MANZER

Origen: Francia, Poitou-Charentes.

Formados: 2008

Estilo: Black, thrash

Temática: Alcohol, blasfemia, Pictavia, Satán y sexo.
Enlaces: Manzer
Miembros:

• Nathan Bajo y voces
• Ogma Guitarra
• Shaxul Batería y voces
• 
  

Discografía:

• Pictavian Bastards Demo 2010   
• Pictavian Invasion in Paris Directo 2010   
• Pictavian Samurais Split 2010
• Pictavian Kara Metal Split 2011   
• Orgy and Profanity EP 2011   
• Pictavian Invasion in Asia Directo 2012   
• Long Live Metal Directo 2013   
• Light of the Wreckers CD 2013   
• Pictavian Demonslaught Split 2013   
• Pictavian Invasion in Malaysia Directo 2013
• Mausén Nàu EP 2013
• Pictavian Invasion in Israel Directo 2014 Pictavian Chronicles - Volume 1 Recopilatorio 2015
• Pictavian Invasion in India & Nepal Recopilatorio 2015 Pictavian Serigala EP 2015
• Beyond the Iron Portal CD 2016 Pictavian Hexecution Split 2016
• Pictavian Invasion in Japan Directo 2018 Howling Wilderness EP 2018
• Pictavian Invasion in Central America Directo 2019
• Pictavian Chronicles - Volume 2 Recopilatorio 2020
• Impious Invocation of Ebalus CD 2023
• Pictavian Invasion in Southern Africa Directo 2024

LIGHT OF THE WRECKERS (2013)   

Procedentes de región francesa de la Pictavia y con miembros que también han sido integrantes de Dathspell Omega o Arphaxat, entre otros, nos llega el primer larga duración. El sonido de Manzer tiene mucho de heavy y rock clásico, lleno de buenas melodías, con un acertado trabajo a la guitarras de Romain, su más reciente incorporación y que ha supuesto todo un acierto. Su música tampoco esta exenta de la épica y la agresividad del black más primitivo y las voces cazallosas por momentos nos recuerdan al gran Lemmy. Absolutamente todo en este trabajo recuerda a los grandes clásicos de principios y mediados de los ochenta, cuando el heavy y el thrash comenzaba a despuntar y el black solo era un mero proyecto totalmente desconocido más haya de los iniciados. Un disco de sonido primitivo que no cuesta nada imaginarlo tocado en directo, con un fuerte sabor a clásico en todos los apartados. (7,8).

1. The Death Lantern 04:50

  A flame in the cemetery,

A flare under the starless sky,

The stone tower is now ready,

The candles are hoisted up high. 

The death lantern... Morte æterna.

The death lantern... Lux perpetua.

From their tomb they are emerging,

Ensnared in the dead of the night,

The deceased shall haunt the living,

If they can't find the guiding light.

The death lantern... Morte æterna.

The death lantern... Lux perpetua.

Lost souls without rest,

Old remains unblessed,

Ghosts rise to infest,

Hail Lucifer, guide of the possessed!

No heaven awaits a spectre,

Just a fire with false intent,

Revenants forever wander,

Stay awake or feel their torment.

The death lantern... Morte æterna.

The death lantern... Lux perpetua.

Lost souls without rest,

Old remains unblessed,

Ghosts rise to infest,

Hail Lucifer, guide of the possessed!

2. Terroir Squad 03:11

  Let the Bacchanalia commence,

Awakening every sense.

Run in the nude,

Taste delicious food,

Then comes the dance,

Go into a trance.

Enter the profane revelry,

Submit to gastronomy.

No chance to stop,

Feast until you drop,

No other choice,

Till death we rejoice.

Join the Terroir Squad! All right!

Enlist in the troops of Beelzebub, the demon of gluttony,

Like a legion of hungry satyrs, in an enormous orgy...

Live through hedonistic pleasure,

To eat and drink is culture.

Meat, wine and cheese,

Primal recipes,

Bite hard and chew,

Cook and start anew.

Join the Terroir Squad! All right!

Join the Terroir Squad!

3. Hell's Most Wanted 04:00

Living a life full of sin, No wish to save our skin. Call us impious revilers... Blasphemers! Hell's most wanted - never repent. Hell's most wanted - infernal descent. Hell's most wanted - satanic pride. Hell's most wanted - vice is our guide. No doubt, humans came from apes, Let's end all religious japes. Call us evolutionists... Atheists! Hell's most wanted - never repent. Hell's most wanted - infernal descent. Hell's most wanted - satanic pride. Hell's most wanted - vice is our guide. Live free and die, no absolution. We'll clink glasses in Hell with Satan. Pissing in the altar wine, Only good booze is divine. Call us alcohol wizards... Real drunkards! Hell's most wanted - never repent. Hell's most wanted - infernal descent. Hell's most wanted - satanic pride. Hell's most wanted - vice is our guide.

4. Underage Witch 03:44

Witch! She's an underage witch!

The best things in life, most are illegal.

She's a sorceress, a teenage devil.

Always half-naked, I'm under her spell.

At least I will smile when I go to Hell.

Jailbait... Lewd jailbait... Obsessed by lust...

Witch! She's an underage witch!

I can't help myself, she's being so naughty.

It is worth the risk to nail her pussy.

Sixteen will get me twenty, that's for sure.

A real entrapment by a girl impure.

Jailbait... Lewd jailbait... Obsessed by lust...

Jailbait... Hot jailbait... Oh you're so tight...

Witch! She's an underage witch!

Sex on the altar, I show no remorse.

Sinful ritual, carnal intercourse.

People see you as daddy's cute princess.

But you're a dirty, obscene enchantress.

Jailbait... Lewd jailbait... Obsessed by lust...

Witch! She's an underage witch!

Witch! You're an underage witch!

Yes you are!

5. Light of the Wreckers 03:50

Far from the lighthouse, in a storm at night, An oil lantern's burning bright, Hanging and waving from the donkey's neck, We are prepared for the wreck. Light of the wreckers, sink into the sea. Light of the wreckers, the sailors' agony. Deceived by the light, it is way too late, The ship can't escape this fate, The rugged cliff edge, now coming closer, Soon we'll begin the plunder. Light of the wreckers, sink into the sea. Light of the wreckers, the sailors' agony. Lured to its doom, inevitable shock, The galleon came to grief on the huge rock. Inside the boat, taking all the treasures, We leave victims to feed the sea creatures. Light of the wreckers, sink into the sea. Light of the wreckers, the sailors' agony. As evil pirates, we stole all jewels, And feast with those rum barrels...

6. Pictavia 05:12  instrumental

7. Le Bouffe-Churai 03:28

 Détrvire tun sabarun,

Fé me pa chaufàe a tés chauçuns.

T'aemes bén grujhàe aus gréns de sàu,

Den tun çheùr o fàut picàe in pàu.

I me noume le boufe-çhurai,

Pr ma foe danai,

Te mérites le buchàe.

I regoule su tun égllise,

Té pi ta sale séc, i ve déprise.

Te prtends étre in brjhàe,

I sé jha ine oelle qu'o fàut ghidàe.

I me noume le boufe-çhurai,

Pr ma foe danai,

Te mérites le buchàe.

Sandié!

I entend tun deràe vrtimun,

Mourour daus crétiéns pi cllérjhuns,

Ac pa de pardun... Crvaciun!

Que le diablle te patafiole,

T'enmene en dévire pi t'éstréngole.

I dounerae pa mun paçhét,

Fiéréce d'in péchour, pr la mordié!

I me noume le boufe-çhurai,

Pr ma foe danai,

Te mérites le buchàe.

8. Primeval Instincts 04:04   

Direct action,

Back to archaic pulsions.

Set in motion,

Freedom through straight reactions.

Get a simple behaviour, a prehistoric manner,

man is a natural hunter.

It may sound irrational, but there's nothing more normal,

give in to all that is carnal.

Crowning of sincerity, power and integrity,

utter satanic liberty.

Impulsive conquest... Primeval instincts.

Inherent unrest... Primeval instincts.

Get a simple behaviour, a prehistoric manner,

man is a natural hunter.

It may sound irrational, but there's nothing more normal,

give in to all that is carnal.

Crowning of sincerity, power and integrity,

utter satanic liberty.

Impulsive conquest... Primeval instincts.

Inherent unrest... Primeval instincts.

Direct action,

Back to archaic pulsions.

Set in motion,

Freedom through straight reactions.

9. Manzer 04:29

In the Middle Ages, ancestors ruled the land, Now Black Metal forces will take command. Pictones, Santones, we're tribal descendants, A recapture process by mad tyrants. Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - You'll be manzerized! Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - We are Manzer yeah! Illegitimate sons, just like Count Ebalus, Metal hymns as weapons raise a rumpus. As Pictavian bastards, conquering Lemonum, We'll play our records at full volume. Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - You'll be manzerized! Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - We are Manzer yeah! Leading the armies on long-haired donkeys, Hailing our mascot whether you like it or not. Satan on our side, crusade against traitors, Join the battle and ride to kill posers. Fast, loud and wild we play, ears will bleed till you die, Metal knights of doomsday... The end is nigh. Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - You'll be manzerized! Manzer - Counts of Pictavia, Manzer - Mighty lords of war, Manzer - We are Manzer yeah!  

  36:48

 

ELDERBLOOD

Origen: Ucrania, Kharkiv.

Formados: 2011

Estilo: Black melódico

Temática: Caos, lucifer y oscuridad.

Enlaces: Facebook, soundcloud y vk

Miembros:

• Astargh Voces, guitarra, bajo y teclados.
• Blodorn Bajo
• Hjadegharn Guitarra
• Odalv  Batería

Discografía:

• Son of the Morning CD 2013
• Messiah CD 2016
• Achrony CD 2021

SON OF THE MORNING (2013)

El black sinfónico vivió momentos de gloria hace ya mucho tiempo, cuando la incorporación de teclados e instrumentos de cuerda aportaron aire fresco a la escena, sin embargo con el paso de los años esta misma escena se saturó de bandas que se subieron al carro al mismo tiempo que el sonido fue perdiendo poco a poco su conexión con el black para empezar a coquetear con sonidos cada más cercanos al gótico o al metal sinfónico, lo que significó también un cierto distanciamiento por parte de los puristas del género. Lo que nos ofrecen Elderblood en su debut "Son of The Morning" es un interesante término medio entre los comienzos del black sinfónico y un sonido muy actual. Se nota que han mamado los primeros trabajos de Cradle of Filth y Dimmu Borgir, pero no han cometido los errores de estos y otras muchas bandas, que con el devenir de los años han ido sobreproduciendo y saturando su sonido hasta convertirlo en un pastiche insufrible. Elderblood tiene las ideas claras desde un principio y con un sonido contundente de profunda base metálica, con un buen triunvirato entre las guitarras melódicas a la par que agresivas, una batería de sonido contundente y unas voces agresivas, a lo que se le ha incorporado la dosis justa de teclados y elementos sinfónicos, para ofrecer un trabajo de black sinfónico rematadamente recomendable. Escuchando este "Son of the Morning aparte de los grupos anteriormente mencionados como Dimmu Boguir o Cradle of Filth a uno se le pasan por la cabeza bandas como Crematory o Artcturus bandas todas ellas de calidad y con un sonido muy característico que nos puede dar un idea aproximada del este trabajo, que sin ser nada innovador resulta muy aconsejable. Tras tanta calidad y buen hacer supongo que tendrá algo o bastante que ver, que Astargh y Odalv hayan pertenecido a Nokturnal Mortum, tal vez una de las bandas más reconocibles de la escena Ucraniana junto a los incombustible Drudkh, pero estas ya son palabras mayores. (8,3).

1. Gates to Oblivion 00:45  instrumental

2. Dies Irae 07:47  

3. Manifestation ov Dark Essence 05:42  

4. Son of the Morning 06:51  

5. My Death 05:38  

6. Triumph of the Beast 07:39  

7. The XI-th Angle 06:26  

8. Naglfar 09:01  

9. Egocide 08:51  

10. Re-Birth 05:23  

11. Dreamless 02:08  instrumental

  01:06:11

 

RUDRA

Origen: Singapur.

Formados: 1992

Estilo: Black con influencias folk y death

Temática: Filosofía hindú, mitología y temas védicos

Enlaces: Facebook, reverbnation, Rudra y youtube

Miembros:

• Devan Guitarra
• Kathir Voces y bajo
• Shiva  Batería
• Vinod Guitarra

Discografía:

• The Past Demo 1995   
• Rudra Demo 1997   
• Metal Legion Split 1998   
• Rudra Recopilatorio 1998
• The Aryan Crusade CD 2001
• Kurukshetra CD 2003
• Brahmavidya: Primordial I CD 2005
• Brahmavidya: Transcendental I CD 2009
• Brahmavidya: Immortal I CD2011
• RTA CD 2013 1 
• Brahmavidya Tour 2011 Directo 2013   
• Enemy of Duality CD 2016
• The Blackisle Sessions Recopilatorio 2018  
• Past Life Regression Recopilatorio 2018
• Invoking the Gods CD 2019  
• Garland of Skulls Recopilatorio 2022
• Eight Mahavidyas CD 2022
• Conjuration of Vibrations in Duality Directo 2023
• Antithesis CD 2025

RTA (2013)

Más de veinte años de carrera le han servido a Rudra para conseguir el estatus de banda de referencia dentro de la escena black asiática. Su sonido ha ido creciendo y madurando disco a disco al mismo tiempo que se enriquecía con sonidos orientales hasta llegar a este Rta, en donde han forjado un sonido propio totalmente reconocible. Temas de larga duración que posibilitan el desarrollo de los mismos, temas de ritmos fuertemente influenciados sobre todo en sus partes más lentas por acústicas hinduistas que la sucederse las partes metal conservan estas melodías pero su música poco tiene que envidiar a propuestas occidentales del mejor black metal o doom. La música de Rudra desprende un fuerte olor a hinduismo, la inclusión de varios instrumentos tradicionales conlleva a la creación de estas atmósferas que casan con la tradición y con el folk de sus orígenes y aunque cuando hacen aparición las afiladas guitarras y el doble bombo su sonido se torna más moderno y brutal en ningún momento abandonan sus raíces y las melodías siguen recordando en todo momento sus orígenes. El black oriental tiene el honor de contar con un puñado de bandas de calidad más que contrastada y Rudra se merece ocupar un lugar destacado en dentro de la escena, no ya por sonido sino por lo original y profesionalidad de su propuesta. (8,6).

1. Death 08:48  

2. Heartbreak 11:00  

3. Abduction 09:49  

4. Resolution 09:49  

5. Manipulation 09:51  

6. Assault 12:34  

  01:01:51  

 

EMPYRION - ENTREVISTA

Good afternoon , how everything Nitra ? , Thank you very much for agreeing to answer these questions .

Hey Fran, thanks for your interest. We are working on new material and having some concerts around in the next time. Except for that nothing exceptional going on over here. Nitra is a midsized Slovak town and a sleepy hollow.

1. Empyrion is created upon dissociation of Corrupted Melody and retains most of the members of this band . Tell us a bit why you decided to put an end to Corrupted Melody and how was the process of formation of Empyrion ?

Corrupted Melody was a band that managed to bringt out an album in Germany and that was about it. Every now and then personal changes slowed down any progress of the band. None of the two female vocalists attended rehearsals and later also the founder of Corrupted Melody stopped showing up because of a new family, a demanding job and university studies. As the rest of us was eager to move forward and do a different, more aggresive and straight forward music, we simply voted for dissolving the band and forming a new one.

2. " Mindshifter " is the first work published by you under the name Empyrion , how the process of writing and recording of " Mindshifter ?" What major differences can be found between the music and Corrupted Melody Empyrion ? 

Writing Mindshifter was quite a short process. First off we all knew each other well, the new vocalist fitted in perfectly. In the last years of Corrupted Melody’s agony a strong creative pressure began to form within a part of the band. A need to find a new way to express ourselves. After the burial of CM and creation of Empyrion we took a second deep breath and were finally free to move on without any further delays or complications or obligations. Musically Empyrion is darker, more brutal, with less melancholia and with higher voltage. Overall Empyrion is surely faster with up to solid 260 bpm blasts in the first track of the Mindshifter album. The actual music is less complex in the means of composition and more like a punch in the face. 

3. What bands are your main influence when composing for Empyrion ? Are you in contact with other Slovak band scene?

The sometimes bad but mostly good thing about Empyrion is that everybody in the band listens to something else. Reviewers compared our music to many bands but very rarely they mentioned two identical band names. I personally enjoy every kind of music I consider good and it doesn’t matter if it is a symphony, opera, rock ballad, pop song, oldie, if it’s hard rock, death metal, prog, djent, jazz, rap or anything else. The contacts with other Slovak bands are good. We are all sharing the same heaven and hell of the Slovak metal underground and we do seek and emphasize friendships with other underground musicians and bands. 

4. How would you describe the sound of Empyrion ? Are you satisfied with the result obtained by the album " Mindshifter "?

The studio producer of this album was Roland Grapow (the mastermind of the band Masterplan and ex-Helloween guitar player and songwriter). We opted for him simply because it was the best we could get in Slovakia (he is a German who chose to live in Slovakia and runs a studio over here. At least two Spanish bands recorded in his studio in Slovakia). Though recording a blackened death metal band was new to him Roland is a professional who knows what he does. A challenge was to get a good final mix because the music of Empyrion is very dense – many instruments mostly playing many tones at the same time and sometimes even more parallel melodies. And we wanted the tiniest detail to be noticeable. I think we achieved this. We keep getting feedbacks from our fans that even after several listens our music doesn’t get boring. That is because one always finds something new, something he or she did not realise during previous listening. I think of the sound like a big wall with a very fine mosaic on it. Maybe not the most modern sound one can get but that was not the goal anyway. The interesting thing is that the whole recording took including mixing less than a week since we did not have the money to pay for a longer studio session. In this regard I think the sound is more than good. 

5. Lyrics to " Mindshifter " have a degree of pessimism and social critic, who wrote the lyrics and themes considered important to treat them?

The author of all of our lyrics is my brother, the other guitar player Juro. The lyrics are about the humanity and all the steps that it takes to self-destruction. Mankind is sadly not able to learn from its mistakes, not able to rise to a new state of mind, tolerant, free and responsible, not blinded by religion and superstition, the lyrics are also about weakness, affects, violence in the name of deformed ideals and other severe matters.

6. What equipment do you use live?"

Over the years every one of us has fairly good equipment. Nothing special but it works and sounds fine. So the rest is up to the sound engineer. Many of them experience problems finding quickly a proper mixing for vocals, two guitars, bass, drums, keys and samples but at this moment we simply can’t afford paying our own sound engineer. Thus we have to rely on the one we get. We noticed that the bigger the event the lesser the issue :-) 

7. You've been in the world of metal but I'm wrong about twenty years , what are your memories of when you started playing in a group How did you get started and why you decided to be a musician ?

I’ve started playing guitar when I was 16 and that was 17 years ago but the first time I joined a band was not that long ago – for a long time I just played and practised at home for myself. The one most important influence for me was Tommy Vetterli alias Tommy T. Baron from Coroner. It was his unmatched soloing that made me want to learn to play the guitar, especially his arpeggios. And of course I knew that playing guitar was a good thing to be cool and to get the hot chicks :-). Since then I was under many influences but none so strong than Coroner. Regarding metal in older times I’ve been listening a lot to Faith No More, Destruction, Mekong Delta but also to classic stuff like Carcass, Death, Iron Maiden, Kreator, Slayer or Metallica. 

8. " Mindshifter " was edited by Gothoom Productions , Slovak stamp , how the opportunity arose to work with them ? Are you satisfied with the work done by the label , in the future you 'll still attached to it ?

We had talks with an American, an Austrian and an UK label but the offered conditions were not satisfactory. Thus we decided to go with Gothoom Productions which is a young and growing Slovak label. If you want fair promotion in the homeland and the Czech republic Gothoom Productions is surely the best choice the label’s capabilities to push a band abroad are however somewhat limited. We have no idea what the future will bring but as most other bands we too hope for some promotion from an international label.

9. Who designed the cover of " Mindshifter " and how it relates to the contents of the disc ?

The artificially created word Mindshifter is to express our hope that our music can move minds, alter them, leave a trace or imprint, a steady impression. The visual was created by a friend of ours.

10. What do you hope to fans of Empyrion in the near future regarding upcoming releases , concerts, etc. .. ?

This year was Empyrion’s first festival season and we managed to play at two big and two smaller festivals which is a huge success for a band formed two years ago. For next summer we are confirmed for the Basin Fire Fest and I hope we get to play on more such festivals. Maybe next year will be the release year of our second album but that’s a guess, no statement. I hope we get to make one or more music clips, I hope we will get new fans and I hope the old remain loyal. 

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

Thank you, I hope my answers weren’t too long or boring. Best greetings to all fans of dark music out there in wonderful Spain. Stay true to metal and everything else will be fine :-) .  And if you like, visit us on our Facebook profile facebook.com/empyrion.band and leave a comment or like our band to get updates.

Rado Glovňa https://www.facebook.com/rado.vanempyrion  / Empyrion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlCqBDubUBY 

NON OPUS DEI - ENTREVISTA

1. Non Opus Dei was founded in 1997, after sixteen years of career, what do you remember of the early Non Opus Dei? What are these sixteen years as a band and how it has affected various lineup changes to Non Opus Dei?

Sixteen tears? Well, looks like you are right, ha ha. I never think about the passing of time, the most important things are still ahead of us. The current line-up is Klimorh (g., v.), Horizon (g.), Góral (b.) and Gonzo (dr.). Gonzo has been in the band for eight years. As for Horizon and Góral - they have been playing in NOD for about two years. In 2013 we played a few gigs, released a split, and are about to record a full album.

2. "Dziwki dwie" is your most recent work, a split with the band MOROWE Polish, How did the possibility of making this split? How was the writing and recording process of Split? Could you briefly describe the music of MOROWE ?

As for Non Opus Dei, it was an old school style live recording in the studio (with all the musicians and their amps in the same room), with no overdubs, and no post-production tweaking. The result was great and we thought that we should do something more with the songs. Someone came up with an idea for preparing a split... The next day I was discussing it with Nihil (Morowe).

Morowe... An original band, incredible music, remarkable lyrics. I actually hate talking about music, since music is something one should listen to and not talk about...

3. Your lyrics in general have always tried about spirituality and other concepts such as Nietzsche 's demon , the cycle of eternal return , however in " Dziwki dwie " it seems you try other things in your lyrics , are we facing a concept album ? What aspects you try to "Dziwki dwie" and why choose to talk about them?

You are right, the lyrics of both bands are linked by the same concept. The prologue to the split contains everything I wanted to say about it, so I hope you do not mind if I simply provide it here...

"The eternal war has just been unleashed again. I do not get involved. I am just standing aside, watching this battle. The encounter between the two powers, the two totally opposite ideas, which cannot coexist peacefully with each other. Never.

The first one is the avatar of the power which is always against stagnation and degradation. She is beyond any words, since words cannot describe her. She is beyond this world, because this world is not enough for her. The avatar of evolution, development, conquest… She will live until there remain any unknown spaces, previously undiscovered continents, ideas, immensities, galaxies… Or maybe I should say – she will live until we can find for ourselves any unknown spaces, previously undiscovered continents, ideas, immensities, galaxies.

She wants you to be sinister, free, unbridled and full of might. She wants to take off the chains of space and time which imprison you.

And today she has to face her biggest enemy.

She is opposed by the Power which wants to lead us straight into the consumer paradise. The paradise of ubiquitous safety, love, technology, tolerance. The heaven in which we are breastfed by the Radio-Computer-Television Mother. The place where we are in stagnation, suspended between life and death, but not really knowing any of these two states. The paradise in which we are weak and addicted. We just stand motionless, because we know that there are no new worlds to be conquered, there are no more warriors to be defeated, there are no more ideas to get acquainted with.

She wants us to become slaves. Weak, crying, dying, hollow, insipid. Junkies addicted to empty slogans".

4. The three themes containing this split you are very raw and aggressive, with a sound very straightforward, what are your main musical influences?

I do not think we have any particular influences, we try to follow our own path. As for the sound – we were bored with the way most metal bands record their songs nowadays. I think most albums sound in an unnatural way, maybe people overuse computer editing, maybe for some other reasons... This is why we wanted a live recording, just as you said – straightforward, raw, aggressive.

5. On the Polish black metal scene and the perspective that gives so much time carrying the same, why do you think he has developed a very important scene in Poland, with a quality in their band that has nothing to envy to the other countries? What do you like best about Polish black metal scene? 

Maybe playing black metal is one of our national triats, ha ha... The best thing is that the black metal scene in Poland often provides us with something worth listening to, like for example this dreary autumn I spent a few hours with the new acts by Voidhanger and Mord'a Stigmata...

6. Five fundamental cds within the black metal?

Difficult to say, really... I would have to include 40 or 50 albums in such a list, ha ha... I think one should mention some of the early brilliant albums, which introduced something new - "Written in Waters", "Thy Mighty Contract", "The Jilemnice Occultist", "Hvis Lyset Tar Oss". And we also should refer to the beginnings of the genre - albums like "Under the Sign of Black Mark". But I do not think it is possible to include all this within 5 albums...

7. How were your beginnings in music? Why did you decide to dedicate to be a musician?

At the beginning of the 90's (I was 14 years old), I used to borrow a lot of vinyls from a library in Olsztyn (my hometown). As far as I remember, every weeek I borrowed five vinyls (the maximum amount you could borrow). Then at home I listened to it and recorded my favourite songs on cassetes. They had a lot of vinyls with old Polish metal bands like Kat ("38 minutes of life" was my fave). I was so impressed with their music and lyrics that I bought an accoustic guitar and tried to imitate a distorted sound by plugging my beat-up, acoustic, out-of-tune guitar to an old radio (using a cheap, piezoelectric pickup). Did I want to be a musician? Certainly not, I just wanted to play black metal, which I guess are two totally different things, ha ha.

A few months ago I found two tapes I recorded in 1994 (guitar and vocals), listening to it was a very unusual experience, I must say...

8. Who designed the cover of “Dziwki dwie "? Could you explain a bit how it relates to the concept of the album?

Take a closer look at the cover please, I am sure you will find some reference to the title ("Dziwki Dwie" means "Two Whores"). Bartek Rogalewicz is the graphics designer with whom I have been working for some time, he had already prepared some graphics for the previous full album of Non Opus Dei, he also prepared graphics for our pagan folk project (Alne).

9. What plans do you have for Non Opus Dei about upcoming releases, concerts, etc. .. ?

First, we have to finish working on our new album and record it. Then we plan to play a few gigs.

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

Thanks for supporting us!!!

SHADOWGRAVE - ENTREVISTA

1. Shadowgrave was created in February 2012 and during this time you have not stopped to edit band’s new material, how were the beginnings of the band and why did you decide to form Shadowgrave? How have influenced the various changes it has undergone training in Shadowgrave this time in the band's sound ?

Tiago - Well, the beginning of the band was quite "jumpy". Me, Bernardo and Jorge kept looking for guitar players that would like to join our project and continue with us through a "lifelong" project, so to speak. Our first guitar player, Francisco, helped to had a lot of black metal to our Doom exclusive beginnings. Gustavo and Guilherme didn't imply a major change with our sound but were with us while the band was still trying to find it's confort zone.

2. Shadowgrave 's music moves between the heaviness of doom , the extreme darkness of black and all this is added an extra melancholy about incorporating keyboards successful , what are your main musical influences? What do you intend to convey with your music?

T - We have a lot of influences, starting with fellow portuguese musicians "Moonspell". If you asked this question to any of the other band members the reply would probably be all so different, but in my opinion the main influences, apart from the aforementioned Moonspell, are Draconian, My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun, Cradle of Filth, Opeth, Mayhem, Burzum... And many more.

3. How was the process of writing and recording your last album "Demise of the Forgotten"? How your way of working, there is a leader or all contributing ideas?

T - Two different processes altogether. Most of the songs were written by me and Bernardo, with the input and acknowledgment of of Jorge. Our previous guitar player, Fábio, also has a writing credit on the album, as well as our studio keyboard player, Spyros. It was a long process simply because we didn't have the means to rehearse and get together when we wanted to. The recording process was almost 100% performed by me and Bernardo at his garage. Regarding the second part of the question, I don't think there is a leader, although me and Bernardo tend to guide the creating and recording process from the beginning.

4. Throughout this time , how do you think that sound has evolved from your Ep Sahdowgrave "The Aftermath " up to " Demise of the Forgotten " How would you describe today the band's sound to someone who has not I have heard?

T - It's night and day. The first EP was rushed, poorly recorded and mixed, which is entirely my fault, and doesn't showcase what the band has to offer. If you are to listen to both the EP and the LP you'll notice a huge difference in sound quality, musicianship and even ambience.

5. Are you satisfied with the impact achieved by Shadowgrave at this time? What do you expect of this "Demise of the Forgotten "?

T - We are never satisfied with what we have, but I must say I'm somewhat pleased. It's good to be in a band that has achieved so much in less than 2 years (4 official releases) and continues to create music for future works. I would expect this album to set the stepping stone for an ever so better future.

6. Reviewed aspect of the lyrics to “Demise of the Forgotten” , is there a conceptual story about the album? Did any way related to your old Ep? Where do you find the inspiration to write the lyrics?

T - Yes there is, and it's related to our old EP. See, every song since our first released, excluding Lake of the Dead EP, can be placed on the same story and universe. The idea was to include all songs on the album, so we could have 14, but obviously everything needed to be streamlined to fit no more than 60 minutes and thus some of the songs ended up un re-recorded. There is also one song, "15", that never went past demo stage. Regarding the second question, even though the lyrics are very "medieval" the story takes a lot of inspiration on our current world and humanity status. The album talks about evil, the fall of an empire and humans as slaves/fallen heroes, so you can see were that relates to nowadays.

7. Your debut live band was the November 2, 2012 at the festival "Gaia em Peso" , how was this first experience in a concert ? Still interested to continue giving concerts? How is your stereo unlike in the concerts, which you use in the room to record?

T - It was fantastic, very good support for an unknown band and a much pleasing experience. We are still interested in playing live and hope to resume our activity in 2014. The material used to record is pretty much the same used for a live setting, apart from probably the bass amp and drums.

8. In 2012 you released a split with Fog, Greg Wales project, How did the idea for this collaboration? If you are ready to continue making splits with other bands, and if so to what group you want to do a split?

T - I had the idea to contact Fog and Silence the Earth to create the split. It was just like "Hey guys, lets create a split EP" and sooner than later everything was done. We are looking into participating in another split before the end of 2014, but some other projects maybe showing up first.

9. Bernardo and Jorge have been members or still belong to other bands from Portugal. From out the most famous Portuguese bands are undoubtedly Moonspell or Decayed,  what other Portuguese groups deserve your respect and should be more recognized ?

T - Let me do the PR work and say that Pestifer, Jorge's band, is fantastic. I would also love to leave here a note Ermo, a "psycho rock ballady atmospheric" thing from some friends of mine that sounds very very good. They are enjoying some success at the moment and I wish them all the best.

10. Your work has always been self-produced except Ep “Lake of the Dead" I edit No Remorse Records, will follow in the future? Opting for autoedition? Has a record label interested by your last job?

T - Self produced and released, apart from that strange experience that actually worked. We are looking for a recording/shipping label at the moment and have been for the past year. it's quite sad that a recording label showed some interest on our album but unfortunately nothing came from it.

11. Who designed the cover of "Demise of the Forgotten" and how it relates to the content of the cd?

T - The album art was designed by João Guimarães, a friend of mine, and relates a lot to the lyrical contents of the CD. Since our first songs, specially The Last Empire, mention the fall of an empire and describe what's going on, to the point of stating that "the emperor is dead", we thought it would be very fitting to have a nice horsemen of the apocalypse on the front cover. The picture was actually taken by me by coincidence.

12. What future plans do you have for the band, upcoming releases, concerts, etc?

T - I wouldn't like to reveal a lot of our future work, but I can say an album is definitely being worked on as we speak. It's still at a very "pre-demo" phase were we only have skeletons of about 5 or 6 songs, and most of them don't even have a proper multi instrument recording. Nevertheless, the direction, lyrical theme and overall sound are already being discussed and a consensus is about to be reach. In 2014 we'll focus on creating the album as well as releasing a something special for our 2nd birthday. 

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

T - Thanks a lot for the interview and time spent with ourselves. For our followers: Please take sometime to listen to the album on bandcamp a purchase it if you enjoy, it's only 3€ for 10 songs

HÄMYS

Origen: Finlandia, Haapavesi.

Formados: 2008

Estilo: Black

Temática: Destino, naturaleza, satan y sufrimiento.

Enlaces: Facebook

Miembros:

• Izgoroth Guitarra
• Perikato Voces y guitarra
• Tuska Batería y voces

Discografía:

• Yksinäisyyteen EP 2010   
• Kuolleen verestä EP 2010   
• Kuolleen Verestä-Yksinäisyyteen Recopilatorio 2010   
• Ilon ja Surun Metsä Demo 2010   
• Hämys Recopilatorio 2011   
• Kirkkaus Yllä Maan Hämärän Recopilatorio 2011   
• Ikuisuuteen Recopilatorio 2011   
• Tie Näyttää Paikkani​  EP 2012
• 14 Kuuta EP 2013
• KISIKILLILLVKX EP 2014
• Alkemia CD 2015

TIE NÄYTTÄÄ PAIKKANI (2012)  

Grata sorpresa la que me he encontrado con esta banda con un sonido de black finlandés clásico, lleno de melodía y riffs apoteÓsicos. El sonido logrado es muy crudo y punk, la grabación está hecha con el uso de dos guitarras que no interfieren entre si pero si logran un sonido muy competente y clásico de producción sucia. Los temas no le hacen ascos a partes más folk, sonido de la naturaleza y algunos interludios, todo ello conducido de manera magistral en las partes más black en donde emana un espiritú de black clásico acompañado de buenas melodías de tintes folk y medievales, a las que acompañan un aspecto vocal cuidado y una batería que aporta unos buenos blast beats cuando son necesarios. A poco que acaben por definir su sonido podremos hablar de un grupo de gran potencial que sabe lo que tiene entre manos y solo les falta querer explotarlo. (9).

1. Intro 01:35  

2. Tie Pimeyteen 02:46  

3. Kuu ja Tähti 03:12  

4. Haurauden Juuret 02:59  

5. Unieni takaa 04:34  

6. Tie Näyttää Paikkani.. 02:35  

7. Outro 02:24  

  20:05