Church Of Disgust/Veneration Of Filth/Memento Mori/2016 CD Review

  Church  Of  Disgust  are  a band  from  Texas  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  old  school  form  of  death  metal  with  elements  of  doom  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Veneration  Of  Filth"  which  was  released  by  Memento  Mori.

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  introduces  chaotic  sounding  guitar  leads  onto  the  recording  while  also  having  their  melodic  moments   and  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  and  the  riffs  also  use  a  decent  amount  of  morbid  sounding  melodies.

  Vocals  have  the  early  death  metal  style  when  the  genre  was  still  evolving  out  of  thrash  while  growls  along  with  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  very  heavily  influenced  by  doom  metal  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  tracks  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  the  songs  sound  like  they  could  of  been  recorded  and  released  25  years  ago  and  as  the  album  progresses  horror  movie  samples  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  there  is  also  some  session  work  from  members  of  Nocturnus  A.D,  Sewercide  and  Disevered.  

  Church  Of  Disgust  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  doom  influenced  old  school  death  metal  style  of  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror,  H.P  Lovecraft,  and  The  Occult.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Church  Of  Disgust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  doom/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ripping  Decay"  "Plague  Of  Punishment"  "Supine  In  The  Face  Of  Total  Death"  and  "Sunken  Altar  Of  Dagon".  8  out  of  10.

Sithter Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We formed in 2006 and I am the only original member now. I used to play in a doom/sludge band called PSYCHOTOBLACK but when some of the main members left I began looking for new members to continue on with the band. A song we recorded at the time was ‘Chaotic Fiend (#8 Engrave The Misery)’. As the only songwriter in the band I wanted to carry on with the same style for PSYCHOTOBLACK but unfortunately the other members wanted to play “pop music”, so we couldn’t really decide upon a direction. After several member changes, our current guitarist Hyo Kagawa joined in 2008. He was originally a member of a band called MONE¥ I$ GOD and they had played a lot with PSYCHOTOBLACK over the years. I always thought that his guitar playing was amazing so I was surprised when he contacted me and said, "I want to join Sithter".  Finally I felt like I had found what I was looking for. He also wrote all the songs for MONE¥ I$ GOD and it was totally unique and clearly different from other “heavy” bands around us. I told him my vision then we hit upon a fusion that sounded perfect.

2.You have an album coming out in December, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We just wanted the album to sound violent. On the last one we did we recorded each of the instruments one by one, but this time we recorded it all in one take, so I think it made it sound more alive. Also the songs were made for the way we wanted to produce the album. Every one of us worked hard because preparation time was very short, so I think it gives a greater sense of power and energy to the songs. All the songs were written by Hyo Kagawa, except for ‘Engrave the Misery’. The overall concept was same with the last album. We closed it with one huge, long Doom song. Also guest players did great work too. ‘Engrave the Misery’ was originally going to be a bass number but Mako Kotama from Japanese Doom band Magadalene Junen gave a great piano in improvisation. We offered US noise artist L'eclipse Nue, who actually used to live in Japan a chance to provide the opening narration to ‘Jerusalem Axe Massacre’ and every take was great, so we used it all. The recording engineer, Shigenori Kobayashi beautifully finished it all. He’s a terrific producer.

3.While there was a demo released on 2007, there was no new material again till 2014, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap in between releases?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We did release a DIY 7” EP with two songs. One side with a PSYCHOTOBLACK track and the other side featuring the first song I wrote for Sithter. Since that time, the current line up was being finalized. So we did a lot of songwriting and playing live before recording this new album.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

I took a lot of influence from horror films between the 1950s and 1970. Some songs are about the films themselves, for others I just took the title and tried to create a vision around them incorporating themes of sadness and fear of human beings. There are also plenty of aggressive lyrics in there for the shitty people in my life but I don’t like directing them at anyone in particular.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Sithter'?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

Since there are so many other bands out there with “Devils” and “Demon” sounding names I thought I’d try and think about film villains instead. But I couldn’t really settle on any. I’ve been a big fan of Star Wars for a long time and Darth Sidious really scared me as a child with his evil looks and evil mind. So I came up with the name from ‘Sith Master’ and changed to Sithter.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

Our recent shows in Korea and Taiwan have been some of the best shows we’ve ever done. These were the first overseas shows for us and the people there gave us a great reception. Playing live allows us to really expose the true madness, violence and evil on stage. I don’t want to be pretentious because I hate pre-established stage performances so we try to do everything on impulse. I get carried away a lot and as I’m not focused on technical playing it’s all about volume. There’s always feedback and I rarely hear my own voice so I have t shout at full power. After the show, there’s no energy left. My throat and voice are exhausted and withered. But we recover with sake.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We’re going on tour with Serbian doom rockers Heretic Rites. Here are the date for November…

23 Nov – Sendai Bird Land w. Magdalene Junen, Bergrabnis + More

25 Nov – Higashikouenji 20000V w. Magdalene Junen, King Goblin + Zothique

26 Nov – Oosaka Sengoku-Daitoryou w. Magdalene Junen, Necromantics, W.D.L.K. + Hemipenis

27 Nov – Nagoya Red Dragon w. Magdalene Junen, Vomit Monster, Viollante + Stone Banquet

29 Nov – Yokohama El Puente w. Dunwitch No Inu, Su19b + Floaters

30 Nov – Shibuya Ruby Room w. Khola Cosmica + Dhidalah

8.A year ago you where a part of a split with 'Gonguri', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

I think it’s great to share our work with foreign bands. It might be a good opportunity to listen our songs for the people who didn’t know us. We want to put out a split with more variety of bands. A country band would be cool.

9.The new album is coming out on 'Bonten', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

Bonten is Tokyo based doom/stoner/sludge/psychedelic label, focusing Japan’s underground bands. They releasing the bands like King Goblin, Solar Anus…etc.
https://bontenrecords.bandcamp.com/

10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of sludge and doom metal?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We’ve had a lot Russian doom/sludge fans contact since we started out with PSYCHOTOBLACK. They invited us to contribute to a compilation and wrote an article for a webzine there. The owner of Bad Road Records, who released our first album was very kind to us. We’ve also had fans from across Europe who’ve ordered our T-shirts and music and some have contacted us to say that they’re really excited about the new album. That’s always really great.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

I don’t think we’ll ever change musically. We will keep playing punk rock with doom/sludge vibes. I don’t consider ourselves as metal.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

Sex Pistols and Japanese punk legends STALIN have really influenced me. And then tehre’s 70s, 80s dark punk rock like The Damned, Dead Kennedys, The Misfits, Discharge. Japan’s Kikeiji, Aburadaco is my foundation. As a band, our biggest influences are Black Sabbath, EYEHATEGOD, GRIEF, Iron Monkey, Sleep, Melvins and Saint Vitus. I’m also always keen to dig out obscure doom bands across the world. We also like Hawkwind, Sonic Youth, Napalm Death, Voivod, Pop Group, Ash Ra Tempel, CAN, Einstürzende Neubauten, Suicide, David Bowie, The Doors, Alien Sex Fiend, Slayer, Kenji Sawada, Stone Roses, Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, New Order, the Verve, and of course, Horror soundtracks. We also listen to Japanese “major” bands and we go to their shows often.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

We love the films, especially classic horror, gore, psychedelic, freaks films. I have a personal interest in the ancient Japanese culture. Recently, I’m keen to Rakugo, it’s like Japanese old school standup comedy.　I have been practicing story not only to watch or listen. Also I’m practicing Japanese instruments little by little. Now I have the koto and shamisen.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Hiroyuki Takano (Vocal, Guitar):

I want people to listen to the album in a so many different countries as possible. We’re really proud of this album and we want to play more gigs overseas so if you’re interested in buying a CD or Tshirt, feel free to contact us at Sithter@msn.com.

Doomed/Anna/Solitude Productions/2016 CD Review

  Doomed  are  a  band  from  Germany  that h as  been  featured  before  in this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Anna"  which  was  released  by  Solitude  Productions.

 Atmospheric  synths  start  off  the  album  and  clean  singing  samples  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  and  the  solos  and leads a re  also  done  in a   very  melodic  direction  and  the  vocals  are  deep  death  metal  growls  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clean  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  there is  also  a  brief  use  of  black  metal  screams  and  a  few  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.

  Doomed  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  atmospheric  style  of   doom/death  metal  of  their  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  corruption  of  political  and  religious  fanaticism.

  in  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Doomed  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric   doom/death  metal, you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Anna"  "Withering  Leaves"  and  "The  Frozen  Wish". 8  out  of  10.

Shroud Eater/Dead Hand/Southern Druid/2016 7 Inch Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Florida's  Shroud  Eater  and  Georgia's  Dead  Hand  which will  be released  in  November  by Southern  Druid  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Dead  Hand  a  band  that  plays  sludge  metal.

  Their  side  of the split  starts  out  with  a  drone  that  evolves  int  a  heavier  sound  along  with  some  growling  vocals  and  sludge  style  screams and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  post  metal  style  melodies  and  their  song  is  6  minutes  in  length  while  also  having  a  lot  of  the  doom  metal  heaviness  and  clean  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  spoken  words  in  the  background  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  track  also  incorporates  a  small  amount  of  synths,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dead  Hand  are  a  very  great  sounding  sludge  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre, you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Shroud  Eater  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  doom  metal  vibe  while  the  melodic  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  stoner  rock  style  and  the  slow  riffs  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  a  brief  use  of  guitar  leads,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Shroud  Eater  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.

  In  conclusion  I  fell  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  8  out  of  10. 

Uncoffined/Ceremonies Of Morbidity/Memento Mori/2016 CD Review

  Uncoffined  are  a  band  from the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Ceremonies  Of  Morbidity" which  was  released  by  Memento  Mori.

  A  classic  horror  movie  sample  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  doom  metal  direction  along  with  some  morbid  sounding  melodies  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  high  pitched  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  A  great portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  lot  of  traditional  doom  and  90's  death/doom  metal  influences  and  horror  movie  samples  also  make  a  return  on  some  of  the  other  songs  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  very  slow  and  heavy  musical  direction  while  also  always  retaining  a  very  dark  atmosphere.

  Uncoffined  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  a  horror  movie  atmosphere to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror,  death  and  occultism themes.

  In  my opinion  Uncoffined  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE "Plague  Of  The  Uncoffined"  and  "Awakened  From  their  Dormant  Slumber".  8  out  of  10.

Esperoza/Aum Corrupted/WormHoleDeath/2016 Full Length Review

  Esperoza  are  a  band  from  Moldova  that  plays a  very  extreme  form  of  symphonic  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  2016  album  "Aum  Corrupted"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  WornHoleDeath.

  Female  vocals  start  off  the  album  and  give t he  recording  a  gothic  and  operatic  feeling  and  once  the  death  metal  growls  kick  in  the  music  starts  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  also  introducing  guitar  solos  and  leads  into  songs  and  they  also  mix  the  symphonic  and  heavier  sides  together.

  Some of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  elements  of  prog  metal  at  times  and  when  screams  are  utilized  they  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  when the  music  speeds  up  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  on  one  of  the  songs  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  flutes  as  well  as  adding  in  influences  from  ethnic  music.

  Esperoza  plays  a  style  of  symphonic  goth  metal  that  also  mixes  in  the  heaviness  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Esperoza  are  a  very  great  sounding  are  a  very  great  sounding  extreme  symphonic  metal  band  with  touches  of  black,  doom,  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Broken  Passage"  "Tomb  Of  Deeds"  "Desolate  Grief"  and  "And  Here  Comes  The  Immaculacy".  8  out  of  10. 

Black Tomb/Self Titled/Graven Earth Records/2016 Cassette Review

  Black  Tomb  are  a  band  from  New  England  that  plays  a  mixture  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  self  titled  2016  cassette  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  Graven  Earth  Records.

  A  very  distorted  bass  guitar  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  plays  in  a  doom  metal  vibe  along  with  the  guitar  riffing  following  the  same  tradition  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  sludge  style  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  melodic  stoner  metal  vibe  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  riffs  can  get  very  melodic  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  as  well  as  some  elements  of  drone  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  album  also  always  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  sound.

  Black  Tomb  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  slowest  and  heaviest  forms  of  stoner,  sludge  and doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and d epressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Black  Tomb  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  sludge,  stoner  and  doom metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Under  the  Pine"  "Mortuary  Rites"  and  "Church  on  the  Hill".  8  out  of  10.