Ilsa/Corpse Fortress/Relapse Records/2018 CD Review

  Washington  D.C's  Ilsa  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  their  mixture  of  crust,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Corpse  Fortress"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Relapse  Records.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  dark  yet  melodic  doom  metal  riffing  a  few  seconds later  along  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  sludge  style  screams  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies and  as  the  album  progresses  elements  of  crust  and  d  beat  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  one  track  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples.

  Ilsa creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  their  mixture  of  crust,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover depravity,  devil  worship  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ilsa  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  crust,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nasty,  Brutish"  "Prosector" "Long  Lost  Friend"  and  "Drums  Of  The  Dark  Gods".  8  out  of  10. 

 
  

Twilight's Embrace Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new ep?

Ben: Since the recording we've just been trying to organise the release, line up some shows, and think about what to do with the next album. We're all busy with other projects as well and there is only so much that we can do while waiting for the EP release.


2.You have a new ep coming out in February, 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?

Ben: The new EP continues all the musical themes from our album By Darkness Undone. There are four new songs but this is not a different sound. You can expect to hear us channelling 90s British death-doom like Paradise Lost and early Anathema, with influences from bands in the modern Scandinavian doom scene such as Katatonia, Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and so on. Add in some inspiration from bands on the edge of the black metal scene such as Agalloch and Primordial, and that's what you'll get.


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

Andy: It definitely feels like the lyrics are a little clearer and easier to grasp on this EP, although that doesn’t mean there aren't deeper layers of meaning. On the surface they deal with issues of shame and guilt, failure and loss, and the (often futile) search for redemption, but there’s a lot more going on than that if you’re willing to take the time to explore them properly.


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Twilight's Embrace'?

Ben: The name captures the idea of darkness slowly drawing in and enveloping everything within it. All things come to an end, and eventually everything falls into shadow.


6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new ep is released?

Ben: We're in talks with promoters about doing a handful of shows, but ultimately it's out of our hands. We can only play if we're booked to play, and it's notoriously hard for bands in this genre.


7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Ben: People aren't buying many CDs any more so offers from labels aren't able to offer as much as they used to. We've had a few offers that looked like "You pay all your recording costs, we print the CDs and give you a small proportion of them, and that's it", and there's no value to us there. We'd be quite interested in a label that could offer us a worthwhile deal but that's unlikely to happen. I think we have to be honest and accept that the record industry has changed, and being signed is neither as important or as useful as it once was.


8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of goth, doom and melodic death metal?

Ben: On the whole people understand what we're doing and if they're a fan of this kind of music, they like what we do. There are always some melodic metal fans that wished we didn't have the death vocals, or death metal fans that wish we had no clean singing, but you can't please everyone. The main feedback at the moment is that people want us to release new material, more often - so that is what we are going to do.


9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Jack: My other project Fjords (https://www.facebook.com/fjordsofficial/), which Ben is also a part of, are currently in the process of recording our debut album. The follow up to a single released earlier this year is, while having some shared influences with Twilight's Embrace, firmly planted more in the progressive death metal camp. The album should be released at the back end of spring!

Andy: My other main band, Beyond Grace (https://www.facebook.com/wearebeyondgrace/), released our debut album Seekers in July last year, and we’ve been supporting and promoting that ever since. We have a new video coming out soon, and have just revealed that we’re going to be releasing album #2 in October, so lots going on there. I also recently completed recording the vocals for Black Soil, the new album by Apathy Noir, a Swedish-based project who deal in a slightly more Progressive brand of Death/Doom, and that should be released sometime in the next couple of months.

Ben: I have an atmospheric black metal side-project called Arx Atrata (http://www.arxatrata.com/), which has a new album in the works, hopefully coming out later this year. And I also play guitar in Jack's band Fjords.


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

Ben: We're going to continue along much the same path as we're on now. We like what we do and so do our fans, so there's no need to change! We have plenty of new material ready to go which should show that there is plenty of room for exploration and experimentation without needing to deviate from the current course.


12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Jack: Climbing, photographing and sliding down mountains. Usually not all at the same time, usually...

Andy: It’s probably quite a mundane answer but, outside of the band(s), I generally spend a lot of my time reading and watching movies, simply because I enjoy the art of storytelling so much, the way that different writers/creators work to paint pictures with their words, or how they go about creating new worlds and realising their vision on screen, etc. It’s something that’s always fascinated me, the act of creation in this manner, and it’s something which I hope informs the music I work on as well.

Ben: I program computers, play computer games, read non-fiction, and enjoy long walks in the British countryside!


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

Andy: Just to keep your eyes open for new music from us. This EP won’t be the last you hear from Twilight’s Embrace.

Ben: Thanks for your support! Check out our EP, check out the other bands we're in, and follow us on Facebook/Twitter/etc for future news.

http://www.twilightsembrace.com/
https://www.facebook.com/twilightsembrace
http://twitter.com/t_embrace_band
https://www.instagram.com/twilightsembrace/

Mortiferum/Altar Of Decay/Blood Harvest/2018 Demo Review

  Mortiferum  are  a  band  from  Olympia,  Washington  that  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  demo  "Altar  Of  Decay"  which  will be  released  in  March  by  Blood  Harvest.

  A  very  dark  drone  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  demo along  with  some  bells  ringing  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at  times  as  well  as  the  music  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the early  90's  era.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  while  the  solos  and  leads  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  style  along  with the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  screams  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  music  sounds  like  it  could  of  easily  been  recorded  and  released  in  92,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.

  Mortiferum  plays  a  style  of  doom/death  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mortiferum  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  doom/death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Altar  Of  Decay"  and  "Grave  Invocation".  8  out  of  10.   

Chrch Interview

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

Eva: We play intense, heavy songs for the forlorn and the seeking

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings you have released so far?

Eva: People call us doomy, sludgy, and psychedelic

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

4.Originally the bands name was spelled 'Church', what was the decision behind shortening the spelling?

Eva: The Australian band The Church felt that our existence would confuse its fan base

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

Eva: Every show we play is uniquely awesome and we feel fortunate to be on every stage we are ever upon. I think all of us individually have our favorite shows where we've been able to play with bands that we've looked up to in the past.

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

Chris: Yes, so far we are doing a few regional shows in March.  Right after our new record comes out, we have a European tour with Fister in May and a few smaller US runs this summer.

7.Recently you where a part of a split with 'Fister', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

Eva: They're rad dudes who play sick ass riffs.

Chris: Fister rules, we've known them for a while and they're awesome guys that have constantly put out sick tunes.  We were stoked to do this split.

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

Chris: We've had a great response everywhere we've been - it's been nice.

Eva: People actually like us. !!

9.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Chris: Adam and I play in a kind of grind/powerviolence two piece band called xTom Hanx

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

Eva: We are continuing on our personal trajectory, expanding upon elements from previous releases and morphing right into our becoming.

11.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?

Chris: We all listen to the expected classics, but we definitely come from different backgrounds musically.  I kinda of typically grew up on classic rock through my parents and transitioned to punk and metal going into high school.  We collectively have a pretty broad range of taste, though.

Just listened to the new Mammoth Grinder and it rules.  I've been jamming a lot of stuff like Ruby the Hatchet, Witchcraft, Mondo Drag lately.  Also pretty much always listening to Hell, Pink Floyd, Coffins, Yob.

Karl: I think one of our strengths is that we are influenced by a lot of different styles of music, heavy or not. I started playing classical guitar as a kid and didn't pick up an electric for years. Obsessions with bands like Grails or Lungfish has definitely influenced how I write for guitar.

Currently listening to: Full of Hell, Holy Sons, Jack Rose, Halshug and a bunch of stuff from Senient Ruin.

12.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

Eva: That which is hidden is my greatest catalyst.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Chris: I'm also a sound engineer, which I guess is still based around music.  I spend a lot of my time around music in some way pretty much every day.

Eva: potions, stockings, and film.

Karl: Climbing, yoga, literature, art, poetry and other such tough guy activities.

Ben: In my spare time I skateboard and film skateboarding, and work as a metal fabricator/blacksmith

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

Thanks!

Anatomia Interview

1
Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
We’re already working on new stuff. Just started recording songs for new splits, and even collecting ideas for the next album as well. Few shows booked here too.

2
In December you had 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?
Its an album that all three of us put much efforts onto it and that we're all satisfied with everything about it. We think is the best release so far. Horror doom death metal that is way darker and more dismal than ever we created. More doom and atmospheres in there.

3
What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
Mainly about death, life, doom, horror, suffering and gore. I get inspirations from films, real crimes, and some experiences. Also the album was to focus on two aspects of things, that are physical and mental.

4
What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Anatomia'?
I came up with an idea to take a part of the title of my all-time fave demo by Grave; Anatomia Corpolis Humani. I thought it fits the best to our concept and our style. Its all about humans itself, of both physical and mental aspects.

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?
Well, that's a tough question. Its hard to pick up just one... but probably the show at Kill-Town Death Fest in 2014 is the best one to me. Really good atmosphere, and with a bigger crowd going insane. Even when we’re playing slow, people were crazy enough and were stage-diving. It was special one for us as we played in the very last order, and it was the final edition for that fest (the fest is resurrected this year), and everyone seemed enjoying it. Our show is in the dark red light and is in creepy atmosphere.

6
Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?
Yes there's one show here in Tokyo that has been booked recently, and at that show we cerebrate the release of this new album. We'll be playing a long set there. Also, we're planning to do a week-long tour in Europe in October. Details will be posted soon.

7
Over the years you have also been a part of a great amount of splits, out of all the bands you have shared these recordings with, which one stands out the most?
That’s another tough one, haha. Its hard to pick just one as each different and is each good... But maybe I would say split with Interment. That one was released by Goatgrind Rec. with cover artwork by Chris Moyen. Red and green vinyls were made. Both recording- and production-wise, it was a great release I think.

8
You refer to your music as 'dismal slow death metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?
Its just a keyword or is like a term to describe our music. We thought we’d need it to describe out style as there are many variety today. So it is; Death metal that is slow, dark, heavy, with creepy horror-sound atmosphere.

9
Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
I have one active band called Necrophile, and I play guitars in there. Transgressor isn't active now but when the band's bassist who has been residing in UK now comes back here, we get together and play shows. Wormridden is another band I started as a project with David from Undergang. Jun, our bassist, plays in a band called Spiral Wheel now. Its a heavy metal band consisting of ex-members of Sabbat and Exciter. Yukiyasu doesn't have any other band.

10
On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom and death metal?
So far its been good. I have seen some good reviews and press reports from the label. I think we’re getting good promotion of it now and its on the world wide level. I was surprised and we're a bit feeling resigned when we found someone uploaded the full album stream on YouTube only about a few weeks after the release. Haha. That was fast! But that we learned there’s nothing we can do to it. That’s how it gets promoted today right?

11
Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Well, as I mentioned earlier, we are already working on and collecting ideas for the new stuff, and I think they are getting darker, heavier, more obscure dismal death doom. I think, hopefully, we won’t wait too long, and we won’t do many split releases before releasing next full album. Just keep your eye on the coming releases!

12
What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Death doom in general, and some ambient and horror sound tracks for sure. Jun is digging in those stuff more, but I and Yukiyasu mainly listen to and get influences from death doom. We commonly love death metal but Jun has passion in different other genre. Well, I listen to a lot of underground death metal stuff, from new or newer bands and older classics.

13
What are some of your non musical interests?
I like collecting tropical fish. Its like small cichrid fish from South America and I do breeding of them too. Haha. Also I like to ride motorcycles. Used to own big bikes, like Kawasaki ZZR1100, GSXR... Also I like watching films, reading books... I’m busy these days so I can’t spend much time on them though.

14
Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks a lot for the interview your support. Thanks to you readers too for your support. We’re releasing more new materials, doing more shows. Planning to play in as many places as possible. So keep your eye on our coming new releases and shows. Stay dismal!

Coffin Torture Interview

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

We're a two piece sludge/doom metal band from Westminster, SC (about a 1.5 hr drive west from Greenville). We both also played in a now defunct death metal band called Larval Stage.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that has been presented on the recordings that you have released so far?

Pretty rough on the first few ep's. Better on the live recordings though. Awesome when we saved up and went to The Jam Room for the new album! Very heavy!

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

Space, monsters, animals, horrible diseases and stuff from our own warped imaginations.

4.Originally the band was known as 'Tsavo' then 'Cave Dweller', what was the cause of the name changes and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Coffin Torture'?

There were a few other bands with Tsavo in their name so we changed it to Cave Dweller. Cave Dweller didn't last long or release any material and we changed it finally to Coffin Torture around 2008. Coffin Torture was a medieval form of torture where they would lock you in a very tight box or cage for days on end. Sometimes hanging the cage in the village square so all they other villagers knew not to do whatever you did.


5.Currently there are only 2 members in the band but other members have been around in the past, are you open to expanding your line up again in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

We are not totally opposed to the idea, but are more then likely going to stay a two piece.

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?

Gustofest III sticks out. That was a great show! We played a show with our friends Black Hand Throne and Hexxus at The Radio Room a while back that was probably the best we've ever sounded live. Opened up for Jucifer twice at Ground Zero and those two shows really come to mind.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

We're playing a show tonight (1/21/18) at The Radio Room with Tar Hag and Destroyer of Light! Other than that, trying to get a cd release show sometime in February. Possible playing a couple festivals later in the year. We're not really a touring band at the moment with work and all. Never toured actually. But maybe some day!

8.The new album was released on 'Sludgelord Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

They're great! It was founded by Aaron from The Sludgelord and Curtis Dewar from Dewar PR. We're honored to be the first band on the label!

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

They seem to like it so far. Every review has been pretty positive.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Not at the moment. I do two one man bands called Blind Samson and Cebo, but they are pretty much on hold for the foreseeable future.

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

I don't know, but it'll be heavy whatever it is. Currently writing stuff for a new album. Definitely going to have some more weird stuff on there.

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

The big ones are Goatsnake, Conan, Coffins, Zoroaster, Ocean, Neurosis, Slomatics and plenty of slower death metal bands like Incantation and Cianide. Nowadays I mostly listen to stuff like Harvey Milk, Swans, and older stuff like Pentagram and Trouble. Thorfinn has had a lot of Type O Negative and Candlemass in heavy rotation.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

We are both pretty serious fishermen. Bass, catfish and trout. Thorfinn has his artwork.

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

Our album 'Dismal Planet' is coming out on Feb. 16th on Sludgelord Records! Thanks for the interview!

Nadir/The Sixth Extinction/Grimm Distribution/NGC Productions/2017 CD Review

  Nadir  are  a  band  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doomcore  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album "The  Sixth  Extinction"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Grimm  Distribution  and  NGC Productions.

  An  atmospheric  soundscape  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  doom  metal  direction  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  elements  of  hardcore  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  A  great  amount  of  90's  influences  can  be  heard  in  the  bands  musical  style  while  also  sounding  very  modern  at  the  same  time  along  with  some  songs  also  bringing  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  they  also  bring  in  an  instrumental  track  which  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Nadir  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  doom,  death  metal  and  hardcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  social  problems  and  the  relation  of  mankind  and  nature.

  In  my  opinion  Nadir  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  doomcore  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Human  Predator"  "Along  Came  Disruption"  and  "Les  Ruines".  8  out  of  10.