Anti

Villa 21 was an experimental unit for young schizophrenics, established by David Cooper in Shenley Hospital. D. Cooper was a psychiatrist and one of the leaders of the anti-psychiatry movement. He coined the term anti-psychiatry to describe the opposing methods of orthodox psychiatry. Villa 21 was in fact some kind of an anti-hospital running in the confines of a hospital. The unit was run under the principals of Psichiatrica Democratia as opposed to the authoritarian institutions of the time. A good representation of the latter can be seen in S. Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

Villa 21 was a greek post punk/new wave band formed in 1981. Adopting their name from Cooper's psychiatric unit and taking musical inspiration from bands like Joy Division, The Cure and early Christian Death they were quite productive from early on.
Their first two LP's (A ghost on the move and Men of clay) were among the lines described above and were arguably the best post punk works ever recorded by a greek band.

Their third LP (Electric poison) marked a departure from their known style and was in fact a garage rock and roll work. I am probably out of my usual field here but this was rock and roll that showed its hairy balls in the most impudent manner. The fourth album (Hellucinations, 1990) completed their turn and humbly but loudly ended their career. Of course as is usual with bands of that kind Villa 21 was quite prolific having also recorded several singles, EP's and songs for compilations.

Although back in the day I was well aware of their existence and had a vague knowledge of their work, I only approached their music in early 90's when I learned that the late Nick 'Flesh' Tagalos (guitarist/vocalist of Sadistic Noise aka the best greek death metal band of all time) had played with them. One way or the other I am glad I did so.






Cursed be thee...

25 Οκτωβρίου 2010

Only death is real

One thing that makes me feel optimistic about the near future of the music of darkness is the seemingly endless wave of real death metal bands. I am already fed up by having to use the word 'real' but death metal has suffered in the hands of awful plastic/technical/deathcore/shitcore bands with four or five or more word names.
The genre's decline that started with the coming of the 90's, triggered the birth of the second wave of black metal that came to reinforce the basic foundations on which death metal was created and were abandoned by the bands of that period.
Whether the recent resurfacing of death metal is part of the cyclic resurgence of music genres or a genuine revival caused by the needs of the true underground, remains to be seen. It is probably the former but the important factor here is the great amount of quality bands that deliver outstanding music. Having leaved the golden era of death metal I would even dare say that the quality of those new bands is higher than of those of late 80's early 90's. Of course it is unlikely that we are going to see any classics created by those new bands. The classics are always those that come first and provide the blueprints for those that follow. This doesn't mean that those that follow cannot compete in talent, will and creativity.
Of course many things are yet to be proven as most of the hopefuls are still to the demo stage of their career and the whole thing will show its seriousness in the near future. All the same, the return of death metal in all its glory, filthy, raw, immersed in the swamp of decay, is only to be celebrated.


Whoever is interested in having an idea of the scene back in mid 80's to early 90's shall have a look at the excellent deathmetal.org were he can find a collection of scans from fanzines of that period (go here or fucking die).

Holy Death...
Antediluvian - Under Wing of Asael    
Adversarial - Thralls
Disma - The Vault of Membros
Interment  - Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy
Vanhelgd - Cult Of Lazarus
Bastard Priest - Merciless Insane Death

May you all die a painful death...

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...