Dehuman/Graveyard Of Eden/Kaotoxin Records/2015 CD Review

  Dehuman  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Graveyard  of  Eden"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Kaotoxin  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  a  few  seconds  alter  blast  beats,  growls  and  screams  start  becoming  a  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  some  riffs  that  also  add  in  melodies  at  times  and  after  awhile  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  certain  sections  of  the   recording  and  the  music  also  has  a  more  brutal  approach  this  time  around.

  On  the  later  tracks  the  band  starts  mixing  their  more  extreme  and  darker  side  of  old  school  thrash  in  with  their  brutal  death  metal  sound  and  the  music  on  the  recording  has  a  very  up  to  date  feeling  along  with  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  heavy  musical  direction  and  the  last  song  also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Dehuman  plays  a  style  of  death  metal  on  this  recording  that  is  both  old  school  yet  brutal  at  the  same  time  and  also  mixes  in  a  touch  of  thrash  to  create  a  very  heavy  sounding  album,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dehuman  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crypts  of  Blood"  "Temple  Of  Lust  And  Fire"  and  "Goddess  of  Sins".  8  out  of  10.

  

Godless Angel/Harvester Of Shadows/Inverse Records/2015 Full Length Review

  Godless  Angel  are  a  1  man  band  from  Kansas  that  plays  a  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2015  album  "Harvester  of  Shadows"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Inverse  Records.

  Clean  playing  which  is  also  used  on  some  of  the  other  tracks  as  well  starts  off  the  album  along  with  giving  the  recording  a  very  dark  atmosphere  and  a  few  seconds  later  guitar  leads  which  can  also  be  very  melodic  at  times  become  a  huge  part  off  the  songs  along  with  a  great  amount  of  heavy  riffing  that  is  very  heavily  influenced  by  thrash  metal  and  also  incorporates  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  After  the  intro  the  music  starts  getting  a  lot  more  aggressive  and  also  adds  in  mid  80's  style  death  metal  growls  and  screams  that  are  also  easier  to  understand  a  lot  more  than  the  modern  bands  while  the  solos  really  start  demonstrating  a  great  amount  of  skill  and  talent  and  the  songs  also  use  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  being  utilized  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  elements  of  groove.

  Godless  Angel  plays  a  style  of  death  and  thrash  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  80's  and  early  90's  and  also  adds  in  a  good  amount  of  melody  and  darkness  into  his  musical  sound,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  and  also  makes  an  old  school  style  sound  more  modern  while  the  lyrics  cover  Horror,  Death  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Godless  Angel  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Contaminated  Breach  In  Sector  B"  "Suffering  the  Wrath  Of  the  Goddess"  and  "Disemboweling  The  Deranged".  8  out  of  10.    

Pulvis Et Umbra Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
Sure!! I (Damy) got a couple of endorsement with NY clothing brand EXPLORE APPAREL and UK strings manufacture company.
DOVETAIL STRINGS; I also design new t shirts which are currently still on sale together with the album.
I also got in touch with RAN GUITARS (polish company who endorsed artists like Cannibal Corpse, Annihilator, Vader, Obscura etc) and the company will release a PULVIS ET UMBRA crusher 6 artist model during the end of 2015.
From January 2015 the band engaged 3 session live musician after deal a yearly cooperation with booking agency FULL METAL SERVICE

2.In 2014 you had released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
First of all I have to say it was it was an interesting challenge for me due that I record all instruments / vocals; that was the main difference between the previous release. The album is a mix of songs which I cannot succeed to release during my early years with the band due to lack of musical knowledge while other part of songs was written during the last month of the band itself so I added them new idea/arrangements and wrote all lyrics. I would like to describe PULVIS ET UMBRA music as a kind of turning circle due that our first release was a half acoustic EP ; I’m already writing some material for a couple of new EPs and the second one will be surely acoustic as well ☺

3.The band has been around since 2001 but so far has only released 2 demo's and 2 full length's, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap between releases?
Those gap were all due to line up changes … it’s a situation that suck because You waste a lot amount of time finding people really interested in a project who rehears with together for let them learn song and this point of course bring You to stop live activity and songwriting . It’s also funny to see the huge difference of time spent between recording a full length as a band instead of a one man act (second choice will works better)

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Well, 90% of the lyrics talk about life experience, moods, feelings, personal point of view etc. Being also a fan of space mission I decide to dedicate a couple of lyrics (“Kosmonaut” -  taken from album Reaching The end - and “Lost Moon”) to those spacemen hehehe

5.I know that the band name is latin 'for dust and shadow' and was a quotation of the Roman Poet Horace, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?
You’re right, PULVIS ET UMBRA stays per DUST AND SHADOW; I can’t deny that it probably could fits better for a black metal or doom band but I liked it and I decided to keep it in latin due that in my opinion sounds cool than the english form… that’s all ☺

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
It’s a hard to fill a kind of list but I surely report the Slovakian mini tour in 2009, the show with BLOOD TSUNAMI in 2008, our performance at BERGAMO METAL FEST and our first gigs at two great Italian venues (THUNDER ROAD  /and JCAFE )
The main word before go on stage in “have fun and let people enjoy the gig” but at the same time no one must have to play drunk, I hate those things….

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Yes!! PULVIS ET UMBRA will play in Russia from march 6 up to march 14 supporting Uk band BLOODSHOT DAWN then we’ll open a couple of gigs for Swedish groove metallers CHUGGER in may (Switzerland + Germany) .

8.Currently the band is signed to Pavement Entertainment, how did you get in contact with this label and also how would you describe the support they have given you so far?
I sent an email plus press kit and audio links to different label ‘til Mark Nawara from PAVEMENT got in touch with me and we deal a digital distribution for the album . Actually the 90% of the press and review contact are still manage by myself

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death and thrash metal?
Well, I consider PULVIS ET UMBRA as still an underground band but it’s nice to check that people from US, Russian, Spain, Uk are discovering us and like our stuff; it’s the best reward that an artist could receive ☺

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I’m an open mind person but adding too much influences in extreme metal isn’t always the best choice; actually I’m writing new stuff mixing  crossover, polyrhythm and few black metal influences; it sound not bad even if arpeggio off course will be always a main element in my way of playing

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I start play guitar after listening to METALLICA “Metallica”; 80’s thrash metal, hard rock and both Scandinavian/American death schools  will be of course my main roots. Actually I listen to almost each type of genre, from trance to industrial, from celtic music up to movie soundtracks etc… I listen to everything I like ☺

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
Travelling, driving, reading books, movies, hang out at the pub with friends, conceptual works, sleeping, tattoo and mojito of course hahah

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Support us on FB at www.facebook.com/pulvisetumbraofficial and support TrueBringerOfDeath because metal blog/zine are actually better
than each famous webzine or magazine \m/ You rock.

Nervecell Interview

ALL ANSWERS BY JAMES KHAZAAL (Vocalist / Bassist).

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Ans:

A lot has been happening in the Nervecell camp;

Management signing (EMG), World Wide Multi Album record deal and signing (Unique Leader Records), Booking Agency signing (Tone Def USA), writing new material, and Touring.

Need to catch a breath haha… the band gladly has been busy none stop, we are confirming more shows and getting more deals on board which will be announced in due time.

2.So far you have released a demo, an ep and 2 full lengths, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

Ans:

Cutting this short and brief, the records have been a learning process for us. We developed and progressed maturely as a band throughout the years and the records are there to testify on this account.

Simply put, each single release can be viewed as a snapshot or a time frame the band went through while writing and recording the album. There will always be a “Nervecell Sound” yet the way its put and crafted might change in terms of song creation and composition. Keeping the thrash/death sound, external elements were always experimented like the addition of other musical instruments, percussions, even different musical moods.

3.Your last full length was released in 2011, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during the past 4 years?

Ans:

Due to great feedback and support from the genre the band was received internationally and nationally, Nervecell has been touring intensively. Territories ranging from Asia, Europe, UK, and the Middle East. We supported and toured with Metallica, Suffocation, Morbid Angel, and Decapitated to name a few.

Basically promoting the album in every given opportunity possible while growing and solidifying our fan base and network world-wide. I would also like to add that the writing process for a new album has already started and the band is stoked.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Ans:

That’s a very good question, as I am handling the lyrical aspect of Nervecell. The band since in its early days have been all about humanitarian issues, more over we touch base on factors that not only effect us but all humanity in society. Its clear we have always been going through hard times and when I say we I am talking about the whole world. Politics, Religion, and Wars do seem to be the cliché subjects spoken about in this genre. We don’t point fingers or focus completely on the above topics mentioned.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nervecell'?

Ans: It really is a mix of two words put together, it was Barney (guitarist) who came up with it, basically trying to capture the state of mind of having no escape and being isolated. So the word “cell” (like a prison cell) seemed appropriate to depict that feeling of being locked up and feeling helpless. The expression of someone getting on your nerves and frustrating you is something we have all been through and so the word “nerve” came about and hence the band name.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Ans:

Nervecell has and always will be a live band. Our shows are energetic and crazy where ever we go. Never the less the band is grateful to have shared and toured with bands on the road. We have made friends with fans, idols, musicians etc. all which we are thankful for.

Few highlights clearly emerge here like supporting METALLICA in our region, touring with bands like Suffocation, Deicide, Morbid Angel, and Decapitated, all are times spent that we will always cherish and remember.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Ans:

The band has already announced a couple of festival shows in Europe for this year and the list will increase. We also intend to hit Europe again with a couple of tours in 2015. Along with touring Asia and playing some shows here in the Middle East. Hopefully the band will be touring the United States soon to support the release of Psychogenocide.

8.On your last album you has Karl Sanders of Nile play guitar on one of your tracks, do you feel this has helped get the band name out there heard?

Ans:

Correction: Karl Sander of Nile was featured on Shunq as a “Guest Vocalist”.
I have always wanted to create something that is fresh and original, by contributing to the metal genre globally.

Featuring someone famous as my brother Karl Sanders was not for publicity purposes alone. We always grown up listening to Nile, and clearly the name and music Nile plays, is magically inspired by this area we come from. It was a perfect match and the right thing to do for this song. The track involves Arabic and English lyrics to add more intensity. The feedback has been insane especially performing this song live.


9.Unique Leader are re-issuing your 2011 album this year, can you tell us a little bit more about the deal?

Ans:

By getting on board with Unique Leader, the album will be able to reach new territories, new markets, and further grow our fan base. When they heard our music they loved it, and also decided that Psychogenocide be rereleased mainly because it will and is a new product to be distributed in the States. We decided that Unique Leader is the next big step in our career and we are so happy about it.

10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death and thrash metal?

Ans:

The feedback has been amazing since the release. Not only fans but also people involved in the creation of this music. From riffs, solos, to blast beats, we the band would not record something if we felt it was not something we like or believed in. Our gut feelings and respect to this music paid off with amazing response from everyone out there.

11.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Ans:

People should be expecting another release late 2015 or early 2016. This is the strategy we are following since we signed this new record deal.

The band will continue to experiment with instruments and percussions that represent this region. The new music will definitely be brutal, fast, groovy, and thrashy, with a lot of catchy riffs.

Lyrically, people should expect more Arabic in the songs, and since I have been personally running through tough times for reasons I kindly wish to disclose, the theme will be very dark, twisted and spiritually evil.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Ans:

Clearly styles ranging from Pantera and Testament to Deicide and Suffocation. It’s this music that we have always been proud of and grown up listening to.

Nowadays I have been listening to Decapitated’s new crushing album “Blood Mantra”, along with Misery Index.
I am also a huge fan of this new exploding band Havok the thrashers from “Denver” and I have to say this they give old school thrash metal a good name.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Ans:

I love reading and writing poetry. I enjoy all sorts of sports especially MMA and Rugby. And to add a bit of personal glamour I love cooking.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Ans:
USA… I hope you enjoy the album, expect us to crash your stages very soon and see you all brothers and sisters in the pit. Hails and bless you all.
Thank you Bringer of Death, good job and stay brutal.

Cauldron Of Hate Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?

-We are a Finnish death metal group. Our homebase is at Espoo, although none of us live there.
We play brutal and technical death metal.
   
2.So far you have released 2 ep's, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings?

-Very fast, raw, dark, brutal and chaotic.


3.The band has been around since 2008 but waited 5 years to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the delay?

-The band was founded in 2008 under the name of Mictian. A former guitarist suggested a name change to Cauldron of Hate in 2011.
The formation changed in 2012 with a new drummer and one new guitarist. We found our sound in 2013 and headed straight to studio.


    4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

-We have some bits of finnish folklore "Kalevala" and the basic ingredients of death metal lyrics like slaughtering masses, blasphemy etc.
   
 5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Cauldron of Hate'?

-Although Cannibal Corpse has a song called "A cauldron of hate", our name has nothing to do with it. We just like to concentrate our hate to simple kitchen utensils.
   
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

-We had one gig ("Kuritushuone[=Torturechamber]XXIV")in a metal/rock bar in Helsinki called "PRKL". We aso performed with NOXA from indonesia
in a small underground gig ("miniTUSKA"). At the stage our performance is rugged and in your face with a HAMMMER!
   

 7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

-Of course.


8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of death metal?

-We have a steady fanbase in Australia (1 person) and nobody has had the guts to tell us we suck.


9.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

-Truthfully speaking in early 2016 or later because we're broke. No money. Nada. We're going to add a little bit of technicalities, a lot of brutality and going deeper into inferno of madness.
 

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

-Nile, Krisiun, Death, Slayer, Metallica, Morbid Angel, Behemoth, mostly american death metal anyway. Also classical music and a bit of progressive metal.
 
11.What are some of your non musical interests?

-Drinking and fucking around.
   
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

-Keep it brutal, support your local metal scene and remember to remember. If you don't, you might forget.

   

Apocrophex/Suspended From The Cosmic Altaar/Manicidic Records/2015 CD Review

  Apocrophex  are  a  band  from  New  jersey  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  technical  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Suspended  From  the  Cosmic  Altaar"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Manisidic  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  technical  death  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  blast  beats  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  also  bring  in  a  good  balance  between  growls,  shouts  and  screams  along  with  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodic  riffing  can  be  heard  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  bringing  in  more  of  a  technical  and  melodic  sound  to  the  bands  musical  style  and  at  times  the  music  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  brutality  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  decent  mixture  of  old  school  and  modern  death  metal  influence s which  they  combine  together  on  this  album.

  Apocrophex  creates  another  death  metal  album  that  is  very  brutal  and  technical  sounding  while  also  displaying  a  great  amount  of  talent  and  skill  as  musicians,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  unknown,  cryptic,  occult  and  hidden  topics.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apocrophex  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  technical  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Evidence  of  A  Desolate  Planet"  "Suspended  From  The  Cosmic  Altaar"  "The  Nine  Patterns  Of  Annu"  and  "Exposed  organics".  8  out  of  10.  

Cauldron Of Hate/Emperor/Inverse Records/2015 EP Review

  Cauldron  Of  Hate  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  dark  and  heavy  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  ep  "Emperor"  which  was  released  by  Inverse  Records.

  Horror  movie  samples  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavy,  dark  and  brutal  death  metal  direction  along  with  some  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  which  leads  up  to  growling  vocals  making  their  presence  known  on  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  good  portion  of  the  music  is  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  style  of  death  metal  and  you  can  also  hear  some  melody  in  the  bands  musical  style  at  times  and  the  solos  and  leads  they  use  also b ring  in  even  more  of  an  aggressive  and  chaotic  style  of  death  metal  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  on  the  last  track  a  small  amount  of  synths  are  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sound  and  make  the  music  a  lot  more  epic.

  Cauldron  Of  Hate  plays  a  style  of  death  metal  that  is  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sounding  and  there  is  never  a  soft  or  weak  moment  to  be  heard  anywhere  on  the  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  violent  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cauldron  Of  Hate  are  a  very  great  sounding  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Slaughterfest"  and  "Empire  Of  Annihilation".  8  out  of  10.