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A helluva lot of bands!
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OneofIceland’syoungestDeathMetalbandsiscarryingquitetheloadontheirshoulderswhenitcomestoexperience.IfproperlycalculatedtheyearsofDeathMetalexperiencetheseguyshavemightcomeclosetothehalfacenturymark.ThemembersofBeneathcantracetheirrootstodemigodssuchasAtrum&Changerandoldlegends
likeSororicide.Therearen’talotofbandsouttherewithlineageasprestigeasBeneathsoIfeltinclinedtoaskhowitallcametogether.
BeneaththeRemains“IguesstheoriginsofBeneathcouldbetracedbacktowhenIleftChanger”Gísli,thesingerof
CurrentsMarch&April2010.Currentsispublishedonlinemonthly,printedissuesarepublishedsporadically.
TwoweeksagoUrfaustplayedliveinReykjavik.FewminutesaftertheyleftthestagenewscameofvolcaniceruptionsonFimmvörðuháls.Coincidence?Ithinknot.Wehaveinvokedthegodzofdoomwithourincantantionsofmalice.Letusrejoicenow,relaxandlettheworldfalltoruin.
CurrentsPostholf666121Reykjavik
Iceland
www.currents‐online.com
eyvindur@currents‐online.com
Beneath,tellsus,“IdecidedtotakesometimeoffandfigureoutexactlywhatIwantedtodomusically,andshortlyafterChangerfoldedIcalledJóhanntoseeifhewasinterestedinforminganewband.Hewasandthatgottheballrolling.Theintentionwasclearfromthestart,wewantedtoplayfastdeathmetal.”FastDeathMetalisindeedwhatthebandisallabout.OneofthebandsthatregularlypoppedintomyheadwasBoltThrower,notbecauseofsimilaritiesinmusic,butinthesimilarapproachinawaytothemusic.Bothbandsremindmeofcruisingtanksgoingthroughthebattlefieldscrushingeverythingintheirway,blowingupeverythingwithintheirrange.Now,Beneath’smusicisabitofamixtureofoldmeetingnewDeathMetal.WouldyousaythattheagedifferenceofthemembershasplayedapartinthefactthatBeneathmanagetofillthegapbetterthanmostthattrytofusetheoldwiththenew?“You'renotthefirstonetosaythatwemixoldandnewdeathmetalwelltogether,but
it'snotreallyintentional.Itcouldverywellbeduetotheagedifference,wedohaveverydifferentinfluencesandperhapsourperspectiveondeathmetalisdifferentduetothat.ButIdon'tthinkwe'reonlyinfluencedbydeathmetal.Someofusinthebandareverymuchintoblackmetalandallkindsofothermusicreally,metalandotherwise.”Trueindeed.Gísli,themanonthekeyboardontheotherendofthisinterview,wasincontactwithlegendssuchasDeadandEuronymousbackintheday.Iamsureifweweretobrowsthroughhisrecordcollectionwemightfindsuchgemsofyesterdaylike“Deathcrush”,“Aske”or“TheAwakening”.
LiveUndeadBeneathwonthefirstWackenMetalBattlethatwasheldinIcelandandplayedliveonstageatWackenOpenAirthesameyear.HowdidthatallgoanddiditalterinanywayyourintentionswithBeneath?InoticedonyourMySpacesitethatBeneathwillbeplayingtheGermanDeathFeastOpenAirFestivalinJunesharingthestagewithlegendssuchasDeranged,Graveandthemighty
Sinister.Howdidthatcomeabout?“ItwasofcourseagreatforustobethefirstIcelandicbandtoplayWackenandthefirsttorepresentIcelandintheWackenMetalBattle.Thegigwentwellandwegotgoodreception.Overallitwasaverygoodexperienceforus.Iwouldn'tsaythatWackenchangedourintentionswiththebandinanywaythough.WehadalreadybeenincontactwiththeDeathFeastguysandthatjuststartedwithasingleemail.Wecontactedtheminitiallyforthe2009editionofthefestivalandthenkeptintouchandendeduponthe2010edition.We'reofcourseveryexcitedaboutgettingtosharethestagewiththoselegendarybandsandbeapartofapurelydeathmetalfestival.”Whowouldn’tbe?Tobeonstagewiththesamepeoplethatdug“TribesoftheMoon”upfromit’sgrave,notbad!However,allthegigsI’veseenyouguyslistedfortherestofthisyeararefestivaldates.Wasthisaconsciousdecision?“Nothisisjusthowthingshavetranspired,”Gíslisays,“westillhaveafewthingsintheworks,bothhereathomeandabroadandhopefullysomethingwillcomeoutofthat.Wehavealreadyplayedthreegigsthisyear,tworeleasegigsforourEPandthenatthe2010
WackenMetalBattleasspecialguests.Sowe'renotonlyaimingforfestivals.”
HollowEmptyVoid
TheMCD,“HollowEmptyVoid”actuallywaspostponedabitbecauseoftroublesatthepressingplant,whichseemstoberathercommonthesedays,andonlysawthelightofdayacoupleofweeksago.Fourstudiotracksandtwolivetracks,makingthetracksintotalsixforyouwithasoftspotformath.TheMCDwasreleasedbyayounglabelbasedintheUnitedStates,MordbrannMusikk.SomehavelinkedthedealwithMordbranntothevictoryofWackenMetalBattleandthesubsequentliveperformanceatWOAbutisitreallyso?“No.wewerealreadyincontactwithMordbrannMusikkbeforeourWackenappearancesothathadnothingtodowitheachother.”
FutureWeapons
InoticedinyourbiothatBeneathhas
alreadyrecordedit’sdebutalbumandislookingforalabeltoreleaseit.Althoughthe“HollowEmptyVoid”hasjustbeenreleasedhaveyouhadanyinterestinthedebutfromlabelsyet?“Yes,thatiscorrect.WefinishedtherecordingsinearlyDecemberandthemixingisdonebutnotthemastering.Wehaven'treallystartedsendingoutpromopacksyet,wedecidedtositonthealbumabituntiltheEPwasreleasedandthenofcoursewegotafewdelayswiththerelease.ButnowthattheEPisoutwearestartingtofocusonfindingagoodhomeforthealbum.”
Reykjavikvs.UppsalaHowdidtheco‐operationwithDanielBergstrandcomeabout?Uppsala,SwedenisalongwayfromReykjavik,Iceland.AlthoughBergstrandhandledthemixingwasthealbumitselfrecordedatthesamestudioyouusedforthemini‐album?SidetrackingabitherebutareyoufamiliarwiththeresurgenceofoldfashionedDeathMetalinUppsalaandhaveyoucheckedoutanyofthebandsfromthere?“WejustcontactedDanielandhewasavailable
andinterestedsowejusttookitfromthere.Ihavetosaythatwearereallyhappywithwhathedidwiththemixesandcan'twaittohearthefinalmasteredversion.Werecordedtheguitars,bassandvocalsatFosslandStudioagain,justaswedidwiththeEP,butwedecidedtorecordthedrumselsewherethistime.WewenttoSundlauginStudio,that'sthestudiothatSigurRósbuiltandfinishedthedrumtracksinaweekendthere.Iwasn'tawarethattherewasadeathmetalresurgencespecificallyinUppsala,butIwouldbeveryinterestedincheckingoutanybandsfromthere.”
“HollowEmptyVoid”isavailablebothfromthebandandthelabel.AsyoushouldhaverealizednowBeneathareinIcelandwhileMordbrannisintheStatessochoosewhicheverisclosertoyou.IfyoudodecidetogetintouchwithGísli&Beneathdotellhimaboutyourlocalscene,Iknowhewouldappreciateit.
[email protected]/beneathdeathmetalwww.reverbnation.com/beneathmetalwww.mordbrannmusikk.com
Manyknowthisbandforit’svulgarstageshowsbutmorepeopleknowitforit’sdisregardforanythingandeverythingthatisholytothenarrowminded.ThereissomethingsleazyanddiabolicaltoArmour’smusicandVinceVenomisabouttobringusheadfirstintothesordiddealingshemadewiththeDevilhimselfwhenheforgedtheArmourhenowwealds.“Asforanydemonicrenegadespirit,Ihavealwaysbeenattractedtospeed,power,fury,darkness,aggression,lust,vengeance,trance,chaos,evil,rebellionandsuperiority.Thesethingsareallpresentinthetruespiritofheavymetal,andthusalsoinARMOUR.Alongwiththeobvious
challengeIwasseekingtocreateextremelytenaciousandtorrentialmusicinspiredbytheoriginalalchemyofHeavyMetal,itwasevidentthatARMOURcameintobeing.”
FucktheRules
HasanythingchangedwiththemotivesbehindArmour?BythelooksofitI’minclinedtothinkthatyoumadetheconsciouschoicetocreateArmourasavehiclenotonlytocreatemusicthatyouenjoybutalsotoseehowfaryoucouldtakeit.“Themotiveshaveremainedsomewhatthesame:Tofucktherulesandshowtheworldthatwe'reaboveallexpectationsfromwhiningspectators,tomanifestHeavyMetalthewayitwasmeanttobeandtogoasfarasourcapabilitiescantakeus.Therehasnotyetbeenalimitforwhatwecanachievewiththeband,soeverythingislookinggood.”
InfectingtheCrypts
Finlandseems,tooutsiders,tobeaveryMetal‐inclinedcountryandtherehavebeenmanyexamples,Armourincluded,ifI’mnotmistaken,ofMetalbandsbreachingtheboundariesand
climbinghighonyournationalcharts.IsitasMetal‐inclinedasonemightassumeoristheeasyaccessofMetalbandstothecountry’stopmusicalchartsjustanotherexampleofthelowsaleofdomesticmusic?“Yes,Finlandisinfestedwithtrendymetalheadsinterestedinonlythemosthipandcontemporaryphenomenonthatvergemetalmusicbysomesuperficialmusicalaspects.Naturallythismisleadedcrowdalsocangiveagoodbasisforustodoourwork.Ofcoursethetotaldegenerationofrecordsalesandpopmusicingeneralhasgivenustheopportunitytofeedasheavymetalvulturesontherottingcorpseofdecreasingrecordsalesofmajorartists.”
FistintheFace
“Aswe'veseen,”VinceVenomcontinues,“ARMOURhaveforexamplereachedthesecondplaceontheofficialFinnishsinglechartswithour"Can'tResistYourSpell/Hellfire"VINYLsingle.Thisofcoursewasagloriousmomentandabrutalfistinthefaceofalltheloserwannabesandacleardemonstrationofourforceandourdiehardfans.
PrimitiveHeadbangers
YourdebutalbumwasreleasedlatelastyearbyPrimitiveReactionandisnowbeingreleasedbyHell’sHeadbangers.Whydidyouchoosetogotheduallabelrouteand,moreimportantly,willtherebeanytouringnowwithArmour?WhatdoesthefutureofArmourlooklike?“FormaximumimpactondifferentregionsitwasanaturalchoicetolookforanAmericanlabeltohandlethereleaseofouralbumthereinaproperway.Hell'sHeadbangersisabrilliantlabelandoneofthebestfromNorthAmerica,soitwasmorethanapleasuretoreleasethealbumoverseasthroughthem.Sofartherehavebeennooffersforanytours,buthopefullysomethingwillappearinthefuture.AsforARMOUR'sfuture,wenowhaveanewdrummerafteralongsearchforapermanentreplacementforouroriginalbattery‐smasherJake,andwe'reslowlystartingtopreparenewmaterialforpossibleupcomingreleases. Myspace.com/metalarmour
LOPAPEYSUR LANDI HELVÍTI
Ithinkit’ssafetosaythatthereisn’tachildeoflightouttherethathasn’theardorheardofIceland’sveryownprodigies;Sólstafir.Forgedinfire&icesome15yearsagointheloftofasmallgarageinSeljahverfi,asmallsectionoftheinfamousBreiðholt.Theyspentyearshoningtheircraft,workingontheirmagickandafteryearsofchargingthevesselknownasSólstafirtheybrokethroughtheboundarieswiththeirmasterpiece.Appropriatelyenoughthealbum,theirfirstforSpikefarmbuttheirsecondoverall,wascalled
“MasterpieceofBitterness”.Thebitternessgotthemfarandafewyearslater,afterheavytouring,theyreleased“Köld”.Thereweresomedifferenceswith“Köld”and“Masterpiece…”andsoIwantedtoknowrightawayhowitfeltforthebandgoingfromtherelativeeaseofStokkseyriRockCity,wherethepreviousalbumwasrecorded,tothemassiveGöteborg,Sweden.ARockCityinit’sownrightbutstilluncharteredterritoryforSólstafiruntilthen.Sólstafir’sveryowndrummerovHell,Pálmason,toldCurrentsabitaboutthedifferencesinhisview.“Therecordingproceduresareinnowaycomparable.Werecorded“MasterpieceofBitterness”onourownwiththehelpofourfriendSigurgrímurUllarpeysaLopasokkurJónssonathishomeinthesmallvillageofStokkseyrionthesouthcoastofIceland.“Köld”,ontheotherhandwasrecordedinavintageanaloguestudioinGöteborg,Sweden,andyes,itwasthefirsttimewerecordedoutsideofIceland.”“MasterpieceofBitterness”wasrecordedmostlyduringweekendsoveralongperiodoftime,“Köld”,ontheotherhand,wasrecordedin3weeks,workingeverysingleday.”
ToursofDuty
Sólstafirhavespentquitealotoftimesince“MasterpieceofBitterness”wasreleasedtouringtheworld.So,wouldthatmeanthatSpikefarmhavebeenhelpingthemoutwithtour‐supportandisthatsomethingthatSólstafirwaslookingforwhentheysignedwiththem?“Toursupportisascamultimatelypaidforbythebanditself,sonothatis
notwhatwearelookingfor.Gooddistributionisthemostimportantthing.Wewantourmusictobeeasilyavailableforthepublic.Wealsodon’twantthesituationtopresentitselfagain,likeitdidonourlasttour,thatwehaveonly50cdstosellona30datetour,sellingupinthefirst5datesbecausethecdwasoutofprintfromthelabelalthoughwehadaskedthemforcdswellinadvance!Andthistourwasinsupportofsaidalbum!”Againwereturntomath.Youdon’thavetorocketscientisttofigureoutthatwiththismove,orlackof,thelabellostquiteabitofmoneyandthebandandthefansmissedthechancetogettoknoweachotherbetter.RitualofFire
AsI’vewatchedyouovertheyearsplayingliveI’venoticedthatyourstage‐showhaschangedquiteabit.Nowthebandseemsfocusedoncreatingsomewhatofaritualisticatmosphereduringit’sconcerts.
Nowthatmyopinionisoutoftheway,whatisyourgoalwiththeliveperformancesofSólstafir?“Ourgoalistoputyou,theaudienceintothesametranswearein.Jointheritual!”ScatteredRemains
Membersindifferentpartsoftheworld.Sólstafir’smembershavebeenroamingtheEarthlatelybutatthesametimeSólstafir,asaband,seemstohaveflourishedunlikebeforewhenyouwerealltuckedtogetherinBreiðholtghetto.IsthisaclearsignfromthegodzthatSólstafircanonlyachieveperfectionwhenthemembersareasfarawayfromeachotheraspossible?“No,notatall.Wearenowreapingtheharvestof“Köld”,who’sseedswereplantedwhilewestillalllivedinReykjavík.Hopefullywewillsoonagainallbelivinginthesamecity,aswetendtoworkslowly,andthisisslowingdowntheprocessofwritingnewmaterialevenfurther.”VinylSolution
TheworldhasscreamedforSólstafirvinylformanyyears.LastyearacertainGermanlabel
announcedthattheywouldbeissuingSólstafirvinylandstillnothingexists,exceptthe“BlackDeath”ep.Thegodzwerefurious,asisevidentwithHaiti&Chili.Iask,asnowtherearerumblinginIceland’sownEyjafjöll;whencomesthevinylversion?“Ithinkitissafetopromisethatallofourbackcataloguewillseethelightofdayonvinylin2010!”IcelandicBlackMetal
“Doesitexist?”Pálmasonisquicktoaskbackwhenaskabouthisopiniononthesubject.“SvartidauðiandCarpeNoctem.We’vegotsomereally,reallygoodbutlazymetalbandsinmostgenres.OfcourseweareisolatedfromtheEuropeanmetalscenesandthelabelsoverthereanditcostsmoneytorecordandputouralbumsonyourown,
butmostofthebandsoverhereshouldhavereleasedalbumsalready.Momentumisnotablackmetalbandanymore,(orneverreallywere,buttheirpredecessorAfsprengiSatanswere)butI’mreallylookingforwardtotheir
newalbum.Svartidauðihavealsobeenthreateninguswithanalbumforalongtimebutnothingseemstohappen.BlackMetalisdead!LongliveBlackMetal!”
BlackMetalisindeeddead,it’srottingcarcassfloatsintheharborinReykjavikrightnexttotheconcreteabominationofdesolationtheyhav
Sólstafir,however,arenotdead&“Köld”issomethingeveryoneshouldtry,perhapsevenwithoneofIceland’smainbeerbrands,“Kaldi”.
Solstafir.net
Idon’trememberwhen.Idon’trememberhow.Idon’trememberwhy.AllIknowisthatSaturnaliaTempleexist.RisingupfromtheashesShadowseeds&Kaamos.
EntertheTemple
“Saturn,theplanet,istheheaviestforceintheuniverseandtheSaturnaliawasanecstaticfestivalcelebratedinancientRome,whichinvertedthewholecity.SaturnaliaTempleisamusicaltemplewhereweareattemptingtoinvertexistence,torejoiceintheupside‐downnessofthings.Inanycase,
itisanhonestdescriptionofwhatisactuallytakingplace.”
AlteredStatesofMinds
“Asforthesongsandouractualliverituals,weareenteringcertainmindstatesthatallowustobecomevesselsforsomethingelse,andthismeansthatanything,andImeananything,couldhappenonstage,especiallymusically.Wearenotaboutplayingthesamesetsthesamewayeverynight.Wewillratherjustopenthegatesandtakeoff,afterwardsisthetimetothinkaboutwhathastakenplace.Whatisimportantisthespirit,the
vibrationandtheenergy,notifweplaycorrectlyaccordingtothecommonrulesofthesheep,ifasongdriftsoffinatotallyunexpecteddirection,orifsomeoneplays“wrong”Iseeitasveryinteresting.Thisisanartform,andformethatimpliestotalfreedom.IthinkthatbandslikeHawkwind,AmonDuulIIandTheDoorsreallydidthisinaninterestingway.Wearetakingthisintoametaltradition.”
InfiniteDarkPower
“Butwebelieveinasteadydisciplineofplayingtogetherregularly,butIdonotseeitasrehearsing
–everytimeweplay,itisa100%.Imean,doyoupracticetohavesex,toeat,tosleep?Theconceptofimmanenceisimportanttous,afeelingofneedingnothing;everythingwedoisanendinitself.Wedonotbelieveindoingthisbecauseofthat,andthatbecauseofthis.Webelieveinpureactionaimedattheinfinitedarkpower.”
PractisingtheArts
“Ifyouareinthisband,youhavetoacceptcertainthings.Ithasnotbeeneasytofindthepropermembers.Mostofusarepractisingthearts,butnotallofus.Though,onstage,Ifeelhowwearemoreandmorebecomingatightunit,likeablackshipaimedfortheAdamasAter.Wearenowthreepeople,apyramid,andthisworkswonders.Wewillnothaveasecondguitarist,sincethePowerTrioisthetruemagicaloutputoftheDaemons.SoIhave
beentold.”“SaturnaliaTempleiswhereIallowmymusicalandmagicaluniversetobecomeunited.I’dliketoquoteDonJuanfromtheCastanedabookshere,whenhesaysthattheworldismuchmoremysteriousthanwemayeverbelieve.”
Formats&Variety
“Wereceivedalotofinterestfromlabels,andbychance,wewereoffereddifferentformats.Wearehappywithalltheversions,buttheyarethesameinsongsandsound.Thevinylgotsomedifferentartwork.Well,let’sseewhathappens.TheupcomingalbumwillbereleasedinbothCDandLPhowever.”“TheAjnaOffensivewilltakecareofthealbumonLPandCDintheUS.Wefeelthatwehaveapowerfullong‐termrelationshipwiththem.Itisarealrecordlabel,likeitshouldbe,oneofveryfewleft.”
Myspace.com/saturnaliatempletheajnaoffensive.com
Black Magick Metal
“First of all I would like to say, that Argharus is aLithuanian Black Metal band, which evolved into fullyfunctioning entity somewhere around 2005. The initialstartofthebandcanbedatedtotheendof2004,whenour guitarist I1 joined the band. By then there weresome non‐essential changes, that should not intrigueothers.Theonlystablemember/founderfromthattimeisourvocalist7.”
“First we played/tried to play some primitive, earlyArmagedda influenced black metal and where gainingour instrument handling skills, when in early 2006 allthe work paid off and we prepared our program andmaterialforfirst‐everrelease.”
ShiningonWatain
“First significant co‐operations to the band evolutionwere the concert in our hometown Siauliai (festivalTvaikas III) and first recording session in professionalstudio Phoenix in Latvia, plus the later release of splitalbum with Luctus “Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” in 2007.UntiltheendofthesameyearArgharusplayedalineofconcerts and signed with our current label InfernaProfundusRecords.”
“In summer of 2008 we played our first gig abroad inEstonia,wherewewarmedupforWatain.Allremainingtimethatyearwasleftforfinishingthematerialforourfirstfull‐length.Atthestartof2009weplayedsomegigswithSwedesShining,bothinLithuaniaandLatvia,afterwhichwe put final touches on ourmaterial, the recordsession started and line‐up changes were done ‐DemonasjoinedArgharusaslive/sessionbassplayer,soatthispointalltheformationthingswerecompleteandsince then we are a fully functioning organism, witheveryonedoinghisownduties.”
GoodNeighbours
It’s quite apparent that Argharus has spent the yearssince they begun well and worked relentlessly. LedoTakashasbeenoneofthemostwellknownlabelsfromtheBalticareainthisfieldsohowdidthedealwiththemcomeabout?
“Frankly speakingwewerenot planning to release ourfirstsongsthroughLTRat first,butasno foreign labelsdidn’t want to release a mini cd/record of completelyunknownband,soourcountrymenLTRofferedustodoa split with other Lithuanian band Luctus. The mainreasonwepartedwithLTRafter justonerecord is that
our current label Inferna ProfundusRecords is situated in the same townandfromourpointofviewismorereliableondoing all the promo work, so the bandcould mainly focus on making anddeliveringmusicduringperformances.”
BlackMetalSiauliai
“The Black Metal Front of Siauliai is ourquantum in the Lithuanian Black Metalscene as such, and it’s more like acontribution,thanorganization.”
FutureSeenUnseen
“AsItoldinearlierquestionthemainreasonwasthesametownwearesituatedin,andmorereliabilityfromthelabeltothebandindoingpromowork.Weareallsatisfiedwhatlabelisdoingforus,andhopethecollaborationwilllastformorethantwoorthreereleases.Speakingaboutourliveperformancesfromtheverystartwedecidedtoexchangepublicitytoquality.It’stheattitudeoftheband–bettertohavefourorfivebiggerconcerts
duringtheyearthantwentyormoresmallperformances,butifspeakingaboutBlackMetalorientedgigs,evenifitisasmallonewearealwaysgladtotakeapartinsuchconcert.Our
currentplansforthefuturearetofullycreatematerialforoursecondfulllengthalbumandreleaseitonInfernaProfundusRecordswhilespreadingthediseasefurther.”
Infern
a-profun
dus.net
It’sbeenawhilesincethedemocameoutthroughMKP.What’sbeenhappeningintheSTDcampsincethen?“Thedemowasself‐releasedbackin'06,althoughMKPdidhelpusquitealotdistributingitalloverEurope.I'dalsoliketoaddthatitwasnotlimitedtoanyspecificnumberlikeI'veheardpeoplesay.”“Inthepast4yearssincethetapewasreleasedwe'vebeenbusymakingtheworldabetterhell,tryingourbesttoinfusechaosandmayhemwithourart.We'veplayedashitloadofgigsandactuallyjustdidashowwithourgoodfriendsofUrfaustafewdaysagohereinReykjavík.Attheendoftheirset,avolcaniceruptionstartedinFimmvörðuhálsinsouthernIcelandasadirectconsequenceoftheperformance.”“We'vehadnumerousline‐upchangeswhichwerenecessaryfortheSvartidauðiorganismtogrowandblossomintothesefleursdumalwhichouraimistoharvest,butIcan'treallybebotheredtogetintothedetailssincethatwouldalongandaboringstoryfilledwithdrugsaddictionsandmentalproblems.”Violence&BloodshedYes,yourliveshowshavebecomeratherinfamousforviolence,bloodshedandthebleedingfromears.Inoticedthatduringthelastgigyouplayed,withUrfaustrespectively,none
That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange
aeons even death may die.
ofthatwastobefoundbutinsteadthebandplayedcloakedindarknessrelativelyunseenbyanyone.Theonlythingtheaudiencewasabletoseewasthefaintbrightnessfromacoupleofsmall,almostspent,candlesthatwereplacedonacoupleofamplifiers.“Onehastowonderifthiswasn’tarathermorbidomen,inaway,asSvartidauðiplayedasetatTÞMwherenolightwastobefound.UrfaustenteredthestageafterwardsplayingonaslightlymorelitstageandthenafterthegigvolcaniceruptionsstartedatFimmvörðuháls.”PrimordialForcesSummonedDoyoureckonthisgigofCarpeNoctem,SvartidauðiandUrfaustactedasachargerforprimordialforceswhichculminatedinaburstjustasUrfaustleftthestage?“Thevolcaniceruptionwasobviouslyaclimaticendtothisritualastheearthstartedtoejaculatefire,lavaandtoxinsasadirectconsequenceofourjointforces.”“Ourshowshavebeenquiteviolentandchaoticasyoumentionedearlier.OurliveritualsarecelebrationsofBlood,FireandDeath.”
BlackDeathUrfaustIknowUrfaustandSvartidauðihavebothco‐operatedwithMKPinthepast.DidyougettoknowtheguysthroughMKPordidyoubecomefamiliarwithUrfaustviaothermeans?‐‐“MeandNachtraafhavebeenincontactforthelast5yearsorsoandyesitwasindeedthroughMKPandwe'vetalkedaboutbringingthemoverforaritualsincedayone,thiswasevenbeforetheyperformedliveforthefirsttime.”ChileanDeathSquadronsYoudidadealwiththeSouth‐Americanmafiaawhilebackforthere‐releaseofthedemoonMCDformatbutit’sbeenquiteawhilesincethatwassupposedtobereleased.Isthereanynewsonthat?“Yes,MKPwassupposedtore‐releaseTheTempleofDeformationonCDbuthadtoclosedownshopsforreasonsIwillnotdiscusshere.Fewdaysafterwegotthe
newsofthedeathofMKPwewereapproachedbyAquilusCruorisfromChile,wehadbeenincontactwithMaguistellusforquitealongtimebackthenandweagreedtohavehimhandlethere‐release.AsfarasIknowtheyCDwillbesenttopressingsometimenextweek.Butjustasourluckwouldhavehadit,ChileandSantiagoinparticularwasdemandedasasacrificewiththatearthquakeI'msureeverybodyknowsabout.Hopefullythisvileabominationwillseethedeathofnightsoonasit'sreleaseismeanttoserveasanappendixtoachapterinSTD'shistorythatherebyisclosed,itisinonerespecttheburningofabridgebutlikewiseitpresentsanopeningtonewfrontiersawaitingtobeconquered.”TrinityinBlackIndeedChilewashitprettyhardbythegodzoftheunderworldbutonewouldhavetoexpectmorethanthattobeneededtostoptherelentlessmessiahsofdeath&destructions.WiththeMCDoutsoon,hopefully,youhave C
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indeedclosedtwoofthethreegatewaysyouopenedwithinthetemple.IhaveoftensaiditandIhopeitbecomesarealitysomedaybutIwouldliketoseeavinylversionoftheTemplereleased.Willistheway,butisthereawillwiththecongregationofSvartidauðitoseethetrinityfulfilledwithavinylversionsomeday?“AvinylversionofTemplewillbereleasedatsomepointinthefuture.We'vealreadyhadsomeoffers,yetwedonotwanttoreleaseitjustyet.Weneverrushthings,likeyoumayhavenoticed.AwaxmanifestationofTheTempleofDeformationwillbeannouncedwhenthestarsareright.We'vealreadyhadaearthquakeandavolcaniceruptionlinkedwithussomyguessisthatR'lyehwillriseoncethevinylisout.”LackofTrustAlthoughIdon’twanttogointothewholedebateofBlackMetalvs.Metalfestivals,I
wouldliketoknowhowyoufeelSvartidauðifitsinwiththerestofthebandsatEistnaflug?Eistnaflugseemstobeoneofthoseeventswherepeoplecometogether,drinkandbemerry,whichhasalwaysseemedalienatingtotheBlackMetalelitists.“Firstoff,ithasneverbeennorwilliteverbeouraimwithSTDtoupholdanykindofmoralsorethics,notevenwhenitcomesthe,,rulesoftheunderground"wearewaybeyondthat.TheforcebehindSvartidauðiisaburningambitionandarrogance.Ourdoctrineisthedoctrineofcancer,growthforgrowthssakewithoutloosingourartisticintegrity.Weequalywishtoperformatsquads,inthesewersaswellasTopofthePopsorwhathaveyou.”“SecondlythereareatleasttwodifferentwaysoflookingatafestivallikeEistnaflug.Ononehandwehave,asyousaid,thiselementofpeoplecomingtogethertodrinkandbemerry,fortomorrowwemightdie.ButontheotherhandEistnaflugisacelebrationofdepravity,perversionandfilth.MoresothenanyotherfestivalI'vewitnessedinmytime.AndwhatisSTDifnotasectoffleshworshipingscum?Thiswillbeour
3rdtimeplayingatEistnaflugandafterourlasttimeperformingthereitbecameobviousthatweareindeeddoingsomethingrightseeinghowpeoplewe'venevermetbeforewheredrinking,spittingandvomitingbloodoneachotherandgenerallyactingstrange,violentanddisgusting.Ifeltrightathomethen.”Myspace.com/svartidaudi
IdoubtmanyofyouhaveheardaboutBurialInvocation.ThebandhasbeenoneofTurkey’sbestkeptsecretsforawhilebutrecentlywentpublicwiththeirfirstoutput“RitualsoftheGrotesque”.Althoughthebandisprettyyounganauraofpotential&professionalismsurroundsit.WhatIwanttoknowrightawayishowtheformationofthebandcameabout.
Thanksforthewords.Ithinkit’sbecausethemembersofthebandhavebeeninthe
sceneforawhilerecording&playinglivewithotherbands,exceptthevocalist,hehasbeensinginginbandsandperforminglivebeforebutthiswashisfirstrecordingexperience.”
SeasonsintheAbyss
“PlayingthiskindofdeathmetalhasbeeninmymindforalongtimebeforethebandsoIhavebeencollectingriffs,lyricsandstuff.”
“Ihavebeensearchingformembersandittooksometimecompletingthelineup.Weliveindifferentcitieswiththedrummer,bassplayerandotherguitaristsoItravelledtoİstanbulwheretheylive,werehearsedafewtimesanddidtherecordingafterthat.
RealmofChaos
WoulditbeaccuratetosaythatthemaininfluencesofBurialInvocationisBoltThrowerandtheSwedishDeathMetaloftheearlynineties?Youcan’tdenytheBoltThrower
influences,notwiththebeginningof“ThroughtheVoidofObscurity”.
“Ithinkthebandisamixofearlydeathmetal.WeareheavilyinfluencedbymassiveFinnishdeathmetaloftheearly90’s,oldSwedishdeathmetalasyoumentionedandofcoursethemastersAutopsyandIncantationfromUSA,bothbandsarebiginfluenceswithalloftheirmaterial.Thesoundofsomeobscuredemosoftheearlydeathmetalerawhichcannotbecapturedinanyfulllengthhavebiginfluenceonthebandtoo.”
Young&Restless
AlthoughBurialInvocationisquiteayoungband,asImentionedinthefirstquestion,youseemtoberatherwellconnected.Yourfirstrelease,“RitualsoftheGrotesque”,hasjustbeenreleasedonMCDthroughDarkDescentandwillsoonbereleasedbothontapebySkeletonPlagueandonvinylthroughMeSacoUnOjo.Howdidalltheseformatdealscomeabout&areyouenthusiasticvinylortapecollectors?
“Wewerethinkingdoingthereleaseindifferentformatswouldbegood,andafterweputoursong
online,DarkDescentandSkeletonPlaguecontactedusforCDandtapereleases.ThenaftersometimeMeSacoUnOjowroteusfordoingvinyl,soitwasallset.”
SmallbutDeadly
LookingoverthelistofmembersandtheirpastendeavorsitseemsobvioustomethatthereisahealthysceneinTurkey.WhatactiveTurkishbands,besidesBIofcourse,wouldyourecommend?ArethereanybandsinTurkeyfromtheolddaysthatyoucherishmorethanothersandfindyourselflisteningtotheirreleasesonaregularbasis?“TherearereallygoodbandsinTurkey,especiallyinthelastfewyears.IcanrecommendDecimation,Deggial,Sakatat,GodslayingHellblast,UltimateBlowup,Bayonet&Ehrimen.Allofthoseareactive.
OldObskyreTurkish
“ThereisonerecordfromtheolddaysthatIlistentoquitefrequently,1993demorecording“ViolatetheNewBorn”from
Deathroom.Thatobscurebandexistedbetween1987‐1993andplayedprimitiveandrawdeathmetal.”
OccultHorrorDeath
Thelyricalthemesofthebandtouchfamiliarsubjects;theoccult,theundeadandhorrordeath.Whatisitaboutthesesubjectsthatcaptivatesyouandurgesyoutoelevatethemtoothersthroughgutturalgrowls?“Yes,themainlyricalthemeisdeath,whichisquitefamiliar.Iseedeathmetalasacontinuationofthe70’sscene,whichwecanseebandswriteaboutdeathanddarksubjectswithhintsofdarkandevilriffinginmusicevenbackinthattime.Sowiththeeffectsofenvironmentalchangesandlivingconditionswhichmadetheyouthmoredesperateandunderrepression,itevolvedintosomethingpurelyaboutdeath,goreandanti‐religionmixedwiththeinfluenceofhorrormoviestakenit’stollonthebrainsofthatgeneration.Sodeathmetalisawaytodealwiththepressureofordinarylifeandlettingthatoutasfilthyexpression,withinfluencefromvariousabsurdart.That’sbecausethesesubjectsarecaptivatingforusfreaks;andsinging
aboutdeath,goreandblasphemyisthereasonofthegutturalgrowls,spewingvoicesandundeadshrieks.
OppressedDeathMetal
WhatisitlikebeingaDeathMetallerinTurkey?ThecountryhasalwayshadareputationofbeingaverystrictandtraditionalcountrysoIwouldimaginethesightoflonghairedmenwouldnotbetoleratedtoawidedegreeinIstanbul.
“Itsucksbecausewecanrarelyseeareallygoodbandplayingagigaroundhereandwedon’thavemanygoodrecordstoresandstuff.Youarerightaboutthestrictandtraditionalthing,wehavealotofreligiouspeoplehere,butİstanbulisabigcitythathasallkindsofcrazy,fuckeduppeoplesolonghairisn’tthat“extreme”thereinmostplaces.Butyeah,ifyougotoanobskyrecityinthemiddlepartsoreast,peoplewilllookatyoulikeyoulikeyouhavejustlandedtherewithaspaceshiporsomething.”
TheFutureDeath
WhatdoesthefutureholdforBurialInvocation?Willyoucontinueyourcooperationwithanyofthelabelsyouhaveworkedwithsofarorwillyouventureuntonewpastures?Woulditbelikelythatthebandwouldbeseentouringtheneighboringcountriesinthenearfutureorwillyoustayclosetohome?
“Wearewritingnewmaterialandwewillspendthesummerrehearsingforthem.”“Yes,wewillcontinuewithDarkDescentRecordsastheyhavebeengreat,theyhavesignedsomequalitybandsalreadyandwehavetotalconfidenceinthem.”“Surelywedon’twanttostayclosetohomeandwanttodosomegigsaround,butrightnowwewanttofocusonwritingnewmaterialandafterthat,wewillseeifwegetsomeoffers.”BurialInvocation’sdebutreleaseisoneIrecommendtoanyoneintobandspayinghomagetotheoldgodz.Myspace.com/burialinvocation
Theseguysarelegendsintheirownright.TheyrecordedatKurtBallou’sGodCityStudios.TheyhavetouredthroughIceland,England&Germany,playingeveryshitholetheyhavemanagedtofind.DrawinginspirationsfromactslikeRefused,Breached,HarveyMilk&SlinttheguysjustreleasedanalbumthroughWeDelivertheGutsRecords.
Theguyshaveacoupleofrecordsavailablesocheckthemoutifyoulikethebandsthathaveinspiredthem.
Myspace.com/gavinportlandmyspace.com/wedelivertheguts
WhileworkingonthisissueItoughtI’dincludeasmallreportonsomeofthelocalbandsthatareoutthereandhaveareleaseortwoundertheirbelts.
Abigloadofthanksgoesouttothebandsthatansweredmycallandsentmeinformation,photosandwhatnottoincludehere!
IfyouwanttoknowmoreIcelandicbandsyoucanvisitmyMySpacesiteandcheckoutsomeofthebandsfeaturedthere.
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GAVIN PORTLAND In2007fivefriendscametogetherandformedaprogressivehardcoreband.ThebandwasnamedMuckandtwoyearsafterthefacttheyreleasedtheirfirstEP“Vultures”aswellasademo.Duringthesummerof2009theysetupforEurope,playinginDanmarkandGermany.Thebandreceivedalotofpraisefromthepeoplethatbotheredgettingtotheirshowsandinearlyin2010theystartedrecordingtheirfirstLP,setforreleaselaterthisyear.Gettheir“Vultures”EPatmyspace.com/muckicelandandgetyourdoseoffilthyIcelandicmusic.
InthebeginningtherewasWithered.AbandfullofyounghopefullsdedicatedtothecauseoffurtheringextremeMetal.However,thingsdon’talwaysgoassomewouldlikethemtoandfromtheashesofWithered,Atrumemerged.
Bornundertheblackenedskythebandhasworkedrelent‐lesslysinceit’sconceptionovercomingobstaclessuchaslackofdedicationandseeingsomemembersleavingalongtheline.Withtheircurrentline‐up,however,theyseemtohaveworkedoutanyglitchesandthelasttwoliveappearancesIwitnessedwerebreathtaking.Atrumwentferousiouslythroughtheirsetwithoutanyflawsandwereawardedaccordinglybytheaudience.
Thebandareallsettoreleaseamini‐albumthismonthsogetintouchwiththemthroughmyspace.com/atrumiceland
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Inthefiveyearsthey’vebeentogetherCarpeNoctemhavereleasedademo,in2008,andamini‐album,in2009.Theirdebutrelease,“Myrkraverk”,includedundergroundanthemslike“ÉgelskaaðríðaSatan”whichtooktheIcelandicscenebystorm.BuildingonthatsensationCarpeNoctementeredFosslandStudiosandrecordedthefourtrackmini‐album“CarpeNoctem”.WiththatreleasethetruefaceofCarpeNoctemwasshownandnoholdswerebarred.Themini‐albumoffersusrathergooddeathlikeBlackMetalwhichshowsignsofgreatthingstocome.
InmyopinionthemembershavealsomanagedtopullsomeofthebestcorpsepaintsI’veseeninyearscreatingtroll‐likeappearancesduringtheirlivesets.Getintouchwiththemthroughmyspace.com/carpenoctemicelandfortheirreleases.
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ElevenyearsagodrummerKristjánB.HeiðarssongottheideainhisheadthatheshouldshowothersinactionhowhethoughtextremeMetalshouldsoundlike.TheresultasweknowitisChanger.
TheyearshavenotgonewitheaseforChangerandtakingthebandfromastudio‐bastedsoloprojecttoafullytunedmachinereadyforliveactionhasn’tgonewithoutit’ssharesofglitches.Theprojecthasbeenputoniceatleastoncebuttodayitismoreactivethanbefore,theysay,withafulllineup.
2000January109,2001Inconsistency2004Scenes2006BreedTheLies
myspace.com/changermetalreverbnation.com/changericeland
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ThecurrentoverlordsofIcelandicDeatharewithoutadoubtthedeadboltsinSeveredCrotch.Theline‐upreadslikea“who’swho”ofIcelandicDeathMetalwithbandmembersfromPlasticGods,Momentum&Bastardamongstothers.
ThebanddeliversalethaldoseoftechnicalDeathMetalbutareknownforgettingthecrowdsattheirshowsallpsyckedupandcreatingsomeofthebiggestcirclepitsseenthissideofReyðarfjörður.
In2007thebandreleasedapromoandanalbumcalled“SoulCremation”andI’mtoldtheyareworkinghardonanewalbum.
Myspace.com/severedcrotch
myspace.com/momentumthebandManysaythattheoriginsofMomentumcanbetracedtooneofIceland’smostunknownBlackMetalband,AfsprengiSatan.Thetruthis,however,thatMomentumisamedleyofwhatsomeinsidershavedescribedasbeingthebestIcelandhastoofferinIcelandicMetal,withthatinmindit’sbestIletthemembersofMomentumhandlethisone.“HavinglongsinceconferredknighthoodinIcelandasthetightestandhardestworkingmetalbandinthemetalscenetoday,Momentumhashonoreditsnameandneverstoppedtorestintheirsearchforamusicalidentity.Withtwograndiloquentthematicextendedplay‐albumsundertheirbelt,theirsoon‐to‐bereleasedfulllengthalbumventuresbeyondtherealmofmusicallabeling:arealmmirroredinthepsychedeliccoverartofthefrontman,andthemixedcolorsoftheevergrowingcrowdattendingtheirshows.WoodstockorWacken,Momentumbringstherightstufftotheparty.”
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be‐postalworkers,GonePostalhavekeptthemselvesbusyandreleasedademo,asplit,afull‐lengthaswellappearingon,atleast,onecompilation.
Thebanddescribestheirmusicas“umbrageousdeathmetalfilledwithmisanthropy&pessimism”.TomeandyouthatmeansthatthebandsoundslikeInfernalTormentandAkercockegivingeachotherawholelotofstd’s!
myspace.com/gonepostalmetal