Rudra feature in Times of India

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 24, 2011

News of the actually interesting:

They are regarded as the pioneers of Vedic metal. And their fans across south east Asia and the Indian subcontinent are of the opinion that there is no better way to learn about the Mahabharata than by listening to this trio’s death metal-influenced renditions of shlokas. Singapore-based band Rudra is now all set to round off the year by playing on the final day of the Times of India Strawberry Fields 2011 on November 27 at the National Law School of India University.

…

Kathir says that the responses to their music, especially the Sanskrit lyrics, have always “been positive”. “In fact, we found that people love the exotic sounds of Vedic metal and the vibes of Sanskrit chants. It is, of course, a weird combination, given the fact that Sanskrit is a liturgical language. However, such a fusion can create an aesthetic experience if one were to suspend judgment and listen without prejudice. And that is exactly what has happened in all our shows,” he says. But how relevant is Vedic literature today? “Very relevant to me, especially the philosophical aspects of it. I’ve been a student of Vedic literature for about 18 years. And over the years, I’ve discovered so much that has helped me deal with life’s challenges. Of all the Vedic texts, I love the non-sectarian perennial teachings of the Upanishads,” he reveals. It’s been 10 years since the band released their landmark album, The Aryan Crusade. Since then, there have been several lineup changes – Rudra started out as a quartet, but is now a three-member outfit – but that doesn’t seem to have affected the band’s evolution. “We have released albums since then. More importantly, we have pushed the boundaries of being a metal band by fusing Indian dance with our performances,” says Kathir. – Times of India

This is epic pagan metal!

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Interview with Rob Darken

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 19, 2011

Not by us, but informative:

H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R. Tolkien, R.E. Howard are my favorite writers. Their writings had a huge influence on my imagination when I read their books as a child. They fueled my desire for truth and for discovering ancient beliefs. They inspired me with ancient pagan myths and beliefs. They inspired me with desire of knowing the past forgotten and of searching mysticism and spirit of ancient civilizations. Inspired by such spirit you discover that studying the past is the same rich and satisfying as work for the future.

Read the rest here.

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Thevetat

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 19, 2011

Death metal band Thevetat seeks the following musicians, vocalist, drummer, bassist. Songs are written and material is ready to go. Influences include Obituary, Autopsy, Immolation, Crematory, Demigod, Celtic Frost, Possessed, Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel, etc…Samples will be provided upon request. Looking for serious minded people with drive. Write for more details. – Thomas Pioli

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Fugazi Archive

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 18, 2011

This band is the origin of all emo music. Starting in the mid-1980s, post-Minor Threat musicians tried to re-invent music and ended up with sensitive guy indie rock/post-hardcore hybrid. All post-2000 “metal” originates in what Fugazi did, except Fugazi was musically better. However, its attitude was totally corrupt and self-pitying. As a result, it attracted the type of person who now becomes a hipster: the self-pitying, defensive, self-obsessed, reality-denying narcissistic life dropout.

Fugazi’s label, Dischord Records, launched a digital archive of the band’s live …shows this fall. Twenty-five new shows are being added each month, including over 800 songs that have never been released.

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Timeghoul CD release

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 16, 2011

DARK DESCENT RECORDS / THE CRYPT PRESENT TIMEGHOUL (USA) CD/LP

For the first time ever on CD and Vinyl, Dark Descent Records and The Crypt have joined forces once again to proudly present the complete discography from the legendary Science Fiction / Fantasy Death Metal legends TIMEGHOUL (USA).

Born in the Midwest United States in 1987, Doom’s Lyre remained relatively quiet, recording no material before changing their name. In 1991, Doom’s Lyre, now renamed Timeghoul, set out by releasing two demos; 1992’s Tumultuous Travelings and 1994’s Panaramic Twilight.
Largely ignored and mostly forgotten, these recordings did not receive the recognition they deserved until years later. Timeghoul’s eclectic and complex style of US death metal started to gain momentum within the underground as overlooked and classic material.
Prepare for one of the most unique and complex death metal offerings the early 90’s had to offer.

CD version by Dark Descent Records and Vinyl version by The Crypt.

More news to come…

http://www.darkdescentrecords.com

Home


http://www.myspace.com/timeghoul

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Staying underground, sort of

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 14, 2011

Mailbag:

In the ’80s and ’90s it was not uncommon to see photos of metal legends such as Slayer, Alice in Chains and Megadeth clothed in the half-skull logo that has become a venerated symbol for Utah metalheads.

While stores like Hot Topic have become a haven for mall rats, Kevin refused a distribution offer years ago that would have put HMS T-shirts in malls because it would’ve cheapened HMS’ authentic metalhead image. Today, sales from clothing eclipse music sales and HMS-branded clothing is sold to customers worldwide.

Although the location of the HMS has changed over the years, the authentic vibe that permeates the store and impeccable customer service has remained consistent. – USA Today

One way to avoid the hype: treat metal like any other specialty, whether gardening or hair-weaving, and ignore the teeny-bopper market entirely.

It seems that sell-outs occur, and consequently failures of quality occur, when some novice sees a successful pop-ish metal band, and counsels a heavier metal band to emulate them.

This then poisons the good name of that metal band, and fails to attract the pop listeners, who want something that is 100% pop, not a metal-pop hybrid.

Morbid Angel just found this out the hard way. Slayer did back in 1998 as well. It’s an eternal cycle.

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Sabbathon

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 14, 2011

It has potential, especially after the recent Heaven and Hell album:

Heavy metal legend Black Sabbath announced they will record their first studio album in 33 years, followed by a world tour in 2012. The group, who will team up with legendary producer Rick Rubin to record the new material, made the announcement Friday at a press conference held in L.A.’s Whiskey A-Go-Go. – H-dawg Today

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Hessians Unite

by Death Metal Black Metal on November 12, 2011

Music is sound that resembles life. It reveals not only the experience of life, but the emotions and ideas that the musician has in response to life. Heavy metal music sounds like a certain way of life, because a similar thought process is required to become a heavy metal musician. For this reason, heavy metal is more than a style; it’s a culture.

The metal genre does not fit into the easy categories used for modern music. While it sounds modern, it champions the values of older times, such as honor, bloodlust, aggression, emotion and passion. It denies the plastic modern existence and insists on meaning being found in experience, not ownership. For this reason, heavy metal is a cross between ancient ideas and modern methods. Our utilitarian contemporary society has no words for what this is.

Since heavy metal isn’t on the radar for mainstream civilization, they write it off and claim that people listen to metal for the sole purpose of irritating their parents. They deny its musical value, explain away its artistic value, and brush it aside by assuming it is not serious and worthy of study. For this reason, Hessians, or those who are part of the heavy metal culture, are one of the most marginalized groups in modern society today.

We have all seen varying ethnic and religious groups fight for their right to be recognized as unique and to have special rights and privileges. If at the “modern” university we have a Black Studies Department, and an Asian Studies Department, why not a Hessian Studies Department? Hessian culture has in the years since 1969 been a fundamental force in shaping our society, and remains one of its most persistent critics, all while developing its own way of existing.

Not all Hessians are alike. Some care about nothing and will not understand this web page at all. The few who believe in life and in the heavy metal lifestyle will find that Hessian culture is something they have sought for years, perhaps without knowing it at all. For Hessians, hessian.org is a reference material of their own society within an outer society. For those of you who are outsiders to Hessiandom, this is a chance to broaden your “diversity” and learn about an entirely singular culture that thrives among the things you consider normal, but will never bow down and join them.

http://www.hessian.org/

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