KAT SHEVIL'S TOP 50 ALBUMS OF 202O

 Fashionably late with my fave albums of 2020 list but here's my Top 50 in no particular order:

GÖDEN - "BEYOND DARKNESS" 

Featuring ex Winter member Stephen Flam. The perfect follow up to "Into Darkness". 

PARADISE LOST -"OBSIDIAN" 

Another excellent strong album from these veterans of musical misery. 

STYGIAN CROWN - "STYGIAN CROWN" 

Excellent debut album from this Californian epic doom metal band who are clearly influenced by Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus and the like. Vocalist Melissa has a great strong contralto voice and she is backed up by ex/current members of Morgion, Gravehill, Crimson Relic, Divine Eve etc. 

CELESTIAL SEASON - "THE SECRET TEACHINGS" 

Awesome comeback album from this dutch band, a return to their early-mid 90's Doom/Death roots. It is as if they bottled up their sound circa 1994/1995 and opened it in a studio in 2020. It would have been the perfect follow up to "Solar Lovers", but 25 years later will do!

Read my full album review here:

https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/celestial-season-the-secret-teachings/

SARCATOR - "SARCATOR" 

Very impressive debut album from this young Swedish band some of whose members at the time of recording the album were only 15 and 17 years old! Excellent energetic powerful blackened death thrash and a very mature sounding debut.

Read my full album review here:

https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/sarcator-sarcator/

VAMPIRE - "REX" 

Outstanding death metal from Sweden, full of killer hooks and excellent lead work, their best album so far in my humble opinion. 

CRO-MAGS - "IN THE BEGINNING" 

A welcome return by Harley Flanagan, a return to the old days of Cro-Mags, powerful HC Punk which packs a punch. 

NECROPHOBIC - "DAWN OF THE DAMNED" 

The best Necrophobic album with the current line up which is oozing with satanic death metal darkness. 

BEAST OF REVELATION - "THE ANCIENT RITUAL OF DEATH" 

Excellent debut album although the members of the band are no newcomers to the scene, featuring members/ex members of Incantation, Asphyx, Soulburn etc. Powerful dark DOOM/DEATH! 

KONVENT - "PURITAN MASOCHISM" 

Very strong debut by this all female Danish Death/Doom band who have been getting a lot of attention over the past couple years and it is well deserved, crushing doomed death, file alongside Mythic, Derketa, Acrostichon, Asphyx etc

Read my full album review here:

https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/konvent-puritan-masochism/

ANNIHILATOR - "BALLISTIC, SADISTIC" 

Jeff Waters returns with the strongest Annihilator album in years, a true return to raging thrash/speed metal form bringing to mind the classic "Alice In Hell", "Never, Neverland" and "Set The World On Fire" days. 

PYRE - "CHAINED TO OSSUARIES" 

These Russians deliver a masterclass in Swedeath - prepared to be dismembered by their deadly death metal! 

REEK - "DEATH IS SOMETHING THERE BETWEEN" 

Death 'n' Roll from Sweden which reminds me a lot of "Wolverine Blues" era Entombed. 

SKELETHAL - "UNVEILING THE THRESHOLD" 

A strong offering from this French old school death metal band with a weighty heavy production and a guitar tone which will crush speakers. 

SORCERER - "LAMENTING OD THE INNOCENT" 

Another great album by these Swedish epic doom metal veterans - powerful and polished. 

INCANTATION - "SECT OF VILE DIVINITIES" 

American death metal legends unleash their best album in years! Some excellent crawling and crushing doomed passages collide with hefty death metal hooks. 

MY DYING BRIDE - "THE GHOST OF ORION" 

A majestically mournful, emotive and reflective full length from Yorkshire Doom/Death legends. 

GODTHYRMM - "REFLECTIONS" 

Impressive debut album from these Yorkshire doom dealers featuring ex members of Solstice, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Vallenfyre. Brings to mind early Paradise Lost in places. 

HENRIK PALM - "POVERTY METAL" 

An excellent eclectic album from ex In Solitude /Ghost guitarist. 

LUCIFER - "LUCIFER III"

Their best album so far and Nicke Andersson's songwriting and musical contribution is clearly heard! Bewitching vocals as ever from front woman Johanna Platow Andersson. 

LIK - "MISANTHROPIC BREED" 

Dismember just called and want their sound back! Awesome hook filled death metal from Stockholm, Sweden which pays tribute to the early 90's Stockholm sound and Dismember in particular. 

SODOM - "GENESIS IXI" 

The strongest Sodom album in years! Teutonic Thrash Titans! 

PALLBEARER - "FORGOTTEN DAYS" 

Great hefty sounding production and awesome hooks both vocally and musically as always. 

PERDITION TEMPLE- "SACRAMENTS OF DESCENSION" 

Excellent rabid blackened death metal darkness featuring ex Angel Corpse member. Fans of that band take note!. 

SOLOTHUS - "REALM OF ASH AND BLOOD" 

Great 3rd album by this Finnish Doom/Death band. Crushing! 

REPUKED - "DAWN OF REINTOXICATION" 

Total Autopsy worship from these Swedes. 

DEATH THE LEVELLER - "II" 

Awesome epic doom/metal from this Irish band, great soulful clean sung vocals!. 

HELLRIPPER - "THE AFFAIR OF THE POISONS" 

Ripping Black Thrash Attack from this one man riff machine! Fans of Midnight take note! 

LIVE BURIAL - "UNENDING FUTILITY" 

Great sophomore album by these English death dealers! These geordies are clearly in league with the 90's death metal sound! With some slower paced nods to the old death/doom scene too. 

SKELETAL REMAINS - "THE ENTOMBEMENT OF CHAOS" 

Another very strong old school sounding Death metal album with some fierce Van Drunenesque howls and growls!. 

SINIRA - "THE EVERLORN" 

Simply put - the best album 90's Dissection never made! This one man band is Jon Nödtveidt incarnate!. 

RAT CAGE - SCREAMS FROM THE CAGE"

Excellent pissed off hardcore punk from Sheffield, England. 

NECROT - "MORTAL".

One of the best death metal bands out there currently and this album proves why. A masterclass in death!.

ETERNAL CHAMPION - "RAVENING IRON" 

A very welcome fist pumping return from this American heavy metal band! 

DISRUPTED - "PURE DEATH" 

Does exactly what it says on the tin - PURE DEATH METAL from these savage Swedes. Definitely one for fans of Bloodbath. 

THE FUNERAL ORCHESTRA - "NEGATIVE EVOCATION RITES" 

Great comeback from these gloomy Swedes featuring member of Runemagick. Slow crawling funereal doomed metal. The aural equivalent of a funeral procession. 

ASHTAR - "KAIKUJA" 

Excellent black/doom from Switzerland. Like a blackened Neurosis in places mixed with "Monotheist" era Celtic Frost and Triptykon.

Read my full album review here:

https://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/review/ashtar-kaikuja/

EVIL DEAD- "UNITED $TATE$ OF ANARCHY" 

A great comeback album from these Californian thrash metal legends - one of the best thrash albums of 2020!. 

MIND WARS - "THE FOURTH TURNING" 

Great thrash/speed metal from USA featuring Mike Alvord ex Holy Terror - a pure savage riff fest full of sharp hooks!. 

THE RITE - "LITURGY OF THE BLACK" 

Great dark, sinister, doomy, gloomy offering from members of Black Oath and Denial Of God. 

TYRANT - "HEREAFTER" 

Great comeback by Texan heavy metallers now featuring Robert Lowe(Solitude Aeturnus /ex Candlemass) on vocals.

PERDITION SECT - "END TIMES" 

Excellent punishing Discharge influenced metallic D beat attack featuring members of Ringworm and other prominent Cleveland scene members as well as another Ohio native, Kyle from Incantation. 

ENSNARED - "INIMICUS GENERIS HUMANI" 

These savage Swedes deliver another deadly and deathly strike! Ripping Death!. 

BENEDICTION - "SCRIPTURES" 

A welcome return to form and a welcome return to David Ingram on vocals - Bulldozing Brummie Death Metal! 

INSIDIOUS DISEASE - "AFTER DEATH" 

Ex Morgoth vocalist Marc Grewe returns to the scene with this latest Insidious Disease album which also features members of Dimmu Borgir and Napalm Death. 

WYTCH HAZEL - "III:PENTECOST" 

Catchy hook filled trad heavy metal from England with great twin guitar harmonies. 

TEMPLE - "FUNERAL PLANET" 

Hook Filled Doom Rock/Metal from Sweden which brings to mind Windhand. Vocals are in the high range like Ozzy and Uncle Acid.  

SLUTET - "BORTOM VANSINNETS GREPP" 

D Beat Kängpunk Mangel from Sweden. 

KNIFE FOR AN EYE - "DAMNATION ROCK" N" ROLL

Featuring Ex Anti Cimex drummer Charlie Claesson - powerful hooky punked up rock 'n' roll! 

STALLION - "SLAVES OF TIME" 

Great heavy metal from Germany guaranteed to get your fist pumping, head banging and making you want to play air guitar! 

Had to leave some awesome albums off but had to stop somewhere!.

Hope you find something of interest that you might not have heard yet:

KAT SHEVIL'S TOP 30 ALBUMS OF 2017

1)DEGIAL -"PREDATOR REIGN"(Sepulchral Voice)

Sweden's Degial delivered my personal favourite death metal album of 2017. Another relentless onslaught of twisted death metal darkness!. This is the new album Morbid Angel SHOULD have made!

2)BLACK ANVIL -"AS WAS"(Relapse)

This may be their most mature, progressive and refined sounding album to date but it packs a very potent and powerful punch, the cleaner sections only make the distorted devilry sound more destructive and devastating and sees the band truly coming into their own and masterfully honing their black metal art. Malevolently Majestic.

3)DEMON HEAD -"THUNDER ON THE FIELDS" (The Sign)

These danes deliver a great album that is like a hardrockin' mix of classic Danzig, Early Sabbath, early Witchcraft, Uncle Acid And The Dead Beats, Witchfinder General.

4)MEMORIAM -"FOR THE FALLEN"(Nuclear Blast)

Ex and current members of Bolt Thrower and Benediction join forces to remember the fallen and celebrate life through death metal. This debut album has an artillery of pounding heavy hitting tracks that roll out of the speakers like a Sherman tank - earcrushing extremity.

5)WOLFBRIGADE -"RUN WITH THE HUNTED"(Southern Lord)

Swedish crust / d beat punk pioneers unleash another high octane onslaught of powerful crisp riffs, destructive drums, bludgeoning bass and vicious vocals with some HUGE hooks as always. An angry kängpunk fist in the face.

6)STILLBORN "NOCTURNALS"(Sound Pollution)

Swedish dark doomrock legends Stillborn return with one of the best comeback albums in recent memory...this album sounds like a long lost follow up to their classic debut "Necrospirituals".

7)THE LURKING FEAR-"OUT OF THE VOICELESS GRAVE"(Century Media)

Members of At The Gates, Skitsystem, Disfear, Tormented, God Macabre etc have crafted some truly grotesque sounding old school death metal which has more than a small dose of pure classic Autopsy worship in the songs contained on this album.

8)NECROT -"BLOOD OFFERINGS"(Tankcrimes)

These Oakland death dealers have released an absolute crusher of an album with steamrolling rumbling riffs and a multitude of hefty hooks. Malicious and Memorable in equal measure.

9)WARWOUND -"BURNING THE BLINDFOLDS OF BIGOTS"(Unrest)

Members and ex members of Sacrilege, The Varukers, The Vile, Stampin' Ground, Discharge, Hellkrusher offer up a short and sharp onslaught of punked up metallic riffage and devastating D beat bludgeoning on their long awaited debut album.

10)IRON MONKEY -"9-13"(Relapse)

A powerful potent comeback album that is violent and vicious with vocals that sound like a man possessed, gargantuan grooves, raucous riffing, pounding percussion and bulldozing bass making this a savage musical beast.

11)PROCESSION -"DOOM DECIMATION""(High Roller)

Another excellent album of traditional heavy doom METAL! A fist in the face of false doom!

12)DESULTORY -"THROUGH ACHING AEONS"(Pulverised Records)

The apparent swansong album of this legendary swedish death metal band which is full of all the ingredients and elements that made their first two albums so classic. Essential listening for any fan of the band or swedish death metal in general.

13)CRYPTS OF DESPAIR -THE STENCH OF THE EARTH"(Testimony Records)

Great debut album by these dark and doomy Lithuanian death metallers which takes the listener through dark and dimly lit musical passages which are devoid of much light and are enshrouded in an ominous foreboding darkness.
A profoundly powerful album which will take the listener deep into their dank and shadowy world where blackness and doom is ever present.

14)THE OBSESSED
"SACRED"(Relapse)

Wino is back with the first new album by The Obsessed since 1994's "The Church Within" and as expected it is another masterclass in heavy soulful Doomrock!

15)SPIRIT ADRIFT -"CURSE OF CONCEPTION"(20 Buck Spin)

Members of Gatecreeper deliver an album packed full of powerful doom metal which has some tasty Trouble style guitar harmonies and soaring emotive epic vocals.

16)VENOM INC-"AVE"(Nuclear Blast)

The hard hitting debut album under this name by the classic "Prime Evil" line up of Abaddon, Mantas and Demolition Man.
VENOM INC have made a musical statement of intent with this album which should silence quite a few detractors and they have made an album that stands up strong against the members collective back catalogue.
"Ave" is a powerhouse of an album full of raw energy and potent precision from start to finish and it also has more hooks than a north sea fisherman.
A deadly and devastating aural assault and showcases a band who are well and truly firing on all cylinders.


17)PAGAN ALTAR -"THE ROOM OF SHADOWS"(Temple Of Mystery)

The last Pagan Altar album to feature the unique vocals of Terry Jones and he delivers an awesome and impassioned performance vocally which gave me goosebumps. Great songs too done in the traditional Pagan Altar way.

18)HORRIFIED -"ALLURE OF THE FALLEN"(Shadow Kingdom Records)

3rd album by this constantly progressing and evolving death metal band from north east england, there are more black metal elements in their sound than ever musically and theres some great dark and doomy passages throughout.

19)SPECTRAL VOICE-"ERODED CORRIDORS OF UNBEING"(Dark Descent)

Debut album by this Colorado based death/doom entity who share members with Blood Incantation.
Spectral Voice have an overall sound that is very similar to Evoken, Disembowelment and the like.

20)NIGHT DEMON -"DARKNESS REMAINS"(Steamhammer/SPV)

Another full on old school style heavy metal assault by these Californians, each song is full of driving and pounding drumming, energetic fretboard workouts and powerful vocals. There are riffs and harmonies galore.

21)HEAVYDEATH -"SARCOFAGUS IN THE SKY" (Aftermath)

Another installment of crushing doom/death from Sweden by ex and current members of Runemagick and Katatonia.

22) NECROVOROUS -"PLAINS OF DECAY"(Dark Descent)

Total Autopsy worship by this gruesome greek death metal band.

23)VALLENFYRE -"FEAR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM" (Century Media)

Excellent 3rd album. Crustier sounding than ever. CRUST DEATH DOOM!

24)OFERMOD -"SOL NOX"" (Shadow Records)

Evocative black metal from the darkest depths of Sweden who conjure up the dark forces of Sitra Achra.
Musically it should appeal to fans of Watain and Ondskapt.
Total Swedish Darkness.

25)EVO -"WARFARE" (High Roller)

First new Warfare material in over 20 years featuring guest solo work by the late great Fast Eddie Clarke.
A musical mix of all the classic 80's Warfare material and the vocals of Evo still sound as scathing and snarling as they did on "Metal Anarchy"

26)AKATHARTA -"SPIRITUS IMMUNDUS" (Pulverised Records)

Kam Lee and his band go full on funeral doom/death here. A darkly atmospheric album full of slow crushing riffing and drumming all topped off with grotesque growls of Kam who is on fine funereal form vocally here.

27)ENTRENCH-"THROUGH THE WALLS OF FLESH" ( I Hate Records)

Rabid and raw death thrash attack by these savage swedes which is in the same vicious vein as Merciless and Hypnosia.

28)CONDENADOS -"THE TREE OF DEATH"(Shadow Kingdom)

Every facet of Condenados sound takes it's doomfilled cues from the old school and they worship at the altar of past traditional sounding bands of the genre but they add extra mournful morbidity into proceedings dragging the trad doom sound through a murky windswept graveyard and deep into a dimly lit crypt.

29)ACEPHALIX -"DECREATION" (20 Buck Spin)

Long awaited new album full of crushingly heavy crusty death metal with bulldozing riffs and deep growled vocals. Brutal and Bludgeoning.

30)INTEGRITY -"HOWLING FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME"(Relapse)

Another aggressive hybrid of HC and metal by these veterans of vicious hardcore. Some black metal elements can clearly be heard this time round.

BLACK ANVIL INTERVIEW - MAJESTIC MALEVOLENCE.

New York black metal horde Black Anvil  unleashed their 4th full length album "As Was" earlier in the year once again via Relapse Records, this latest opus sees a band truly coming into their own sound wise, it is malevolently majestic and is a more diverse musical beast than it's predecessors and one which has grown a couple more heads.
"As Was" may be their most refined, progressive and mature sounding album to date but it still packs a very potent and powerful punch. The band are currentl;y touring throughout Europe in support of the latest opus and will also soon embark on a second trek in the states as support to Mayhem with fellow new yorkers Immolation also on the tour package. We caught up with vocalist/bassist P.D.  to find out more.


Your latest album was recently unleashed - what can the readers expect from this latest full length Black Anvil offering? How would you describe it/sum it up in your own words?.

 It's sometimes hard for me to put it into words. I end up saying some pretty generic shit. But, this record was a huge leap forward for us in many ways. At times it's simpler musically. I think it's important when you can find a way to take some simple ideas that a million people have created/recreated etc, and still make it special or "different". We took some chances & did what we wanted to do & are very proud across the boards with the end result. So what to expect? Expect our best.


Please introduce the line up. You underwent a line up changed a little while ago. Long term guitarist Gary Bennett was replaced by Travis Bacon? Why did Gary leave and how did you end up finding Travis? What qualities do you feel he has brought into the band as a musician?

 The band is,  Raeph on drums. He's been my right hand man alongside Gary for many years now. Sos on guitar. He joined during the writing of Hail Death as we needed to step up & be able to write broader. So a second guitarist was mandatory. Sos is a beast. On top of that, he came into our world & naturally became a part of this brotherhood we got goin on here. That was huge cause we as people sorta tend to stick together & are not always accepting of new faces. Being able to consider him a brother is an honor. Last year, Gary decided to step down from the band. His mind/heart wasn't in it & while we were writing As Was in the early stages, he expressed this all & it went down. There's many personal aspects of it & there were some ups & downs, end of the day tho, that's my guy, and in this case blood is thicker than water. So, we had to accept goodbye. We also could not let this break us. As it is a big hit to lose a brother like this. Enter Travis. Travis has filled in for Gary on some tours. We've known each other some years so, it made sense he becomes a part of this. He made this whole transition seamless & kept the morale up. 


 Where was the album recorded and why did you use the locations and people you chose to record at/with? What do you feel they brought into the album recording?


 We recorded the record in Queens, NY with Colin Marston at his studio, Menegrath. Mixing & Mastering was handled by Tore Stjerna in Stockholm, Sweden at Necromorbus Studio. We initially wanted to get Tore over here to make the whole thing but, schedules were a bit scattered & we had to do it this was in pieces which initially, the thought was rather frightening. How do you spend this time with someone to make this, and express feelings via email & just pass it to someone & put all your trust in this person?? Colin has an amazing studio & the setting/vibe was really perfect for us. Tore, is a master at his craft. There's many records of his I love for all different reasons. Yet, not one of them sound anything as I imagined this would. He completely blew us away, keeping OUR sound, which is some real NY shit, through his eyes. It's really perfect & beyond the expectations we had. 


 The production is very powerful, sharp and refined but organic what did you want to achieve with the sound on the new album? What was your aim?


 That was exactly our aim, and exactly what we achieved. Our demos always have this "mystery" to them, it's cause they're done mad ghetto, and there's this magic that never translates when a professional makes it into a record. Which is cool, cause we're always happy with our end results, but I knew Tore would understand what I meant when i explained this to him. 

 What formats is it available on? How did the deal with Relapse initially come about in the first place? Are you satisfied with their work so far.


 It's available on CD/LP & digitally. Relapse was the first label to show interest in us. The first record was released on Reflections/Monumentum based out of The Netherlands via our close friend. Relapse soon after expressed wanting to re-release it here and sign us. Relapse has quite a back catalog & it made complete sense to sign with them. 


 What inspired the album title "As Was"?


 The last record was Hail Death, and the conversation was, "what comes after death?" And "As Was" was simply stated in my car by Raeph. It made so much sense. To us it represents primordial chaos. And returning to form/nothing.


 Tell us about the cover art concept?


 This sigil was created for us by Valnoir of Metastazis, Paris.

 What subjects made you want to put pen to paper lyrically for the new opus?


 It's always something. There's a duality to the words, it can be something as simple as "Yo, this dudes wack" in the sense of a hip hop diss track. Or someone or something sets us off & inspires a song. So with that basic flame in mind, how do we make it ours & beyond the surface of something which in the grand scheme means nothing & turn it into something holy? And that's where it always takes a new form & can have dual meaning. It's not hard to read between the lines.


 In your opinion  what are the significant differences in the material on the new album compared to the previous one?


 Well, it's always us. We just grow in different ways. I think this sounds like Black Anvil. Just grown a bit more, and way more focused. 


 Do you feel like there has been much of a progression and evolution in terms of songwriting?


 Absolutely. If we're not doing that, what's the point? We should always be challenging ourselves in this sense. Also, it should not be a "challenge", if that makes sense. I feel we've definitely created something of our own & something original.


 Theres a good mix of raging aggression and more toned down atmospheric passages with quite a few riff and tempo changes throughout - what kind of vibe were you aiming to create?


 There was no direct aim. Other than being creative & letting everything breathe & develop. 



 There is quite a few clean vocals mixed in with the scathing screams which makes for a striking contrast...why did you decide to go for a mix of styles so prominently this time around?


 Yeah, there was a conscious effort as we went along. Some parts of songs we felt just required it. If we're hearing a melody or harmony, why not add it? Why limit ourselves. 

  How did the album material come together from when you started the writing process?


 Well, with Gary leaving early on, it put some pressure on us. He was checked out & it was apparent. Therefore the writing can't continue that way. So, without revealing all that much as it's not super exciting, we buckled down & put our hearts into it until it felt complete. 


What made you want to play the style of music you play with Black Anvil? What helped to fuel and shape the bands overall sound?

 A huge inspiration to start this band was Celtic Frost reforming & reinventing themselves. It was also a time when our other projects were coming to an end, and we always wanted to do something in this regard. There are many things that inspire us non music related as well. Every day life, spirituality, many things come into play & we needed a vehicle to express these feelings.


 Why this band name? Where does it originate from? What does it represent to you? Please tell us about why you settled on it.


 Gary coined it. He just said "what about Black Anvil" with Black Sabbath and Judas Priest in mind. As simple as it was, we also found it to be effective.


Black Anvil is very active as a live entity? Do you plan to go out and play live much in support of the album? Any tours lined up? What can crowds expect from a Black Anvil live performance?

 Yes, we plan on coming to Europe in the fall, as well as another US run following that. 


You recently toured with Mayhem across the states, how was that experience? Any anecdotes of standout memories from that tour you'd like to share?


 Nothing worth the mention, it was a very successful tour for us. The vibe between the bands was perfect. All respect each others privacy which is important. No bullshit. 


 What is your opinon on the current black metal scene both domestically and internationally? Any bands out there that you feel a particular affinity with? Tell us about the NYBM scene.


 I don't really have that much of an opinion. Every move everyone makes someone has an opinion & is offended & it's pretty embarrassing & not the reason I was drawn to this from the beginning. So, the state of the scene is whatever. Well focus on ourselves & our brother bands. There's a good handful of bands we've bonded with over the years, Urfaust being one of the most important. Terratur Possessions record label being another entity if great importance. There are strong bonds beyond the music here.

 The members of the band originate from the NYHC and crustpunk scene, a few various members having spent time in HC legends Kill Your Idols for example aswell as live duties for Cro-Mags, how were you first exposed to black metal and what was it about the music etc that initially struck a chord with you? 


 We all grew up in NYC. Which now is almost a rarity. But we got into hardcore through metal. We vary in age, Raeph being the oldest. He'll be 48. I'll be 40. Sos & Travis are luckily younger haha. But all the same background. I've been exposed to Black Metal for years. The usual suspects did the job there. Venom, Bathory, Mercyful Fate. Metal magazines lent a hand. Raeph also lent a huge hand to me, sort of fitting in as an older brother taking me under his wing. I think I was 15 when I met him? He's responsible for opening my mind a lot & always pushing me. Of course metal in general was attractive, but, for example, the darker the imagery, the more allure. I've always personally been attracted to these "darker" things, religious elements etc.

 Have you recieved any negative responses from elite black metal fans due to your HC background or have most people in BM generally been open minded towards you? 


 Of course, there's always someone with a big mouth that wants to run it. Usually it's someone that doesn't know the history of our old band, the history of us as individuals, where we're from & who we are. So, gotta let that shit roll off. We're the ones out here doin this shit, they're the ones hating on a message board. So, we're generally unaffected. There have been times where we took matters into our own hands & had to shut some shit down when it got too personal. So we take it as it comes.

Would you say "As Was" really sees Black Anvil coming into it's own sound wise and is the most unique sounding album you've done thus far? Where do you see your sound progressing from here on?

 I do think this 110%. Like I've said, we're not breaking ground like seeing Jimi Hendrix for the first time, BUT, we definitely have something that stands on its own & isn't comparable to much. You'd think naturally, we continue & get more melodic? But, it's really unanswerable at the moment. Who knows where we are mentally when we write the next record. It's anyone's guess. But it WILL sound like us, and it will grow in some other fucked up direction just as it's done thus far.


 The last words are yours...


 Thank you. 

                       

K.Shevil Top 30 albums 2016.

Dream Death - "Dissemination"
Darkthrone - "Arctic Thunder"
Ketzer -"Starless"
Discharge - "End Of Days"
Soulburn - "Earthless Pagan Spirit"
Heavydeath - "In Circles We Die"
Martyrdöd - "List"
Cauchemar - "Chapelle Ardente"
Minotaur Head - "Minotaur Head"
Serpent - "Trinity"
BAT - "Wings of Chains"
Gehennah - "Too Loud To live, Too Drunk To Die"
Church Of Misery - "And Then There Were None"
Vanhelgd - "Temple Of Phobos"
Sacred Steel - "Heavy Metal Sacrifice"
Head Of The Demon - "Sathanas Trismegisto"
The Temple - "Forevermourn"
Ursut - "Köp Dig Lycklig"
Age Of Woe - "An Ill Wind Blowing"
Asphyx -"Incoming Death"
Halshug - "Sort Sind"
Ringworm "Snake Church"
Gatecreeper - "Sonoran Depravation"
Victims - "Sirens"
Dark Funeral -"Where Shadows Forever Reign"
Abigail - "The Final Damnation"
偏執症者 (PARANOID) - "Satyagraha"
Spirit Adrift - "Chained To Oblivion"
Naevus - "Heavy Burden"
Diavolus - "You Lived Now Die"



Dream Death - Nothing Ever Will: http://youtu.be/iy4GpUEV9UE

TAU CROSS INTERVIEW WITH ROB "THE BARON" MILLER

 Hi Rob, please tell the readers a little bit about how the band came about and how you initially went about re 

Amebix frontman and founder Rob Miller is back on the scene with a new band which also features none other than Voivod drummer Away and 2 veterans of the Minneapolis crust punk scene Andy Leffer Lefton from War//Plague and Jon Misery from Misery. I sent some questions to Rob about the bands debut album which has been creating a big buzz since it's release last summer and I also asked him some more personal questions about how he came to reside in The Isle Of Skye and how he ended up owning his own sword making forge. Here is what he had to say (This interview was originally published in edited form on the Terrorizer Magazine website last year without the additional questions).

Rob, please tell the readers a little bit about how the band came about and how you initially went about recruiting the other members? Please introduce the band..

After Amebix had released Sonic Mass it became apparent that we would not be Touring, which for me was a huge disappointment, I had also been writing new material with a view to another album to succeed S.M, this is where the material for Tau Cross came from.
 Initially I demo’d a few tracks with Roy in LA but he became increasingly busy over the next year or so, at which time I was also looking for guitarists to get involved with this music, with no success at all until I eventually opened up dialogue with Andy and Jon whom I knew from playing in Minneapolis as well as working together on other Amebix projects (Andy did the animation for “Knights of the Black Sun’)
 Away arrived on the scene at the same time, we had been batting e mail back and forwards for a few years as friends and he happened to pop his head up asking if i had anything i was working on right now,so things began to take off at that stage.
 

 Why did you settle upon these guys to work with, what qualities etc do you think they bring into the band both as people and musicians?

 Old school, no bullshit, experience, being cool people to work with, no fat fucking egos to  get in the way of my own ;)
 I wanted to see where this led, rather than make a self conscious type of record ,just to let people do what they do and see what we have, to let go of Control and treat it more as a work of Art that four people get to paint together, in fact just to trust in the process itself.,


 Your debut album was released as little while ago by Relapse Records, can you tell the readers a little bit about this album in your own words and what they can expect from it?
 How can they order it? What formats will it be available on?.

 We became aware once we had recorded the album that there are two clear sides, one that is very much within the feel and environment of the 16-17th century, whilst the other side is more contemporary in its issues and subject matter.
 from what I am getting back from people who have heard this they see it as a natural successor to Sonic Mass, thematically and musically,we have managed to use a lot of colour and texture here, to stay in the same mode as I have always done and just do what you feel like doing, it is a great work.
 It is on all formats, the first vinyl limited run sold out in 24 hours though, so tough tithes to those who couldn't get that one.


 How did you end up working with Relapse? Was it a case of they gave you the best offer? Did you have contact with any other labels?

 I did approach another couple of labels on the advice of various people but they were not interested once I shared the demo, not surprising really as it was terrible quality, but thankfully Brad Boatright at Audiosiege loved it and could hear the potential so gave Relapse the heads up on that.They have been very cool people to work with too.
 As far as offers go, I don't think labels do that kind of thing any more,i just came to them with the demo and then financed the rest of the recording myself, so they had the finished work, plus Orion Landau is their in house art guy and he was fantastic to work with.


The band members are spread out across the world, you reside in the UK and the others in Canada/USA so I am very curious to know how the album/material was written/ composed and ultimately refined was it a case of you writing material and sending it to the rest of the band? Did you rehearse much as a band unit before recording?

 I gave the guys the first demo stuff and suggested that we simply tear it down and make the demo again with all of us, so started by tracking the drums in Montreal and then uploading into dropbox so I could track bass here, back up for Guitars in Minneapolis and then back for vocals,not the most convenient way to do things but we did not have the money to get everyone in a studio this time around, so we would talk on Skype a lot and try and keep the dialogue open as if we were in the next room kind of thing.
 Along with Amebix I also lost all the money I had invested in that so there was not a lot left to do except get DIY on this.


 Are you satisfied with how this album/material turned out in a recording environment?

Well, as I say, it was recorded all over the place, and yes I am very pleased with what we managed to make of that, it is a bold endeavour i think and it paid off.


 Where was the album recorded at/mixed/mastered? Why did you choose those places and people to produce/mix the album?

Minneapolis guitars, Drums Montreal, Bass and Vox Isle of Skye, mixed at my mates place(The Smiddy) around the mountain here by James Adams.



 How soon after the split of Amebix did you start coming up with the music and concept of Tau Cross? Did it come about quite soon after or did you take a musical time out for a little while?

 Tau Cross is essentially Amebix material with new musicians involved, the next stuff will be more communally written by the look of it, but still has that feel about it. this evolved during the long dissolution of Amebix, it is the distillation of that operation.


 What are the significant differences in your opinion between the music/lyrics of Amebix and Tau Cross, what seperates the two bands clearly? What sets them apart?

I think that I spent some time trying to see what it was that I brought to Amebix,that made it such a different band on many levels,and i found that this quality was still intact, I just needed to find a new way to express it, so it is very similar in lyrical and vocal approach but with a more complex and perhaps tuneful guitar sound.

 What kind of feeling do you want to conjure up and create with the music, asthetics and lyrics of Tau Cross? The album cover looks rather ominous/foreboding.

 The cover Art was done by Orion Landau,we chatted for some time about this after he had heard the rough demo ,I wanted to get that same unsettling and eerie feeling that you get from the first Sabbath cover, a sort of 70’s Hammer horror vibe, as some of the songs fit into that environment, there are stories to follow,as usual I am trying to create an internal environment for people to walk into within the songs themselves.
 the Logo is suggestive of primitive earth energies within the lunar sphere of the unconscious, these are the triggers for the music.


 Please tell us about the origin of the band name and the album cover, who designed it and the striking looking logo/symbol?

 I drew the symbol initially and Andy fleshed it out properly.The Tau has been a constant symbol throughout my adult life, I chose to represent that in the logo so that in a sense it would take the ownership of this ancient symbol out of the hands of the predominantly religious context that it is seen in, it is a Universal symbol that belongs to us all.

 Lyrically can you give us an insight into what subjects inspired you to put pen to paper for the songs on this album?

16th and 17th century occultism,Crowley/Dee and jack parsons.the stone breakers of Avebury,the practice of stealing the semen from hanged men for ritual use,Fairy mounds and abductions,the nature of Control, perrenial evil within people, the power of lies, observations of all sorts.

 Do you plan to take the band out on the road and tour/play live in support of the album? Any shows in the pipeline?.

 Yes, most definitely,this may take another ten Months to happen but that is my focus with this,it is not a ‘Project’ it is a band and will be the literal extension of Amebix for me personally, and I will bring everything I have into this to make it work as a live band too.


 I heard someone reference Killing Joke when hearing Tau Cross, a relevant comparison in your opinion? Where did you gain the musical influence from for this album's material?

 There has always been a KJ reference or Motorhead or whomever people can try and liken it to, but with this album it is going to be very difficult to pin a tail on it, there is a lot of different texture here. My own musical influences remain the same as they ever were, you can hear a nod here and there but like Amebix, this is about creating our own space and not being a follower of anyone else, Tau Cross will be our own sound and approach to music.


 How does it feel to be starting afresh with a new band after so many years? I guess it must be like having a blank canvas all over again like you did back in the late 70's/early 80's when first starting out with Amebix...I guess you must feel a certain sense of musical freedom with a brand new musical project with no previous discography/recorded legacy to live up to.

It was very hard to get this started, but when it did it was like being on the right path again,very refreshing and also challenging to shed the old skin and create another new one entirely, but in my life I have done that before and made something better each time.

When did you initially decide to make the move to the Isle of Skye? What attracted you there in the first place?.

I moved here in 1990, at the onset of the first Gulf War,I  was at the end of a long relationship and had ended up losing my house and child , living on floors  again. I had a Motorcycle accident which tipped the scales for me, my bike was trashed, I had no home and all I knew was my folks in Skye, so I went to visit and lick my wounds, and decided that this was time to change my life.

What is your favourite thing about living on Skye?. You have lived in cities (Bristol etc) do you think you could ever go back to inner city life or are you on Skye until the reaper calls on you?!

I grew up in the Country, Devon and Cornwall, I have always had a very strong relationship to the Earth and landscape, I spent quite a lot of time in nature as a kid growing up and I think that informed me a great deal. I do not have any love for City life, it is sterile and artificial,it keeps a distance between man and nature and encourages a false perception of the real World.

Do you ever get Amebix fans randomly turning up on Skye/at your forge?.

yes I  do, it can be unsettling, but usually anyone who makes it this far is an adventurer and deserves a little hospitality rather than Hostility.

You have had your own forge open for a while now, Castle Keep making swords etc... when did you decide to open that and get involved in that business?

I moved towards this shortly after i arrived here on Skye, I wanted to learn how to make a Sword in the Modern world, but this was before any Internet or even a Bridge, this was as far off the map as you could be, so I began by writing letters to Antiquarian bookshops around the UK, and gradually taught myself from what I  could find.

When did your interest in swords and sword making begin?.

My father is a Gunsmith,we grew up learning how to shoot and make primitive explosives rather than playing football. I found out later in life that there is a genetic predisposition in this family to get involved with either arms or manufacture, or mercenaries.

It must require a huge amount of patience, typically how long does the process take from the beginning to the end?

Where did you initially learn the craft of sword making? And how did you get so involved with it?

I taught myself entirely, along the way picking up leather work and jewellery skills, it has not been easy.I still earn very little but my level of work is recognised Worldwide. For a simple Sword it will take me around a week of work, although I usually start a dozen projects at one time and proceed through forging, grinding, tempering , hilt manufacture and scabbard work over the preceding weeks

Who have you made swords for so far, any famous clients you can reveal? What else do you make apart from swords?

I did make a knife for David Duchovny once,and have done a few film pieces.

What's the strangest request you have had from someone?!

I had a couple of gentlemen visit me who wanted a custom set of knives as they liked to 'cut one another' in a Magickal sense.

Thanks for answering this interview the last words are yours.

 Enjoy the album, this is a good beginning.

The band are due to embark upon their debut US tour soon taking in various East Coast dates aswell as a show in Montreal and they will also be appearing at this years edition of Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

https://www.facebook.com/TauCrossOfficial

> https://www.facebook.com/castlekeepskye

IMPRECATION INTERVIEW WITH DAVID HERRERA.

It has been a while since I have updated my blog due to actual problems with uploading features onto the blog via the library computer that I currently rely on due to my home PC currently being offline, I am still experiencing problems so please bare with me as far as the layout etc is concerned whilst I work out what the actual fuck is wrong with this thing! Anyway earlier in 2013 I featured Texan Satanic Death Metallers Imprecation on my Terrorizer Magazine website blog below is the full interview I did, Kat/ WHO ARE THEY: IMPRECATION WHERE ARE THEY FROM: Texas, USA FOR FANS OF: Incantation, Immolation, Vital Remains, Blaspherian, early Morbid Angel, early Deicide LATEST RELEASE: Satanae Tenebris Infinita (Dark Descent, 2013 ) WEBSITE : facebook Cult Texan Satanic Death Metal horde Imprecation returned to the scene a few years ago to finish off some unfinished business which has finally resulted in the ravaging and snarling beast of a full length album due to be unleashed upon the metal masses in June titled "Satanae Tenebris Infinita" which is actually the bands debut full length album proper despite originally forming in the early 90's so I thought it was the perfect time to contact vocalist David Herrera to find out more.

So...you guys are finally back together and active in recent years...what made you decide to initially awaken this old school black/death metal beast from it's dormant slumber?!
David:  It just needed to be done.  There was a ton of unfinished business left in the band, and with me personally as well.  I left the band in 1993 to form Bahimiron (which didn't happen until 2002), and I feel that it was a bit premature.  There was still realms to explore, and gates to open so I returned to the fold when Ruben approached me about rejoining.  We also felt that Imprecation went astray from the Death Metal identity that we worked so hard on, mainly because when Mark Beecher took over on vocals when I left, he started to wearing facepaint and capes and stuff bringing a more theatrical element to the band.  Imprecation was never meant to be that, so it eventually drove itself to an end in the late 90s.  Another thing that was left on the table when the band had it's initial demise was the simple fact that there was never a proper full length recorded, and we felt that we owed it to ourselves as well as our supporters world wide to fulfill this goal.

Your first release since your return was the "Sigil Of Lucifer" EP - Please tell us a little about this release

David:  The "Sigil of Lucifer" ep was a way to break the ice that had formed between the late '90s and the new incarnation of the band.  Tim Bartlett who heads NEGATIVITY RECORDS and owns Noisefarm studios in Paige, TX had contacted us about coming down and recording a couple of songs to kickstart things back into life and letting the underground know that we have crawled out from the tomb.  It was a great experience, though I'm not sure that the end result was what we were trying to achieve.  The songs were written in the right vein, and it was recorded right as well, but I think we might have rushed into the studio a little prematurely.  My Death vocals had been on hiatus for some time, having only been executed with Bahimiron on studio albums and the occasional rare live performance.  When we recorded the 7 inch I still had yet to break the seal properly.  And the guitars came out rather thin in my opinion, though I do not know why that happened as Phil and Jim had a crushing sound at the time.  All in all, chalk it up to a re-learning experience and move forward with the blasphemy!

After that you recorded a demo "Jehovah Denied" that was released in 2012 - what was the purpose of this demo? Did you sell many copies of it or was it more of a promo demo to try and secure a new record deal?

David:  "Jehovah Denied" was a statement.  First off it had been 20 years since the release of our "Ceremony of the Nine Angles" demo so we started to plan to do a true underground styled demo to commemorate the release.  While Ruben and I were starting to plan this action Phil decided that he did not want to play in Imprecation anymore as he was wanting to fulfill his need to play Doom music.  I dunno what happened but Jim decided to leave as well, leaving us with no guitarists.  We were in shambles of sorts.  Milton Luna was our bass player at the time, so we were ok in that aspect, but we had to start an under-the-radar search for a guitarist.  In Imprecation we do not just plug in a guy with a guitar and push play, the person has to fit our ideology and sound, and to be an all out professional on his instrument.  Needless to say there were not many guitarists in our vicinity to choose from, most of the good to great guitarists were committed to their respective bands or simply did not have the time to join a band.  Luckily Danny Hiller, who had previously left Imprecation (on bass) because he had to get surgery on his wrist area that left him unable to play, was fully recovered and ready to rejoin.  But this time it was to be on his chosen instrument of a guitar.  The four of us trudged forward and crafted four songs, fleshed them out and beat them down.  The end result was "Jehovah Denied", and in my opinion it is one of the most honest and brutal releases we had done up to that point.  The demo was never really recorded to secure a record deal, that really was a secondary purpose to be quite frank.  It was more or less done with a new purpose to silence all of our doubters who felt that Ruben and myself could not carry on with Imprecation without Phil and Jim in it.  We did everything ourselves, from the recording to the layout.  We sold all of the 100 copies within the first week of release, and eventually this demo was released on cassette by UNHOLY DOMAIN records in Italy.  I did send one to Matt from DARK DESCENT RECORDS, as I felt that he was a label that cared about what he attached his name to, and hoped to peak his interest in working with us to release our first full length.  As I said, the demo had a secondary purpose of trying to find a good label.  Matt was fully interested, he agreed to sign us for the album and the rest is as you know it.

Your new full length album "Satanae Tenebris Infinita" is recorded and due to be unleashed soon by one of the best and most prolific American independant death/extreme metal labels Dark Descent Records ...how did you hook up with them? Was it a result of the 2012 demo(n)?! Please tell the readers abit about this album in your own words and what they can expect from it?.

David:  Matt had previously agreed to release a split 7 inch with our Death metal brothers in BLASPHERIAN (which is still going to happen), and I noticed that he was showing some interest on some various forums in regards to "Jehovah Denied" so I basically took a shot in asking him.  We've been around a while and have made some sort of mark in the underground through our earlier releases, so I figured that I did not need to "sell" Dark Descent a reason why he should take a chance on releasing our full length as our earlier work speaks for itself.  We chatted over the phone for about an hour as to what we were looking for from his end, he gave me a rough idea of what we would be looking at on the business end of the deal, everything sounded killer so we went forward with the contract.  "Satanae Tenebris Infinita" was originally entitled "Of The Black Earth" as that was a title that I have had in my pocket for the name of our first full length since 1992.  I even printed it on the first shirts that have the "Necronomicross" on the front that were done for the "Ceremony of the Nine Angles" demo.  Anyways, label mates MAVETH came out with their album on Dark Descent entitled "Coils of the Black Earth" at the end of 2012, and rather than compete with them on the title I just figured we should rename the album to something else.  Not to mention that we have a song on the album entitled "The Coils of Eden" haha, so the similarities in that aspect were too close.  "Satanae Tenebris Infinita" was the latin translation of "The Infinite Darkness of Satan", translated with a little guidance from Tim Bartlett and Jeff Tandy (both whose opinions I value and trust fully) and a professional latin translator confirmed that we were right in the translation.  I like the title so much more, it almost has a feel very similar to our initial compilation full length LP "Thuergia Goetia Summa".  You can expect everything that IMPRECATION is about on this album, with a dirty modern production that loses none of the vibe that we laid down in the years of 1992 and 1993. 

Have many reviews surfaced yet? If so how have they been?

David:  Yes, there have been some reviews trickling in, and they for the most part have been very good and killer.  Some have even gone as far as to deem it as an album that belongs with past legendary Death metal releases with ease.  This is very appreciated, though we do not take those reviews to heart.  We will always strive to release the best material that we can, we set a new bar for ourselves with "Satanae" and we are not going to release anything in the future unless it matches or passes this work.

Lyrically what can we expect on this album...where did you draw the inspiration from to put pen to paper to write lyrics for this album? Please tell us about some of the lyrical concepts behind the songtitles.

David:  The morbid glory of Satanas and all of the infernal treasure within.  He is the air that I breathe and the blood in my veins.  I will never stray from the lyrical path that I first started on in the late '80s with my band CHRIST DISMEMBERED.  There are some songs on the album that have different themes than worship, but they fall into a category of Christ hate.  Our song "Hosanna Ex Inferis" is about the putrid Catholic scum who rape tender souls in the name of their Serpent Jesus.  "This is the flesh of my body, the flesh of a new and everlasting covenant."  Blasphemy for desire.  Another song on the album is the opener "Blood Dominion" which is a throw the Christians into the pit with the lions and beasts type thing: "Whips of the crucifiers, strike across the flesh/Devil's snare restrains/Blood flows to the earth/Hear the leather crack/Thunder strikes again/casting the Christians into the pit/Hear the lions roar thirsting for their blood/Goathorned Emperor standing proud/Hear the roar from the crowd hungry for their Death/Devil's frenzy/Bloodlust all around....."
It's not Shakespeare, but that's the kind of shit I get off to!   Also a song on the album called "From Beyond the Fiery Temples" that is inspired by Lovecraftian beasts and Necronomicon Ancient Ones.

Please tell us about the new album title and the meaning and inspiration behind it.

David:  Hating Christ and his sheep.

How was the writing process for the album? Typically how does a song come together from birth to completion?

David:  I don't put pen to paper until I get the song arranged to my satisfaction, and I get an idea where leads should go.  As far as the music writing, the guys would be best to answer that since I don't touch any instruments in creating our hymns.  All I assist with is editing the song arrangements to flow with the ideas I have going.

Where was the new album recorded? Are you satisifed overall with how it has turned out?! How would you compare the Imprecation of 2013 to that of the early 90's incarnation? Is there any notable differences in your opinion?

David:  It was recorded at Big Door Studios is Webster, TX.  I have recorded here for years with Bahimiron, and I am a good friend with the owner and engineer Mike BBQ.  The man understands abrasive heaviness, and he knows how to bring out what we seek everytime we enter his studio.  I would say it's a menacing beast in sound, not too polished and has a great crushing low end on the bass.  Everything is where it needs to be.  The mastering is excellent as well, done by Dan from CRUCIAMENTUM.

Imprecation has always been an openly and blatant satanic death metal band - what does satanism mean and represent to you as indivduals and as a band? It is obviously a VERY important aspect to the band.

David:  Like I said, it is the very fuel that burns our souls.  Imprecation has been and always will be a Satanic Death metal band.

If you compare the current death/black metal scene to that of the early 90s heyday what differences do you see for better or for worse? What is your opinion on the current scene and why do you think old school style death metal is enjoying a renewed interest?! Are there any newer bands that you feel an "affinity" with?! Or that have caught your attention.

David:  Well, the overpopulus of crappy underground metal is a cancer in the scene.  We are all very well aware of the trendies, crusties and hipsters that have infiltrated it, and the best way to combat this plague is to release true Death and Black metal oblivious to their ways.  Eventually they will grow tired of the sound, and will move on to be locusts on some other underground music and lifestyle.  The early 90s were are magickal time, but even then there were posuers stinking things up.  One of the big reasons why I left Imprecation is that I got tired of the mindless Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation comparisons that we got, it's like these fuckers did not even LISTEN to what we were doing.  We are so far from that type of drivel that it baffles me to the core that we would get lumped in with such crap.  Of course that was my big mistake, I was young and actually listened to these brainless comparisons time and time again, and let it influence my decision to leave the band.  That will never happen again, I assure you.  When I finally have had my fill of this band, I will leave on my own accord and not based on false comparisons or other distractions.  Currently there are a crop of bands that are worthy of a true metalhead's collection, bands like TEITANBLOOD, DIOCLETIAN, HELLVETRON, MORBOSIDAD, BLASPHERIAN, HOD, DESOLATE SHRINE, TEMPLE NIGHTSIDE, CEMETERY URN, VORUM, TERATISM, FAMINE, CELESTIAL BLOODSHED, WRATHPRAYER, PSEUDOGOD, CULTES DES GHOULES, FATHER BEFOULED, LANTERN, ANHEDONIST, KRYPTS, SICKRITES, OBESEINCE, as well as the ever reliable classics still in existence such as CRUCIFIER, ARCHGOAT, INCANTATION, DIVINE EVE, IMMOLATION.....

For those who do not know what is an "imprecation" - please give the readers an insight into why you chose this particular band name.

David:  It is defined as a wicked curse.  I think it is obvious as to why we chose this name!  (a big FUCK OFF to the bedroom black metal shit baby from Turkey who thought it was a good idea to lift our name in the year of 2012.  As he found out our supporters are very passionate!)

What has the response been like overall to your return to the scene, do you find that there is alot of younger people getting into Imprecation aswell as the die hard old guard/old schoolers who remember the band from when you were active the first time around?!

David:  Yeah, it's been killer!  We still have a lot of support from the old guard, but have gained a ton of younger people who understand what true underground Death Metal is all about!  Everywhere we play there is always someone from back in the day who never got a chance to see us, and we make sure that we give them 110% onstage especially for the support they have shown for such a long time!  We get lots of emails from demons the world over with their Imprecation collection on display and anticipating the new album.

How active is the current incarnation of Imprecation? Do you play live much locally or out of state? Are there any or many plans to play and maybes even tour in support of the new album after it's release? What can people expect from an Imprecation live show?!

David:  We take things in stride, we are all older, mind you, and have adult responsibilities that we cannot simply ignore by jumping in a van and hitting the road for weeks on end.  With that being said, we have been active as of recent, with shows in Mexico, New York, Maryland in addition to our shows throughout the state of Texas!  We are supposed to return up north in October of this year, and we look forward to it tremendously as the crowds up there for our sets have been INSANE.  Later this month we will be supporting the mighty BOLT THROWER at the Chaos in Tejas fest in Austin, TX, looking forward to that as well!  Expect true underground Satanic Death Metal played with true passion and hate.

Any plans to hit Europe?

David:  Would love to, though no serious offers have come through as of yet!



Describe Imprecation IN 5 WORDS ONLY!

David:  Satanic Texas Death Metal Coven

Introduce the current members of the band - There is yourself and Ruben from the early/old days and 3 newer members, how did you get to know these guys and ultimately decide to have them as part of the band? What qualities do you think the newer members have brought to the table?

David:  We have Danny Hilller on lead guitars, Milton Luna on rhythm guitars and our new recruit David Ramirez on bass guitar.  We have plans to have Jeff Tandy from BIRTH A.D./AVERSE SEFIRA on joining us onstage in New York this fall as David has duties with the military that make him unable to commit to going out of town with the band for the rest of this year.  That will be killer, as Jeff is a good friend and long time supporter of the band.

I have always loved the artwork of IMPRECATION - the new art looks absolutley AMAZING - If I am not wrong it is a Chris Moyen creation. Why did you decide to use this artist? Please tell us about this art...did you give Chris the basic idea for it in words or ???

David:  Yes it does!  The cover is indeed crafted by none other than the master Chris Moyen.  He asked me what I wanted for the cover and then translated it with great talent.  Also featured within the album is another master of dark arts Mark Riddick with a creation of sex and blasphemy that he translated with great vision and talent as well!

What is your local scene like? many decent clubs/places to play or bands you can recommend? Are the members of Imprecation active in any/many other bands? If so please tell us about them.

David:  Texas has some great up and coming talent with bands such as PLUTONIAN SHORE, MORGENGRAU, FUNERAL SHROUD, SPECTRAL MANIFEST, HEL-RAZOR, CHURCH OV MELKARTH, OATH OF CRUELTY and the classical stylings of GOATCRAFT!

What is your opinion on the USA death metal scene thesedays? What bands nationally do you feel a bond/affinity with?

David:  I think it is strong, you just have to know where to seek the strong cults.  Some bands we feel affinity with are:  TERATISM, THORNSPAWN, OAKMOON, HOD, BIRTH A.D., CRUCIFIER, BLASPHERIAN, FUNERAL SHROUD, MORGENGRAU, PLUTONIAN SHORE and a few others who escape me at the moment.


What are your plans for the rest of the year and into the beyond...?

David:  Time to get to work on this 7 inch split with BLASPHERIAN.  The cover art is amazing, done with great talent from DANIEL "SAWBLADE" SHAW.

Thanks for answering this interview..the last words are yours!

David:  Thank you Kat for the great interview and interest in our band.  HORNS!!!!