NEWS AND STUFF

 Awesome British metal acts AGE OF TAURUS and AMULET are supporting Enforcer.

 Cradle Of Filth return with a new album and major european tour, but only ONE uk show???? what the fuck guys a FULL UK TOUR PLEASE!!!!

 Xandria are supporting Kamelot! so symphonic rock heaven for some

HUNTRESS
And Hammerfest 5 (In Fear of the Dragon) have just announced HUNTRESS will grace the event now in its new location at Haven in Pwllheli in North Wales.

They’ll be joined by CANDLEMASS, Hatebreed, Destruction, Napalm Death, Enslaved, Senser, 4Arm, Stuka Squadron and Winterfylleth with many more to still be confirmed

HAMMERFEST 5 (In Fear Of the Dragon) takes place between March 14-17, 2012 in it’s new location of Haven. Hafan y Môr Holiday Park, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, North Wales.

Cradle Of Filth - Midnight In The Labyrinth (CD Review)

01.A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
02.The Forest Whispers My Name
03.The Twisted Nails Of Faith
04.The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
05.Funeral In Carpathia
06.Summer Dying Fast
07.Thirteen Autumns And A Widow
08.Dusk and Her Embrace
09.Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
10.Goetia (Invoking The Unclean)
 
Disc Two: Orchestral

01.The Rape And Ruin Of Angels (Hosannas In Extremis)
02.Dusk And Her Embrace
03.Summer Dying Fast
04.The Twisted Nails Of Faith
05.Funeral in Carpathia
06.The Forest Whispers My Name
07.Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids
08.A Gothic Romance (Red Roses For The Devil's Whore)
09.Thirteen Autumns And A Widow


Mark Newby-Robson (Orchestration)
Dani Filth (Narration)
Sarah Jezebel Deva (Narration/Vocals)
Ralph Woodward (Choir & Orchestra Conductor)

Midnight in the Labyrinth is an orchestral album by English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, well actually its not, lets face it this is a Dani Filth solo album that he doesnt even sing on!

The songs selected are from the band's first four releases which in itself shows a lack of imagination, its okay to do a few covers in this way but some new and intresting concepts wouldnt have gone a miss.
Definatley a missed oppertunity here to do what Glenn Danzig did with his 2 Black Aria projects.

So the first disc features narration by Dani Filth (Dani here perhaps trying to emulate Richard Burton from the Jeff Wayne War Of The Worlds), plus additional vocals from Sarah Jezebel Deva.Its okay but nothing outstanding, certainly the oppertunity to re create and make new has been wasted, albeit pleasent enough to listen to.

Disc Two contains the same recordings minus the vocals and somewhat labours the pointless exercise even more pointless.

So Mr. Filth claims the album would "reinvent" tracks from the band's first four albums and include "full soundtrack-quality stuff... with choirs, strings and some narration".
Well in my opinion it has failed to do so.

Dani wrote; "All songs will be fully orchestrated akin to a horror movie soundtrack (think Danny Elfman, John Williams, Christopher Young, etc.) and [the record is] comprised solely of tracks from our first four releases - 1994's The Principle of Evil Made Flesh; the 1996 EP V Empire; 1996's Dusk... and Her Embrace and 1998's Cruelty and the Beast - [with] "Funeral in Carpathia" being my favorite conversion thus far."

Thing is that even Hellraiser composer 'Young', the legendary 'Elfman' and others have all utilised electronics and electric instrumentation in many of their compositions to give it a fuller sound.

So basically NOT a Cradle album but a Dani solo album with speech instead of vocals, make of this what you will....

Rating: 5/10

For Fans Of: Dani Filth, Glenn Danzig - Black Aria, Jacula - In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum, Devil Doll - Eliogabalus

Cradle Of Filth - Evermore Darkly (CD Review)

01.Transmission from Hell
02.Thank Your Lucky Scars
03.Forgive Me Father I Have Sinned (Elder Version)
04.Lilith Immaculate (Extended)
05.The Persecution Song (Elder Version)
06.Forgive Me Father (I'm in a Trance)
07.The Spawn of Love and War (Elder Version)
08.Summer Dying Fast ("Midnight in the Labyrinth" breadcrumb trail)


Dani Filth (Vocals)
Paul Allender (Guitar)
James McIlroy (Guitar)
Dave Pybus (Bass)
Martin Marthus Škaroupka (Drums)
Caroline Campbell (keyboards/Backing Vocals)


Evermore Darkly is an EP companion piece to the 2010 album Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa,
it features two new tracks. remixes and a dvd with their graspop festival appearence from june, a documentary and the music video for 'Lilith Immaculate'.


'Transmission from Hell' is a perhaps unintentionally funny spoken word piece from long
time collaborator Doug Bradley, and not a lot to add to that really.

The other new track is 'Thank Your Lucky Scars' a pretty heavy piece but nothing outstanding.

The alternative version of 'Forgive Me father' is actually good, no female vocals, a rawer vocal from Dani and some different keyboard.

'Lilith Immaculate' was always one of my favourite tracks from last years album and this
extended version just adds that slow classical piece into the middle, does it work? not totally sure to be honest.

This version of 'The Persecution Song' just sounds like a fairly well produced demo, okay
for curosity value.

The techno/rave/trance version of 'Forgive Me Father', well damn it, this is actually really good, reminds me of Mortiis.

Must be me but 'The Spawn of Love and War' dont sound much if any different from the original, and as such is perfectly fine.

Finally an orchestral version of 'Summer Dying Fast' originally from the 1994 album 'The
Principle of Evil Made Flesh'.Actually now in its third incarnation as it was reworked previously for the 2001 album 'Bitter Suites To Succubi'.
This track serves as a taster for the forthcoming Midnight in the Labyrinth collection planned for release next year.
Its a classical music interpretation, choral vocals and some neat dr.phibes organ,
intresting is the word here i think.

All in all an average selection but the dvd makes it all worthwhile.

Rating 7/10

For fans Of : Dimmu Borgir, Mortiis, Therion

Cradle Of Filth Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa (Cd Review)

01.The Cult Of Venus Aversa
02.One Foul Step From The Abyss
03.The Nun With The Astral Habit
04.Church Of The Sacred Heart
05.The Persecution Song
06.Decieving Eyes
07.Lilith Immaculate
08.The Spawn Of Love And War
09.Harlot On A Pedestal
10.Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)
11.Beyond The Eleventh Hour


Dani Filth (Vocals)
Paul Allender (Guitars)
James McIlroy (Guitars)
Dave Pybus (Bass)
Ashley Ellyllon (Keyboards/Backing Vocals)
Martin Škaroupka (Drums)

Guests:
Lucy Atkins (Vocals)
Dora Kemp (Backing Vocals)
Mark Newby Robson (Orchestration)
Andy James (Guitars)

Choir:
Ruth McCabe
Tim Cutts
Craig Miller
Philippa Mann
Dora Kemp
Anna Asbach-Cullen


Love them or hate them the one thing you cannot do is ignore them!
Since forming back in 1991 the Suffolk band have crossed boundaries of black metal and
goth to extreme metal, courted controversy by design and accident, made outstanding
albums and some which should never have seen the light of day!

The last few albums have been pretty average to be honest, but with James McIlroy
once more in the fold i have high expectations of a worthy follow up to the awesome
Nymphetamine album from 2004.

The concept behind the album is the demon Lilith, the first wife of the Biblical Adam.

'The Cult Of Venus Aversa' starts with some cool harpsicord and orchestration and we are introduced to Lilith then comes those trademark blast beats and a screaming Dani.
Its clear from this beginning that some time has been spent working on their sound to create something worthy of the name.

Keyboards and orchestration once again lift the next song, 'One Foul Step From The Abyss', and the next few songs move along with the same level of production and care, each song complimenting its predecessor.

'The Persucation Song' slows the pace with a simplistic but catchy guitar riff and some nice piano playing.

Up next is 'Decieving Eyes' a real heavy "Satyricon" vibe echoes through this but the choral backing lets you know that this is still "COF" at full blast.

'Lilith Immaculate' manages to tick every box with what you would expect and even adds a catchy chorus!

The next two tracks return to the albums formula, but the next song 'Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned)' is a real surprise in as much as it borders on a commercial goth/metal "single", hell Dani even sounds like he's trying to sing (dare i say) normally, and the female backing works very well, catchy riffs and keyboards.
Way better than that "Temptation" crap they put out a few years back.

Finally the breathtaking, 'Beyond The Eleventh Hour' a dark gothic/black metal sleaze fest!
Stunning lyrics are delivered by both Dani and Lucy, the music is "all out" seemingly throwing everything they have into the mix to create 7 minutes of pure classic "COF"

All in all the perfect follow up to Nymphetamine and an album to restore faith in a band that deserve attention for the RIGHT reasons.

STU

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Therion

CRADLE OF FILTH - LILITH IMMACULATE (Single Review)

01.Lilith Immaculate


Dani Filth (Vocals)
Paul Allender (Guitar)
David Pybus (Bass)
Martin Skaroupka (Drums)
James McIlroy (Guitar)
Ashley Ellyllon (keyboard/Vocals)


First online single released as a taster for the new album 'Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa'.
The album concerns itself with Adam's first wife Lilith the Mesopotamian storm demon who was the bearer of illness and death.

First thing to say is that not liking their last 2 albums much i wasnt expecting any improvement, but this is Cradle back on form!

A superb track with distinctive vocals from Dani and superb female vocals harking back to the glory days of Midian.

Great guitarwork only to be expected with the return of James Mcilroy who played on the awesome Nymphetamine album years ago.
The keyboards bring that classic symphonic quality to the song and the overall feel is just one of aural pleasure and knowing that Cradle are rejuvinated and armed with superior firepower once again.


STU

Rating 9/10

For Fans Of: Dimmu Borgir, Satyricon, Graveworm

DEMAGOGUE, FIVE SECOND RULE, NEMHAIN Live At The Unicorn, Holloway 12.12.09 (Gig Review)

DEMAGOGUE
FIVE SECOND RULE
NEMHAIN

Unicorn, Holloway 12.12.09

This was a gig held for the joint birthdays of James (Chaosanct/Cradle Of Filth) and
Amber (Nemhain), hosted by Laura London.

NEMHAIN
The rock n roll plague acoustic version and what a version.This was nothing short of stunning, the acoustic arrangements of the rock songs really worked, I dont think i have ever heard Ambers voice sound some emotional before, she put over every song with pure class.
Both Lakis and Sam excelled themselves on guitar, Adrian managed to restrain himself
from hitting the drums hard and Lisa's mellow bass lines punctuated each song with
ease.

Perhaps the stand out song here was the cover of CCR's 'Bad Moon Rising' usually an
upbeat tune but now turned into a dark and moody downbeat goth/doom song with some
outstanding slide work from Sam who also did some amazing backing vocals as well.

FIVE SECOND RULE
You know what you are going to get when the guy in the white hat shouts "time for some
fucking rock n roll", you get a 30 minute party!
Tonights set was a little chaotic but the songs just carry through and get everyone
dancing and singing, the venue went crazy on the final song 'Ambition'.

DEMAGOGUE
A mixture of thrash/death metal but with some huge melodic elements make this
headlining set quite something to see.Demonic vocals and massive amounts of riffing created a wall of sound that had everybody headbanging.

STU

NEMHAIN

FIVE SECOND RULE

DEMAGOGUE

CHAOSANCT - THE ASCENDANCE OF IMPURITY EP (Cd Review)

01.Ascendance Of Impurity

02.Death Note

03.Oppenheimer

04.Trinity (Outro)

Dave Kuchta (Vocals)

Paul Scanlan (Guitar)

James McIlroy (Guitar)

Tilman Wolff-Moore (Bass/Vocals)

Matt C (Drums)

Hot of the press in time for last weekends 'Tsunami Festival' in Holland and completed just a few days before that, this is the second ep from the self styled "Blackened power Metal" supergroup featuring ex members of Cradle Of Filth, Biomechanical and Akercocke.

Opening song is a full speed onslaught with Dave's amazing vocal attack of screams followed by pure singing.It is a very drum driven track reminicent of early Satyricon, and also contains some great guitar solos.

'Death Note' continues in the same vein and yet again it is the vocal style of Dave that grabs your attention, the opening part has an almost arabic styled harmony before hitting that Dani Filth scream that he does so well.The song has a line in it "This is the time for retribution" and it sticks in your head instantly.

Now we come to the song i have been looking forward to since i first heard it performed live last december, 'Oppenheimer'.
It starts with a haunting riff with "Tubed" speech over it, it has a wonderful rhythmic drum backing before picking up the pace into an almost gothic/black metal epic like Paradise Lost.Im slightly dissapointed by some of the effects put on the vocal as it slightly spoils what Dave is singing (But then im used to hearing it live where dave just lets rip).
What i love about the song is the way it just moves, with 2 such accomplished guitarists in the band it is surprisng that there are no solos in the piece, but somehow that adds to the songs emotion because it allows it flow without breaks.
It is a masterpiece and it is aided by the final piece 'Trinity' which is basically a recording of the 'Enigma 2000' numbers code that used to be broadcast over shortwave radio since the second world war, to this day nobody really knows what they were for, with an ambient soundscape underneath.

Overall this is a great progression in both music and production, it is a slick well executed ep full of originality and should see the band marked out as something "special".
I look forward to the album and hope that they dont put too many effects on dave's voice next time.

Rating 9/10

For Fans Of : Cradle Of Filth, Satyricon, Fear Factory, Nile

STU

CHAOSANCT NEWS

Well i have known about this for a few days now,but James has officially announced this so here is his statement from myspace :

So there it is, we are whole again! After some weeks of putting the word out, sifting through potential auditionees and then going through the audition process we are excited to welcome current Skaldic Curse and former Akercocke guitar maestro Paul Scanlan to the ranks of the Chaosanct!

We're all excited about Paul joining us, and bringing with him his own inimitable style, playing ability and infusing this into the chaosanct sound as well as writing process. There already plans in the works for a new demo for which we have 3-4 tracks lined up, not to mention live performances with our newly re-energised line up, exciting things indeed!

On top of all that, we'll be putting up more tracks for you to peruse, something long long overdue, in the coming weeks so stay tuned as we have awoken again! Also, last but not least, a thanks to all those that applied, from shores beyond ours in some cases, and to those that made it into the auditions and played their arses off.

We've seen and heard some amazing guitarists over the past few weeks, but we could only choose one!

James

Expect gigs from May onwards.

I hear that there only a handfull of copies left of the 'I Of Goliath' EP left and to quote James "When they're gone they're gone" A limited run of logo sweat wristbands are now available as well.

STU

www.myspace.com/chaosanct

CHAOSANCT - I Of Goliath EP (CD Review)

1. I Of Goliath
2. Dark Directions
3. Slither
4. The Mind Chamber

David R Kuchta - Vocals
James McIlroy - Guitar
Andrew Ongley - Guitar
Tilman Wolff-Moore - Bass
Matt C- Drums

Its going to be hard to review this ep without going on about the amazing vocals of Dave Kuchta a man who possessess a totally unique and outstanding style that will quickly gain this band major intrest.

So we start with the title track, heavy as you would expect from the Death Metal style,but with unexpected melody and a very catchy chorus,that said it is my least fave track,its just me tho, just a bit of the guitar i dont like thats all.

Track two is a pure delight opening with keyboards put together by James and Tilman this song has every element from metal to death composed with real care to create the near perfect song Dave's vocals surpass anything ive heard this year full stop, going from Burton C.Bell to Shagrath without pausing for breath,the song just moves so sweetly from melody to speed to death powered by solid drumming and great riffs.

Slither was my fave track up to now,it kicks big time starting off with a sample stating that "some say the world will end in fire" and if it did then this is its soundtrack,triggered drums power this song at full speed towards a wall of death :) once again Daves vocal arange simply astounds and the guitar work towards the end is top notch!

Finally we come to The Mind Chamber an atmospheric piece than features guest vocals from former Interlock singer Christina Gajny,the song itself has this wonderful little riff throughout that just holds it together perfectly.

These four songs show that Chaosanct dont want to do things thre same way as everybody else this cuts them a whole new genre of what we know as Death Metal,right now there is no one any where near this !
So you will want to get your hands on a copy of this ep.so go to www.myspace.com/chaosanct or better still get one at their next gig.


Rating : 10/10

Get This If You Like : Fear Factory,Cradle Of Filth,Strapping Young Lad,Dimmu Borgir,Biomechanical

CHAOSANCT - Live At The Fly 21.09.08 (Gig Review)

Chaosanct

9Days Down

1000 Scars

Heavens Gate

Arriving early at the venue, due to the amount of people there was to talk to, i never made inside the venue until 5 minutes before Chaosanct were due on stage!
So unlike other reviewers who just lie, i must apologise to all 3 support groups who i did not get to see, therefore i cannot review their sets.I will say that from talking to various people none of them had anything negative to say about them.

Onto Chaosanct who were making their london debut in front of a packed audience and boy did they deliver!
The brainchild of James Mcilroy, ex Cradle Of Filth and current lead guitarist with Matron who has spent 2 years putting this together with Andy Ongley (ex Lozek and current Guitarist with Samsas Traum), multi talented musician Tilman Wolff-Moore on bass also with Samsas Traum and Spitting Blood, ex Biomechanical drummer Matt C and Spitting Blood vocalist David R Kuchta.

Exploding onto the cramped stage with 'Slither' (one of only four completed demos,this one was recently uploaded to their myspace page), two things strike you; firstly that the quality of music is very high with its blend of death metal and melody and secondly that Dave has the most amazing voice, like a mixture of Burton C.Bell and Shagrath, without a doubt this guy has the best voice in metal in the uk right now.

The next few songs are new to everybody as only 2 have been released so far, each song powers along with pounding bass, superb guitar work from Andy and James who also manageed to windwill without getting caught up ! (how come his head doesnt unscrew?) driven by a constand barrage of drum triggers on overdrive.

Best of all was the atmosphere.On stage the band were clearly happy laughing and joking between songs and with each song the audience were becoming more involved with much headbanging and flicking of the obligatory horns,it was a sad moment when Dave announced the last song.
All in all a great gig from a band who will be destroying venues throughout the country in the near future.

STU