Dirty black summer

Music to ruin the others' summer nights...

Cultes des Ghoules - Häxan 

Here we find some of the darkest and most obscure black metal recorded in recent years. The band captures the real spirit this music should have, reminding me the first cult recordings from late 80's early 90's by such acts as Varathron or Mortuary Drape. Notice that I'm talking about the spirit and the aura, not the actual sound of it. This record is 2 years old. Whoever has the magnificent vinyl version that came out last year is a blessed human.

Verge & Blood Red Fog - Because Its Wrong

Verge is one of the best bands coming from Finland having connections with respectful acts like Saturnian Mist and the great Charnel Winds.

Their part in this split album is a constant dance on the edge that ends successfully. The bands tries to mix traditional prog or psych rock with the ways of black metal. Note that the don't blend the parts but they use them as wholes. Bold and intriguing. Blood Red Fog contribute some of their best songs but Verge are the band that shines here.

Dälek - From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots
 

 For those that don't know, this is a hip hop or rap (I can't tell the difference between those) record. Of course it is hip hop in the widest sense of the term as there is much more happening here. Noise sound walls, drones, lyrics that matter and are a universe away from the usual lowlife garbage. This is hip hop for those that hate hip hop and is their first LP released in 2002. If you ever feel like listening to some rap  Dälek the only choice.  

Big Boss - Doomy Ballads

Root's leader puts aside his usual tools and records some songs that are accurately described by the album's title. Great record for late night in the company of red wine. A lot of names come to mind when listening to this one...Tom Waits, David Bowie, Nick Cave and such. Big Boss proves that his crooning can be up there among the best of the kind. I can even listen to this with my wife and that is not something that happens often. Cheers.

The end of days

The dream went somehow like this...

In the days of the fire , where the lack of water started the process that leads to the end, the feeble humans were in dismay. As usual, into their desperation they turned to their lord. Great litanies were held throughout the land, begging for mercy and forgiveness that would result to water and rain. That would be the sign that their lord have forgiven them for their disgraceful decline.

And gigantic, dark clouds started to gather all over the land, bearing hope that great showers, that would mean life, were close.

And the miserable humans were joyful to their lord, for he showed his merciful face and granted them life once more.

And there were great litanies in adoration to the lord, where all the imbeciles were taking place to show their love to the lord and to be there when the first drops would start to quench the thirst of the soil.

And the first drops did start to fall on them, only it was not joy what they caused. It was pain so great that the screams of anguish could be heard to the heavens.

And the drops were burning like the flames of hell. And it seemed like the rain was boiling oil or burning acid. Or both combined.

And the feeble humans started to burn like hay in a great flame. And the land was dying its ultimate death. And the birds started to fall like lightning bolts...falling everywhere, on the land, on the gathered masses, on their homes, on the few remaining crops, setting the whole land in flames.  

And an angel's trumpet sounded over the agonizing screams. And the humans were given hope that their lord was about to save them. Only when the screaming stopped, they realized that the sound was not a trumpet announcing the coming of legions of angels. It was the rattling of a machine-gun announcing the coming of the primordial chaos. It was the sound of the coming Armageddon.  

And the humans started to run in dismay in all directions. And all the animals of the land started to flee in panic. And the great beasts started to step all over the humans and the humans were stepping all over the smaller beasts and smaller humans and women and kids and the elder. 

And the great Deceiver smiled somewhere in the thick fog that was arising over the land. The great Lord was indeed more merciful to the herd that their own lord as he ended their miserable lives sparing them the torments it would bring.
  
And the fire was still coming from the sky, more powerful and merciless, burning everything that was in its way for days and days. Until the end of days came. 

And then there were none.

No more details come to mind. I was never good at remembering dreams. I am not even sure it was a dream. Because it could have easily been Ouroboros' Spear of Destiny.

Since I described my dream there is no need to add much concerning the first and long overdue record of one of Australia's finest. 

This is war, this is Armageddon, this is the rattling of machine-guns marking the end of all life.

Those who know will be there to harvest the fruits of the panic of the feeble ones running scared.

I think the Great Deceiver would smile proud for what his children have accomplished.

Another work that seems to be worlds afar yet it is too close to Spear of Destiny is the new Godless Rising record.

Entitled Trumpet of Triumph it aims at the same target as Ouroboros only using different ammunition.

This is the sound of death metal played by a power metal guitarist with talent and imagination. The result is so much death metal that leaves no space to any clown, naming the record progressive or experimental or avant garde death metal or whatever.  

This is the third full length of a band with close bonds to Vital Remains, only Godless Rising have something to say.

Indulge.

Third and final reference to records that matter is last years Black Future by Vektor.

Thrash metal is not what I normally prefer to listen, especially these days with countless talentless imitators desecrating the corpse of what once was thrash metal. Vektor is not such a case though, as I think that one could hardly find a more talented and fresh band in the genre. With aesthetic and lyrical inspiration from the great Voivod, using the ways of the (also great) Coroner along with some touches of (not so great) american bands and the vocals of early Destruction this is a 78 min album that flows like a mini LP.

Truly inspired and hopeful. 



Other stuff to cause wet dreams...
Mountain of Judgement - Mountain of Judgement
Nav' - The Wolf Sun
Inter Arma - Sundown
Necrophile - Dissociated Modernity
Bastard Priest - Merciless Insane Death

AMSG

The devil's rock

Black metal is the devil's music. So is rock. At least serious rock music. Some examples are included to the following mix.

El Ritual - Satanas

Sabbath Assembly - Hymn Of Consecration

Ghost - Ritual

Sancta Sanctorum - Black sun

Saturnalia Temple - Dreaming Out of Death

The Devil's Blood - Christ or Cocaine

The Moon Mistress - VVitches

Witch - Soul of Fire

Black Widow - Come to the Sabbat

Blood Ceremony - Master of Confusion

Coven - Wicked Woman

Jacula - Soul Satan

As is obvious the music's orientation ranges from rock or psych rock to doom rock or whatever. There are new and there are old songs. The important think is (as always) the lyrical approach of the bands that is utterly satanic. The exception is Sabbath Assembly that worship whatever is available and needs to be worshiped. 

Enough said. Use your fucking ears and brains...if there's any.

Lo and behold

List of the accused...

Sabbath Assembly - Restored To One

Procol Harum - Procol Harum

Weeping Birth - A Painting of Raven and Rape

Crucifier - Stronger than Passing Time

Supplicium-Magna Atra Missa

Praise the Lord

Knowledge of the Cause and Effect of Fear

Free time is very rare for the last month due to job obligations. In times like this my occupation with music becomes twice as important and precious than normally. In addition, there is no interest at all to externalize

any thoughts or feelings.

5 ways to suffer...

Ras Algethi - Oneiricon - The White Hypnotic

Spear of Longinus - Domni Satnasi 

Bohemian Grove - Bohemian Grove
Osculum Infame - Quwm
Gevurahel - Un Obscuro Ego Celestial

Die...

Non-sence

Life inverted
Death inverted
Faith inverted

All is One
Come Holy Death

Loss

The pain of the loss of a beloved person can melt even the coldest of human hearts. This is a personal matter but I wanted it to remain posted here.
8/6/2010, 21:00
May your soul travel well my beloved woman.
Two coins to cover your eyes...the fare for the boatman.
Never to be forgotten...

Darkness has no boundaries

What follows is a brief report on the two records I've been listening the most, for the last few days. After the short break during which my inner part that is mostly human prevailed (an indication of this is the previews post) I returned to my usual antisocial and misanthropic form, which is my true nature.
As usual I tried to put to words the emotions that are being triggered when listening to a record. I find this a tough thing to do, especially when not using my mother tongue. I am not a music 'critic'. In fact I despise music critics. I believe that no one can judge a work of art, meaning that it is a creation that reflects the artist's emotions, pains, inner fears and demons...whatever. How can an outsider interfere in the thin line that connects the creator with his art, judging that this note is out of place here or that line shouldn't be on the canvas, is beyond me. Anyway, the web is full of self proclaimed critics that have something to say for everything. Of course the fact that 99% of them are lacking the basic knowledge and competency to even listen to music is a worthless detail in the fast food world of today's music. Here's some news for you, you fucking retards. Making a track by track description like 'the first track starts with the drums moving slowly until 1:47 when a fast riff changes the tempo blah blah blah' is not a fucking record review. All people are born with ears on the sides of their heads. The fact that they don't really use them doesn't mean that they need someone to write music in words instead of notes for them. And what the fuck? What moron listens to music having his eyes on the time counter? 
Enough with the stupidity...


Defuntos - Invocação aos Mortos 

  Lately I have acquired a great respect for Defuntos. This is their latest work and follows the footprints of their earlier records. Totally striped down yet full of sorrow. Don't be fooled, this has nothing to do with the moronic depressive or suicidal clowns.
This is a hymn to Death expressed with the most laconic of the possible ways. A bass, a drum kit, a tongue of death. Can't go wrong .




Watain - Lawless Darkness 

The pretentious parasites that dwell in the underground and feed on the unfortunate corpse of black metal have already started to talk bullshit about this record. Just like Funeral Mist's Maranatha, they are trying to reduce rare works of art to their subhuman level, yet they fail to comprehend the essence of art that is dark and of a pure primordial essence.
Works like Lawless Darkness are made for the ones that are able to confront art as a living experience. They are not made to be listened to. They are made to absorb the aware listener to a whirlwind, a chaotic maelstrom that will challenge his very sanity. After all this is why black metal is a religious experience. It is a case of dark emotions prevailing and dominating over any other mundane part that imprisons the spirit. 
On  a musical level this is one of rare cases of an album that is consisted of real songs (instead of 'tracks') that flow as  natural as a river. Let's say the river  Acheron. Follow it to it's journey to Hades. And  lest not forget that Bathory was black metal as much as Dissection and Mercyful Fate was. This record is a constant reminder of that fact. Watain are the Devil's emissaries to the forefront of today's extreme music. Succumb.