Review to Nevalra debut album, "Conjure The Storm"

A bit late, I know. But still better late than never.
Black Death Metal band from USA Nevalra released on the 7th of June their debut album called Conjure The Storm.
I urge everyone to have a go at it because it's fantastic.
Very technical and unique, Nevalra give me the same feeling I had the first time I heard Death. As much as I try to find different words to describe, it resumes to unique really.
Very professional, very sober, very powerful and full of fury and rage.
Perfect in every aspect and no one can tell one member is less talented than the other because they all do their job amazingly well and they are in perfect synchrony.
We're talking of ten tracks filled with power, strength, anger, furious drums, growling and a lot of melody as well. The songs stay in your head after you listen to them and the album sounds so short, I actually want some more of this music.
The title track Conjure The Storm and the last track Prophet For Profit are maybe my favorite songs. Prophet For Profit has a bloody emotional ending. So catchy and makes a perfect ending for the album.
And you know what's even better? It is that Lachryma Christi saw them live very recently and registered the moment here:

http://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-to-carach-angren-wolfheart-thy.html

So yes, Nevalra are extraordinary in studio, live, and their energy is deeply contagious. They are still touring at the moment, so don't miss the chance to support these nice guys and also to please yourself with such good music!

Interview with Heathen Deity (UK)

This time Lachryma Christi brings you an interview with a Black Metal band from UK, Heathen Deity. Altough they have been around for around 20 years, only now they are recording their debut album. However, they have been doing plenty of shows and they released a live album this year, Nottingham Infernal.

Lachryma Christi had the pleasure of asking some questions to Dagon and Azrael about this and other stuff as well. So, keep reading!

Greetings! Heathen Deity have been around for over 20 years now. Do you think the English scene changed a lot along these years?

Dagon: Hello all at Lachryma Christi, Thank you for this opportunity.
Personally I have never really took much notice on the scene as a whole, I am too involved in what is going on with Heathen Deity as well as my own personal life to really care what other people are doing. Obviously if someone wishes to involve me in something music related, or a guest vocal appearance for example then I will learn what is needed from that particular project. I don’t really listen to new music or actively seek out new bands, so I am really not the best person to answer your question.

Azrael: The English scene has changed drastically over the past 20 years. When we first ventured out into the then unknown as a band we quickly realised that there wasn't much support for Black Metal or a scene of such. For a young band in the late 90s and early 2000s there was hardly anywhere to play and venues were not very susceptible to having a Black Metal band in their place of business. There was some places of course but they were very far and few between. Of course as our reputation grew we pretty much played them all.
The relationships between bands was totally different back then also, not like today. Bands would keep themselves to themselves and there was not really the helping each other out attitude like there is nowadays. You was on your own. Nowadays bands tend to pull together and support each other to a certain degree and now there are far more venues and festivals that are more than willing to entertain a Black Metal band on their bill. The scene here in the UK has never been more stronger and consolidated. I try to keep a finger on what is happening out there, but it isn't always so easy when having to deal with the workings of everyday life.

Why did you choose Heathen Deity as the name for the band?

Azrael: We needed something that stood for what we are about and was a statement for every aspect of what we stand for and believe. It is Satanic, it is anti-religious and it evokes feelings of whatever the listener feels it means to them. It is open to their own interpretation so to speak.

I have seen written around that you play True English Black Metal. Is that how you consider the style of music you play?

Dagon: TEBM is the core of Heathen Deity, to us TEBM is more than music, it's a way to live your life . Be true to yourself, take no shit from anyone, never compromise on your integrity.

Azrael: Dagon is 100% right. Do what you want to do and be who you are. We have never pulled the wool over anyone's eyes in regards to our music and outlook, or the way we portray ourselves as a band or who we are. Sure, our sound has changed quite drastically since our first demo and the use of keyboards and such things BUT we have always done what we wanted and what we felt was right for us. We have never faltered and our convictions are exactly the same now as they was from the day we started this. For me that is what being true is all about and not a type of sound like most people like to think it is. It goes beyond music. The choices you make, the actions you take and standing up for what you believe in. That is real.

In all these years of existence, there wasn't a full-length studio album. Was that a decision you made or it just happened that way?

Dagon: The lack of full album hasn't held us back at all. The full length album just never materialised and to push out something we are not totally happy with wouldn't be what we are about. To record a full band studio album you need a full stable band! Something which until now we haven't really had, I don’t think the band has suffered from not releasing a full album so to speak, we haven't had to compromise on any performances ( not that we ever would ) we have played a good amount of shows, performed at the festivals we wanted to play at. The music we have available to the public has got us here today and I am very happy with our progression so far, Quality will always be better then quantity.

Azrael: The album has been written a long time and it is only now we are making the right progress with recording it. From the time of the songs being written in the early 2000s, right through our hiatus and to our re-birth in 2016 work on the album never ceased. The time in hand has enabled me to subtly evolve the songs further from their original basic inception and it has developed into the album I always wanted it to be. It has also given us time to include a couple of new songs making the picture complete by bridging the gap between the old band and the band as it is now. We could have recorded this album years ago with just Dagon and myself but we always felt it should be a band effort. Only now do we have the right band to do this and do it right with some dignity and conviction.

(photo by Cherry, taken from the band's facebook page)

You have had a few line up changes along the time. Do you consider that brought any changes in the music you make?

Dagon: Not really no, the music thus far has been written by Azrael and myself. Until 2016 and our rebirth there has only been two real core members of the band who wrote the material and organised everything. The new line up since 2016 is the most solid foundation we have had since 1998, especially now with Storm on the drums, I can only see our future releases being even more relentless.

What are your songs about usually?

Dagon: What Black Metal should be about ... Satan .. Satanism ... Anti Christianity and Anti Religion.
If your songs are not about these subjects and you call yourselves Black Metal, you are basically kidding yourselves. Extreme metal maybe, but you are not a Black Metal act. Disagree? Who cares what you think I am stating the facts.

You just released a live album Nottingham Infernal. How did the opportunity come up?

Dagon: In all honesty it was an afterthought, we record all our shows anyway as a matter of cause for our own records, to watch back and see where we can improve our live show etc, when we played the recording back Azrael and myself were happy with the quality of the sound, our performance on the night and also the reaction from the crowed. We basically decided there and then this would make a good live recording to release.
We contacted our label Death Kvlt Productions to see what they thought about releasing it and they were all for it.
It has now been released on Red Cassette and it has also now been released on Red and Black Splatter 12 Inch Vinyl, both through Death Kvlt.

Azrael: The Mayhem live albums with Dead on vocals that was released I thought was great but the sound quality was really poor. Of course they are legendary performances and we are aware of this but they inspired us. As Dagon stated we record all of our performance for personal reasons. We had recently played a show in Nottingham, England to a packed out house. It was our first headline show since our rebirth and the audience was savage. We listened back to the performance and everything was perfect, especially for a raw recording Then the epiphany hit us. We could actually release this and it would serve as something to bridge the gap between our last demo release and the forthcoming full length album.

How has the reaction been to the release of this live album?

Dagon: The reaction has been very positive! The most important part for me was that, we as a band were happy with the release. In regard to sales "Nottingham Infernal" has done very well.
The Cassette edition sold out very quickly and so has the vinyl version. Both of the variants of the release have been shipped all over the world though DKP and also through the bands Bigcartel page, I think it has broadened our reach.

Azrael: Very good reactions. The only negative I have heard about is the lack of CD format concerning the release. Maybe that will happen eventually. Time will tell.

Do you have any shows coming on the near future, after Nottingham Infernal came out?

Dagon: The show we recorded the release "Nottingham Infernal" was a while ago now, since playing that we have performed at Hammerfest in Wales. This has been our last show to date this year. We are now all concentrating on the album, obviously if something crops up we will discuss it, but as for now we aren’t actively looking for shows.

Azrael: Finishing the album is the most important thing right now. We really need to spend the time right now finishing the recording.

(photo by Cherry, taken from the band's facebook page)

What are you planning to do next? What can we expect of Heathen Deity?

Dagon: The album should be out by the end of the year. We have a few shows and festivals planned for next year, nothing more to tell you about those yet.

Azrael: True English Christ Crushing Uncompromising Unholy Black Metal. I don't think there is anything more you could expect from a band like us. When the album is complete, like Dagon said we will be out there playing live again. At this time also we will be looking at new material and songs for a new release. A new EP perhaps. The circle is never complete and never ends. Love or loathe us, we are not going away, not this time! Ad Victoriam!!

What else would you like us to know about Heathen Deity?

Dagon: “seek, and ye: shall find” Naa fuck that pompous bullshit. Everything we want you to know about us is easily obtainable with a simple internet search.

The usual soul destroying suspects –

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/heathendeityofficial/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGfdjI2lZXrmOBhAtipQDg
Bandcamp - https://heathendeity.bandcamp.com/
Bigcartel - https://heathendeity.bigcartel.com/
Death Kvlt Productions - https://en-gb.facebook.com/deathkvltproductions/

Heathen Deity perform True English Black Metal. We stand by our own beliefs without falter or any hesitation.

Album news and live dates will be made available as soon as possible.

Hail Satan ! Brothers and Sisters of the Heathen Horde !



You can watch the show of Heathen Deity on Hammerfest XI 2019 here:

Review to Carach Angren + Wolfheart + Thy Antichrist + Nevalra, 15/06 @ RCA Club (Lisbon, PT)

So, on the 15th of June, Lachryma Christi went to this fantastic show.
I have been to many shows in my life and this was one of the best shows ever.
Before I continue, let me tell you that this time there was a difference. Instead of stamps, there were actually bracelets. Which in my opinion is a much better option.
So right at the entry, as usual, there was the merchandise area, where I bought myself a T-Shirt of Nevalra, the opening band. And I got a pick, from the lad that was at the merchandise at that moment, which was, in fact, the bassist of Nevalra (Cody Sprock).
The bands were taking turns in the merchandising area.
I had quite high expectations for this show. All bands are incredible. And they did not disappoint. On the opposite, I came back home extremely pleased.
Starting with Nevalra and their Black Death Metal. Nevalra have been around since 2013. They had released an EP in 2015, and very recently, more precisely on the 7th of June, they released their new album, Conjure The Storm (you must expect a review soon, although the album is out already). The album has two guitars, but live they play one only. And let me tell you that the sound live doesn't sound empty or weak, or anything of the sort. It sounds actually very complete, very powerful and heavy. I was thinking the whole time "how can only three guys put such a sound like this up?". You understand everything, there's nothing messy there, it sounds like they are very used to play with each other because they connect so well. They were very energetic and interactive and immediately built a relationship with the public.

If you have a chance to see them, do so.
It could have looked strange that only singer/guitarist (Scott Eames) had corpse paint and the others didn't.
But that stopped being strange, when Thy Antichrist came up on stage, and this same guy was playing there too.

Thy Antichrist played a very interesting show too. They have not only corpse paint, but their whole appearance is very different. They look like something other than humans. The singer (Antichrist 666) looks like an ancient man. From the clothes to the face paint, to the accessories, it is all very tribal and shamanic.
They played a very fast and furious Black Metal. It is just as good as the albums, and the whole atmosphere changes with the show they present us.
At some point, the singer dropped some "blood" over himself, which made him look even more inhuman, and more strange.
All the details were very appropriate to the music they were playing.
If you are used to listen to their albums, you'll notice that the performance is very loyal to the albums. Songs are easily recognisable. It was a very good show as well.

Next band was Wolfheart. This was a bit different style and music from the previous bands and also from Carach Angren.
Wolfheart have a very special sound. It is not as much Black, but more Melodic Death Metal. More turned into nature, as their imagery on stage suggests.
It is indeed more melodic and brings a different feel. Very vibrant and strong sound, very sober, you can tell the experience these guys have from a big distance.
Their songs are somewhat melancholic, and relaxing, if we can put it that way.
It was a bit like a "break" from the mood that the previous bands brought with them.
Could sound like a strange choice of a band for this set, but in the end it worked quite well. 
Recently one of the guitars (Mika Lammassaari) left the band (no drama involved, if you search online you'll find his own words on this), and for the tour he was replaced by a former member of the Greek band Rotting Christ (Vagelis Karzis), which was a great choice, and you wouldn't be able to tell he hasn't been in the band for a while.

Then there was a bit of a wait for Carach Angren and it was worth the wait. It was a very horror filled show, as supposed.
If you know their albums, you know they are concept albums and all about horror and horrific tales. So the show has that atmosphere and they play a lot with the horror on stage.
Also you possibly know that Carach Angren is the kind of band that you either adore or hate. So either it is your thing or not. There is no middle term.
When the show starts they have a figure covered in a black sheet, and people wondering what would be under the sheet. Halfway through the show, the singer (Seregor) takes the sheet off, revealing a mannequin with some bloody scars and bits of the body missing, such as intestines and face. He chops their neck and drinks the blood. This with sounds of gargling and so. Later on, Seregor "chops" his tongue off with the help of a member of the public, who is allowed to keep the bit of tongue, and the rest of the show goes on with some blood around and with Seregor with his hands very bloodied.
Towards the end he put son a skeleton mask with a crown.
The whole visual part of the show is very interesting, with exaggerated horror bits.
The music is exactly as it is, they are really professional and don't seem to ever get tired. The sound was awesome, production was very good (it was with all bands, nothing to point), so all the sounds produced the effects they were supposed to.
They played, as obviously, Charlie, which is maybe the song people know the best. It was a great moment.
The show was longer than the others, as expected, and maybe longer than the recent shows I have been to.

Go see them when or if you have the chance. Four bands that are worth to see live and Lachryma Christi expects to see them live again at some point as well.

All bands were really great, their performances were all very good and I came home really pleased, with nothing to point out, really.

For the ones who haven't seen, Lachryma Christi interviewed Ardek of Carach Angren, and you may read it here: 

http://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2019/05/interview-with-carach-angren-nl.html

Helheim release video for title track of their latest album Rignir

Norwegian band Helheim released an album called Rignir recently.

They released now as well the video for the title track of the album, and you may watch it here:

Helheim will be playing live on the following events:

16 Aug: Flytten, Haugesund, Norway (with SLEGEST & ACÂRASH)
09 Nov: Unholy Congregation Pt II, De Qubus, Oudenaarde, Belgium

Abbath release title track of their upcoming album

Norwegian Black Metal band Abbath are releasing a new album on the 5th of July, called Outstrider.

They just released the third track from the same. It is the title track.

You can now listen to it here:

Serene Dark release new single of their upcoming album

Black Death Metal band from Canada, Serene Dark, will be releasing a new album later this year.

In the meanwhile, they released a single, of a song that will be on that same album.

This song is called Where Time Drawns Still, and you may watch the video for it here:

Carach Angren started their European tour on the 9th of June!

Horror Metal band Carach Angren started their Europen tour with Wolfheart, Thy Antichrist and Nevalra on the 9th of June.

You can read an interview with Carach Angren here:

http://lachrymachristizine.blogspot.com/2019/05/interview-with-carach-angren-nl.html?m=1

Lachryma Christi will be in one of the shows in Portugal next weekend. So you may expect a review too afterwards!

United States Black Metal band Pestis Inferos release new track of debut EP

Black Metal band from United States, Pestis Inferos, are releasing their debut EP on the 24th of June called Beyhond the Veil of Light.

The EP has five tracks, and they are releasing now one of them, called Within the Darkness, I Dwell, and you can stream it here:

https://www.nocleansinging.com/2019/06/11/an-ncs-premiere-pestis-inferos-within-the-darkness-i-dwell/

Review to D Aphelium latest album Profetian om Dygden och Plikten

For those who are not aware, D Aphelium is a one man band from Sweden. This man is Daniel Seestrand. Lachryma Christi wasn't aware either, until an email was dropped on the inbox yesterday, with the album.
So this is the second album of the band. Lachryma Christi in the meanwhile had the chance to hear both, the previous one (Sprungen Ur Lust, 2017) and the most recent one, Profetian om Dygden och Plikten, that just came out in May.
Profetian om Dygden och Plikten seems to be more deep and profound. It is a very strong album, with as much of rawness as of catchiness. The songs really stay in your ears and head for a while, and when you notice, when you are doing some chores in the house, you are actually singing and whistling the melodies you have previously heard on this album.
It is quite a pleasant album to listen to.
It is difficult to tell what's the most remarkable song, since the album is all in the same line. 
It has 6 tracks of more melodic than not Black Metal. Very powerful, and besides the "normal" instruments it also has piano, which is something we still hear but not as often. And the piano is the responsible for (not only but mostly) the most melodic and melancholic melodies in the album.
Sweden is one of the countries where Black Metal is very well done and D Aphelium is a great example of this.
The cover of the album is fantastic as well, taking us to some very dark place in our imaginary.

Review to Mork recent album "Det Svarte Jut"

For those who don't know, Mork is a one man band from Norway, which released a new album on the 19th of April this year, called Det Svarte Juv.
Why is it so difficult (for me) to review this album? Because it is marvelous and extremely emotional.
First time I heard it, it jumped automatically to the top 10 best albums of 2019. No doubt. Didn't even have to listen to the whole thing to know that.
However, after each song, I was thinking "maybe this song is my favorite", but then there's other better and other even better. So much that the climax here, for Lachryma Christi is the last track, that has same name as the album, Det Svarte Jut.
Starting from the beginning, the first track has a intro of around 37 seconds of a very mysterious and spooky cello. Then it opens into some very full of rage music.
This album is different from the others of Mork. The others were also very good, but in a more raw line.
Det Svarte Juv is different. It has not only the raw and agressive side of the music, but as well the groovy bits, the more heavy and slow bits, the more catchy bits and riffs. It is full of agressiveness and also full of melody. Some of the most beautiful melodies that Lachryma Christi has heard in all these years.
There's angry dragged growling voice, but also a clean and very passionate voice.
Bass is one of of the most interesting details to pay attention to.
You can tell there's anger, there's coldness, there's pain, there's passion, and it's impossible not to feel all those emotions as well. Each time listening to this album is more pleasant than the previous one, which makes it very hard to stop and go listening to something else.
Thomas Eriksen is an extremely talented musician and you can tell he put his soul on this album.
Let's just hope future albums are like this as well!
Lachryma Christi has been delaying doing this review because it's so difficult to put all this into words. However, it's selfish not to share.
So please, listen to it. As soon as possible.