in Florida. AFTER FOREVER are the latest European export, although this Dutch band has been around for a while. This, their fifth full length, is the first to properly reach our shores via a big metal label, Nuclear Blast.

Unfortunately what this band as well as all others of this genre suffer from is
repetitiveness. You have a handful of songs that are catchy enough to hold your attention. But then the filler Euro centric symphonic melodies come in to test your attention to metal detail. The band even enlist the city of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra on here. And that's when you are reminded that all these bands must be produced from the same commercial template. You got your complex arrangements, beefy guitars and bass, whirling keyboard solos, and of course the hot female vocalist. In AFTER FOREVER it's Floor Jansen, who can punch the opera like vocals up to where former NIGHTWISH singer,Tarja Turenen, once did for Finland's entry in this genre. Although I'll take Floor over the former NIGHTWISH diva any day.


Songs like "Evoke" and "Energize Me" are definite winners in the metal music radio airplay department. They're throwbacks to the 80's power metal days in style. "Equally Destructive" could even touch the hearts of those into the more extreme side of metalish themes. That's if you still have a heart. Alot of the songs on here have Floor and guitarist/composer Sander Gommens in dueling vocals. Floor with the glorious soprano and Sander doing the death metal grunting. It works well on "Withering Time" and on the disc's opener "Discord".

"De-Energized" is where the CD starts moving away from the more pop friendly tunes and the songs turn towards a more complex route. This is where the Gothic/Prog stylings take over for better or worse. And by the halfway point of the 11 minute metal-opera epic "Dreamflight", I was at my limit. Like I explained in the beginning of this review. Alot of this genre's style is decent but formulated to the ultimate degree. Genre purists will obviously go ape shit over this and obviously they should. AFTER FOREVER are a fantastic band, my Dutch heritage having no bias in that statement. I made it three quarters of the way through before I was ready to hear something else. Maybe you can do better. Still, it's a great release of epic proportions.
Nuclear Blast Records

http://www.nuclearblast.com
http://www.afterforever.com
http://www.myspace.com/afterforever

HALFORD - Metal God Essentials Vol. 1 CD + DVD

HALFORD - METALGOD The Essentials Vol. One CD + DVD
It seems fitting that Rob Halford is finally getting credit for his solo work after leaving PRIEST in the early 90s. Of course you'll still get an occasional idiot who thinks their opinionated snobbery is worth something to consider. But no it's not, in fact you losers who have slagged the man's post PRIEST output couldn't even carry the his leather. Better for you to lick his ball sweat because he is the Metal God. Halford has one of the greatest voices ever in metal. Now I'm sure some of you losers might've been conceived in a "heavy metal parking lot", while I was inside the concert hall watching PRIEST in their glory days. You still have no earthly right to disrespect a living legend. Better for you to buy this and learn something.

This compilation, approved by the Metal God himself, features some of the best material from his solo years with the bands FIGHT and HALFORD with tracks from FIGHT's "War of Words - Demos" release plus HALFORD's "Silent Screams", "Crucible", "Live Insurrection" and "Resurrection". Listening to "Resurrection", "Screaming in the Dark"or even "Made in Hell", you just can't help but raise your fist in metal triumph. The heavy metal scream that can peel paint is back again, ah but it never left. "Golgotha" is outstanding as it starts out slow in a SABBATH-esque way and then ripping into a thrash attack. "Into the Pit" and "Nailed to the Gun" are lost treasures that should've been blasting from radio stations back in the 90s. Also this CD has some surprise cuts of newer HALFORD material from 2006.

So until JUDAS PRIEST releases their two-CD conceptual opus on the life of famed 16th century French prophet, Nostradamus, sometime this year. Keep this one close by your CD player since it's for fans of old, like me, and for the new ones.
Frontiers Records


http://www.robhalford.com
http://www.myspace.com/robhalford

METAL NIGHT'S PLAYLIST

Since Monday night was New Year's Eve we had no Metal Monday Nights at work. So I decided to do it on Wednesday night. And so here is the night's play list from start to finish.






HALFORD - Metal God Essentials Volume One
WITHIN TEMPTATION - The Heart of Everything
69 Eyes - Savage Garden
SODOM - In the Sign of Evil
ASTARTE - Demonized
ABRUTUM - Evil Genius

BEST PART OF THE NIGHT CAME WHEN I WAS LOCKING THE FRONT DOOR AND SAW A WOMAN WAITING OUTSIDE FOR THE BUS. NOW IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE TONIGHT, THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 20s. SO I OPENED THE DOOR AND TOLD THE WOMAN THAT SHE COULD WAIT INSIDE THE BAR FOR HER BUS TO COME. AND THE WOMAN WAS THANKFUL ABOUT IT AS SHE CAME INSIDE. NOW THE ABRUTUM CD WAS PLAYING AT THE TIME. FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT FAMILIAR WITH ABRUPTUM, THEY WERE THE MOST EVIL BLACK METAL BAND ON THE PLANET IN THE 90s. SO I REALIZE WHAT'S GOING ON AND I GO INTO THE KITCHEN TO TELL THE BARTENDER WHAT WAS UP. AND WE'RE LAUGHING OUR ASSES OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I WALK OUTSIDE TO THE BAR AND THE LADY IS BACK OUTSIDE. SO I TELL THE BARTENDER THAT THE MUSIC MUST HAVE FREAKED HER OUT. THEN I SIT DOWN AT THE BAR AND BEGIN A PLAY BY PLAY OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUTSIDE. TWO MINUTES WENT BY BEFORE A BUS CAME BY AND I WATCHED THIS WOMAN WAVED DOWN THIS BUS LIKE HER LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. I DOUBT IT WAS EVEN THE BUS SHE WANTED. SHE JUST GOT ON A BUS TO GET HER ASS AWAY FROM THE DEVIL BAR.
WE FINALLY GOT WHAT WE WANTED ON METAL NIGHTS. TO SEE PEOPLE SO FREAKED OUT AND FRIGHTENED BY THE MUSIC THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY RUN OUT OF THE BAR NO MATTER WHAT. WELL CERTAIN TYPES OF PEOPLE THAT IS.

THE LUST OF WINTER and THE WOLF MOON of JANUARY by Wolf

The Wolf Moon comes in January which is in the heart of winter. It is when wolves could be heard howling with hunger outside of villages and human settlements. I had that in mind this morning when I went on my early morning work. It was at 6AM and the temperature was a brisk 29 degrees. I was in ecstasy as I left the warm comfort of my home and was assaulted by the cold wind. I actually love it this time of year. Yes the Fall can be nice but here in the South the weather is constantly changing. So we still have hot days in December. So it's up to the month of January to chill the bones of the weak and strengthen those of us who lust for the cold dark Winter.

As I walked my route through the neighborhood I started recollecting all of the things I lust about in Winter. There's that "silence" about in the early morning. You don't hear the lifesigns of animals or bugs. There's that "crunch" sound when you walk across frozen grass. Then there's the crackle of my leather jacket in the cold air. It's a powerful sound, the crack of leather, almost masterful, unrelenting, powerful.Then there's the solitude that you are one of the few walking about at that time of the morning in the cold. At least for foot traffickers, there's still the early morning drivers headed to work who fly by, taking advantage of the empty streets.

It's very different from when I had to go back out in the afternoon to run errands and pick up some Chinese food for lunch. Yes that's when the sidewalks were fuller of people all hustling about. I could see that they were miserable amid this drop in temperature. I simply smiled as I walked down the street passing them by. I even heard one jackass curse because he wasn't dressed warm enough. My thoughts brought me back to the years I spent in Alaska. I felt the chill of 75 degrees below zero, when ice sickles from on your nose hair and your eye lashes freeze up. You continually blink to free them or your eyes will freeze shut. Lovely weather up there and I recommend everyone in the southern regions to experience it at least once in their lifetime. It was up in Alaska where my fingers tips got frost nipped. So ever since, whenever the temperature gets to freezing or below. My finger tips lose all feeling. And yet my heart still lusts for the cold.

With that all said for this early part of January I'll be catching up on some releases that came out in the Fall of 2007 and weren't in our reviews. I have a stack of them in front of me now. Each one is calling to me to be listened to over and over. Preferably during the cold darkness of night under the January Wolf Moon.
Happy New Year? Not very likely!

Our Favorite Release of 2007: ASTARTE - DEMONIZED CD

SCUMFEAST METAL'S FAVORITE RELEASE FOR 2007

ASTARTE - DEMONIZED CD

Yeah we saved the best one for last. This release, which is the fifth by this female trio from Athens, Greece, is are favorite for 2007. From the opening pounding of "Mutter Astarte", you realize that this is going to be intense and incrediable. It's like being dragged kicking and screaming down to a torture chamber of horrors, in a good way of course. Tristessa's vocals are pure demonic. You wonder how something sounding so horrifying could come from one so beautiful. And the title track tells all, "Fire in her eyes. Her beauty hide the signs. She devil female disguise. Innocence has died". Add to that the blackened death sounds backing her up on here. "God I Hate Them All" is like the soundtrack to an artillery barrage, provided by the percussion talents of guest drummer Ice and guess guitarist Lycon. (As of now they are perminant members of ASTARTE) "Lost" is more destruction to your senses, if you are weak. And since this CD's release in the early part of 2007, I've read some unflattering reviews done by men who can't grasp the greatness of this. They are the weak wet shit butt pissers who dismiss this as just a female fronted act in the Black/Death Metal genre. I see this release as something sinister. Musically this is like a firestorm on the horizon coming to feed it's hungry flames on your flesh. On the back of the CD insert there's a final line comment from the band which reads as follows; "A Big Fuck Off To All Of Those Who Tried To Take Advantage Of Us and Do Us Harm We Are Still Here Alive and Kicking"

And now onto the incrediable parts, this release features Tristessa performing vocal duets with a perverbial "who's who" of underground metal guests. "Lycon", which opens with the howl of a wolf from far off, features MAYHEM's own Attila Csihar sharing the mike with Tristessa. Actually Attila sounds better on this song than he did on this years MAYHEM release, Ordo Ad Chao. Obviously Tristessa has a way of bringing out the best in others like on the song "Queen of the Damned". Here she pairs up with Henri Sattler of GOD DETHRONED. Henri almost comes off sounding as if he's in worship mode and why not, Tristessa is a Demoness! Another guest, Nicolas s.i.c. Maiis of LLOTH, adds some gutteral monster vocals to the song "God Among Men". The fourth guest vocal duet is obviously the most interesting to say the least. It is on the song, "Black At Heart" where Tristessa pairs up with Angela Gossow of ARCH ENEMY. Here we have the two great goddesses of Extreme Metal Destruction on one hell raising track. It's as if these sisters of evil are standing upon a mountain top looking down into a valley of bloodied and blackened bodies who they have just slaughtered with their bare hands.

It was at this point of the CD that I told myself months ago, when I first listened to it, that this was going to be on my best of 2007 list. And as time went by, whenever I wanted to listen to something which would share my anger, hatred, and disgust for things around me. I put this release into the stereo and joined in on the chaos as the music charged out of my speakers. And there's a song on here, "Black Star", which conveys that feeling. "Feel the tension in your mind, black is the sign. A sign that fades into, into your eyes. tghe sin was never clear, a statue born of fear. As things were never clear". Well listening to "Demonized" makes alot of things clear to say the least.

http://www.astarteband.com/

http://www.myspace.com/astartetristessa

http://seasonsofmist.com/