/r/RABM/

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wolves In The Throne Room - "Black Cascade" (2009)

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM "Black Cascade"

Year: 2009
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Southern Lord prod.

Track List:

  1. Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
  2. Ahrimanic Trance
  3. Ex Cathedra
  4. Crystal Ammunition

DOWNLOAD

This is the latest up to date full-length release by WITTR, and it's no worse than the previous albums. WITTR are still breaking all black metal cliches, so if you don't like the primitivism and Satanic fixation of most underground BM bands, then "Black Cascade" is a release for you. It's music inspired by nature and sorrow, and a strong "shamanic" feel is also present (especially on 2nd track). Damn, I'm starting to like black metal from USA more and more!..

Now WITTR are a very well-known band on a world's black metal scene, and they definitely deserve all that attention. More left-wing and environmentalist black metal, more good bands from Cascadia!

Wolves In The Throne Room - "Malevolent Grain" (2009)


WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM "Malevolent Grain"

Year: 2009
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Southern Lord / Conspiracy Records

Track List:
  1. A Looming Resonance
  2. Hate Crystal
DOWNLOAD

It's an EP featuring two brand new songs by WITTR, and it's rather an experimental release (so you haven't heard any WITTR albums before, I'd recommend one of their earlier releases). The first track is very good, it's pure atmospheric black metal melancholy and it has female vocals. The second track features more traditional, bleak and aggressive black metal, but IMO it isn't as good as the first. (By the way, "Hate Crystal" - wtf does that title mean?..) Overall this release is a try of a new approach towards black metal... whether you like it or not.

Wolves In The Throne Room - "Two Hunters" (2007)

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM "Two Hunters"

Year: 2007
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Southern Lord Records

Track List:

  1. Dea Artio
  2. Vastness and Sorrow
  3. Cleansing
  4. I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots

DOWNLOAD

Some people argue that there's no place for political lyrics in black metal, and it's more suitable for a heavy or black metal band to sing about ancient forests and the beauty of wolves. Well, even if you're one of these, you probably wouldn't see anything wrong with green anarchist black metal, as it's presented by WITTR and the other bands from Northern Cascadia. "Two Hunters" isn't any worse than "Diadem of 12 Stars", it's still very good atmospheric black metal. There is also an expanded version of this release, including a bonus track entitled 'To Reveal' and an extended version of "Cleansing", but sadly I don't have it.

Wolves In The Throne Room - "Diadem of 12 Stars" (2006)


WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM "Diadem Of 12 Stars"

Year: 2006
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Vendlus Records

Track List:
  1. Queen of the Borrowed Light
  2. Face in a Night Time Mirror: Part 1
  3. Face in a Night Time Mirror: Part 2
  4. (A Shimmering Radiance) Diadem of 12 Stars
I'm sure you all have heard about Wolves In The Throne Room. They were the first well-known black metal (not blackened crust) band to explicitly express their support for left-wing politics, environmentalism and eco-feminism. WITTR are the best representative of a Cascadian black metal movement, and they're direct predecessors of Panopticon (though WITTR aren't as radical as Panopticon).

This release is also outstanding in terms of music. It's progressive black metal with a perfect atmosphere, a must-listen album to every fan of RABM!


Skagos & Tomhet - "Himmelszelt" (2008)


SKAGOS & TOMHET "Himmelszelt"

Year: 2008
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal / Dark Ambient
Country: Canada
Label: Woodsmoke prod.

Track List:

Skagos
  1. Apotheosis (and Lo, the Gate of Himmelszelt)
  2. Precession
  3. Orthodox Painted with the Ash of Pine
Tomhet
  1. Epoch
  2. Journey Through the Frozen Forest
  3. Desolate Palace
  4. Gelid
  5. Descension (and thus, Solitude)
DOWNLOAD

It is a cassette rip, so don't be surpised that the quality of the record isn't perfect (the rip isn't made by me, and I'm too lazy to remove all the hiss). But it's alright anyway.

The "Himmelszelt" split is a first "serious" release by Skagos. Though Skagos is a project by a member of Iskra, it doesn't sound like Iskra at all, it's more resembling Panopticon, WITTR and other Cascadian black metal bands. It's experimental black metal with many acoustic and "folk-ish" parts, and the atmosphere of the record is perfect - that's how green anarchist black metal should sound like.

Tomhet's part of the split is more dark ambient-influenced, in the vein of Velvet Cacoon. I didn't like these track as much as I like Skagos' part, but they're good anyway. It's like feelings of a man alone at night in a winter forest, expressed in sound. Hope you like it.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Timebomb - "Hymns For A Decaying Empire" (1996)


TIMEBOMB "Hymns For A Decaying Empire"

Year: 1996
Genre: Hardcore / proto-RABM
Country: Italy
Label: S.O.A. Records

Track List:
  1. Trinity
  2. The Truth Denied
  3. Dream
  4. Damnation
  5. Deep
  6. Bow
  7. Culture Abstinence
  8. When The Blood Calls
  9. Untitled
DOWNLOAD

Great thanks again to 7inchcrust for uploading this very hard-to-find release! Of course, it isn't as good as "Full Wrath of the Slave" and the black metal influence is virtually non-existent, but it's still very decent hardcore with samples and keyboard parts. Timebomb always played very original music, and all their releases deserved to have more listeners.

Skagos - "Ast" (2009)

SKAGOS "Ast"

Year: 2009
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country: Canada
Label: Eternal Warfare prod.

Track List:

  1. Colossal Spell
  2. The Drums Pound Every Night in a Glorious Celebration of Life
  3. Blossoms Will Sprout From the Carcass
  4. ...With a Warm Recollection
  5. Caliginosity
  6. A Night That Ends, As All Nights End, When the Sun Rises

DOWNLOAD

Skagos is an atmospheric black metal project by Iskra's bassist Raymond Hawes. There are some other releases by them, including the split albums with Tomhet and Wake, "Litha MMIX" EP, and a very rare 2007 demo, but I haven't listened to all that stuff yet. Anyway, "Ast" is a very good album, fans of Panopticon and WITTR wouldn't be disappointed.

"Skagos is fueled by humanity's failure. An interminable misanthropy pushes us further and further away from the revolting course of hollow communities and deeper into the vast, damp and multifarious reaches of our treasured Cascadian wilderness. If not a revolt of forlorn and woe, Skagos is an outlet of escape and freedom; a seething vat of discontent for immorality. Fantasies are sometimes adopted to prompt metaphor and the infinite strength of contemplation, and sometimes the point will be direct and sharp" - Ray Hawes.

Iskra - "Diskra" (demo, 2004)


ISKRA "Diskra"

Year: 2004
Genre: Blackened Crust
Country: Canada
Label: self-prod.

Track List:
  1. Hell on Fire
  2. Apocalypse Death Attack
  3. Mankind's Holocaust Collapse
DOWNLOAD

This demo tape by Iskra features 3 songs not included in Iskra's self-titled LP. There are also an EP called "The Terrorist Act" and a split album with Against Empire called "Bring the War Home", but I don't have these releases right now.

Lake Of Blood - "Heed The Primal Calling" (2008)


LAKE OF BLOOD "Heed The Primal Calling"

Year: 2008
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Milkweed Records

Track List:
  1. Nameless I Arise
  2. Heed the Primal Calling
  3. The Darkest Path 
  4. Lake of Blood
DOWNLOAD

Here's a debut EP by Lake Of Blood (cool band name btw). I'm not sure if they're anarchists, but they're definitely environmenalist, anti-nazi, and anarcho-friendly. Very good for a debut release, hope to hear much more stuff from them soon.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Panopticon & Lake Of Blood - split (2009)


PANOPTICON / LAKE OF BLOOD

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Lundr Records

Track List:

Panopticon
  1. Haunted America
  2. La Passione di Sacco & Vanzetti
Lake of Blood
  1. Eternal in My Domain
  2. Lake of Blood (live)
  3. Eternal in My Domain (live)
DOWNLOAD
Thanks to 7inchcrust for uploading this one! I was desperately seeking for this spilt during a number of months, and finally I got it. Now I have a complete collection of all releases by Panopticon.

However, this release was slightly disappointing to me. The tracks by Lake of Blood sound rather like death metal rather than black, and they're somewhat boring when compared to other stuff by that band. Panopticon's half of the album is slightly weak too, when compared to "Collapse" or "It's Later Than You Think". But anyway, Panopticon is still the best RABM act, and this release is definitely worth listening to
.
Release notes:

"Panopticon: anarcho-pagan black metal. Lake of Blood: aggressive vegan black metal. Two of North America's most honest & controversial bands together in one split album. All proceeds are to be donated to animal rights organizations. Protect the animals, protect the earth, protect yourself.

The product in your hands is a result of D.I.Y. ethics. It was hand silk screened on recycled cardboard and made entirely local in Louisville, KY. Limited to 200 hand made copies. Pay no more than $8.00.
Featuring one new studio track from Lake Of Blood “Eternal In My Domain” a brutal epic of blasting drums plus exclusive live tracks; pure aggression and soaring guitars.

On the other side Panopticon joins with the 11 minute epic “La Passione Di Sacco & Vanzetti”.
A brutal, atmospheric track written in memory of slain italian anarchists Bartolameo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco, murdered by the US government in 1927. Sung in italian, this track was recorded just after the s/t album sessions.

Panopticon is: A. Lundr. Thanks to kith, kin, fellow musicians, the gods.

Lake of Blood is: Haagr - throat. Nordic - strings. Samael - strings. Nazalath - battery. Saffyrion - bass."

Iskra - "Bureval" (2009)

ISKRA "Bureval"

Year: 2009
Genre: Blackened Crust
Country: Canada
Label: Black Raven Records

Track List:

  1. Hounds Of Order
  2. Within The Black
  3. Dubrovlag
  4. Bureval
  5. Okhrana
  6. Okeanos
  7. Krondstat
  8. Wolf Of Winter
  9. 80,000
  10. Wie Alles Anfing

DOWNLOAD

Finally, a long-awaited new album by the RABM pioneers Iskra was released! It's just as good as their debut ablum - fast and extreme blackened crust with ultra-political lyrics. I've noticed that some song names are in Russian (as well as the name of the band, though), and the lyrics seem to be anti-Stalinist and anti-totalitarian. Overall a very good release, just as expected from Iskra.

Radioskugga - "Radioskugga" (2005, remastered in 2009)


RADIOSKUGGA "s/t"

Year: 2005 (2009 re-release)
Genre: Blackened Crust
Country: Sweden

Track List:
  1. Viva La Mangel
  2. När Helvetet Fryser Till Is
  3. Passa In
  4. Stenkross
  5. Misantropen
  6. Dolcontin
  7. Ett Liv Som Slav
  8. En Estetisk Krigsförklaring
  9. Stål, Ångest och Missbruk
  10. Revolution
  11. Den Tänkande Eliten
  12. Antipacifistisk Aktion
  13. Levande Död
  14. Ett Anständigt Liv
  15. Förlorad
  16. Lyckantropen
  17. Mangel Ist Krieg
  18. Ondskan
  19. Starköl
  20. Självmord
DOWNLOAD


Sorry I haven't found the album cover, so I'll post the band photo instead.
This release is more like a compilation of Radioskugga's best tracks, remastered and given away for free. Radioskugga plays a mix of classical Swedish crust with grindcore and black metal. Very fast and angry! (although somewhat monotonous)

Nuclear Death Terror - "Plague Bearer" (demo, 2006)


NUCLEAR DEATH TERROR "Plague Bearer"

Year: 2006
Genre: Crust Metal
Country: Denmark
Label: self-prod.

Track List:
  1. Cities to Dust
  2. Nightmare Reality
  3. System Control
  4. Lost
  5. Police Funeral
  6. Life of Pain
  7. Necropolis
  8. Final Harvest
Although NDT's music doesn't sound much like black metal (it's more or less pure crust), they were one of the first anarcho-crust bands to use black metal aesthetics (corpsepaints, etc.). And their music is just plain good, so I have enough reasons to post it here ;) All their releases are available for free on their blog.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Panopticon - early recordings (2007)


Here's some early stuff by Panopticon, taken from their myspace in 2007. That's how the RABM was born:
  1. The Passion Of Saccovanzetti
  2. Flag Burner, Torch Bearer
  3. Speaking
  4. Emma's Song
DOWNLOAD

I think you all know Panopticon, and A.Lundr's first efforts to create anarchist black metal sound would be interesting to you. And if you still haven't heard about the best RABM band, try to check out "Panopticon" (2008) and "Collapse" (2009) first - both these albums are amazing!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A new RABM video made by me

Hope you like it:

Now I'm slightly tired of making videos and maintaining the blog, so I don't think there would be many updates soon. Don't worry, I still have a lot of good music for you (including WITTR and the other Cascadian metal bands; and the blackened crust, of course!)

All The Cold - "One Year Of Cold" (2009)


ALL THE COLD "One Year Of Cold"

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Dark Ambient
Country: Russia
Label: Kunsthauch

Track List:
  1. Last Winter
  2. Through the Dead World
  3. Coldly to Heart
  4. New Day Without Me
  5. Message of Silence Space
  6. Last Sun Before Polar Night
  7. 1941-1944. Kola North. War.
  8. Nurman (Hymn of Cold Northern Town)
  9. Kingdom of Snow
DOWNLOAD

Here's a first full-length release by All The Cold, a band from Kola peninsula (which is on the far north of Russia). This album features 9 tracks of atmospheric music with the distinctive "wintry" feel, but this one isn't as much into dark ambient as the previous release - it's black metal without any doubts. The album cover says it all - it's music from the snowy forests and frozen landscapes... Now I can consider All The Cold one of the best atmospheric black metal acts from the former USSR. If you like Velvet Cacoon, for example, then you definitely would like All The Cold.

As I already have said, All The Cold themselves have confirmed that they're a RABM-friendly band. Since the ex-USSR black metal scene doesn't have many good bands at all, it's great to see one more good band supporting us. 

All The Cold - "Through The Dead World" (demo 2008)


ALL THE COLD "Through The Dead World"

Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Dark Ambient / Industrial
Country: Russia
Label: Dernier Bastion prod.

Track List:
  1. Last Winter
  2. Kingdom of Snow
  3. Suicide and the Night Winds
  4. Through the Dead World
  5. All the Cold
DOWNLOAD

Great news! I've contacted one of All The Cold's members, and he confirmed that All The Cold are a RABM-friendly band. He also gave me a permission to write about them in my blog. So, now we have one more good band on our side!

Speaking of this release, it's much more dark ambient (or even industrial; by the way, there's an industrial project called Kirai by the members of All The Cold) than black metal. However, the music is beautiful, and if you like Dernier Martyr or DSBM in general, you might like these tracks too.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Panopticon & Wheels Within Wheels - "It's Later Than You Think" (2009)


PANOPTICON / WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS "It's Later Than You Think"

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Post-Rock
Country: USA
Label: Lundr Records

Track List:

Panopticon
  1. ...Speaking... (collapsed version)
  2. The Ghosts Of Haymarket Square
bandcamp

Wheels Within Wheels
  1. Beginning
  2. White Light Rains Down On....
bandcamp

And one more post for all fans of Panopticon (I know there are many!). It's a well-known split album with Wheels Within Wheels, when Panopticon suddenly became very post-rockish. This is certainly one of the most original and experimental RABM releases so far.

Only a very little is known about Wheels Within Wheels. Just like Panopticon, it's one-man project, and it has released only two instrumental tracks. However, some people consider WWW better than Panopticon.
As for Panopticon, on this release its sound became more complex and atmospheric than ever. Overall it's a very good album with great atmosphere, definitely worth listening to. BTW, the track "The Ghosts Of Haymarket Square" is dedicated to the martyrs of 1886 Haymarket riot in Chicago:

Timebomb - "Full Wrath Of The Slave" (1997)


TIMEBOMB "Full Wrath Of The Slave"

Year: 1997
Genre: Hardcore / Metalcore with Symphonic Black Metal overtones
Country: Italy
Label: CrimethInc. / Genet Records

Track List:
  1. Days Of Steel
  2. Back To The Fire Age
  3. Deathblow
  4. Flames Of Disorder
  5. Witness Of Demise
  6. One Solution
  7. Army Of Conviction
  8. Dig Your Own Grave
DOWNLOAD

"Italian, vegan straight edge, anarcho-communist black metal". Back in the 2005, it was the first anarchist black metal I've heard about, and that description was haunted me for a number of months. "SxE anarcho-communist black metal... I wonder how it may sound!"

I couldn't find any music by Timebomb on internets until the beginning of 2009, when I finally dug out "Full Wrath Of The Slave". Unsurprisingly, this album sounds not much like black metal, but anyway it's truly an outstanding release. The quality of production is just great, and hardcore/metalcore with keyboards and symphonic black metal overtones is something I've never heard before. And the latest song, "Dig Your Own Grave", can be considered the first RABM song ever, I think. Overall a great release, a must-listen to everyone! If you have any earlier releases by Timebomb ("Fury", "Hymn For A Decaying Empire" or any other), please message me!

P.S. Here's an interview with Timebomb in Chaotik Webzine #8.

Neverchrist - "Latinoamerican Elite of Antinazi Black Metal" (2007)


NEVERCHRIST "Latinoamerican Elite of Antinazi Black Metal"

Year: 2007
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Brazil

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. Disgrace of Eternal Darkness
  3. Corrosive Rivers of Blood
  4. Neverchrist
  5. Antinazi Black Metal
  6. Silent Torment
  7. Outro
  8. Temple of Darkness (The Tomb of God)
DOWNLOAD


Speaking of sound, this release doesn't differ much from any other typical "true black metal" album. But it's the first anti-religious and anti-nazi black metal release from Latin America, and it's what makes this album so special. Neverchrist also have recorded a cover version of a song "Satanarquia" by another Brazilian black metal band Agnus Negrae, and it's reportedly their best work up to date. But unfortunately this track wasn't released on an album.

Brazil seems to have a very low amount of neo-nazis in general; however, there are a few Brazilian R.A.C and NSBM bands, and it's great to see bands from Latin America against NSBM crap.
P.S. I want an anarchist black metal band from Venezuela ;)

The Dead Musician - "React Then Act" (2006)

THE DEAD MUSICIAN "React Then Act"

Year: 2006
Genre: Raw Black Metal
Country: France
Label: self-prod./Altsphere

Track List:

  1. Ephemeral Life
  2. Dance with the Prices
  3. The Puppets King
  4. All Your Lies
  5. Sandman
  6. Conspiracy Against the Black Angels
  7. Nature Will Kill You
  8. The Most Clever Animal
  9. Hypocondriac
  10. End of Civilisation
  11. Justify Your Acts
  12. No Words for You

DOWNLOAD

I'm too lazy to upload this album by myself, so I'll use the link from this comment. Well... it's still very raw home-made black metal, but at least this record is significantly better than the 1st demo. The 2007-2009 releases are still better though.

BTW, JeFF himself is aware about this blog, and I'm happy to see RABM musicians supporting me.

The Dead Musician - "Laissez-vous Guider Par Votre Monde Sans Goût" (2006)


THE DEAD MUSICIAN "Laissez-vous Guider Par Votre Monde Sans Goût"

Year: 2006
Genre: Raw Black Metal
Country: France
Label: self-prod./Altsphere

Track List:
  1. Laissez-vous guider par votre monde sans goût
  2. Quand l'argent vous brule les doigts
  3. La politique du mépris
  4. Seul le chef pense, parle et décide
  5. La bouche pleine de sang
  6. Posséder pour exister
  7. Le chaos est proche
DOWNLOAD


Unlike the 1st demo, this release by The Dead Musician seems to be very political. But the recording quality isn't much better, so I still don't recommend it to everyone. It's only for collectors of JeFF's music, or for fans of raw punkish black metal. If you aren't one of them, then I suggest listening to "Mind Liberation For Canadians" first.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The Dead Musician - "When Music Killed Me" (demo 2005)


THE DEAD MUSICIAN "When Music Killed Me" (demo)

Year: 2005
Genre: Raw Black Metal
Country: France
Label: self-prod.

Track List:
  1. Anger
  2. Search
  3. When music killed me
  4. Incredible irony
DOWNLOAD

"People have prejudices against black metal because it's a black art. All people are searching for something in music or in lyrics, all people are searching for emotions in all kind of music. Why people have prejudices against black metal? All kind of music contain ideas. What are you searching for ? There is no political ideas here. There is no social ideas here, only dark atmospheric music. Are you disappointed? Just listen to this and enjoy yourself in my black world..."

This is the first demo by The Dead Musician. Of course the quality of production is very poor, and the lyrics are somewhat simplistic and naive... but it's only a first demo, you know. I'm not really recommending it to anyone, but if you interested in JeFF's early releases, this one is for you.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Dernier Martyr - "The World Comes To An End In The End Of A Journey" [split] (2009)


DERNIER MARTYR "The World Comes To An End In The End Of A Journey" [6-way split]

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Post-Rock
Country: Russia
Label: PEST Productions

Track List:
  1. Follow the river, towards the Sea...
  2. 937 km
  3. Tortured by time
DOWNLOAD

I've already introduced Dernier Martyr to you, and here's my favourite release by them. It's a part of a split album between six post-black metal / shoegaze / post-rock bands, and it's better than "Plague Of Our Lands" IMO. The music is very beautiful, though the vocals are a bit annoying.

I'd recommend this release to everyone who are tired of generic black metal and searching for something experimental. If you like Panopticon vs. Wheels Within Wheels split, then probably you'll like Dernier Martyr. Check out their song "937 km" right now:

All The Cold - Plague Of Our Lands [split] (2009)


ALL THE COLD "Plague Of Our Lands" [split]

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: Russia
Label: Self Mutilation Services

Track List:
  1. Suicidal Vapour
  2. Coldness Of Another Universe
  3. Smile Of The Grim
DOWNLOAD

I know it's completely out of my blog's format, but I can't resist temptation to post that one. All The Cold is a duo from the very north of Russia (Murmansk), and they're playing amazing atmospheric industrial black metal. I don't know anything about their ideolody (if they have any), but at least they did a split with Dernier Martyr, and South African band Lifeless Sorrow; furthrmore, they have worked with Finnish and Mexican people, so it's very unlikely if they're supporting NSBM or any extreme right-wing beliefs. (UPD: they're confirmed for supporting the RABM scene)

These tracks are a wonderful piece of wintry music, I suggest listening to them even if you don't like black metal with keyboards that much. At least, it's good black metal from Russia, which is a rather rare thing ;P

Dernier Martyr - Plague Of Our Lands (2009, split)


DERNIER MARTYR "Plague Of Our Lands" (split w/ Lifeless Sorrow & All The Cold)

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal / Post-Rock
Country: Russia
Label: Self Mutilation Services

Dernier Martyr are: Anton and Nick (all music and lyrics).

Track List:
  1. Follow The River, Towards The Sea...
  2. This Is The Last Time He Talks To Birds...
  3. Angels´ Throats
DOWNLOAD

Dernier Martyr are a duo from Togliatti (Russia), and they're playing very post-rockish depressive/atmospheric black metal. They don't have any political lyrics, but they're 100% anti-nazi, and when I talked to one of the band members, he described himself as an "anarcho-socialist".


This release is a split album with two more DSBM bands: Lifeless Sorrow from South Africa and All The Cold from Russia. Honestly I don't like this one that much. In my opinion, the split "The world comes to an end in the end of a journey..." is much better, and I'm goind to upload it right now. Look for updates!

Filii Nigrantium Infernalium - "Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator" (2005)


FILII NIGRANTIUM INFERNALIUM "Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator"

Year: 2005
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
Country: Portugal
Label: Pro-Con Media

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. Calypso
  3. Bordel no Éden
  4. Azur (Heliophobia)
  5. Morte Geométrica
  6. Cães de Guerra
  7. Moïra
  8. A Forca de Deus
  9. Sacra Morte
DOWNLOAD


"Well, I loathe the nationalist (any degree of nationalism makes me sick, it's pure sheep shit) and fascist/nazi tumor that has been taking on the scene through these late years. So I don't give a fuck about the "scene". I won't tell no names, no bandnames I mean. They won't get any more publicity from me. We are an anarcho black metal band, that's one thing that sets us apart from the rest of the metalheads (not "metalminds", I must specify) that join "satan" and "fatherland" and "conceibe" mental thrash alike. FREEDOM is my first law. Satan (=freedom) is above any flag or god, nation or dogma..." - from an interview with Belathauzer of Filii Nigrantium Infernalium.

So FNI can be considered one of the earliest anarchist black metal acts. The band began to exist in 1989 under the name of Bacterion, but their first full-length album was released only in 2005. This isn't pure black metal, it's melodic black/thrash with some traditional heavy metal parts, but anyway it's pretty good. "Fellatrix Discordia Pantokrator" is a high-ranked release on Metal-Archives (99 points out of 100), and I may agree that it's a best thing you can find in the Portuguese underground. Sadly FNI aren't well-known outside Portugal...

Monday, October 5, 2009

DödsÄngel - "Helgrind" (2009)


DÖDSÄNGEL "Helgrind"

Year: 2009
Genre: Blackened Crust
Country: Canada / Norway
Label: self-prod. / Deathcult Studios

Track List:
  1. Eternal War
  2. Wolven Hatred
  3. The Last Forest
  4. Subatomic Holocaust
  5. The Middle of the Night
  6. Detestation
  7. Life
  8. Helgrind
DOWNLOAD

DödsÄngel is a solo project of Trish, who was playing drums in a number of Canadian and Norwegian black metal, d-beat and crust punk bands, including Warsystem and Skitliv. Now she's singing and playing her own music... and I must say that her music is brutal! That's how the female-fronted blackened crust should sound. However, a lot of people tend to not like her voice (which is indeed quite specific), saying that she should find a more aggressive-sounding vocalist. Well, the vocal work is indeed a downside of this demo, but on the other hand, Trish's voice gives the music a special atmosphere. Note that she actually plays all the instruments, so I think some lack of vocal talent is forgivable...



Мракобесие - "Зверь" (2006)


МРАКОБЕСИЕ "ЗВЕРЬ"
(MRAKOBESIE "THE BEAST")

Year: 2006
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Russia
Label: self-prod.

Track List:
  1. Глаз Тайфуна
  2. Мертвый Лес
  3. Некромант
  4. Зверь
  5. Христианская Блядь
  6. Мечты Черной Святости
  7. Конноармейский Марш (bonus)
  8. Катиешуа (bonus)
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The first full-length album by Mrakobesie presents more straight-forward satanic black metal than the "Black-Red Dawn...". Maybe it's caused by a major change of a band's lineup. Now Mrakobesie is a five-member band, including two guitarists and a live drummer. The quality of sound has been increased significantly, and the majority of tracks have lyrics dealing with subjects more common to black metal - satanism, mysticism, death, sins of the flesh, etc. Below is a track list translated to English:
  1. The Eye Of Typhoon
  2. Dead Forest
  3. The Necromancer
  4. The Beast
  5. Christian Whore
  6. Dreams Of Black Sainthood
The latest two songs are the cover versions of a Russian civil war song and a WWII song respectively. The black metal versions of these songs sound just amazing, and these two tracks are the highlights of a whole album.

"The Beast" is a latest release by Mrakobesie, as far as I know. I've no idea if the band is still active nowadays, but at least they were still active last summer. As of 2007, they reportedly were working on the next album, which would be called "Власть Сатаны" ("Reign Of Satan"), and the lyrics would be 100% political. Don't know if it was released ever.

A video for the song "Катиешуа", made by me:

Мракобесие - "Black-Red Dawn Before Armageddon" (split w/ Nazgulum, 2005)


МРАКОБЕСИЕ "Black-Red Dawn Before Armageddon" (split with Nazgulum)

Year: 2005
Genre: Raw Black Metal / Industrial
Country: Russia
Label: Trinity prod.

Track List:
  1. Всех В Мире Сильней И Свободней
  2. Тьма Грядет
  3. Культ Вождя
  4. Вперед, Товарищ Сатаналин!
  5. Под Знаменем Звезды
  6. Ненависть
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Мракобесие (Mrakobesie) is believed to be the world's first band ever to play communist black metal. Mrakobesie's story begins in 2000, when Satanislav Shmjak, a citizen of Izhevsk (Udmurtia, Russian Federation), started his own one-man project. Later a guitarist and a bassist joined him, and in 2005 a split album with another Udmurtian black metal act - Nazgulum - was released.

I don't know much about Nazgulum, but maybe it's for good - that band looks really unoriginal and mediocre. However, Mrakobesie has a very catchy sound, though very simplistic, raw and noisy. I think their music can be called industrial black metal, due to use of samples and an absence of live drummer. And the unique energetics of this release completely overshadow the really bad quality of its production.
The lyrical content is absolutely outstanding too. At least the song title "Forward, comrade Satanalin!" is a brilliant. The overall concept of the album is a mystical superhuman project which can be called "Satanic Communism". According to the words of Satanislav:

"Mrakobesie is a satanic communistic black metal band. And I think we completely deserve that label... I've explained a link between communism and satanism in the 3rd issue of Hellmark newsletter (a zine produced by Trinitly prod.)... I was always interested in politics and history, and I think these are inevitable parts of our existence. Without knowledge we all are nothing more than a garbage. But I rather wouldn't take part in politics, because I think my ideas will be ruined by a brainless mass of human cattle anyway...

I don't like people in general, and I've no interest in their personalities. They're nothing but flocks of lazy pieces of shit, always whining about time they've wasted, and doing nothing to make their miserable existence any better... When I hear something like "sieg heil true ns black metal" etc., I can only laugh. Of course every circus needs its own clowns, but these retards are truly believing that their beloved fuhrer would be a black metal fan if only he was still alive now. It's just ridiculous."
(sorry for such a rough translation)

Panopticon - "Collapse" (2009)

PANOPTICON "Collapse"

Year: 2009
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Lundr Records / Pagan Flames

Track List:

  1. The Death of Baldr and the Coming War
  2. Aptrgangr
  3. Merkstave
  4. Idavoll

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The second album by Panopticon is even more complex and experimental than the first. The quality of sound is significantly better, though the drums are too loud IMHO. The strong "industrial" feeling is also present due to extensive use of sampling, as well as acoustic/"folk-ish" parts.

The lyrics are perfect as usual, placing the Nordic mythology in the context of political events of modern world. Seem like A.Lundr's lyrics are the most explicitly anarchistic (or at least revolutionary) in the entire black metal scene.

"Collapse" is overall a great release, a perfect gift to any RABM fan, and one more reason to call Panopticon the best anarchist black metal band nowadays. Don't pass it by!

Panopticon - "Panopticon" (2008)

PANOPTICON "Panopticon"

Year: 2008
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Country: USA
Label: Lundr Records

Track List:

  1. Intro
  2. Flag Burner, Torch Bearer
  3. I, Hedonist
  4. ...Speaking...
  5. The Lay of Grimnir
  6. Archetype
  7. Emma's Song

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Meet Panopticon, the American one-man atmospheric black metal project which now became the most well-known RABM act. Panopticon's debut album is definitely a cornerstone of the anarchist black metal scene, 'cause only after its release RABM was distinguished as a separate genre from blackened crust.

A. Lundr (also a former member of a blackened death metal band Anagnorisis), the band’s founder and the only musician, states that Panopticon are: “a black metal band focusing on political and philosophical issues such as anarchism, objectivism, society, paganism, pantheism, Norse mythology/heathenism and beer. I created this project because i was tired of consumer driven music, a-political and boring, stale Satanism and racist bullshit that plagues the black metal community. no hair cuts, no big record labels, no bigotry, no drum machines, no rulers, no masters”. You can read the whole interview with Panopticon's mastermind here (in English) or here (translated to Russian).

The music is highly innovative and fascinating too. Of course the quality of production isn't that good, but anyway it's decent atmospheric black metal influenced both by BM bands like WITTR, Darkthrone and Mayhem, and crust bands like Iskra and Amebix. A must-listen album to every fan of anarchist black metal.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Sorgsvart - "Vikingtid Og Anarki" (2008)


SORGSVART "Vikingtid Og Anarki"

Year: 2008
Genre: Folk/Black/Viking Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Einheit Prod.

Track List:
  1. Vikingtid Og Anarki
  2. Vikingtid Og Anarki (instrumental)
  3. Hedersmann
  4. Trøst
  5. Bleivikmæn ein Haglandsfæn
  6. Opp Kamerat!
  7. Kråkaviso
  8. Underligt Vidunderligt
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I think it's safe to say that "Vikingtid Og Anarki" would become one of the milestones in the history of not only anarchist black metal, but of folk/viking metal as well. It's the first folk/viking metal release ever with such explicit anarchist lyrics and symbolism, and the quality of production is just amazing. A definitely must-listen album to anyone! Hope the future works by Sorg would be even better...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sorgsvart - "Fortapt Fra Verden I Vakkert Selvmord (demo)" (2004)


SORGSVART "Fortapt Fra Verden I Vakkert Selvmord (demo)"

Year: 2004
Genre: Folk/Viking Metal
Country: Norway
Label: self-prod.

Track List:
  1. Høst del I
  2. Høst del II
  3. Skog og Mark, en Frelse fra Falskhet
  4. Entertainment
  5. Kill the King
  6. Hagland mitt Land
  7. En Nasjon Står Ilag
  8. Fortapt fra Verden i Vakkert Selvmord
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It's one of the early demos by Sorgsvart, later re-recorded and released as an album. It also contains some unreleased tracks. Even it's a demo, it has fairly decent sound, but anyway I'd recommend to listen to the '06 album first.

Sorgsvart - "Fortapt Fra Verden I Vakkert Selvmord" (2006)


SORGSVART "Fortapt Fra Verden I Vakkert Selvmord"

Year: 2006
Genre: Folk/Viking Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Einheit Prod.

Track List:
  1. Høst - Paradokser i Menneskesinn og Kosmisk Natur - Et Oppgjør med Falske Mann Del I
  2. Høst Del II
  3. Skog og Mark - En Frelse fra Falskhet
  4. Hagland Mitt Land
  5. Fortapt fra Verden i Vakkert Selvmord
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So... if you don't like Borgazur because of their religious views or whatever, here comes another folk/viking metal release - "Fortapt Fra Verden I Vakkert Selvmord" by Sorgsvart. It's a debut album, and it's not as good as the most well-known release by Sorgsvart - "Vikingtid og Anarki" - but anyway it sounds fucking great! Especially the track "Hagland Mitt Land". Strongly recommended for all fans of melodic folk/pagan/viking metal!

Friday, October 2, 2009

Antimelodix - "Hellfuck" (2009)


ANTIMELODIX "Hellfuck"

Year: 2009
Genre: Blackened Crust, Crust Metal
Country: Russia
Label: My Riot Inward Records

Track List:
  1. Intro
  2. Blasphemy / Terror!
  3. Тёмные Дни
  4. World Drowns In Brutality
  5. Немая Молитва
  6. 4 Ноября
  7. Don't Believe
  8. Чёрные Взгляды
  9. Хочется Блевать
  10. Начало Конца
  11. Последний День Земли
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Karelian crust/hardcore scene is proud to present its first world-class release - "Hellfuck" by Antimelodix, the anarchist crust metal band from north-west Russia. Maybe they aren't the first Russian blackened crust band, but they're definitely the best. Their debut album features 11 tracks of ultra powerful blackened crust mixed with dark hardcore and thrash metal. Download it now, listen and feel its power!
Antimelodix' brief self-description:

"The band Antimelodix was founded in 2006 by members of different punk, hardcore, metal and noise bands. During first 3 years we have been taking part in some local punk gigs in our hometown Petrozavodsk. The band changed its line-up several times during all this time. Our music is strongly influenced by swedish punk and norwegian black-metal along with BLACK SABBATH and MOTÖRHEAD. Fast yet hypnotizing karelian crust/d-beat. Active nihilism"

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Dead Musician - "Mind Liberation For Canadians" (2009)


THE DEAD MUSICIAN "Mind Liberation For Canadians"

Year: 2009
Genre: Black Metal
Country: France
Label: No Values Records / Altsphere

Track List:
  1. Black Metal Terror
  2. Up the Winter (and the North sings along)
  3. Selling the Rockies
  4. Hockey Stick Massacre
  5. Quebec's survival
  6. Destroy the bible camp
  7. You, my enemy
  8. Facing the Prairies
  9. Freedom Territories
  10. Canadian Metal (Darkthrone cover)
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The latest full-length release by JeFF (aka The Dead Musician) features 10 tracks with much better quality of production when compared to his early works. It's more or less generic black/thrash metal, nothing really special and/or innovative about it. However, it's a good album, and it's definitely worth listening - if you're a fan of true black metal.

Just like any other releases of The Dead Musician since 2007, this album has an eco-anarchist and non-conformist ideological background. Many people have noticed that this kind of ideolody suits BM very well. Hope in the future we'll see much more interesting releases from Altsphere. By the way, here's some pictures of JeFF travelling to Canada's north:


The Dead Musician - split w/ The Austrasian Goat (2007)


THE DEAD MUSICIAN "The Dead Musician / The Austrasian Goat"

Year: 2007
Genre: Black Metal
Country: France
Label: 213 Records /Altsphere

Track List:
  1. Nihilism
  2. Active Disobedience
  3. Call From The Grave (Bathory cover)
  4. Deathcrush (Mayhem cover)
  5. Doom For The True Heretics
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"Nihilistic nordic way of life"... hmm. This is the first part of The Dead Musician / The Austrasian Goat split album, and it's one of the earliest examples of pure anarchist black metal (not derived from blackened crust). The sound is very chaotic and raw, and the vocal parts are a bit annoying to me. But overall, it isn't a bad release.

The Dead Musician is an one-man project by JeFF, who is responsible for many more black metal, death metal, thrash metal and industrial projects (though all that stuff is very hard to find). All his music is distributed through his own label Altsphere.

"All my works are under the influence of all musical scenes from classical music to grindcore. I'm identified with no scene indivdually because none offers something that suits me completely. That's why I created my own identity in moving in different scenes, rubbing shoulders with different persons and discovering that really suits me.

All my works are inspired by various subjects but each one is always including message, state of mind,...Indeed, music is only a vehicle of pleasure and communication. That's why, lyrics, artworks, atmospheres,...are as important as music.

I'm not apolitical. I think each choice is a political one. That's why I've a strong Do It Yourself ethic and I don't wanna communicate with people distributing NSBM.

I don't belong to any country, any party or any group. I'm NOT especially proud to be French, European or Earthman. I'm just a human being and I don't need to belong to anything to feel alive. I'm a part of nothing in this world. I'm just a free-thinker" (c) JeFF, from the Altsphere website.