Blastfest is soon here.. That should probably lure some of you out of the crypts..

At the peak of the summer festival season, one particular festival has only just begun to make its first announcements. Opting to bring a legion of the worlds finest extreme metal to the masses in the heart of winter, it can only be one such festival we’re talking about...

BLASTFEST!

Held in Bergen, on the beautiful west coast of Norway and filling the gap left in the wake of Hole In The Sky; Blastfest was put firmly on the map when it played host to bands such as Hypocrisy, My Dying Bride, Triptykon, Aborted, Vader, Marduk and many more in February 2014.

Just days after the extremely successful first instalment of Blastfest, 19-21st February 2015 was announced as a day metalheads worldwide should mark in their diary and today we can unveil the first round of band announcements for the festival 2015.

Tsjuder
Catering to the black metal purists, Tsjuder are the first band to be welcomed to the Blastfest 2015 lineup; a band that still tends to that first blaze in the northern sky!

Craft
For their debut show in Norway and their second show ever, legendary Swedes Craft have been invited to Bergen and will no doubt turn the earth into a raging blaze with their misanthropic rock and black metal!

Alfahanne
A second dousing from the other side of the Norwegian/Swedish border; Alfahanne are coming with their amalgamation of punk, black metal and general darkness, alfopocalyptic rock!

Sarkom
Treading further down the already pitch-black path set by the first three bands, Blastfest have delved even further into the darkness with the self-proclaimed doomsday elite, Sarkom! And judging by their most recent album ‘Bestial Supremacy’, they are indeed black metal elite.

Den Saakaldte
With a name drawing on inspiration from eclectic cult group Ved Buens Ende, Den Saakaldte will be present in Bergen for what shapes up to be a pure holocaust for the senses! Mind you, this band is comprised of members that have also been part of stalwart acts like 1349, Naer Mataron, Dødheimsgard, Pantheon I, Nidingr and Koldbrann. Beware!

Asphyx
With all this black metal it of course wouldn’t be a proper Blastfest without some death metal and Blastfest are indeed very keen to provide death… the brutal way! Asphyx, the cult death metallers from The Netherlands will be returning to Bergen for the first time since 2008. Expect classics and top picks from the latest album ‘Deathhammer’!

Impaled Nazarene
Finnish Armageddon death squad: Impaled Nazarene! Some bands are cult acts, Impaled Nazarene are one of those. They have not set foot in Bergen since their completely crazy performance at Hole in the sky in 2002. Now they are coming back with their original pig rig, goat perversion and motorpenises!

Esoteric
For the first time ever in Bergen: Esoteric, the classic and critically acclaimed UK funeral doom/death metal act will bring their paragon of dissonance to the Western shores of Norway. This will be the perfect soundtrack to the gloom of the Norwegian winter!

Endstille
Turning the Stalinorgel to a doomsday major Blastfest will be presenting Endstille! These German black metallers will engage in ‘Operation Wintersturm’ in February, no retreat, no surrender! No capitulation in 2015, not for Blastfest!

Baptism
Suomi Finland Perkele! Oh yeah, there will be more Finns added to the 2015 edition of Blastfest. Baptism are coming with their grim arts of melancholy.

Bölzer
Last but not least, in the world of up-and-coming extreme metal acts one such band that should be on everyone’s radar is Bölzer. These Swiss metallers just showcased themselves at Maryland Deathfest, and in February they will be in Bergen!
Blastfest will be held 19-21st February 2015 in Bergen, Norway.

Frail Grounds Set To Release Debut Album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’ worldwide

Norwegian progressive metal quintet Frail Grounds recently signed a deal with UK based indie label Hostile Media to see the release of the bands debut album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’. Mixed by Øyvind Larsen (Lionheart Studios) and mastered by acclaimed producer Jens Bogren (Fascination Street Studios) ‘The Fields Of Trauma’ was originally self-released by the band in 2012. This release sees the record getting proper distribution for the first time.

Frail Grounds formed late 2005 with a musical vision to create interesting and flowing soundscapes, merging elements from different genres ranging from traditional heavy, progressive and extreme metal, yet always maintaining a melodic baseline. The band released their debut record, an EP titled ‘Corrosion’ which led to many in the media earmarking the band as one to watch. Most of 2010 was spent in the studio as the band began work on their concept debut album ‘The Fields Of Trauma’. The story follows an expedition deep into Siberia, questioning how far a person might go under extreme circumstances in order to achieve a sense of resolution.

Vocalist Morten Andre comments, "We are very excited to be presenting "The Fields of Trauma" to the UK metalheads and beyond.” “The album took a long time to finish, but listening to it now we are confident it was worth the effort and time. There are so many details in between the musical layers; hopefully you will hear something new every time you listen to it. This musical endeavour is wrapped up by a faustian inspired conceptual horror story, which fits well with the musical theme. Enjoy!" "First time listeners, expect a chilling musical journey leading you through acoustic melancholic moments and into more brutal epics! Throughout this trip you will be treated with lots of melodies, guitar solos, heavy riffing and complexity leading up to the grand finale, the emberstorm!" 

You can read the review I did for Norskmetal.net when it was first released in Norway 2012 here : 

          http://www.norskmetal.net/frail-grounds-the-fields-of-trauma-review/

 

                                                     

                                       1. Prologue: Arrival 
                                       2. The Expedition 
                                       3. Freeze Me 
                                       4. A Rural Trauma 
                                       5. The Sinister Road
                                       6. Triptych 
                                       7. Origin 
                                       8. Deathlines 
                                       9. Siberian Nights 
                                      10. Emberstorm 
                                      11. Epilogue: 

Completion ‘The Fields Of Trauma’ will be released on 3rd March 2014. www.frailgrounds.com www.facebook.com/frailgrounds

Arvas (Nor) Into The Realm Of The Occult

Release dates : 29.11.2013 USA & UK, 02.12.2013 EUROPE

Arvas has just released their second opus named 'Into The Realm Of The Occult'
If you heard their debut  Blessed From Below...Ad Sathanas Noctum' released 2009,
this is a big step forward in the right direction for the band.
V-REX: Guitars - Bass - Vocals

This time with some 'small' line-up changes , Bloodlust on guitars so that main man V-Rex could focus more on the vocals. Otherwise I think it's the same studio line-up at least on this album. If I'm not wrong V-Rex has decided to do all the instruments himself for the 3'rd full-lenght.


Their debut was good ,but somehow I felt like it was too polished and 'out of the book' when it came to playing also very predictable at times which ended up with fewer listens than the average album.

On the new one though,they have a much more solid sound and a more agressive approach which fits the band very well.
At first listen you might think that this is nothing special ,but I promise that if you give this album a chance and have a few more listens a whole new world (of darkness) will reveal itself slowly which for me is a good thing as I get more entertainement for the money.

Musically they have much more variation than on ther debut and even though it's harder and more agressive this time they have left room for some good melodies in between.
'Into The Realm Of The Occult' contains much more thrash elements than before and as said this fits the band perfectly.

The vocals are overall more agressive and the drummmer is drumming like never before
and all of these elements has results on the final impact of course.
In my opinion this is by far their best so far and if they continue this way we have surely have something to look forward to.

Highly recomended !

Pitch Black Mentality (Nor) - The Pitch Black Reality (Review)

Pitch Black Mentality (Nor) - The Pitch Black Reality early/mid 2014

This is my first meeting with this norwegian band and I have to say they give me a good impression after first listen!

The first thing that strikes me is the incredibly energy and very catchy thrash/heavy melodies/riffs these guys play, and the vocals are impressive, it sounds like they have spent some time with the production as everything sounds very professionally considering it's their debut album.
The tracks are a wonderful combination of newer and older thrash and there is no doubt that these guys know how to entertain the listeners ears.


At times I find myself nostalgic while listening as it takes me back to an era thrash was very important in my life.

Pitch Black Mentality's music have what it takes to reach out to more than just the hardcore thrash heads as their music has a wide specter and 'The Pitch Black Reality' is without doubt a fresh breath to the norwegian & worldwide thrash/metal scene.

Being a debut album 'The Pitch Black Reality' sets a high standard for future releases to come and most important for themselves.

This is an album you don't wanna miss out on!

Taake - Gravkamre ,Kroner & Troner

Dark Essence Records

1.March 2013

Taake celebrates 20 years of True Norwegian Black Metal

Having started the band way back in 1993, mainman Hoest now celebrates 20 years of staying true to form by releasing a 20 song 2 CD collection of Taake rarities.

           Taake witch are celebrating their 20th year anniversary has decided to release a double disc this year containing 20 tracks of rarities consisting of two brand new tracks,bonus tracks from the vinyl versions and alternate versions & several from compilations.
All nicely presented on this 2 disc collection.
 
The first two tracks,the new ones 'Et Pust Av Oyene' & 'Hov Var Stein' sounds like a continuation of what they did on 'Noregs Vaapen' and are both pretty good tracks and should be essential listening if you like their previous works as these tracks easily could fit into their previous full lenght.
Especially when listening to 'Et pust Av Oyene' I can't stop thinking of 'Norbundet' and winter in general as I think they captured the same cold athmosphere on this one.

As I listen 'Hov Var Stein' I get this 'typical' but brilliant feeling while listening to Taake,very sick,twisted,melodic in it's own unique way.
Some people may wonder why they release this collection of pre-released tracks,since most of the fans probably have heard most tracks before except the unreleased.

But I think it's a good way to mark their anniversary so one can have all their bonus tracks from vinyls,compilations & rarities in one collection.

Overall a good release with a great selection of tracks,and I reallty enjoy the new tracks and some of the alternate tracks I haven't heard to much before. 
My credits to Taake for never giving up and going stronger than ever after 20 years of True Norwegian Black Metal !

There are few bands that captures me the way black metal used to,but this band continue to make music that makes me think of my nordic roots & inheritance while listening, and I have to salute them for that and congratulate with 20 years gone in a blast!

Recomended!

Band website: http://taake.svartekunst.no/
Label website: www.darkessencerecords.no

Unspoken (Nor) - "Requiem Aeternam Deo "2012

Label : Deathrune Records

Unspoken was formed back in 2002 with members from Varulv,Spurv and Astaroth,but wasn't active until January 2004 when the line up was complete. During these years they released two demos,and after that a self released album named "Primal Revelation" in 2006 witch gained good critics in Scream Magazine,Helvete Magazine to name a few.
Besides that they have released a split cd and been on various compilations.
They have played at festivals such as Inferno and Betong amongst others.
 

During 2010-12 their second album 'Requiem Aeternam Deo was' composed and recorded.
All delivered in a nicely done digipack with lyric sheet included.
 
The outcome is a mix of well played death metal with some BM influences.
And it's not hard to hear that band has grown since their previous releases,and it seems like they spent more time on the production witch is way better than their earlier works
 
At first it sounds a bit boring and I kinda hope this changes, and while the second track starts spinning and the very enjoyable opening riff starts I'm starting to get faith in this record after all.
And the way too short second track sets the standard of what's to come.
 
'Groovylicious dark death metal with some bm influences' is what I
would call this,they have kept the traditional death metal feel to it while adding some thrashy riffs and own ideas to it witch works well,and compared to alot of others who just blast away in a furious tempo Unspoken leaves room for more slow atmospheric guitar parts and some nice guitar work ,I can mention the tracks 'Death Of A Dynasty' and 'Oppression,Pawns And Poisonous Tongues' witch are among the highlights on this record in my opinion. 

Both tracks with a duration of over 6 mins. witch really shows what Unspoken has to offer as musicians,as all instruments comes clearly out in this track.
 
What I like about album is the tempo changes throughout the whole album witch makes it an album I can listen to without skipping tracks  or get bored.
I have to admit I had to listen to this one a few times before getting totally in to it,but when I did it reveals itself more each time I listen to it and there's no doubt that there's a lot work behind this and they pull off some twisted riffs and for me twisted is good if done right.
 
The only thing that somewhat ironically irritates me with this album is that the tracks I enjoy the most are the shortest ones and if I decided they should be longer ,but that's just a matter of taste.
 
This overall a good and hard hitting album,but if I had to point out something it would be that I sit with a feeling that something is missing,maybe because of the short lasting tracks mentioned earlier.
An obscure & dark album with some killer tracks that deserves to be heard,so give it a listen and judge for yourself.
As I said this is an album that needs to be heard several times as it grows for each listen.

4.5/6

Band Contact :julian@ofsdal.no
                      
Uspoken@MySpace                               

                       


Order at : Deathrune Records

                Grimface Distro 

Tantara (Nor) - Based On Evil

The relatively young band Tantara formed in 2009 has now released their first full-length through Indie Recordings and I guess the expectations has been high after releasing the pretty good EP "Human Mutation"  in 2010
At the first listen it's easy to hear that they are heavily influenced by 80's thrash acts like Dark Angel,Testament,Slayer,Destruction & similar acts.

With the epic opening track "Based On Evil" they force the listener to want more.
What they have done here is to take all the best elements from the golden era of thrash metal and continued into the future with their aggressive but still very melodic album, listen to "Mass Murder" and you'll know what I mean.
The riffs is outstanding ,I have to credit the guitarist for the outstanding guitar work & riffs on this release 'cause it's not everyday you hear something that actually is quality and made true devotion for the music.

I cannot find one negative aspect with this album really.
The production is solid and all the band members deliver with excellence.
This album will be worshipped by people into thrash and hopefully others cause this is a great piece of art we have here,I strongly suggest you take a listen to this 'cause the guitars impress very much ,with the classical playing alongside with the technical riffs.
At times "Based On Evil" reminds me of "And Justice For All…" But don't get me wrong,it's so much more than just a Metallica clone,but they surge as hell manage to deliver a solid album that I think will set the future for this band.
With a potential like this they are doomed to a great future & will probably be a big name in some years.
A hard hitting thrash attack,with aggresitivity & tension to cut the power combined with epic instrumental parts
 either you're a thrashead or not this will blow your mind out and take you on a sentimental journey from the past diving into the future leaving your brain with only two words left "HELL YES!
Totally worth every single penny!

Istårn - Downfall Of The Gods Ep 2011

According to the facebook profile they play "True Norwegian Black Metal".
But as I listen to the opening track it's obvious that there are very much thrash influences here.
At least musically speaking,especially the guitar riffs & song structure.

Listening to the second track I'm somewhat surprised as Istårn actually manage to create some good acoustic parts both on guitar and bass before they continue in a quite fast tempo,with a catchy lead guitar throughout the song. The vocal parts on the refrain part on "Fountain Of Frozen Blood" Is something I find quite enjoyable and suits the track very well.

The other part of the EP contains 2 tracks "Istårn" and the title track "Downfall Of The Gods. The first one starts of with a cool fuzzy guitar/bass riff and slowly builds up.

"Downfall Of The Gods" Starts with a real thrash riff and is probably the fastest track on this release,and agin I have to say that I really enjoy the way the make the mid-parts in the track which is extremely catchy with some "clean" vocals & some whispering.

The production is overall quite good and I think these guys can get far in the future.
A full-length is set to be released in early 2012.

Istårn at Reverbnation


Click here for review in Norwegian