JARUN

Origen: Polonia

Formados: 2008

Estilo: Black, folk y progresivo

Temática: ?

Enlaces: Bandcamp, facebook y youtube

Miembros:

• Dawid Wierzbicki  Bajo
• Krzysztof "Gambit" Stanisz Guitarra
• Mateusz Kujawa Voces
• Pazuzu Batería
• Zagreus Guitarra

Discografía:

• Wziemiozstąpienie CD 2012
• Pod niebem utkanym z popiołu CD 2015
• Sporysz CD 2017
• Rok spokojnego słońca CD 2021

SPORYSZ (2018)

Cuando Zagreus inició este proyecto allá por 2008 su intención era que que no pasará de una one man band, pero poco a poco ha ido incorporando nuevos músicos hasta completar la formación actual, y si bien es cierto que sigue manteniendo bien asidas las riendas de Jarun, también es cierto que la contribución de los músicos que lo acompañan es innegable para el resultado final tan completo en un álbum como este "Sporysz". Con la edición de su primer trabajo en 2012, irrumpieron en la escena de manera directa, con una obra visceral con un fuerte peso en cuanto a influencias folk y paganas, al mismo tiempo que con un mayor protagonismo de la música sobre las voces. Con su segunda obra "Pod niebem utkanym z popiołu" de  2015, comenzaron una evolución que es inherente a su música, comenzando a incorporar elementos progresivos en detrimento de los folk. Con este nuevo álbum, siguen en ese camino de evolución constante que marca la mente inquieta de Zagreus en la búsqueda de nuevas metas. "Sporysz" es un álbum complejo, que tiene que ser entendido en conjunto y que ha sido grabado de manera casi que perfecta. La incorporación de un mayor número de  elementos progresivos en su música es incuestionable y ha cobrado mucho protagonismo, aportando a su propuesta una mayor emotividad y profundidad. Un álbum construido en base a unos potentes riffs, con una propuesta en los cuales los temas en líneas generales son extensos, permitiendo que nos ofrezcan distintos estados de ánimo gracias a la intensidad de su música, capaz de en el mismo tema sonar casi que limpia e intimista para pasar a renglón seguido a sonar violenta y visceral, siendo la incorporación para este trabajo a las voces de Mateusz Kujawa todo un acierto. Seguramente habrá seguidores acérrimos que no comprendan la evolución en la música de Jarun, de pasar a estar ahora mismo mas cercano al metal extremo que al black, pero sin lugar a dudas se antoja una evolución llevada a cabo a conciencia y para nada suena artificial. La escucha del álbum sigue dejando un poso casi que pagano, tal vez por las melodías de guitarra, tal vez por la rabia de algunas líneas vocales, pero el conjunto del álbum es muy bueno y requiere ser descubierto poco a poco en cada escucha. (8).

Arachnophobia Records

1. Sporysz 08:18

  Siej! 

W odmęty ziemi sypnij senne ziarna 

Niech się nasycą prochami umarłych 

Niech piją ciemnych wód zwodnicze szepty 

Z nabrzmiałych śmiercią czarnych skib bezczasu 

Patrz! 

Jak się ku światłu pędy rwą zielone 

Jak się w ich żyłach rozlewa trucizna 

Jak wokół łodyg wije wonny obłęd 

Jak się krwią słońca napełniają kłosy 

Śnij! 

I pośród nocy najczarniejszych westchnień 

Gdy w krew wnikają księżyca korzenie 

Zatrzymaj oddech, ucisz serca bicie 

Czekaj aż przyjdzie czas cichego żniwa 

I koś! 

Niech się pokotem kładą łany myśli 

Niechaj padają pośród słońc szelestu 

I wrzuć je w ogień niech sczezną w nicości 

Niech się przebudzą otchłanie szaleństwa 

A gdy już krzyk się zamieni w popioły 

Zmieszaj je z łzami i krwią z żył otwartych 

I podaj światu w ostatniej wieczerzy 

A potem odejdź otulony w spokój 

I idź samotnie 

Nie patrząc za siebie 

Bo tam się pleni 

Zielone szaleństwo 

I wędruj w ciszy 

Pod stygnącym słońcem 

Bo tam za tobą 

Tylko świat i plewy

2. Powidoki 07:52

Spojrzałem w otchłań zimy I wzrok jej spoczął na mnie I odblask słońc lodowych Srebrne rozpalił pieśni W zamkniętych oczu przestrzeń I pod powieki czasu Ogień się wdarł i drzewa I zastygł świat wiecznością Ziemi ustało tętno I ucichł lasu oddech I wsiąka w śniegi czasu Krew słońca zmierzchem ścięta Mgławice czarnych skrzydeł Gawronów mleczna droga Jak wstęga w szarość niebios Rzucona wiatru tchnieniem I rwie się z ziemi gwiazda Zielonym czubkiem jodły Do słońc, co karmią ciszą Do serc rażonych smutkiem W źrenicach powidoki Zim, co tak wiele przeszło Lecz każdy płatek śniegu Wciąż widzę po raz pierwszy…

3. Jesień wieczności 05:22

Jesień wieczności Rozszczepiło się światło Ogień i wiatru szepty I pod kopułą świtu Powietrze jak westchnienie I coraz niższe niebo I coraz krótszy sen Rozsypały się myśli Kruche jak martwe liście I blask nad horyzontem Wyblakły jak modlitwa I coraz cichsze pieśni I coraz dalszy brzeg Rozstąpiły się góry Przecięte wiatru strugą I ból się w popiół rozwiał Jak krwi jesiennej rdza I życie coraz dalej I coraz bliższy lęk Piorunem łza zastygła I zaśpiewały drzewa A słowa jak niepamięć Jak skamieniałe mgły I wieczność coraz krótsza I coraz dłuższa śmierć

4. Wichry 06:11

Westchnęło zmierzchem niebo Pękły srebrzyste tamy I runął wichru potok Splątany oddech pustki I zapadł między dęby Wplótł się w konary mroku I głowę mi omotał I rozkołysał sny I ciszę wtłoczył w serce Żałobnych liści wirem I pieśni na nich wyrył Nabiegłe krwią jesieni I w oczy sypnął srebrem Oślepił nocy łkaniem Zamiecią gwiazd samotnych Zdmuchniętych z firmamentu Jak teraz mam powrócić Gdy znikły świata strony Twarz muska mroku skrzydło A może to śnieg pierwszy? Jak siebie nie zatracić Gdy ogniem jesień szepcze Na skroniach moich składa Koronę nocnych pieśni Jak jednym z was pozostać I świata się nie wyrzec Gdy serce wichrów pełne I bogom waszym równe…  

5. Sny jak ziemia, sny jak rzeka 06:13

 Znów w ogień zapatrzony 

Znów spalam świat by zasnąć 

Przeliczam gwiazd kamienie 

Oczy przesłaniam światłem 

I znów zastyga wieczór 

Rozpaczą kończy lato 

I znów drapieżne niebo 

Przeczucia wsącza w oddech 

I wiem, że w mrok odejdę 

Gdy przyjdzie zmierzch kolejny 

Rozpłynę w lipy cieniu 

W powietrzu złota pełnym 

W makowych snach bezdźwięcznych 

Co kurzem pól wirują 

W widmowych ciem trzepocie 

Jak serce rozedrganych 

W żółtych wrotyczu słońcach 

Gdzie miód i ból i gorycz 

Gdzie jeszcze tli się cisza 

Wspomnieniem samotności 

W snach, co jak rzeka płyną 

Przez cichych traw przestrzenie 

W snach, co jak ziemia milczą 

Gdy dłonie w niej zanurzam 

I chyba jednak śpię już 

Bo znowu widzę ciebie 

Lecz nie wiem, czy to sen mój 

Czy śnię się śmierci swojej 

6. Malowany ogień 09:07

Gdzie szukać słów uśpionych, gdy ognie już pogasły Gdy deszcz już zstąpił z nieba na czarnych chmur rydwanie Wyrzekłem jedno słowo i odtąd będę milczał I w dłoniach twarz ukryję, by wieczność znów przeczekać Znów świt i znowu jesień i znowu serce puste Po niebie ciągną klucze wyblakłych dawno wzruszeń I tylko cisza płynie w zastygłym w ból powietrzu I tylko oddech stygnie wplątany w mgieł odmęty Na czarnych snów powierzchni płoną okręty liści W ostatnią niosą podróż wyblakłych tęsknot cienie To, czego znać nie chciałem, kim zostać nie zdążyłem I drzewa, zawsze drzewa, wyrosłe w pyle serca Chciałbym je namalować nim znowu w mit odpłyną Nim w iskrach gwiazd ulecą ku bezruchowi nieba Pożogę w sercu wyryć, na skroniach znak wypalić I słowo wyrzec drugie, świat ogniem wymalować Ogniem jak ziemia czarnym, jak noce z gwiazd wyzute Zielonym jodeł szumem i liści samotnością I białym jak sen ziemi uśpionej mrozu szeptem Czerwienią krwi płonącym, trzeszczącym w żył korzeniach...  

  43:03

WEIGHT OF EMPTINESS

Origen: Chile, Santiago
Formados: 2015
Estilo: Death melódico, doom
Temática: Desesperación, emociones, introspección y muerte
Enlaces: Bandcamp, facebook, soundcloud, Weight of emptiness y youtube
Miembros:

• Alejandro Bravo Guitarra
• Alejandro Ruiz Voces
• Juan Acevedo Guitarra
• Mario Urra Bajo
• Mauricio Basso Batería

Discografía:

• Anfractuous EP 2016  
• Anfractuous Moments for Redemption CD 2017
• Conquering the Deep Cycle CD 2019
• Wolves Single 2023  
• Withered Paradogma CD 2023

ANFRACTOUOS MOMENTS FOR REDEMPTION (2017)

Álbum debut para esta banda chilena que podemos pensar que son unos recién llegados, sin embargo el line-up de la banda lleva formando parte de diferentes proyectos de la escena de su país, algunos por un período de casi veinte años. Toda esta experiencia que atesoran a sus espaldas se aprecia en este primer álbum, que si bien ha sido enmarcado dentro de la vertiente del death melódico y del doom, creo que la procedencia de los músicos de Weight of Emptiness de bandas que ham tenido cierta relación en mayor o menor medida con el metal progresivo, es una influencia clara y que acaba por impregnar todas las composiciones. "Anfractuous Moments for Redemption" contiene nueve temas que se despachan en poco más de tres cuartos de hora, fue editado originalmente en Marzo de 2017 pero reeditado otra vez en Cd por el sello mexicano Sun Empire Productions el pasado Marzo de 2018. De los nueve temas que integran esta álbum cuatro ya habían formado parte de su primer Ep "Anfractuous" editado en Octubre de 2016.  "Anfractuous Moments for Redemption" destaca por varios aspecto, uno de ellos sin lugar a dudas es el de producción que permite disfrutar de la complejidad y variedad de los temas, descubriéndonos a una formación madura y muy profesional que sabe lo que se trae entre manos y en donde se ha sabido cuidar todos y cada uno de los detalles. Bien es cierto que por estilo son afines al death melódico, sobre todo por los potentes riffs de guitarras y por el uso de los guturales en las voces que acaban por impregnar su música con cierta melodía. Pero desde luego que sería muy injusto olvidarse de otros apartados de su propuesta y estilo, como puede ser el ritmo pausado y denso la mayoría de las veces, el buen hacer de Alejandro Ruiz a las voces que consigue intercalar también partes limpias en algunos pasajes y por supuesto que una vez que se ha acabado de escuchar este álbum es imposible no dejarse atrapar por otros estilos también presentes, como el rock clásico, el jazz y sobre todo ese ambiente progresivo que sacude su música. Textos elaborados, producción cuidada y sobre todo un trabajo de muchas horas detrás de este álbum, sólo puede suponer que el oyente se siente totalmente recompensado tras su audición (8).

Sun Empire Productions

1. Anfractuous (Intro) 01:25   instrumental

2. Behind the Masks 06:42

Everything looked fine

There was an order that seemed natural

But it was only a reflection of an illusory image

Falling like a house of cards in the face of brutal reality not faced

In the midst of despair and fear, I note the darkness where I am

Falling like a house of cards in the face of brutal reality not faced

In the midst of despair and fear, I note the darkness where I am

I see the reflection of my own darkness surrounding me

And that's how I begin to open my eyes and see

In the middle of the shadows thousands masks appear, thousands masks appear 

Costumes from a grotesque celebration of the darkness that cover more and more the truth 

They enjoy the brutality and with a burlesque gaze, laugh mercilessly

Trying to let the fear and disbelief I intend to see beyond, 

Then understand that the maze is more tangled and deep,

Behind the masks there are more.

And in the midst of chaos and confusion 

Paradoxically I begin to understand

It was all a trap

And those voices talking about Paradise

Are part of the hoax

Even those in which you trusted

And where you lean

You understand, 

are part of the hoax

You were just watching the wrong place

"Outside" there is nothing that is not "inside"

Everything is within us

Looking inward, 

light appears.

3. Unbreakable 05:58

This pain corrodes me

The hate cuts the connections with reality

Madness inside this dark cell

I wait for my turn when the next battle begins

The populace has blood lust

My own or my enemy’s

I’ll try to survive

I’m trapped

I don’t want to kill, I don’t want to die

I used to fight for my people through moors and forests, we faced

Against the neighboring towns for supremacy and survival

Darkness fell unexpectedly

Eagle armies swept all our land

Nothing we could do to oppose them

Those who did not die we fell enslaved

By conqueror's power

I have to survive

Wrestling

Using my skills and learning new ones

My soul remains free

My mind begins to fill with thoughts of hatred and death

I pray to my gods

To accept my soul

Today I must to die for fun of the rabble

Tomorrow I will be with my ancestors

My soul will travel free at last

4. The Silence 05:42

 Impossible dream of cities

Autumnal dialogue of the forgotten

The Silence

The Silence

Invisible link of heartbeat

Last song of the dying

It’s in the dark when we invoke your return,

In anger we hide unconsciously your delirium

Rumble's rumble

Shelter of the solitaire

Echo of itself

Mattress against the moonless night

It’s in the dark when we invoke your return,

In anger we hide unconsciously your delirium

It's in the soul where we look for your spell

In the breavement we can hear your deep crepitate

It is in your uterus where is found the way out of the labyrinth and the key to the coffers

It is in your armor where the scream does not stumble

Travelling on tiptoes with the existing without raising suspicion

of power of your hammer, of the value of your voyage

It’s in the dark when we invoke your return,

In anger we hide unconsciously your delirium

It's in the soul where we look for your spell

In the breavement we can hear your deep crepitate

Laughter of our misery

Unquiet god tragedy

The missing piano's tooth bites the wind without air

5. Holy Death 05:21

 Like a black eagle 

You fly over us

You laugh at our insignificant grief

Because before the twilight

We shall be part of your own light

Part of your own light

Gathered we contemplate our decline 

And without words

We praise Dionysius on your behalf

Because we are chaos in ecstasy 

Because there is no balance without death 

A thousand years to carve a throne 

One second of doubt to losing it

Nothing is eternal, neither solitude nor oblivion, neither prayers to God 

And yet this idea remains in our souls 

Fast is your destination and also your decline

A thousand beasts gathered in a pit 

Where you rest in opulence 

Live the holy death 

And live all those you embrace 

You will lead the sound of our end

And open wide you will discover waters of the Styx 

So that we can pass

We celebrate together

And wait for those to come

Those to come

6. Cancer 05:37

  Provided naivety, blind to the truth

Killer science like poison

Annihilating me

Provided naivety, blind to the truth

Killer science like poison

Misunderstood concepts, blinding lights

Nobody knows this hell

Annihilating me

Life in agony

I survive blind wandering

Death and desolation

Disabled, sad, insane

Cancer in my mouth

Exiled, left outside forgotten

Business of bastards

Business of death

Life in agony

I survive blind wandering

Death and desolation

Disabled, sad, insane

Cancer in my mouth

Exiled, left outside forgotten

Business of bastards

Business of death

Pious lie destroying my life

Socially stunted I have no choice

Pious lie destroying my life

I’d like to regurgitate disastrous mixture

Disgusted of swallowing so much shit

Transgenic ambition distorting perfection

Development geniuses

Chemicals full of hate

Simple test objects in complete ignorance

Simple exposed rats to delusions of insane minds

Cancer

7. Weight of Emptiness 05:34

  Lying inside four walls 

Prisoner in my own hopeless shelter

This dark regret falls with that weakness

Bending my neck spreading the sickness

Wherever I escape it reaches me and drops me

falling in disgrace

I’m feeling the burden of life

Weight of emptiness

Breaking the reasons to live

The fight is in vain

Nailed to eternity by the weight of the earth

The delirious streaming of mankind means nothing

Weight of emptiness

Breaking the reasons to live

The fight is in vain

Why

I don't know why

I can't see

I can't read my heart

I'm unable to feel

Some roots under my soul

Are covered with failed 

Memories

I need to get rid of them to lighten the weight of my emptiness

8. Inner Chaos 09:21

  In the humdrum dawn of my life

Bitter wine in the day, old wine in the night

Who gave birth to the chosen one still are with me

The sun blesses me, the moon cradles me

I curse the day my chest tightened, the sand on my watch

My throat didn’t swallow or spit out the balm of my life.

... And transformed the white light in a damned gloom

Believe in, believe in yourself

The lady in black gives no truce

Will come for my soul, I won’t give it a chance

Stable pillars collapsed, No security, no tranquility

The doors have opened, my broken up system

And entered my worst fears without stint like strong wind, my uncertain autumn

Believe in, believe in yourself

The lady in black gives no truce

Will come for my soul, I won’t give it a chance

Death!

Gasp for help, needed the blood even flow

Their scalding rivers of life

Darkness!

The lie which my mind projects in a virtual way

Resigning myself to my fate to surrender my soul to the barge that comes to me

My Inner Chaos…

The doors have opened, my broken up system

And entered my worst fears without stint like strong wind, my uncertain autumn

The lady in black gives no truce

Will come for my soul, I won’t give it a chance

Nothing matters

Thousand lashes with rebirth of the sun, thousand pleasures in the wake of the night

Nothing matters; my senses are still intoxicating with knowledge

My heart beats like summer breeze

I won the battle, but the lady in black knows to wait, all wars belong to her

9. Redemption (Outro) 02:00   instrumental

  47:40

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HAZTE CON ÉL EN : BLACK METAL SPIRIT STORE O DISCOGS

HORTUS ANIMAE

Origen: Rimini, Italia
Formados: 1997
Estilo: Black progresivo
Temática: Muerte, surrealismo y tristeza.
Enlaces: Facebook, Hortus Animae, tictail y twitter
Miembros:

• Adamant Bajo
• Bless Teclados
• Grom Batería
• Hypnos Guitarra
• Martyr Lucifer Voces
• MG Desmadre Guitarra

Discografía:

• An Abode for Spirit and Flesh Demo 1998  
• The Melting Idols CD 2000  
• Waltzing Mephisto CD 2003
• Windfall Introducing Summoning of the Muse Single 2004  
• The Blow of Furious Winds... CD 2005  
• Funeral Nation / 10 Years of Hortus Animae Boxed set 2008  
• Funeral Nation MMXII Recopilatorio 2012
• Secular Music CD 2014  
• Godless Years Recopilatorio 2014  
• There's No Sanctuary EP 2016  
• Piove Sangue - Live in Banská Bystrica Directo 2018
• Live at Velvet - April the 14th, 2001 Directo 2018
• Enter / You're Dead / The Bless of Eternal Bleeding Single 2023

PIOVE SANGUE - LIVE IN BANSKÁ BYSTRICA (2018)

Con la edición de este álbum en directo grabado el pasado Octubre en el Banská Bystrica, festival que se celebra en la localidad eslovaca, la veterana banda italiana pretende repasar su extensa carrera que abarca más de veinte años, con un hiato de por medio de unos cinco años (2008 a 2013). Seis temas están comprendidos en este lanzamiento con una duración que no alcanza los cuarenta minutos y que de manera concreta y concisa sirve de muestrario para arrojar algo de luz y dar a conocer a Hortus Animae que a pesar de llevar más de dos décadas como banda, no se han caracterizado por ser muy productivos en cuanto a lanzamientos pero que sin embargo cada uno de ellos si que atesoran calidad en si mismos. A pesar de ser un directo y con una duración no muy extensa, supongo que algo tendrá que ver en esto el echo de ser grabado en un festival, si que acaba sirviendo para poder apreciar los distintos estilos y épocas por las que ha transitado Hortus Animae, de unos comienzos mucho más black, con un sonido más directo y si cabe violento y oscuro, a transitar por otras vertientes que se fueron incorporando a su música como puede ser el death, el progresivo, influencias vanguardistas y sobre todo el gótico, muy presente en el tercer tema " Doomsday". Aprovechan también para hacer un medley de su primera maqueta, un tema de sus más recientes lanzamientos y cierran con una revisión del "Raining Blood" de Slayer acompañado a las voces por Freddy Fredich de los alemanes Necronomicon, compañero de esta gira. Hortus Animae muestra un estilo en donde hay cabida para diferentes vertientes del metal extremo, todo ello recreado de manera perfecta por la banda y de una manera que permite repasar su trayectoria de forma concisa. (8).

BlackHeavens Music

1. Furious Winds / Locusts 04:25  

2. Chamber of Endless Nightmares 06:31  

3. Doomsday 07:57  

4. Medley: I - In Adoration of the Weeping Skies, II - Cruciatus Tacitus, III - Souls of the Cold Wind 09:40  

5. There's No Sanctuary 06:36  

6. Raining Blood 04:41  

  39:50  

VOX MALORUM - INTERVIEW

1. How long ago did you decide to create the band and why did you choose the name Vox Malorum?

I started writing the music for the demo in December 2016 and the songs you hear were completed sometime in June 2017.  As the songs started to take shape and sound, the vocals felt creepy and sounded a bit otherworldly to me.  Combined with the lyrics, the presentation felt very full of evil intent and hopes for mankind.  With some basic study and consulting a Latin professor, I settled on 'Vox Malorum' as a name that translated into something like 'the voice of evil' or 'the voice of evil men'.  

2. Vox Malorum is presented as a one man band, is it something that has been clear since the beginning or contemplates the possibility of adding new members in the future even if only to be able to offer a concert?

The initial intention was to create the demo as something to present to the local musicians as a way of finding people to play with.  I wanted to have something to show outside of saying, "hey, let's jam sometime!"  I think most of the people around here who heard it didn't know I played anything at all.  The way I wrote the songs was for them to be easily represented by 5 musicians on stage.  2 guitars, bass, drums, and keys.  So, no, the intent was never to stay a solo project, it was an actual call to arms for any warriors willing.  There is always a possibility to make Vox Malorum a live presentation, but I have yet to properly sit down for 4 other musicians and play these songs.  The experiment was a success though, as it helped create relationships that led to the formation of a separate pagan folk metal project to be revealed this year hopefully.

3. "A Call to Arms" is his first demo, contains four tracks that he defines as "only black metal", sounds crude and direct, with a certain dose of epic and that in general is very close to the Scandinavian scene of the years ninety, impossible not to make this comparison. Do you agree with this definition? What have been your main influences when working on this demo?

I absolutely agree.  The music from that region, especially in the 90s, continues to get regular play on my stereo even today.  The reason I described the demo as black metal alone is simply because I'm not very well versed in the sub-genre terminology, nor am I a big fan of labeling things in general.  I get the desire to categorize, but to me, it's just black metal.  I actually tried not to imitate any other band in particular while recording these tracks, but in making what kind of music I wanted to hear I guess it's inevitable that that energy will seep through the final product.  I like to hear what band or album people say my music resembles.  During the recording of the demo I was listening to a lot of early Demoncy, Void Meditation Cult, Immortal, Satanic Warmaster, Necrophobic, Burzum, Death Worship, Black Witchery ... I hear touches of the bands I love, but I'm not sure if the songs sound just like them.  I hope that isn't the case.

4. Death, battles and misanthropy are themes that are dealt with in the lyrics of the songs, where do you get the inspiration to write the lyrics and why do you think it is interesting to write about these topics?

These subjects are sources of positive mental flow for me.  I feel energized by songs about going into battle, standing by your convictions even into death.  By being aware of my impermanence, I feel I am better equipped to live a more enriching and meaningful life.  These are the sort of thoughts that give me positive energy, at least positive by my point of view.  The modern world that we all share and live in is very much a suffocating clusterfuck that can very quickly sap the energy out of an independent thinker.  The misanthropic themes in my music are reflections of the mass herds of cattle that perpetuate this cycle of mental and spiritual decomposition.  These themes and lyrics represent the shadow side of my attempt at maintaining balance in life.  There are a few glimpses into my spirituality, which I almost exclusively keep secret to myself.  Future lyrics will explore those aspects a little more as time goes on.

5. How was the process of composition and recording of the demo ?, When having to take care of the recording of all instruments, which has been more complicated to record? What brand of instruments have you used?

I would write the songs on guitar first, and then add a temporary programmed drum track.  This allowed me the opportunity to experiment with different rhythms and expressions without having another person to jam the riffs with.  Next came bass and then keys to accent melody and chill the atmosphere a bit.  I then recorded the live drum sounds in a friend's basement and changed them out for the programmed drum sounds. The lyrics were written right after the guitar, but not recorded until the very end.  All four tracks' vocals were recorded under a full moon, out far from my city, in the middle of the woods, where the river runs red.  The most complicated thing to record was the drums.  I had to come up with some unique ways to present the drum sound I wanted.  The instrument brands I used were Gibson Les Paul, Schecter 5-string bass, M-AUDIO midi controller, Gretsch Catalina drums, and all the vocals were recorded on an iPhone in the woods, haha.

6. There is an element that has led to some confusion in the sound of the demo and is none other than that of the battery, which seems programmed in some section, however this is not true could you clarify a bit how the battery was recorded of the demo "A Call to Arms"? 

The initial temporary track was made from individual recorded sounds from an old Alesis drum machine.  I would then give each element its own track and then arrange them how I wanted until I was ready to record live drum sound.  I only had a single microphone to record the live drum kit, so I came up with the idea to record each element individually and then move the sound around the headphones as if they were being heard from the seat behind the drums.  I would record the hi-hat for all four tracks, set up the microphone over the snare and record the snare drum for all four tracks, and then the same for each cymbal.  The drum fills were recorded separately on one mic after that.  The only non-live programmed sound on the drum track is the bass drum.  I was dealing with a work-related knee injury during that time, so using the Alesis bass drum sound was the only option for me.  I plan to continue using this method for the next release I'm working on, but I may move to a full live drum recording after then.  After all, it was an awful lot of work, but I'm more or less pleased with the way it turned out given what I was working with.

7. As I mentioned before your music conforms to the definition of "only black metal", I suppose that under this concept there will be no room for other styles or genres such as post-black, progressive black, etc., what do you think? These new currents within the genre? What would be your definition of black metal?

There is definitely room for other styles, but I suppose that's up to the interpretation of the listener.  At the end of the day, I'm not well versed in what makes this post or progressive, so I can't say for sure one way or the other.  To me, black metal has always been about a combination of the intention and the atmosphere created by the music.  There are some very lo-fi recordings that create a more vivid atmosphere than some fine-tuned and well produced albums, but I like examples of each.  I think intention is the most important thing of all, and when it comes through and it vibes with you, it's right.  While I latch onto lyrics, sometimes they take the backseat to the emotion and ambiance the music evokes.  It's difficult for me to describe in words, but I'll say: strength, pride, courage, balance.  These seem to be the core ideals at the base of the music I make.  Who am I to say what it could mean to someone else, though?  

8. How were your beginnings in music, first concerts, first cds you bought? Why did you decide to play an instrument and dedicate yourself to music one day?

I have always listened to all sorts of music.  My dad taught me three chords on the guitar when I was 11, and I started playing next to the radio when I was 14.  When I think back to the first albums I ever bought, given the choice when I was 9 or 10, it was either GNR's Appetite For Destruction or Prince's Diamonds and Pearls, haha!  As far as metal though, the first CD I ever bought was Immortal's Battles In The North.  That cover was really something among all the other CDs, so I bought it instantly.  From there I checked out the Norwegian staples, and expanded to bands from all over the world and I still find older music today I've never heard of.  I can't remember the reason I decided to start playing music, it just happened and the creative process feels about as necessary as breath to me.  It's just part of who I am.  

9. What can you tell us about the Lexington musical scene? What was the last album that was purchased?

The Lexington metal scene is something I've come to love.  There are some exceptional local underground talents and our local bars have played host to bands from all over the world thanks to them.  Lexington is also the home of the annual Blood of the Wolf Fest, which just had it's fourth edition last month.  Bands to check out from our city: Tombstalker, Astralnaut, Black Knife, Apocryphal Revelation, Master's Curse, Pyromancer, Rotting Kingdom.  The last album I bought was All Hell's The Grave Alchemist from the festival last month.  

10. "A Call to Arms" has been edited in digital format and is available on your bancamp page, are there possibilities that in a future it will be reissued in other formats?

It has been released on cassette by Black Abyss Productions in the Netherlands as of February.  They sold out of all of their copies on the first day, but I will soon have a very limited number available from the Vox Malorum bandcamp page.  As far as reissues, there are no others currently planned, but there is an opportunity if there is an interest.

11. Are you working on new topics to give continuity to the demo soon or at the moment there is no possibility of shortly editing new material?

I have actually finished writing material for the next release which will give continuity to the demo.  I am currently working on the tracking now, and hope to have it out this year.  I have no details to share on it at the moment, but it will definitely be a progression of the journey presented in A Call To Arms.  I am also writing music for a planned full length to follow that upcoming release and have already completed writing a few songs as well as a concept outline.  Vox Malorum is only just beginning, and I'm looking forward to revealing more of it's energy to the collective consciousness over time.  

12. Thank you very much for taking the time to Black Metal Spirit, if you want to add something for the followers of Vox Malorum, this is the place. I hope the questions are to your liking.

Anyone who wants to stay up to date on this project can follow the Bandcamp page , the Vox Malorum page on Facebook, or just email me directly at voxmalorumband@gmail.com.  Until then, make your own footprints in the snow, carve your own path, and worship death.  -- Shinigami.

Põhjast -Thou Strong, Stern Death 13,99 €

LP

1. The Soundless Music of the Lake 

2. A Funeral Procession on the Milky Way 

3. The Man from the Past 

4. Moorsong 

5. Thoughts Most Nocturnal 

6. The Three Brothers

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