OneofIceland’syoungestDeathMetalbandsiscarryingquitetheloadontheirshoulderswhenitcomestoexperience.IfproperlycalculatedtheyearsofDeathMetalexperiencetheseguyshavemightcomeclosetothehalfacenturymark.ThemembersofBeneathcantracetheirrootstodemigodssuchasAtrum&Changerandoldlegends

likeSororicide.Therearen’talotofbandsouttherewithlineageasprestigeasBeneathsoIfeltinclinedtoaskhowitallcametogether.

BeneaththeRemains“IguesstheoriginsofBeneathcouldbetracedbacktowhenIleftChanger”Gísli,thesingerof

CurrentsMarch&April2010.Currentsispublishedonlinemonthly,printedissuesarepublishedsporadically.

TwoweeksagoUrfaustplayedliveinReykjavik.FewminutesaftertheyleftthestagenewscameofvolcaniceruptionsonFimmvörðuháls.Coincidence?Ithinknot.Wehaveinvokedthegodzofdoomwithourincantantionsofmalice.Letusrejoicenow,relaxandlettheworldfalltoruin.

CurrentsPostholf666121Reykjavik

Iceland

www.currents‐online.com

eyvindur@currents‐online.com

Beneath,tellsus,“IdecidedtotakesometimeoffandfigureoutexactlywhatIwantedtodomusically,andshortlyafterChangerfoldedIcalledJóhanntoseeifhewasinterestedinforminganewband.Hewasandthatgottheballrolling.Theintentionwasclearfromthestart,wewantedtoplayfastdeathmetal.”FastDeathMetalisindeedwhatthebandisallabout.OneofthebandsthatregularlypoppedintomyheadwasBoltThrower,notbecauseofsimilaritiesinmusic,butinthesimilarapproachinawaytothemusic.Bothbandsremindmeofcruisingtanksgoingthroughthebattlefieldscrushingeverythingintheirway,blowingupeverythingwithintheirrange.Now,Beneath’smusicisabitofamixtureofoldmeetingnewDeathMetal.WouldyousaythattheagedifferenceofthemembershasplayedapartinthefactthatBeneathmanagetofillthegapbetterthanmostthattrytofusetheoldwiththenew?“You'renotthefirstonetosaythatwemixoldandnewdeathmetalwelltogether,but

it'snotreallyintentional.Itcouldverywellbeduetotheagedifference,wedohaveverydifferentinfluencesandperhapsourperspectiveondeathmetalisdifferentduetothat.ButIdon'tthinkwe'reonlyinfluencedbydeathmetal.Someofusinthebandareverymuchintoblackmetalandallkindsofothermusicreally,metalandotherwise.”Trueindeed.Gísli,themanonthekeyboardontheotherendofthisinterview,wasincontactwithlegendssuchasDeadandEuronymousbackintheday.Iamsureifweweretobrowsthroughhisrecordcollectionwemightfindsuchgemsofyesterdaylike“Deathcrush”,“Aske”or“TheAwakening”.

LiveUndeadBeneathwonthefirstWackenMetalBattlethatwasheldinIcelandandplayedliveonstageatWackenOpenAirthesameyear.HowdidthatallgoanddiditalterinanywayyourintentionswithBeneath?InoticedonyourMySpacesitethatBeneathwillbeplayingtheGermanDeathFeastOpenAirFestivalinJunesharingthestagewithlegendssuchasDeranged,Graveandthemighty

Sinister.Howdidthatcomeabout?“ItwasofcourseagreatforustobethefirstIcelandicbandtoplayWackenandthefirsttorepresentIcelandintheWackenMetalBattle.Thegigwentwellandwegotgoodreception.Overallitwasaverygoodexperienceforus.Iwouldn'tsaythatWackenchangedourintentionswiththebandinanywaythough.WehadalreadybeenincontactwiththeDeathFeastguysandthatjuststartedwithasingleemail.Wecontactedtheminitiallyforthe2009editionofthefestivalandthenkeptintouchandendeduponthe2010edition.We'reofcourseveryexcitedaboutgettingtosharethestagewiththoselegendarybandsandbeapartofapurelydeathmetalfestival.”Whowouldn’tbe?Tobeonstagewiththesamepeoplethatdug“TribesoftheMoon”upfromit’sgrave,notbad!However,allthegigsI’veseenyouguyslistedfortherestofthisyeararefestivaldates.Wasthisaconsciousdecision?“Nothisisjusthowthingshavetranspired,”Gíslisays,“westillhaveafewthingsintheworks,bothhereathomeandabroadandhopefullysomethingwillcomeoutofthat.Wehavealreadyplayedthreegigsthisyear,tworeleasegigsforourEPandthenatthe2010

WackenMetalBattleasspecialguests.Sowe'renotonlyaimingforfestivals.”

HollowEmptyVoid

TheMCD,“HollowEmptyVoid”actuallywaspostponedabitbecauseoftroublesatthepressingplant,whichseemstoberathercommonthesedays,andonlysawthelightofdayacoupleofweeksago.Fourstudiotracksandtwolivetracks,makingthetracksintotalsixforyouwithasoftspotformath.TheMCDwasreleasedbyayounglabelbasedintheUnitedStates,MordbrannMusikk.SomehavelinkedthedealwithMordbranntothevictoryofWackenMetalBattleandthesubsequentliveperformanceatWOAbutisitreallyso?“No.wewerealreadyincontactwithMordbrannMusikkbeforeourWackenappearancesothathadnothingtodowitheachother.”

FutureWeapons

InoticedinyourbiothatBeneathhas

alreadyrecordedit’sdebutalbumandislookingforalabeltoreleaseit.Althoughthe“HollowEmptyVoid”hasjustbeenreleasedhaveyouhadanyinterestinthedebutfromlabelsyet?“Yes,thatiscorrect.WefinishedtherecordingsinearlyDecemberandthemixingisdonebutnotthemastering.Wehaven'treallystartedsendingoutpromopacksyet,wedecidedtositonthealbumabituntiltheEPwasreleasedandthenofcoursewegotafewdelayswiththerelease.ButnowthattheEPisoutwearestartingtofocusonfindingagoodhomeforthealbum.”

Reykjavikvs.UppsalaHowdidtheco‐operationwithDanielBergstrandcomeabout?Uppsala,SwedenisalongwayfromReykjavik,Iceland.AlthoughBergstrandhandledthemixingwasthealbumitselfrecordedatthesamestudioyouusedforthemini‐album?SidetrackingabitherebutareyoufamiliarwiththeresurgenceofoldfashionedDeathMetalinUppsalaandhaveyoucheckedoutanyofthebandsfromthere?“WejustcontactedDanielandhewasavailable

andinterestedsowejusttookitfromthere.Ihavetosaythatwearereallyhappywithwhathedidwiththemixesandcan'twaittohearthefinalmasteredversion.Werecordedtheguitars,bassandvocalsatFosslandStudioagain,justaswedidwiththeEP,butwedecidedtorecordthedrumselsewherethistime.WewenttoSundlauginStudio,that'sthestudiothatSigurRósbuiltandfinishedthedrumtracksinaweekendthere.Iwasn'tawarethattherewasadeathmetalresurgencespecificallyinUppsala,butIwouldbeveryinterestedincheckingoutanybandsfromthere.”

“HollowEmptyVoid”isavailablebothfromthebandandthelabel.AsyoushouldhaverealizednowBeneathareinIcelandwhileMordbrannisintheStatessochoosewhicheverisclosertoyou.IfyoudodecidetogetintouchwithGísli&Beneathdotellhimaboutyourlocalscene,Iknowhewouldappreciateit.

beneath.booking@gmail.comwww.myspace.com/beneathdeathmetalwww.reverbnation.com/beneathmetalwww.mordbrannmusikk.com

Manyknowthisbandforit’svulgarstageshowsbutmorepeopleknowitforit’sdisregardforanythingandeverythingthatisholytothenarrowminded.ThereissomethingsleazyanddiabolicaltoArmour’smusicandVinceVenomisabouttobringusheadfirstintothesordiddealingshemadewiththeDevilhimselfwhenheforgedtheArmourhenowwealds.“Asforanydemonicrenegadespirit,Ihavealwaysbeenattractedtospeed,power,fury,darkness,aggression,lust,vengeance,trance,chaos,evil,rebellionandsuperiority.Thesethingsareallpresentinthetruespiritofheavymetal,andthusalsoinARMOUR.Alongwiththeobvious

challengeIwasseekingtocreateextremelytenaciousandtorrentialmusicinspiredbytheoriginalalchemyofHeavyMetal,itwasevidentthatARMOURcameintobeing.”

FucktheRules

HasanythingchangedwiththemotivesbehindArmour?BythelooksofitI’minclinedtothinkthatyoumadetheconsciouschoicetocreateArmourasavehiclenotonlytocreatemusicthatyouenjoybutalsotoseehowfaryoucouldtakeit.“Themotiveshaveremainedsomewhatthesame:Tofucktherulesandshowtheworldthatwe'reaboveallexpectationsfromwhiningspectators,tomanifestHeavyMetalthewayitwasmeanttobeandtogoasfarasourcapabilitiescantakeus.Therehasnotyetbeenalimitforwhatwecanachievewiththeband,soeverythingislookinggood.”

InfectingtheCrypts

Finlandseems,tooutsiders,tobeaveryMetal‐inclinedcountryandtherehavebeenmanyexamples,Armourincluded,ifI’mnotmistaken,ofMetalbandsbreachingtheboundariesand

climbinghighonyournationalcharts.IsitasMetal‐inclinedasonemightassumeoristheeasyaccessofMetalbandstothecountry’stopmusicalchartsjustanotherexampleofthelowsaleofdomesticmusic?“Yes,Finlandisinfestedwithtrendymetalheadsinterestedinonlythemosthipandcontemporaryphenomenonthatvergemetalmusicbysomesuperficialmusicalaspects.Naturallythismisleadedcrowdalsocangiveagoodbasisforustodoourwork.Ofcoursethetotaldegenerationofrecordsalesandpopmusicingeneralhasgivenustheopportunitytofeedasheavymetalvulturesontherottingcorpseofdecreasingrecordsalesofmajorartists.”

FistintheFace

“Aswe'veseen,”VinceVenomcontinues,“ARMOURhaveforexamplereachedthesecondplaceontheofficialFinnishsinglechartswithour"Can'tResistYourSpell/Hellfire"VINYLsingle.Thisofcoursewasagloriousmomentandabrutalfistinthefaceofalltheloserwannabesandacleardemonstrationofourforceandourdiehardfans.

PrimitiveHeadbangers

YourdebutalbumwasreleasedlatelastyearbyPrimitiveReactionandisnowbeingreleasedbyHell’sHeadbangers.Whydidyouchoosetogotheduallabelrouteand,moreimportantly,willtherebeanytouringnowwithArmour?WhatdoesthefutureofArmourlooklike?“FormaximumimpactondifferentregionsitwasanaturalchoicetolookforanAmericanlabeltohandlethereleaseofouralbumthereinaproperway.Hell'sHeadbangersisabrilliantlabelandoneofthebestfromNorthAmerica,soitwasmorethanapleasuretoreleasethealbumoverseasthroughthem.Sofartherehavebeennooffersforanytours,buthopefullysomethingwillappearinthefuture.AsforARMOUR'sfuture,wenowhaveanewdrummerafteralongsearchforapermanentreplacementforouroriginalbattery‐smasherJake,andwe'reslowlystartingtopreparenewmaterialforpossibleupcomingreleases. Myspace.com/metalarmour

LOPAPEYSUR LANDI HELVÍTI

Ithinkit’ssafetosaythatthereisn’tachildeoflightouttherethathasn’theardorheardofIceland’sveryownprodigies;Sólstafir.Forgedinfire&icesome15yearsagointheloftofasmallgarageinSeljahverfi,asmallsectionoftheinfamousBreiðholt.Theyspentyearshoningtheircraft,workingontheirmagickandafteryearsofchargingthevesselknownasSólstafirtheybrokethroughtheboundarieswiththeirmasterpiece.Appropriatelyenoughthealbum,theirfirstforSpikefarmbuttheirsecondoverall,wascalled

“MasterpieceofBitterness”.Thebitternessgotthemfarandafewyearslater,afterheavytouring,theyreleased“Köld”.Thereweresomedifferenceswith“Köld”and“Masterpiece…”andsoIwantedtoknowrightawayhowitfeltforthebandgoingfromtherelativeeaseofStokkseyriRockCity,wherethepreviousalbumwasrecorded,tothemassiveGöteborg,Sweden.ARockCityinit’sownrightbutstilluncharteredterritoryforSólstafiruntilthen.Sólstafir’sveryowndrummerovHell,Pálmason,toldCurrentsabitaboutthedifferencesinhisview.“Therecordingproceduresareinnowaycomparable.Werecorded“MasterpieceofBitterness”onourownwiththehelpofourfriendSigurgrímurUllarpeysaLopasokkurJónssonathishomeinthesmallvillageofStokkseyrionthesouthcoastofIceland.“Köld”,ontheotherhandwasrecordedinavintageanaloguestudioinGöteborg,Sweden,andyes,itwasthefirsttimewerecordedoutsideofIceland.”“MasterpieceofBitterness”wasrecordedmostlyduringweekendsoveralongperiodoftime,“Köld”,ontheotherhand,wasrecordedin3weeks,workingeverysingleday.”

ToursofDuty

Sólstafirhavespentquitealotoftimesince“MasterpieceofBitterness”wasreleasedtouringtheworld.So,wouldthatmeanthatSpikefarmhavebeenhelpingthemoutwithtour‐supportandisthatsomethingthatSólstafirwaslookingforwhentheysignedwiththem?“Toursupportisascamultimatelypaidforbythebanditself,sonothatis

notwhatwearelookingfor.Gooddistributionisthemostimportantthing.Wewantourmusictobeeasilyavailableforthepublic.Wealsodon’twantthesituationtopresentitselfagain,likeitdidonourlasttour,thatwehaveonly50cdstosellona30datetour,sellingupinthefirst5datesbecausethecdwasoutofprintfromthelabelalthoughwehadaskedthemforcdswellinadvance!Andthistourwasinsupportofsaidalbum!”Againwereturntomath.Youdon’thavetorocketscientisttofigureoutthatwiththismove,orlackof,thelabellostquiteabitofmoneyandthebandandthefansmissedthechancetogettoknoweachotherbetter.RitualofFire

AsI’vewatchedyouovertheyearsplayingliveI’venoticedthatyourstage‐showhaschangedquiteabit.Nowthebandseemsfocusedoncreatingsomewhatofaritualisticatmosphereduringit’sconcerts.

Nowthatmyopinionisoutoftheway,whatisyourgoalwiththeliveperformancesofSólstafir?“Ourgoalistoputyou,theaudienceintothesametranswearein.Jointheritual!”ScatteredRemains

Membersindifferentpartsoftheworld.Sólstafir’smembershavebeenroamingtheEarthlatelybutatthesametimeSólstafir,asaband,seemstohaveflourishedunlikebeforewhenyouwerealltuckedtogetherinBreiðholtghetto.IsthisaclearsignfromthegodzthatSólstafircanonlyachieveperfectionwhenthemembersareasfarawayfromeachotheraspossible?“No,notatall.Wearenowreapingtheharvestof“Köld”,who’sseedswereplantedwhilewestillalllivedinReykjavík.Hopefullywewillsoonagainallbelivinginthesamecity,aswetendtoworkslowly,andthisisslowingdowntheprocessofwritingnewmaterialevenfurther.”VinylSolution

TheworldhasscreamedforSólstafirvinylformanyyears.LastyearacertainGermanlabel

announcedthattheywouldbeissuingSólstafirvinylandstillnothingexists,exceptthe“BlackDeath”ep.Thegodzwerefurious,asisevidentwithHaiti&Chili.Iask,asnowtherearerumblinginIceland’sownEyjafjöll;whencomesthevinylversion?“Ithinkitissafetopromisethatallofourbackcataloguewillseethelightofdayonvinylin2010!”IcelandicBlackMetal

“Doesitexist?”Pálmasonisquicktoaskbackwhenaskabouthisopiniononthesubject.“SvartidauðiandCarpeNoctem.We’vegotsomereally,reallygoodbutlazymetalbandsinmostgenres.OfcourseweareisolatedfromtheEuropeanmetalscenesandthelabelsoverthereanditcostsmoneytorecordandputouralbumsonyourown,

butmostofthebandsoverhereshouldhavereleasedalbumsalready.Momentumisnotablackmetalbandanymore,(orneverreallywere,buttheirpredecessorAfsprengiSatanswere)butI’mreallylookingforwardtotheir

newalbum.Svartidauðihavealsobeenthreateninguswithanalbumforalongtimebutnothingseemstohappen.BlackMetalisdead!LongliveBlackMetal!”

BlackMetalisindeeddead,it’srottingcarcassfloatsintheharborinReykjavikrightnexttotheconcreteabominationofdesolationtheyhav

Sólstafir,however,arenotdead&“Köld”issomethingeveryoneshouldtry,perhapsevenwithoneofIceland’smainbeerbrands,“Kaldi”.

Solstafir.net

Idon’trememberwhen.Idon’trememberhow.Idon’trememberwhy.AllIknowisthatSaturnaliaTempleexist.RisingupfromtheashesShadowseeds&Kaamos.

EntertheTemple

“Saturn,theplanet,istheheaviestforceintheuniverseandtheSaturnaliawasanecstaticfestivalcelebratedinancientRome,whichinvertedthewholecity.SaturnaliaTempleisamusicaltemplewhereweareattemptingtoinvertexistence,torejoiceintheupside‐downnessofthings.Inanycase,

itisanhonestdescriptionofwhatisactuallytakingplace.”

AlteredStatesofMinds

“Asforthesongsandouractualliverituals,weareenteringcertainmindstatesthatallowustobecomevesselsforsomethingelse,andthismeansthatanything,andImeananything,couldhappenonstage,especiallymusically.Wearenotaboutplayingthesamesetsthesamewayeverynight.Wewillratherjustopenthegatesandtakeoff,afterwardsisthetimetothinkaboutwhathastakenplace.Whatisimportantisthespirit,the

vibrationandtheenergy,notifweplaycorrectlyaccordingtothecommonrulesofthesheep,ifasongdriftsoffinatotallyunexpecteddirection,orifsomeoneplays“wrong”Iseeitasveryinteresting.Thisisanartform,andformethatimpliestotalfreedom.IthinkthatbandslikeHawkwind,AmonDuulIIandTheDoorsreallydidthisinaninterestingway.Wearetakingthisintoametaltradition.”

InfiniteDarkPower

“Butwebelieveinasteadydisciplineofplayingtogetherregularly,butIdonotseeitasrehearsing

–everytimeweplay,itisa100%.Imean,doyoupracticetohavesex,toeat,tosleep?Theconceptofimmanenceisimportanttous,afeelingofneedingnothing;everythingwedoisanendinitself.Wedonotbelieveindoingthisbecauseofthat,andthatbecauseofthis.Webelieveinpureactionaimedattheinfinitedarkpower.”

PractisingtheArts

“Ifyouareinthisband,youhavetoacceptcertainthings.Ithasnotbeeneasytofindthepropermembers.Mostofusarepractisingthearts,butnotallofus.Though,onstage,Ifeelhowwearemoreandmorebecomingatightunit,likeablackshipaimedfortheAdamasAter.Wearenowthreepeople,apyramid,andthisworkswonders.Wewillnothaveasecondguitarist,sincethePowerTrioisthetruemagicaloutputoftheDaemons.SoIhave

beentold.”“SaturnaliaTempleiswhereIallowmymusicalandmagicaluniversetobecomeunited.I’dliketoquoteDonJuanfromtheCastanedabookshere,whenhesaysthattheworldismuchmoremysteriousthanwemayeverbelieve.”

Formats&Variety

“Wereceivedalotofinterestfromlabels,andbychance,wewereoffereddifferentformats.Wearehappywithalltheversions,buttheyarethesameinsongsandsound.Thevinylgotsomedifferentartwork.Well,let’sseewhathappens.TheupcomingalbumwillbereleasedinbothCDandLPhowever.”“TheAjnaOffensivewilltakecareofthealbumonLPandCDintheUS.Wefeelthatwehaveapowerfullong‐termrelationshipwiththem.Itisarealrecordlabel,likeitshouldbe,oneofveryfewleft.”

Myspace.com/saturnaliatempletheajnaoffensive.com

Black Magick Metal

“First of all I would like to say, that Argharus is aLithuanian Black Metal band, which evolved into fullyfunctioning entity somewhere around 2005. The initialstartofthebandcanbedatedtotheendof2004,whenour guitarist I1 joined the band. By then there weresome non‐essential changes, that should not intrigueothers.Theonlystablemember/founderfromthattimeisourvocalist7.”

“First we played/tried to play some primitive, earlyArmagedda influenced black metal and where gainingour instrument handling skills, when in early 2006 allthe work paid off and we prepared our program andmaterialforfirst‐everrelease.”

ShiningonWatain

“First significant co‐operations to the band evolutionwere the concert in our hometown Siauliai (festivalTvaikas III) and first recording session in professionalstudio Phoenix in Latvia, plus the later release of splitalbum with Luctus “Sonitus Caeli Ardentis” in 2007.UntiltheendofthesameyearArgharusplayedalineofconcerts and signed with our current label InfernaProfundusRecords.”

“In summer of 2008 we played our first gig abroad inEstonia,wherewewarmedupforWatain.Allremainingtimethatyearwasleftforfinishingthematerialforourfirstfull‐length.Atthestartof2009weplayedsomegigswithSwedesShining,bothinLithuaniaandLatvia,afterwhichwe put final touches on ourmaterial, the recordsession started and line‐up changes were done ‐DemonasjoinedArgharusaslive/sessionbassplayer,soatthispointalltheformationthingswerecompleteandsince then we are a fully functioning organism, witheveryonedoinghisownduties.”

GoodNeighbours

It’s quite apparent that Argharus has spent the yearssince they begun well and worked relentlessly. LedoTakashasbeenoneofthemostwellknownlabelsfromtheBalticareainthisfieldsohowdidthedealwiththemcomeabout?

“Frankly speakingwewerenot planning to release ourfirstsongsthroughLTRat first,butasno foreign labelsdidn’t want to release a mini cd/record of completelyunknownband,soourcountrymenLTRofferedustodoa split with other Lithuanian band Luctus. The mainreasonwepartedwithLTRafter justonerecord is that

our current label Inferna ProfundusRecords is situated in the same townandfromourpointofviewismorereliableondoing all the promo work, so the bandcould mainly focus on making anddeliveringmusicduringperformances.”

BlackMetalSiauliai

“The Black Metal Front of Siauliai is ourquantum in the Lithuanian Black Metalscene as such, and it’s more like acontribution,thanorganization.”

FutureSeenUnseen

“AsItoldinearlierquestionthemainreasonwasthesametownwearesituatedin,andmorereliabilityfromthelabeltothebandindoingpromowork.Weareallsatisfiedwhatlabelisdoingforus,andhopethecollaborationwilllastformorethantwoorthreereleases.Speakingaboutourliveperformancesfromtheverystartwedecidedtoexchangepublicitytoquality.It’stheattitudeoftheband–bettertohavefourorfivebiggerconcerts

duringtheyearthantwentyormoresmallperformances,butifspeakingaboutBlackMetalorientedgigs,evenifitisasmallonewearealwaysgladtotakeapartinsuchconcert.Our

currentplansforthefuturearetofullycreatematerialforoursecondfulllengthalbumandreleaseitonInfernaProfundusRecordswhilespreadingthediseasefurther.”

Infern

a-profun

dus.net

It’sbeenawhilesincethedemocameoutthroughMKP.What’sbeenhappeningintheSTDcampsincethen?“Thedemowasself‐releasedbackin'06,althoughMKPdidhelpusquitealotdistributingitalloverEurope.I'dalsoliketoaddthatitwasnotlimitedtoanyspecificnumberlikeI'veheardpeoplesay.”“Inthepast4yearssincethetapewasreleasedwe'vebeenbusymakingtheworldabetterhell,tryingourbesttoinfusechaosandmayhemwithourart.We'veplayedashitloadofgigsandactuallyjustdidashowwithourgoodfriendsofUrfaustafewdaysagohereinReykjavík.Attheendoftheirset,avolcaniceruptionstartedinFimmvörðuhálsinsouthernIcelandasadirectconsequenceoftheperformance.”“We'vehadnumerousline‐upchangeswhichwerenecessaryfortheSvartidauðiorganismtogrowandblossomintothesefleursdumalwhichouraimistoharvest,butIcan'treallybebotheredtogetintothedetailssincethatwouldalongandaboringstoryfilledwithdrugsaddictionsandmentalproblems.”Violence&BloodshedYes,yourliveshowshavebecomeratherinfamousforviolence,bloodshedandthebleedingfromears.Inoticedthatduringthelastgigyouplayed,withUrfaustrespectively,none

That is not dead which can eternal lie. And with strange

aeons even death may die.

ofthatwastobefoundbutinsteadthebandplayedcloakedindarknessrelativelyunseenbyanyone.Theonlythingtheaudiencewasabletoseewasthefaintbrightnessfromacoupleofsmall,almostspent,candlesthatwereplacedonacoupleofamplifiers.“Onehastowonderifthiswasn’tarathermorbidomen,inaway,asSvartidauðiplayedasetatTÞMwherenolightwastobefound.UrfaustenteredthestageafterwardsplayingonaslightlymorelitstageandthenafterthegigvolcaniceruptionsstartedatFimmvörðuháls.”PrimordialForcesSummonedDoyoureckonthisgigofCarpeNoctem,SvartidauðiandUrfaustactedasachargerforprimordialforceswhichculminatedinaburstjustasUrfaustleftthestage?“Thevolcaniceruptionwasobviouslyaclimaticendtothisritualastheearthstartedtoejaculatefire,lavaandtoxinsasadirectconsequenceofourjointforces.”“Ourshowshavebeenquiteviolentandchaoticasyoumentionedearlier.OurliveritualsarecelebrationsofBlood,FireandDeath.”

BlackDeathUrfaustIknowUrfaustandSvartidauðihavebothco‐operatedwithMKPinthepast.DidyougettoknowtheguysthroughMKPordidyoubecomefamiliarwithUrfaustviaothermeans?‐‐“MeandNachtraafhavebeenincontactforthelast5yearsorsoandyesitwasindeedthroughMKPandwe'vetalkedaboutbringingthemoverforaritualsincedayone,thiswasevenbeforetheyperformedliveforthefirsttime.”ChileanDeathSquadronsYoudidadealwiththeSouth‐Americanmafiaawhilebackforthere‐releaseofthedemoonMCDformatbutit’sbeenquiteawhilesincethatwassupposedtobereleased.Isthereanynewsonthat?“Yes,MKPwassupposedtore‐releaseTheTempleofDeformationonCDbuthadtoclosedownshopsforreasonsIwillnotdiscusshere.Fewdaysafterwegotthe

newsofthedeathofMKPwewereapproachedbyAquilusCruorisfromChile,wehadbeenincontactwithMaguistellusforquitealongtimebackthenandweagreedtohavehimhandlethere‐release.AsfarasIknowtheyCDwillbesenttopressingsometimenextweek.Butjustasourluckwouldhavehadit,ChileandSantiagoinparticularwasdemandedasasacrificewiththatearthquakeI'msureeverybodyknowsabout.Hopefullythisvileabominationwillseethedeathofnightsoonasit'sreleaseismeanttoserveasanappendixtoachapterinSTD'shistorythatherebyisclosed,itisinonerespecttheburningofabridgebutlikewiseitpresentsanopeningtonewfrontiersawaitingtobeconquered.”TrinityinBlackIndeedChilewashitprettyhardbythegodzoftheunderworldbutonewouldhavetoexpectmorethanthattobeneededtostoptherelentlessmessiahsofdeath&destructions.WiththeMCDoutsoon,hopefully,youhave C

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indeedclosedtwoofthethreegatewaysyouopenedwithinthetemple.IhaveoftensaiditandIhopeitbecomesarealitysomedaybutIwouldliketoseeavinylversionoftheTemplereleased.Willistheway,butisthereawillwiththecongregationofSvartidauðitoseethetrinityfulfilledwithavinylversionsomeday?“AvinylversionofTemplewillbereleasedatsomepointinthefuture.We'vealreadyhadsomeoffers,yetwedonotwanttoreleaseitjustyet.Weneverrushthings,likeyoumayhavenoticed.AwaxmanifestationofTheTempleofDeformationwillbeannouncedwhenthestarsareright.We'vealreadyhadaearthquakeandavolcaniceruptionlinkedwithussomyguessisthatR'lyehwillriseoncethevinylisout.”LackofTrustAlthoughIdon’twanttogointothewholedebateofBlackMetalvs.Metalfestivals,I

wouldliketoknowhowyoufeelSvartidauðifitsinwiththerestofthebandsatEistnaflug?Eistnaflugseemstobeoneofthoseeventswherepeoplecometogether,drinkandbemerry,whichhasalwaysseemedalienatingtotheBlackMetalelitists.“Firstoff,ithasneverbeennorwilliteverbeouraimwithSTDtoupholdanykindofmoralsorethics,notevenwhenitcomesthe,,rulesoftheunderground"wearewaybeyondthat.TheforcebehindSvartidauðiisaburningambitionandarrogance.Ourdoctrineisthedoctrineofcancer,growthforgrowthssakewithoutloosingourartisticintegrity.Weequalywishtoperformatsquads,inthesewersaswellasTopofthePopsorwhathaveyou.”“SecondlythereareatleasttwodifferentwaysoflookingatafestivallikeEistnaflug.Ononehandwehave,asyousaid,thiselementofpeoplecomingtogethertodrinkandbemerry,fortomorrowwemightdie.ButontheotherhandEistnaflugisacelebrationofdepravity,perversionandfilth.MoresothenanyotherfestivalI'vewitnessedinmytime.AndwhatisSTDifnotasectoffleshworshipingscum?Thiswillbeour

3rdtimeplayingatEistnaflugandafterourlasttimeperformingthereitbecameobviousthatweareindeeddoingsomethingrightseeinghowpeoplewe'venevermetbeforewheredrinking,spittingandvomitingbloodoneachotherandgenerallyactingstrange,violentanddisgusting.Ifeltrightathomethen.”Myspace.com/svartidaudi

IdoubtmanyofyouhaveheardaboutBurialInvocation.ThebandhasbeenoneofTurkey’sbestkeptsecretsforawhilebutrecentlywentpublicwiththeirfirstoutput“RitualsoftheGrotesque”.Althoughthebandisprettyyounganauraofpotential&professionalismsurroundsit.WhatIwanttoknowrightawayishowtheformationofthebandcameabout.

Thanksforthewords.Ithinkit’sbecausethemembersofthebandhavebeeninthe

sceneforawhilerecording&playinglivewithotherbands,exceptthevocalist,hehasbeensinginginbandsandperforminglivebeforebutthiswashisfirstrecordingexperience.”

SeasonsintheAbyss

“PlayingthiskindofdeathmetalhasbeeninmymindforalongtimebeforethebandsoIhavebeencollectingriffs,lyricsandstuff.”

“Ihavebeensearchingformembersandittooksometimecompletingthelineup.Weliveindifferentcitieswiththedrummer,bassplayerandotherguitaristsoItravelledtoİstanbulwheretheylive,werehearsedafewtimesanddidtherecordingafterthat.

RealmofChaos

WoulditbeaccuratetosaythatthemaininfluencesofBurialInvocationisBoltThrowerandtheSwedishDeathMetaloftheearlynineties?Youcan’tdenytheBoltThrower

influences,notwiththebeginningof“ThroughtheVoidofObscurity”.

“Ithinkthebandisamixofearlydeathmetal.WeareheavilyinfluencedbymassiveFinnishdeathmetaloftheearly90’s,oldSwedishdeathmetalasyoumentionedandofcoursethemastersAutopsyandIncantationfromUSA,bothbandsarebiginfluenceswithalloftheirmaterial.Thesoundofsomeobscuredemosoftheearlydeathmetalerawhichcannotbecapturedinanyfulllengthhavebiginfluenceonthebandtoo.”

Young&Restless

AlthoughBurialInvocationisquiteayoungband,asImentionedinthefirstquestion,youseemtoberatherwellconnected.Yourfirstrelease,“RitualsoftheGrotesque”,hasjustbeenreleasedonMCDthroughDarkDescentandwillsoonbereleasedbothontapebySkeletonPlagueandonvinylthroughMeSacoUnOjo.Howdidalltheseformatdealscomeabout&areyouenthusiasticvinylortapecollectors?

“Wewerethinkingdoingthereleaseindifferentformatswouldbegood,andafterweputoursong

online,DarkDescentandSkeletonPlaguecontactedusforCDandtapereleases.ThenaftersometimeMeSacoUnOjowroteusfordoingvinyl,soitwasallset.”

SmallbutDeadly

LookingoverthelistofmembersandtheirpastendeavorsitseemsobvioustomethatthereisahealthysceneinTurkey.WhatactiveTurkishbands,besidesBIofcourse,wouldyourecommend?ArethereanybandsinTurkeyfromtheolddaysthatyoucherishmorethanothersandfindyourselflisteningtotheirreleasesonaregularbasis?“TherearereallygoodbandsinTurkey,especiallyinthelastfewyears.IcanrecommendDecimation,Deggial,Sakatat,GodslayingHellblast,UltimateBlowup,Bayonet&Ehrimen.Allofthoseareactive.

OldObskyreTurkish

“ThereisonerecordfromtheolddaysthatIlistentoquitefrequently,1993demorecording“ViolatetheNewBorn”from

Deathroom.Thatobscurebandexistedbetween1987‐1993andplayedprimitiveandrawdeathmetal.”

OccultHorrorDeath

Thelyricalthemesofthebandtouchfamiliarsubjects;theoccult,theundeadandhorrordeath.Whatisitaboutthesesubjectsthatcaptivatesyouandurgesyoutoelevatethemtoothersthroughgutturalgrowls?“Yes,themainlyricalthemeisdeath,whichisquitefamiliar.Iseedeathmetalasacontinuationofthe70’sscene,whichwecanseebandswriteaboutdeathanddarksubjectswithhintsofdarkandevilriffinginmusicevenbackinthattime.Sowiththeeffectsofenvironmentalchangesandlivingconditionswhichmadetheyouthmoredesperateandunderrepression,itevolvedintosomethingpurelyaboutdeath,goreandanti‐religionmixedwiththeinfluenceofhorrormoviestakenit’stollonthebrainsofthatgeneration.Sodeathmetalisawaytodealwiththepressureofordinarylifeandlettingthatoutasfilthyexpression,withinfluencefromvariousabsurdart.That’sbecausethesesubjectsarecaptivatingforusfreaks;andsinging

aboutdeath,goreandblasphemyisthereasonofthegutturalgrowls,spewingvoicesandundeadshrieks.

OppressedDeathMetal

WhatisitlikebeingaDeathMetallerinTurkey?ThecountryhasalwayshadareputationofbeingaverystrictandtraditionalcountrysoIwouldimaginethesightoflonghairedmenwouldnotbetoleratedtoawidedegreeinIstanbul.

“Itsucksbecausewecanrarelyseeareallygoodbandplayingagigaroundhereandwedon’thavemanygoodrecordstoresandstuff.Youarerightaboutthestrictandtraditionalthing,wehavealotofreligiouspeoplehere,butİstanbulisabigcitythathasallkindsofcrazy,fuckeduppeoplesolonghairisn’tthat“extreme”thereinmostplaces.Butyeah,ifyougotoanobskyrecityinthemiddlepartsoreast,peoplewilllookatyoulikeyoulikeyouhavejustlandedtherewithaspaceshiporsomething.”

TheFutureDeath

WhatdoesthefutureholdforBurialInvocation?Willyoucontinueyourcooperationwithanyofthelabelsyouhaveworkedwithsofarorwillyouventureuntonewpastures?Woulditbelikelythatthebandwouldbeseentouringtheneighboringcountriesinthenearfutureorwillyoustayclosetohome?

“Wearewritingnewmaterialandwewillspendthesummerrehearsingforthem.”“Yes,wewillcontinuewithDarkDescentRecordsastheyhavebeengreat,theyhavesignedsomequalitybandsalreadyandwehavetotalconfidenceinthem.”“Surelywedon’twanttostayclosetohomeandwanttodosomegigsaround,butrightnowwewanttofocusonwritingnewmaterialandafterthat,wewillseeifwegetsomeoffers.”BurialInvocation’sdebutreleaseisoneIrecommendtoanyoneintobandspayinghomagetotheoldgodz.Myspace.com/burialinvocation

Theseguysarelegendsintheirownright.TheyrecordedatKurtBallou’sGodCityStudios.TheyhavetouredthroughIceland,England&Germany,playingeveryshitholetheyhavemanagedtofind.DrawinginspirationsfromactslikeRefused,Breached,HarveyMilk&SlinttheguysjustreleasedanalbumthroughWeDelivertheGutsRecords.

Theguyshaveacoupleofrecordsavailablesocheckthemoutifyoulikethebandsthathaveinspiredthem.

Myspace.com/gavinportlandmyspace.com/wedelivertheguts

WhileworkingonthisissueItoughtI’dincludeasmallreportonsomeofthelocalbandsthatareoutthereandhaveareleaseortwoundertheirbelts.

Abigloadofthanksgoesouttothebandsthatansweredmycallandsentmeinformation,photosandwhatnottoincludehere!

IfyouwanttoknowmoreIcelandicbandsyoucanvisitmyMySpacesiteandcheckoutsomeofthebandsfeaturedthere.

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GAVIN PORTLAND In2007fivefriendscametogetherandformedaprogressivehardcoreband.ThebandwasnamedMuckandtwoyearsafterthefacttheyreleasedtheirfirstEP“Vultures”aswellasademo.Duringthesummerof2009theysetupforEurope,playinginDanmarkandGermany.Thebandreceivedalotofpraisefromthepeoplethatbotheredgettingtotheirshowsandinearlyin2010theystartedrecordingtheirfirstLP,setforreleaselaterthisyear.Gettheir“Vultures”EPatmyspace.com/muckicelandandgetyourdoseoffilthyIcelandicmusic.

InthebeginningtherewasWithered.AbandfullofyounghopefullsdedicatedtothecauseoffurtheringextremeMetal.However,thingsdon’talwaysgoassomewouldlikethemtoandfromtheashesofWithered,Atrumemerged.

Bornundertheblackenedskythebandhasworkedrelent‐lesslysinceit’sconceptionovercomingobstaclessuchaslackofdedicationandseeingsomemembersleavingalongtheline.Withtheircurrentline‐up,however,theyseemtohaveworkedoutanyglitchesandthelasttwoliveappearancesIwitnessedwerebreathtaking.Atrumwentferousiouslythroughtheirsetwithoutanyflawsandwereawardedaccordinglybytheaudience.

Thebandareallsettoreleaseamini‐albumthismonthsogetintouchwiththemthroughmyspace.com/atrumiceland

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Inthefiveyearsthey’vebeentogetherCarpeNoctemhavereleasedademo,in2008,andamini‐album,in2009.Theirdebutrelease,“Myrkraverk”,includedundergroundanthemslike“ÉgelskaaðríðaSatan”whichtooktheIcelandicscenebystorm.BuildingonthatsensationCarpeNoctementeredFosslandStudiosandrecordedthefourtrackmini‐album“CarpeNoctem”.WiththatreleasethetruefaceofCarpeNoctemwasshownandnoholdswerebarred.Themini‐albumoffersusrathergooddeathlikeBlackMetalwhichshowsignsofgreatthingstocome.

InmyopinionthemembershavealsomanagedtopullsomeofthebestcorpsepaintsI’veseeninyearscreatingtroll‐likeappearancesduringtheirlivesets.Getintouchwiththemthroughmyspace.com/carpenoctemicelandfortheirreleases.

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ElevenyearsagodrummerKristjánB.HeiðarssongottheideainhisheadthatheshouldshowothersinactionhowhethoughtextremeMetalshouldsoundlike.TheresultasweknowitisChanger.

TheyearshavenotgonewitheaseforChangerandtakingthebandfromastudio‐bastedsoloprojecttoafullytunedmachinereadyforliveactionhasn’tgonewithoutit’ssharesofglitches.Theprojecthasbeenputoniceatleastoncebuttodayitismoreactivethanbefore,theysay,withafulllineup.

2000January109,2001Inconsistency2004Scenes2006BreedTheLies

myspace.com/changermetalreverbnation.com/changericeland

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ThecurrentoverlordsofIcelandicDeatharewithoutadoubtthedeadboltsinSeveredCrotch.Theline‐upreadslikea“who’swho”ofIcelandicDeathMetalwithbandmembersfromPlasticGods,Momentum&Bastardamongstothers.

ThebanddeliversalethaldoseoftechnicalDeathMetalbutareknownforgettingthecrowdsattheirshowsallpsyckedupandcreatingsomeofthebiggestcirclepitsseenthissideofReyðarfjörður.

In2007thebandreleasedapromoandanalbumcalled“SoulCremation”andI’mtoldtheyareworkinghardonanewalbum.

Myspace.com/severedcrotch

myspace.com/momentumthebandManysaythattheoriginsofMomentumcanbetracedtooneofIceland’smostunknownBlackMetalband,AfsprengiSatan.Thetruthis,however,thatMomentumisamedleyofwhatsomeinsidershavedescribedasbeingthebestIcelandhastoofferinIcelandicMetal,withthatinmindit’sbestIletthemembersofMomentumhandlethisone.“HavinglongsinceconferredknighthoodinIcelandasthetightestandhardestworkingmetalbandinthemetalscenetoday,Momentumhashonoreditsnameandneverstoppedtorestintheirsearchforamusicalidentity.Withtwograndiloquentthematicextendedplay‐albumsundertheirbelt,theirsoon‐to‐bereleasedfulllengthalbumventuresbeyondtherealmofmusicallabeling:arealmmirroredinthepsychedeliccoverartofthefrontman,andthemixedcolorsoftheevergrowingcrowdattendingtheirshows.WoodstockorWacken,Momentumbringstherightstufftotheparty.”

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be‐postalworkers,GonePostalhavekeptthemselvesbusyandreleasedademo,asplit,afull‐lengthaswellappearingon,atleast,onecompilation.

Thebanddescribestheirmusicas“umbrageousdeathmetalfilledwithmisanthropy&pessimism”.TomeandyouthatmeansthatthebandsoundslikeInfernalTormentandAkercockegivingeachotherawholelotofstd’s!

myspace.com/gonepostalmetal