Dool – Here Now, There Then


New Dutch band Dool are here with their début Here Now, There Then (Prophecy Productions), and while they may not be a super-group per se, this group definitely comprises a bunch of experienced musicians. With the rhythm section formed by drummer Micha Haring and bassist Job van de Zande, formerly of Occult Metal band The Devil’s Blood, and guitars provided by Nick Polack (Gold) and Reinier Vermeulen (The New Media), musically this band is set up for great sound in a variety of genres.Continue reading


code – Lost Signal


London-based Progressive Black Metal group code wanted to revisit some older material on their Lost Signal (Agonia) EP to see if they could cast it in a new light. This EP is six songs in total, comprising of three from the album Mut (Agonia) and three from their first three records. The band produced and mixed the EP themselves to show rich power melody and dynamics.Continue reading


Death Alley Releasing Black Magick Boogieland on May 19th


death alley

Amsterdam heavy, punked out proto metallers Death Alley will release their full length album Black Magick Boogieland, on May 19, 2015 via Tee Pee Records. The band features former The Devil’s Blood guitarist Oeds Beydals and ex-members of Gewapend Beton and Mühr.

The band has an upcoming show:

Apr 26: Pacific Parc – Amsterdam (NL) (Obey Presents Koningsnacht Party With Dirty Fences)

death alley dirty fences

Come see the best rock n’ roll band in the world and the best coverband in Amsterdam-West, and some pretty famous (and very pretty) DJ’s.

Posted by Death Alley on Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Death Alley’s limited single Peter Pan Speedrock vs. Death Alley was released in 2013. The band came out with Over Under via Van Records and then appeared at the 2014 Roadburn Festival while touring Europe for a month. Black Magick Boogieland is the band’s first full-length album.

death alley black magick boogieland

Death Alley Black Magick Boogieland
01: Over Under
02: Black Magick Boodieland
03: Bewildered Eyes
04: The Fever
05: Golden Fields of Love
06: Stalk Eyed
07: Dead Man’s Bones
08: Supernatural Predator

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Ancient VVisdom To Release Third Album, Sacrificial, This Fall


AVV new album news

 

Long before the term ‘Occult Rock’ was a thing, there was Ancient VVisdom (a.k.a. AVV). News has come down that the band will release their third full-length album this fall on Magic Bullet Records, entitled Sacrificial. With an unorthodox style, enchanting songcraft, and poetic lyrics cloaked in dark rituals and emotion, the band has made an impact on record and in a live setting.

 

 

From The Press Release:

Cleveland, Ohio’s occult death rock conjurors, Ancient VVisdom, will release their third full-length, entitled Sacrificial, later this Fall via Magic Bullet Records.

On Sacrificial, Ancient VVisdom delivers ten tracks that continue to push the boundaries of both death rock and neo-folklore while retaining the memorable simplicity and melodic catchiness present on their previous, critically-lauded manifestations. Produced by founding vocalist Nathan Opposition, engineered by Travis Smith at The Diamond Factory Studios in Austin and mastered by Paul Logus (Anthrax, Clutch, Hellyeah, Shadows Fall et al) at Taloowa Mastering in New York, Sacrificial fuses all the prime qualities of the likes of Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Quicksand, into a wholly anthemic album of dark and light.

Thematically, Sacrificial delves further into singer Nathan Opposition’s personal ascent into the unanticipated enlightenment of exploring humanity’s universal darkness. Whereas traditional lore dealing with the occult, paganism, and Satan tends to be heavy-handed (and often synonymous with a proverbial descent away from any sort of positive self-affirmation), Sacrificial spins a slant wherein “down” becomes “up.” In Opposition’s world, confronting one’s own demons and humanity’s primordial penchant toward chaos and destructive ritual will ultimately pass each seeker through a threshold unto which deeper knowledge, sage wisdom, and self-realization envelop one’s consciousness.

Comments Opposition, “Where there is chaos you will find us. Where there is disorder, others find discomfort but I find salvation. Lead me not unto anything. I am my own.This album will enlighten the fools and give the enlightened something to listen to.”

Musically, Opposition and his brother, Michael the Dark Angel, continue to accomplish what countless musicians frustratingly attempt to conquer in their songwriting: simple, memorable riffs and melodies that stand the test of time. Each hymn comprising Sacrificial is hummable and infectious. Like the best practitioners in any field, the brothers make it look and sound easy to the point where everyone listening thinks they can do it (spoiler alert: very few can ever do it). New addition Mitch Keith Morris wastes no time in making his mark on Sacrificial, channeling deep primitive and tribal percussive influences into the empowering sound that is unmistakably Ancient VVisdom.

Sacrificial Tack Listing:

1. Rise Of An Ancient Evil
2. Chaos Will Reign
3. Blood Offering
4. Devils Work
5. Blind Leading The Blind
6. Worm Ridden Skull
7. I Am Your Sacrifice
8. City Of Stone
9. We Are Damnation
10. Higher Into The Black Flames

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Magic Bullet Records on Facebook


Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies – Earth Air Spirit Fire Water


Selim-Lemouchi-His-Enemies-Earth-Air-Spirit-Water-Fire-Artwork

Many were surprised when Dutch Occult rockers The Devil’s Blood decided to call it quits. But life goes on, and guitarist Selim Lemouchi is back with a new band and a new album in tow. Earth Air Spirit Fire Water (Ván Records) is Selim’s debut under his new moniker, following the well-received Mens Animus Corpus EP. Selim’s Enemies seems to be a rag tag group featuring Robby Geerings on guitar, four drummers, and Selim’s sister and former DB cohort Farida Lemouchi among their numbers.

The record is both very different from Selim’s work in tThe Devil’s Blood, but not completely alien. There’s still a strong 70s rock vibe as well as Farida’s imposing vocal presence on a couple of tracks, although Selim takes main vocal duties. But on the whole it’s far more expansive musically, dropping the occult for a more spaced-out & psychedelic tone. And the songs run for a lot longer – there are only five tracks, but they average around ten minutes apiece.

Opener ‘Chiaroscuro’ begins with a preacher’s monologue of fire & brimstone before making way for a spacey hypnotizing chords and repeating rhythmic drumming. Vacant, haunted vocals with a Bowie-esque twang juxtapose Farida’s recognisably deep wail. There’s a lot going on throughout the ten minutes – although it’s very slow, it’s intense and layered.

‘Next Stop, Universe B’ is more upbeat, and at only three minutes, the closest thing this album has to a single, with Swimmy vocals sit atop a driving beat and reverberated chords. Although this is definitely a prog album, it’s never overdone or overblown. Instead of overbearing complexity and hundreds of ideas thrown in, we’re given a few simple ones that are jammed out and explored.

Album closer ‘Molasses’ probably the highlight and a good example of this. Opening with a crunching repeating bass line and layers of cyber-sounding synth before letting the return of Farida take centre stage and build the song from the ground up. The song build slowly in layers over it’s 13-minute length, adding layers of guitars and impressive solos for a strong finish and a strong sense of curiosity as to where Selim goes with the next album.

Overall Earth Air Spirit Fire Water comes across as very simple but effective, and manages stays of the right side of self-indulgent. It’s not a particularly easy listen, and not one listen to on repeat. But is still impressive, challenging and rewarding album for fans willing to put the time in.

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7/10

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Dan Swinhoe


The Devil’s Blood – III: Tabula Rasa or Death and the Seven Pillars


TheDevilsBlood-TabulaRasaA pioneer of occult rock and one of the most respected acts within the genre, The Devil’s Blood caused a legion of fans heartache upon announcing their split at the beginning of this year. Amongst the live albums and compilations that lie in their wake, their incomplete third full length III: Tabula Rasa Or Death And The Seven Pillars has been released as a bittersweet farewell.Continue reading