One of the oldest still-existing Black Metal formations from The Netherlands is Countess, formed in 1992 by multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Zenon and synth-meister Vercingetorix. The both released a first demo (tape) in 1992, before they were joined by Orlok, shortly after he left the great band (and I do mean that, though apparently not many people share this opinion) Fallen Temple. In mean time, both founding members left, and Orlok is the driving force since.
Those who are trusted with Usurpress’ former material might be ‘shocked’, because Ordained did progress quite a lot since 2012’s Trenches Of The Underworld or last year’s split with Bent Sea (which I did like a lot; see review updated on February 23rd 2014). Hell yeah, of course I am exaggerating, but keep this fact in mind, will you.
Milan-based band Evilspell was formed in 2006 in order to pay tribute to the old schooled Speed / Thrash genre. Throughout the years, their sound became little more grim and blackened, yet without forgetting the roots of All Evil. After two demos they released their debut in 2010 (Antisocial Satan, self-released, and re-issued in 2013), and at the very end of 2013 their second album, Necrology, got released.
Last year I came in touch with Alexey ‘Satanath’ Korolyov, the extremely friendly youngster behind the truly fabulous label Satanath Records. It’s not only the label’s roster that impresses me (with so many great bands and projects from different dark-edged genres, cf. Death, Black and Thrash Metal, Grindcore, Ambient and Doom), yet even the website is extremely professional; truly a pleasure to visit (you can find the link in our ‘Links’-tab – makes sense, I think…). And besides, very recently the label released its 100th recording.
Italy’s Fides Inversa (which includes some highly-experienced names from the Extreme Metal scene!) debuted in 2009 with the Osmose Productions-released full length Hanc Aciem Sola Retundit Virtus (The Algolagnia Divine). Since then, there were no more official releases, but Fides Inversa played live all over European soil. Now, finally, it is time to experience this band’s second opus, and their debut for top-label World Terror Committee aka W.T.C. Productions.
Fatum Elisum are a band from the city of Rouen, in the North of France, formed in 2007 in order to pay tribute (not just as another cover band) to the likes of Saint Vitus, My Dying bride, Esoteric, Paradise Lost, Hellhammer / Celtic Frost, Cathedral etc.; things that are as poundingly slow as they are heavy… They were created as well to pay honour to literary masterminds like Nietzsche, Baudelaire, Villon,
French act Eibon, with former members of e.g. Horrors Of The Black Museum, Garden Of Silence, Decline Of The I, Drowning or Colossus Of Destiny, return with their second album, once again for Aesthetic Death. And just for info: in the past they released some material on splits too, as well as an EP.
Two statements before starting the core of the review:
1. All-female bands: it is not that totally strange, yet certainly not that usual either at all. I am not referring to the likes of Phantom Blue or Vixen, hahaha, but to the harsher side of the musical spectrum. We had the legendary act Derkéta, of course, and within the Black Metal genre, Astarte was sort of protagonist. But how many other acts do you know? Indeed, that’s what I mean.
I hadn’t heard about German / Japanese artist Shira Tails or Catgirl before, but apparently she already released some stuff via German label Vomit Bucket Productions, like split with material with the likes of Kaeltiinbruch or Ataraxy – the latter being one of the projects by label owner Gag. Her material is mainly inspired by Japanese anime (cf.
Aeons Ov Frost are a Russian band, at the time of this recording consisting of lead guitar player Ivan Von Frost (he did the mastering of this album as well), vocalist / lyricist Iskaald Nazhdaak (he took care of the art design too), bass player Lekx, drummer Ilgal, and second guitarist Timo Hate (and keyboardist Thel’, but on this album, the synth parts were taken care of by Mhiahss’ Vasiliy).
