Iron Bonehead Reviews done by Patrick posted on 12-31-17 {coming in early 2018}

 

 

 

Malakhim--Demo 1 Mcd,Mlp {Iron Bonehead  Rec.}

Iron Bonehead  Rec will be releasing Sweden's Malakhim in early 2018.Demo1 is three  tracks of  cold,brutal Swedish black metal with some death metal influences mixed into the songs.The guitars are played at a fast pace with some extremely well written and performed  patterns.The guitars are played with some  mid paced guitar sections and even mix in some well played solo's.The drumming is  done with both alot of skill and writing ability and powerful drum beats that  range from an all out assault of blast beats to a more calmer heavier mid paced drum style.The vocals are grim,raw screams and some deeper death metal growls used in a few of the  songs.If you  are looking to  start out 2018 with some intense  black metal  then be sure to pick up Malakhim's debut when it is  released.

                                                                    Label  Contact

                                                                http://www.ironbonehead.de/

                                                 https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/

Vhorthax--Mother  Darkness Mlp,Mcd {Iron  Bonehead Rec}

 Vhorthax  are a new band coming out out of  Russia's black death metal scene.Mother  Darkness is the debut release featuring 4 songs of barbaric and primitive metal that showcase both raw black metal and some crushing heavy death metal influences.The drumming is  chaotic blast beats and some more controlled and slower drum parts mixed into the music.The vocals are a mix of low,heavy death metal growls  and raw blackend  screams both  vocal styles fit  Vhorthax's music perfectly.If you  are a fan of primitive blackend death metal  then do not miss the debut release of  Vhorthax which will be released in  early 2018.

                                                                  Label  Contact

                                                http://www.ironbonehead.de/

                                                  https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/

 

Vhorthax interview done by Patrick posted on 12-30-17

Interview with Vhorthax done by Patrick


1. Hails at what age did you first discover metal music and who were the first bands you listened to?


It all began in the 80’s with a bunch of tapes my classmate had given me to check out. His stepfather would sometimes get metal vinyl records from somewhere (they were rare and very, very expensive in Russia back then) and my friend would dub them on tape and thus initiate me. Those were Accept - Restless & Wild, Exumer - Possessed by Fire, Running Wild - Gates to Purgatory, Branded & Exiled, Whiplash - Power & Pain, Gravestone - Creating A Monster, Warlock - Burning The Witches, Piledriver - Stay Ugly, Onslaught - Power From Hell, Razor - Malicious Intent, Judas Priest - Defenders Of Faith… There was so much great music. I was about 10 years old, innocent and receptive. But the innocence wouldn’t last long…



2. When did you first get the idea to start this band? And how did you all choose Vhorthax as the name of the band does it have a special meaning?


The idea to create Vhorthax entered my mind in 2016. I materialized this band to be able to ultimately express my own vision of what primitive, dark & suffocating black/death metal should sound like. M.P. and Nicholas-N.A.-I.I. from Abyssfire were willing to help me realize this vision. But Vhorthax is not a solo project but a full-functioning band. All three of us unchain our individual vortices of negativity to create a new darksome musical whole. As for the band name, Vhorthax is a kind of posthumous swirl that draws the dead souls to the other side. This word sounds as if uttered by the deceased awed by the greatness of the beheld vortex. It sounds archaic & deformed, just like this band’s music.


3. Who would you say are Vhorthax's biggest influences?

Darkness, the Devil and blasphemous METAL of old.

4.Nether Darkness is the bands debut EP. which is being released through Iron Bonehead Rec. in early January how did you all come in contact with the legendary Iron Bonehead Rec.?

I got to know Patrick of Iron Bonehead thru social media. He appeared to be a great person to speak about the underground scene, both old and new. He possesses a truly encyclopedic knowledge on the subject. So I now often ask Patrick for an advice on what old underground demo bands I ought to check out. The Past keeps many forgotten treasures.


5.How long did it take to write the music for the songs on the debut? Does the whole band take part in the writing process or does one member usually write everything?


The songs are evoked by our unholy trinity in our own underground bunker. Every entity of the trinity is contributing to the (un)creation of our worlds. There’s a certain degree of dictatorship on my part, I admit, but we generally share the same aesthetic so there are no conflicts as to what it all should sound, look or feel like. The lyrics are my sole responsibility.

6.What are some topics written about on Nether Darkness ? Which usually comes first the music or the lyrics?

I’ve always advocated the inseparability of the musical and the lyrical within the overall atmosphere of a song. So during rehearsals we develop a general idea, a feel of the song, we spew forth some words that fit the mood of a song. And then we gradually work our ways around all this. Lyrically Vhorthax is darkness, rituals, Death, the Devil. We seek to open a temporary gateway before the listener to travel into the darker past while our record is spinning. A sonic necromancy.


7.Does Vhorthax play live very often or do you prefer to work in the studio? Who are some bands Vhorthax has shared the stage with?


We are equally comfortable playing unseen in our bunker or exposed in a live setting, provided that we don’t have to run around trying to urgently find the needed gear which for some reason hadn’t been supplied by a venue, haha. Since members of Vhorthax also play in Abyssfire, I’ll mention the acts in both of these bands shared the stage with: Cult of Fire, Orthanc, Varhhorn, Blackdeath, Veter Demonaz, Pestilentia, Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Medico Peste, VTTA, Blackwinged...


8.Are their any shows or small tours coming up in 2018 in support of the debut?If yes where will the band be playing?

We don’t seem to have any clear-cut plans at this time.


9.Vhorthax comes out of Russia's blackend death metal scene what is your opinion of Russia's metal scene?

I don’t follow the local scene that closely. But since we personally know its many members plus I provide my Nether Temple Design artwork to some of the local bands, I’m pretty often privileged to check out the new releases first hand. Some excellent bands I’d recommend checking out: Veter Demonaz, Grey Heaven Fall, Evilwinged, Solis Sanguis, Old Chapel, Nezhivoi, Misanthropic Art, Ulvdalir, Pyre, VTTA, Chaosbringer, The Initiation, Blackdeath, Nuclear Cthulhu, Storming Darkness, Blackwinged, Wombripper, Plamen', Tanator, Black Flux, Grond, Ill Omened, Pseudogod...


10.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of Russia? Are their any new bands you feel the readers should check out soon?


Well, I have just answered the first part of your question. As for the newer bands I suggest the readers pay their attention to the upcoming full-length by the act called Nezhivoi.


11.Besides bands are their any honest and reliable distro's and labels you could recomend to the readers?


Iron Bonehead productions, Von Frost records (true tape worship!), Blood Harvest records, Lavadome productions, I, Voidhanger records, Godz Ov War productions, Larval Productions... Alas, the great Vault Of Dried Bones has recently shut its bony gates, but at least I hope Peter would deliver the goods with his band Azothyst!



12.Has the band started working on new music for the next release will it be a full length or a EP.?


In 2018 we’re planning to start writing new songs for a new full-length.



13.Besides working in Vhorthax do you or any of the members currently play in any other bands or solo projects?

As I’ve said earlier, all members of Vhortax including myself are involved in ABYSSFIRE. I also handle the vocal & lyrical matters in SICKRITES and SERPENTRANCE.



14.Thank you for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?

Worship HIM!

                                                    Band  Contact
                                                  https://www.facebook.com/vhorthaxdarkness/
                                                     Label   Contacts
                                                    http://www.ironbonehead.de/
                                                   https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/

Interview with Abhordium done by Patrick posted on 12-23-17

Interview  with  Abhordium  done  by  Patrick



1.Hails Arttu when did you first meet the other members of the band and was it long before you all formed Abhordium?


Hi! I've been friends with the founding members a long time, but actually I'm the only one left nowadays. It think it was back in 2004 when we started playing together. We had a few black metal projects going on with Sauli Heikkilä and Jon Inkinen, but after Riku Kaukonen joined to play the second guitar, we had the idea that it would be cool to play death metal also. Then soon after this Jon asked Jarkko Neuvonen to join us so Sauli could concentrate on vocals. This is how Abhordium was born. Kari has been my friend from 2003 but he joined the band in 2009. Markus is also a long time friend, he joined Abhordium in 2015. Henry has been in the band from 2012 and Tommi is the newest member, he joined this year.


2.Who would you say are Abhordium's biggest influences?



I've been listening to metal since I was 7 years old so it has been a part of my life for long, but I also listen to many other different music genres so it's kind of hard to say for my self, but it's clear to us that for making this kind of music the biggest influences come from black metal. Mostly the usual second wave bands like Marduk, Dissection, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, Emperor etc. As for the death metal bands like Morbid Angel, Nile, Vader, Behemoth has influenced us a lot throughout the years.



3.Omega Prayer is the bands second full length how long did it take the band to write the music for this release?


We started to write the material in 2012 and all the song were ready in 2014. There were many issues during the years which delayed the release, but we're glad it's finally out.



4.Who usually takes care of writing the lyrics for the band?What are some subjects written about on Omega Prayer?


Actually I have done most of the lyrics, but Kari has also made few lyrics for this album and the debut. Omega Prayer has views of depravity of man and our societies and religion and it proclaims apocalyptic visions upon man., but there's also a side of introspection and studying the depths of consciousness.



5.Omega Prayer is being self-released did you and the band plan on self-releasing the new release or would you like to find a label to work with?



We planned back in 2015 that if we don't find any label to release this we're going to release it by ourselves this year. We've received some offers from few labels but we noticed that it would be best to just release it by ourselves. Like we did with the debut album and the EP also, since we know the cost of pressing the album and other production concerning it. But we're currently looking for labels that would be interested in our new material and perhaps a vinyl press of the ”Omega Prayer” Good thing is that we've made a worldwide distribution deal for the Omega Prayer album with the UK's Plastic Head and promotion deal with Grand Sounds Promotions.



6.Besides Omega Prayer does the band have any copies of the debut still available for the readers to buy?Besides physical releases does the band have any other merchandise available for the readers if yes what is available and where can the readers buy it?



Yes we still have the debut for sale. Besides the physical releases we have t-shirts, hoodies and longsleeves for sale. All of these can be bought strait from us or from our bandcamp page. We're planning to make new hoodies and maybe t-shirts soon.


7.Does Abhordium play live very often or do you prefer to work in the studio?What have been some of your most memorable shows over the years?



Our latest gig was last spring so it has been some time but of course we would like to play as many gigs as we can. Looking forward to see what kind of effect this release has and we already have big plans for 2018. There's a couple of shows I'd like to mention. One from the european tour back in 2009 in Wien's Viper Room. It was a nice metal club. The performance went well and the food was nice also. Unfortunately we did not have more time to walk around in Wien. Another show from the tour comes to mind. It was in Rotterdam's Baroeg Club which was a nice place. The crowd was receptive and I met a few interesting persons also and the show was during the day so we could sleep well 'till the next stop. There are also many shows here in Finland that has sticked to my mind in a good or bad way, but one particular show in our hometown Salo was a cool event. It was a metal event that my friend Ville arranged in Vuohensaari camping area. It was a nice thing, since many metalhead from Salo and the nearby towns came to have fun and watch the gigs.


8.Who are some bands you have shared the stage with?And are their any tours or shows planned for 2018 if yes where will the band be playing ?



Vuohivasara, Carnalation, Blastanus, Cumbeast, Devenial Verdict, Misanthropic Forest, Verge to name a few from Finland and Warpath (Ireland), Lividity (US), Requiem (Switzerland), Nordor (Greece) to name a few from the tour. We have booked few gigs for the next spring here in Finland and we are currently arranging more shows. We've also received some tour offers from foreign booking agencies, so we'll see what happens next year.


9.What does black metal mean to you?

I was 14 years old when I started actively listen to black metal and the philosophy, the ideology and mysticism behind it started to interest me. It has taught me a lot during the years and it became a lifestyle for me which represents freedom and individualism, a struggle against institutionalized religion, a channel to focus all the dark thoughts, a gateway to the depths of the mind and an exit from this mundane superficial world.



10.Arttu do you or any of the members currently work with any other bands or solo projects?


I've been a kind of session member in King Akira which is a melodic thrash/death metal metal band from Salo and I've recently helped Ragged Sound ry to play cover gigs. I also have black metal side-project, but it's progressing a bit slowly. Abhordium is of course my main band and it takes a lot of my time. Kari has been busy with his studio raja-audio and he has also a side project and they've just filmed a music video for that too. Markus has been recording with his main project Misanthropic Forest. Tommi is making new material for King Akira and also has been doing Abhordium's pre-production. Henry is the only one who doesn't have any other projects than Abhordium.




11.Abhordium comes out of Finland's black,death metal scene what are your thoughts on the Finnish black,death scene over the years?



I haven't actively followed the scene for a while, so I don't know all the new bands. Of course there's these old well-know bands that I like, but I've always been more into foreign black/death metal.


12.Who are your all-time favorite bands coming out of Finland and are their any new bands you feel the readers should watch out for?



Well if I have to name a few I would say Behexen, Deathchain, Demigod, Sacrilegious Impalement are the bands that I've listened a long time. From newer bands I would like to mention Desolate Shrine, their album The Heart Of The Netherworld was so oppressively dark album and I liked their latest one also. Would like to see them live someday.

13.Besides bands are their any labels or distro's you could recommend to the readers?



We'll I usually try to buy the music and merchandise straight from the bands, and I rarely order anything from foreign or finnish distro's. So I can't say much about them.



14.Thank you Arttu for taking the time to fill this interview out do you have any final words for the readers?



My pleasure. I've nothing else to say that remember to support metal and this scene to keep the flame burning!


                                                            Band  Contacts
                                                          http://abhordium.com/
                                                        https://abhordium.bandcamp.com/
                                                        https://www.facebook.com/Abhordium

Interview with Grimtone done by Patrick posted on 12-9-17

Interview with Grimtone  done by  Patrick 

1.Hails please introduce yourself to  the  readers and when did you first  start listening to  black metal?

Hails and thank you for your interest in Grimtone. 
My name is Michael and I play all the instruments in Grimtone. 
I discovered black metal in the mid 90's.


2.Who  were some of the  first  bands you  listened to and who  are  some of your  current  favorites?

The bands that got me into black metal were bands like Darkthrone, Emperor, Enslaved, Mayhem. The classic norwegian scene. I still listen to these bands but a lot of other bands as well; Aenaon, Corpus christii, Ultha, Void Omnia, Leviathan, A forest of stars, Furia etc etc.. The list is endless. Lately I've been going back to the very beginning of black metal, listening a lot to Venom, Bathory and Celtic frost. 

3.Grimtone  was formed in 2016 when did you  get the idea to  start this  band? And how  did you  choose  Grimtone  as the band's name?

 I had played various forms of metal in bands for years, but never black metal, so it was simply time for me to create black metal. This music is the music that is closest to my true being, the true me. The name comes from an old Second World War radio station a few miles from where I live. It's called Grimeton (notice the "E" in the middle). I thought that sounded right for a metal band and changed it from Grime to Grim, since I want our approach to our music to be grim. 


4.What is  the  current line up of  the band?And  who  would you  say  are  Grimtone's  biggest influences?

 We are two in this band. I create all the music and Linus writes the lyrics and sings.
 Biggest influences are hard to answer since I listen to a lot of different kinds of black. I also listen a lot to classical music. Not sure if you can hear it in our music though. 
 Nature, the forest is a very big influence when I create. 


5.Memento  Mori is  the debut release  which will be  released very soon how long did it take the  band to  write the music for the debut release?

 The embryo to what would become Memento mori dates back to the fall of 2015, however the real writing process began early 2016. The album was complete a about a year later, spring this year 2017. The EP was released this summer. 


6.Who usually  takes  care of writing the lyrics and what  are  some subjects you all wrote about  on Memento  Mori?

 On this album a good friend - Alex wrote lyrics for two of the songs and Linus wrote the rest. 
Both of them write about death. The transitionfrom life to death, The Great Unknown. 


7.Besides  the debut  cd  does the band have  any other  merchandise  available or coming soon? If  yes where  can the  readers  buy  it?

 We have no merch at all so far, but we hope to have t-shirts in the near future. 


8.What  does  black  metal  mean to you?

 Black metal means a state of mind. Black metal transports me beyond this life. Black metal is being part of something larger than life. Being part of the Great Unknown. 
Black metal isn't only a certain way of playing an instrument, it's more than the sum of it musical details. Certain harmonies are considered black metal, but that's not enough; elements beyond the music must be present. 


9. Grimtone comes out of  the Swedish  black metal  scene  what  is your  opinion  of the  Swedish black metal scene over the last 20-25 years?

 Sweden has a large and very vibrant black metal scene. Death metal has always been bigger in Sweden, but we are known for having a very solid black metal scene as well. 
Where would modern black metal be without Bathory? 
To have some of the biggest names in black come from Sweden says a lot about the evolution of black metal in this country: Dark funeral, Marduk, Watain to name a few. 


10.Who  are  your  all-time  favorite  Swedish  bands?And  are  there  any new  bands you  feel  the  readers  should  check  soon?

 Top three would have to be: Bathory, Dissection and Dawn. 
When it comes to slightly newer bands I really like Skogen, Craft and Armagedda. 



11.Besides  bands  bands  are  there any  good and reliable    labels or distro's  you  could recommend to  the  readers?

 There are many, but to name one I'd have to say Vendetta Records. They release some of the best black metal in the world. 


12.When  not  working on new music or  band  business   what  do you  like to  do in your  free  time?

 Most of my free time is devoted to music. I play in several other bands as well. I like to read though; fantasy/horror/sf mostly. 


13.Thank  you  for  taking  the  time to  fill  this  interview  out  do you  have  any  final  words  for the   readers?

 Thank you for showing an interest in Grimtone. We hope you enjoy our music and feel the presence of the Great Unknown in it. 

                                                        Band   Contacts

                                                   https://grimtone.bandcamp.com/releases

                                                 https://www.facebook.com/Grimtoneofficial/

Reviews posted on 12-3-17 done by Patrick

Abhordium--Omega  Prayer  cd {Self-Released}

This is how blackend death metal  should  be  played vicious and uncomprimising .The drumming is done mainly  in the hyperspeed blasting drums but do slow to a calmer more mid paced  pace before going back to the aggressive hyperspeed  pace.The vocalist does a good mix of raw black metal screams and some deeper death  growls.Guitars are played with alot of skill and intensity that are played in the fast and ferocious patterns.If you  are looking for a brutal blackend death metal band then be sure to check out  Abhordium  today.

                                                             Band  Contact

                                                         http://abhordium.com/

                                                https://abhordium.bandcamp.com/

Grimtone--Memento  Mori  cd {Rock  Shots Rec.}

Coming out of  the legendary Sweden's black metal is Grimtone.The music  is defintly  rooted  in the early Swedish and Norwegian black metal bands.The  vocals  are grim,raw black metal screams.The guitars  are played with extremely fast guitar patterns.If you enjoy  well written and played Swedish and Norweigan  influences  then  be sure to pick up a copy  of Memento  Mori.

                                                                  Band  Contacts

                                                 https://www.facebook.com/Grimtoneofficial/