French outfit Griffon, nowadays with current and former members of e.g. Moonreich, Neptrecus, Septentrion etc..., signed to the honest (Underground) label Hass Weg Productions in order to have their debut released the most decent way. In 2014 the band did also record and release an EP (crazily called Wig Ah Wag), but I did not have the opportunity (yet) to enjoy that material.
Pensées Nocturnes did release a new album in earlier 2016, this time not via long-time label Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions (or sub-label Emanations?), but independently. Therefor I had been kindly asked to write down my nocturnal thoughts on Nom D’Une Pipe!, the third full length by this unusual one-man project. Pensées Nocturnes were formed in 2008 by Vaerohn, who joined Way To End a couple of years ago.
A while ago I came along Satanismo Calibro 9 via one or another (lugubrious) site, and I was truly impressed by the whole atmosphere. More recently I came in touch with Frater Rudolf from Old Europa Cafe, and one of the releases I bought / received was one for that Italian act.
I guess Reutoff are one of the most influential Industrial / Ambient acts from Russia, known for an unconventional yet quite impressive elegance. So I do not think it’s a wonder that this project deserves a tribute album, which includes some of the major acts that dwell around the Drone / Post-Industrial / Dark Ambient / Neo-Folk scenes lately. Ere wie ere toekomt! (something like ‘honour to whom deserves honour’).
One of the nicest guys I came in touch with in 2014 must be Canadian musician Myrtroen. ‘myrtroen’ is the Norse spelling of this guy’s great grandfather’s name when the latter moved over from Norway to North America (first the U.S., then Canada; Myrtroen still lives in Canada); we’re talking about more than a century ago – but this isn’t a etymologic essay, so let’s continue with the merits of the guy behind Avitas.
Absolutus are an act from the French-speaking part of Belgium (Liege, to be more specific), known for their releases with Latin titles. They have been extremely silent for more than seven years, but now they did return with their second full length, called Pugnare In Iis Quae Obtinere Non Possis. It was recorded at the Blackout Studio and it has a total running time of thirty three minutes. And I can, and will, be very limitedly focused right here.
Moscow-based Ephemeral Ocean are quite a young band, formed in 2013. In April 2014 the band self-released a demonstrational MCD / EP, Honour In The Mask, and after some line-up changes, they did enter the studio again to record their debut full length. The result, by the way, was mixed and mastered at the famous Priority Recording Studio by nobody else but Esoteric’s Greg Chandler (!).
Despite about eight years of existence, Ukrainian outfit Sidus Mortuorum has been low-productive in releases. After a demo in 2009, they came up with their debut album Endless Funeral (Nocturnus Records, 2010), and a second one in 2012, called Coffin Slaves (independently released the digital way) – oh yes, there was a single in between both albums.
It seems that once again, Stratovarius has managed to deliver us a good album. Their 16th studio
album so far, since their formation in 1984. They did a tour to promote this new album, which also
brought them to Belgium, at the Biebop.
They still play power metal, but it seems they have gone back to their earlier sound. This also implies
you don’t have to expect new gimmicks on this album, it’s good, old fashioned Stratovarius stuff, with
the o so familiar Timo Tolkki vocals., which you either hate, or love. And once again I’m flabbergasted
When Maëror Tri decided to split up almost two decades ago (and still my tears haven’t completely gone yet), two of the members, Stefan and Martin (aka Baraka[H] and Glit[s]ch), decided to continue their collaboration under the moniker of Troum. ‘troum’ is an old-Germanic word for ‘dream’ (Traum in modern German), and they did choose this moniker specifically to focus on the experiences of the past, knowing that there will never be a return.
