Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Rising from the ashes is postponed

The past few days have been an overwhelming trip in the world of Eparistera Daimones, so little time was left for other new records. And indeed, there have been a lot of new interesting releases within the field of music I like. Of course the heavy shadow of Triptykon's debut is cast upon any other piece of music I'm going to listen for the near future, nevertheless I will try to comment on my impressions on some of the records I've listened recently.

Starting with Onskapt's third album  Arisen from the Ashes that marks the return of one of the most symbolic bands of the genre. In my opinion Ondskapt's best release so far has been their first full length Draco Sit Mihi Dux. A record draped deep in otherworldly occult darkness, one of the absolute masterpieces of the era of black metal's renaissance (what people like to name orthodox black metal). Dödens Evangelium that followed was another great record that helped establish the unique trademark Ondskapt atmosphere but was maybe slightly less impressive than the debut as it was less focused and there were some interludes that I could live without.
As for the new record... Deep in the vein of Dödens Evangelium but adding little to nothing to the band's legacy as it lacks the inspiration that was so much evident on the first two records. I don't know if Arisen from the Ashes is so much a mediocre record or it is the fact that I had much higher expectations that makes it feel this way. The fact is that the total attack that started a couple of years ago from the leading bands of our times (with the releases of Deathspell Omega, Funeral Mist and Ofermod) meets here its first major disappointment. Come to think about it Ondskapt have now three full lengths out, every 'new' one being slightly worse than its predecessor. This cannot be a good omen of things to come. A real pity.


Thankfully Orcivus' second full length Est Deus in Nobis is a completely different case. Actually things with this one were the exact opposite of Ondskapt's case. Est Deus in Nobis came as a surprise to me. I had mixed feelings about the bands debut Consummatum Est. I really couldn't decide whether I was confronting a band that was devoted to the cause, or one that jumped the bandwagon of Orthodoxy that was so popular especially among the swedish bands. After the new album I am leaning towards the former. Est Deus in Nobis  is a piece of quality black metal, several steps up from their debut. Nothing new and innovative here, just pure and negative black metal energy. That's all that's needed. A band to watch in the future.


AMSG

Saturday, 20 March 2010

All the demons are here...at last

Question No 1
How often is the case when one can connect with a work of art, to the point of feeling one with its creator or feeling that this piece of art was made especially for him? The way I see things this is an extremely rare case. I know there are plenty of people that believe they have felt like this, but I happen to know that this is just a misconception. They just THINK they feel the connection with a work of art, regardless the field of art. In reality though, the average person is much too shallow to be able to establish a true spiritual bond with a work created by someone else.
Me, I always felt a strong attraction, a strange familiarity with Celtic Frosts music, be it the raw first recordings or the more sophisticated and abstract records like 'To Mega Therion' or 'Into the Pandemonium'. I don't know if I'm mistaken but I always viewed CF as Tom Gabriel's band and work, as the incarnation of his dreams, pains and desires. I used to feel that my growing up had certain parallels with C.F.'s path to maturity. From the brutal, clumsy or even naive first steps of 'Morbid Tales' and 'Emperor's Return', to the adulthood and the thoughtfulness of 'Mega Therion' and 'Pandemonium', from the occasional mistakes and failures that life forces you into (Cold Lake) to the attempt to get back on your knees (Vanity/Nemesis). All these are the stages one has to go through in order to rich the ultimate stage of absolute triumph, that in CF's case came with the monstrous 'Monotheist'.
'Monotheist' marked the end of an era, the completion of the circle. It was also the best record of the past decade (to say the least). 'Eparistera Daimones' starts a new era, a new circle. It is also possible that it will be the present decade's best record...that is except Triptykon's next works are going to surpass it. Which is not going to be an easy task. It is more than obvious that Triptykon is not just the continuation of Celtic Frost. It is more like a new incarnation. In that context I wouldn't view 'Eparistera Daimones' as a band's first album but rather as the next logical step after 'Monotheist'.

Question No 2
How common is a case of an artist that created monumental works of art in mid 80's, to surpass his own works 25 years later? I can't really think of no other except Tom Gabriel, at least when talking about music.
I wouldn't like to expand so much on the new record. I'm more interested in expressing the feelings it provokes to me. As was always the case with Celtic Frost, 'Eparistera Daimones' is also a work that I feel it to be extremely close to my soul. A colossal creation that I feel totally connected with. I feel that I am related with every single note, every guitar chord, every beating of the skins, every scream and whisper, every word that is spoken. I can hardly describe the painful experience that is 'Eparistera Daimones'. It feels like a vast amount of dark mud that drowns me. There is no way out, no escape. From time to time, the band offers me a glimpse of hope, they throw me a rope to grab just to cut it off seconds later and drown me deeper in the mud. A painful journey that reaches its climax with the way most proper, the unbelievable 'The Prolonging' which is like the whole album condensed into 19 minutes. It would be pointless to relate the record with 'Monotheist'. It would be pointless to relate with anything else at all. 'Eparistera Daimones' is a holistic work of total art, it is the whole cosmos, it is all that matters. It is a work I don't want to share with nobody, that makes me wish I owned the only copy and bury it deep in the earth so that no unworthy and filthy hands and ears would ruin it. This is TOTAL DARKNESS.

Damn you Tom Fischer...how much more pain will you cause me...


PS. Respect and regards from the most dark corners of my soul to Joe and his record shop that provided me with a promotional copy of the cd. The time would not come soon enough.     

Sunday, 14 March 2010

Mixtape - The Serpent's Gospel

I have been posting brief play-lists of music I listen to at any given time, very frequently. I made a mixed cd with some bands that I find amazing and have been in constant rotation on my player. Some are new, some are old. I thought of uploading it.
Whoever is interested may proceed. Sonic torture is guaranteed.

01. Shub Niggurath - The Only One Astral Being
02. Kako Daimon-Black Serpent Enthroned
03. Cathedral Stivhet - From the Altar Hordes
04. Ascension - With Burning Tongues
05. Adorior - Split A Lamb
06. Hacavitz - Ye Paran  Eojtocomol
07. Nyseius - Et au Fin Fond du Gouffre repose mon Sang
08. Burial Invocation - Through the Void of Obscurity
09. Demoncy -  Joined in Darkness
10. Daäth Shadow - Servant of Lucifer
11. Storm Legion - Spears Of Eternity / The Great Cycle
12. Goat Penis - Chaos Dominium
13. Dødsengel - Evocation of Amezarak
14. Charnel Winds - Chained Kumâra
15. Havohej - Melancholike


Friday, 12 March 2010

Hosannas from the depths of the Abyss



 This year seems to be a crucial one for the music of the Dark side. The Kali Yuga is about to be completed.
AMEN

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Blood and snow

The southern winds brought a great amount of dust from africa the past days. On top of that, there was a vast snowstorm two nights ago. This is not a usual thing considering it's almost mid March and the weather was hot three days before. Having to drive at 3:00 am during the snowstorm, being completely unprepared for such weather conditions, was a tough but also enjoyable thing to do.
The strangest thing though, came to light in the morning. A snowfilled landscape that was more red than white like the snow brought down heaven's blood.
Damn you africa...you and your dust.

Check the latest interview by Tom Gabriel here.


More blood...from bleeding ears
Hacavitz - Meztli Obscura
Daath Shadow - Crowns For Kings
Vasaeleth - Crypt Born & Tethered To Ruin
Valkyrja - Contamination
The Wandering Midget - I Am The Gate
Fides Inversa - Hanc Aciem Sola Retundit Virtus (The Algolagnia Divine)

Thursday, 4 March 2010

Demons of the left side

















The dark side is preparing to welcome its whorthiest son.
Once more.

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Senses Occupied

Fides Inversa - Hanc Aciem Sola Retundit Virtus 
(The Algolagnia Divine) 




 
Rising of Yog Sothoth - Tribute to Thergothon





 
Cosmic Death - Transfiguration Black




 Xaxakes - Το valse των ελαφιών