Monday, August 7, 2017

Interview: Void Ritual (USA)

Void Ritual is a one man project by Daniel Jackson. In 2014 Void Ritual released its first EP called Holodomor and the reaction was very positive.
Afterwards, Void Ritual contributed with three songs for a split with Barshasketh, band from Scotland.
Now, in 2017 Void Ritual is releasing its first album. It will be called Heretic Wisdom and will come out through Throats Productions on the 18th of August.
Lachryma Christi had the chance to interview Dan Jackson. Here is what he has to say.




How did the project arise?

Essentially, it was just a decision to make black metal in a certain style. With me being just one person, you can kinda just decide to do things one day and then do it. I wanted to make music that reminded me of 90s Ulver and Darkthrone, so I just started doing it.

 How did you choose the band name?

A lot of people think of music as a cathartic experience, and the name relates to that. It helps relieve the tension that comes from the negativity we all experience in our lives. The Void Ritual , for me, means releasing this toxic shit from my brain, and putting it into my music.

How would you describe your style of music?

Black metal. I try not to overcomplicate things in that regard.

What music or bands are you inspired by and how do they influence your musical output?

For the new album, Heretical Wisdom, the strongest influences were Satyricon’s Nemesis Divina and Ulver’s Nattens Madrigal. Both influence the way I write guitar parts, and Frost as a drummer influences the way I program drums. There are also melodic Swedish influences, via bands like Sacramentum.

How would you describe your upcoming album? How does it differ or compare to previous releases?

Heretical Wisdom is probably a tad faster and definitely more melodic than my previous material. It’s pretty blast beat-centric, without much in the way of slowing down. It should be in your wheelhouse if you’re into mid 90s Norwegian black metal.




What is it about the style/genre of music you play that drives you to create it?

For me, black metal has always been the most expressive and emotionally powerful metal genre. I’ve tried creating in other genres, and it just doesn’t feel as natural or as “right” as black metal does. At least for now, it seems to be the only way I can express anything and feel any pride about the result. I’ve been listening to it for the last 20 years and no other style speaks to me, or allows me to speak, the way black metal has.

Why did you decide to  create everything yourself rather than with a band? What are the advantages of being a one man project?

I’ve been recording music on my own since I was in high school. I never released much of any of it, because it wasn’t up to snuff, production wise, but I stopped being in actual bands around 2005 or 2006. I was in a band where we rehearsed in the drummer’s garage. He sold off all of our equipment and moved out of state between practices and that put me off the idea for a long time. Now, it’s just about convenience, and not having to argue with anyone.

How would you describe your songwriting process?

I tend to use my recording software to help put things together. It helps me remember things and I can kinda cut/paste things together for reference. Sometimes it’s the guitars that sort of lead the way for a song, and other times I have a specific drumbeat that I think makes for a good foundation for something and I’ll write a riff to play into that beat. It’s always music first, then vocals. I guess if I had any talent as an actual singer, I’d try building songs off of vocal lines, like bands did in the 80s, but without vocal melody in play, it’s a lot easier to just write lyrics to fit what’s going on musically.

Do you think now it’s more advantageous to release music In various formats?

Sure. Everyone has their own tastes as far as physical media, and I’m not gonna fault anyone for what they like. People like what they like, so why not give them a version of the album they’d like most? I’ve been very lucky to have two different labels put out a CD (Throats Productions) and cassette (Tridroid Records) version of the album. I’d love to do a vinyl version eventually, if the interest is there.

Anything you would like to say to your current or potential future fans?


Thank you for giving Void Ritual a shot! I’m still pretty shocked that people enjoy it, so I’m grateful for anyone who finds something to enjoy about the music. I’ll try my best to not fuck things up.


Read more about Void Ritual in:


Tridroid Records:



Thursday, June 29, 2017

News: Bereft of Light release new album

Cascadian Black Metal project Bereft of Light by Romanian musician Daniel Neagoe new album Hoinar is out now and available via Loud Rage Music:

Physical version (jewel-case CD) :
http://shop.loudragemusic.com/bereft-of-light-hoinar


Digital version: https://loudragemusic.bandcamp.com/album/bereft-of-light-hoinar 



Tracklist:

I – Uitare
II – Legamant
III – Pustiu
IV – Freamat
V – Tarziu


Hoinar is now streaming in full here: https://loudragemusic.bandcamp.com/album/bereft-of-light-hoinar

Contact:

Bereft of Light

https://www.facebook.com/Bereft-Of-Light-2283859621840073/

Loud Rage Music
www.loudragemusic.com
loudragemusic.bandcamp.com

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

News: Mayhem on tour

Mayhem return to Europe with De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas in Autumn


MAYHEM tour
29 Sep 17 Berlin (DE) Colombia Theater
30 Sep 17 Dresden (DE) Reithalle
02 Oct 17 Stuttgart (DE) Wizeman
03 Oct 17 Graz (AT) Orpheum
04 Oct 17 Nilvange (FR) Le Gueulard
05 Oct 17 Köln (DE) Essigfabrik
06 Oct 17 Avelgem (BE) Hardrock Fest
07 Oct 17 Nijmegen (NL) Doornroosje (Soulcrusher Fest 2017)
08 Oct 17 Mannheim (DE) MS Connection
09 Oct 17 Colmar (FR) Le Grillen
15 Oct 17 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
17 Oct 17 Roma (IT) Orion Live Club
18 Oct 17 Maribor (Sl) Stuk
19 Oct 17 Bratislava (SK) Randal
20 Oct 17 Katowice (PL) Mega Club
21 Oct 17 Warsaw (PL) Progesja
22 Oct 17 Riga (LT) Melna Piektdiena
23 Oct 17 Tallinn (EE) Tapper
27 Oct 17 Göteborg (SE) Brewhouse


MAYHEM festival
30 Jun 17 Helsinki (FI) Tuska
08 Jul 17 Viveiro (ES) Resurrection Fest 2017
03 Aug 17 Wacken (DE) Wacken Open Air 2017
11 Aug 17 Jaromer (CZ) Brutal Assault 2017
26 Aug 17 Crispendorf (DE) Wolfzeit Festival 2017
27 Aug 17 Bergen (NO) Beyond The Gates 2017

 

Line-up
Attila: vocals
Teloch: guitars
Necrobutcher: bass
Hellhammer: drums
Ghul: live guitar

Read more in:

Friday, March 24, 2017

Interview: Saille (BE)



Black Metal band from Belgium, Saille, have always been one of Lachryma Christi's favorite bands. They were number one of one of the yearly tops, and it is always a pleasure to review their releases. On the 13th of march, Saille released a new album called Gnosis. You can find the review here: http://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.pt/2017/02/review-sailles-upcoming-album-gnosis.html 
Gnosis is a lot different from the other albums, much heavier than the previous ones.
However, this time, Lachryma Christi had the opportunity of interviewing Saille, so keep reading to see what's going on, and to see what Dennie has to tell us. 



Saille is a very interesting name. From what we could find, it comes from the old Irish alphabet, Ogham, and it means willow. What does this word mean to you, as a band name?
You’re completely right about the meaning and old Irish alphabet! But to be honest, the name was originally chosen because it sounded pretty. It doesn’t have a real deeper meaning and is in no way connected to the band’s core message. In a way it’s a shame, I like it when the band name reflects the band, it adds to the whole. But, yeah, it is how it is and we’ve grown attached to the name, so it’s not like we’re going to change it to fit a certain concept.

How does your new album “Gnosis” differ from the previous ones, and where did you get the inspiration for it?
For starters, it’s a harder album. We’ve been aiming towards a more guitar oriented sound for a couple of albums now, but always had this thing or that thing holding us back. The departure of Dries (keys) and replacement of Jonathan (guitar) created an opportunity to finally push through several big changes (and we’re not done yet). The songs are more dissonant and harder, there’s less keyboard and the overall idea is more, ehm, holistic?
Concerning lyrics, for ‘Ritu’ and ‘Eldritch’ album I continued the line Dries (together with Filip from Gorath/Hemelbestormer) started with ‘Irreversable Decay’, one concept per album with a general ‘Beauty of Destruction’ band concept. Real nice and all, but for a band concept it’s quite weak imo, especially since I expect other black metal bands to have a strong core idea. For ‘Gnosis’ we updated the band concept, while trying to stay in line with everything we did so far: handing out ideas to the listener. The album concept and its Promethean/Luciferian theme is completely in line with this, without trying to make a pseudo religious/satanic band out of Saille. Most of us are atheist/agnostics, so that would be quite fake anyway.

How does the composing process work for Saille? Has it changed along the time?
It hasn’t. We’ve always created songs at home and use the internet to communicate and pass feedback to each other. The most practical way, I guess, since we live all over Belgium (which isn’t that impressive since it’s only 300 km wide, but still) and we barely see each other. And when we do we don’t jam, so no new songs there. Recording also happens this way, since all of us have some basic studio experience and the necessary computer software and hardware.




Do you get influenced by reviews you read about your albums? Does it change anything in the way you write or compose next time?
We try to read as much reviews as possible and try to get as much as possible out of it, without letting it guide us too much. In the end, we do what we want, but we’re not deaf to a healthy dose of critique. When someone says the guitar sound isn’t great or the songs are too long, we’ll review it and try to improve it, IF we agree. When someone else says we suck because we sound like festival black metal the guy can go fuck himself. We have no time for subjective shitposting.

Currently, are there any bands influencing what you’re doing?
Hundreds of bands, haha. I’m convinced that every band is the sum of the bands the individual members are influenced by. For Saille, this is extremely diverse, since each of us has a pretty different background (although black and death metal are a constant for each of us, but even that creates room for internal discussion about sub-sub-genres). Early Saille was apparently influenced by bands like Keep of Kalessin, Limbonic Art and Tartaros (or so every interview before 2014 says), but I guess bands like Behemoth, Shining (the Swedish one, not that shitty Norwegian band), Watain, Emperor and even Carcass are more important than those first three now.

Is there any band or artist you would like to share a stage?
Once again, this differs for every member, but everyone, except for me, would get an instant hard-on if Saille would share a bill with Meshuggah, haha. I wouldn’t mind sharing a stage with Attila Csihar. Best voice EVER in the entire history of black metal. Or a solo played by Selim Lemouchi from The Devil’s Blood, even though that’s never going to happen.

Which country do you enjoy more playing live?
*Cliché alert* We enjoy playing everywhere. But seriously, the 2 greatest countries for playing live are probably Germany and The Netherlands, great crowds and great venues! Especially the Backstage in München blew our minds! But we welcome every country to try and disprove that by doing better, haha!

Are there any words you would like to say to your fans reading this interview?

Thank you so much if you’re still reading at this point! Our new album ‘Gnosis’ is out now and is available on Spotify or iTunes and can be ordered at our web shop or that of our wonderful label Code666/Aural Music! Please talk to your local organiser about getting us there, we’re not stopping until we’ve been all over the world and we need your help for that!




Line up:

Reinier Schenk - guitars
Collin Boone- guitars
Dennie Grondelaers - vocals
Kristof Van Iseghem - bass
Kevin De Leener - drums


You can find more information about Saille here:

https://www.facebook.com/saillemetal/





Saturday, February 4, 2017

News: Azarath

Polish Black / Death Metal band Azarath have signed a new record deal with Agonia Records. 

The band is expected to release a new album in April, six years after their last full length album Blasphemers' Maledictions. That's probably their most sophisticated album to date.

We expect them to keep their crisp and black Death Metal. With such an awesome lineup, that's not difficult.



Line-up:
Inferno - drums
Bart - guitars
Necrosodom - vocals/guitars
Peter - bass


Read more in:

Azarath on-line:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AzarathBand/
Webstore: www.azarath.pl
Band contact: azarathofficial@gmail.com



News: Katharos XIII

Black Metal band from Romania, Katharos XIII, are releasing an album, called Negativity. This album will feature 7 tracks, and will be released through Loud Rage Music,

The cover artwork was done by a local artist, Alexandru Das.




Tracklist:

1. XIII
2. Negativity
3. No One Left to Lead the Way
4. The Chains are so Beautiful
5. World's Coffin
6. I Die Everytime I Walk This Path
7. Inside




Read more in:




News: Alfahanne

Swedish band Alfahanne just signed a deal with Indie Recordings, through which they will be releasing their 3rd album, called Det Nya Svarta, on the 7th of April.




Frontman Skjoldhammer explains that with their third full-length album Alfahanne continues to explore the dark side of mankind: "Alfahanne's lyrics are very personal and have many layers of dirt. Once you dig deeper into them you find many truths as I see them.  Alfahanne will never lean to the left or to the right or write about political issues. The only political issue that is close to our hearts is equal rights but the flipside of that same coin is that we think everyone is equally.... Equally useless."

Det Nya Svarta  was recorded at the Dödskult studio by Alfahanne's Pehr Skjoldhammer and Mixed and mastered by Stamos Koliousis.  Guests on the album include Kampfar's Dolk, David Lindh from Yvonne and Broder Daniel, Sanrabb from Gehenna, and Nadine Skjoldhammer.



Tracklist:

Satans verser (with Dolk from KAMPFAR)
Stigmata
Avgrundsgravitation (with David Lindh from YVONNE & BRODER DANIEL)
Klubb 27
Mitt mörker är mörkare än ditt (with Nadine Skjoldhammer)
Dödsmaskin (with Samrabb from GEHENNA)
Även hund har sin dag
Svarta får
Det nya svarta


And this is what Alfahanne have to say about joining Indie Recordings:  "We think Indie is a natural choice for us and we are very pleased to be collaborating with them. Now we just hope that they are aware that they have thrown a bone to a dog, fed the beast, poured gasoline on the  fire and unchained a monster." 

Det Nya Svarta is now available to pre-order in CD and Vinyl formats from http://shop.indierecordings.no/artist/16189--alfahanne and in Digital format from https://itunes.apple.com/no/album/det-nya-svarta/id1202165056?

Learn more in:

Alfahanne on YourTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzlnEhv8tEx2GNRAqVduRMQ
Alfahanne on SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/alfahanne
Alfahanne on Bandcamp: https://alfahanne.bandcamp.com
Band Contact: nickeastrom@hotmail.com
Management & PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com



Thursday, February 2, 2017

Review: Vaiya's upcoming album "Remnant Light"



Australian atmospheric Black Metal band Vaiya are releasing their third album on the 14th of April. It will be called Remnant Light and will be released through Nordvis Produktion / Bindrune Recordings.
Remnant Light has three tracks. It is a very introspective work. Very instrumental, which makes the whole thing quite embracing and atmospheric. Once you get into it you just can't get out. So involving and empathetic. 
It is one of those kind of albums you don't hear very often anymore. Despite having "only" three tracks it is indeed very powerful and engaging. Aggressive at times. Very dragged almost suffered vocals, very melodic and dramatic instrumental part, wouldn't say catchy but is very pleasant and by the end you feel sorry that there were only three tracks.
You can almost feel their feelings and think their thoughts while listening to it, if such a thing makes any sense to you. It is almost as if they are telling you a story and you see yourself in it.
Previous albums were different, more directed to play live, so everyone should give a chance to see what these guys are doing now. Is its very good indeed. 




News: The Great Old Ones

French Black Metal band The Great Old Ones released very recently their new album, called EOD – A Tale Of Dark Legacy, through Season of Mist, and are now releasing the lyric video for the song When the Stars Align.


You can stream it here:




Video Credits

Directed and produced by Hugo Aribart (http://vimeo.com/hugoaribart)
Artwork by Jeff Grimal
All music and lyrics by Benjamin Guerry
All arrangements by The Great Old Ones

Also, The Great Old Ones have already announced the first part of their EOD Tour late this winter, where they will be joined by Déluge. Please see below for a list of currently confirmed shows.



25 Feb 17 Genève (CH) Wild Boar Festival
26 Feb 17 Brescia (IT) Circolo Colony
27 Feb 17 Marseille (FR) Jas Rod
28 Feb 17 Bordeaux (FR) Fridge
01 Mar 17 Nantes (FR) Le Ferrailleur
02 Mar 17 Paris (FR) La Boule Noire
04 Mar 17 Denain (FR) In Theatrum Denonium
11 Mar 17 Saint-Germain-en-Laye (FR) La Clef

Yuu may find artwork cover of the album EOD – A Tale Of Dark Legacy below, as well as the tracklist:




Track-list
1. Searching For R. Olmstead (introduction)
2. The Shadow Over Innsmouth
3. When The Stars Align
4. The Ritual
5. Wanderings
6. In Screams And Flames
7. Mare Infinitum


Read more in:



Review: Saille's upcoming album "Gnosis"



So, our beloved band Saille, from Belgium, are releasing a new album called Gnosis on the 17th of March, through Code666.
Saille have always brought us a very powerful music. Very artistic and introspective covers as well.
This time, it looks like they are more aggressive and heavy than ever.
Gnosis has 9 tracks and they are all a lot more dark and powerful and a bit less catchy than the previous albums.
These guys know how to make music, and know how to take a band to a even superior level.
Such an underrated band, really.
So, Gnosis. Drags you to a very deep journey. You can still find the keyboards and the bells, and those sounds that bring a great atmosphere, very horrory type of atmosphere in fact. But, most of it is very fast and full of fury and rage. From the melody through the guitars, or even from the voice. It all matches together.
It feels like we also get to a higher level while listening to it, So good, so introspective still, so full of nature and forces, dark forces. Disturbing in a very good way. Maybe because this is a concept album which explores the world of the Promethean ideal and it's Luciferian counterpart.
Before the Crawling Chaos is just indescribably good. So much greatness in just one song. So much melody and power and strength all together as one.
This album live should be something!
Alright, do a favor to yourselves and get it. Not long to go now. Only a month and a half. You won't regret.
Oh, and very possibly  there is an interview on the way. Keep an eye out!