GORGOROTH Date: November 13th, 2009Band Member Interviewed: Boddel (Frank Watkins) - BassInterviewed By: Jacob Laginski XM: How did you come about meeting with the legion of Gorgoroth?Well I knew Infernus for a long time, we'd met a festivals and whatnot, being in two kind of bands that are in the same genre almost. Obituary took a break in the late 90's early 2000's and just sporadically out of nowhere I emailed Infernus just to see what was up and how things were going with his band, I heard hehad this crazy controversial thing go on in Poland, but we just kind of kept in touch a little bit closer. Then when Obituary started doing shows again he'd come to a couple of the shows we played. We just got alot tighter than we'd ever been. Then when all the stuff happened with his ex-members he contacted meimmediately and was like "Hey, I need a bass player" And I was just like "I'm in". We didn't get to play for a couple years after that but it was solidified pretty quickly.XM: Also, playing in old school death metal band Obituary, what are some of the main differences you notice from playing Death Metal and Black Metal bands?Well I really don't see too many differences...The riffs are totally different. Infernus has his own style, and Trevor has his own style, from Obituary. But the aggression and power I feel from both bands are pretty much prevalent. There's lots of real heavy doomy shit that Gorgoroth does and allot a super fast kinda shit. And Obituary has the same thing. We got Heavy doomy shit and we got some really fast stuff. But I kinda just vibe it off of what I feel when I'm playing with them live. With Gorgoroth and Obituary, have this power that kinda comes out of us.XM: Do you think you've brought a bit of a death metal influence onto Gorgoroth's newest record?Well I didn't write any of the music, but I'd say maybe my playing style, cause' I play really heavy aggressive style, I play with a pick, and when there's really heavy fast parts I kinda play along with the guitar. So yeah, I think I brought a little bit of the death metal power to Gorgoroth. Definitely in our live shows, I can tell that its really heavy and powerful with me playing bass behind it.XM: Who are some of your other favorite black metal bands?Darkthrone, Mayhem. Pretty much the classics that have been around. I mean, I really kinda started with Bathory, was the first thing I heard that was really evil, satanic kinda shit. I really started getting into that at an early age, but Darkthrone and Mayhem are definitely some of my favorites.XM: And Gorgoroths religious views have allways been more of a controversial topic. What are your views on them? Do you agree with them?I really have no Indifference with religion or anything like that. I look into my own self and what I do in life. Everything is pretty much based on me, and my family. That's the most important thing to me. I grew up like a Catholic, when I was really young. I went to Catholic school and all this kinda stuff, but It never really stuck to me. And I have my own views on how I make myself perform and be a good person and whatnot. Religion doesn't really have anything to do with it.XM: You just released Gorgoroth's lastest album Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt. How has the reaction been so far?It's been really good. I'm really excited. When I first heard some of the riffs from the record, I knew it was going to be classic Gorgoroth style. I just really couldn't wait for people to hear it. When it came out, the reviews have been off the hook. I've rarely seen any bad reviews at all of the album. So I'm really happy. But what we really look at is what WE thought of the record when it was finished. We all kinda sat down and knew it was a great album. That's really the most important thing, is that the band feels that way.XM: How did the recording of this record go?It was fast, for me. I flew in to Norway and rehearsed with Infernus and the other guitar player. We just kinda learned alot of the stuff there, then me and Infernus and Pest, the singer, drove out to Stockholm. We laid down the bass tracks and the vocals in probably like a week. We had a good time, we went out there, we played in Thomas, our drummers, studio. They recorded the Dissection EP there, really cool atmosphere kind of place. Evil. But it was fast. To me, it was too fast. But we have a long distance between us and for me to be there for the mix and stuff it was insane, almost impossible. But what we did was perfect. We had plenty of time to put down what we had, we had a bunch of studio reports going on and all that. So, it was pretty quick.XM: And you recently played Hole in the Sky festival and back in Norway. These have been some of your first tours with the new line-up, correct?Yeah that was our first show ever with this line up. XM: How would you describe the energy when you play live?It was massive, man. It was unbelievable. When we were rehearsing a week before, a couple of times I was amazed at how heavy we sounded. And I've seen Gorgoroth in the past, and I couldn't understand what they were playing. But when we got together we payed close attention to detail, every little riff, every little part. We wanted to make sure it was perfectly played well by everyone in the band. The rehearsals were amazing. So when we did the show it was just off the top. I mean, we did allot that day to prepare but when we went on around midnight but it was all worth it.XM: And if you had to describe Gorgoroth's music in three words they would be...Evil fucking death.XM: So, do you know if everyone's alright to get into other countries? We think so...We got a little bit more work to do with our guitarist, but we're working on stuff like that. I mean, some countries are crazy about stuff like that, entering and exiting and all that. I'm trying to get into Brazil right now with Obituary, and it's a lot of paper work. It took Obituary forever to get into Canada, I remember that. We got turned away a couple years ago going into Toronto, which was a total bummer. They turned both our guitar players away for charges they had when they were teenagers. We're working on alot of stuff with Gorgoroth, we're focusing on the market that we have allot of impact on. Like Europe, the UK, Scandinavia. We definitely want to go to America but its just going to take us a little bit of timeXM: So, you do suspect a North American tour or European tour in the works for the new album?Oh yeah we'll definitely be in North America for sure. Canada for sure, Canada is going to be really good for Gorgoroth.XM: Excellent! So, How did you go about designing your Corpse Paint for Gorgoroth? Or did you already have a design in mind from the past?To me, it was explained to me as a tradition that you prepare before you go on stage, and you kinda get everything ready and put on your battle gear and whatnot. And I just took it as what comes out of me in that moment, what I feel. So that night I kinda standardized myself with black eyes and white face. I had Infernus help me touch it up a little bit but It kinda just came out of me. That was it. Then I did it again, we played another show in Norway. But it was the same vibe, I didn't picture anything in particular. I just wanted it to be messy, old school, bloody, and I just kinda smacked it on and it was right.XM: What would you say are some of the differences between hanging out with the guys from Obituary and Gorgoroth? Well its like almost the same. We get along really well, me and the Obituary guys, and me and the guys from Gorgoroth have a good time. We laugh, we party...Alot. Actually, Infernus would hang out with Obituary alot on certain tours or we'd hang out at Festivals or whatever. He'd fit right in with us. Its pretty much the same family it feels. Sometimes there is language barriers, but Infernus speaks excellent English. my Norwegian is nothing, so sometimes theres that language barrier. But I mean overall, I get along with these guys just as good as my brothers.XM: Thanks very much for the interview! Any last words?Yeah, definitely pick up our new album. We need the support, then hopefully we'll be in Canada by the end of next year. Links: Official SiteGorgoroth on MySpace
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Nov 27, 2009
GORGOROTH interview w/Boddel
Nov 12, 2009
NILE - Those Whom The Gods Detest CD Review
ARTIST: Nile TITLE: Those Whom The Gods Detest YEAR: 2009 LABEL: Nuclear Blast RATING: 8.5 / 10 REVIEWED BY: Caroline Restiaux REVIEW:Coming from the bright area of So-Cal one would thing that it's music would be bright and cheery. Well if we were to use the term bright as being intelligent and cheery as something to chant along with then you have the makings of Nile's latest release "Those Whom The Gods Detest". This comes as their 6th studio album following in the footsteps of their latest "Ithyphallic" with a much more brutal attack. The vocals have largely improved over the years and even though they are a tech death metal band the words are understandable on this release which I found to be quite pleasing. George Kollias has truly outdone himself on this release showing us just how insane he can get with his blastbeats. It's no wonder the guy has been selling drumming lesson DVD's and doing drum clinic's here there and everywhere. Adding this top notch pedal pushing with a matching set of great guitar players how can you go wrong. The only thing I wish was a bit more present would be he bass playing as it gets a little lost throughout all the others. "4th Arra of Dagon" is a tune that will have fans going nuts chanting along with them "Arra, Arra, Arra, Dagon, Dagon, Dagon". The beginning of the title track brings me to a place in Egypt all calm and relaxed then blasts into an energetic set of crazy riffs."Yezd Desert Ghul Ritual In The Abandoned Towers Of Silence" is an instrumental track which fuses several different middle eastern instruments and has a very relaxing sound to it. Right after the track is done you're heart starts racing madly as soon as the next track "Kem Khefa Kheshef" kicks in, it wakes you up in an instant. The cd's production is amazing which allows for every element to reach close enough to it's maximum potential. Neil Kernon produced this release as well as their latest "Ithyphallic". This is IMO a great step up from the past couple of cds from the band. It's really worth the listen !! TRACKLISTING: 01. Kafir02. Hittite Dung Incantation03. Utterances Of The Crawling Dead04. Those Whom The Gods Detest05. 4th Arra Of Dagon06. Permitting The Noble Dead To Descend To The Underworld07. Yezd Desert Ghul Ritual In The Abandoned Towers Of Silence08. Kem Khefa Khesef09. The Eye Of Ra10. Iskander Dhul Kharnon LINKS:
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Nov 9, 2009
EVILE - Infected Nations CD Review
ARTIST: Evile TITLE: Infected Nations YEAR: 2009 LABEL: RATING: REVIEWED BY: The Corpse REVIEW: Ah, the U.K.'s answer to the next big thing in thrash metal. This is way better then I thought it would be. I was expecting more of what most 80's thrash metal sounded like. Which was crap except for a certain few (I won't mention any names because it will just get me started on a rant that will go on forever!). I found that a lot of the bands playing thrash back in the day consisted of putting in lame riffs with really bad over the top vocals which sounded like an old woman dying of some real painful disease.I am glad to say that Evile have not followed this trend of bad thrash of yore. Instead they have followed the more high end of thrash consisting of some Sepultura and some early 90's Testament with their nod towards death metal. Here I find that the vocals are in the Chuck Billy range of giving thrash a touch of raw sounding death metal. Again I was expecting bad vox that were high and should have been placed in a power metal band, but Chuck was an influence and in another sense that can hurt Evile just as bad. Being a forefront of the next generation of thrash you'd expect a little more originality. The bass dips in and out showing some gruff intent creating a wall of hardened steel. A good job giving some power to a lesser instrument in the scheme of things. Well done. The drumming wasn't that big of a spotlight in the overall picture here, but they still packed a punch when required to. Solid and tight. The double bass plowed along in the faster of the tracks and when the more mid-paced stuff rang out they kept the song crisp and animalistic. The guitars had a nice head-banging clash going for them. Half the time the rhythm didn't catch my attention, but for the most part it kept the songs flowing nicely. The build-ups reminded me of classic heavy metal as they would introduce songs like 'Nosophoros' with a nostalgic touch of class. Now the solos had the glow of Sepultura to them. Check any of the songs for this. I found the guitars to be the catchiest parts of the album. There is a grand plan for where thrash metal should be headed, but Evile need to show a little less restraint and more of a relaxed freedom to their attack. This does a fine job of making one want to headbang, but the influences show up like a black eye or a really bad relationship! hahaha TRACKLISTING: 01. Infected Nations02. Now Demolition03. Nosophoros04. Genocide05. Plague To End All Plagues06. Devoid Of Thought07. Time No More08. Metamorphosis09. Hundred Wrathful Dieties LINKS:
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AETHERIUS OBSCURITAS - Fekete Orvossag - Black Medicine CD Review
ARTIST: Aetherius Obscuritas TITLE: Fekete Orvossag - Black Medicine YEAR: 2009 LABEL: Paragon Records RATING: 7 / 10 REVIEWED BY: Caroline Restiaux REVIEW: For those of you that unfamiliar with Hungarian Black Metal band Aestherius Obscuritas please familiarize yourselves with them (him). If you like bands like Ragnarok, Burzum or Taake then give this release a shot as I can guarantee you have nothing to lose. They started off as a one-man band in 2002 and have just released their 5th studio album "Fekete Orvossag" (Black Medicine) The mastermind behind these works is Arkhorrl who once again got a live drummer (Zson) to bring a true organic feel to his music.The cd is filled with insane battery and melodic riffs. There is varied sounds when it comes to the vocals, it sounds like they are literally being torn apart at times and then smooth over a bit on a guttural death metal sound. There are a couple of slower tunes on the cd such as "Circinus Nebulae" as well and one that has a feel for the presence of Vikings in "Passed Out Of Sight = Passed Out Of Mind"". At some points it also sounds like they used flutes (or at least synthed ones). The production is done well while keeping the raw sound used in typical Norwegian metal bands even though they are not from there. Arkhorrl once said "We exist to be a true homage to what black metal stands for, both musically and ideologically". No disputing that these are words that he truly lives by.The cd consists of 5 tracks sung in their native tongue which is a nice twist to most albums being release now days. There is also a Marduk cover of the song "The Black Tormentor of Satan" from their Heaven Shall Burn...When We Are Gathered cd. The Bonus track on the cd is a Running Wild Cover "Black Demon"My favorite tracks on the cd are "Legelso Lelegzet" and "Passed Out Of Sight = Passed Out Of Mind". This is one of those cds that you are either gonna like or hate but I can tell you that I found this to be a bit of a hidden gem. TRACKLISTING: 01. Legelso Lelegzet (First Breath)02. The End (The predicted fall Version)03. Black Medicine04. Passed Out Of Sight = Passed Out Of Mind05. Fagyos Oleles (Freezing Embrace)06. Zord Mosoly (Grim Smile)07. The Black Tormentor Of Satan - MARDUK Cover08. The Moon Shield09. Circinus Nebulae10. A Mult Labnyoma ( In The Wake Of A Remain Footprint) LINKS: www.arkhorrl.huwww.myspace.com/aetheriusobscuritas
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Nov 6, 2009
MARDUK Interview w/ Morgan Håkansson
MARDUK INTERVIEW Date: November 6th, 2009Band Member Interviewed: Morgan HåkanssonInterviewed By: Caroline Restiaux
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Nov 2, 2009
HYPOCRISY - A Taste Of Divinity CD Review
My fave tracks on the cd are "Weed Out The Week" and "Global Domination" The first of them because of it's melodic brutality and the second because of elements they added from older death metal arrangements. There is a bit of a fresh sound when it comes to the riffs this time around with an added little solo in the last track "Sky Is Falling Down" which supprisingly is not a slow finisher like most of their other releases. The average length of the songs here are around the 4 and a half minute mark, which is just long enough for Horgh to unleash insanity on the drums and for Hedlund to shake the ground beneath you. You can really appreciate the vocal range that Tagtgren posses throughout all the tracks. Still growling lyrics about sci-fi topics such as aliens setting them apart from most other death metal bands. Because of Peter's long history in production there is no need to tell you that this is almost done to perfection, I mean almost flawless.
So, bottom line here is if you liked their latest release Virus and where a fan of The Final Chapter then you will not be disappointed with "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity". If you are a fan of Swedish death metal but have yet to listen to any of Hypocrisy's cds then this is a great place to become a fan. I would have to say that it's one of their best releases in a few years. If you haven't seen them live then now would be a good time as Alexi Laiho was apparently hired as a live rhythm guitarist for their next tour.
02. Hang Him High
03. Solar Empire
04. Weed Out The Week
05. No Tomorrow
06. Global Domination
07. Taste The Extreme Divinity
08. Alive09. The Quest
10. Tamed Filled With Fear
11. Sky Is Falling Down
Nov 1, 2009
HYPOCRISY - A Taste Of Extreme Divinity
ARTIST: Hypocrisy TITLE: A Taste Of Extreme Divinity YEAR: 2009 LABEL: Nuclear Blast RATING: 7 / 10 REVIEWED BY: Caroline Restiaux REVIEW: Peter Tagtgren is not only a master at what he does but he is someone that I have a tremendous mount of respect for. He is such an amazing all around musician (guitar, drums, bass, keyboards and vocals) and producer (Immortal, Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, etc.). His band Hypocrisy has released their 11th studio album "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity" My fave tracks on the cd are "Weed Out The Week" and "Global Domination" The first of them because of it's melodic brutality and the second because of elements they added from older death metal arrangements. There is a bit of a fresh sound when it comes to the riffs this time around with an added little solo in the last track "Sky Is Falling Down" which supprisingly is not a slow finisher like most of their other releases. The average length of the songs here are around the 4 and a half minute mark, which is just long enough for Horgh to unleash insanity on the drums and for Hedlund to shake the ground beneath you. You can really appreciate the vocal range that Tagtgren posses throughout all the tracks. Still growling lyrics about sci-fi topics such as aliens setting them apart from most other death metal bands. Because of Peter's long history in production there is no need to tell you that this is almost done to perfection, I mean almost flawless. So, bottom line here is if you liked their latest release Virus and where a fan of The Final Chapter then you will not be disappointed with "A Taste Of Extreme Divinity". If you are a fan of Swedish death metal but have yet to listen to any of Hypocrisy's cds then this is a great place to become a fan. I would have to say that it's one of their best releases in a few years. If you haven't seen them live then now would be a good time as Alexi Laiho was apparently hired as a live rhythm guitarist for their next tour. TRACKLISTING: 01. Valley Of The Damned02. Hang Him High03. Solar Empire04. Weed Out The Week05. No Tomorrow06. Global Domination07. Taste The Extreme Divinity08. Alive09. The Quest10. Tamed Filled With Fear11. Sky Is Falling Down LINKS: www.hypocrisy.tvwww.myspace.com/hypocrisy
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