1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

- KAS is a project I started writing music for a few years back, after being introduced to the metal scene, and I figured its time to record the music I have written and release it. I wanted it to be a easy and cheap-as-possible type of thing, as the budgets are low due to the pandemic situation we all are in now. So I bought some equipment and started calling friends in the music scene. 

2.In December you have your first full length coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

- I find it hard to describe what kind of genre and style the record as a wholeness is, and the style sort of comes by itself, with what I listen to, with what I play in other bands. It has some black metal, some doom metal, some gothic metal, some hard rock elements - but in the end its just heavy metal music that I love. It goes soft, it goes hard, its nice and its dirty, kind of like life itself. 

3.You also participate in 'In The Woods' a band that has a long history and were part of the second wave Norwegian black metal era but also went into more of a progressive direction the last 20 or more years, what was the decision behind bringing back the black metal elements into your new project?

- Well, if it had not been for ``In the Woods…`` this project would never happen. It was my entrance to explore a much darker world of music, and when it comes to black metal and the elements that make it, I long for the dark mysterious riffs and sounds. Im not a technical player, I could never play advanced death metal and ``super-shredd-stress``guitar, because its not who I am, Im sure I could learn it, but I find it way more giving not to. I like exploring with the sounds of a chord played different ways, the riffs and melodic leads. Some of the bands I listen to are great at creating space, and that is what I try on some songs of this record. Make it dark, heavy, mysterious and slow. But not to slow… 

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects that you explore on the new release?

- Well, Willie René Skåtun (AKA V-REX) and Jan Åge Lindeland wrote the lyrics that they perform on the record, they are wildly different, and I will say that V-Rex takes on a much more sad darker life, the things that are lost. He writes very passionate and beautiful, but filled with a darkness I couldn’t even imagine. Jan Åge wrote to sets of lyrics, and they are incredible. They need a good reading, you find them on Bandcamp. They are very raw and dark, very suitable for the music in those certain songs. The two other sets of lyrics I wrote myself, and ``This is Goodbye`` is very personally to me, and is written in a dark set of mind, its about letting go, letting go of your past, the choices made, the life lived. ``The Problem of Evil`` is just that, ``is it God or the the Devil?`` 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name ‘Kas’?

- I wanted another name, but it was long and I though I wanted something easy, often long brandnames have a shorter version of their name, for example we use ITW for In the Woods, and I couldn’t find one that was suited for the name I originally had planned, so it became the initials of my name. 

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

- The artwork is ``The thinker``, the sculpture by Auguste Rodin, which was first seen in his work ``The Gates of Hell``, in a modern urban situation. You see him in a typical back alley floating with trash. There’s also a secret message on one of the papers in the air above him. 

7.On this album you record a lot of the music by yourself but have experience playing with a full band, how would you compare the two?

- Easier. You are your own boss, but you loose the connection you have as a band. But with the right people involved I think I made it groove and sounding good. Being my own boss is a blast, and I like to be in control of things, not being a control freak, but I like to know what is happening at all times with the band, business and creatively, and with my own project I have just that. 

8.On the new album you also have a few quests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording?

I asked some friends to be with me on this, and everyone but one said yes, so I am very pleased with that. I got in touch with a drummer from Mexico, Hector Montero trough Facebook and we just started talking and suddenly we had drums on 2-3 songs, and then we did the rest. He also did keyboards on most parts, where I didn’t. I also have Kjetil Nordhus and Stein Roger Sordal from Green Carnation on the same song, vocal and bass, as in GC. I asked Jan Åge Lindeland from Blot and Mental Disaster to do two songs, he wrote the lyrics and vocals for those. I also asked V-REX from Arvas, and he ended up doing two songs as well. I was also in touch with Nargaroth for vocals on one of the songs, but due to covid and low budgets that didn´t happen. I also have the very talented Caroline Salmona doing violin on ``This is goodbye``, and they are very good. I have my close friend James Fox sing a few lines on ``The Problem of Evil``, and a man named Giuseppe Taormina laying down some ambient sounds on one track. All in all there is many people involved, and there could have been way more. 

9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

I am unsigned, and looking for a label. I wasn’t sure if I would manage to pull this through without, but luckily I did. I sent some emails, but nothing took bait unfortunately. 

10.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and extreme metal?

- I have been very secret about not sharing much of the songs before the release. There are only a few people that have heard all the songs, so I am not sure. I have gotten nothing but good feedback after Lost Love was released last friday, so I am grateful for all the love for that. 

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

We are working on a new album with ITW, and hopefully some more touring and after that I will record the second album of KAS. Its already in writing process, so hopefully that will end good. I also want to get a bit more involved in mixing and mastering in the future, and develop my producing. But I am in the scene to stay, who knows what the future will bring. 

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

When I started out playing guitar in 2009, it was Uriah Heep that was my band, then I discovered Guns N´ Roses and I started a rock n roll band with my friends. Rory Gallagher, Slash, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck are my big guitar inspire. 

And in the metal scene, of course In the Woods, Green Carnation, Agalloch, Deafhaven, Watain. Dold Vorde Ens Navn is also a fantastic group.

Today I am listening to old Swedish ``punk``, Imperiet. 

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for the support, and to all those reading this, hope you enjoy ``The Problem of Evil``.

Kåre André Sletteberg

KAS

November 2021

https://kasofficial.bandcamp.com/releases

1. Facebook
2. Instagram

  Krolok  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Funeral  Winds  &  Crimson  Sky"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Osmose  Productions. 

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  recording  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  second  wave  era  influences.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  dark  sounding  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  showing  an  influence  of  80's  metal  at  times  as w ell  as  one  of  the  tracks  being  an  instrumental  and  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording,  melodic  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Folklore,  Darkness  and  Nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Krolok  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Lore  Of  The  Fens"  and  "Unveiled  Subterranean  Treasures'.  8  out  of  10.

Email: krolok.band@gmail.com  

  Cmpt  are  a  solo  project  from  Serbia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Krv  i  pepeo"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Osmose  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Eastern  European  tradition  of  the  genre.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  couple  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  nature  sounds,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Cmpt  remains  true  to  the  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  pagan  black  metal  that  he  had  established  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  ritualistic  side  of  dark  Balkan  Sorcery  and  it's  spiritual  offering  to  the  ancient  cult  of  Death.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cmpt  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seme  ponoci"  "Srce  od  trnja"  and  "Mesecev  zub".  8  out  of  10.

https://semeponoci.bandcamp.com/         

  Arkhon  Infaustus  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  played  a  satanic  and  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  1998  ep  "In  Sperma  Inferna"  which  was  re-issued  in  2021  by  Impure  Wedding  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  tracks  along  with  the  vocals  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  bestial  death  metal  growls.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast  beats  and  war  metal  elements  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  horror  movie  style  keyboards  but  keeping  the  main  focus  on  a  heavier  style  and  as  the  ep  progresses  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Arkhon  Infaustus  brought  in  a  very  raw  and  satanic  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  as  well  as  being  mostly  focused  on  the  blackened  side  of  the  style  back  in  the  earlier  days.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Blasphemy,  Sexual  Perversions  and  Depravity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Arkhon  Ifaustus  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  old  school.  satanic,  bestial,  war  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Machiavellian  Knights"  and  "The  Black  Succubus  Whores".  8  out  of  10.

  Beyond  Death's  Throne  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Haphazard  Ethos"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Signal  Rex.

  Dark  sounding  synths  which  also  return  on  later  songs  start  off  the  ep  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in very  melodic  style,  as  the  ep  progresses  the  music  also  starts  adding  in  more  modern  elements  and  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  the  lawless  path  and  necromancer  wisdom.

  In  my  opinion  Beyond  Death's  Throne are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Threshold  Of  Harrowed  Chants"  and  "Perpetual  Glow  Of  The  Risen  Wise".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/h4EeTHL4f2g