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
Source : http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com/2021/11/kas-interview.html
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
Source : http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com/2021/11/krolokfuneral-winds-crimson-skyosmose.html
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.
Source : http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com/2021/11/cmptkrv-i-pepeoosmose-productions2021.html
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.
Spotify |
Source : http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com/2021/11/arkhon-infaustusin-sperma.html
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
Source : http://occultblackmetalzine.blogspot.com/2021/11/beyond-deaths-doorhaphazard-ethossignal.html