I’ll keep my introduction on the band brief and concise. Suffer Yourself were formed in 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine, as a solo-outfit by Stanislav Govorukha. After writing some tracks, and the recording of an official demonstrational five-tracker, he joined forces with some other musicians. These original tracks got re-recorded and made it to the first full-length, 2014’s Inner Sanctum.
[No political messages in here, yet let’s say that imperialist war can only be supported by those who lack intelligence or vision. And of importance: not every human being from Russia supports the invasion of Ukraine. This said…]
Country (for what it’s worth): U.S.A. (formerly: Sweden)
Music + lyrics: Simon Heath
Production + mastering: Simon Heath
Artwork: Simon Heath
Type: sixteen-paged hard-cover digi-book CD (with liner notes & conceptual poetry) + digital
Duration: about fifty minutes
Genre: Esoteric / Ritual / Cinematic / Dark / Apocalyptic / Droning / Dungeon / Horror Ambient
Introduction: not necessary (for this is such famous project)…
[another ‘older’ recording which this review will deal with, so I’ll keep it short; yet this material is worth being promoted anyway]
Songs seen through the eyes of the dying…
Country (for what it’s worth): Denmark
Members: Casper Axilgård (drums), Atli Brix Kamban (vocals and guitars), Niels Asger Svensson (bass)
Mix & recording: Troels Damgaard Holm (Farvemøllen & Black Tornado Studio)
Mastering: Brad Boatright (Audiosiege)
(released May 21st 2020, yet the scroll-down menu does not go back that far anymore…)
Country (for what it’s worth): Romania
Members: Alex Costin (bass guitars), Flaviu Roșca (synths & piano), Xander Coza (vocals, guitars, synths), Liviu Pop (guitars), Luca Breaz (drums & percussions), Cosmin Farcǎu (guitars), Florentin Popa (backing vocals & field-recordings)
Lyrics: Florentin Popa
Country (for what it’s worth): Italy
Members: Xes (vocals), Nekroshadow (guitars), Apsychos (guitars) and new (on this recording) members Postmortem (drums) and Asdraeth (bass guitars)
Engineering / mix / mastering: Christian d’Onofrio (Atrocity Exhibition Studio)
Artwork: Zizi Amri (cover artwork) / Apsychos (layout & design; adjusted by WrathDesign)
Quite recently, Immortal Frost Productions introduced me to a new project, which is called Bloedmaan. It’s Dutch for blood moon, by the way. I did not know this act, but apparently it is a new outfit by no one else but Ronarg, whom you might know from Antzaat and Ars Veneficium as well. Both these two bands are signed to Immortal Frost Productions, and the owner of this label, S., is part of the Ars Veneficium line-up too.
I didn’t know what this band – or rather one man project with some special guests - would sound like, the promo mentioned Gothic Metal/Rock. But listening to this album was a very enjoying experience.
Released almost eight months ago, yet once again a way too precious recording to ignore…
Country (for what it’s worth): U.S.A.
Members: Bruce Moallem
Production: Bruce Moallem
Mastering: Simon Heath
Artwork: Simon Heath
Type: six-panel digipack compact-disc
Duration: 75:39
Genre: harsh yet introspective Dark Ambient / Drone / Doomwave / Sad Post-Rock
