Dead/Hardnaked But Dead/FDA Rekotz/2011 CD Review

  Dead  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  a  long  history  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  that  plays  a  mixture  of  porn/gore/grind,  death  metal  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "Hardnaked  But  Dead"  which  was  reased  by  FDA Rekotz.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats  being  thrown  in,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  sound  very  powerful.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  grindcore,  death  and  doom  metal  together  with  some  groove  type  riffing  being  thrown  in  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  distorted  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  have  a  rock'n'roll  feeling  at  times.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  deep  low  guttural  death  metal  growls  and  high  pitched  grindcore  screams  mixed  in  with  some  samples,  while  the  lyrics  cover  gore,  porn,  violence  and  alcohol,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  heavy  and  raw  sound  but  still  professional  up  to  the  point  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  good  album  from  Dead  and  you  can  tell  that  they  have  progressed  a lot  as  musicians  with  this  album  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED   TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Liquor  Store  Goddess"  "Tits"  "A  Beer"  and  "Hardnaked  But  Dead".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

The Sequence Of Prime Interview

1. Can you update us with what is going on with the projects these days?


I would, but then I'd have to kill you. Hahahaha. No in all seriousness, I learned a long time ago too not talk to much about what I'm working on until it is actually done. All people need to know is that yes, I always have new things in the works :)


2. How would you describe the musical sound on your new album, and how did you achieve the sound that you got?


I would describe it as it "Doom-Tinged-Interstellar-Thrash-Grind." But really that's just absurd! When it all boils down it is just metal. I achieved the sound by combining two completely opposite ways of working. On one end of the spectrum, the recording of the guitars, bass and vocals are all approached as simply as possible. I did not cut and splice a bunch of perfected guitar loops together. The vocals were not rehearsed. For the most part these elements are all performed straight through in their entirety with very minimal punching in or correction. And on the other end, the drums, synths and ambient noise elements were all painstakingly programmed beat by beat. It is two entirely different worlds crashing into each other at an extremely high speed.


3. What are some of the lyrical topics and concepts that you explore with the new album?


Nuclear war, pollution, disease, nanotechnology, existentialism, just to name a few.


4. Have you have thought of using other members to do live shows with or work with on an album?


Yes, I think about it quite often! Though it's not realistic for me. I have a demanding profession and my time to work on music is limited and random. If anything I would collaborate with others on a limited studio basis. But touring or gigging at this point in my life is completely out of the question. There's just no possible way it would work with my schedule. I will say that nothing would make me happier than to be able to perform these songs in a live setting at least once or twice some day! I would just have to find the right people.


5. Do you have any other side projects besides this band?


First of all I don't have a band. It's just little ol' me, hahaha. Second, I have lots of different projects at all times, but I do not consider any of them side projects. If I am going to do something then I am going to put everything I have into it. All or nothing!


6. The new album was self released, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel would be the best for your kind of music?


I'm not actively looking for a label. I have been writing and releasing music for a long time without ever having a label or endorsement of any sort. I only write music because I love it. That's the way it should be! Of course, I will keep my options open. I'm not going to say, "I'LL NEVER SIGN TO A LABEL!" Because hey, if I really felt something fit me and my vision I would certainly consider it. But it's not the goal. If I were to be in the scenario where I was considering a label I would prefer it to be something like Profound Lore, Nuclear War Now! or Ajna. I really like what they do.


7. How have extreme music fans responded to your new album so far?


So far the response has been pretty incredible. I never expected this level of interest.


8. How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?


I would say that my music has gradually become more focused and thoughtful. I am now to the point where I approach my music exactly how I approach my art. It all revolves around developing a strong concept and finding the best way to execute it. As for the future, I certainly have ideas of where I want to go. But it is too early for me to say anything specific.

9. I heard that you have an interest in science fiction and existentialism, can you tell me more about your interest in those fields?

You have heard correct! I want to make clear though that I am not the type of sci-fi buff people normally think about. I mean, I can't recite the names and races of all the aliens in the Cantina scene in Star Wars, ya know? I can't speak Klingon and I don't dress up and go to conventions. Hahahaha. That's not what I'm interested in at all. I'm into the overall ideas and messages portrayed by authors like Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and H.G. Wells. And the real world transitions from science fiction to science fact.

As for existentialism, it is not just an interest - it is my philosophy. The closest thing I can relate to as far as established philosophies go, that is.


10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?


To attempt to narrow things down I would say that some of my key musical influences over the years have been Metallica, Slayer, Overkill, Testament, Ministry, Front Line Assembly, Goblin, Emperor, KMFDM, Samhain, Danzig and Black Sabbath. The most significant album to me is Black Sabbath's "Dehumanizer." That was my first experience with metal and that cassette completely changed my life! Lately I've been listening to a lot of Nightbringer, Triptykon, Deathspell Omega, Today is the Day, Cobalt, Thorns, Teitanblood, Portal and The Crown.


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


Visual arts, animation, reading, video games, horror movies and laughing as much as possible!


12. Any final words or thoughts before we close this interview?


Thank you greatly for taking the time to ask me so many thoughtful questions. I really appreciate it! Live, laugh, love and lacerate! Hooaah!

The Sequence Of Prime/The Sequence Of Power/2010 CD Review

The Sequence Of Prime are a 1 man band from Kansas that mixes industrial, thrash, death metal,doom  metal and grindcore together to create an original sound and this is a review of their 2010 album "The Sequence Of Power".

Drums combine slow to mid paced drumming with a lot of fast playing and brutal blast beats with some weird elements being thrown in at times, while the noise effects bring an industrial element to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very strong and powerful sound.

Rhythm guitars combine a lot of different styles together with a lot of thrash riffing that brings in death metal and grindcore influences, while the lead guitars have progressive and psychotic elements in the guitar solos.

Vocals are mostly yelled out vocals that contain alot of aggression with some death metal growls thrown in at times, while the lyrics cover doomsday, pandemic, interstellar and existential types of subjects, as for the production it sounds very professional for a self-released album and you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.

In my opinion The Sequence Of Prime are a very original band that brings 80's crossover thrash into 2010 with some modern death metal and grind influences, this is a band worth checking out. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Enlightenment" "Nuclear Winter" "Echohagy" and "Compression". RECOMMENDED BUY.

The Gardnerz/The System Of Nature/Abyss Records/2011 CD Review

  The  Gardnerz  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  heavy  form  of  doom/death  metal  with  a  black  metal  edge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "The  System  Of  Nature'  which  was  released  by  Abyss  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  to  it.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  doom/death  metal  riffs  that  are  very  dark  and  melodic sounding,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  and  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos  and  leads    as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  give  the  music  a  progressive/folk  music  feeling  to  the  music.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  doom/death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  whispered  vocals  as  well  as  brief  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophical  ideas,  religion  and  greed  of  mankind,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  heavy,  powerful  and  professional  sound  to  it  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  The  Gardnerz  are  a  very  good  sounding  progressive  doom/death  metal band  with  a  black  metal  and  melodic  edge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lady  In  The  Grave"  "Incident"  "Flaw  In  The  Axiom"  and  "Servants  Of  The  Warsmen"  which  is  a  Winter  cover.  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Novembers Doom/Aphothic/The End Records/2011 CD Review

   November's  Doom  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois that  has  a  20  year  long  history  with  s  musical  style  that  I  would  describe  as  being  melodic  and  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2011  album  "Aphothic"  which  was  released  by  The  End  Records.

Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid paced  drumming  with  some  occasional  fast  playing  and  blast  beats,  while  the  violins  bring  a  very  dark,  tragic  and  atmospheric  sound  to  the  music,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  tone  with  some  heavy  riffing  being  thrown  in.

Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  to  mid paced  doom/death  metal  riffing  with  some  occasional  fast  riffs  and  melodic  parts,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  and  melodic  sounding  guitar  solos,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  they  bring  a  very  dark  and  progressive  feel  to  the  music.

Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  that  have  somewhat  of  a  black  metal  edge  to  them  and  a  great  amount  of  clean  singing  male  and  female  vocals,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  emotions,  doom  and  symbolism,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  heavy,  professional  and  heavy  sound  to  it.

In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  album  from  November's  Doom  and  if  you  where  a  fan  of  their  previous  recordings,  you  will  not  be  disappointing.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Dead  Host"  "What  Could  Have  Been"  and  "Six  Sides".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Mental Home/Black Art/The End Records/1998 CD Review

Mental Home are a band from Russia that plays an atmospheric form of dark Doom metal that has some black metal influences and this is a review of their classic 1998 album "Black Art" which was released by The End Records.

Drums are mostly slow to midpaced drumming with some ocassional fast playing and little to no blast beats, while the keyboards are very dark and atmospheric sounding, as for the bass playing it follows the riffs coming out of the guitars and they have a very powerful sound at times.

Rhythm guitars are mostly slow to midpaced melodic doom/death riffs, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos that have a very dark and evil feel to them that captures memories of the pagan ancestors and there is a small amount of acoustic and classical guitars being used at times and they have a feeling of meloncholy.

Vocals are a mixture of black metal screams, deep death metal metal growls, clean singing and a small amount of female vocals, while the lyrics touch on Slavic paganism, as for the production on this recording it has a very professional sound and you can hear all of the instruments that are present on this album.

In my opinion Mental home wher a very talented band for their time and if you are fan of atmospheric doom/death with a black metal edge you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Under The Wing (Of Gamayan" "Pagan Freedom" and "Winter Art". RECOMMENDED BUY.

Rest In Disgrace/As Beuty Springs From Mud/2010 EP Review

Rest In Disgrace are a band from Brazil that plays a style that mixes melodic death metal with doom metal and a small amount of black metal and this is a review of their 2010 e.p "As Beauty Springs From Mud".

Drums are a mixture of slow to midpaced beats with some fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone that follows the riffs coming out of the guitars and they have a very powerful sound on some songs, as for the pianos when they are utilized they brind a dark, tragic and ambient feel to the music.

Rhythm guitars are mostly melodic death metal riffs that also mix in some doom metal and thrash influences with some softer playing that sounds very progressive, while the lead guitars are mostly melodic guitar solos that have a classic metal feel, as for the accoustic guitars that have a very exotic scales that bring a Vedic feel to the music while maintaining a progressive edge.

Vocals are mostly melodic death metal screams with some deep growls and a black metal edge to the singing and there are spoken word passages used on ocassion as well, while the lyrics touch on Buddhism, Hindu Mythology, Eastern and Western Philosophies, as for the production on this e.p it has a very professional and you can hear all of the instruments that are present on this recording.

In my opinion Rest In Disgrace are a very talented band with an original lyrical approach and id you are a fan of melodic death metal or doom metal you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Viel Of Maya" "Unnnamed Feelings-Decension" and "Samsara". RECOMMENDED BUY