PANZERFAUST

 PANZERFAUST  Date: October 28th, 2009Band Member Interviewed: Kaizer - Deathspell and PerditionInterviewed By: Caroline RestiauxXM: Can you start off by giving our readers the scoop on how you guys got together and how you came up with the name Panzerfaust?KAIZER: We originated back in the fall of 05’ with Lord Baphomet and myself (Kaizer). We both shared a lot of the same views and appreciation for black metal. We were both young and aspiring musicians with a fundamentalist approach on creating unconventional music. As for the name – Panzerfaust was a reflection of the deep-rooted interest we both had in WW2 history and the havoc it engendered. From there, the name Panzerfaust deemed an appropriate choice.XM: What was the recording process like for your first cd?KAIZER: Well, the recording was done like most black metal bands first albums were done: A self-produced basement recording with limited production. (Not to say that there is anything wrong with that.) Although, there was an overwhelming desire to release the album, which subsequently amounted to us not being able to pan out some of the rough edges that were still included in the recordings. I’d say “The Winds Will Lead Us…” was a collective learning experience playing as a unit.XM: When writing a song where do you gather up most of your inspiration?KAIZER: It has varied throughout the past 4 years; the integral aspect of war has always been an ongoing topic; as well as a firm stance on anti-religion; which essentially goes hand in hand with the visions of war. Our constant advertisement of the Vinlandic black metal always plays a role as well. As for recently, the ideas have taken a more under the skin approach. I’ve been very much influenced by various pieces of literature and artwork: like Pieter Bruegel’s “The Triumph of Death” or Hans Memling’s “The Earthly Vanity and Divine Salvation” for example. Not to give too much away, but the new material is taking a more orthodox approach at the ideas. The new album in creation; “Alpha / Omega: The Mirror of Mirrors” will entail. More information about the upcoming album will be released within the near future.XM: The band has had the opportunity to open up for some pretty big bands. Which has been your favorite show up to date?KAIZER: I think everyone would have to agree that to date, playing with Mayhem has been our favorite show; Mainly, because they have been a band that we’ve looked up to since the very beginning of Panzerfaust. To play with a band that has influenced us so much was quite the experience.XM: Who has been your biggest influence in metal?KAIZER: I wouldn’t say there has been any one sole influence that overrides all the others. As well, the influences have gradually changed throughout the course of our existence. We’ve always been inspired by bands from the Germanic-Scandinavian pool of bands. Although, at the same time we have been influenced by many of the Slavic black metal bands.  On top, we have been influenced by many non-black metal elements.XM: Who came up with the designs for the bands corpse paint and is there a specific meaning behind any of them?KAIZER: We did. The look of the corpse paint is very much an anti-look to many of these bands that sit backstage doing their paint for 25 minutes. The idea is not to make yourself look like someone just sat down and painted an elaborate piece of art on your face with a fine tipped brush. The look should be messy; distorted and death-ridden. I find this look amplifies the characteristics that Panzerfaust inhabits.                   XM: Great video on your myspace! What was that process like?KAIZER: Thanks.. Well, the video was for the greater part done in improvisation. To be honest, I was not particularly fond with the finished product. It didn’t follow the idea or general guidelines that I had planned – but there’s not much we can do now.  Other than that, the place where the video was shot was the best place we could have done it. The location was literally around the corner from where Panzerfaust all began; and ultimately illuminated a lot of inspiration from our very roots. If there was one entirely good thing about the video – it was that.XM: What is Panzerfaust’s ideology? Most Black Metal bands are big on promoting individualism and are anti-christianity. Where do you guys stem most of your beliefs from?KAIZER: Our beliefs stem from merely existing. Nietzsche said it best, “Fear is the mother of morality” and we channel that deranged moral dogma that has been parented by Christianity, Islam and Judaism (among others) and surface the innate evil and darkness that fuels their institution’s very core. We use many biblical passages in this regard. “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.” for example, we use to harness the anti-morals that these religious institutions engender – and thus inverting the values within the very text which they find homage in. XM: What are your views on Christian Black Metal?KAIZER: The name in itself is a contradiction of terms, and I don’t think anyone needs me to tell them that. It has come to my attention that this particular genre is referred to ‘Holy Unblack’ or something along those lines. My point is that there is more than just a musical affiliation when it comes to the term ‘black metal.’ Black metal is a sentiment in itself – dependant on both the musical and lyrical conceptualization. Christian black metal is a cancer; a diminutive one, yet a cancer at that. Same applies for Muslim or Jewish black metal. None of the three have any business in black metal, and zealous ultra-liberal black metal fans need to stop pretending like they do. I do, admittedly use many biblical references in my music, although for an entirely different reason, as explained before.             XM: What would be your dream show line up? (5 bands only)KAIZER: Mayhem, Marduk, Funeral Mist, Inquisition and Bathory. (This could be subject to change.)XM: If you could have been involved in the writing, recording or production of any album which would it be and why?KAIZER: Funeral Mist’s ‘Salvation’: Simply because this album (in my opinion) is the best black metal album to ever be released. This was like an album I had never heard before: The mind-blowing vocal performance from Arioch (or now Mortuus in Marduk) was something that easily had topped any other vocal performance I had heard before. Along with the colossal sounding drums and culmination of the album with the obscure integration of sound clips and effects created a dominant black metal masterpiece.XM: If you could give the world an enema in which country would you stick the hose and why?KAIZER: Probably the Vatican: Give the pope a heart attack. Let his ass die; deservingly get arrested. And then piss on his grave.XM: If you could be reincarnated what would you come back as?KAIZER: I think I may have come to a dead end with this one..XM: I will leave the last bit up to you?KAIZER: Stay posted, as within the near future we shall be doing a vast news release regarding the new and upcoming album “ALPHA / OMEGA: The Mirror of Mirrors”. I promise this album will be a landmark in Canadian black metal. More time and concentration has been put into this opus then ever before. Stay tuned…“And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.”                                                                                                   Rev.16.8  Links: www.myspace.com/panzerfaust666  

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IMMORTAL - All Shall Fall CD Review

IMMORTAL - All Shall Fall CD Review

After being under the radar for at least seven years Immortal emerges back
into the scene with their latest cd "All Shall Fall". For a band with a
lengthy and worthy history this release comes in as their eighth studio
album. Unfortunately, Demonaz had to retire playing guitar because of
tendonitis in his arm. Good news is that he is now the band's main
lyricist and although he no longer plays he still accompanies the band on
tour.

The release wastes no time getting in your face with the title track "All
Shall Fall". Although guitar solos are a rarity in this genre of music you
will still find your fair share on this one. There is a more facetious
feel to this cd (just my opinion) and it sounds a little less grim then
the rest. The things that have not lost their appeal however are the
amazing technical drumming abilities of Horgh (which truly saves this
album for me) and Abbath's screaching vocals ( at times it brings me back
to their first releases). My fave tracks on the cd are easily "Arctic
Swarm" and "Mount North" The arrangements and production are huge which is
no suprise when you work alongside Peter Tagtgren.

If you are a fan of Immortal then there is no doubt that you were
anticipating this release, I know I was. I kind of didn't expect anything
new to come from them other then the lyrical content to be quite honest. I
have learnt that the more you expect great things the easier it is to get
let down. Did the cd wow me? Not really although it was a nice follow up
to Sons Of Northern Darkness and Blizzard Beasts. The atmosphere of this
for me was not so cold as it was chilly.

The real bonus is that its release date comes in around the same time as
other Norwegian Black Metal band Gorgoroth and Swedish band Marduk, which
might earn them a few extra spins to compare. If you were a big fan of
the band when they released Pure Holocaust I can only imagine that you are
on the same page as me if not then I guess we are reading a totally
different book.

Word is that they are already recording a new album to follow up on this
one, let's just hope they bring back the grimness they once started with.

Tracklisting:

01. All Shall Fall
02. The Rise Of Darkness
03. Hordes Of War
04. Norden On Fire
05. Arctic Swarm
06. Mount North
07. Unearthy Kingdom

GORGOROTH - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt

GORGOROTH - Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt

Gorgoroth has and always will be one of the best Norwegian Black Metal bands around. Despite all of the legal battles the band has been through over the past couple of years, a new lineup has been formed and Infernus is back on track with their 9th studio album "Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt". Joining Infernus on guitars is Tormentor (Desekrator) with Frank Watkins (Obituary) on bass along with returning member Pest on vocals and Asklund (Dark Funeral,Dissection) on drums. The album was produced by Infernus and co-produced/engineered by Asklund.

Pest has come back gargling and screaming his way through the tracks on the album. His vocals may not carry an incredible amount of range but it simply is not needed on this album. As much as I like Gaahl's inimitable vocal style Pest proves that he is just as talented with the mic. The duo guitar riffs on the album range in quality from song to song in my opinion. At times there are some pretty interesting tremelo picked riffs and then there are moments when there is just nothing great or inspiring happening with them. The cd doesn't overdose you with blast beats but rather spreads them throughtout the 09 tracks. The only thing that I would have changed on the album is the order in which the tracks appeared.

The album is simple but melodic and over all a very well produced album. The cd is still just as dark but seems less evil then previous releases by the band. It lacks the type of anger you would have expected to hear especially after all the recent hardships between Infernus and Gaahl, King ov Hell.

It is one of the best albums since Under The Sign Of Hell (in my opinion) Human Sacrifice, Satan-Prometheus and Rebirth are my favorites on this release and remind me why I love the band so much. The cd won't be for everyone though, if you rooted for Gaahl and King ov Hell then you probably won't even give this one a listen. But hey, God Seed haven't even released an album yet and according to many articles have disbaned due to Gaahl's decision to retire from metal.
Give it a listen, you may be pleasantly suprised.

TRACKLISTING:

01. Aneuthanasia
02. Prayer
03. Rebirth
04. Building A Man
05. New Breed
06. Cleansing Fire
07. Human Sacrifice
08. Satan-Prometheus
09. Introibo ad Alatare Satanas

ARCH ENEMY - The Root Of All Evil CD Review

ARCH ENEMY - The Root Of All Evil CD Review

If you are a fan of Arch Enemy then I am sure you are fully aware that metal queen Angela Gossow has not always been the one vocally expressing the bands music. For their first three albums, Black Earth, Stigmata and Burning Bridges it was Johan Liiva that carried the vocal responsibilities. And now, with The Root Of All Evil, Angela burns up the microphone with re-recorded tunes from those three starter albums.

So if you are not too familiar with the bands first albums then you may wind up being just a bit confused and think the songs sound a bit heavier and not so much the sing along songs we have come to know and love. The guitar work is just as impressive as before and the drumming just as great. It's hard to review re-recorded albums as one of the only things you end up doing is comparing the two. So there are going to be the fans that prefer Johan's vocals more and those of us who like Angela's added spice. I am one of the fans that like Angela's pipes but still can appreciate Liiva's previous contributions to the band.

There are 2 songs from Stigmata, that being Beast of man and Bridge of destiny. The immortal, Dead Inside, Pilgrim and Demonic Science all come from Burning Bridges while Transmigration Macabre, Dark Insanity and Burn Me An Angel, spawning from Black Earth. On this cd you will find some new bass lines by D'Angelo and you will notice just how much tighter the Amott brothers sounds. The overall production on this cd is what makes it a hit for me. I enjoyed the albums when they were first recorded and enjoy the songs just as much having been re-recorded.

In conclusion, if you are a hardcore fan of Swedish Death Metal band Arch Enemy's first three cd's and not up for change then steer clear of this release. Otherwise I would say it is enjoyable.

TRACKLISTING:

01. The Root Of All Evil (Intro)
02. Beast Of Man
03. The Immortal
04. Diva Satanica
05. Demonic Science
06. Bury Me An Angel
07. Dead Inside
08. Dark Insanity
09. Pilgrim
10. Demoniality
11. Transmigration Macabre
12. Silverwing
13. Bridge Of Destiny