Summoning

The ability to create a fictional universe within your head. With cultures, languages, beliefs, landscapes and history. Surely in the terms of art, can there be any greater ability than to think up a universe that others believe in and chronicle? The impact of Tolkien is well noted throughout the history of metal culture. But none were ever so able to capture the pure essence of the work like Summoning. Their primitive roots gave birth to a monster no one could have expected... Fusing darkwave with black metal in an idea that no one had touched before, or really even could begin to touch since. These are the masters of their craft, the true weavers of the tales at the fire, passing down their stories to the captivated crowd as their faces move with shadow as the flames flicker. The telling of the tales is a simple formula, but one that is incredibly effective. Bombast, atmosphere, length... Each 6-10 min song taking its time and repeating its themes to you in order to sink itself deep into your psyche so that you remember the tales yourself to pass down one day. So many others have tried since, but none have ever been as fanciful of a speaker as Summoning. Start with Stronghold to initiate yourself. Then look back to Dol Guldur and Nightshade Forests. From there you will be properly initiated into the world of Summoning to seek out the rest of their works.


WHO CAN TELL YOU THE AGE OF THE MOON? WELL I CAN.

Ondskapt

To follow the release of their latest album, I thought it best to offer the loyal Xulborgs the rest of this bands hymns.

Enjoy.


Orthodox Devil Worship

Slave Under His Immortal Will

Draco Sit Mihi Dux

Dödens Evangelium

Deliverance

Here's a band not many have heard of, and even fewer have actually listened to. Thanks to the XQCD, now you've got their discography at your fingertips. Obviously, this is not the American "white metal" band. Deliverance are a bunch of quirky hooligans from Great Britain that managed to create some of the more unique music their underground tossed out in the 80s.

They started out with a debut that was just a hard rockin' Venom styled neckbreaker, but then they evolved a bit. They added some of the heaviest synth work and the most constant double bass I've heard for the time. Influences from all over the board started appearing in the music. The personality it exudes makes Evil Friendship a must hear bit of Proto BM. After that they matured a bit with a well refined third album that brought in some mainstream and punk sounds.

Do yourself a favor and check these guys out. They're a bit of metal history that never made history for whatever reason. Poor production, shit distribution, bad management, and lack of money, most likely. Whatever the case, they're an interesting listen for sure.


Your Death

Crispin Glover

Now here is one of those head scratching albums that no doubt will have you questioning my sanity as to why I post it. For those of you not in the know, Crispin Glover is an actor that has had tons of interesting performances throughout his career. Definitely one of those kult actors that creates some of the most bizarre yet classic performances to be seen on Sinema. (We hope to post one of his films here soon.) But here for your listening displeasure Xul presents to you his solo album. A pomp romp of twisted pop tunes co-written with the fine folks of Barnes & Barnes (think Fish heads). What you get are a few originals, a couple of covers (including great Charles Manson and Lee Hazelwood covers), as well as some spoken word renditions from his books. Definitely file this as one of those "open minded" Xulborg posts, as it's definitely nowhere near the metal or gloom and doom laden spectrum we tend to focus on. But there is definitely a twisted mind at work here... Which is why Xul adores the man's work.

OPENING CUTS ON A LARGE MAMMAL, I DON'T CARE TO DEFEND MYSELF (download here, nitwit)

Filii Nigrantium Infernalium

This my dear Xulims …THIS is HANDS DOWN the best portuguese Black Metal band(which along with Moonspell pioneered the style in this country ... ok,ok,"what about Decayed?" Fukk Decayed,they never managed to impress me in the slightest)…period.

Nothing whatsoever to do with all these third rate scandinavian wannabe clone bands we have over here these days.

Oh the memories about this one… such as seeing them live in the early 90s opening for Ancient Rites (and in which Impaled Nazarene were also rumoured as headliners).The sort of memorable experience that makes one forget /ignore all the other bands playing that night(including Ancient Rites).Simply the rawest,filthiest,most chaotic dose of Anarko/black metal I’ve ever been exposed to.Remember how unique something like early Necromantia or even Rotting Christ sounded in the late 80s/early 90s? Or even the “isolationism” of Samael’s “Worship him”for that matter? What you have in here is basically the same strong sense of identity of the aforementioned bands,nothing remotely Snorre-ish in here that’s for sure.This is a product of fully understanding what Punk,80s Euro thrash,(Black) Metal were originally all about and use it all as a medium which reflects Belathauzer’s twisted charisma for which he was/is locally renowned.


P.S. Start either by the 90s “A era do abutre” EP or the “Fellatrix Discoria…” full length and then as a curiosity check the demo out which in my opinion isn’t really representative of what the band is about.

INDULGE

Seance "Saltrubbed eyes"

A Classic in each and every way , probably the best Swedish Death Metal album of all time … what hit me straight away as I first listened to this back in 93 was how fukking HEAVY this is , and I’m not referring exclusively to the production which in itself is pretty original and refreshing given that Jensen and Co. opted not to follow the herd down to Morrisound or that other one which produced all those useless Entombed clones … when I mean heavy I mean in the way these songs were crafted and subsequentely delivered by the band ,even at their fastest (and it sure as hell gets pretty fast) it’s invariably HEAVY but the contrast between the slow and fast parts is where this gets more pronounced. The atmosphere is one of an all-enveloping pitch black nightmare you can’t seem to wake up from … add to this a guest appearance on a few tracks by In Slaughter Natives and I guess some of you will know what you’ll be in for … in conclusion ,if you have any interest in Death Metal this is ESSENTIAL.

INDULGE

IMPETUOUS RITUAL - Relentless Execution of Ceremonial Excrescence

There’s actually a few resons or/and excuses as to why I couldn’t be bothered to comment on this post in the 1st place … in order to better understand this choice I suggest whoever may be interested to read Nihilus_Xul’s comments on the band PORTAL .Well ,to be honest I might as well have simply copied and pasted that onto here and it would be spot on as to what Impetuous Ritual are all about.

On a purely personal note it’s hard for me to describe my enthusiasm over both Impetuous Ritual and Portal since it has been well over 15 years ,or so, since I last recognized those very peculiar traits/characteristics which instantly identify a Death metal band… I'll be focusing on just 1 today ... that very pronounced,unmistakable,all encompassing “atmosphere” of what is usually filed under ”death”, “darkness”,”fear” etc etc … In this context , how technical the band is, how fast they play their instruments , how tight they are as a unit,how they sound in studio etc etc ,is but a means to an end(achieving THAT “atmosphere”) as opposed to being an end in itself (read all that deep sleep inducing Canadian tech crap, 99% of what is considered Death metal in the US these days,the so-called Gothenburg sound blah blah).

… Some other time depending on chemicals I might toss my 2 cents in on other words such as “Charisma” , “Visuals” and “Attitude” ,all in a Death metal context … as for now remember Nihilus’ very convenient final words “If you have any respect as a reader of this blog,take our word for it and grab this.”

INDULGE

Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows

Music as art, and art as music... When the artists themselves go through a transformation in order to present the picture and imagery for the living art they create. Such is the odd tale of one Anna Varney Cantodea of the amazing Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows.
An evolved form of goth that moved into wonderfully arranged and almost cinematic structures of chamber works adopted to goth sensibilities and rock sounds. One can draw some parallels to an act like Devil Doll at times. This makes for an amazing atmosphere of elegance... Of a form of music that few can even begin to approach. Subtlety, beauty and the joy of isolation and depression. The power of creating a world of your own to play in, in your own dwelling. To make your own party, your own theme, your own life and eventually, your own funeral. Watching the flowers you pick die in the vase and enjoying their decomposition.
This is oddly upbeat music at times, considering the subject matter of depression that is such a basis for so much of the project. A conquering of ones fears while still living in their shell is a good idea to what the mind of Anna is all about. All with a lovely mix of sarcasm, cynicism and broken romanticism. Surely one of the most unique projects you'll ever come across, and one highly recommended, as all Xul Lessons are. 2003's The Vampyre sucking at its own vein is an excellent place to start, as is 2004's Flowers in Formaldehyde, or even the Dead Lovers Sarabande albums. But remember... this is a project to enjoy the full discography of, and so Xul presents it for you.

NO ONE IS THERE

Sacrilegium

Poland's black metal tradition has a rich history now... Full of bands that have formed, evolved, peaked, collapsed, disappeared or gone on to legendary status. But back in those old days there were still many stories to tell from the new bands. Behemoth were worshiping Emperor and still playing black metal. Graveland hadn't made a second career out of plagiarizing Bathory's Hammerheart yet.. Christ Agony hadn't gone goth and back again. Lux Occulta existed, period. And Pagan Records had the monopoly on the young scene. In that time Sacrilegium came and made an interesting mark. They shot out of a cannon with one of the most lethal demos to ever come out of Polish black metal in Sleeptime, then progressively got more evolved in their songwriting with the full length Wicher. Either growing bored or just too good for their own shoes, they blew it on their later demos and eventually just faded into obscurity. Definitely rooted in second wave black metal, something was different here though. They had a clear vision of what they wanted to do, and did it... Then did too much. But still, the good stuff is a proud legacy to leave behind. Xul offers you three releases from this band. The amazing Sleeptime demo, The Wicher lp, and their split with fellow Polish band North. Definitely go for Sleeptime first.

EMPTY SIDE OF SOUL

Abruptum

At the time of death metal's stagnancy and black metal's rise in the early 90s there were those that wanted to break down the structure of what extreme metal had become and go completely off the wall in sound. Abruptum was one band that was the result of this. Coming across as improv musicians so wasted on heroin that they could hardly play... their focus instead shifted to creating an unsettling atmosphere. One of horror, tension, dread... a black basement with you chained to a wall, watching the slow and deliberate torture of your cell mates. Begging only that your death will be more gentle and quicker than the tormented screams and howls of the victims that come before you. A tongue removed here, a kneecap pried off there.. All the while with some madman staring and keeping a rhythmic pace that matters only to them at the time.
They summed it up best themselves "The Audial Essence of Pure Black Evil". This is a collection of their earlier works and albums. Just try and keep your sanity during this, Just Fukking Try.

EARLY EVIL GENIUS

Caves

The stuff nightmares are often said to sound like, only worse.

This is probably a Xul exclusive, the demos are limited to 73 and 94 copies(the five track being the 94)Fukk it, who cares about the order of things, these are just demos.

I doubt these are available on any other blogs, so this could well be a WOX exclusive, if not go shit yourself.

I'm sure the main man behind this wouldn't have sold these to me if he knew I was going to post his work within 3 hours of obtaining them, fukk him, he's just a pawn in Xul's game.

Musically, this is Atmospheric Black Metal, or Ambient Black Metal, which ever one you think suits best. Xul just thinks this is exactly the type of obscure shit you need to hear, even if it's just a case of being able to boast on your melodeath forum bashing mission.

TEN THOUSAND STOOD BEFORE HIM AND TEN THOUSAND FELL.

Trist

Aran of Lunar Aurora.

Ambient/Black Metal. Mostly Ambient and not bad at that. Also an artist, Aran has created all this projects covers as well as the logo(Not to mention alot of the Lunar Aurora covers, as well as some bands over the last few years like Horna and TotalSelfHatred).

Now the music, you'll either really enjoy and "get" or you won't, so those who don't fukk off and go make a chairty donation, you feeble twat.

Start with Hin-Fort which is a double disc album, Hin featuring a single song of over 70's minutes, which includes uninspiried hypnotic Black Metal guitars, and Fort is the ambient side of things.

Move onto Willenskraft next which is the 2009 album and is more of a complete work in the sense that the whole album is a mix of the two styles.

Will Power

Alastis

Switzerland's Castor and Pollux were Samael and their lesser known sibling Alastis. Similar in their approach, only Samael was the evil twin. The worship of the black mass and all things unholy until they found Laibach and blasted off into space. Alastis were left behind, the lonely, depressed and hopeless romantic that never got the attention of their more famous sibling.
Alastis focused more on a doomy and atmospheric form of dark metal that was surprisingly quite catchy and at times uplifting. They were masters of the subtle art of building their songs. Not in any new or creative ways, but in ways that just stuck with you. As much as we come back to Samael as a reference point, it's really quite easy to see that Alastis was Samael if they had continued to play in a metal style and focused on a more doomy and goth influenced approach. A relaxing listen not meant to make you focus on acts of domestic terrorism, Alastis is indeed a moody sort of beast to get you through your more downtrodden moments of life. They managed to mark out a 5 album career (including 3 on century media) and then called it a day... Not a bad legacy to leave behind.
Personally Revenge is the place to start at their most polished best, but ...And Death Smiled and The Other SIde are also excellent albums to begin with. Then absorb the other two as needed.



LIKE A DREAM

Choronzon

One of the most schizophrenic movements of cyber black metal ever created. The entire purpose of Choronzon is to exist to serve that demonic current the project is named for and I'll be fukked if it's not only pulled off, but voiced by Choronzon itself. An absolute mindfukk of a project and sound here, layers swirling all over the place over chaos chaos chaos chaos FUKKING HELL! Yeah, it's that good. Words fail it... Listening you are driven to violence, possessed by Choronzon, doing the deeds of Choronzon and running out the door to quickly murder any passersby that even dare add their voice to the noise coming out of your speakers.
Literally, this will drive you to do some acts of fun. Breaking into your neighbors to violate the anus of that crying baby never felt so good as when Choronzon was blasting as your fukktrakk.
This is the sonic equivalent of burning your candle at both ends... the energy is fantastic, but you know that you are dying all that much faster... Not only essential, but XUL absolutely orders you to listen. Panic Pandemic to begin with and then flush out the rest of your system. Pray to whatever God or void you wish, Xul has found a sibling spirit, and its name is Choronzon.

AESTHETIC SHOCK TACTICS

Fields of the Nephilim

Masters of the rock oriented world of goth, Fields of the Nephilim were at the top of the heap stylistically in the 80s. Taking a Pink Floyd influence, dabbling with Iron Maiden and old Western music, adding it to their 4AD palette in the process, then washing it it all down with some occultism themed material... all wrapped up in goths gone spaghetti western appearances. That difficult to attain but perfect blend of both sound and look in order to create that mystical aura to a band. They had it for sure. Very psychedelic in their own ways, this is one of those bands that is usually easy for metal fans to cross over into as their first forays into real gothic music. Capturing you with that spirit of other worldly dream state they sweep you away in their currents. One moment you're in the Old West, the next you're on the astral plane contemplating how you will ever get home again. The next driving down the highway without a care in the world as you feel death surrounding you on all angles with a welcome blanket of fuzzed out opiate warmth. Truly powerful stuff to absorb here and definitely not a band that can even begin to be scratched with just a casual surface listen. The band themselves eventually dissolved with vocalist Carl McCoy forming a more Ministry influenced outfit simply known as "The Nefilim", who released one lp (Zoon) included here for the sake of including it... Plus it's just one dark album.
You're going to want to start here with Revelations, then once that is a bit digested work your way towards Dawnrazor and Elizium and The Nephilim. Enjoy, as this is one of the finest examples of 80s goth that ever existed.

TAKE THE DREAM

Canaan

The continued evolution of Ras Algethi resulted in the creation of Canaan. Leaving behind their doom metal ways they kept the sound and qualities of RA, but morphed it with some gothic, darkwave and ambient experimenting. Again, you can see a clear link to Into The Pandemonium era Celtic Frost at times via the Monumentum influence. But that is only as a distant guide post. For Canaan have come so much farther. There is an undeniable romantic quality floating through the music of Canaan... Which gives way to loss when they work on the ambient textures in their earlier works. Brand New Babylon sees the band beginning to morph again into a more gothic act. Really, done quite well. Xul offers you the first 3 albums of Canaan. Start with Walk Into My Open Wound.


A SONG FOR PAIN

Order From Chaos

American death metal usually gets pigeon holed into a few different categories. Florida, NY, TX, Gore, yada yada... But really, other than the innovators, who other than local scene kids really cares that band x sounds like a bad cover band of their heroes? Order From Chaos had something unique and special. An approach that no one before or since has really quite managed to figure out. Blackened for sure... they went on to influence so many other bands that also has something interesting to say. Xul gives you a treat here... The sound of occultism and warfare blasting you from all angles.

THERE LIES YOUR LORD

Ember

An old and long defunct USBM band that had a couple of demos and then basically compiled it for this release. A bit of an upbeat nature to their style despite some lyrics focused on suicide, depression, the usual bm fun of today other than Satan. The interesting thing about them was their unabashed love of punk.. and it showed in more ways than just their Naked Raygun and Misfits covers. The riffs and drums have that good uptempo chaotic nature that good punk provides and flows seamlessly when blended with black and thrash metal. Really a fantastic effort from a band that killed themselves way too early. Kind of a shame that this never went farther, but they kept it true to the end.

INTO DEATH

Tragediens Trone - The Cold Depths of Solitude

Imagine you have awaken to find yourself sitting by the shore of a lake. You have no idea where you are or how you've gotten here, but it doesn't feel strange. You're indrenched by your surroundings. The cold soil you sit upon, the bleak mist encompassing the landscape. You hear nothing but a void of silence.

Hours pass as you sit there motionless, embracing the dense atmosphere around you. Suddenly, you see something floating in the water. Slowly it drifts towards you out from the fog. You stare at it, trying to figure out what the object is. Then you realize..

..it's the corpse of a fucking dolphin.

You're hit by a revelation so profound that you don't bother wondering what the hell a dolphin is doing in a midland lake. You are a mammal, the same as this dolphin was. Evolution is real. There is no God. You're not some special being put here with a purpose. You're as insignificant as any other animal.

You stand up, walk into the lake, and drown yourself.

The Cold Depths of Solitude

Drastus

Once again, for those who hold an interest for less well known acts, thanks to the NebulaCruiser-Xul search shuttle, I bring you Drastus.
It's little wonder that this man is from France, a place that despite its faults, produces some excellent black metal in recent years.

You can hear that Drastus is a serious fellow, thoery nerds need to avoid this, as it will only boggle them and have them asking questions about moronic things, at the end of the day, we don't need to know what he's exactly playing, this works, it works well and it punches said nerds inside their stomachs, the same kinda pain I'm sure they feel when they wave goodbye to their girlfriends with tears in their eyes and thumbs up their fukking arses.

These releases hold alot of spirit, and you can hear the oil pumping through this machine, dark and aggressive, moody and relentless, we don't need to worry about much else, this is what Black Metal is.

If you don't understand that, go eat your fukking hands and log onto your 'music' forum.

If you enjoy the more sinister side to life and get off on visions of power and planet crushing might, download.

For The True Believers