Okkultokrati/Snakereigns/Fysisk Format 2012 CD Review
Okkultokrati are a band from Norway that mixes black'n'roll with doom metal and punk and this is a review of their 2012 album "Snakereigns" which was released by Fysisk Format.
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being utilized at times, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful sound with heavy riffing that dominates throughout the recording.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine black metal, doom, sludge, rock and punk together to create a sound of their own along with some primitive riffing as well as a brief use of clean playing, while the lead guitars when t hey are utilized are rock'n'roll style guitar solos and leads.
Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams to early 80's style black metal growls, while the lyrics cover darkness and occult themes, as for the production it h as a very dark, heavy, raw and primitive sound to it while you can still hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording in addition some of the songs are long and epic in length.
In my opinion Okkultokrati are a very great sounding hybrid of black metal, doom, sludge, rock and rock and if you are a fan of this musical style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "No Ouroboros" "I Thought Of Demons" "We're So Heavy" and "Nothing Awaits". RECOMMENDED BUY.
http://okkultokrati.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/okkultokrati
Vex/Memorius/Horror Pain Gore Death Productions/2013 CD Review
Vex are a band from Texas that has been featured before in this zine with a musical style that mixes melodic black metal with progressive death metal and thrash and this is a review of their 2013 album "Memorious" which will be released by Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine melodic death metal with progressive death metal and thrash to create a sound of their own, while the lead guitars are very melodic and progressive sounding black/death metal guitar solos and leads, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they use finger picking and full chords to add more progressive touches to the music.
Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams to deep death metal growls along with a brief use of clean singing and spoken word samples, while the lyrics cover dark and depressing themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound where you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording with some of the songs being long and epic in length..
In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Vex and if you are a f an of this band, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Carve My Eyes" "Spectral Nation" "Away From The Sun" and "A Drinking Song". RECOMMENDED BUY.
www.facebook.com/vexhomepage
The Advent Equation Interview
1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?
A: We are a 5 member Progressive metal band from Monterrey, Mexico. That has been working on this project since 2008. Recently we released our debut album independently.
THE ADVENT EQUATION is composed by:
Daniel Cordoba: Guitar and growling vocals.
Margil H. Vallejo: Bass and clean vocals.
Luis Gómez: Guitar
Roberto Charles: Drums
Esaú García: Keyboards.
2. How would you describe your musical sound?
A: it's a mixture of heavy guitar influences, along with atmospheric leads and rhythm complexity, which can go from warm and calm melodic passages, to aggressive and dynamic grooves.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
A: it goes around an existential theme throughout the songs, exploring the mind's journey through loss, pain and death.
4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
A: We can describe its meaning by looking at the words individually, with ADVENT we have something big, a change that will occur, that being one side of it, and on the other one we have the word EQUATION which speaks of balance, equality that each member brings .
5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
A: We've had some memorable performances throughout the years, joining stage with bands such as Haggard, and Opeth, which have been rewarding, each on their own. And definitely a remarkable moment on our history was when we presented this album with a full venue on our hometown.
As for our performance, it has always been as energetic as it is atmospheric, trying to share the way we feel the music.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?
A: we look forward to promote our music in 2013, across our country and wherever our music can be heard.
7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for your music?
A: We decided to go ahead and release the album independently, to get our music out there, and of course we would be open to professionally work with a label, with intention to make an important contribution to the modern metal scene.
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal?
A: It has been received in a very positive light, and we would like to take this moment to thank anyone who has supported us by looking us up on social media, and given the album a listen.
9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
A: Thanks to the genre's versatility, our future releases will stay within progressive metal. We strongly believe in not limiting yourself. This has been our main drive to make things as professional as possible, to take every detail into consideration, and ensure our productions have the best of each of us.
10. What are some band or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
A: As each member comes from a different background musically speaking, we have a multitude of influences, just to mention a few, Porcupine Tree, Tool, Cynic, Camel, Pink Floyd and melodic metal in general.
11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
A: Photography, art, whiskey, sports, videogames, and what living in an industrial city entails.
12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
A: We would like to thank anyone that took the time to read this interview, and invite you to listen to our music, visit our Facebook and Twitter accounts, and please be more than welcome to contact us.
The Advent Equation/Limitless Life Reflection/2012 CD Review
The Advent Equation are a band from Monterrey, Mexico that plays a very progressive from of melodic black/death metal and this is a review of their self released 2012 album "Limitless Life Reflection".
Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with no fast playing a blast beats being present on this recording, while the keyboards bring a very dark, atmospheric and progressive sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing t hat is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to t hem.
Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced riffs that combine melodic black metal, doom and death metal with progressive rock to create a sound of their own, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they use full chords and finger picking to enhance the progressive sound of the music.
Vocals range from clean singing to deep blackened death metal growls as well as a brief use of female vocals, while the lyrics cover dark and depressing themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, and heavy sound for being a self released recording where you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording along with a good amount of the songs being long and epic in length.
In my opinion The Advent Equation are a very great sounding melodic, progressive black/death metal and if you are a fan of this musical style, you should check out t his recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "On Darkness" "Visions Of Pain" and "Hopeless". RECOMMENDED BUY.
www.Facebook.com/theadventequation
www.Twitter.com/adventequation
www.Youtube.com/theadventequation
Sulphur Aeon/Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide/FDA Rekotz/2012 CD Review
Sulphur Aeon are a band from Germany that plays a very melodic form of melodic blackened death metal and this is a review of their 2012 album "Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide" which was released by FDA Rekotz.
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a great amount of brutal sounding blast beats being thrown into the music at times, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing, as for the synths when they are utilized they bring a very dark and atmospheric sound to the music.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine melodic sounding black metal riffs with brutal blackened death metal, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding black/death metal guitar solos and leads.
Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams to deep death metal growls, while the lyrics cover darkness, occult, Lovecraft and horror themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.
In my opinion Sulphur Aeon are a very great sounding mixture of melodic black metal and death metal and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Incantation" "The Devil's Gorge" "Monolithic" and "Zombi'. RECOMMENDED BUY.
www.facebook.com/SulphurAeon
www.myspace.com/sulphuraeon
Grai Interview
1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
At the very moment we're composing the material for the 3rd album. In the first half of 2013 the recording may be begun. Besides, we're planning to take part in some gigs – we're preparing for them. But mainly we compose the new material which's going to gladden our listeners, suppose.
2.How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
The album's full of different wind-instruments sounds, female vocal-trio and more lively and merry music development. Though we couldn't' do without ballads, we tried to expound them more brightly. Moreover, in comparison with the previous one this album is more merry, bold and energetic.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?
In particular we continue composing and playing music touching upon the theme of the holidays and our ancestors' mode of life, some stories of nature. It contains much humor on a level of serious themes. But the major aim is to tell the listeners about all the sides of our ancestors' way of life – from our point of view. We add to our music more wind- and folk instruments – a jew's harp, kalyuka, bag-pipe, whistle.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
One shouldn't rely on the literal translation though there's a grain of it in it's meaning. That's the cry or a song of a bird which can be heard in the sky and everywhere. Like us for we want our song be hears everywhere.
Each gig is great and unique in it's way, but most of all we were impressed by the open-air "Peredvizhenye" in Pereslavl' –Zalessky, "Bylinny bereg 2012" in Kimry, Folk-fest – 2012 in Ufa. We shared stage with Troll bends Fir, Skolot and many other well-known bands,. Fresh air, pure nature, great scene and sound and a friendly audience stuck in our memory.
6.Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
Yes, we're planning to go to the festival "Nasledye 2012" in Tambov in the nearest future. But before that we're going to visit Kazan. Ulianovsk and after that Izhevsk at the end of this year. Moreover, we've got some plans to visit Europe in 2013.
7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of folk metal?
There were rather flattering feedback from the fans from South America, Chili, France – there were lots of reviews! Thanks to everyone for those pleasant opinions. And Russia. Of course. Thanks to everyone who knows and listens to us!
8.Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?
Yes, some of us participate in side-projects, But GRAI is first-priority, naturally)) Ruzveld, Andrey and Irina take part in the project of Alex Nightbird Soloviev – Serdze-Kamen'.
9.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
We think, it's going to be a bit more complicated and melodious but thought-provoking, of course – more wind-instruments and merry inflammatory tunes. That's going to be directed on folklore and nature even more.
10.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
One can't say that playing this music we listen to folk music only. Some of us listen to electronic music, some like jazz or classical music. Some listen to progressive, the others – pagan-metal. That would take too much time to enumerate all the genres and the bands. Concerning the first part of the question - our music was influenced be Cruachan, Gods Tower, Alkonost, Korpiklaani e.t.c.
11.How would you describe your views on Paganism?
Paganism is a way of displaying of patriotism and honoring and giving respect to your Native Land. To esteem former times when all the Slavic folks were a single whole when there were no fat feudal lords. I think we should never loose the pivot making us what we are. We all should know who we are and where we live.
Unfortunately, we have a lack of time. Mainly we spend it at the rehearsals and at work. But some of us are fond of travelling, going cycling, arranging the gigs and celebrating some holidays))))
13.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Spend your time rationally, do what you like doing and the result won't keep you waiting, That's going to be beyond any expectations. Listen to true music! Wish you peace and all the best!
Frosthelm Interview
D - Frosthelm is a metal band from North Dakota with black/thrash metal influences.
JI - Comeing out of the friggid depths of North Dakota, we embody all that is Frosthelm. With freezing riffs and thundering rythm we ride the plains, slaying all in our quest for the Froshelm!!
D - Tight, catchy metal tunes brah!
T - We're an aggressive thrash inspired band.
JI - I would say that we are a Thrash/Melodic Death Metal band that utilizes strong Black Metal influences.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band
explores with the music?
T - Lots of fantasy, the dark aspects of life.
D - Video games, fantasy, murder, evil, ghosts, goblins, epic battle, the power of darkness, ect
Ji - The Frosthelm!!!
D - I'm not sure. We picked four or five names and did some secret ritual black magic thing with 12 sided dice or something and Frosthelm is the one that got chosen. Ghost of Gygax?
Ji - The cold, war torn battle helm of a northern warrior.
T - We played the Cino de Metal show in Minot with two of our favorite North Dakota bands (Gorgatron and Enviovore) and it was a fucking blast! All the bands played awesome!
Jim - Just got done playing an awesome show with Resistant Culture, the tribal crust/grind band feat. members of Terrorizer. We had a blast!
JI - I honestly love every show we play. No matter if it's 5 or 500 peaple, I always have a blast.
D - Not at the moment
JI - Let's just hope that in the not too distant future Frosthelm will ride across this great nation on our bloody quest.
7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for the music?
T - Yes we are looking. A label that believes in us and is willing to invest in our music would be swell!
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of extreme metal?
D - We've only gotten a few reviews from our recent EP so far, but they have been swell!
JI - Feedback has been positive so far. Can't wait to hear from more of our metal brothers and sisters around the world.
9. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?
D - Jim and I have a grind band called Ditchpig. I'm also a troubadour.
T - I have a solo acoustic project called Pfliger Fantasy.
JI - I'm trying to start some stuff. We will see what happens.
10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
D - The music we write is pretty varied as far as style goes, so I don't really know. I'm thinking about trying to bring nu-metal back.
JI- Let the evil ones decide.
11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
D - Metallica and Slayer are the bands that inspired me to play guitar in the first place, so my riffing style is heavily influenced by thrash. Bands like Dissection and Amon Amarth taught me about melody. I've been listening to Witchery, Dark Funeral and W.A.S.P. lately.
T - Bands like Scorpions and Gwar got me into being in a band. Also, I like Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Setherial; bands like that. I have been spinning discs by Deathspell Omega, Portal, and Noisear.
JI - The others guys kinda nailed it. What more can I say?
Jim - I've always had it for those dark and eerie type bands i.e. Immolation, Belphegor, Dark Funeral to name a couple. Early Sepultura is what really got me hooked on playing guitar though. Lately I've been listenening to Ketzer, Watain, and Martyrdod.
12. How would you describe the metal scene in North Dakota?
D - There are not a ton of metal bands here, but the ones that are playing are all good and pretty much cover the whole metal spectrum.
T - Isolated, Starved for national acts, but our local metal bands do a good job and support one another and the local scene.
JI - Though most may not think there is much metal in ND, we do have our share.
Jim - Unpredictable.
D - I like knives, video games, books, craft beers, hunting, fishing, and general out-of-doors activity.
T - Sluts, drugs, beer.
JI - That crazy shit no body wants to talk about.
Jim- Really into recording/producing music, and other shit like that.
D - Buy our EP! Stay frosty!
T- Ditto, son.
JI - Keep it metal!
Catamenia/The Best Of Catamenia/Massacre Records/2012 Digital Compilation Review
Catamenia are a band from Finland that has been featured before in this zine with a musical style that I would describe as being gothic, melodic and symphonic sounding black metal and this is a review of their 2012 digital compilation album "The Best Of Catamenia" which was released by Massacre Records.
Drums range from slow.mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being utilized at times , while the synths bring a very dark, atmospheric, symphonic, and gothic sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing t hat is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast melodic black/death metal riffs as well as a brief use of soft and clean playing, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads that have a traditional metal feeling to them.
Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams, deep death metal growls, clean singing and spoken word parts, while the lyrics are written in a mixture of Finnish and English and they cover dark themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.
In my opinion this is a very great sounding compilation from Catamenia and if you are a fan of this band, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Cavalcade" "Closed gates Of Hope" "The Heart Of Darkness" and "Farewell". RECOMMENDED BUY.
Miseria Visage/Offering/III Rooks Records/2012 Single Review
Miseria Visge are a band from The United Kingdom that plays a very symphonic form of black metal and this is a review of their 2012 single "Offering" which was released by III Rooks Records.
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a good amount of blast beats being thrown into the song, while the synths bring a very dark, atmospheric and symphonic sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very strong and powerful sound with heavy riffing t hat dominates throughout the song.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs that utilize a good amount of melody in the riffing, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads with a traditional metal feeling to them.
Vocals are all high pitched black metal screams. while the lyrics cover occult themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound where you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on t he song.
In my opinion Miseria Visage are a very great sounding symphonic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should c heck out this single. RECOMMENDED.
Cernunnos/The Beast/2003 EP Review
Cerrunnos are a band from Georgia that plays a very symphonic form of black/pagan metal and this is a review of their self released 3003 ep "The Beast".
Drums range from slow, to mid paced drumming with not much in the way of fast playing or blast beats, while the keyboards bring a very epic, atmospheric and symphonic sound to the music as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing t hat is coming out of the guitars.
Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced mainstream style black metal riffs with a good amount of melody being thrown into the riffing, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads.
Vocals range from high pitched black metal screams to clean singing as well as a brief use of deep death metal growls, while the lyrics cover Celtic Paganism, as for the production it has a very dark sound that is more underground sounding than most symphonic black metal bands with some of t he songs being long and epic in length.
In my opinion Cerrunnos are a very great sounding symphonic black/pagan metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Perpetual Avalon" and "Battle Hymn Of The Motherland". RECOMMENDED BUY.
Frosthelm//The Northwinds Rend Flesh/2012 EP Review
Frosthelm are a band from North Dakota that plays a mixture of melodic black and thrash metal and this is a review of their self released 2012 ep "The Northwinds Rend Flesh".
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being utilized at times, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful tone with heavy riffing that dominates throughout the recording.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine melodic black metal with thrash metal as well as a brief use of clean playing, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads that have a traditional metal feeling to them,.
Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal growls with some deep death metal growls being utilized at times, while the lyrics cover darkness, nature and corruption themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound for being a self released recording and you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.
In my opinion Frosthelm are a very great sounding hybrid of melodic black metal and thrash and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Damage Over Time" and "The Northwinds Rend Flesh". RECOMMENDED BUY.
www.facebook.com/frosthelmband
www.reverbnation.com/frosthelm
Grai/O Zemle Rodnoy (About Our Native Land)/Vic Records/2012 CD Review
Grai are a band from Russia that plays an atmospheric form of folk metal and this is a review of their 2012 album "O Zemle Rodnoy (About Our Native Land)" which was released by Vic Records.
Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with no fast playing or blast beats, while the flutes and other folk instruments bring a very medieval and pagan sound to the music, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them.
Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced folk metal riffs that utilize some influences from melodic pagan and black metal, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads, as for the acoustic guitars they use full chords to bring a folk music sound to the music.
Vocals are all clean singing female pagan/folk metal vocals with a brief use of deep growls and harsh screams being utilized at times, while the lyrics are written in Russian and cover Slavic Folklore and Paganism, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.
In my opinion Grai are a very great sounding epic folk metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Psen O Zemle Rodnoy" "Leshak" "Uchody dalyoko, gore" and "Vstavy s koleni!". RECOMMENDED BUY.
Sloth Herder/8.13.12 Room Recordings/2012 EP Review
This is another review of an ep from Sloth Herder called "8.13.12 Room Recordings.
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being thrown into the music at times adding more grindcore influences, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast blackened grindcore riffs that utilize some sludge influences and there are no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.
Vocals are all high pitched screams, while the lyrics cover hateful and everyday themes, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and primitive sound to it.
In my opinion this is another great recording from Sloth Herder. RECOMMENDED
Sloth Herder/Sluggard/2012 EP Review
Sloth Herder are a band from Maryland that plays a blackened form of sludge mixed with grindcore and this is a review of their self released 2012 ep "Sluggard".
Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with little to no blast beats being present on this recording, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them.
Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine black metal, sludge, and grindcore together to create a sound of their own and there are no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.
Vocals are all high pitched screams that combine black metal, grind and sludge together, while the lyrics cover hateful and everyday themes, as for the production it has a very dark, heavy, raw and primitive sound to it.
In my opinion Sloth Herder are a very great sounding hybrid of black metal, sludge and grindcore and if you are a f an of this musical genre, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Blown" and "WB". RECOMMENDED BUY.
Band Camp: http://slothherdermd.bandcamp.com/album/sluggard-ep
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sloth-Herder/191788187515489
StereoKiller: http://www.slothherder.stereokiller.com/
Lastfm: http://www.last.fm/music/Sloth+Herder
Blogspot: http://slothherdermd.blogspot.com/
E-mail: abandonpopsensibility@gmail.com
Kalter/Spiritual Angel/Maple Metal Records/2012 CD Re-IssueReview
Kalter are a band from Quebec City, Canada that plays a very symphonic form of melodic black/death metal and this is a review of their 2010 album "Spiritual Angel" which was released by Maple Metal Records in 2012.
Drums range from slow to mid paced playing with not much in the way of fast drumming or blast beats, while the keyboards have a very atmospheric and symphonic sound to them with some progressive rock elements, as for the bass playing it has a very strong and powerful sound with heavy riffing that dominates throughout the recording.
Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced riffs that combine melodic black metal, death and traditional metal together to create a sound of their own, while the lead guitars are very melodic and progressive sounding metal guitar solos and leads, as for the acoustic guitars when they are utilized they use finger picking and full chords to add another dark dimension to the music.
Vocals range from high pitched screams, deep growls and clean singing male and female vocals, while the lyrics cover dark themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound where you can hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording.
In my opinion Kalter are a very great sounding symphonic melodic black/death metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Darker By The Day" "From Now To Eternity" and "Spiritual Angel". RECOMMENDED BUY.
Ensiferum Interview
...answered by Sami:
We are currently on European tour and there are lots of gigs planned for this and next year. But we also plan to start working with new songs later this autumn.
2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous recordings?
I think Unsung Heroes is very natural step ahead from From Afar -album. We learned a lot from previous studio session and we were much wiser with arrangements on Unsung Heroes. We also wanted to push our boundries on the two key elements of our music: folk and metal.
3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?
All the lyrics are inspired by real life but of course I used a lots of time to find metaphoras that fit Ensiferum's medieval/fantasy -theme. But I rather not explain my lyrics too much because I want every listener to find their own meaning for those.
Markus found the word Ensiferum from latin-finnish -dictionary when he was like 15 years old and he thought it would be perfect name for his new band. He was right.
Impossible to name just few shows over others because we have played hundreds of gret shows around the world. We love to play live and we are pretty energetic on stage but we also get a lot of extra boost from our fans who tend to be really crazy no matter where we go.
6. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
We are currently on European tour and there are lots of plans to tour around the world even in some countries we havent ever played before.
7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer album by fans of pagan and folk metal?
So far the feedback and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Of course it's impossible to please everyone but that's not even our goal. We compose to ourselves and if something sounds good to us, then we record it.
Who knows. We want to evolve and try all kind of new stuff. There is no point keep repeating yourself album after album so the next album will be again another step ahead.
9. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
It's impossible to name influences but of course many things affect how your new songs turn out. Most of the time when I'm home I'm just enjoying the silence but if someone recommends me some band I will always check them out.
10. How would you describe your views on Paganism?
As a band we don't have any political or religious agenda and I think we all have quite different views to the world. I really don't care in what people believe or don't believe as long they don't expect other people to live by their faith or harm others. Paganism in general would be too vast topic to be answered shortly.
I read a lot and few years ago I started to do astenga yoga to keep up in shape. I really like it because it's hard exercise and gets your thuoghts away from everyday problems.
12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview
Check out Unsung Heroes and see you on tour! Folk on!
Satya Sena Interview
JASON: "We're a bass-guitar and drum metal duo that touches on thrash metal, grindcore, death metal, and doom/stoner metal. We share a passion for stamping out apathy, we share a sense of personal responsibility to speak truth to illegitimate authority, and we share a common faith in the positive power of nonviolence. People talk about changing the world, but changing yourself is the true seed of revolution. We support each other in those efforts, and work to spread the word of nonviolent revolution and personal refinement to others."
JASON: "It's definitely metal, riff based, but our influences are diverse so even though the music is loud and fast and heavy, harmonically and rhythmically we're stretching out a bit. Since it's a duo we both have a lot of air we can occupy without the music getting muddy. Some of our stuff is groove based, pretty straight forward. Other stuff is very complex: changing meters, fugue-like rhythmic interplay, but always with an epic, large-as-life intention (I don't like the phrase larger-than-life, nothing's larger than life). From the bass position, being the only harmonic and melodic element I sometimes think about a part in 2 or 3 voices to give the music some harmonic fullness. But we always strive for unity and groove no matter what. Music is physical first."
JASON: "Topics start either pretty general or very specific but always in the theaters of revolution and principled self refinement. The topic often ends up being the song title itself. END THE FED and VIGILANCE are good examples of that. Lyrically, with something like END THE FED, I work away from being too literal; the verses paint a mythology, or spirit, of banking cartels as systems with a conscience. RAIN was the first song we ever started working on and the intention of it became that of a prayer for water. POWERLUST lyrics are very personal for me; relationships, love, and heartbreak are no joke. There are revolutionary themes in songs like MUTINY, CULTURE SHAPER, or again END THE FED. Some themes touch on personal life refinement like in the song ESCAPIST. FIGHT OR FLIGHT follows a consciousness through birth, life, and the re-birth we call death. It's hard to talk about subject matter without getting into process. Writing lyrics is a sacred thing to me. It's where I can go to be alone without anyone else's rules or judgements. Sometimes I want the meaning to be clear, other times abstraction communicates the feeling best. Peijman and I agree on topics or themes, then I just reflect and write, working to make it as personal as I can. If I have to sing it again and again it better be something that sits deep in me, and it should be a little unnerving to expose. Otherwise I'm preaching or accusing or aping but never sharing; I'm interested in sharing. But everyone is free to have their own experience with the words."
PEIJMAN: "Satya is a term in sanskrit which in short means truth. But really it is referring to that truth which is eternal, and so beyond space and time. The philosophy is that truth refers to that which is, and everything that does not exist or is temporal is termed untruth or evil. Untruth only exists to the extent that we support it, so once we stop propping it up it will cease to exist and only truth will remain. Violence and fear are two prime example of untruth. Truth can been seen or related to as God. The most important aspect of Satya as far as my understanding is that we are all one. Sena means army in Hindi and the use of the word is inspired by the Shanti Sena. Shanti Sena were an army of peaceful soldiers dedicated to nonviolence."
JASON: "Some of my favorite shows were from our first tour this last July. Seattle at Highline where we played with Australian heavy masters Whitehorse, The Body, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, and Golgothan Sunrise. And Eugene, OR, on the same trip, where we played a house show for a birthday for our friend Robin from Rye Wolves. There was a colossal amount of energy in that room. Deadfest in Oakland this August was also great, saw a ton of bands in a very short amount of time.
We always face each other on stage, and sometimes set up on the floor in front of the stage. It feels good to break that barrier between performer and audience. When we're on stage we set up sideways facing in. When we're on the floor I face out from the stage and Peijman faces the stage. We like it best when people are all around us, up close sweating and screaming in our faces. As far as our stage performance…from where I stand it's about as powerful an experience as I've ever had, totally cathartic and energizing."
6. Can you tell us a little bit more about this brief tour that you have planned?
JASON: "We want to spread word as much as we can and build on what we accomplish, so this trip is a little longer than our first one, and covers a wider area. We're looking forward to seeing new faces and making new friends. We also use tour as a chance to engage people on social justice topics and to spread word of spiritual and social revolution. We conduct interviews, visit significant sites, and generally work to positively influence others toward taking deeper, healthier responsibility for their futures and lives. We also look forward to learning, always. This isn't about partying on the road. It's about laying ground work for the eventual and inevitable setting up of better systems of self governance. As I tell people: we don't need leaders, we need to be leaders.
7. Currently you are unsigned are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for the band?
JASON: "We are not looking for a label. We did do some initial shopping around of DIVERSITY OF TACTICS, VOL. I, INTROSPECTION and got some respectful and polite responses, and also no responses. Our friends at Vandals and Thieves Records are going to put out a cassette of DIVERSITY. Beyond that we'll self release digitally and on vinyl. But we are certainly open to consider any offers that present themselves."
8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of underground metal?
JASON: "Well, since we're a very new band, the worldwide response has been primarily from close friends or other bands we've communicated with concerning a possible European tour in 2013. Some folks in Australia via Whitehorse, people like ZenTwo who painted the image that's on our album cover. Those responses have been very enthusiastic and encouraging. We'll be bringing our message outside the US very soon."
JASON: "It's full time. But we make 2/3 of a trio called Electric Bardo with sarodist Ben Kunin. That group hasn't played in quite a while. We basically played North Indian classical music in an amplified rock context. There is a recording available online, engineered by our good friend The Norman Conquest. I'm a graduate of Mills College music department with an MA in composition and an MFA in performance and literature (which at Mills means free improvisation). And I'm a bassist…next to drummers probably the most in-demand musicians around. So I spent quite a few years saying yes to everything and playing in as many projects as I could manage. Now I focus primarily on Satya Sena, but I also play with Jack O' The Clock, which is a near 180 degrees away from Satya Sena, except for technical complexity and emphasis on songwriting. I also take improvisation gigs from time to time and I compose music for modern dance choreographers. I need diversity, but Satya Sena is definitely leading full time, no question. It has to in order to be what it is."
10. What direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?
JASON: "We have about 14 or so songs completed. The DIVERSITY OF TACTICS series material will come from this body of work so much is already decided, for a little while. As for future direction, who knows? I think as long as we continue to push ourselves personally we'll push ourselves musically, and it will always be heavy, it will always groove, it will always challenge. Music is a field. What ever is thought of is fair game, it just comes down to intention. It may be slower or faster or more dense or less, but it will always be Satya Sena. I look forward to discovering what the future sounds like as much as anyone."
JASON: "We're obviously influenced primarily by metal. In that sense, my musical foundations start with the thrash metal movement (Metallica, Slayer et al), death metal (Death, Obituary), but here's the can of worms! I have to cap it. So many bands. Stylistically, I'll listen to anything. I read through Bach cello suites to keep my chops up, or improvise along with whatever comes on my Ali Akbar Khan station on Pandora. But the primary influences on me are always the musicians I play with. Peijman, my bandmates in Jack O' The Clock, The Atomic Bomb Audition, powerdove, Ben Kunin, all these people have shaped my playing. Teachers like Fred Frith, Roscoe Mitchell, Joelle Léandre, a single meeting with Muhal Richard Abrams, these people broke me open. A dear friend of mine from Germany, pianist Johanna Borchert, had a huge impact on me. Bay Area bands Dimesland, Wild Hunt, Shock Diamond, The Girlfriend Experience, Minot, Crypt Keeper, Jackal Fleece, on and on it goes. Other Bay Area favorites of mine are Zeina Nasr and Stefan Smith in Fezant, Chuck Johnson, Omid Zoufonoun, Jordan Glenn's Wiener Kids, Ryan Tallman (Fights Monsters), Dominique Leone, Ava Mendoza, Karl Evangelista, Stratic, Ellen Fullman, Phillip Greenlief's PG13…influence is everywhere."
JASON: "Reading. Writing, poetry and otherwise. I like to paint, though I don't get to it very often. I love sitting quietly outdoors and just letting my mind daydream. I've always preferred that to almost any other activity. I like to hike into the wilderness and stay for days at a time. I like community and conversation, so when we can have friends over for dinner that's a real treat. I also have an obsession with stones, rocks. If I get the right feel from one, or if someone special to me gives me one, I have to bring it home with me, so there are rocks of various sizes laying around the apartment.
JASON: "Thank you for giving us a chance to speak. There is a lot to discuss these days, and even more to do. Everyone should stop paying the federal income tax immediately and instead donate those funds to any number of social institutions that should be getting it to begin with; schools, libraries, health centers. The government gave away its power to coin money to a private bank and the citizenry gets stuck paying the interest. That's what federal income tax is, paying the interest on fiat money that's worthless. People continue to pay it because they don't want to suffer the consequences of the IRS. But what's a fine or even a jail sentence next to standing up for Truth and higher principles? Dust. Less than dust. Consequences are there no matter what. Obama talks about the audacity of hope? Forget hope. Have the audacity of action. Have the audacity to refuse participation in systems and practices that are intended to make very few wealthy and very many struggle. Take your life back. Who gave private bankers the right to control resources and the economy? No one. They took it. Take it back. Nonviolently. It's the easiest thing in the world to do to just stop. Turn your energies away from violence and force toward constructive, healthy institutions. They can't jail us all."
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