Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Interview with Major Rager (UK)



After a break in Lachryma Christi, we are now back with a very special interview. The project is called Major Rager and it is a very interesting one, that although is not Black Metal (it is actually very different!), it is a one man project of a Black Metal musician. He is Portuguese, but he is now based in UK, Manchester. This musician used to be the bassist of a Portuguese Black Metal band called Teasanna Satanna, and also the bassist of another Portuguese band, a Death Metal band called In Tha Umbra. Now, we can follow him in a very different style of music. Major Rager is the kind of synthesizer thing which will take you in a journey to a 80's science fiction scenario.
Major Rager released a album very recently called Per Aspera Ad Astra. Below the interview you will be able to read a short review to this album, as well as all the information about where to get the same, and also the artwork cover.


What is the meaning of "Major Rager" for you?

I got the name from that Metallica gig at the Stone in 1982, I believe it was Cliff´s second gig when he was being introduced for his bass solo, I think it was Dave Mustaine who said something like “The Major Rager in the four string motherfucker”. Lines like that stuck with for years and years. Cliff Burton was a major influence for me while playing bass in extreme metal bands. I also loved how he came in to the heavy metal scene at the time with his Bach and Blue Oyster Cult loving background, and he brought new twists to metal music, the song “Orion” is like a bible to me. His uniqueness in style and persona are the foundation of this project. I wanted to jump into the synthwave scene and stir things up a bit too.

How does someone swap from Black Metal musician to synthesizers and electronic music? Do you see yourself as a eclectic or was there a change of taste and tendencies in your life? 

Well for instance, I remember Phillip Anselmo talking about The Smiths and he said something like “Heavy music comes in various forms”. To me, back in 1998, the album Adore by the Smashing Pumpkins was a very heavy record, in terms that it carries this huge weight of mournfulness and also deals with heavy subjects like the loss of Billy Corgan´s mother. I am not saying that Major Rager is necessarily heavy in some form, but there are some sad subjects and episodes represented on the debut album. Swapping the distorted guitars for synths was something I had in mind for a long long time. I remember being in studio with one of my old bands In Tha Umbra, and there was this array of keyboards about and I messed about with them when I had the chance.   

Do you have any intentions of playing live?
      
       No.  I get asked this from time to time actually. Although I do applaud the likes of Perturbator, GosT, Dan Terminus, Dance of the Dead etc, with their sort of DJ sets, that is not really my thing…at all. If I was to play live with Major Rager, it would be with live musicians, a proper band. But every time I try to visualize this all I see is one big logistical nightmare. I have seen a lot of gigs over the years from intimate performances in small rooms to huge orchestras, to Black Sabbath playing to what seemed like the whole city of London in Hyde Park. I think I´m wise enough to know what works live and what doesn´t. A Major Rager show would have to be a carefully planned show.  

          How has the reception to this project been? Are your followers completely new people, or do your old ones still follow you in this new project?

       I think most of my followers are new friends. The people I went to school with and such don´t give a toss about what I do, a lot of them are not even aware of this project. I think they sort of know I still make music, but it could be either Major Rager or being part of One Direction, I don´t think they would still know what I was doing, which is cool…(I would never play in One Direction by the way). When it comes to feedback, it´s hard to say when everything revolves around the online world, I am satisfied with the fact that I get daily plays on my Bandcamp page and so far I haven´t had any negative feedback but when that day comes…haters gonna hate, right?

      What are the biggest influences in Major Rager?

Well, given the fact that Major Rager is a one man thing, so far, I guess my answer here would be Pink Floyd. But I´ll tell you this, I really like how David Bowie reinvented himself over and over. Every record is different and I embrace change very easily. I love new twists and when artists get out of their comfort zone and take new challenges. And this is only to mention music influences, if we got into films, literature and travels, we would be here for weeks.
  
Which musician would you like to work with one day?
      
       I have had a few jams with my mate Frenchies, we tried a couple of moody tunes, very soundtrack like, and it might be something we can work on for the future. Another lad from my day job Rob Brander (from the Marsicans) has been joking about writing the “Ballad of Keighley Rick”. Good times…

          When are you planning to release another record?

       2016.

       Do you consider that Major Rager would have worked out differently if you were still in Portugal, or Internet allows things to work the same?

      This is as tricky as talking about the butterfly effect. A friend of mine gave me a keyboard back in Glasgow, I never owned a keyboard which had a “proper” piano sound up until then. And I always envied people like, for instance, when you are at party, and there is piano, and someone in that room can play a Queen song or two, I couldn´t play shit. Mind you that playing the piano and playing a synthesizer are two different things. It´s like flying a Boeing 747 and flying an X-Wing.  So after that I started practicing by myself for a couple of hours, everyday. I also lived in Sheffield for some time and after watching the documentary Synth Britannia I thought that that city could have been an influence of some sort, it´s hard to say. One thing is certain, if I stayed back in Portugal, Major Rager would not have happened, I would probably still have the same job and still play in the same bands. But all those hours playing Richard Wright´s chops from Pompeii when I was teenager paid off big time…

       What else can we expect from Major Rager, what is it that you have in store for the next future?

       I think I´ve started what you might call the pre-production phase for the next record. I learned a lot with the previous one in terms of mix and mastering because it was the first time I had to do it all myself. I am more aware of what sounds work better and which don´t but I am on the verge of investing in some hardware synths as well so there is a lot going on right now. One thing is for certain, the next album has a more detailed story behind it like a little narrative, unlike the previous one which is more like little stories.
         
           Is there any advice that you would like to give to new musicians and projects who might follow your example?
     
       There are a lot more valuable lessons in failure than success.   





       Per Aspera Ad Astra (2015)


     So, what to say about this album of Major Rager, Per Aspera Ad Astra? Well, it is very different from everything else you have seen featured in this webzine. And no, Lachryma Christi is not turning into a electronic music magazine, but this project is too important in the development of this musician's career, who is also a Black Metal musican, and is also very important as a example of "not giving a shit" about what is it to be more or less "true" in the Black Metal scene.
   Major Rager is more than anything a synthwave and electronic music project. It has loads of sounds to explore, especially if you listen to it with your headphones. It becomes a extraordinary journey to something like a 80's spaceship. Per Aspera Ad Astra is at the same time very symphonic, melodic, nostalgic for those who were already around by the 80's. The beats are just perfect. The keyboards go from strings to pipe organs, bringing loads of dimension and entertainment. There are some more obscure sounds that brings to mind some melodies of Teasanna Satanna, especially in the song Mermaid Moon. The influence is clearly there. However, everything matches perfectly and Lachryma Christi hopes the next album will be as good or even better. The best song for LC is The Sirens of Europa. Quite catchy, even beautiful tune. 
     Clearly, the musician had fun doing the project, only giving us a big lesson about doing what the fuck we feel like and whatever makes us happy. Honestly, give it a go, it is awesome!


      You can read more information about Major Rager here:

       https://www.facebook.com/majorragersounds?fref=ts

   
And...

... Major Rager's debut album "Per Aspera Ad Astra" is available as a digital download at https://major-rager.bandcamp.com and also streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Souncloud and Youtube.

















Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Interview with Yayla (TR)



For those who don't know Yayla, it is a Black Metal one man band from Turkey. This man is Emir Toğrul and they play a very melodic Black Metal. The band has been active since 2007 and already released a few albums. Lachryma Christi had the opportunity to interview Emir, so keep reading if you are interested in what it is all about.




What does Yayla mean?

Literal translation is alpine meadow. Means the flatness on the heights of a mountain. Means the ecstasy in the eye of suffering. Means the enlightenment on the meaninglessness of chaos. Means the nothing in everything.


Where did the idea for Yayla come from?

Merdumgiriz and I used to go to these alpine meadows in southern Turkey on the Taurus Mountains and make music. We used to make tapes and bury them underground. We used to do many things of this nature on this flatness on top of steep heights. At some point we’ve played with matches and ignited some essence that we are forever under its spell.


Why a one man band? Have you ever thought of getting musicians to play live?

A one man band because where there is many, it is shitty. For thinking about recruiting sessions, yes I have, and I might. The thing is, I can convince neither Merdumgiriz nor Ruhanathanas (my bandmates from Viranesir and Blliigghhtted) to play live with me. They have their reasons. However, I still must find a drummer capable of Merdumgiriz’s talent and another member capable of Ruhanathanas’ insanity, which if I do, I will try playing live for sure. On the other hand, I am playing live for some other projects.


What are your inspirations? What are your songs about?

My inspirations are the inextricable. My songs are about I.


Since you do everything in Yayla’s music, and this might be a strange question, what is it that gives you more pleasure? Which instrument, which part?

I like this question very much actually. I consider what I do to be similar to black arts, so I manipulate matter into magic and every different step of mind gives another shape to the form of the matter. My greatest joy comes from playing the guitar. I am a sound engineer so; by the time I completely set up my microphones and recording devices, arrange everything and am ready to record is the moment I get the most excited. All the different aspects of doing everything by myself gives so much pleasure to me. From the spark of a vision that pushes me to explore depths into making a new album to the second I press play after I’ve mastered the final product is a constant orgasm.


How does the process of composing go? What comes first, and next...?

This changes all the time. I usually feel the urge; I feel a power higher than me trying to manifest its interpretation of this cosmos through my hands, and there I float and cast the work.


How do you see the Black Metal scene in Turkey?

I do not think there is one, or even if there is, I am not aware of it. I just know Witchtrap, Sorg Uten Tarer and Raven Woods. They have great songs, especially Witchtrap, but they do not excite me nearly as much as early Deathspell Omega, Dissection, Manierisme or my own music for that matter!  I have heard some other bands over the years and most sound like muslim feet. They also get really mad when I don’t accept to collaborate with ‘em (aka. help them get a little bit more famous through my name).


What can we expect from Yayla in the near future? What do you have in store?

You can expect an album so grand, it will change the world. Before that, I will release couple Viranesir, couple Blliigghhtted albums and some films.


Anything else you would like to add to your readers? Any message or advice?

The spurious and variable wall of moral principle does not ride the lives of these peasants, it tries to stand between their malcontent and me, while actually only wavering in between their inadequacy and their words.




Line up:

Emir Toğrul


You can find more music and information of Yayla in:






Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Top Ten Black Metal albums for 2014

So, as usual, here is the top 10 Black Metal albums for Lachryma Christi for 2014











Agalloch - The Serpent and The Sphere - Profound Lore Records











Manimalism - Manimalism - Adversum












Hoth - Oathbreaker - Epicurus Records












Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus - Season of Mist












Fen - Carrion Skies - Code666 Records












Mysticum - Planet Satan - Peaceville Records












Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare - Season of Mist












Abigor - Leytmotif Luzifer (The 7 Temptations of Man) - Avantgarde Music











Garden of Grief - Endstation - Winterblast Halls












Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen - Metal Blade Records

Review: Rise of Avernus' upcoming album "Dramatis Personæ"

For those who don't know, Rise of Avernus are a band from Australia who perform a unique style. They call it Orchestral Progressive Doom Metal but for Lachryma Christi it is much more than that. It is quite Doomy and almost experimental.
So Rise of Avernus are releasing a new album called Dramatis Personæ next month through Code666. Besides what was already said on the previous paragraph, the album is very dark and heavy and powerful. There are the orchestrations mostly of the time, which makes it sound very good, and certain details like the clean voice or the whispers  make each track very special. The only thing that could be dismissed is the female voice, but still matches and blends well with the rest.
On the track Acta Est Fabula you can hear the voice of the great Grutle Kjellson from Enslaved, which makes it even more special.
This is not entirely the thing of Lachryma Christi, and some of the orchestral bits remind a bit of Nightwish at times, but if you can put that aside, everything together is so good, it is difficult to be indifferent to it. Give it a listen. So good. So heavy, so profound, so great.






Carach Angren stream full album

Carach Angren are now streaming their upcoming album in full. The album will be called This Is No Fairytale and will be released on the 23rd of February through Season of Mist.




1.    Once upon a Time... 
2.    There's No Place Like Home
3.    When Crows Tick on Windows 
4.    Two Flies Flew into a Black Sugar Cobweb
5.    Dreaming of a Nightmare in Eden 
6.    Possessed by a Craft of Witchery
7.    Killed and Served by the Devil 
8.    The Witch Perished in Flames 
9.    Tragedy Ever After


You may find the album in the following formats:
Jewel Case CD
Digibox with extras and planchette for Ouija board
Vinyl Gatefold LP in various colours (Ouija board design inside print)

You can stream it here:


Photo-credit: Erik Wijnands         


Line-up
Seregor: vocals, guitars
Ardek: keyboards, orchestra
Namtar: drums


Read more in:



Hypothermia reveal cover artwork and details of new album "Svartkonst"

Swedish band Hypothermia have released details of their upcoming album called Svartkonst, to be released on the 15th f May in Europe and 19th of May in North America through Agonia Records. You can see the cover art below.




The album has five tracksand features a guest appearance of the violinist, E.B.

Tracklist:
01 - Invokation
02 - Svartkonst
03 - Efterglöd
04 - Regnvals
05 - Vy

You will be able to find Svartkonst in regular jewelcase CD, ekopack CD (limited to 1000 copies), gatefold black LPgatefold picture disc LP (limited to 200 hand-numbered copies), green/black haze LP (limited to 150 hand-numbered copies) and in digital formats.




Lineup:
Kim Carlsson - vocals/guitars
Richard Abrams - drums
Hans Cools - guitars

Upcoming shows:
Helvete Metal Club, Oberhausen (GER) - Feb 20th
JUZ, Moormerland (GER) - Feb 21st
Vera, Groningen (NL) - Feb 22nd
Bunker, Sala de Conciertos, San Luis Potosi (MEX) - April 10th
Multiforo Cultural Alicia, Mexico City (MEX) - April 11th






Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Crest of Darkness post lyric video of Alice Cooper from upcoming release



Crest of Darkness have released a lyric video of Sick Things, the Alice Cooper cover that will appear on their upcoming EP Evil Messiah,  which is scheduled to be released on My Kingdom Music on the 23rd February in both Digipack CD and vinyl format as well as digital download.  The video, produced by EstremArte, can be seen on the band's YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/tQJC4ZJuqk8

Evil Messiah will be the first studio outing  of the band's new lineup, which includes founder and frontman Ingar Amlien (ROQUEFIRE, CONCEPTION, AMLIEN's INFERNO) on bass and vocals, Rebo on guitars, and Bernhard (ex- PALE FOREST) on drums.  

Track listing on the four-track EP,  which includes special guest Kristian Wentzel  on keyboards, and was mixed and partly recorded at the MLP Studios and partly in Rebo's own studio in Gjøvik,  as follows:

1. Evil Messiah
2. Armageddon
3. Abandoned by God
4. Sick Things (Alice Cooper cover)

The band will play  three Norwegian dates in February, the first being on the 13th at the Felix Pub and Scene in Lillehammer. On  the 14th the band will play two shows at the Kultursenter in Gjøvik, where the early show, starting at 18:00, will be open to all ages. This will then be followed by a show for audiences aged 18 and upwards at 21:00. 

Crest of Darkness witll also be playing for the first time ever in UK at the Black Hart in Camden, London, on the 7th March,  on a bill that includes ACHERONTAS, THAW, MORD'A'STIGMATA and TOWERS OF FLESH

Evil Messiah is available to pre-order from the following:

CD - http://smarturl.it/COD-CD
 LP - http://smarturl.it/COD-LP
 iTunes - http://smarturl.it/COD-iTunes
 ONErpm - http://smarturl.it/COD-ONErpm
 Amazon - http://smarturl.it/COD-amazon

A rehearsal video featuring snippets of the material from Evil Messiah was recently released on the band's YouTube channel and can be seen at http://youtu.be/B4iwk0ubmIQ

Read more in:






ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
My Kingdom Music:  info@mykingdommusic.net
Band Contact and Booking: contact@crestofdarkness.com
Management and Booking:  patriciathomas@btinternet.com

The 3rd Attempt inks deal with Dark Essence Records

The 3rd Attempt, the new band from former Carpathian Forest guitarists,  inks deal with Dark Essence Records 



When Carpathian Forest guitarists Tchort and BloodPervertor announced last year that they were leaving to set up a new band, they knew that they were leaving behind them the security of  one of the most iconic Norwegian Black Metal bands of all time. They decided to start something completely new and unproven,  at a time when labels are reluctant to go for something unknown and new bands emerge  in their hundreds every week, only to be around for a short while and disappear. But when you have two musicians with the skill and experience of Tchort and BloodPervertor, who have the desire to work in an environment that could motivate them again, it had to happen.  Various labels showed their interest and today the band are pleased to be able to announce that they have inked a deal with one of Norway's foremost labels - Dark Essence Records. 

Commenting on their decision to sign with Dark Essence, the band had this to say: "Dark Essence signalled their interest in the possibility of working together as soon as we announced THE 3rd ATTEMPT, even before they had heard anything,  and they have kept in close touch, actually  making the effort to attend rehearsals and get to know our new members.  In the end, it came down to a decision as to whether we wanted to sign with a large label and, as a new band,  risk disappearing in the depth of their rosters, or whether we wanted to work with a label who was genuinely interested in us as a band, and who would be with us every step of the way, in all aspects.  We also heard many good things about Dark Essence from the musicians already signed to them, so, Dark Essence it is!  We've got a lot of work ahead of us with preparing and rehearsing the new material ready to enter the studio,  and we are excited to see what the future will bring".

Dark Essence Records commented on the signing: "It takes a substantial label to be able to afford to sign a band like CARPATHIAN FOREST,  so when it was announced that Tchort and BloodPervertor were leaving and starting again from scratch with THE 3rd ATTEMPT, we were immediately interested in seeing what direction they would take, and opened a dialogue with them . We already knew what formidable musicians they were and what they were capable of, so Dark  Essence's Kristine Knapskog went along to rehearsals to check out their new material.  She very much liked their enthusiasm and attitude, and their desire to work closely with a label,  and  we are very happy to welcome them to the Dark Essence family ".  

 The 3rd Attempt lineup includes frontman Kaahrl Ødemark (ex- Midnattsvrede, ex-Necrocave) who was selected following online auditions that drew in submissions from all over the world, and drummer Tybalt (Fortid, Den Saakaldte, Ethereal Forest, ex- Heathen Deity, ex-Pantheon I) who was originally going to join the band as session live drummer for an upcoming appearance, but after taking part in rehearsals, it was decided that he would become a full-time member. 

The band's first live  appearance will be at Blastfest, in Bergen,  Norway, on  the 18th February,  on  board the boat "Showline" which will take fans on a 5 hour cruise of Bergen's spectacular fjord,  and which kicks off the 4 day festival. 

The 3rd Attempt recently released a demo track The Beast Within, which also features Carpathian Forests's Daniel Vrangsinn on bass and Anders Kobro on drums, and which was  used in a shortened form for the vocalist auditions.  It is not a "finished"  track.  It can be heard on the band's SoundCloud page at:




Read more in:


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-3rd-attempt
Band contact: tchort@online.no
Management & PR: patriciathomas@btinternet.com
Dark Essence contact: post@karismarecords.no
Dark Essence Records: www.darkessencerecords.no
Dark Essence SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dark-essence-records
Dark Essence Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/darkessencerecords
Dark Essence Webshop: http://karismarecords.bigcartel.com/
Dark Essence Records KlickTrack: shop.klicktrack.com/karismadarkessencerecords




FORGOTTEN TOMB reveal new album details

Hurt Yourself and The Ones You Love is the title of the new album by Italy's black/doom metal band, FORGOTTEN TOMB. The band's highly anticipated 8th studio album is scheduled for release via Agonia Records, on April 17th in Europe and April 21st in North America. Album cover is available below.




- digipack CD; 
- box CD with jewelcase CD, bullet pendant and armband with band's logo (limited to 500 numbered copies); 
- picture disc limited to 300 hand-numbered copies; 
- transparent white vinyl with red splatter (limited to 150 hand-numbered copies);
- black vinyl; 
- digital formats.


Hurt Yourself and The Ones You Love's tracklist:
1- Soulless Upheaval
2- King Of The Undesirables
3- Bad Dreams Come True
4- Hurt Yourself And The Ones You Love
5- Mislead The Snakes
6- Dread The Sundown
7- Swallow The Void

Line-up:
Ferdinando "Herr Morbid" Marchisio - guitar, vocals
Andrea "A." Ponzoni - lead guitar
Alessandro "Algol" Comerio - bass
Kyoo Nam "Asher" Rossi - drums

Upcoming shows:
- 14/02/2015 - Midian, Cremona (ITALY)
- 28/02/2015 - Under The Doom Festival, Lisbon (PORTUGAL)
- 14/03/2015 - Comunità Giovanile, Busto Arsizio [Va] (ITALY)
- 03/04/2015 - Doom Over London Festival, London (UK)
- 15/05/2015 - Tapper Club, Tallinn (ESTONIA)
- 16/05/2015 - Melna Piektdiena, Riga (LATVIA)
- 17/05/2015 - Kablys, Vilnius (LITHUANIA)





Blastfest releases schedule and more





BlastInk - Tattoo Convention
There will be a tattoo convention held in the main festival venue, USF from February 19th - 21st every day from 5pm to 11pm. Artists at work will include Line Hammett, Carlos Aguilar, Don Fatt, Trine Grimm and Leading Light Tattoo.



'Blackhearts' Prescreening

Blastfest is proud to offer an exclusive prescreening of a brand new documentary. A surprising look at the people beneath the corpse paint – from Tehran and Athens to Bogotá and finally... Norway.



BlastUp Comedy - Craig Campbell

In association with iStage, Blastfest welcome the super funny and great stand-up comedian Craig Campbell to Blastfest 2015!


Blastfest Sightseeing 

With over 60% of the Blastfest ticket holders travelling from outside Norway organisers have decided to make the Blastfest experience even more simple. February 19th - 21st there will be guided (English) sightseeing tours going to Fantoft Stavechurch and around the town to give you a great complete experience of Bergen!

Tickets for the sightseeing will be on sale in accreditation at Garage Bergen from Wednesday 18th February.



4 Days | 4 Venues | 60 Bands | Exhibitions | Clinics | Stand-Up Comedy | Tattoo Convention | Theme DJ's


Tickets on sale now: http://blastfest.no/?page_id=60