New Reviews 6/26/2010

KOZELJNIK- Deeper the Fall-CD ( Paragon Records)

Progressive Black metal or some call it avant blackened metal. This is something I truly do love. Kozeljink have many influences that I love they take sounds from Voivod, Veds Buen Ende and Enslaved for good measure. There is a very VBE guitar and vocal sound going here. There moments I think DHG and Code come to mind. This just a great mix of jazzy metal moments mix with Thrash, Death and Black metal. The vocals are those very effected just sung torn throat style. You can hear the torment in the vocal lines as each word is sung. Its very Bethlehem in vocal style if that makes any scene to this unique and creative way to present Black metal to a new age of Avant Metal fans. Kozeljnik is just one more reason Paragon is a label to respect and grow with. There one or two bigger bands away from being the next big US metal label...

http://www.myspace.com/paragonrecords

Profanatica- Disguisting Blasphemies Against God- CD ( Hell's Headbangers)

So as we all know this band is a way of life and worship for most of USBM movement as they really did take the 1st step for the USBM movement to make a name for itself. They are raw, crude, ugly and anti social in every manner on this record. This album is just what you think about when you hear the word Black Metal... There is a strong mix of Death/Doom metal going on here as well its not just raw euro BM worship going on. DBAG has moments of pure brutality but there are passages of low end doom madness and punishing Death metal . Which makes its all the more impressive to me. The production is top notch and the bass is so full and heavy something lacking in a lot of what is called True Black metal. Profanatica is really more then a sum of all its parts. Lets be honest as well any band that can last 20 yrs of bullshit and record an album like this gets my vote for groundbreaking. Profanatica is a band that is worth hearing in all there phases not something said lightly from this reviewer. Hells Headbangers knows their Blackened Metal for sure...

http://hellsheadbangers.com/

ARMOUR - Armour-CD (HELLS HEADBANGERS)

Holy late 80's hard rock / Heavy metal going on here Batman. If you were into LA Guns, WASP or Dangerous toys then your going to love this shit and I mean this with as much respect as I can as I want my bandana's back and want to tease out my hair for this .. This is some of the most catchy heavy hard rock songs I've heard in a hell of a long time. There totally into that Hanoi Rocks sound too . Him could learn a thing or two from Armor. This would have ruled the Sunset strip in LA in 1988. Armour you kick some major rock out of those amps . Keep on rocking the rock that you do...

http://hellsheadbangers.com/

PERVERSOR - Demon Metal- CD (HELLS HEADBANGERS)

Hells Headbangers has a strong love for 80's Black Thrash and you know what I more then happy to listen and review it as this is another one of those Bathory meets early Kreator ass kicking sessions that just will never grow old to me and maybe its because I grew up loving this kind of shit... The huge monster riffs the noisy overtone the drums just being a wave of thunder of the growls , raspy vocals and pure bile coming from his vocal cords.. Perversor is just hate and discontent on a CD and pound for pound I'm sure this band can stand up to any band past or present to thrash the hell straight out of you ... Thank you again Hells Headbangers for this little gem of Pain and power....

http://hellsheadbangers.com/

Vomitor- Devils Poison-CD (Hells Headbangers)

Thrashing Death metal from a time that has long been forgotten . Remember when Sodom, Kreator , Venom, Bathory were so bad ass and extreme it would make you crap yourself . It almost felt wrong to listen to this is where Vomitor sickness in sound comes from. Fast, Raw, Loose and METAL!!!!. There last release was over 8 yrs ago but this band from Down under has not lost a step is the metallic carnage they have and always will create. Time to get on the denim vest and war helmet and thrash around like it was 1986.....

http://hellsheadbangers.com/

Rage-STRINGS TO A WEB-CD (Sonic Unyon)

So what we have here is Epic Symphonic Power metal from a band that is been around well over 25 yrs. If you like bands like Savatage,Angra, Blind Guardian and Symphony X then Rage is going to kick your Metallic ass.. They love to add electronic and synth arrangements into the mix to make it all the more interesting. The vocals are clean yet throaty at the same time. Strings to a web is a massive record in sound and style. There's not much more to say about a band that has been around so long. If you love Classic metal with a Prog edge and Power metal edge then get all things from Rage asap. This is just as amazing as the rest...

http://www.sonicunyon.com/

Nox Aurea - Ascending in Triumph-CD (Napalm Records)

I'm not so sure what style they are as much as the two bands that come to mind when listening to this band ... Nox Aurea have a huge thing for Dimmu Borgir and My Dying Bride... The Deep guttural male vox , the epic sweeping symphonic Black doom sound of the strings and guitars. The mid tempo and very low end bass and drumming add to the doom over tone very much so the operatic female vocals give it elements of Within temptation and Tristania as well. They seem to intertwine Doom, Death and Black metal into what we used to call Gothic Doom but I have no clue what kids call it today. This band is very at home on napalm as dozens of bands in this style have graced there hallowed halls over the years. Nox Aurea is heavy as a brick and a thick in sound as well. Ascending in Triumph is a very impressive metal album to say they least and well worth multi listens.

http://napalmrecords.com/

LES DISCRETS Interview is up Finally folks 6/23/2010

LES DISCRETS

http://www.myspace.com/lesdiscrets

1. I know nothing of LES DISCRETS tell the world a bit about this
project..

Les Discrets is my musical approach of my artistic goals. I mean that
it's an activity besides animated films and illustrations. It helps me
to complete what animated films and pictures can not explain.

2. LES DISCRETS mixes very delicate and complex sounds all into one I
hear a lot of bands like Old Dead Tree, Katatonia, Dan Swano and Klimt
1918 with other post rock and ethereal elements. In your style did
take a very long while to get to this point?

I don't really remember and I also didn't really noticed. My music
clearely changed when I discovered Epic45. It's a british band, really
calm and progressive. Anathema did have and still have a big influence
on me. But I am not really able to notice how I evolved over the
years. Basically, I would say it took me 4 years to really find my
current style, which is about to change all my life anyway so....

3. Your working with Prophecy Productions a very mysterious label in
its own rights to most in North America. How did that come to be and
are you proud to be on the same label as brilliant bands like Tenhi,
The Bleak vision and Dorenreich to say the least?

Ho yes. I'm proud, happy and honoured. Prophecy is the BEST label I
could have found. they understood, support and trust in Les Discrets
and it's an honour for me to be signed on such an artistic and clever
label. And as you said, the bands they signed are really really good
bands usually...

4. If the members of LES DISCRETS were asked to explain the musical
creation how would you do so?

Usually I don't answer this question, but I want to point something I
said in previous interviews. I thought that composing the drums meant
to say "I want a 4/4 with double kick there and then a slow tempo afer
it". But I actually noticed that this is not composing drums at all!
So I want that to be clear, because Winterhalter actually composed 70%
of the drums (breaks and nuances which is composition of course...)
based on the ideas I had. We rehearsed 4 days before entering the
studio and he recorded the drums in 2 days... He is really a talented
drummer and I had to clear this point because he played very well
considering the short time we had. I really dont want people to think
that he was just a robot who played what I want. We discussed about
it, and my mistake was to think that I composed drums, and it was not
true.

5. I do hear a strong Northern Folkish Black metal element would you
agree the band holds this sound dear?

Yes. Definitely. The funny thing is that many people told me "it
sounds like Ulver - Bergtatt". The thing is that the album that
inspired me the most is Kvelsfanger. And I didn't know Bergtatt when I
composed the first album. I actually wanted to make a mix between epic
folk metal and Arvo Part... But now I know Bergtatt very well.
Fantastic album to me.

6. The tracks are so dense and full how does one create these in the
studio is it over layers of tracking or can you make this in a live
setting in the studio with very few over dubs???

You're right. The studio songs are full of arrangements and layers.
But live performance is something else and it's not interesting to use
samples on stage to re-create what you did on the album. I'll buy a
sampler pedal, and we'll try with the live bands to make it similar
but really "live". It's much more interesting. Considering it, the
songs will certainly be different. But that's interesting. It allows
the songs to have a new life "live". don't you think?

7. The acoustic element seems very important to LES DISCRETS there is
something very personal as yet disturbing about a clean acoustic
guitar and string movement would you say so?

To me, the acoustic guitar gives the picture of wood and soil. That's
why I use it. It adds to the music something organic which is missing
with the electric distorded guitar. I will always use it because it's
really important that Les Discrets sounds organic. It does not mean
that I'll always make arppegios, but anyway, we can use it in so many
different ways!


8. Being that LES DISCRETS came from the roots of Alcest I hear
similar Ideals but I feel your much more ritualistic and nature based
in sounds and feelings. again a much more fragile and flowing project.
Do you feel the human spirit has lost its way in 2010???

Les Discrets does not come from the roots of Alcest. It's not because
the album was released a long time after Alcest that it means that
it's made thanks to Alcest. Of course, it inspired me in some points
etc, but Les Discrets is a will to do my own universe in music. Since
we are best friends with Neige since decades, our music have common
points indeed. I don't think the human spirit has lost his way in
2010. I don't really care about the human being, but mostly about my
feelings and the untouchables powers of life, death and love, things
that human cannot control. Les Discrets is fragile yes, at least, it's
the point of view of someone who is affraid of Death.



9. Are there any up and coming bands out there that really shine to
the members of LES DISCRETS?

I think that Lantlôs is going to become a very very cult band in a few
years. Herbst is a genius and his music is full of modernity. If it
does not find his audience now, it'll find it soon or later. " .neon"
is a masterpiece. For those who don't know this bands, it's released
now on Prophecy Productions. Listen to this. That's the future of music!

10. Is it better to let the music do the talking for bands or is Image
and Fashion a essential needs in todays modern band?

I think it depends of the goal of the bands. For Les Discrets, the
pictures and visual universe is as much important that the music. But
it's not a commercial visual that helps to sell. it's a visual that
supports the music if you already know the music. I think that the
aesthetic and fashion in music works for Madonna and Tokyo Hotel, but
we're no more speaking of music..

11. My last question is a difficult one for most bands please be as
honest at possible please. Do you feel that in 2010 labels are really
needed or can bands with help on Myspace, Digital releases and
internet radio make a name and have success with out them .

Just look
at bands like NIN, Radiohead and now Shadows fall etc???
Very interesting question.
The labels are less needed than before indeed. For example, Radiohead
released one of their latest album only on internet, free download (or
you can give as much moeny as you want if you want to do so) and it
worked out very well. But they are able to do it because in the past
they had good labels that did good promotions etc. It's wrong to think
that labels are useless because they anyway have lots of contacts,
journalists, distribution and marketing skills (yes, music is still a
business) bands do not have. I would not be able to enter and pay a
studio without Prophecy. To answer the question, bands usually need a
label at least at the beginning. And when they are enough famous, and
if they are not affraid of all the contracts, pressing plant stuff,
distribution etc etc, they can go ahead without them. But it becomes a
full day job and it's not my kind...

12. Thank you for the time any last thoughts please place here....
Thanks a lot and sorry for the huge delay. I was too busy to answer
the interview earlier... Hopefully Prophecy is behind me to kick my
butt anyway! :-)

New Reviews 6/13/2010

Mona De bo- nekavējies, šīs ir spēles ar tevi- CD (I Love you records)

A 100% true post rock album I haven't heard one of those in awhile. Its just avant and raw and drifting and spacial in all its glory. There are no vocals at all just letting the guitars, drums, odd effects and other arrangements do all they need to do. The detuned elements of this give it a cross between Polvo meets Do make say think. Mono De bo have a brutal simplicity to it all that just makes this works on so many levels. Its almost like the deconstruction of music itself. If you into music on labels like Constellation, Matador, Merge, Touch and Go and Kranky do not miss out on this band as it will haunt you body , mind and soul in the days , weeks and months to come..

http://monadebo.com/

East of the Wall- Ressentiment-CD (Translation Loss)

I saw Postman Syndrome, Day without dawn and Biclops members have merged together in yet a third project called East of the Wall and with there debut album on there own label i think it was called Forgotten Empire. Well they are now on the mighty Post Metal force known as Translation Loss. To me Translation Loss, Hydra Head and Neurot Recording are the big 3 doing this style of music as East of the Wall has all the tasty noisy Post Hardcore/ Post Rock , Post .... sounds and elements that make bands like this so brilliant mix Neurosis, Kayo Dot, Isis, Dillenger Escape Plan, Deadguy, Kiss it Goodbye and healthy does of all things Mike Patton and you come close to the sonic stew of Ressentiment... Heavily effected and complex guitar movemnts. A total love of Prog rock and metal in the rhythm section and the clean/screamo vocals that are a much for this to work so brilliantly. Looks like after 3 bands the mix of members seems to be the right fit to make East of the wall click. No more to say then fucking buy this or miss out fool...

http://translationloss.com/

SORGELDOM-Inner Receivings-CD ( Nordvis Produktion)

So were going to get Avant and Blackened by this Swedish force known as Sorgeldom. Someone is a big fan of Ved Buen Ende mixed with Velvet Cacoon.. As this is what instantly came to mind with the 1st track the spewed forward from the audio play.. I love the ethereal elements. Sorgeldom would fit well with bands like Azazel, Deathspell omega and even Agalloch as we get deeper into the magic of Inner Receivings.. The vocals are just so low and grim then go to clean tormented elements that work so well with the more open guitar and bass sounds. The wall of drums going on is has almost a spacial overtone to it all. Bands like Sorgeldom are trance inducing the way the create a broken jazzy, dream like state to the madness and horror of a blackened and dying landscape.. Inner Receivings seems to be a part of an Occult series of the label I can hear a strong heathen heart to this beast so I would not be shocked in anyway if the Occult has a lot to do with project. Nordvis has an amazing project here do not let them slip away into the fog ... Come they even do a kick ass Slowdive Cover !!!!This release is exclusively distroed by Relapse in North America so no excuses not being able to find it..

http://www.nordvis.com/

Serenity Dies-Hacksawcracy-CD (Self Released)

Remember when thrash metal had an edge and could be funky and catchy and still be balls out heavy well this is were Serenity Dies comes into play. They remind me so much of Wraithchild America mixed with mid period Testament, Sadus and Metallica. Late 80's West coast Thrash was it for me.. There were others too Lets not forget Forbidden as well. Serenity Dies likes to add a power/power metal edge to all of this as well. The vocals are throaty and well sound at the same time in some sounds. They really do sound like a cross between Wraithchild America and Foribidden. Why they are not on a label and causing magic every night on a mid size club stage is beyond me . Come on Metal blade, Nuclear Blast or Earache what are you waiting on this is a perform band for the next way of Thrash metal fans...

www.myspace.com/serenitydies

Diabolic-Excisions of Exorcism-CD (Deathgasm Records)

Yes they reformed after being in bands like Unholy Ghost, Pessimist and Blastermasters and you know what its still just Extreme underground death metal nothing more original then the 1st time around. Blast beats and blistering guitars can only take you so far and this has really played itself out. I almost feel this is more to cash in on a name more then for a band that wanted to play together again. I will finish with this thought. Its a little to little and little to late for anyone to care anymore.

http://www.deathgasm.com/

The Body- All the waters of earth turn to blood-CD (At a loss)

This has one very odd begining with a synth and 1 single female vocal for like 7 minutes then it goes into crushing sludge doom that will kick you in the teeth. They still interplay the operatic female vocal into the backing of the crushing doom movement as well. I have no idea who or what The Body are but they have a strong love of bands like Cavity, Khanate, Melvins and Godspeed you black emperor then go into some major post hardcore elements ... This almost sounds like A Hydrahead band that just loves Doom music more then left itself... Is there a such thing as Hardcore Doom if not The Body has made it so... I can hear Black metal as well as Industrial elements going on here. I almost feel like this is were bands like Halo and Godflesh would have turned if they were still around.. The Body is by no means an easy listen but if it was what would be the point... Once you master droning feedback there is no where else to go but this kind of ultra madness. There are even dub and trip hop moments here . Goddamn I love this twisted train ride to CHAOS.....

http://atalossrecordings.com/

Kruger Interview is up 6/8/2010

http://www.kruger.ch/

1.For those of us new to Kruger tell us a bit about the band?

Hmh, band biography… It’s been so long that it’s hard to remember everything, especially since you’re close to senility as i am… Kruger started in 2001 with the wish to mix Breach and Entombed. Now it its 10th year, the band hasn’t moved that much for the original aim, right ? Just released a few album and made a couple hundreds shows in the meantime !

2. Your new release "For death, glory and the end of the world" has a lot of Post Hardcore element Neurosis, Isis and Mastodon in sound and style. I was reading older material is different how so?

First album (2002) was much more rock orientated (a bit Clutchesque), the second (2005) was more close to this post-whatever scene (Neurosis, Cult of Luna…), and the two latest albums (2007 and this year) are more frontal. Still this « Breach » dark and epic spirit , but with a more brutal approach…

3. This is your 2nd release with Listenable are you happy with label and it seems there doing a major push in North American now you must be pleased with this?

Nice to hear that ! Listenable are doing such a bunch of work on a small band like we are that we’ve never even thought of inspecting the job they’re doing… They are more than just a record label to us : we love them. Cheesy, uh ?

4. Is there a running theme on "For death, glory and the end of the world" ?

Nope. People always think we are a conceptual band, which is always very funny – i wish we split up before becoming one ! Topics in the lyrics are more like jokes than themes. We just had them published on our website, so people can understand what a bunch of idiots we are !...

5. What are some of the bands that are impressing Kruger or in you mp3 or CD player right now?

Speaking for myself, i am in a dreadful regressive period (like listening to old Depeche Mode albums or re-discovering the crossover shit i was listening 20 years ago !... I am into Electric Boys these days –scary, uh ?).

Latest good suprises have been Quest for Fire (a canadian psyche-stoner band on Tee Pee), the new Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, Converge’s « axe to fall », and always Eluvium, an ambient act that suits baths perfectly ! I guess the other guys would have totally different tunes to promote, though, our tastes are radically different !

6. Being a metal band from Switzerland what the scene like I really only know 2 bands from there Celtic Frost and Samael . Both are very original and are you is it something in the water there???

Small country, no market, and valuable godfathers (Celtic Frost, The Young Gods, Knut…) : Switzerland history of independent music has always been a fight to go abroad, since you can’t do anything within the territory, i guess this has produced good bands ! I would quote Ventura, Sludge, Kehlvin, Nostromo, Mumakil for ex.

7. Your website is very impressive tell us about it http://www.kruger.ch/?

Impressive ? Cool ! It’s a friend who designed it for ridiculous money (we’re lucky enough to have plenty of friends which don’t like money, without them we wouldn’t ever be here !). I like the totally psychedelic « welcome to my sect » atmosphere !

8. Do you feel that the modern digital age Myspace, File Sharing etc are hurting the indie scene or is it helping??? there are so many bands now that dont take time to grow before they get there music out to world?

Tricky question… I’m owning a CD/LP distribution company myself, and can see the internet thing is running the business, for both bands and labels… On the other hand, the greedy bastards who have been making thousands on the bands these past two decades are put back where they belong, and the bands can access visibility much easier. Which is also a bad point, as there’s no more « filter » : i’ve never seen so many crappy bands getting that much visibility !

9. Will Kruger be creating any videos or a DVD release now that you have 4 albums of material?

Ha ! A DVD ? We actually shot a handful live videos that are available on our website, but expecting people to pay to see them would be a pathetic mistake ! …

10. Have you seen you audience changes from last CD to your latest release?

Our audience is more audiences with an « s ». We’re not really a headliner, except for some cities in Switzerland and France, so have been constantly sharing the stages with other bands which affected the audience (and the turn-out !). I think we now have more metalheads attending our shows than in the past - when hype was to grow the longest beard possible, have a Isis tee, a black cap and like atmospheric post-rock. God knows i’m not a metalhead, but seeing people at shows wearing Gorgoroth t-shirts and enjoying the brutal side of our stuff is sooo cool ! Stage has to be viscral, not cerebral !

11. Will you be performing in North America at all?

I wish we would – this is so expensive and logistically complicated for a band of our (tiny) size… ! We have plenty of touring to do in good ol’ europe first, but i’d be glad to come over – drive 600 miles a day, my dream !

12. Do you prefer smaller or larger venues to play at this stage of band?

We like them all ! My preferences, though, go to the tinyest and the most gigantic ones. I like crappy caves with barely a stage and PA, playing in the middle of the crowd – and also when we land on a festival huge stage and have 50 meters to run between the drums and the monitors !

13. Your images seems to be very Post rock or Indie rock not extreme music is this done on purpose?

I guess we’re not that confortable being a « metal » band, though our music is clearly influenced by metal sound. And the fact is that we try to escape the usual metal (AND hardcore) clichés by all possible means. In some way, i think we are more of a rock band. Or of a punk band. But yes, we try to avoid thoses « look my attitude » visuals.

14. Here do you see underground artist like yourself heading with or without labels now? Do you still reallly need a label to get out there and sell music and perform on good tours?

Sure. A label is different now than it used to be, but you still need people taking care of what you can’t (or don’t have time to) : promotion, internet, records distribution… Even if you’re a band lucky enough, like we are, to have people of diverse talent in the band (jak is our designer, raph is producing our albums, i am working in the distribution and booking sector…), if someone doesn’t engage a little money and a bunch of time to promote what you’re doing, you keep playing in the neighbourhood and selling records to your friends, right ? Labels look more like management nowadays, but are necessary !

15. Thank you for the time any closing thoughts here??

Thanks for yours ! It’s always a surprise to see people consider us worth spending an hour doing an interview ! …

And please correct my english, since it’s not my mother tongue.

8 New Reviews 6/5/2010

Enemy of the sun- Ceadium-CD (The End Records)

Waldemar Sorychta is a brilliant engineer/ guitarist to say the least and he is now back with his 2nd release under the name Enemy of the sun. I mean the mane either engineered or produced albums for Tiamat, Lacuna Coil, Rotting Christ as just a few.. and founded Grip inc with Mr Lombardo from Slayer. Enemy of the sun again is nothing like is past this more an alt metal band with love of thrash and Swedish Death metal . There is a hard rock element to them that just makes them not as hard or metal as other projects. But then at time the remind me a lot of the Post Pantera project Damage Plan mixed with power metal and some stuff like Alice in chains yes its a very odd mix but if you listen to the CD full out you will hear it as well. The End is so diverse now this band really does fit on the label. Enemy of the sun is a balance of Pop, Rock, Metal and Alt rock . I know that will piss off some but then others with open minds will give it a chance and see the beauty of it all..

http://theendrecords.com/

Canvas Solaris- Irrandiance-CD (Sensory Records)

Sensory and I have a love affair I think. 90% of what they send me is just what I love in the prog metal world. This 5 man unit is as complex as they are beautiful in the arrangements they give us and its another band that doesn't need vocals to add anything to it. There are electronic element on Irradiance as well as music that would make the King Biscuit Flower hour blush (Does that age me lol)... Canvas Solaris is such an underrated talent and that is a crime against humanity alone.. The layers of synths, guitars, bass and drums on this album could fill the grand canyon itself with its level of sonic intelligence. I swear at time there are 5 different things going on at the same time in the same song and it just works so well.. Canvas Solaris if there is any justice you will become progressive rock legends with Irradiance.

http://www.lasercd.com/

DELAIN- LUCIDITY-CD Reissue (Sensory Records)

I'm a sucker for female fronted Prog metal bands love The Gathering, Within Temptation , Lana Lane etc and with Delain this is a 2006 release that it seems came out on Roadrunner in Europe. The brilliant thing about this is the male deep growled vocals are in the back of some tracks as a dark side to Charlotte's amazing classical and powerful pipes. The strings, twin guitar attack the ebb and flowing bass and the Rush/ Queensryche sounding rhythm section just band all a bit too magical for this review. Gothic Metal meets Prog metal thats really what we have going on here. This is so similar to many bands that Napalm and Century Media have given birth to ie Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil, Dismal Euphony, Orphanage just to name a few.. and guess what Liv (TOT) and Sharon (WT) are both on this release as guests. This is a very special release and its going to make me visit there other titles now as well. Thank you again Sensory...

http://www.lasercd.com/

Withershin- The Hungering Void-CDEP (Canonical Hours)

BLACK METAL OV THEE MOST BLACKEST OCCVLT NATURE... yes you heard me correct this 3 song event is coming to you straight from those of the unlight. Withershin is on of those band that make you remember why you started listening to Black metal to begin with Deathspell Omega, Watain, Burzum and Marduk. You can just feel the hate and lack of compassion for a world that will never allow them to have the path the choose without issue. A Sickness spews from what Withershin creates. There is a cold and foreboding melodic tone that comes from The Hungering Void that pulls you close as you try to pull away. The only sour thing I can say about this release is why the hell is it only 3 tracks . We need more NOW!!!!

http://canonicalhours.com/

Animals as leaders- S/T-CD (Prosthetic Records)

I know nothing of Tosin former band Reflux but with his solo Instrumental project Animals as Leaders what we have here is Prog Metal mastery on levels that would come from labels like Sensory, Magna Carta or Inside out. Seems a bit out of place on a place like Prosthetic but they have seemed to be branching out to other genres like Black metal now as well. If your a fan of Devin Townsend solo material or bands like Pain of Salvation and Ayreon then this is a must listen. The guitar of course is the main tool here and it goes from Jazz to Blues, Prog, Avant to Rock to full on Prog Metal sometimes even in the same song. I've never been a huge fan of the 7 string guitar but this release may finally sway me to its side. Tosin is a brilliant musician to say the least. I love the electronic and trip hop elements that are mixed into the over all tone of the project to. There are moments that would make moby and tricky both smile as in influence. Animals as leaders is a musical adventure not just a journey take it and be in awe..

http://prostheticrecords.com/

Nàttsòl - Stemning-CD (Lupus Lounge/ Prophecy Productions)

MMMM FOLK Inspired Black metal full of acoustics and the bleak cold sounds

of high end guitar picking and blasting raw drum movements. Then the

melodic of the clean harmonized vocals come in as well. If you love Ulver

middle period on Century Media or bands like Falkenbach and Beyond Dawn

then run don't walk for this gem in the making. Nattsol is going to be a band

of mysterious and lore and you know what? Great we need some foggy realms

from time to time to make music all the more interesting. There is some raw

as hell moment here were Mayhem, Early Enslaved and even Absu show through

This is not a new wave BM band by any means. You have to love your roots

here. Nattsol is as original as classic in what they have created . In the Blackened

Forests of Europe all will raise the horns high to the Gods of old for this piece of

Musical majesty.

http://www.prophecyproductions.de/

Lantlôs - .neon-CD (Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Productions)

Well this issue seems to be about Fringe Post Black metal as the bands

I seem to be getting to review are all from this side of the musical Spectrum

Lantlos is another band from Alcest madman Neige.. The major difference

Between this and Alcest is the Grim Black metal vocals and the more metallic

Guitar sounds. Other then that if you like the Hypnotic and Post Rock sounds

of Alcest and wanted a more Blackened overtone you will fall in love here.

Prophecy Production just has my tastes in music dialed in as of late. Lantlos

is a mix of Post Rock, BM, Martial, Epic Rock, Jazz and Prog music. There are

Delicate moments as well as ultra bombastic and brutal ones here. It's time

now for you to make your own journey with Lantlos.

http://www.prophecyproductions.de/

A Forest of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves of Spring-CD (Transcendental Creations)

Occult Post Black Metal is that a even a term or am I just making up shit again. A Forest of Stars is one of those band that Defies boundaries and sounds . I league them with bands like DHG, CODE, Wolves in the throne room, Virus etc You get what I mean they mix so many styles into what is going on here Neoclassic, BM, Doom, Electronic, Avant and such. I love the strings, Grim vocals and the hopeless feeling the music presents to all. There is a melancholy overtone to this music that makes it feel like its from times long past and that A forest of stars can really open a portal to a realm where science and magic are one. If Anathema became a Black metal band I really feel this is what they would have sounded like. A Forest of Stars is just haunting and almost heart stopping to listen to. If this is the future of extreme music there is so much hope .. I didn't think this band could get better then The Corpse of Rebirth but they clearly did...

http://transcendentalcreations.com/

Alcest Interview is up but old now..... 6/2/2010

ALCEST Sent this interview back in March but I didn't get it till today. Still put it up... Enjoy..

http://www.myspace.com/alcestmusic

1. There have been 3 yrs between Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde and the new release Écailles de lune. What do you see as the major difference in sound between the two?

"Souvenirs" was a musical testimony dealing with visions/memories I had as a child about another world, another plane of existence which has nothing to do with the world we know. A green heaven of absolute light and beauty, beyond all that we can imagine. To be clearer, this is something similar to the "landscapes" that are describing people who had a Near Death Experience. "Écailles De Lune" could be seen as a metaphor of how I manage to live with this experience now in my everyday life. As I sometimes feel that nobody really understand and grab what I am speaking about, in some moments it's like if I was a stranger here, speaking for nothing, and looking for something else than people around me. Musically "Écailles De Lune" is more complex and progressive than "Souvenirs..." I wanted to make a contrasted album in terms of ambiances and intensity.

2. Alcest has such a heavy shoegazer sound mix with the Dark Metal sounds?? Is it hard to translate this sound live?

Yes this is quite hard I admit but you know on stage we are more trying to translate an atmosphere than a sound. The most important is that the emotions are still there, and anyway I think that there's nothing more boring than bands having exactly the same sound on CD and on stage.

3. The more grim vocals are very much on a minimum but do show up from time to time. Does Alcest feel less and less connected to the Black metal overtones?

Less and less I don't think so since "Souvenirs...", the previous album, didn't have harsh vocals at all. You know I don't set a rule from the start saying "there won't be any harsh voices on this album", I do it depending of what a song inspires me. I don't use this kind of voice without a reason but when I feel it really fits with the music's purpose.

4. Alcest seems very much about loss and somber ideals . Is it painful to create such heart aching music?

Even if my music has an evident touch of melancholy, Alcest is not about somber ideals. This is the tool I am using for describing these memories I had about this other dimension I am speaking about in the first question. "Souvenirs..." was a musical picture about it, making the listener going in these deep green and amber havens, where time and pain doesn't exist, where all that surrounds you, the trees, the grass, the streams radiate a pure and pearly luminous aura. The only "painful" thing in Alcest is the link it has with my life and reality. I often feel a weird sensation not to belong to Earth, like if a non-human part of my soul was screaming inside me, supplying me to be back in the world he belongs to. I feel very nostalgic for this faraway dimension, the lyrics of "Écailles De Lune" are dealing with this sensation in a metaphorical way. This explains the strong melancholy of the new album.

5. You worked with Profund Lore on the last release for North America is there a reason the title is 100% through Prophecy Prod worldwide this time out?

I don't know, Prophecy didn't speak to me about this. I guess that this is because they prefer to care about it by themselves.

6. Are you still working and releasing material under Amesoeurs and Forgotten Woods Names or is Alcest the only main outlet for you?

No, Amesoeurs has split up last year and concerning Forgotten Woods, I don't really know what's happening, I didn't have news from them since a long time. I hope they will record their new album soon ! Except for Alcest I am performing vocals in Lantlôs, a German band playing urban black metal. The second album should be released in the next months and believe me this is a killer record, extremely depressive and cold as concrete.

7. Will we see any videos or a DVD from ALcest your music fits so well with the format?

For the moment I don't think about making a DVD, we still didn't perform on stage you know and this will be the next step. But well, if the concert has a really special ambiance and if we make a good show, why not.

8. What is the story line behind Écailles De Lune?

I was inspired by the seaside, the energy and the exaltation you can feel when

you sit front of the sea at night. On the other hand, abysses appears like terribly fascinating, full of secrets and scaring at the same time. The "Écailles De Lune" lyrics is a tale about a man that feels to be a stranger in the world he is living in, like if he was not walking the same ground as the rest of people and doesn't feel joy or beauty anymore. He decides to sit by the sea

and look at the sun falling in the horizon, thinking about all what

he experienced during his life. He realizes that he doesn't have any interest anymore in his existence, nobody and nothing that can make him hope and smile again. So he let himself being attracted by the waves calling and the spirits of the sea. He gives them his hands for they accompany him in the depth, where everything is so peaceful and silent, all made of bluish shapes. Arriving in their realm he decides to lie of the sand and let aquatic spirits being the gardians of his

sleep. This story is not about death, like it would seem

to be. For me he is a man who decides to leave a world for another one, laterally.

Like a passage to another reality, another state of existence.

9. The artwork for the new CD is breathtaking how does the artwork tie into the music presented on Écailles De Lune?

This artwork is breathtaking as you say, I am very proud of it. This is just the perfect illustration of the "Écailles De Lune" lyrics and the kind of aquatic ambiances/seascapes that would inspire the the album's listening.

10. Will we see Alcest perform in North America in 2010 at all??

If we perform in North America, this will be at the end of april. We really want to come there but you know this is very difficult with all these visas stuffs etc.. Well, at the end I really hope we will do this tour.

11. Do you feel Myspace is they best way to get your music across to the world via the internet in 2010??? As many bands make these there main website...

I don't know if this is the best one but for sure that's a good way. That's how I obtained my contract with Prophecy, I proposed them to listen to the songs on my page and then they asked me to send the complete promo CD. Many concrete things can happen on myspace, I think this can be an interesting tool for a band.

12. Thank you for the time any closing thoughts here..

Thanks you for the interview. Keep posted about the North American tour and we hope to see you there !