The Lumberjack Feedback Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
Hey gals & guys , we are The Lumberjack Feedback, a french instrumental doom/sludge band with two drummers. We've just released our first EP « The Hand of Glory » on Kaotoxin Records.

2. How would you describe your musical sound ?
Few months ago, someone who's not in doom/sludge music told us that it sound like « Black Sabbath jamming with Pink floyd ». That could be a simple and good point of view about our music.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
As we're an instrumental band, there is no lyrics in proper ways, but our music can fit to an apocalyptic earthquake scene, or be the soundtrack of a man-hunt in a deep forest by a stormy night. Band's artwork, that is ruled by ourselves, can be seen as lyrical topics ( and it's the main reason we're doing it by ourselves ) : esoterism, instrospection, rituals, man confronted to nature,...

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the band name?
At the very beginning of the band, we tried to explain to someone our music style. We told her «Hummm, it's like a lumberjack gang playing music, with a loud chainsaw sound full of feedback as background » and than she told «Hey, you are The Lumberjack Feedback so ! ».
So simple !

5.Currently all of the music is instrumental, are you planning on using vocals in the future ?
When starting the band, we were searching for a singer, but we quickly focused on this fact : « Why should  we have to get a guy (or a gal) that would yell or growl like billions of other doom/sludge/post-hardcore bands ! » As the band wrote his first tracks, it came clear that we were working on  progressive songs, with multi-layered melody and heavy droning sound that don't suffer from « vocals less ».
As we love discovering and trying new music landscape, we are opened to experiments.
We have played by the past an acoustic gig for a children audience (a real challenge ! ) and we had some vocal guests on few shows, leaving a total freedom to the vocalist (from melodic to « down to death yelling » and black metal ritual voices...)

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance ? As we love saying, « Loud & Low » is our motto ! So be sure to wear ear protections !!! The stage is our « ritual shrine » where we let our inner nature run free. You can expect from us mesmerizing and ethereal moments to « hammer smash your face » assaults and cathartic howls.

7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future ?
Well, we are currently promoting on stage our « Hand of glory » EP. We've play some « warm up » shows in our home town and Belgium before the « Hand of Glory tour » part 1 that lead us for the first time in Germany and Czech Republic. We'll be playin' in United Kingdom and Paris (with the mighties Acid King) in July 2013 and we've got some shows (and a « in progress » tour) with Jucifer planned for October 2013 in Europa.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal and sludge?
We have always been some kind of « outsiders » on the musical scene. We've played with metal, doom, stoner, psyche rock bands. It's always a challenge to capture audience attention.
At this moment, we are really proud of our EP's feedback. It's always rewarding when you get worldwide messages or reviews and from various music style fans about your music that reassures us about our musical direction. It was also a great surprise, when Billy Anderson, after sending him our pre-production tracks, told us that he was really impressed  and would really like to work on the mastering process.


9. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up ?
The Lumberjack Feedback is our main project, but Chris (drummer) is screaming in the grindcore band PROJECT FOR BASTARDS. Simon (guitar) works on his drone solo project BOUMT HERSINA & Nicolas does some electronic music production for BEAT BOUTIK label.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
As the EP is freshly released, it's quite hard to tell at this moment. We're quite focusing on promoting it on stage. But we can tell you that it will still be instrumental, with a « rise and fall » attitude, heavy riffs, more and more interesting (two ) drumming patterns.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays ?
The Lumberjack Feedback music is fueled by every member musical background (yes, we know, it's a really original answer !). Regarding what most people can think about us, we're not « bearded heavy smokers & doom and sludge » kind of guys (hum... were almost all bearded guys too:) ). We're listening a large display of music, from grindcore, black metal, brutal death to post-rock, classic rock..
You can find on our Ipods, in shuffle mode, bands such as Suffocation, Queens of the stone age, Pink Floyd, Deftones, Liturgy, The Melvins, Nile,nine Inch Nails or Midlake.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests ?
We're all working and dedicating our life to music and artistic activities : sound engineering, instrument making or dealing, graphic design, video editing.

13. Any final word sor thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
We would like to thanks our devoted crew, Nico from Kaotoxin records, Oliv T'Servancx from Electrik Box studio for the mixing, Billy anderson for the mastering and all people who are involved in our tour booking. Nothing can be done without you. And thanks to you for this interview !

Let's keep playin' it Loud & Low !!!

Armed For Apocalypse/The Road Will End/Inronclad Recordings/2013 CD Review

  Armed  For  Apocalypse  are  a  band  from  California  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge,  hardcore,  groove  and  death/thrash  and  this  is  is  a  review  of t heir  2013  album  "The  Road  Will  ENd"  which  was  released  by  Ironclad  Recordings.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  used  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording,  as  for  the  sound effects  when  they  are  utilized  bring  elements  of  noise  to  the  music.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  sludge,  hardcore,  groove  metal  and  death/thrash  to create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  sounding  sludge/groove  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  groove/death  metal  style  screams  and  growls  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Apocalypse  and  Armageddon  themes,  as  for t he  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Armed  For  Apocalypse  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  sludge,  hardcore,  groove  metal  and  death/thrash  and  if  you are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre's,  you  should  check  out this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Starting  Line  Is  A  Trip  Wire"  "Built  To  Kill"   "Drawing  A  Line"  and  "Ends  Meet".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Absent/Minded Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

Absent/ Minded is a band from the small German city Bamberg. We found together in 2009. We had not really an idea, how our sound and music should be… so we just played! After a few weeks our music and sound got more and more doom, sludge and postrock elements! But we never sounded like a typical doom or whatever band, that doesn’t work for us. So we created our own style with these elements. 

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

Deep, earthy, organic, unaltered

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

One of the topics in the lyrics is: find yourself and live this! We don’t want to convert anyone, we just wanna show, how we are. Everybody have to deal with different things in the lifetime. Everybody have to deal with energies on earth, which no one can control. We are all a part and creators of those energies. That is the reason for the title of our third record “Earththone”.  

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

In one sentence: stop thinking, start living. We have words from Charlie Chaplin in our song “Greed has poisoned mens souls”. Its from the movie The great dictator. He said: We think to much and feel to little. Well, that it is.

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

Wow, that is difficult… we had a few very good shows with awesome fans and other bands. The most time our stage performance isn’t depend on the audience. We really love it to go on stage to make noise and rock our songs as hell! But we are not entertainers or something. We don’t try to appeal everybody… 

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

We gonna play a few gigs in 2013 to promote our new record Earthtone. We wanna do some more of course. So we check the autumn and wintertime for shows or small tours. The rest of the time we will write some new material to go back to the woodshed studio maybe in 2014.

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

Well, we are interested for label or promotion companies. But in these times of its f….. difficult to find some, who wants to promote an unknown, no- mainstream band like us. Of course we could sign a crappy deal on a crappy label. But we don’t wanna do that. If we find  a good  label, what takes our music serious, fine. But if not, we try to promote our stuff on stage or the internet. But we are on good hope. I think the scene with bands like us is getting more and more attention at the moment. One of the reasons could be, that a lot of people are tired of high end productions and super rockstar bands. So a lot of fans are try to find bands with natural, not-perfect and deep sounds.   

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

The most time pretty good. Also the reviews. But the most listeners got problems, to define our style. Especially on the first album “Pulsar” we had a lot of different influences. The second Album Earthtone is more straight, more heavy and more dirty… because we like that. I think its easier to find the flow in this record. That was important for us! We are nosey, how the reactions gonna be. 

9. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

Well, Absent/ Minded is the main band of us. Our guitarist is also playing bassguitar in a band called “Dark Star Legion”. And I´m the drummer of the finish doom band “My Shameful”. We recorded a new album this year, but we have to search for a new label at the moment. So the most of our musical energy is flowing into Absent/ Minded. 

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Well no one knows. Every new song or record is like a new journey. I think we found our sound right now, but we have so many ideas what we wanna do with it. So stay tuned!

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

I think we have a lot of influences, because each band member likes different stuff. But mostly Doom, Sludge, Postrock/core, death/black metal. Bands could be Crowbar, Cult of Luna, My dying bride, Baroness, Down, Deftones and Black Sabbath of course. 😉

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

Hm, nature, party, sports, sleeping, soccer

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

What is the best peppermint-liqueur distillery in the world? We need an endorsement with it! 😉

DreamLongDead Interview

Answers by Tassos (vocals/guitar)
1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
We’re DreamLongDead from Athens, Greece. Those of you that are interested in checking out a more detailed account of how we came to be, and how our current 5-piece line up came together can check out the following link: http://theantifleshnimbus.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/dreamlongdead-interview-with-tassos/ from the ‘anti-flesh nimbus’ blogsite.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
If you’d call us “doom/death” we wouldn’t argue much, although there’s much more going on in our ‘music’. We use the phrase ‘primitive monolithic doom death metal punk…’ to describe us and it is quite accurate if you are of those people that give that much attention to labels, genres etc. We are not. Suffice to say that we want to sound huge, crawling, epic, rotten, cinematic in an exploitation/b-movie way, ominous and in general absolutely inhospitable and claustrophobic.

3. The lyrics cover a lot of occult and Cthulhu Mythos topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interests in these topics?
Well, to start off with the ‘occult’, our interest in this area is more academic than practical, a general knowledge and curiosity if anything else really. As far as the Cthulhu Mythos is concerned however, things are quite different I’d say. The Cthulhu Mythos is something more than just our lyrical subject matter. Its basic principles permeate the very essence and core of the sound of the band. We want the people that attend our gigs, or listen to our recordings for that matter, although I must admit that we haven’t managed to capture the ‘hugeness’ of our live sound in the studio as of yet, and get attacked by what is coming off the P.A. and the backline, to feel that sense of smallness and humiliation that the petty humanity ought to fell when confronted with the primordial pre-human essence of The Ancient Ones!

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
The initial inspiration behind the name comes from the Godflesh song “Dreamlongdead” from their “Streetcleaner” masterpiece. Godflesh, although not a direct influence, and that record especially, has always been one of my, and our guitarist’s Panho, favourites, in terms of claustrophobic atmosphere and hypnotic repetitiveness. However, and although in Godflesh, ‘Dreamlongdead’ had a more of a social commentary meaning, in my mind it always had a ‘Lovecraftian’ undertone. Cthulhu lies dead but eternally dreaming in the submerged ruins of Rlyeh. So here your have it “DreamLongDead”  

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
Although it is a cliché answer, all of our gigs are good for us. I mean the only thing that can screw up a gig is equipment failure or technical issues and what not, but even then you do what you do, and we’ve found out that even when we thought we sucked people came up to us after the gig to say we kicked ass. But if I had to choose I’d say our first gig, just because it was our first one and it has that special meaning, although then we were a 3-piece and not the 5-piece we’ve been for the last year or so. Our first gig as a 5-piece was also very important cause we were a bit anxious that people might prefer us as a 3-piece, but fortunately not only that was not the case but we got rapturous reception for the upgraded line-up. As far as our stage performance goes, although our music is slow and dirgelike we don’t stand on stage like miserable unmoving bastards. There’s sweat, headbanging, a lot of facial grimaces and in general total Venom-worshiping stage madness!

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Well you have to take into consideration that most of us have day jobs, are married, have (or are expecting)kids, so touring is not really an option. However we would NOT refuse any good offerings for festivals or one off gigs abroad and that is something we will work more when the second record is out. Despite that, as far as domestic(either in our hometown Athens or the rest of the country) gigs are concerned, for a band that is so ‘busy’ with everyday distractions, we get to gig quite a lot and it seems that gig offers keep on coming. Our plans for this summer are as follows. We are doing a gig in the Six D.O.G.S. club in downtown Athens, in the 15th of July with our good friends Earth Of Distrust, which by the way were the band that offered us our first ever gig so we owe them for that, and that gig will be kinda like a warm up for the New Long Fest that takes place in the summer resort of Nea Makri some 40 kilometres or so, if I’m not mistaken, northeast of Athens, and features some of the best extreme bands in Greece. We are playing there on the 22nd of July on the second of the two days of the festival. We have a great offer for October as well, but that’s too far ahead.  

7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or received any interest?
Oh yes. If there’s any label out there that likes our music send us money and we’ll send you a record, ha ha ha! Seriously now, for the first record we were on a rather limited budget, so we didn’t send out that many promos. We’re planning of going into the studio in September to record the second one. As soon as we have some decent rough mixes we’re gonna mail out promos and shop for a label. We have some labels in mind so cross your fingers.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal?
Actually it had some heads turned which was quite encouraging considering that as I’ve already said in the previous question we didn’t kill ourselves promoting the record. It’s all good. The record ended up in some end of the year lists, we had tracks from it included in compilations, we got some really good reviews, there’s been some radio stations playing stuff from the record. As I’ve said a really good and solid reception considering our limited resources.

9. Are there any other musical projects going on these days?
I’m currently recording bass with a bunch of good friends and seasoned musicians in the Greek scene. It’s more of a psychedelic rock/Americana Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Band, Mark Lanegan kinda vibe. It’s coming out in October and there’s gonna be gigging and shit. Although all of the musicians involved are into other bands too it’s gonna be a ‘real’ band not an offshoot project, or at least I hope so. I know that some people in DreamLongDead have other shit in mind for sure, and there’s always some “late night too many drinks” bar talk amongst us, and with friends from other bands. You know:”let’s do a band that will play this and that…” Some of this shit takes flesh, others don’t, but we are always into motion as far as music is concerned!

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
As I’ve always mentioned we’re planning to get into the studio in September. Most of the material for the second record is ready. We’ve already played a couple of the new songs live and the reception was really good. We’re rehearsing new stuff and for the first time we are doing some pre-production recordings as well, which is really helpful in getting everybody to see the full picture of the song since our songs are rather lengthy. I would say that the new stuff is less monolithic, more varied, there’s a more mid to up-tempo death metal circa 90-91 influence, more Merciful Fate kinda riffs, some middle eastern passages, and there’s DOOM in there for sure. And although we haven’t even started recording for the second one we are gearing our minds towards the third one. That’ll scare you shitless.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Let’s see. “Classic” stuff: Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Venom, Bathory, Mercyful Fate/King Diamond, Possessed, Autopsy, Winter, Entombed/Nihilist, Candlemass, Grave, Carnage, early Therion, Carbonized, Excruciate, Grotesque, Morbid, Treblinka and early Tiamat, Abhorrence/early Amorphis, Funebre, Xysma, Convulse, Unholy, Beherit, Impaled Nazarene, Pungent Stench, Disharmonic Orchestra, Pestilence, Asphyx, Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Carcass, Napalm Death, Cathedral, Amebix, Sacrilege, GBH, early Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Anathema, Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Immolation, Nile, Incantation, Deicide, Sadus, Absu, Sepultura (“Schizophrenia”), Merciless, Massacra, Invocator, Slayer (“Hell Awaits” forever), Kreator (“Pleasure To Kill” & “Terrible Certainty”), Destruction (“Infernal Overkill”), Infernal Majesty (“None Shall Defy”), Onslaught, Dark Angel (“Darkness Descents”), Sabbat (UK),Voivod, Repulsion, Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Reverend Bizarre, Pentagram, Paul Chain, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Emperor, Immortal, Gehenna (“Adimiron Black”), post “Rebel Extravaganza” Satyricon, Neurosis, Godflesh, Killing Joke.
“Contemporary” stuff: Coffins, Portal, Hooded Menace, Goat, Ghost, Deathspell Omega, Cruciamentum, Encoffination, Necros Christos, Yob, Indesinence, Disma, Evoken, Ulcerate, Pallbearer, Ahab, Earth.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Grand orgies, perversions, rituals and sacrifices to the most ancients of the days. Not. Spending time with our wives, girlfriends, kids, families and friends. Going out drinking to our favourite joints, barbequing with friends, fishing, watching movies, reading, taking time off from the world and everyday routine in general.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Our sincerest gratitude, for this interview. Do not forget to check out the following links:
https://www.facebook.com/Dreamlongdead
http://dreamlongdead666.bandcamp.com/
for updates and to order our debut CD:”MadnessDeadGrave - Invocations Three to the ONES That Lurk at the Threshold” and download for free our Live EP:”MadnessDeadLive – Live Invocations to the ONES That Lurk at the Threshold”.
May the Great Cthulhu show mercy on our puny souls and shove his gigantic abominable protoplasmic tentacles up all of our asses! Ia ia…

https://www.facebook.com/Dreamlongdead

In Silent/Potepienie/2013 CD Review

  In  Silent  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  heavy  and  old  school  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2013  album  "Potepenie".

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  at  times, while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  old  school  death  metal  with heavy  doom  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals a re  mostly  deep  doom/death  metal  growls  with  some  high  pitched  screams  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Polish  and  English  with  themes  that  cover  darkness  and  gore,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound.

  In  my  opinion  In  Silent  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pot  Pienie"  "Necrofucker"  and  "Morbid".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

El Caminno/Gold Of The Great Deceiver/Night Tripper/2013 CD Review

El  Camino  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doom  metal,  occult  and  stoner  rock and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "Gold  Of  The  Great  Deceiver"  which  was  released  by  Night  Tripper.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  traditional  and  doom./death  metal  with  70's  occult  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  having  some  melody  and  stoner  elements  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  and  emlodic  sounding  doom/70's  hard  rock  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  rough  sounding  vocals  that  utilize  some  melody  as  well  as  the  aggressive  elements  of  early  90's  doom/death  metal  along  with  some  spoken  word  samples  being  used  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  satanism,  and  occult  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  old  school  sound  to  it  while  you  can  see  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  El  Camino  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  doom  metal  and  occult  rock  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Witch  Love"  "The  One  Of  Evil"  and  "The  Wizard".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.  

Coffins/The Fleshland/Relapse Records/2013 CD Review

  Coffins  are  a  band  from  Japan  that  plays  doom,  death  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  album  "The  Fleshland"  which  was  released  by  Relapse  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present  on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  doom,  death  metal  and  sludge  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  which  is  very  dark  and  heavy  sounding  along  with  some  melody  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  at  times,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  old  school  sounding  death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  gore  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Coffins  are  a  very  great  sounding  heavy  hybrid  of  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hellbringer"  "The  Vacant  Pale  Vessel"  "Rotten  Disciples"  and  'The  Unhallowed  Tide".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.