Baptism- Grim Arts Of Melancholy

Killer black metal from Finland. For those looking for beauty, keyboards, etc, you clicked on the wrong link. Only raw Satanic war on this album.

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Upheaval- Testimony To The Atrocities

Thanks to Jamie Coyle for hooking me up with this one. This is a great death metal release with a very small dose of hardcore. Vegan SXE with slight Christian undertones, but we wont hold that against them.

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Cosmic Sea- 2011 Demo

Hailing from Oswego, NY, these guys play melodic death metal with a slight influence of hardcore bands like older Heaven Shall Burn or Year Of Our Lord. Altogether, this release reminds me alot of Arsis without the wankery found on their later albums. All in all a promising release , especiallyconsidering these guys are all underage! I cant wait to see what they progress into.

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Time Under Earth

This is the 3 song demo from my favorite new Syracuse band. Totally instrumental progressive metal that takes a basic foundation of Ved Buens Ende, Atheist and Enemy Of The Sun era Neurosis, and then build a fucking mountain out of it. Totally original stuff here. Highly recommended.

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Nokturnel- Nothing But Hatred

Despite the horrible album cover, this piece of history went under the radar as JL America Records went under. Amazing old school death/ thrash.

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Ghost- Elizabeth 7" picture disk

The first official (and out of print) 7" picture disk featuring earlier versions than the lp, but not the same versions as the demo.

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Ghost- 2010 demo

This is the 3 song demo that got these guys noticed by people like Fenriz (Darkthrone) and Erik from Watain. This has earlier versions of songs on the full length that sound much less polished.

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Narrows 7"

Narrows is a project featuring ex members of Botch and Unbroken. Musically it follows along where Botch left off, with a little more of a straight forward groove. This is a rare out of print 7" featuring 3 songs not found on the full length cd.

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Deeds Of Flesh- Path Of The Weakening

This is one of those unsung death metal classics, and in my opinion, Deeds Of Flesh's best release. Extremely technical, yet not over the top.

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Dawnbringer Interview

Chris Black is not human. I am convinced. The man must not require much time to eat or sleep. Between drumming for Pharoah, doing bass and vocals in Superchrist, producing Nachtmystium's albums and writing 95% of the lyrics, and my personal favorite of his projects, Dawnbringer. If you haven't checked out last years amazing Nucleus I would recommend doing so immediately.


Between Dawnbringer, Pharaoh, Superchrist, writing lyrics for
Nachtmystium and producing their records, when the hell do you find time
to sleep? Do you ever find it hard to separate some of the projects?

I sleep a lot, actually.  The older I get, the more I have to take
care of myself.  I can't get away with abusing my body the way I could
in my 20s.  And yeah, it is getting a bit harder to separate things
simply because I'm getting busier.  I recorded four albums in 2010 and
also did about 30 shows.  I have to be able to switch gears quickly.
Being focused on my longer term goals helps keep my energy high.  Also,
regardless of the project, I am always part of a team, and I know
everyone else will be ready to rock.  So that also motivates me to be
prepared.  Pacing myself, that's the short answer.  I pace myself.

Every album has sounded different, but each being a progression from
the last. But there has been an ongoing theme with that one acoustic
riff being worked into every LP since the "Sacrament" ep. What is the
significance behind this particular riff? Is there some sort of
emotional attachment? Is that the riff that brings the dawn?
Actually, you've guessed it.  I never thought of any connection to
the band name, but that riff, yeah, it literally came from a dream.
Ironically, though, it only varies on "In Sickness and In Dreams".  It's
got the same atmosphere, but it is a completely different part.  And on
the new album, we actually recorded it again.  Everywhere else, it's the
recording from "Sacrament" manipulated in different ways.

This time around, NWOBHM takes control of the record, and I mean that
in the best possible way. I hear hints of Angel Witch and a decent dose
of Helloween as well. If it werent for the perfect flow of the album and
the catchy as hell riffs, one would not even know they were listening to
the same band that crafted "In Sickness And In Dreams". Was this the
intention?

Not really.  I would say that there was a stronger direction for "In
Sickness.."  The new album was a "let the metal flow" approach by
comparison, haha!  I do love Angel Witch and Helloween, although I'm not
sure exactly where you're hearing the influences specifically.  They've
always been in play though.  The most Helloween-ish thing I've ever
written was originally for Dawnbringer but ended up in the Pharaoh song
"Slaves".

There is also a band called Nightbringer, are they your mortal enemy
like Dayman vs. Nightman on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia?

Not familiar with the band or the show except by name.  Actually
that's not true.  I saw the show a few times and thought it was a
typically unfunny modern-day sitcom.

 
A few years back there was talk about doing a reissue of "Catharsis
Instinct" with a bonus WASP cover? Is this still going to happen, and
what WASP cover did you do? Also, are there any plans to release any of
your albums on vinyl on the near future? I feel the vinyl format would
be ideal to enhance the experence of these albums.

Not sure about vinyl.  There has been some interest, especially with
the new album, but I'm not sure it has been strong enough yet for
Profound Lore to pull the trigger.  The story with Catharsis Instinct is
this.  A few years ago, I got the rights back from the deadbeat label
that released it.  Battle Kommand wanted to reissue it, but I wanted to
actually remix it first, because I think it could be greatly and pretty
easily improved on.  So as I was puttering around with that idea, Battle
Kommand stopped operating, and it's been on the back burner ever since.
We did "The Headless Children", and it wasn't so hot, so it got left
off.  I'm not sure a remix would even help. (editor's note: the album has since been issued on vinyl through Profound Lore)

It has been fucking ages since there has been a live performance from
Dawnbringer, yet Superchrist and Pharaoh seem to do a fair share of
sporadic gigs. What inspired the decision to make this a studio project?

It was never practical for this to be a live band.  We tried, but
the songs were difficult, there were too many guitar parts, and we never
had the right people in the right places at the right times.  However,
the new album seems to lend itself better to a typical metal band on a
typical stage.  We are playing in Chicago in March, and if it goes well,
I will be open to further shows.  If not, that door will probably be
closed forever.

Between all your projects I don't imagine you have the time to work a
full time job, but I could be wrong. Do you find it difficult have metal
be your main source of income (which for me is a dream)? What are the
pros and cons to this lifestyle?
The only con is that there isn't much money left after expenses.  It
can also be awkward trying to explain my profession to people who don't
know anything about the business.  Everything else about it kicks ass.

You also run your own indie label, Planet Metal, what releases can we
expect under that banner in the near future?

Next is Quicksand Dream's "Aelin" album, which was recorded in 1999
but never came out, and then a reissue of the first Sauron album, with
some extra (and extra-violent) tracks.  2011 will bring a few surprises.

I need to repress Superchrist "South of Hell" at some point too.

The lyrics on "In Sickness..." told a tale broken up in 2 stories, do
the lyrics to the new album hold any similar significance?

There's a theme, yes.  It centers around not growing up.  How at the
centers of ourselves, we will always be a child.  So the songs are about
the consequences of living with that core: overindulging or ignoring the
vulnerabilities, anxieties, and uncertainties that it contains.  The
adult self and child self have only one reconciliation -- and that is to
submit to the fact that they CAN'T be reconciled.  They have to coexist
and give space to one another or disaster is inevitable.  The first half
of the album deals with adult emotions in a child's voice, and vice
versa, with glimpses of harmony throughout.  The tension rises to a
desperate boil in "All I See", and the final two tracks are pure
submission.

What are some new bands that our readers may not heard of that you
would recommend?

I have no idea.  I like songs that make me feel like I've suddenly
woken up in an abandoned city.  It's midnight, and I have until dawn to
achieve my goals.  Try the songs "Dancing in the Ruins" by BOC or "Light
Up the Night" by Protomen to know what I mean.  Even "Turbo Lover" gives
me that feeling.  Mid-period Tad Morose.  I really want to incorporate
some of the atmospheric elements of 80s rock in whatever I do next.  I
don't like Def Leppard, but I want to experiment with the production
techniques of an album like "Pyromania".  Next year I will find some
occasion to do so, whether with High Spirits, Dawnbringer, or perhaps a
solo album.  I really just need to write the songs and see where they
take me.  But I feel like I have lots of untapped influences from the
80s.
I've relied heavily on the 70s and 90s to this point.  So, to answer
your question, Zuul.

Im going to list off a few random songs from the Dawnbringer catalog
and I would like you to put a brief statement about what each one means
to you, or any personal experiences this particular song may instantly
bring to mind
Cosmos Disease- Very similar to "Dressed in White" by King Diamond, lots
of "The Headless Children" album by WASP, etc.  I love pretty much every
song with this basic feel and chord changes.  I've written a handful
like
this: "Eat the Evidence", "Dark New Life", and I guess you could include
"So Much For Sleep".

There And Back- Total breakthrough, and probably the best song on that
album.  Wish the ghostly vocal near the end was a bit louder though.

Blindman- The first song written for "Unbleed", originally meant to be
the first song on the album as well.  I remember scoring it on my
then-new PC in my parents' basement in the days before I left for
college.  The piano/acoustic outro was arranged on the spot during the
recording, and it's one of the fondest memories I have of that or any
recording session.
To me that passage is the musical embodiment of the album cover.

Pendulum- This song is a palindrome and represents the original concept
and title for the album that became "Nucleus".  The plan was for the
entire album to be a palindrome, but the songs, and it must be said,
time constraints, decided otherwise.  So this song is a miniature
version of the initial vision, and it's a bit of a compromise as such,
because some of the other musicians involved were disappointed when I
decided to abandon the palindrome form.

Shoot To Kill- Scott Hoffman plays some pretty nasty rhythm guitar on
this one, and it's also one of the first examples of more rock-based
structuring of the vocal patterns, particularly in the chorus.  I'm not
sure it works, but other aspects of the song do.  The drumming is pretty
interesting too.  The song "You Know Me" from the new album is
connected.

Attack Of The Spiders- An exaggerated version of a real dream I had,
with spiders dropping from the ceiling.  This is a good example of the
musical (and sometimes lyrical) playfulness in Dawnbringer.

Any last words or statements?

No, thanks, this was awesome.  Cheers.

Hemdale/ Exhumed- In The Name Of Gore

This is a lost classic, filthy fucking grind at it's absolute best. This is essential.

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Beyond Fall- 2001 Demo

This is the band that later became Ed Gein, and they were really great. Unfortunately, not many people outside of the Syracuse circle have heard this. So hear it is, the audio is a little airy due to the texhnology of DIY recording back then, but the songs are killer if you are at all into bands like Converge, 7 Angels 7 Plagues and Undying.

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SUMA interview

 Suma are the best doom band you have never heard. Hailing from Sweden the band has done 3 awesome full lengths, a handful of splits and demos and a collaboration EP with Unearthly Trance. I was lucky enough to book them on their tour with Unearthly Trance and spend the day with these guys and get to know them a little bit. A few months after the tour ended and they returned home, drummer Erik Persson took the time to answer a few questions for me, and the end result is here. If you haven't had the chance yet, check out their newest release Ashes. Anyone who enjoys bands such as Unearthly Trance, Khanate, Sunn O))) etc. needs to familiarize themselves with this band immediately.

The Syracuse gig went over really well, how did the rest of the American tour with Unearthly Trance go? Was this Suma's first time in the states? Was it what you expected it to be?

Yeah, this was the first time we toured the U.S. The tour was amazing in so many ways, and in some ways as we expected it, but there was definetly new things to experience and learn. We toured with many bands from the U.S in Europe and they always tell us that it is a lot harder to tour in the U.S. It is true.
The big difference is that at most venues, that we played at at least, it is a bit more of a hit and run thing. You show up, load in, play and then get fuck out of there because there is some other club taking over. We had a great time tough, and touring with Unearthly Trance was sweet! They knew people pretty much in every city we played in, so we always had places to sleep and chill out at. God times!

What sets Suma apart from other doom bands, is the drums are brought to the forefront in every sense of the word, even to the point of putting you in the front of the stage and Rick in back. When it comes to writing, does it usually start with a drumline and the rest of the guys filling in the rest?

No. Pretty much all our songs comes out of jamming, Usually Peter has a riff that we tune in to, and then it just takes of. The things that are really good we remember, repeat, until it gets a solid structure. This can sometimes take one rehearsal and other times months. The reason that the drums takes such a big place is because the other guys give me all the freedom I want to play. The soundscape that the bass and guitar creates is optimal to just hammer away on the drums. It is just how we roll.

Since the US tour, you have become a traveling yogi, which I imagine takes up countless amounts of your time. How do you find time to do this as well as play in Suma? Do you channel the same energy while playing and doing yoga?

Back in Sweden it is not hard to combine my yoga practice and playing with Suma. They go hand in hand, and playing music is very much a practice of yoga. Yoga has improved my drumming tremendously! I do bring the same intensity to my yoga practice, but it goes more the other way. I have so much better control of my body now, and I can play heavier, but more relaxed at the same time.
This year I am traveling the world, teaching and practicing yoga, so it is a bit hard to play the drums in Suma at the same time. It is just a short intermission. We celebrate ten years this year, and seven of those years we been touring. A lot of things have happened, some of us have kids now, family, and it was a good time to take a chill pill. We recorded a new song just before I left Sweden, and the first shows for 2012 are already booked, so fear not, we shall return!

First you guys did a split with Unearthly Trance, and then you did a collaboration 12". How did the collaboration come about, and how was it recorded? Were files sent back and forth via internet? Who wrote what first, etc.

It was something we had been talking about doing for a while, and we pulled it all together right before the U.S tour. We recorded a song, they did the same, and then we just sent the files and Ryan and Jovan laid the vocals. Then Jay mixed it and Ryan made the art work and that's about it. Ah, and then Throne released it!
 
On the self titled record, the sound could almost be considered Sleep/ Electric Wizard worship, with a little more drone. Were there any certain things in your life that made you the downtuned sludge machine that we hear on "Ashes"? Were there any records that made you say "this is what we need to fucking do!"?
At first when it just Pete, Johan and me playing it was more of long, heavy drone songs, in as similar manner as we do these days. We are just so much better at we do now.
On the self titled album we where playing with Martin who is a bad ass guitar player and drummer. That was the sound of Suma in that constellation.
As far as records there is of course many influences. For me as a drummer it was "Dirty" by Sonic Youth. I had never heard drums been played like that before, I think I never really listen to the drums before that album.
 
For you, what was the most amazing band you have seen live, and what made it that special for you?

Tuff one dude. OK, if I can only pick one it will have to be the Melvins. For me it is total orgasm when they play with two drummers. Mind blowing!
 

My wife is making me ask this next question after seeing that picture of you in the trunk, but can you reach far enough to orally pleasure yourself, because after seeing that picture she seems to think that it's quite possible.

Probably.

What lies in the future of Suma? What do you hope to accomplish long term with it?

We want to keep on doing what feels natural to us. That has always been the solid core of Suma. It is family, one for all, all for one. all I know is that tours are being planned for 2012, and we will take it from there.
 
Finally, if you could listen your 5 favorite classsic albums and 5 favorite newer albums for our readers?

Cosmic Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Houdini, Melvins
Dirty, Sonic Youth
Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath
Anything with Led Zeppelin

I'm horrible with being up to date, but here is some badns that I've seen live last couple of years that totally blew me away.
ASVA
Black Cobra
Unearthly Trance
Man Man
Melvins



Last words are yours man!

Thank you for spreading the word man!

Blut Aus Nord- What Once Was... Liber I

Released solely as a 12" LP with one 15 minute song on each side, this shows Blut Aus Nord showing some of their most progressive material. A genre defining release.

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Woods Of Desolation- Torn Beyond Reason

I can't say enough good things about this record. They manage to take grim and melancholy overtones, force them into your soul, but somehow give you a vision of a light at the end of the tunnel. As if there is some sort of hope after all. If you are into bands like Agalloch, old Katatonia, Kampfar, I recommend you click on the link below right fucking now.

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Phlegein- Ancient Battlegrounds

What the hell does their name mean? Why do they both look like Uncle Fester on PCP? These were questions that entered my mind upon viewing this album cover. However, I decided to give them a chance seeing as they were the first new band to be added to the Northern Heritage roster. I'm a big supporter of everything this label puts out, and this EP did not disappoint at all. In the vein of bands like Horna, Satanic Warmaster and Behexen. If you like your black metal played cold, and with conviction look no further.

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In Solitude- Self Titled

In Solitude are being hailed by many as the new Mercyful Fate, and while a pretty heavy influence is there, I wouldn't say that statement is 100% accurate. These guys hail from Sweden, and from what I understand most of them are old enough to have just graduated from high school. With that in mind, the old school references found within are quite impressive. Anyone into bands like Mercyful Fate, Venom, Celtic Frost, Angel Witch, etc. should definitely give this band a listen. It will be well worth your time.

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Peshmerga- Murderous Acts Of Cruelty

Peshmerga are from Chicago, and are my favorite new death metal band. Featuring ex members of Gorgasm, these guys give brutality a whole new meaning. Tight, and fast as fuck. Recommended if you are into bands like Deeds Of Flesh, Origin, or Houwitser.

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Exit 13- Don't Spare The Green Love

Exit 13 are a band that does not get the credibility they deserve these days. When I was in high school these guys were at the forefront of the underground grind scene. The recording is rough by today's standards, but anyone with an appreciation for old school grind will find something in this release. This features all of their material that was released prior to the amazing "Ethos Musick" LP. Recommended for fans of Brutal Truth, Extreme Noise Terror and Human Remains.

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Starkweather/ Overmars split

The first Starkweather song alone makes this split mandatory, it clocks in at around 14 minutes and may be one of the best songs (if not THE best song) they have ever written. Overmars is, meh, ok. You may like them more than I.


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Setherial- Treason 7"

To this day, Setherial remains one of Sweden's most under rated black metal bands. Having released multiple albums that have stood the test of time, such as "Nord", "Hell Eternal" and last year's "Ekpyrosis", they play what Dark Funeral only wish they had the conviction to pull off. This is their latest 7" and to my knowledge, this is the only format it is currently available in. Do yourself a favor if you haven't checked these guys out yet.

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Unearthly Trance- Live on WNYU

Right after Unearthly Trance put out the cult classic album "Electrocution", they did a short set in the FM studios of WNYU. The sound is killer and the setlist is great. Recommended for any fan of Unearthly Trance or doom in general. These guys will be sorely missed.


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Stabbed By Words

This is a very under rated record featuring members of Unbroken and Suicide Note. Musically, it's not far off from what Suicide Note was doing with their first couple of records. The vocals are along the lines of what Unbroken was doing on the infamous "Crushed On You" 7". Anyone who is into REAL hardcore (not horrible metalcore shit ala Whitechapel) should consider this album an essential.

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