Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Black Messiah/The Final Journey/AFM Records/2012 CD Review


  Black Messiah are a band from Germany that plays a very symphonic form of melodic black/folk metal and this is a review of their 2012 album "The Final Journey" which was released by AFM Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming, while the keyboards bring a very dark, atmospheric and symphonic sound to the music mixed in with some folk instruments and violins that bring a very Germanic and Pagan sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine melodic black metal with folk metal, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding pagan metal guitar solos and leads that also have a traditional/power metal feeling to them, as for the acoustic guitars which are utilized on a few of the songs they use finger picking to enhance the darkness of the darkness.



Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some clean singing folk metal vocals with one song using a female singer and a brief spoken word part being utilized on one song, while the lyrics cover Teutonic Mythology and Battles with a couple of songs being written in German, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from Black Messiah and if you are a fan of symphonic melodic black/folk metal, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Windloni" "Into The Unfanthomed Tower" "Mother Hel" and "Sailing Into Eternity". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di7cnlbv_Go

  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Thunderkraft Interview


1.Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

Our band was organized in 2001. One spring evening four future participants of the band Thunderkraft, aka Us, came to the conclusion that every one of us is drawn to the creation of a new band, for the single purpose of expression of all that pent up creativity, which overwhelmed, blossomed and was overflowing us from within. Every one of us at that time was involved in various music projects, and their stylistical regimen would not allow us to unfold our creative potential fully. That way our band was born. During our existence a lot has changed, but our creative spirit has matured, and our dedication to improving our music has grown multifold. Our True Friends are always with us, they refine our worldly outlook and help our multifaceted development. Thuderkraft is a band which was founded in equal parts on both creativity and human qualities of its bandmembers, without this there would be no Thunderkraft.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
If you listen to our music real well, then you will hear the sounds of endless space, ancient worlds and unforeseen future, on top of guitar riffs, keyboards and drums. You will be overwhelmed by the storm of emotions and vortex of feelings. The music from our subconscious will exactly translate the flight of our thoughts for you. Some listeners will hear tank cannonade and the flight of fine matter in our music, some will hear nuclear explosion and the quiet of cosmic vacuum, some will hear birds singing and the roar of a rocketship, some will hear the fluttering of butterfly wings next to a white lily and the noise of a diesel engine atop a nuclear icebreaking ship. The music of Our band is contradictory multifaceted, we believe that in our creations all areas of the universe are interwoven at the same time. Every listener will hear what he is thinking about and what he is living through, every emotion will find its reflection in our music.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Our songs are full of poetry inspired by our subconscious. Different worlds give birth to different information streams; past, future and current are all reflected in our lyrics. In equal part, the greatest events of various moments in time, as well as the unknown circumstances of any space in the universe, did not leave us indifferent; all of those things inspired us to write the poetry you are hearing. The topics you are hearing in our lyrics came through time and space and, as a result, were ground by our consciousness, compiled by our subconscious and sculpted by the point of a pen on the plane of infinity. The lyrics flowing in our music forcefully multiplied its meaning. Our boundless desire to convey to the listener the essence of our topics created unexplainable, yet definitely easy to capture, superfine connection between lyrics and music in our songs. This connection increased the energy charge which our creations carry multifold.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band name?
I will unveil a secret for you – Our band did not have the name Thuderkraft from the very beginning. We arrived at this moniker later, due to the growth in our outlook, through the manifestation of metaconsciousness. Powerful energy charge modulated by our desires generated the chain of sequential events, which influenced the understanding of the limitless. Multiple factors, created along the way, dissolved our doubts and increased our resolve. By bringing close the opposite and separating the unified, the name of our band was born. As much as you probably were able to understand the moniker Thunderkraft has a meaning which can be analyzed in different planes, it has diametrically opposite loaded meanings. The moniker of our band hides the unknown which can be understood by anyone, it has the infinity able to fit inside any man’s soul, and it obviously has an absolute meaning which carries in itself the solid nature of our universe, squeezed to the infinitesimal dimensions.

5. The new album will be out soon, what are your expectations of the new release?
We have moderate expectations. Of course, we would like for this album to create a stir in the music world, but I do not bear any illusions. In the modern world, where there is an enormous amount of various music, it is rather difficult for your creations to reach the ears of people who could possibly be interested in this material. Besides this is not an end in and of itself. We do not have a goal to be liked or suitable for everybody, and under no circumstances we are going to chase any trends or follow the public with questionable tastes. We create music first and foremost for ourselves and for our most dedicated fans.

6. Currently you are singed to Svarga Music, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support they have given you so far?
I am very happy that fate connected us with this label. This label is outstanding and it specializes only in Ukrainian metal. This label is run by our old and very good friend. These days the label offers our band tremendous amount of help and support, and also actively pushes our “product”.

7. I have noticed that the band sounds different than most bands from your home country, how are you received in Ukraine?
We are well accepted everywhere, including our homeland. The fact that our music is different from other bands from our region is actually an asset for us, since it makes our music both original and recognizable.

8. On a worldwide level how has your music been received by underground metal fans?
It is early to judge this. Still too much remains to be done. In any case, I think that everyone who will listen to the album will be rather surprised by this “product”.
This material can be listened to in one breath, in one sitting, yet at the same time this is not simple music, it will make you think. I assume that many will enjoy our material, especially those who value complex multifaceted music.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I think that every future album will have some surprises. And every one of them will have its own inimitable uniqueness. In any case future albums will all have a pretty heavy sound, but also various accents in a way of live instruments and electronic arrangements. I think that the direction chosen by us is the one and only correct direction for this band. And we will definitely follow our own principles.

10. I have noticed that the songs where written in 3 different languages what was the decision behind that?
This is because every language has its own inimitable sound and rhythmic quality. So, using one language or the other one can influence the atmosphere of a whole track. When you are creating a topic, fairly early into the process you get an idea what language will make the lyrics sound the best. It is precisely because of this reason our music includes lyrics in multiple languages. This also underlines the multiple styles in our art.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced the music of Thunderkraft?
Every bandmember obviously has his/her own music preferences. Therefore, I will not name any specific bands. However, I can stress several styles which influenced us in one way or the other: this is, of course, classical music, metal, folk and electronic music.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
I recommend our new album Totentanz to all who like listening to unusual, non-standard and multifaceted music. The person who is capable of grasping the irrational will not be left untouched …

Interview with Master Alafern of THUNDERKRAFT, 16.03.2012

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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Noctem Interview


1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Beleth: Right now the band is writing the third album and playing on various shows and metal fests all over the state and European territory. At the moment everything seems that we are going to combine tours and periods of composition throughout 2012.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material and how it differs from previous releases?

Beleth: I think it sounds much more mature and appropriate for the band. It is more brutal and more approximated to the idea that the band has of music. For several years we always wanted to expose this material, but we were limited by our former label. Now is the time to do it.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Beleth: Oblivion is an album based on Mayan mythology. The Spanish conquest and the break between men and natural roots. We can't exploit only one theme in an album. We cover as much as possible and always giving a critical character.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band's name?

Beleth: Noctem comes from the ancient Latin language. We chose this name because it reminded us of the most primitive instincts of man, including the fear of the dark.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Beleth: There are so many. Mainly enjoyed playing in festivals. I specially remember shows on our tour with Gorgoroth or the shows of the tour with Samael, Keep of Kalessin and Melechesh. We had really good times. I can describe it as dynamic and aggressive. We keep moving all the time and just after each show we are exhausted.

6. Do you have any plans to tour North America in the future?

Beleth: We received some good offers but I can not talk about it in this moment. I really hope to be there very soon.

7. The last album came out on Rising Records, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?

Beleth: Our manager is primarily concerned with these issues. We are pleased with the work done by Rising Records. Sometimes is difficult to find a record label to work hard and focus wholeheartedly in a band. So far no complaints.

8. On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by fans of black and death metal?

Beleth: I sincerely believe that Oblivion received a much better acceptance than Divinity. This time we had the opportunity to do whatever we wanted. Rising Records has not intervened in the slightest degree the process and this is noticed. We have drawn the worst shit we carry inside in a long time and we have spit it in the face to the world.

9. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?

Beleth: No. Mainly the musicians of this band are dedicated only to play here.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases.

Beleth: We will continue in the line that Oblivion marked. We do not want to break this job with a weird strange shit. We are really pleased with this work and we believe we can do much better in this line polishing and perfecting details this latest installment elevating it to a higher level of technical and brutality.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer material and also what are you listening to nowadays/

Beleth: Mainly I'm a listener of extreme metal. Black, Death, Grind ... I think we always have been influenced by bands like Belphegor, Dark funeral, Behemoth, Blood Bath, Decapitated, Deicide, Slayer and many more.

12. How would you describe your views on Occultism?

Beleth: As a set of knowledge and practices that seek to awaken dormant parts in man and master the secrets of nature. If you are a Christian you are an asshole and the occultim will be for you a synonym of Satanism. Fuck you social shit!

13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Beleth: Playing sports, beach, my business and my family. I have no time for much more really Noctem is a very big part of my life.

14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Beleth: A big hug to all the readers and U.S. Metal Heads. We hope to see you soon in the States fucking and destroying everything in the way we know it haha.

Thank you very much for your time has been a pleasure answering your questions brothers!


Let us know when you publish it!

Cheers.

Exo.

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