Dead  In  The  Manger  are  a  band  from  Washington  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  war  metal,  depressive  black  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Cessation"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  20  Buck  Spin.

  A  very  dark  and  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  which  is  also  used  on  some  of  the  later  tracks  as  well  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  and  also  brings  in  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  the  album  starts  bringing  in  more  of  a  raw  style  of  black  metal  as  well  as  utilizing  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  as  the  album  progresses  they  start  mixing  grindcore  in  with  the  black  and  war  metal  elements  of  the  bands  musical  style  which  also  shows  deep  blackened  death  metal  growls  being  used  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  As  the  album  progresses  more  experimental  sounds  are  added  onto  the  recording  while  the  main  focus  remains  on  more  of  a  dark,  raw  and  heavy  sound  which  also  shows  the  band  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melodic  guitar  leads  and  a  touch  of  post  black  metal  and  the  last  track  is  very  long  and  album  in  length.

  Dead  In  The  Manger  continue  the  black  metal  and  grindcore  mixture  of  previous  releases  while  also  bringing  in  more melody  this  time  around  and  focusing  more  on  the  depressive  side  of  the  black  metal  genre,   the  production  sounds  very  dark  yet  powerful  at  the  same  time  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dead  In  The  Manger  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Part  II"  and  "Part  VI".  8  out  of  10.   

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


Basically we play more melodic black metal with lots of influent from progressive, folk and ambient elements. Our lyrics have mythology, legend and pagan culture of our ancestors. All of these started from 2004, which develop our music into a more mature and developed one like our music now.



2.In 2013 you had released your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?


In 2013 we released our first 巫峽 Dynasty single and then we continue with full album creation with same title which was completed in mid 2014. Since we want our first single fully developed, we absorbed many influence from eminent international black metal artists, who are not too far from our characteristic. Also we put a little bit progressive material here because those dynamics are very fun (as uniqueness is our trait), clear, modern, melodic sound ambience play a huge role in the chord harmonization, obviously with rapid drum tempo and the dynamics which makes the listeners’ ears as pleasant as possible enjoying journeys in our world.

3.The band has been around since 2004 and so far have only released one album, can you tell us a little bit more about the first 9 years?

In early 2004 when we first started, we were still young and inexperienced, that time we were still in university in self discovery phase. As campus band that time we had full formation (5 members) and drove us to be more eager on doing live performance. Gigs after gigs we did from within our city to some very far cities. Making connections on the scenes was something we considered important that time. We started with playing our idols covers and started to create our own new songs. Numerous member changes were unavoidable because of vision and integrity differences which impacted on delays in recording process.
Since early 2012 we decided to go duo (Dedi Sadikin as the vocalist and Derick Prawira as the drummer). We had thought to have a break and stop the band for a while, as we were separated by provinces which discouraged us to see each other. Progress in technology and the supports from our new friends on the scene are the integral factor which motivated us to keep going through with FROMHELL.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?


The lyrics tell about dark realm, magic, myth creatures, wars mixed with oriental tradition and culture. The sole purpose to explore this music is to take the listeners to an enigmatic dark dimension full with magic, wars and very strong culture mission, where fundamentally people are not far from their ancestors influence and should reflect on them.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'From Hell'?

We, in deed, did not really focus on the meaning and the philosophy aspects the time we chose the band name. We just thought that name sounds cool for a metal band. That name was originated from a movie title From Hell (starred by Johnny Depp), a dark and horror movie about a mysterious killer Jack The Ripper. That was how we agreed to use the name.
But then we realized that name is an important aspect of band identity and we had a thought to change it. But we didn’t do it because we felt that we have a name which was authentic. We have already had that name for 9 years. There are many bands called from hell, even the latest Paul Bostaph’s (Slayer) have the same name as ours.


6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

In the future we are open to possibility to add new members, who clearly have to have the same vision and integrity as us, as these far the problem is the difficulties in finding those characteristics. But for now we are quite comfortable with this condition, where we can pour out really original ideas and limitlessly explore.


7.Recently Naturmacht Productions have re-issued your 2013 album, what are your thoughts on the final product?

We think Naturmacht has been very well in composing every release, start from their artists, time management and very neat production quality and professionalism. We believe the result is not disappointing. One attribute we value is Naturmacht has marketing strategy which we think very well and objective, everything is handled equivalently.

saya rasa naturmacht sudah dengan sangat bagus dalam mengemas setiap rilisannya, mulai dari penanganan artis-artisnya, manajemen waktu, kualitas produksi yang rapih dan professional, dan saya yakin hasilnya tidak mengecewakan, satu hal  Naturmacht memiliki strategi penjualan yg menurut kami cukup baik, dan tidak memihak, semua ditangani secara merata.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?

So far we had wonderful feedback, just like the listener responses who wrote to us asking many things about FROMHELL, several international webzine who have gave us positive review with alright rank/score, which help us in spreading the information about and promoting this album, as well as a number of interview from blogs we received. One thing that surprised us is when the album is listed in progressive metal category in a prog web scene we found.


9.When can we expect new material and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We have a grasp on a number of materials and new inspirations. Perhaps we will start the recording process in mid 2015. We hope they can be released during mid 2016. We are not in haste in this because in our norm, creating developed piece of work is fundamental. In the future maybe we will keep experimenting and adventuring. Maybe the black metal characteristic will be deepened in our future works.


10.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?

We listened to many genre of music, not only metal. Some world/folk music are really inspiring for us, such as Huun-Huur-Tu a group of throat singing from Tuva -russia, and we will certainly keep exploring Asian oriental melodic in the future. But basically we, still, are inspired by internationally well known black metal group from ulver, windir, until Heimdal Wacht, and even progressive groups from Marillion until Pagans Mind.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Something mythical, culture, history/ legend, and philosophy related will always be intriguing for us. We like to surf on local pre-historical to look into and grasp the aura behind, other than information technology stuffs which we engaged with daily in here.


12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We would like to thank you for this interview opportunity and to Naturmacht production, as well as everyone who has listened to and buy our first album. We hope you guys can listen and feel what we want to convey. Thank you.

  Astral  Blood  are  a  band  from  Minnesota  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  epic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2015  ep  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Tridroid  Records.

  A  very  dark,  atmospheric,  raw  and  melodic  black  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  high  pitched  screams  make  their  presence  known  a  few  seconds  later  and  they  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  death  metal  growls  at  times  along  with  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  When  synths  are  used  in  the  music  they  bring  in  an  early  Emperor  influence  into  the  bands  musical  style  along  with a  small  amount  of  clean  singing  being  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  as  well  as  a  brief  interlude  that  also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  the  leads  and  solos  the  band  uses  are  in  a  very  melodic  musical  direction  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Astral  Blood  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  epic  as  well  as  being  rooted  in  the  90's  Norwegian  second  wave  style,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  yet  powerful  while  the  lyrics  cover darkness  and  occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Astral  Blood  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Our  Almighty  gaze".  8  out  of  10.

 

    

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
Solitvdo was born in the early months of 2012 as my solo-project.
In the same year, approximately in June 2012 the project published "Demo MMXII", a demo of 5 songs, self-produced. After one year of inactivity, I wrote new songs in the autumn of 2013 and in September 2014 was released the first full length trough Eremita Produzioni (as cassette limited to 48 copies ) and Naturmacht Prod (as 6-panel-digipak limited to 100 copies).
That's all about Solitvdo's biography.

2.In September you had released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the demo you had released in 2012?
Basically, Solitvdo is a black metal project. On this base, I included various musical proposal that goes from ambient and acoustic elements to neo-folk and orchestral scores. I don't want to put limits to my ispirations, so if I'd to descibe my musical proposal I say black metal, 'cause there's is the basis on wich I develop all the rest.
Between the full length and the demo there are many differents. "Demo MMXII" was inspired by swedish black metal because all the melodies was created by guitars, as usually happens in the "swedish style". The lyrics was in english, even if the "concept" was the same I've wrote for the Full and the sound of the demo is  raw and instinctive..."Immerso in un bosco di querce" instead is an album that bases its melodies and arrangements with orchestral instruments and acoustic elements. I used italian language 'cause it's my language and with it, I can express my feelings and concepts.
For this work, I spent more time to find the right sounds and to mix all the elements.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
In principle, Solitvdo is based on my voluntary inability to live and integrate myself in this social and (un)cultural context. So the subject of my lyrics is me and, so, all this rot and ruins around me. Each theme is treated only and exclusively from my point of view, I don't want and I don't care to generalize or provide solutions for the flock that's living this era and contribute to this situation.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Solitvdo"?
As I said earlier, Solitvdo is based on my voluntary inability to live and integrate myself in this social context. Solitvdo means "Solitude" in Latin, Solitude as the only remedy for this era, Solitude as only defense in this life, Solitude as ascetism, the last valour remain.

5.With this project you record everything by yourself, do you prefer working solos to a full band?
I'm Solitvdo and Solitvdo is me. There will never be space for anyone else in this project, just guest if they are related to the music and/or lyric of Solitvdo.

6.The new album was released by both Eremita Produzioni and Naturmacht productions, do you feel both of these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?
Of course. Both Eremita Produzioni than Naturmacht Prod did a great job, prove to be very important for Solitvdo.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of atmospheric black metal?
The Full Length has just come out so I can't say how atmospheric black metal fans think about my work. Honeslty, I don't give a damn about the opinion of the flock, I'm interested to the opinion of the few people that I consider close to my being.

8.Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
No, I'm focused on Solitvdo, there isn't space for other projects.

9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I don't know and, sincerely, I don't care.

10.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?
I don't know, I am inspired by the concepts expressed earlier rather than the music of other bands. Surely the music I listen influence my compositions, so if I could name some bands I would say Drudkh, S.E.W., Ulver, Rome, Death in June, just to say the most important for me, as the most famous Opera composers like Wagner, Bach, Musorgskij, Chopin and so on. But, as i said, the most influences come from extra-musical interest.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Read, Reflect, Meditate.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for the interview and interest, for anyone interested to Solitvdo you can listen some tracks of "Immerso in un bosco di querce" on our bandcamp: http://solitvdo.bandcamp.com/album/immerso-in-un-bosco-di-quercethrough
... and buy this work through Naturmach prod, Ermita prod. or write us here: https://www.facebook.com/solitvdo
Thanks, bye
D.M.

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

Viranesir was in my thoughts to be a side project in which I was to explore relatively more experimental subjects and styles. In a way, a creatively fuelling side project to my main project YAYLA. I finally created it to score my film “Drink From The Fountain Of Uncertainty” and then it morphed into its own thing. There are radical stylistic and topical changes between each album, but so far the uniting factor can be considered their weirdness’s I think.


2. I have read that this musical project was supposed to be a fictional character's project from a movie you where working on, can you tell us a little bit more about this film?

“Drink From The Fountain Of Uncertainty” is my first feature length narrative film. It tells the story of a musician that has deep problems trapped in a hole that he digs deeper trying to climb out of. I have written-shot-cut this film by myself around my hometown, and my to be band mate from Viranesir; Merdumgiriz played the lead role and helped greatly with production. I did not release it yet, but the parties concerned can get in contact with me if they want to see it.


3. Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have done in the past with this project?

Guitar, drums, vocals made raw experimental massacre. In this album, Merdumgiriz and I switched instruments and mainly worked with abstract hate and immediacy. It is different in that the previous two albums did not have guitar in it, and except their weirdness and chaos had a whole different musical style going on. The first album “Fountain Of Uncertainty”; although Metal like this one, had a way more concise, depressive and alien style while having way less riffs and progression.


4. You have some very offensive and politically incorrect lyrics with this project; can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting?

I not only don’t have a concept of political correctness; I think it is very unhealthy to put limitations on speech. That having said, I accept the fact that this album can prove to be ultra offensive for some and made out of spite of the recent upheaval of the guilt propaganda and censorship agenda of fascists under liberal skins affecting our metal. The main idea behind doing such controversial work is to show that I do not feel guilty for saying what has been said, and even enjoy saying it. Before attacking me for making this statement, which so perfectly mirrors that whoever gets most offended, people ought to realize that they do the same. They not only have a good time while the things I sing about happen, they indirectly if not directly participate in them. They also seem to think manipulating and not talking about these subjects can achieve a merrier world. The only merry one will get out of ignoring their participation in the crimes that I am talking about will be their reoccurrence I think. Me singing about it as I am someone who does these things and enjoy it mirror humanity more honestly than it shows itself in my opinion. Using these words lightly also open the gates to taking away the religious zeal around them which then might lead to their free interpretation which will flourish the world of fine art.


5. How have some people react to the lyrics on the album, have you heard anything from very sensitive people getting angry?

I have heard that a lot of random people mainly thought it was insensitive, stupid or pure evil. I have seen couple feminist scum trying to form some sort of alliance on boycotting it. It makes me sigh that people become hate protesters once they find something to hold onto in this life (religion, ideology, parenting, position, possession). Most things deserve to be destroyed and hated but just because our limited minds cannot find ways to include them in our lives. We do in turn someway or another either destroy them or turn away from them. In my life I am no different than most hypocrites who live like their choices are so noble, but in art I am all for freedom of speech and free thought. However I do my best to limit it to the privacy of my art not on other people. Not that I have a problem with people doing it on other people, just the ones claiming that they don’t. I don’t expect nowadays people to get something as deep as freedom, but I know that freedom of speech is the future, I can see it and I am sick of waiting for people to accept the future.


6. What are some of the things you feel that you bring out with this musical project that you have not been able to with the other ones that you are working on?

Viranesir is like a free fall band in which I puke out all the piss within me. I do not let myself have this much freedom and immediacy in my other projects. I also have a lot of standpoints, criminal intentions and strong feelings for petty things and Viranesir is where I get most of the anger out in a socially acceptable platform. I have made psychedelic synthpunk to experimental doom metal in this band and I will continue towards more fucked up musical territory in the future. YAYLA is a tranceful fiery metal monolith with more spirituality and BLLIIGGHHTTED is a progressive extreme chaos with more philosophical inclinations. They can change too, but not as drastic and schizophrenic like Viranesir I don’t think.


7. Are you open to working with any other musician's on this project?

I have two more members in this band, Merdumgiriz and Ruhanathanas. The last album was all Merdumgiriz’ guitars. The future of this band will include both members as we’ve made numerous to be released material, but it is essentially my project and I can se myself make more one man albums. So much as I can see myself recruit more members.


8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to this project by fans of black metal and experimental music?

It has been really good. The real black metal fans never fail to endorse extreme things let alone shying from them. They have been very open to hearing what I really had to say and quite a lot of them enjoyed the music. I always say that Black Metal is the pinnacle of fine art, and its real fans are the real people with a perpetual critical eye. We’ve had very good conversations about evil through my album. Even some who were not capable of conversing about it thought it was somehow “cool” which is sort of better than turning away from the sight of it. Experimental music people are usually lame ass fucking hipsters who are politically correct, so not that many good reactions yet! But we can always hope for the better.


9. Are there any musical influences that you brought onto the new recording that you have not been able to do with the other recordings you have put out?

Musically speaking it is the most immediate and hardcore punkish hateful album I’ve ever been involved in. I have played drums for the first time on a recording on this album. It is also the album with the least amount of instruments (one guitar, drums, three vox). Lyrically, I have touched what might seem to be my most extreme subjects yet in a socio-political context. The GG Allin, Anal Cunt and that sort of influence very much slipped through to our recording without being as satirical.


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

I’d like to thank you, for always giving us a chance to express ourselves through your site, and salute all the work you are doing for the underground music scene.

All our works can be reached through www.merdumgiriz.org