A power act of blasting musical and
ideological expression, presented in different extreme metal
styles. Palpable agressiveness, but also lots of melodies,
different styles, many atmospheric and rhythmic changes
makes the material a collage of emotions. The AGAINST THE
PLAGUES debut album “Decoding the Mainframe” as its own
tight package, is one monster of a black/death metal release.
The band is a result of 5 very experienced
and gifted musicians - members/ex-members from such hordes
of metal as Damnation (Varyen), Luciferion / Lost Horizon (Wojtek),
Forest of Impaled (Adrian), Malevolent Creation (Marco) and
Vex (Logan). AGAINST THE PLAGUES have been working on their
debut album for the last 3 years and have perfectioned it in
every single detail.
Alkonost,
formed in 1995 in Tatarstan (Russian Federation), pagan folk
metal with female vocals. The album ‘The Path we have never
walked’ has a multi media section including a video clip of
the track ‘The Night Before the Battle’. Also the most
recent album ‘Put..’ is out on vic records.
Another Life
(Sweden), progressive rock / metal, formed in 2002 by
Andreas ‘Dea’ Karlsson (ex Paganizer, Ribspreader). Debut
album ‘Memories From Nothing’. Produced by Dan Swano (also
all keyboards), coverart by Ivan S. Bragin (Paganizer,
Nightingale). Bonus DISK with all demos and new recorded
acoustic tracks on limited edition double CD.
Archaic,
a furious modern thrash metal band from Budapest, Hungary.
Ambitious young act, just returned from their tour in
Germany where they supported
TESTAMENT.
Forget the first generation Bay Area and German thrash metal,
now you can get
ARCHAIC!
The CD includes a multi media section with a
video clip. Artwork by Attila Kiss (Novembers
Doom
amongst others).
Arkona
(Moscow, Russia) plays folk / pagan metal. The album ‘The
Glory of the Great’ feature several authentic Russian
instruments like gaita, din whistle, low din whistle,
sopilka and vargan. Artwork by Vladimir Smerdulak (Rossomahaar,
Stalwart). Also out on vic records: ‘Lepta’, ‘Vozrosdenie’,
‘Jinz vo Slavu’(double album, plus Nargathrond CD, All
Arkona members Gothic metal project) and the Life in Moscow
DVD.
15 years after ABSTRAKT ALEGEBRA's debut
album, the guitar duo Mike Wead (King Diamond / Mercyful
Fate / Memento Mori, ex Candlemass) and Simon Johansson (Memory
Garden / ex Steel Attack / Fifth Reason) is back. BIBLEBLACK
is the 2007 Grammy Nominee MIKE WEAD's brainchild.
Furthermore BIBLEBLACK is Simon Johansson on rhythm guitars,
Tobhias Ljung (The Bereaved) on drums and Nattas members
Kacper Rozanski on vocals and Jonaz Bьlund on bass. Clean
guest vocals are done by Ronny Hemlin (Steel Attack / Tad
Morose), Kristian Andrйn (Memento Mori / Fifth Reason) and
Matthias Ljung (Hearse). The album is mixed by Fredrik Groth
(The Storyteller). Outstanding artwork was made by Hjules (Memory
Garden / Gravedigger / Annihilator
Second album of Hungary’s most promising
black metal band. Maybe somewhere comparable to Sear Bliss.
Bornholm however, performs their atmospherical black metal (at
least) twice as fast as their legendary countrymen. The
album ‘March For Glory and Revenge’ contains nine well
composed and very atmospherical songs which are complex and
fast yet melodic and catchy.
Crystal Age was a death metal band formed by
the former Ceremonial Oath vocalist Oscar Dronjak and former
Liers In Wait members Hasse Nilsson and Moses Jonathan. They
recorded a cover of Metallica's "Damage Inc." for the 1994
Black Sun Records tribute album "Metal Militia" before
releasing their debut album "Far Beyond Divine Horizons" the
following year. Later on HammerFall became the top priority
and Crystal Age was put to rest. Coverart by Kristian Wahlin,
produced at Studio Fredmann.
Damned Sprits’ Dance (DSD)
from Hungary former in 2002, young experimental black metal
band, ‘The growing Spirit’ debut minicd, cover art by Peter
Sallai (Memory Garden, Bloodgut, Forest Silence) and
production by Max Viktor Scheer (Sear Bliss, Forest Silence)
Deadmarch
(Orebro, Sweden), project of The Project Hate MCMXCIX
mainman Lord K. Philipson. Brutal death metal combined with
melodic parts and serene female vocals. The labum ‘The
Project Hate MCMXCIX- Initiation of blasphemy’ is recorded
at Sunlight Studio’s with Tomas Skogsberg and mastered by
Dan Swano.
DIMENSON ZERO
was formed in 1996 as a side project from Jesper Strцmblad
and Glenn Ljungstrцm of
IN FLAMES.
They wanted to create something with the same intensity as
IN FLAMES, but with a different approach- they wanted to
make it more brutal and faster. After 3 albums on Swedish
Regain Records Dimension Zero will release their brand new
album ‘He Who Shall not Bleed’. Recorded at the famous
IN FLAMES
Studios (former Studio Fredmann). 11 tracks of aggressive,
fast and melodic Gothenburg metal. Less thrasier then their
previous albums and more melodic and sounding like the old
In Flames.
New guitar player Daniel Antonsson (SOILWORK)
made his debut for Dimension Zero on this new album. Hans
Nilsson (Crystal Age, Diabolique) and singer Jocke Gothberg
(ex
MARDUK)
complete the line up.
Re-release of the long time sold out,
legendary debut of Sweden’s FURBOWL.
FURBOWL was formed in 1991 when Johan Liiva
left Carnage and hooked up with his old buddy Max Thornell
on drums (both would form HEARSE in the 90’s). After a few
demos FURBOWL recorded their debut album ‘Those Shredded
Dreams’ in 1991, the album was produced by Carnage / Carcass
guitar player and long time friend of the band, Michael
Amott (ARCH ENEMY), Michael also played some leads on the
album. (And not surprisingly Michael asked Johan to join
Arch Enemy some years later).
Formed in 2001 shortly after Johan Liiva left
ARCH ENEMY
and joined forced again with his long-time buddy Max
Thornell. The two used to be in the legendary act
FURBOWL
in the early 90’s.
HEARSE
are definitely one of the highlights of the death ‘n roll
metal sub genre. Johan’s charismatic vocals, the never
ending and ultra melodic leads by guitar player Matthias
Ljung and the pounding and effective drums by Max, makes
HEARSE an unique band within the wide metal borders
Infestdead
– Double album featuring all 3 Infestdead albums: Killing
Christ, Hell Fuck and JesusSatan. Infestdead is the satanic
US death metal project the two Edge Of Sanity members Dan
Swano (drums, guitars and bass) and Andreas ‘Dread’ Axelsson
(vocals). All track have recently been re-mastered by Dan
Swano and sound superior to the old versions. Finally the
double cd will have the correct title tracks and the 1993
demo is added as bonus. Be prepared for 40 (!!) tracks of
excellent satanic death metal. Satanic Serenades, The
complete works of Infetsdead. Out somewhere 2010!
Memory Garden
(Sweden) formed in 1992, new, fourth album ‘Carnage Carnival’,
produced by Mike Wead (Kind Diamond / Mercyful Fate) and
Simon Johansson (Abstract Algebra / Fifth Reason), cover
artwork by Hjules (Annihilator, Destruction, Sin of Kain).
Multi media section including video of the track ‘Carnage
Carnival’, created by Village Road Film (Nocturnal Rites
amongst others).
Re-release of the sold out albums ‘Forever’
and ‘Tides’. Remasterd by Mike Wead (King Diamond / Mercyful
Fate) plus previous unreleased bonus tracks. Originally
recorded at Studio Fredman (HammerFall, In Flames), art work
by Kristian Wahlin (Tiamat, Dissection ect) and Peter Sallai
(Carve, Bloodgut, Forest Silence).
OCTOBER TIDE
was a side project formed by two members of
KATATONIA
with their style not at all far removed from that fine group.
Melancholic, sorrowful mid-paced metal, with death metal
vocals laid over the top. Jonas Renske performed the vocals
on 'Rain Without End' like he did on all early
KATATONIA
albums, intense, deep and very atmosperical. The
OCTOBER TIDE
line-up during ’Rain Without End’ was: Fredrik Norrman:
Electric, acoustic and bass guitars and Jonas Renske: Drums,
electric and acoustic guitars and all vocals. Recorded at
Unisound, Цrebro, Sweden 1995, re-mastered by Dan Swanц,
Winter 2007- 2008
Paganizer
(Sweden), formed in 1998 by Roger Johansson (Demiurg,
Ribspreader, Carve and Bloodgut), 6th album ‘Carnage Junkie’
produced by Ronnie Bjornstrom (Bone Gnawer, Ribspreader).
Covert artwork by Ivan S. Bragin (Another Life, Forest
Stream). Limited edition digi pack with 5 bonus tracks. The
albums ‘Dead Unburied’ and ‘Promoting Total Dead’ will be
re-issued, re-mastered plus bonus tracks.
Ribspreader
(Sweden), ‘Opus Ribcage’ 3th full length album, a old school
death project of Paganizer (Johansson and Karlsson) and Edge
of Sanity (Swano) members, formed in 2002.
First two albums ‘Bolted From the Cross’ and
‘Congurating the Sick’ albums will be re- released on a
double CD plus a never released mini CD, and all the E.P.’s
the band recorded.
RUDRA is one of the leaders in the Asian
Metal scene. The band was formed way back in 1992 in
Singapore. The album ''Brahmavidya: Transcendental I'' album
contains 14 songs of genre-expanding black / death with
fascinating ethnic atmospheres, over 60 minutes of highly
original and well produced extreme metal! Lyrical themes are
the Vedic themes, Ancient Indian Philosophy and Mythology.
Sear Bliss
(Hungary), re-releases of the Sear Bliss albums ‘Glory and
Perdition’ and Forsaken Symphony’( re-mastered by Dan Swano
plus bonus video). ‘The Haunting’ will be re-issured as well,
completely remixed and re-mastered, partly re-recorded. New
booklet with liner notes and rare pictures, including
original covert art work of Kris Verwimp. Also the legendary
album ‘Phantoms, ‘Pagan Winter’ and ‘Grand Destiny’ will be
re-released, re-mastered plus bonus tracks.
Sin Of Kain
(Hungary), fast and prog. death metal, cover artwork by
Hjules (Annihilator, Destruction, Memory Garden). Multi
media section including ‘Mother Died’ video clip.
The Gathering
(Holland), formed in 1989 by the brothers Hans and Rene
Rutten. Recorded a demo and rehearsal demo in 1990 and 1991,
and an unreleased 6 track promo in 1992. The ‘Downfall’
double cd contains 20 tracks of the era before and just
after their debut album ‘Always’, including the Celtic Frost
cover ‘Dethroned Emperor’.
THE BEREAVED performs powerful melodic death
metal, the Swedish style. Trademarks are the intense screams
and extremely beautiful and catchy clean vocals by Travis
Neal (also vocalist in US based DIVINE HERESY) plus the
great lead guitars and keyboards. The album ‘Daylight
Deception’ was recorded at Studio Underground with Pelle
Saether (Carnal Forge, Manegarm, Zonata). Dan Swanц (Opeth,
Katatonia, Bloodbath) mixed and mastered the album at
Unisound Studios, Sweden.
One moment The Project Hate MCMXCIX is
beautiful, epic and serene, the next it is brutal,
diabolical and insane. Don't expect to understand TPH
instantly because there's just too much to discover with a
single listen. The Project Hate is: Jцrgen Sandstrцm (ex
Entombed / Grave, Krux, Vicious Art) on vocals, Jonna
Enckell female vocals, Lord K. Philipson (Torture Division,
God Among Insects, Dark Funeral (live) on guitar, bass and
keyboards, Anders Bertilsson (Coldworker, Ruin), guitars and
Thomas Ohlsson (Axenstar) on drums.
