Sacred Sin were / are one of the most ‘popular’ bands from Portugal, though their popularity has never reached the level of, let’s say, a band like Moonspell. That’s undeserved and a pity. They were formed in 1991 and debuted in 1992 with the EP The Shades Behind. One year later, Sacred Sin released their full length debut Darkside via Portuguese label Musica Alternativa, followed by several other albums and some compilations.
‘Mekigah is an effusion of sounds emanating from a dark turbulent vortex… A beautiful blackened bastard child of diverse dark genres’... Does this introduction make you happy? Horny? Anxious? Scared? Or maybe all of them? In that case, I recommend you to read on!
Dargonomel are currently a two-piece from Russia (original members Shaks on guitars, and bass player / vocalist Var), formed in 2006 under the moniker of Subterra de Mort. After the release of the Ultimatum-album, the band ceased its activities in 2010, but they reformed in 2011, first as Sakkath, and very soon after under the name of Dargonomel.
I have always liked what Irish act Wreck Of The Hesperus did in the past. But somehow, I sort of ‘lost’ them after their split with fellow countrymen Mourning Beloveth. But the Aesthetic Death office did offer us the Light Rotting Out album, so there is no reason not to review this master piece, despite being ‘old’, i.e. released almost four years ago. It’s not because I am such a sweet human entity only; I just think that good stuff deserves what it deserves (if you know what I mean).
The history of Finnish outfit Uhriristi goes back to 2011, when Rutto and Samael decided to write some blackish stuff in their mother tongue. With Synti and Räyhähenki joining their ranks, Uhriristi recorded the demo Petetty (self-release on CD-r). Then they (were) contacted (by) Mortis Humanae Productions, and this label re-released that demonstrational effort on tape in 2012.
The Italian trio Nyx (A. Sathsiva, S. Flagellyon and G. Azelyoth) recorded this new album at the Sottomarino Giallo Rec Service studio during summer 2014, with mixing / mastering assistance of Luis Varo. The result, called Hairesis and, unfortunately, lasting for only half an hour (and some seconds, all right), gets released by two of my preferred East-European labels, i.e. Vacula Productions and Satanath Records.
Belgian quartet Bones (Stef Aertsen, Jeroen De Pauw, Viktor Walschaerts and Lukas Huybrechts) started in 2011, and in 2012 they released a first demo, which was released on vinyl too somewhat later. In mean time, the band was able to perform live on stage with the likes of Obituary, Necrowretch, Undergang, Morbus Chron, Master and many more.
I hadn’t heard of the Malaysian horde Blasphmachine before, but apparently this trio is pretty known in their home country and Singapore. With Exhumation, Savage Deity and Shambles, they released a live-split taken from a tour in both countries. Anyway, Blasphmachine did write and record a handful of tracks in their two-three years of existence, and two of them have now been compiled under the working title Oath.
Finally! The first release of Belgian horde Ars Veneficium! All together: joepie! Why such enthusiasm? Well, actually I need to do so, because this is one of the bands Immortal Frost Productions’ Surtur is involved with, so I cannot but be positive…
I am aware of a handful of (sometimes really interesting) acts from Kazakhstan, but I didn’t know Detention. However, apparently this project did release a first album in 2013, called Coma, via (mighty) No Remorse Records (British, but based in Gibraltar). But as said, this is my first acquaintance with Detention. It seems to be a project, a solo-outfit, by a guy called Yeldar Rakishev.
