vod/Tuurngait/2015 Full Length Review

 

  vod  are  a  band  from Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  doom  metal,  post,  sludge,  and  prog  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2015  album  "Tuurngait"    which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Dark  sound  effects  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  bass  guitars  a  few  seconds  alter  which  are  actually  the  lead  instruments  on  the  recording  and  after  awhile  they  take  the  music  into  a  heavy  sludge  direction  while  also  bringing  in  melodies  at  times  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  prog  metal  feeling.

  Most  of  the  songs  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  vocals  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  a  mixture  of  screams  and  growls  and  at  times  clean  playing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  drones  and  as  the  album  progresses  trumpets  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  vod  takes  the  heaviness  of  doom  and  sludge  and  mixes  it  in  with  the  melody  of  prog   and  post  metal  as  well  as  adding  in  drones,  experimental  and  avant  garde  elements  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sound s very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  and  song  titles  are  written  in  code.

  In  my  opinion  vod  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of   drone,  doom  metal,  post,  sludge,  and  prog  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "itji"  "unnauk"  and  "Anirniit".  8  out  of  10.  

Nudist Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
By now we are planning a tour in Europe and working on new stuff.

 2.You have a new album coming out in March, 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?
Well, the sound of the new album is very different from the other two. First of all due to the voice...It is the first time we use it. At the beginning the intent was to us it as an additional instrument, creating sounds and effects, then came the need to add some lyrical content in it.
The sound in this album is much heavier and gloomy compared to the old stuff and the permanently delayed voice gives an effect of distance and depressive atmosphere.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
“See the light beyond the spiral” is a concept album divided in five parts. The lyrics describe an hypothetical post industrial future world where nature is devastated, dried out by human behaviour and life on the surface is impossible, humanity is concealed in an underground world, where life is scanned by the rhythms of industry.
The character finally realises his dream...to see the sky and the surface, but finds out that his search for freedom brings him to death.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nudist'?
The idea of calling the band “Nudist” comes from our need to explore many different sound dimensions and not to wear the “dress” of a specific musical genre or style.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We played lots of concerts over the years and it's really hard to choose a “Best Show”.
We shared the stage with many good bands like Red Fang, Generation of Vipers, ZU, Morkobot, Conan, Jucifer, Fuzz Orchestra and many others.
Every time we play, for us that is the best show, when you see the audience enjoying your music and mosh...that's what we play for.
About describing our stage performance, playing with two drums is probably a distinctive trait of our live sets. The two drummers often play the same patterns and watch them moving synchronized has an unavoidable scenic effect...
Than I would say...High Volume and a great energy alternate with melodic and psychedelic moments leading the audience through a various and dynamic show.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
The next show is for our release party the 20th of March. The 21st and 22nd we have other two shows in northern Italy.
We are planning to do a short tour passing from France, Germany and Belgium, but still to confirm.


7.T

he new album is going to be released through a variety of many different labels, can you tell us a little bit about them?
We are releasing this album with all independent labels from Italy and Spain. They are all small realities from the underground scene.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal and other underground genres?
Actually we are starting now to get a bit more out of Italy thanks to our labels and all the foreigner friends we met at the shows that talk to their friends about us. People really like the sound which is a good mixture of psychedelic elements and groovy riffs. Every song has an it's own inner evolution that brings the listener in many different places and atmospheres during the same song...that's mostly what people say.
People actually is captured from our sound in live shows which are really energic and powerful.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We started in the last two months to jam together and write new songs...we still don't know where the next album will bring us to...maybe it will be more rough...more direct...probably loosing a bit of the slower parts opening the way to a more hard core way of writing the songs.

10.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?
Melvins, Noxagt, Ex Models, Russian Circles, Entombed, Prong. Ministry, Jesus Lizard.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
dogs cats guitars Drugs and friends.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Stay Nude, Stay Rude!

Evolvent Interview

EVOLVENT
Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
EVOLVENT: Since the recording of the new album, we have made and released a new music video on our single “Love doesn’t love me”. I was our very first professional video. Now we are working on promotion and   preparing our first European tour with many rehearsals. We have a new set, some new musicians, and we particularly focus on giving ourselves a strong identity.
LUDO: What has been going? A new bassist! Fuck yeah

Recently you have released a new album, 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?
CLEMENT: Well, our style is considered to be between Melodic and Symphonic Metal. The symphonic orchestra can provide either strong and rhythmic patterns or smooth ambiances and can easily enhance the power of the Drum/Guitar/Bass base. The voice comes to link these and highlight the emotions from the music.
Compared to our previous album, "Whatever Happens" is really more powerful. The drums are a lot more aggressive, coupled with the guitar and the bass for heavy riffs. The musical pace is also higher, and the whole album really more dynamic. Check it out to hear by yourself!
EVOLVENT: All musicians have changed since the released of Delusion in 2011. We had to adapt at first the style to Emma’s lyrical and powerful voice. But also to the new musicians’ influence which were closer to symphonic metal.

Originally the band started out as a doom/death metal band but has evolved into more of a melodic and symphonic gothic metal band over the years, what was the decision behind going into this direction?
SEB: Emma‘s arrival accelerate the direction taken by the band after Delusion’s. We wanted to make heavier music and with Emma’ powerful voice and energy while singing it was an evidence. As a fan of symphonic music, it was a new challenge I took up with pleasure!

What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
EMMA: For the first time, lyrics are now written by its singer. The album is full of different atmospheres, sometimes nostalgic, sometimes energetic and deals with themes such as unconditional love, passion and rebellion. It’s full of my experiences but will probably touch to everyone. I try to give a positive message through all songs and hope I will give courage to people listen to them.

 What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Evolvent'?
SEB: Evolvent is a mix of two French words “evolution” which also means “evolution” in English and “vent” which means “wind” in English. Evolvent would refer to something in constant evolution, light as the air, always travelling. Special isn’t it?

Originally the band was a studio project, when did you decide to take the band into more of a live direction?
SEB: After many goods reviews of “Spiritual Confession” from media and requests of fans, we finally gave in to the call of the stage!

What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
EMMA: We have done so wonderful shows! I will remember all of them with their good and less good moments that still make us laugh today.
The concert in Paris with Elferya in September 2013 was a beautiful moment. With receive much support from the public and we spend nice moment with the band. It was also the best stage with play on.
Our first show in Switzerland was also memorable. It was in November 2014, with the cover band, Alkemy. There were very few people, but we there was a fan who took the train from France for two hours only to see Evolvent on stage. It really upset me!
I think the upcoming tour will bring us unless as much emotions as the last one.
EVOLVENT: Now the lineup is stable, we are starting to build a real show. It’s easier now that the songs are made of all of us and that they are more dynamical. Live shows will be better and better with time. As we are a young line up, we need to learn from each other, to spend time together which will reinforce our complicity in real life and on stage.

Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
EVOLVENT: We have some shows in France of course and in some other countries in Europe as Italy and the Netherlands the first part of 2015.

The new album was released on Bernett Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
EVOLVENT: That was the case on the album Delusion, today our partner Dooweet fulfills promotion and distribution.

On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of metal?
EMMA: The first EP with Emma a lead singer called “Human instinct” and released in May 2014 has the aim to show the shift taken by Evolvent. We received both good reviews and less good. It’s understandable as we have totally decided to leave doom metal, which of course have displeased to some people. Fortunately, we have managed to convince many followers who love our new sound! Moreover, whatever Sébastien compose, his style is clearly identifiable and full of emotion.

Are any of the band members currently involved with any other musical projects or bands these days?
SEB: Since 2011 I have been working as an arranger for Monolithe which is a funeral doom project.
Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
EMMA: it’s quite difficult to know, I hope we will evolve into symphonic metal music, but we will never keep quiet what we love to fit the genre.

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?
EMMA: I am still a big fan of symphonic metal band and singers especially Tarja and Nightwish, Amy Lee and Evanescence. I admire as well my singing teacher Soanny Fay. Today I also listen to other kind of music, for example London Grammar is for me the band of 2015!
FRED: I am found of heavy metal, grunge and rock music, like Metallica, The Foo Fighters, Porcupine Tree, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Audioslave…

What are some of your non musical interests?
EMMA: Great cuisine!
FRED: My wife and my children, motorcycle, mountain bike, movies and series.
LUDO: I love airsoft, movies, video games, nature and animals.
CLEMENT: Informatics, cooking, video games...

Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
EVOLVENT: Thanks a lot for this interview. A little note for those who read this and like our new album: don't hesitate to write to us on our Facebook page: EVOLVENT OFFICIAL, we love to know what exactly our fans like in our music! Like every band, we need all the support possible! we are really looking forward to meet our fans on the 2015 tour, and have them discover our new album!
: https://www.facebook.com/pages/EVOLVENT-OFFICIAL/213082918739395?fref=ts

Spectral Darkwave Interview

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

The band has been in the pipeline for some years, Dan (the drummer) and myself (Steve - Guitar/Vox) are twins and always promised ourselves we’d get create a band that captured the scope of all the computer game music we listened to in the late 80’s early 90’s. Whilst Dan studied in Japan, I sent him some demos, he told me which songs were in the shared perception of our childhood. When he got back we learnt to play the demos and wrote the rest of the album. Our first bassist was someone I’d worked with extensively before but then we were lucky enough to find someone just as nerdy and doom oriented as ourselves to play bass in Jon when Ben emigrated (not because of us!)

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the album?

It’s Symphonic Death/Doom metal if we’re looking for a genre classification but more importantly it’s large. Very large. As the saying goes ‘Big League’. We did whatever we could to make the record sound as epic in scale as we could and yet be hooky and memorable – something that a lot of newer metal dispenses with in favour of fucking with peoples ears.

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

The themes are about the dark nature of humanity in its quest for survival each written as a short story. ‘Retake Mars!’ deals with the inevitable war that will be fought for it should we try to fully colonize it where as ‘Milk and Oil’ is about the disastrous lengths a husband will go to for a wife who has lost their child during childbirth. A gallery of humanity's desperation and failures.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Spectral Darkwave'?

In keeping with our science of evil vibe, we always imagined it as ‘the moment you scan something unknown on the edge of space and look at your readings, but there is a massive absence of information - because it knows you’re there… and your next!’ Oh, the horror of THAT moment…

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Best shows - we once had everyone who watched our show move into the middle of the room for the best stereo image of our nukes and other audio fireworks we bring live. In fairness, our stage show, though themed on observing human horror and suffering tends to become a rather black shared joke that only nerdy metal people tend to get.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We will be supporting the record with shows across the UK in April-June then toward the end of the year. Off the back of this we hope to secure some festival slots next year. Maybe we’ll get invited to Europe.

7.The new album is coming out on Occidental Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

It’s our own label so they can wind-up the company not us personally when we go massively into debt trying to make the difficult second album! It suits our purposes to formalise our arrangements in the long term but maybe as we grow then the roster of Occidental may grow too.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of extreme metal?

Well it’s all very early in the promotion cycle for us at the moment so no one knows we exist in the vast ocean of music out there. When we’ve had radio play on tbfm online, people taking the time to come and speak to us after our UK shows and early reviews – everyone has been really positive. Which I find really weird. I know it’s good in principle and that we’ve worked hard at it. That’s about it.

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

We’ve written most of the next record already and it’s shaping up to be even more about story-telling than ‘Last First Contact’. We’re going to bring in some more electronic elements and some more really interesting use of tribal percussion in songs like ‘A Season of Abyssal Screams’ - which is about Mayan human sacrifice. We hope that people will want more of the same on the second record but with even better production values.

10.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?

Initially, Rammstein’s slower stuff was a big influence for Dan and myself, but then someone put me on to Opeth’s Blackwater Park and we realised that great metal could twist and turn and be a journey rather than be all about the shred. These days we’ll on a fairly (un)healthy diet of Draconian, Devin Townsend and The Vision Bleak.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

Not directly - we view occultism as just one way human intelligence has tried to negotiate the problems of it’s own existence with the limited information it can gather through 5 senses. Such is humanity’s selfish nature that much new thought was historically treated as ‘the work of the devil’ and punished by those in positions of power. Smart people tend to fall into two camps - those know when they do not know and those that pretend they know in order to exploit the ignorance of others. There is definitely an unwritten Spectral Darkwave song in it.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Dan is a bit of a drum animal but is also the most likely of us to hit the gym, Jon studies Historical European Martial Arts and between the band and teaching Film and TV, I’m lucky if I can get a few games of Pro Evolution Soccer on my Xbox just to zone out entirely.

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

Enjoy the light you live in, make the most of it whilst you spark in the darkness, you are the nerve endings of the universe.
Very. Lucky. You.

Evolvent/Whatever Happens/Bernett Records/2015 CD Review

  Evolvent  are  a  band  from  France  that  started  out  as  a  doom/death  metal  band  but  have  evolved  more  into  a  symphonic/gothic  metal  band  over  the  years  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Whatever  Happens"  which  was  released  by  Bernett  Records.

  A  very  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  giving  the  recording  a  classical  music  feeling  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  heavy  and  melodic  direction  as  well  as  introducing  guitar  leads  and  clean  singing  female  vocals  to  the  music  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Symphonic  and  heavy  parts  mix  together  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  death  metal  growls  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  a  few  ballads  can  be  heard  on  the  album  while  there  still  is  a  good  amount  of  heavy  tracks  which  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  male  vocals  at  times.

  Evolvent  strays  away  from  the  doom/death  metal  sound  of  the  earlier  recordings  and  creates  some  quality  symphonic/gothic  metal  on  this  recording  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Evolvent  are  a  very  great  symphonic/gothic  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dawn"  "Love  Dose'nt  Love  Me"  "We  Are"  and  "Siempere".  8  out  of  10.

  

Rogue Coma/Redemption/VDH/2015 EP Review

 

  Rouge  Coma  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  an  occult  mixture  of  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  ep  "Redemption"  which  was  released  by  VDH.

  A  very  dark  and  avant  garde  sound  starts  off  the  ep  and  after  a  few  seconds  the  music  starts  going  for  more  of  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  incorporates  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements.

  When  vocals  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  very  aggressive  sludge  style  screams  which  also  have  a  very  grim  feeling  to  them  at  times  and  after  awhile  spoken  word  samples  and  clean  playing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  ep  progresses  a  small  amount  of  growls  can  be  heard  at  times.

  Rouge  Coma  plays  a  style  of  doom  metal  that  incorporates  a  great  amount  of  sludge,  occult  and  post  metal  elements  that  make  their  music  sound  very  dark  and  heavy  yet  very  original  at  the  same  time,  the production  has  a  very  powerful  sound  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Rogue  Coma  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  doom,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stranger"  and  "Redemption".  8  out  of  10.

  

Spectral Darkwave/First Last Contact/Occidental Records/2015 CD Review

  Spectral  Darkwave  are  a  band  from  England  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "First  Last  Contact"  which  will  be  released  on  March  30th  by  Occidental  Records.

  Electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  a  few  seconds  later  heavy  and  melodic  guitars  are  added  into  the  music  along  with  a  great  amount  of  symphonic  elements  and  after  the  intro  war  samples  are  brought  in  briefly  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Once  growls  are  added  into  the  music  the  album  starts  evoking  more  of  a  death  metal  feeling  and  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  modern  metal  at  times  and  after  awhile  spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  a  small  amount  of  clean  singing  can  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Clean  playing  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  some  songs  bring  in  female  vocals  and  computer  music  along  with  a  touch  of  industrial  and  there  is  also  a  brief  instrumental  before  returning  back  to  vocal  tracks  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  mostly  a   slow  to  mid  paced  musical  direction.

  Spectral  Darkwave  plays  a  style  of  doom/death  metal  that  mixes  in  more  modern  sounds  and  a  great  amount  of  symphonic  and  electronic  music  elements  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction,  war  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Spectral  Darkwave  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  death  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Retake  Mars!"  "My  Hand  The  Gavel"  "I  Am  Shadow"  and  "To  Feast  On  Milk  And  Oil".  8  out  of  10.