Septicflesh - The Great Mass (2011) - Season of Mist

Termenul “mass” are multe semnificatii in limba engleza. Poate insemna, deopotriva, un tip de creatie simfonica, o slujba religioasa sau o masa mare de oameni. Asta cu toate ca, potrivit declaratiei lui Christos Antoniou, muzica Septicflesh nu se adreseaza marilor mase, ci ar fi mai degraba o chestie pentru indivizi mai deosebiti. Deh, artistu’ tot artist!
Despre ce e diferit la Great Mass fata de Communion, acelasi Christos afirma ca daca la anteriorul album al trupei a fost creata initial o structura metal a pieselor, careia i-au fost adaugate ulterior elemente simfonice, de aceasta data trupa a “atacat” diferit procesul compozitional, in sensul in care a fost construita o arhitectura simfonica a pieselor, peste care au fost asternute (cu gratie!) partile metalice.
Probabil ca nu e deloc gresit sa afirmam ca, in cazul lui The Great Mass, avem 5 membri plini in trupa, celor patru greci adaugandu-li-se si The Filmharmonic Orchestra of Prague.
Intrebat care au fost intentiile in momentul inceperii inregistrarii albumului, acelasi Christos Antoniou a afirmat ca a existat dorinta de a incorpora cat mai multe tipuri de manifestare artistica in muzica trupei, atat vizuale, cat si auditive.
Faptul ca fiecare dintre cei patru membri ai trupei se pricepe la altceva a contribuit din plin la reusita demersului. Mai exact, Spiros Antoniou (sau, daca preferati, Seth Siro Anton – artist grafic si pictor cu acte in regula) a contribuit din plin cu partea vizuala (coperta, booklet), Sotiris Vayenas a indus pieselor foarte mult din sensibilitatea sa (pe The Great Mass avand cele mai personale texte din intreaga sa cariera), Christos Antoniou (care are, de curand, o diploma de absolvent al studiilor de muzica clasica) a oferit structurii pieselor puternice valente simfonice, iar Fotis Bernardo (care are un studio de inregistrari) s-a ocupat de preproductie, usurandu-i in mod semnificativ munca lui Peter Tagtgren, care s-a ocupat de mixaje.
Totodata, intentia trupei a fost si aceea de a crea un “soundtrack” horror, demers in care a fost ajutata enorm de experienta filmografica a Filarmonicii pragheze, care, printre altele, a produs coloana a horror-ului Hostel.
Multe intrebari razbat din textele trupei: Ce sunt visele (The Undead Keep Dreaming)? Ce e nebunia (Mad Architect)? Ce s-ar intampla cu omenirea daca nu ar exista memoria (Apocalypse)? Unde se duce viata cand murim? Cum se poate ca din 0 sa apara 1, pentru ca apoi, din 1 (o fiinta vie), cineva sa intre in starea de 0 perpetuu (moarte) (The Great Mass of Death)? Este crestinismul o religie vampirica (The Vampire of Nazareth)? A creat omul zei autodistructivi, suicidali, dupa chipul si asemanarea sa (Pyramid God)?
Din punct de vedere muzical, The Great Mass este un album tensionat si tensionant, extrem de solicitant datorita imbinarii orchestrei simfonice si a corurilor cu pasajele metalice agresive (partile extreme sunt, probabil, cele mai rele produse pana acum de trupa), fapt care conduce din plin la senzatia ca ai de-a face cu un album baroc.
Christos Antoniou a afirmat ca ar prefera ca muzica trupei sa nu fie clasificata nici ca metal simfonic, nici ca black si nici ca death metal, ci pur si simplu ca muzica extrema. Am sa ii respect dorinta, spunandu-va ca pe The Great Mass Septicflesh au reusit imbinarea si echilibrul perfect intre muzica simfonica, blastbeaturi furibunde, riffuri rapide si aspre, vocalize macabre (a se citi Sumerian Daemons si, mai ales, Communion), pe de o parte, si pasaje asezate, melancolice, chitari acustice si pasaje vocale curate (vezi Revolution DNA), acestea din urma mult mai rare, dar extrem de binevenite pentru ansamblul general al discului.
Ca o concluzie, The Great Mass reprezinta un album memorabil, o piatra de hotar pusa la temelia a ceea ce se vrea “metalul simfonic”, un disc care, probabil, va stabili standarde destul de dificil de atins pentru trupele care vor decide sa urmeze aceasta cale si, nu in ultimul rand, probabil cel mai complet, complex si reusit opus din dinscografia Septicflesh.

Membrii trupei:
Spiros Antoniou (Seth Siro Anton) - voci aspre, bas
Sotiris Annunaki Vayenas - voci curate, chitara, clape
Christos Antoniou - chitara, samplere, orchestratie
Fotis Bernardo - tobe, percutie

Invitati:
The Filmharmonic Orchestra of Prague
Androniki Skoula - voce
Iliana Tsakiraki - soprana





www.myspace.com/septicfleshband
www.septicflesh.com
www.facebook.com/septicfleshband

Harm - Demonic Alliance (2011) - Battlegod productions

Trebuie sa va marturisesc inca de la inceputul prezentarii ca sunt entuziasmat de albumul acesta, asa ca este foarte posibil ca cele ce urmeaza sa fie doar un elogiu zaharisit si subiectiv.
Nu vad nicio problema in asta, pentru ca inca de cand am facut acest blog am hotarat sa vorbim numai despre lucrurile ce ne plac, numarul unu pe lista de preferinte fiind, bineinteles, RIFFUL.
Ganditi-va ca trio-ul norvegian prezentat (Steffan Schulze de la Antares Predator si alti doi membri de la Guardians Of Time) canta un thrash old-school cu multe influente death metal, poate cea mai potrivita referinta fiind Legion of the Damned pe vremea cand erau agresivi (a fost odata ca niciodata), cu un bass omniprezent si feroce de inspiratie Overkill (The Years of Decay - ce vremuri...) si un vocal excelent ce aminteste de Legion (Erik Hagsted - Witchery, Marduk).
Avem astfel un total de 35 minute de thrash/death rapid, agresiv, foarte inspirat si bine executat (chitara face o treaba extraordinara, cu o panatie de rupe carnea de pe tine, de bas si voce v-am zis deja ca sunt foarte competente, mai ales ca sunt executate ambele de Schultze, iar toba e si ea acolo si isi face bine treaba, fara a iesi insa in evidenta).
Un stil pe care pur si simplu il ador, cantat prea putin in prezent, cand toate trupele pasesc spre mainstream si se face doar mult zgomot banal, repetitiv si lipsit total de placerea de a canta.

Aveti mai jos si videoclipul oficial al piesei Demon:


Membrii trupei:
Steffan Schulze - voce, bas
Andreas Vågane - chitara
ïØivind Vågane - tobe

www.myspace.com/harmmetal

Demonical - Death Infernal (2011) - Cyclone Empire Records

Trupa Centinex s-a desfiintat fix cand ma intelesesem cu Martin Schulman pentru un interviu. Atunci mi-a facut promisiunea ca vom sta de vorba cu ocazia aparitiei primului album de studio a noii sale trupe, Demonical. Eu m-am dat cu altele, el s-a dat cu trupa si muzica (imi promisese ca nu voi fi dezamagit si s-a tinut de cuvant), cert este ca interviul nu s-a mai realizat.
Ajungand in anul 2011, cei de la Cyclone Empire mi-au facut acum vreo 10 zile un semn discret cum ca nu ar strica sa ascult noul album Demonical, Death Infernal, iar eu m-am conformat, fiind si un fan devotat al death metal-ului old school suedez.
Din punct de vedere muzical, albumul de fata este unul fara inflorituri, energic, corect, cu sound fuzat (previzibil, nu?), balans dement, vocalize gutura(bi)le agreabile si riffaj totalmente la baza gatului. Surpriza majora vine, in opinia mea, din anumite pasaje si orchestratii ample, maiestuoase si razboinice, care imprima acestui album un iz viking metal.
Nu putem discuta de originalitate si cred cu tarie ca nici nu este cazul sa ne agatam de asemenea criteriu in cazul de fata, mai ales in conditiile in care Demonical suna excelent, proaspat si inchegat.

Membrii trupei:
Martin Schulman - bas
Ronnie Bergerståhl - tobe
Johan Jansson - chitara, voce
Sverker "Widda" Widgren - voce

www.demonical.net
www.myspace.com/thedemonicalhorde

Videoclip nou Demonical

Puteti viziona mai jos noul videoclip al trupei suedeze Demonical. Acesta a fost realizat de Costin Chioreanu si prezinta piesa Ravenous, care face parte din albumul Death Infernal, programat sa apara pe data de 15 aprilie sub semnatura casei de discuri Cyclone Empire.



www.demonical.net
www.twilight13media.com

Raven Woods - Enfeebling The Throne (2011) - Code666 Records

Faptul ca avem de-a face cu o trupa din Turcia (nu cunosc deloc metalul de prin zona si chiar nu cred sa fi ascultat vreodata o trupa interesanta de la ei - imi sopteste Sake de Pentagram si albumul Anatolia) si ca albumul a aparut pe 1 aprilie (Fool's Day), nu pareau deloc sa ofere auspicii chiar favorabile unu produs de calitate.
Noroc cu casa de discuri, binecunoscuta pentru amatorii de metal rugos si calitativ, Code666 Records, stiti de pe la ei de Aborym, Ephel Duath, Aghora, Konkhra, dar si trupele romanesti Negura Bunget si Syn Ze Sase Tri.
Albumul suna extrem de bine, un blackened death metal ce aduce destul de puternic cu Behemoth si conationalii lor de la Hate, dar totul este pigmentat cu un iz oriental ce il face si mai interesant si ii da o nota de originalitate.
Productia este moderna, sound plin, foarte clar si crunchy, peste toate astea tronand (si nu folosesc un cavant mare deloc gratuit!) vocea lui Kaan Koyuncu (ma scuzati).
Un pic peste 40 de minute de metal calitativ si la nodul de la papion, un asalt foarte competent asupra timpanelor.

Membrii trupei:
Kaan Koyuncu - voce
Cihan Engin - chitara
Emre Üren - chitara
Ozan Yildirim - bas
Semih Örnek - tobe

www.myspace.com/ravenwoods

Interview with Rogga Johansson (Demiurg, Paganizer, Ribspreader, The Grotesquery, Bone Gnawer, Revolting, Bloodgut)

La Baza Gatului: When have you started digging metal, when have you started playing it and when did you figure that this was going to be your “path”?
Rogga Johansson: I was starting to like metal sometime when I was around 7 or 8 years old. An older kid from where I lived showed me the stuff and I was hooked. I guess that’s the way pretty much anyone gets hooked really.
And I started playing music when I was maybe around 13 years old, but then it was industrial music as me and my friend who I did music with couldn’t really play any instruments, so we used sampling. We mixed the metal and the industrial stuff we came across back then. A few years after that I got more into pure extreme metal, around ´92 and then I knew what stuff I was meant to do.

La Baza Gatului: You are well-known for being a prolific musician and for participating in many musical projects (Demiurg, The Grotesquery, Revolting, Paganizer, Ribspreader to name a few). Where do you get all this energy and inspiration? What keeps you motivated?
Rogga Johansson: Fuck man I have no idea really. I just think it’s fun to do music and different projects. Back when I was a teenager I always started projects, just as I do now. It is always for the fun of it, to record some stuff and that’s all. So the motivation I guess is to always have fun, to do some stuff that is fun to record and make happen and get to life, musically.




La Baza Gatului: As a parent with many children, even though this might sound a little unfair, could you please tell me which musical project is the dearest to you?
Rogga Johansson: Paganizer is my "live playing band", and the band I’ve basically had going since ´94 (then under the name Terminal Grip) so that’s a fave that way. But also The Grotesquery is a fave as it’s a great album and has the legend Kam Lee on vocals, and I also love Demiurg as it’s simply a great project. The latest album Slakthus Gamleby is probably the best album I’ve worked on.

La Baza Gatului: On a funny note now, do you remember all the bands you’ve played in?
Rogga Johansson: No haha. Almost I guess, but I’m sure I forget something haha.

La Baza Gatului: With you being so active, one question comes to mind: what do you eat and what do you drink that makes you so creative?
Rogga Johansson: I fuckin’ love Thai food and beer. I breathe beer haha! Mexican food and Chinese food is also massively great. I live for food really, food and beer and music haha.

La Baza Gatului: Do you manage to make a living out of music?
Rogga Johansson: No, unfortunately not. There’s not money to be earned in this scene these days, I guess its all in the touring.

La Baza Gatului: What is your opinion on the death metal scene in general and the Swedish one in special? What old and new bands do you appreciate?
Rogga Johansson: I think it’s very much going, especially in Sweden. Lots of new bands are coming up which is very cool, I don’t know them though. As for old bands I must say my faves are Uncanny and Megaslaughter. Awesome fuckin’ stuff.

La Baza Gatului: As far as I know, you write the lyrics for most of the bands you’re involved into. Weren’t you ever tempted to publish a book?
Rogga Johansson: Haha well, I don’t think anyone would be interested in a book done by me. I’m not interesting enough I guess, or did you mean my lyrics alone? Anyways, it’s a cool idea, and if anyone is interested I would love to spew my fantasies onto paper haha, or simply submit my lyrics thru the years.



La Baza Gatului: On our previous discussion (exclusively about Demiurg) you’ve told me that it is kind of hard for you to manage to financially sustain and fund a tour. Is playing live that difficult for your other projects also?
Rogga Johansson: Well now when Paganizer once again has a functioning line-up any offers can be taken, but for larger projects as Demiurg and Grotesquery it’s all a question of logistics. If the festival or promoter can’t get Kam Lee or the guys from Demiurg on a flight and pay for it, it’s not gonna happen. These guys are not gonna get in a row boat and paddle across the ocean really. But I’m quite sure that Demiurg will get to some festivals, perhaps next year or perhaps the year after, depending on if the world is still here then haha.

La Baza Gatului: I see you are quite active on the internet (MySpace, Facebook). What is your opinion about these social networks?
Rogga Johansson: MySpace I’m not using at all, really. That place I can’t stand, these days when it’s not even working. Facebook I’ve used only a short while but it’s cool to use to connect. So yeah, I like the net, and I welcome any fan to contact me if they wanna ask something at all really.

La Baza Gatului: Metal doesn’t usually sell that many units. With the free circulation of the mp3 files that seems to be getting out of control, the situation of the metal scene appears to be quite grim, especially for underground/brutal bands. How do you see the future of metal?
Rogga Johansson: I think the future is as good as it’s been lately. Sure, it doesn’t sell and no one gets any money, but people are having fun, just like 20 years ago it seems. I mean just understand that Asphyx is going again, or the fuckin’ masters of Divine Eve. That’s cool as all fuckin’ hell, and they don’t do it for the cash, as there is no cash. So the scene will live on I’m sure, the net makes it available for anyone which is great, and if it kills the labels it’s shitty but in the end the music will still live on and thats the main thing, isn’t it?



La Baza Gatului: I know you live in a small city in Sweden, Gamleby? How do you spend your free time? Is there some kind of a metal community out there?
Rogga Johansson: Well here there’s no metal community, so I spend my time doing music, drinking, eating and spending time with my dog and my wonderful wife. I could have a worse life eh? Haha.

La Baza Gatului: What was the highest point of your career and what was the lowest?
Rogga Johansson: Releasing an album and going on tour. These are the high points I guess. Low points would be cancelled tours and members dropping off, when stuff is planned. Yeah I guess that’s a pretty accurate list of pros and cons.

La Baza Gatului: Do you feel accomplished both as a musician and as a human being?
Rogga Johansson: Haha, as a musician yes, I mean I can’t really wish for much more, I’ve done so many albums that I love already. As a human being I’m not fulfilled yet, there’s still some stuff to do there I think.

La Baza Gatului: Where do you picture yourself in 10 years from now?
Rogga Johansson: In a house instead of an apartment together with my Lisa and hopefully a bunch of kids, that’s pretty much it. That’s the thing I need to work on more, all else is just finished really. Musically.

La Baza Gatului: Could you please name the perfect metal band (one that does not exist in reality and one that does exist)?
Rogga Johansson: Hahaha, well the perfect death metal band would’ve been Six Feet Under if they stayed together, which answers both questions. The first albums and the mini album are just classics, they should’ve gone on further I think.

La Baza Gatului: What was the latest movie you’ve watched, the latest book you’ve read and the latest album you’ve listened to that really impressed you?
Rogga Johansson: I really liked Machete, it was a fun movie that was also enough impressive. As for books I usually just re-read old Lovecraft stuff, I’m boring like that, but the novel collection Frontier Cthulhu is quite ok if nothing real good though. And as for album, the new album of Demonical is fuckin’ killer stuff.



La Baza Gatului: What are your future (musical and non-musical) plans?
Rogga Johansson: Ah fuck knows haha. I guess playing live with Paganizer during 2012, releasing some more albums and then trying to get my soloproject with a huge amount of guests out too.

La Baza Gatului: In the end, before the thanks and saying goodbye part, I’d like you to describe the following bands in only one word each:

1 Demiurg - FUN
2 Paganizer - OLDSCHOOL
3 Ribspreader - EXTRAFUN
4 The Grotesquery - OMINOUS
5 Bone Gnawer - CANNIBALISTIC
6 Revolting - CATCHINESS
7 Bloodgut - DIRT

La Baza Gatului: Thank you very much for your time and kindness in making this interview happen. A word for our readers?
Rogga Johansson: Check my bands out, mmmmmkay?

www.myspace.com/demiurgofficial
www.myspace.com/paganizerband
www.myspace.com/ribspreaderofficial
www.myspace.com/revoltingdeath
www.myspace.com/thegrotesquery
www.reverbnation.com/bonegnawer
www.myspace.com/bloodgut

Sideblast – Cocoon (2011) - Cyclone Empire

Inca o revelatie din Franta, o trupa ce imbina cu dezinvoltura death metal, grind, groove metal, progresiv si industrial, blastbeaturi furioase cu pasaje melodioase de clapa sau sampleuri cu iz modern, rezultand un stil ce ma duce cu gandul la un Strapping Young Lad pe steroizi.
Albumul are si un usor iz core, ii si lipsesc solourile de chitara, dar date fiind naturaletea si entuziasmul ce sunt emanate din muzica practicata, influentele acestea ce nu fac decat rau metalului la baza gatului trec aproape neobservate.
Instrumentatia este ceas d-ala elvetian scump, indivizii stiu bine de tot cu obiectul muncii, peste ei tronand vocea cu o partitura excelenta, ce trece prin toate registrele posibile (voci cavernoase, tipete isterice sau abordari mai heavy).
Nu este un album de nota zece pentru ca spre sfarsit mi s-a parut un pic repetitiv si nehotarat, la fiecare auditie parca am simtit nevoia sa se termine cu vreo doua-trei piese mai devreme, poate imediat dupa interludiul destul de reusit care este The Fall.
O sa va rog sa nu ma intelegeti gresit, este metal la superlativ, piese ca The Shape, Signs sau Demigod va vor face matreata sa sara necontrolat.

Membrii trupei:
Fredd: voci
Noam: chitari, clape, sampleuri
Sebb: tobe, voci
Nacim: bas

www.myspace.com/sideblast