Headshot Music Issue 2 Index Reviews: EBM/Industrial Page 4 : Acylum - Filthy Memories – Part 2 Page 5: Studio-X Vs. Simon Carter - Our Promise Mixed Genres Page 6: Eisenwolf - Ritual Page 7: Hifiklub, Ma� Cameron, Reuben Lewis, Daffodil - Rapture Metal Page 8: Angelgoat - The Lucifer Within Page 9: Čuvaj Se Psa - Sve je isto Page 10: Dommedag - Marburg Page 11: Meurtrières - Meurtrières Page 12: Mustasch - Killing It For Life Page 13: R. O. C. K. - R. O. C. K. Page 14: Stromptha - Endura Pleniluniis Page 15: Xerión - O Nada no Caos Infinito Short Reviews Page 16: Conceived By Hate - Putrid Realms Of The Occult Deathnoisefrequency - Horrid Dirge Page 17: Skjult - Lucifer Hominum Salvator Starmen - Kiss The Sky 6 Dumb Questions: Page 18: Eddie LaFlash of Decent News
Editorial Welcome to the second instalment of the Headshot Music digital magazine… and yes, I kind of messed up. Having spent a whole month trying to decide whether to make the magazine monthly or fortnightly… some of the restric�ons have been li�ed in the UK, and a�er almost 4 long months of not working, I have to start again this week. (I’m self-employed, but the restric�ons on piercing studios are ge�ng li�ed, so I can return to selling body jewellery). So, as I was already struggling to get the magazine finished on �me, this kind of messed up my plans… and because of this, I have to change my plans again and now, most definitely, 100% and all that crap, Headshot Music will now be published every Monday, with a target of around 20 pages per issue. Yep, I’m a useless indecisive ____ (insert the insult of your choice) For this issue, it’s mainly reviews, as well as the very first, 6 Dumb Ques�ons. With Eddie LaFlash from Decent News, very bravely, offering himself up as the first vic�m. Over the next few weeks, there are quite a few interviews in the pipeline, as well as a UK Metal scene report… so I’m hoping to eventually have one new interview each week, as well as the finale of 6 Dumb Ques�ons, alongside, news, reviews etc… So, there will be a new issue every Monday and all the contact details are below if you want to send newmusic for reviews, check out a show from one of the contributors etc… Cheers Steve If you would like to include a promo for possible review/interview, please email us at: headshotmusic@mailbox.org Please note, we do not review albums from Spo�y or Bandcamp streams, or via You Tube Ghost Wave Radio: h�ps://www.facebook.com/GhostWaveRadio/ Headshot Metal: h�ps://www.facebook.com/HeadshotMetalUK/ Headshot Music: h�ps://www.facebook.com/HeadshotMusicUK/ Dark Side of Metal: h�ps://www.facebook.com/DSOMDoncaster/ Black Angel Gathering: h�ps://www.facebook.com/blackangelgathering
Acylum - Filthy Memories – Part 2 (Alfa Matrix) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Acylum have put their �me in confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic to good use as they’ve gone through their archives to put together a compila�on of demo tracks and collabora�ons under the banner of Filthy Memories – Part 2, a follow-up to their last such compila�on, 3 years ago. With a new album fast approaching, you might think this a stop-gap un�l the new album is out, but in all fairness, it’s so much be�er than just a stop-gap or filler release. My knowledge of the East German band isn’t extensive, but that might change a�er this release as this has been an interes�ng journey, with the demo tracks, in par�cular, piquing the interest of my metallic roots as they’re a li�le rough around the edges, compared to the more polished sound you’ve come to expect. Of the collabora�ons and remixes, nothing really beats the Wynardtage remix of Dead Culture, which is a stripped back take on the 2005 original, but in all honesty, every track on this works for me. And if any Metalheads have stumbled across this part of the magazine, this could be a good star�ng point for a journey of discover of Dark Electro / Industrial and related genres, which I personally think will appeal to a lot of Metalheads. Myself included, obviously. So 20 tracks in total, with a running �me of about 90 minutes, this offers excellent value for money and they’ve definitely gained me as a fanboy… h�ps://www.facebook.com/Acylum.Music/ h�ps://www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix/ h�ps://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/album/filthy-memories-part-2
Studio-X Vs. Simon Carter - Our Promise (Alfa Matrix) Review by Steve Thomas-Green I am so far out of my comfort zone here, it’s not funny. But I’ve always been about expanding my musical horizons (as well as my waistline, unfortunately), so here we go. I’m not sure if I’d call an 11 track release an EP, but I get why it has been classed as an EP, as this contains 3 new tracks, plus remixes from the projects last album, Disconnected, but in a club/dance format… which is why I’m completely out of my comfort zone here. I may have seen well over 4000 bands live, but I’ve never been to a tradi�onal nightclub in my life. And that stat will never change (thankfully). So yes, this is very danceable, (not that I dance, or can dance) with bouncing techno beats and addic�ve keyboards and the alluring vocals of Bridge�e Collins. And I’ve found it impossible not to enjoy… a lot. It’s probably been the promo I’ve played the most over the past few weeks. I have been exploring realms close to this with my Dark Dance shows and I will be including something from this EP in my next show as it’s a perfect example of dance music and the dark side of electronica combining to make something, that I consider to be a bit special. I don’t really care about genres these days… if I like it, I’ll play it… whatever the style of music. And this is fucking addic�ve. h�ps://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/album/our-promise-ep h�ps://www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix/
Eisenwolf - Ritual (Tinnitorturous) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Normally, I’d put this review in with the Metal reviews, mainly as it would appeal to fans of bands like Wardruna, early Mor�is and to a lesser degree, Summoning. But Eisenwolf is made up of musicians, normally associated with the EBM and Industrial scene. The trio behind the music are Danish musicians, John R. Mirland, Tommy B-Kuhlmann and Jens B. Petersen and this is a very big departure from their day jobs. Where you decide the place this, is open to interpreta�on. Personally, I think it would fit in well as a soundtrack to Game of Thrones or Vikings and the overall sound is a mix of Mar�al Industrial, Dark Ambient, Neoclassical etc… And from there, I’d then break everything down into two categories. The more tradi�onal song format. Like the proud Viking stance of opener, Ritual. Which definitely lives up to its name, in a Mar�al Industrial kind of way… or the pounding beats of the mesmerizing, Kadavermarch. And then, what I consider to be interludes, atmospheric movements, soundtracks etc… Both sides of the coin are masterfully constructed, but my only complaint about the album is that the two differing styles don’t quite gel. Both do work individually, but something needs a few tweaks to balance it all out. But considering this is the bands debut album, my complaint is very minor in the overall scheme of things. So a very strong opener from a project that I really hope evolves into something special. Despite the band members track record, I think this will definitely appeal more to the Metal crowd that their electronic fanbase… and I look forward to newmaterial with interest… but for now, I’m going to enjoy this whilst I march up a snow covered hill looking for dragons to slay. h�ps://www.facebook.com/EisenwolfOfficial/ h�ps://eisenwolf.bandcamp.com/album/ritual
Hifiklub, Ma� Cameron, Reuben Lewis, Daffodil - Rapture (Electric Valley Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green When it comes to music, the word “experimental” generally fills me with dread. Whatever gets thrown my way is so hit and miss, it’s usually a complete waste of my �me. But with the inclusion of Pearl Jam/Soundgarden drummer Ma� Cameron on this release, it made its way up to the top of my promo pile… and I’m very glad it did. This is about 25 minutes of music, broken down into 6 movements. The line-up is of a French trio, Hifiklub, (who include a trumpet player in their ranks) alongside two drummers and a producer. Musically, it’s Dark Ambient that fires off in a couple of direc�ons. One of the flavours is possibly North African. There is a strong French con�ngent on this release, so I will presume that is where the more ethnic sounds emanate from. I’d also throw a bit of Pink Floyd into the mix. Mainly from the 60s and 70s. Not so much the experimental side, more because of the chilled out vibe of the release. I’d include a few cosmic vibes from Hawkwind as well. This isn’t quite psychedelic, but it is heading that way, in places. Add some sublime trumpet work from Reuben Lewis and you have a very accomplished piece of music. As with a lot of new releases, all the band members recorded their parts separately, during lockdown. That makes the crea�on, masterminded by producer, Anthony “Daffodil” Belguise, even more astonishing. How he put this all together, (so expertly) I will never know… I’ve found this to be a fascina�ng piece of music. It’s been a very calming experience and everything flows, very beau�fully and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed listening to something that’s very new to me. h�p://www.hifiklub.com h�ps://www.facebook.com/hifiklub
Angelgoat - The Lucifer Within (Morbid Chapel Records) Review by Miloš Šebalj I’m pre�y sure I could’ve wri�en this without even listening to the album. Having followed the band for years now, there is no doubt in my mind that Angelgoat is firmly set on its road and there’s not much room to wiggle about. Having listened to the album, my opinion is simply confirmed. With the third album of almost two decades long career, this Serbian one-man band con�nues where it le� off three years ago on “Primi�ve Goat Worship”. Incidentally, the name of the previous record can serve as a genre reference perfectly. Raw and primi�ve, satanic black metal is basically what you get. This is the music made famous by Bathory, Mayhem and their likes. On their earliest recordings, of course. Cu�ng guitars, blastbea�ng drums and screaming vocals. On this and the previous record Angelgoat goes for a bit of a deeper soundscape which might bring connota�ons with death metal. Use Canadians Blasphemy as a point of reference. Even some of the South American brutality comes to mind. However, the input ends in the sound, as the music itself is created by pure black metal means. “The Lucifer Within” is an overall fast album. High speed dominates throughout. S�ll, Angelgoat has its calmer moments that make for a bit of diversity necessary on such an album. If you leave out the introductory track, majority of the record is dedicated to violence and aggression. Op�ng for an approach that steers clear of a par�cular atmospheric touch is another feat that makes Angelgoat so similar to the pioneers of black metal. If I have to go for a favorite track, it would certainly be “Black Goat Semen” and the riff that drives it. It is the one that reminded me of the first Angelgoat album the most. It is also the track whose �tle should give you enough of a clue as to what the lyrical themes might be. Taking you back to the name of the previous record, the lyrics closely follow the musical layers. Blasphemies, terrible profani�es, death worship and other delicacies which should earn the parental advisory note. It is difficult to write much deeper about music that is fairly familiar to everyone. Seems like it takes just a few words and you will be convinced if this one is for you or not. S�ll, I’ve listened to this record with pleasure, as I’m sure will every fan of such sounds. If a single dose of late 80’s/early 90’s black metal is all you need before switching to a more progressive side of the genre, then you should avoid Angelgoat at all cost. Headbangers into above men�oned bands are welcome to take this. They will not be disappointed. h�ps://morbidchapelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-lucifer-within h�ps://www.facebook.com/Angelgoat-1694200314030058/
Čuvaj Se Psa - Sve je isto (RnR Records) Review by Miloš Šebalj It’s nice to hear debutants from the Serbian province. Well, not quite province but outside of the major ci�es that usually provide us with the newborn rock ensembles. This fourpiece comes from Nego�n, in eastern Serbia. “Beware of the dog” is their name, in case you were wondering. Already from the band photo on the cover one can assume we are dealing with experienced musicians. So, Čuvaj se psa is only their most recent output. Just to add in this short introduc�on to this EP the reference to the (in)famous “I wanna be your dog”. Let me elaborate. If you are in any way infatuated by the Stooges this will be an absolute winner. This band runs in a strict line along the crea�on of the legendary punk rockers. To be fair, there are some more influences here. Some grunge energy first and foremost. Mostly in the produc�on department, as the sound emana�ng from “Sve je isto” (“It’s all the same” for the foreign audience) is charged high above what any old school punk record had been. While I’m at produc�on, it is le� dirty enough to even reference some garage rock. Music itself draws completely from the raw, primal punk rock. Basic riffing is only momentarily enriched by a couple of guitar solos. Even those are fairly simple, though they do complement the songs a bit. Drums are le� with some more wiggle room. S�ll, I have a feeling Mr. Igor Kosić did his best to contain himself within the limits of the genre. What’s more interes�ng is the prominent impact of bass guitar. That’s where grunge comes back into the picture. Even if it s�ll makes Čuvaj se psa a bit grungier version of the Stooges. You may have no�ced I didn’t men�on Iggy along with his band. The reason for it is the vocalist of the ‘Nego�n dogs’. It’s been a long �me since I’ve heard a less expressive singer in a rock band. The voice of Čuvaj se psa is crystal clear. Even ‘poppy’ a bit. It just doesn’t fit into the musical filth delivered behind. But that’s not the worst part. Singing is almost completely flat. Emo�onless. Where’s the rebellion, rage? When you’re trying to express something that’s bothering you, you need to raise your voice from �me to �me, right? Scream, shout and yell at the injus�ce surrounding you. Do it so people can feel you actually have something to say. And that you actually care about what you are saying. This way, whatever edge you have created with the rest of the instruments, singing is completely dulling it down. You’re throwing teddy bears instead of knives. I’ve even tried ignoring it, but it is impossible. Totally ruined the CD for me. So, RnR Records has done a good job by giving a chance to the underdogs. However, the underdogs responded by giving us a bland recording. Whatever promise the music is showing and as much as I really want to support such acts, the terrible vocals are all I’m going to take from this EP. Čuvaj se psa needs a decent vocalist. ASAP! h�ps://www.facebook.com/band.cuvajsepsa/
Dommedag - Marburg (Void Wanderer Produc�ons / War Produc�ons) Review by Miloš Šebalj Void Wanderer Produc�ons is picking up debutants like si�ng ducks. Scandinavian debutants to be exact. Now, this project here is the brainchild of two individuals, from Sweden and Norway. And the duo in ques�on is just minding their own business, running around and being black metal. As you would imagine, for sure. Not much of a surprise, you will agree. Surprises pre�y much end at the cover artwork. This one is quite colorful, and somewhat new age, if I may add. However, the theme is very much in line with what is presented on the CD itself. You can very well paint the picture in your ears just by looking at the song �tles. “Kill”, “Winter”, “Cumpriest”, “Cult maker”… Speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Despite the lack of informa�on about the band, one can certainly picture two young and inexperienced persons. Now, put aside the apparent naivety. I have had such a pleasant �me listening to “Marburg”. This is fierce and pulverizing black metal running across the field of every imaginable influence. Marduk-like blast bea�ng opener is sure to get the blood boiling. Despite containing a delicate melodic note to it. “Deathcrush” era Mayhem in “Whores of Babylon” slows it down a bit. Burzum-esque “Cult Maker” gets us back to primi�ve pounding. “Cumpriest” is a mid-tempo homage to freezing Darkthrone riffing. “The Creator” goes for the heavier approach of Infernal War. Not very Scandinavian, of course, but good enough. “Winter” brings back Marduk connota�ons, but in their slower, more atmospheric incarna�on. Dark Funeral lurks in the background as a silent watcher, with occasional melody… I could go on forever. There’s not a single hint of original approach, or even trying something different. “Marburg” is a simple, honest black metal record. And a quality one at that. Quality like I haven’t heard in a while. It’s almost like if you’re �red of playing your old records again and again, try this one. You just might support the newcomer without losing any of the cult status among your fellow ‘first press collector’ crowd. You will surely get the first press of Dommedag. Just hurry up. As far as I understand, the limit is 200 units. They might go fast if the word spreads out… h�ps://www.facebook.com/warproduc�onspt/
Meurtrières - Meurtrières (Gates Of Hell Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green I received the shortest of biographies with this EP, which is ge�ng a vinyl re-issue, via Gates Of Hell Records, so I have very li�le to tell you, in terms of history… but a quick search of what the band name means, according to Mr Wik�onary, is murderess, in French… which is quite apt for a female fronted French Metal band. The biography men�ons the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate… but out of the 3, I’d probably only include Maiden on my list of who Meurtrières remind me of. Of course having female vocals, sung in French, completely changes the overall sound. But Meurtrières do lean heavily on the Paul Di’Anno era of Iron Maiden, in terms of the music. The vocals on the other hand, veer from good old fashioned NWOBHM (or should that be NWOFHM?) to a style that reminds me of both Lene Lovich and John Lydon… like a quivering Punk style. But I’m sure people will look on the style differently, as it is one of those releases that sits right on the edge of a variety of genres… but most importantly, this is bloody good. It has a magical energy that harks back to the early 80s and this is just the bands debut!!!! I hope as they progress they managed to keep this spark because you can’t buy this feel… well, you can buy the music (subtle hint)… but I’m sure you know what I mean. I love to catch a band right at the start of their careers, and this EP is a perfect showcase for Meurtrières… Hopefully a full length album is in the pipeline as this really whets the appe�te for more. h�ps://meurtrieres.bandcamp.com h�ps://www.facebook.com/gateso�ellrecords h�p://www.gateso�ellrecords.com
Mustasch - Killing It For Life (Tritonus Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Back in the 2000’s, our promos arrived via cd, normally with cardboard sleeves (ah, the good old days) and the site I ran at the �me had a writer that loved Mustasch. So whenever a new album arrived, it was sent off to him straight away. So although I’ve been aware of the Swedish rockers since their very early days, this is the first �me I’ve actually sat down and listened to one of their albums. So obviously, I can’t speak about their back catalogue, which I now have to discover, but Killing It For Life is an album of super catchy tracks that sit somewhere between classic 80s Metal and classic 80s Hard Rock. I definitely hear the melody lines of the Scorpions, the rhythm sec�on of Ozzy Osbourne’s early solo albums and the hard rocking of AC/DC and Accept etc… There’s also a tribute to Freddie Mercury on the album as well. So yeah, I know why their albums always got snapped up so fucking quick. On one hand I’ve so glad I’ve finally discovered Mustasch as they fit in 100% with my taste in 80s Rock and Metal… but on the other hand, I’m absolutely gu�ed it’s taken me this long to actually hear them. The music from 1980 to 1985 will always be my favourite era and this fits in perfectly with that �meline. Ralf Gyllenhammar has a voice that is both familiar and has its own iden�ty, if that makes any sense. And the music follows a similar blueprint. Straight away I can pick out bits of various ar�sts that I can latch onto, but all of the songs on this album also have a “Mustasch” feel to them. So I’m sorry it has taken so long to make your acquaintance… but you guys fucking rock!!!! h�ps://www.facebook.com/Mustaschofficial/
R. O. C. K. - R. O. C. K. (RnR Records) Review by Miloš Šebalj First of all, the name! A cliché to end all clichés! Seriously!? Okay, it might be an acronym (though it isn’t men�oned anywhere), but s�ll…Where do we go from here? Naming your band Music Band? (I think it stands for… wait for it…. rockriffs of c killers (Steve – Editor) Second of all, the cover artwork! And they actually have a guy listed that did the artwork! For what? Some rusty background with a logo on it? Three minutes of beginner level in Photoshop. Perhaps it could work if the albumwas heavily censored. But it would have to be a pre�y bored censor to even consider this album for a censorship of any sort. And then the music itself… Which is not that bad, actually. Sure, this is generic hard rock. As generic as it gets to be completely honest. Some�mes swinging this way or that, but it is a hard rock record. Almost perfect as a background to cancel out the noises coming from the exhaust pipes on your local biker gathering. Rock (let’s cut the crap, your band is simply called Rock) performs what you might expect frommyriads of bands following the footsteps of Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Skid Row… Naturally, rhythm sec�on is absolutely predictable, yet firm enough to carry the band on its shoulders. Guitars do portray some specter of possibili�es, though under-evolved, as there is hardly a riff which will s�ck to your memory. Guitar solos are expected and they are happening. Though, again, without a deeper effect on the listener other than recognizing the skill of the musician himself. Maybe even to sa�sfy the genre specifica�on which dictates the presence of solos. Vocalist is fairly expressive and stands out against the rest. As he should in a band of this genre. There is even a couple of choruses that might be called catchy and get you going, even if just momentarily. Also Rock is quite keyboard laden, but they are placed behind mostly. This way they have a purpose of gaining on depth of the songs. Nice touch, I must admit. But also seen before. Like most of the self�tled debut by the Serbian quintet. Subtly distrac�ng from the rest is the monumental introduc�on. It sounds epic and pompous as if to announce the spectacle that lays ahead. Sadly, it doesn’t come. I’ve said it is not bad and I stand by that statement. But to expect any kind of higher state of mind, or ar�s�c expression, by listening to Rock is nonsense. The whole impression is that of a bland record. By a band that needs to be a tribute band and perform covers in the local pub. Which, I’m sure, is where they are coming from. Most probably their live set is s�ll filled with all sorts of covers. If you’re a really (really, really, really) big fan of music like this and simply cannot get enough of it, this will definitely get your heart racing. Otherwise, there are much be�er releases around. h�ps://www.facebook.com/RnRRecordsTMM/
Stromptha - Endura Pleniluniis (Satanath) Review by Steve Thomas-Green I’m a sucker for bands that originate from places not normally associated with Metal and Atmospheric Black/Doom from Greenland, certainly fits the bill. Reading between the lines, this might be the last release from Stromptha, and if it is, it’s a decent note to end on. The list of ingredients on this this album is quite long. It glides its way through a plethora of atmospherics, bludgeoning Black Metal, as well as a more Pagan/Viking feel. The glue that holds it altogether could do with a few tweaks as the joins are not seamless, but it’s s�ll an enjoyable album. The first 3 songs on the album follow the Atmospheric Black/Doom path and the final 3 tracks are generally more gloomy, with the music sounding like Joy Division covering someone like Siouxsie and the Banshees, (and even a bit of Simple Minds) but with manic, blackened vocals and an extra dose of misery. Each track on the album is around the 9 minute mark, so there is a lot to take in on each song, but the more you play it, the be�er it gets. And overall, I think I prefer the la�er half of the album. The mix of styles is definitely a bit different, compared to the first half and I personally think bands need to do this to stand out. So I applaud the creator, J, for this brave move. Genuinely, if you’d told me this was a split album featuring 2 different bands, I would have believed you. But I like both styles, so it works for me, but those with more narrow-minded tastes might not enjoy the 2nd part of the album. h�ps://www.facebook.com/stromptha
Xerión - O Nada no Caos Infinito (Nigra Mors Productions) Review by Miloš Šebalj Year and a half since their previous full length record, Xerión is back with their sixth one. Sure, three of the nine tracks present here have been published in the previous year on a couple of shorter releases. Doesn’t ma�er all that much as now we have another complete picture of what the band was up to recently. And the said picture doesn’t differ all that much fromwhat the Galician duo performed throughout their career. Almost two whole decades of it. However, there’s a twist to the tale. As much as the crude, dark black metal was the founda�on of Xerión’s sound, I would note that the priori�es are shi�ing a bit. The duo has been exploring their Cel�c roots for quite some �me now. And impor�ng those influences into their music. At this point in �me it seems as if they are taking over. Not just as an influence, but as the main inspira�on behind Xerión. OK, black metal is s�ll present. It is s�ll crude, though not as primi�ve as one might expect. The band is set on crea�ng a certain dark, yet monumental, atmosphere. Supported by keyboards which have become a fundamental part of Xerión long �me ago. You might think of Cel�c Frost and their dives into the unknown. Another thing that will separate the Spaniards are the tradi�onal instruments used. Many have already been used on their previous releases. And I will not pretend to recognize them all. I’ve even seen pictures and s�ll don’t know the names of half of them. So, you cannot call these people simple minded black metal musicians as their capabili�es transcend the genre more and more as their discography flows. What actually happens on “O Nada no Caos Infinito“ is a mixture of styles providing for a very original approach to black metal. I would even call Primordial their main source of inspiration. But it is still far fetched. Most of these connotations don’t come from the music itself, but the aura surrounding the album. Some sort of a flute makes for the introduction track. That’s the one that gets the closest to the mentioned Irish titans. Onwards to the black / doommetal mixture of the second track that closes with acoustic guitar and organ. It leads into a Type O Negative bass guitar of the third track which announces a slow, atmospheric black metal song. The fourth one is the most old school of them all, going for the Darkthrone feel. Neoclassical organ interlude should separate the album, but it doesn’t. Simply because “O Nada no Caos Infinito“ heads in the same direction throughout. Thus it remains a coherent record, even if there is a multitude of references to point out. It may seem as if the album lacks a definitive direction, but it is there. Pointed to creative diversity that revolves around the elementary musical genre. The obvious truth is that Xerión found a way not to make raw black metal sound boring, repe��ve and uninspired. Whether you like it or not is a ma�er of personal taste. I can only recommend trying it out. If nothing, you might find sounds you have rarely (if ever) heard. Even if the original black metal gets on your nerves, there is much to learn here. Perfect for exploring another one in the vast pallet of sounds of the world. h�ps://www.facebook.com/xeriongaliza/
Conceived By Hate - Putrid Realms Of The Occult (Satanath) Review by Steve Thomas-Green I’m going through the latest batch of promos from Russian label, Satanath Records and it seems they are signing a lot of bands from Central America, as this an Old School Death metal band from El Salvador and I’ve already seen releases from Costa Rica and Cuba in my promo pile. Here we have Conceived By Hate, who have gone from a full band, to a one man project, although a real drummer helps out for the recording, which is a very smart move. The order of the day here, is Brutal Death, with a barrage of drumming that slays everything in its way. And although musically, this is Death Metal, the vocals are a bit on the high pitched side, in a brutal kind of way (not like Power Metal), so flipping this over to a more Black Metal sound, wouldn’t need a lot of adjustment, such is the blurring of the lines on this release. Again, as with a lot of the promos I’ve received from the label, the sound quality exceeds what I was expec�ng as does the quality of the music. And I par�cularly like the more intense moments, like on Centroamerica Belica, which is just a full-on assault, yet it s�ll retains enough melody to keep this accessible, to my poor, damaged ears. Impressive. h�ps://www.facebook.com/satanath666/ Deathnoisefrequency - Horrid Dirge (Self-Release) Review by Sam Thomas Saudi Arabian duo, Deathnoisefrequency have an EP, Horrid Dirge, to delight/torment your ears. I’d take excep�on to the �tle as it’s not horrid. But it is definitely funereal, both in pacing and in the way that there is an overlaid declama�on. It’s a bit like Hawkwind, but also the music has elements of early black metal (I’m thinking par�cularly of Burzum). The vocal (English) theme is of suffering, loss, darkness and despair. There’s also an element of noise to this, which adds a dimension of creepiness and has you straining your ears to make sense of it all. It’s not an easy listen, but it’s worth a go as it has been very well done. I really appreciated it (enjoyed isn’t the right word) and look forward to the full release hopefully later this year. h�ps://www.facebook.com/Deathnoisefrequency/
Skjult - Lucifer Hominum Salvator (Satanath) Review by Steve Thomas-Green When you are faced with a one man Cuban Black Metal project, it can go one of two ways. It’ll sound like a 90s tape recording with buzzsaw guitars and biscuit �n drums, or it’ll blow your fucking mind with how good it is… Well, in this case, it’s not quite the la�er, but it’s ge�ng there. There are no tropical influences on this album, the 3rd this is an ice cold slab of Scandinavian influenced Black Metal. As you’d expect, there’s nothing groundbreaking going on here, but I have to say it’s a very enjoyable, galloping piece of Black Metal. It pummels along nicely. The drums, presumably programmed are good and everything sounds nice and clean, with just enough of a rough edge to give this a 90s feel. Vocal wise, I really like Conspirator’s style. He sits on the edge of a tradi�onal Black Metal style, but he also has a Black/Thrash/Bullet Belt gnarliness about him, which I like. I’d class this as an excellent find from the depths of the Underground h�ps://www.facebook.com/skjultkuba/ from Skjult’s creator, Conspirator, as Starmen - Kiss The Sky (Melodic Passion Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Starmen are back with their 2nd album, less than 6 months a�er their Kiss-influenced debut, Welcome To My World. And we’ll get the Kiss stuff out of the way straight away… The band look like Ace Frehley’s cousins, with Star painted faces, each in a different colour and the vocals, at �mes, do remind me of Paul Stanley… but away from that, Starmen dish up very melodic Hard Rock/AOR… lots and lots of it. And a few hours before I sat down to review this album, I played Loverboy and Turn Me Loose via You Tube, which coincidentally is the �me at where I’d place Starmen’s sound. So away from the super-slick, super melodic sounds of the early 80s, they also offer up a superb cover of All Along The Watchtower, which stays faithful to the Hendrix version (I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard Bob Dylan’s original, but I’m guessing I must have) with just a small amount of added funk… A Mystery Thrill also bucks the trend with Eastern magic that adds a nice dimension to the album, as does the �tle track, which channels a bit of Whitesnake, as well as the aforemen�oned Kiss. But for the most part, this is very melodic, good �me Hard Rock, which is a nice distrac�on from the real world. h�ps://www.facebook.com/starmen.se
Some sites ask the same shit ques�ons all the �me, and some magazines have a set of really banal ques�ons they ask… well, I’m stealing both of those ideas to make… 6 Dumb Ques�ons Many thanks to Eddie LaFlash of Decent News for agreeing to be the first vic�m… sorry, par�cipant. I think we spoke about the band name and earlier incarna�ons in a previous interview. So we’ll begin with your own family name… LaFlash is such a cool guitar player name... where does the name originate? And hopefully not from a family of flashers…. So my whole life, everyone has thought that my last name is made up, but truth is it's just horribly Americanized. In the 1600's one of my ancestors traveled to Quebec and changed his last name from Richer to the name of the town he was from in France called LeFlesche. Then somehow it just became LaFlash. Who was your famous teenage crush and looking back, how good or bad was your taste in said person? I really can't remember. I guess I could say Natalie Portman ONLY because she was Padme and when I was in 6th grade I went over to a friends house and he said "Yo, we have to watch Black Swan cause there’s this lesbian scene and it's hella dope" (I'm paraphrasing). Looking back, eh. What album, song or musician made you first want to pick up an instrument? It's funny because I remember being 10 years old and wan�ng to be in a band despite not knowing anything. I made a band with my friends in the 4th grade regardless of whether or not they've ever touched an instrument and we obviously never did anything. When I first started playing guitar like one or two years later, I really idolized Dave Mustaine. A lot of the Nu Metal and Screamo that was popular at the �me didn’t really click with me so I just gravitated towards Megadeth. When you first started Decent News and you added a Facebook page etc… do you remember when you got a like or a comment from someone you didn’t know? And how was your reac�on? I'm almost 100% sure our first comment was literally just "gay". It made me giggle. As a band we've never taken ourselves too seriously so whenever we get any nega�ve feedback we have fun with it. Your adverts and li�le movie clips are excellent. Aren’t you worried that people might think that they are actually be�er than the music you make? Not at all, they are be�er than the doo doo that we release. They're a blast to make and we can take a way different route with our promos then we can with the music we write. Fun fact: We were failed comedy writers before we were failed musicians. If you could open for any band, whose fans would you like to boo you off stage? Sinead O'Connor. If we ever made it on the bill it would be one hell of a fever dream Decent News Facebook: h�ps://www.facebook.com/decentnews/ Bandcamp: h�ps://decentnews.bandcamp.com/
Black Angel Gathering By DJ Marcel P h�ps://www.facebook.com/blackangelgathering/ It's like a history lesson for lovers of dark music There is a new Black Angel Gathering show every Tuesday, on Ghost Wave Radio www.mixcloud.com/GhostWaveRadio/
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