Death Metal

EMQ’s With Cerebral Extinction

EMQ’s With Cerebral Extinction

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Italian Technical/ Brutal Death Metal band, Cerebral Extinction. Huge thanks to their guitarist, Michele, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Hi everyone, I am Michele and I am currently the guitarist and one of the two founding members. The birth of the band happened almost by chance from the meeting with Malshum who has covered the role of vocalist since the birth of the band in 2012.

How did you come up with your band name?

The name chosen was the union of some ideas between me and Malshum. It all came naturally without there being a particular story behind it. Okay, let’s use that !!!

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

The band is located in Northern Italy even if we are all scattered around. I live in Brescia, Malshum in Peschiera del Garda, Nicola the drummer in Milan and Wally the bass player lives in Bologna, a situation facilitated by technology. I must say that in the in our area the scene as far as extreme metal is concerned is alive and well although some clubs have had to close due to lockdown but the bands are very active and interesting.

What is your latest release?

Our new effort is “Escape From Illusion”, the third studio album released on July 15th for Amputated Vein Records, which was preceded by the single ‘4 Eyes of Chaos’ here

https://youtu.be/9aW-Tp322Us

Who have been your greatest influences?

In this work we can say that we have been very influenced by a more modern sound and approach to Death Metal. Inferi, Archspire, Beneath The Massacre are among our main sources of inspiration being the right mix between brutality and melody and this is the path that we want also go with the next job.

What first got you into music?

For me, having entered the world of music was a foregone conclusion, let’s say my father being a guitar teacher and music has always been an integral part of my family’s culture, but everything happened spontaneously and naturally.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

I think on behalf of everyone we would like to host Tobi Morelli of Archspire as a guest on a solo, maybe it will happen in the future.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Because of the quality that has been well known for years, I would opt for Brutal Assault, which has always been a passion of mine.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

I would not say strange but a pleasant surprise. Everything happened in relation to my birthday and this friend and fan of mine gave me the Death by Symbolic mug, a very appreciated gift.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

First of all we thank them because we have received a lot of appreciation on our new release and we look forward to seeing you at our next concerts, follow us on our social channels for new news and content.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Obviously Chuck Schuldiner!!!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

The creation and arrangement of all the ideas we accumulate and then transform them into a song, an album, a concept. At the same level of pleasure there is being able to do concerts which is the thing that satisfies us the most.

I hate being judged without even knowing us, but this happens in all categories.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I believe more meritocracy to rookie bands also who deserve it and this also applies to certain types of concerts and events.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

At The Gates – “Slaughter of the Souls”.

Q. What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

I would say CD, but the charm of vinyl is undeniable.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

At Move Your Fucking Brain Extreme Fest in Barcelona. Incredible audience and I was wearing a hallucinating adrenaline, the best.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I would continue to be a bus driver which is also my job or to travel all the time.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Obviously my friends.

What’s next for the band?

Our prospects are to promote the new album as much as possible live in Italy but above all abroad. We have the intention of publishing a video clip and some playthroughs to make the interest always active.

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

You can follow us on our social pages:

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/CerebralExtinction
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cerebralextinction.official
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCZ_e5OeZDD_jOhUzyq7yBCA

Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?

I have no idea Ha Ha Ha!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

We would like to thank all the readers and you who have dedicated this time to us. Hello everybody!!!

Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Soul Grinder – Anthems From The Abyss

Soul Grinder – Anthems From The Abyss
MDD Records
Release Date: 11/11/22
Running Time: 42:16
Review by Richard Oliver
8/10

A band that has been making waves in the extreme metal underground in Germany are Bremen death metallers Soul Grinder who are releasing their second album “Anthems From The Abyss”. These guys flew into my radar with the release of their debut album “Chronicles Of Decay” in 2020 and they seriously impressed me with their no-nonsense but utterly brilliant approach to death metal. An E.P. “Lifeless Obsession” followed last year which maintained the level of sheer quality displayed on the debut album so it is safe to say that this is an anticipated release and thankfully one that does not disappoint.

What we get with “Anthems From The Abyss” is a wonderfully straightforward death metal sound where the almighty riff is put front and centre. There are so many riffs and rhythms on this album that demand vicious headbanging and the inevitable neck injuries. There are plenty of moments of that irresistible old school death metal groove as well as some nods to thrash metal plus moments of sheer gnarly brutality. Soul Grinder are not reinventing the wheel by any stretch but are just simply delivering absolutely killer death metal. There can’t be a self-respecting death metal fan on the planet who won’t lose their shit to ravenous tunes such as ‘Insidious Resurrection’, ‘Supreme Enemy’, ‘From The Nether Realm’, ‘Warcurse’ and the killer title track. There are odd hints at melody throughout the album plus there is also a minimal use of keyboards for atmosphere but these moments are few and far between.

Soul Grinder have again impressed with another killer death metal album. It has killer riffs, filthy groove, battering rhythms and ferocious vocals – the key ingredients to any good death metal album. One or two songs get overshadowed by the album’s more memorable songs but there is absolutely no denying that Soul Grinder have death metal down to a fine art. They have won over metalheads in Germany and now is the time for them to impress the world. “Anthems From The Abyss” is the album to help them achieve that.

‘Spirit’s Asylum’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Anthems From The Abyss
02. Insidious Resurrection
03. The Soul’s Mirror
04. Supreme Enemy
05. I Am The Silencer
06. Blood Harvest
07. From The Nether Realm
08. The Last Supper
09. Spirit’s Asylum
10. Warcurse

LINE-UP:
Mathias Junge – Vocals/Bass
Jan Resmer – Guitar Backing Vocals
Matè “Balrogh” Balogh – Drums

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Oliver and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Nile, with Krisiun, In Element, and Decrepid – ‘The Garage’, London – 06/11/2022

Nile, with Krisiun, In Element, and Decrepid
‘The Garage’, London
06/11/2022
Live Review & Photos by Chris Galea

DECREPID

Decrepid are a local Brutal Death Metal band – as far as I can remember this was my first foray into their music. They sounded tight and intense … jeez, if this was only the first band, I dread to imagine how flayed my body and mind will be by the end of the event. Anyway, the vocals sounded particularly fierce and occasionally I heard some cool guitar licks amongst a ferocious barrage of riffs.

https://www.facebook.com/decrepid

IN ELEMENT

In Element stood out from the rest of the bill but not necessarily for the right reasons. The band does a sort of Industrial / Nu-Metal cross-bred with Crematory-type sonorities. They sounded a bit lost to me to be honest and definitely weren’t my cup of tea. At times their singer kept babbling incoherently for more than my patience could endure. As in the case of Decrepid, In Element had very little stage space to move about. Consequentially their singer performed standing on the pit barrier, and it was weird avoiding any collisions when I skirted from one side of the pit to the other to take my photos. Brownie points to the band for their efforts in providing a visually impactful show despite stage restrictions.

https://www.facebook.com/inelement/

KRISIUN

Krisiun’s confidence in delivering the goods was clear as the band steam-rolled through their set with fearsome tightness. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past thirty years, Krisiun, from Brazil, infuse the aural menace of Thrash and Death Metal. The Kolesne brothers that make up the band performed a sort of greatest hits from their vast repertoire with an understandable leaning towards their new album “Mortem Solis”.

The Garage happily lapped everything up and the band members seemed quite pleased at the audience’s reaction. Highlights for me included some guitar shredding from Moyses Kolesne that I hadn’t always picked up from the band’s recordings. Set closer ‘Hatred Inherit’ was particularly impressive too but was delivered with the same passion that the trio showed for the whole set. Quite a good live band.

https://www.facebook.com/krisiun.official/

NILE

Nile upped the ante in terms of brutality and the crowd responded to that with some serious moshing. Sounding immensely tight, the U.S.A. quartet delivered its own brand of Death Metal inspired by Ancient Egypt and its grim mythology.

Behind the drum kit, George Kollias was particularly impressive … tight, precise and relentless. I remember meeting him when he was playing with Greek band Nightfall … he has built up quite a name for himself since then. Similarly, guitarist, band founder and riff-meister Karl Sanders was excellent as he flew through one intricate series of riffs to another without getting entangled.

Despite the fact that the band members seem to work well together, this line-up is actually quite new. Brian Kingsland, on guitar and lead vocals, joined just as the band started working on “Vile Nilotic Rites”, Nile’s most recent album, from which the band played a couple of numbers tonight. Bass player and lead growler Julian David Guillen has only been with Nile for a few weeks, and this is in fact his very first tour with the band.

Thankfully I exited The Garage relatively unscathed but pleased as it had been a while since I attended such a good Death Metal gig.

https://www.facebook.com/nilecatacombs

LINKS:

Venue:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Chris Galea and Ever Metal. Photography property of Chris Galea It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Empire Drowns – Nothing

Empire Drowns – Nothing
Uprising Records
Release Date: 21/11/2022
Running Time: 28:39
Review by Chris Galea
8.5/10

Sometimes darkness can be a source of warmth and solace… This is the territory where you’d find bands such as Empire Drowns. “Nothing” is only the Danes’ second release in almost 12 years of existence so I might be forgiven for being hitherto unaware of the band. Recriminations aside, let’s shed some light on this album…

I use the word ‘album’ indecisively because since it clocks less than 30 minutes I’m almost tempted to call it an EP. Anyhoo, the album (let’s stick with that epithet, shall we?) kicks off with an instrumental intro and it strikes me that there’s no logical reason as to why the intro to ‘Purity’ (the second track) is featured separately. All these trivialities fall by the wayside, however, as soon as the Doom Death sonorities of ‘Purity’ drags you into the world of Empire Drowns.

If you’ve ever taken pleasure in immersing yourself in the woes of the British Doom Death triumvirate of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and (early) Anathema and if you are also partial to Gothic Rock, then “Nothing” will send shivers down your spine. The Death Metal vocals of Michael Hvolgaard Andersen sound fierce and expressive and sometimes veer precariously close to Black Metal temperaments. And Thomas Birk provides the album with welcome embellishments through his guitar sweeps.

But for me one of the strongest selling points of “Nothing” is the multi-faceted and intense songwriting. Nothing I’d call ‘groundbreaking’ mind you, but Empire Drowns deliver the material with palpable passion.

This was most definitely a welcome surprise.

‘Purity’ Lyric Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. I Am
02. Purity
03. Anesthesia
04. Nothing
05. Gone
06. Loved

LINE-UP:
Thomas Birk – Guitars
Kim Jørgensen – Drums
Anders Ro Nielsen – Keys
Marco Angioni – Bass
Michael Hvolgaard Andersen – Vocals

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Chris Galea and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s With The Scum

EMQ’s With The Scum

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Columbian Death Metal band, The Scum. huge thanks to their Vocalist,José Ospina, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

I am José Ospina and I am the vocalist of the traditional Colombian death metal band THE SCUM. The band has been working since 2013 and we have two EPs and two albums. Our records were mixed and mastered by renowned producers in the extreme metal scene like Tomas Skogsberbg, Dan Swano and Andy Classen. We have played shows around Colombia, especially in Bogota, which is the capital of our country playing alongside bands like Destruction, Suffocation, Incantation, The Haunted, Exciter, Pungent Stench, Tim Ripper Owens, etc. And played some shows in Ecuador as well.

How did you come up with your band name?

I joined the band in 2015 so the name was already chosen. But guitarist Santiago chose the name THE SCUM because of his appreciation for the first album of Napalm Death “Scum” and because it is a short and memorable name and sounds so good. In 2017 we changed to THE SCUM to avoid possible legal problems with other bands and because it sounds better than just Scum.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We are from Colombia, South America. The extreme metal scene here is the strongest South American scene along with the Chilean in terms of quantity and quality of bands. Since the end of the Covid confinements here there has been an explosion of shows of international and local bands. Every week the shows are everywhere and many people are attending. We hope that the situation will continue that way in the future.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

In June Satanath records from Europe and Wild Noise productions released “The Hunger”, our second album and two weeks ago released a video of the song “The Death of light” that appears in the full length.

Who have been your greatest influences?

The pioneers of extreme metal like Celtic Frost, Venom , Bathory, Sodom , etc. And the old school death metgal bands like the two first Death albums, Benediction, Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Dismember, and a bunch of other bands.

What first got you into music?

As a fan of mostly heavy metal bands of the 80s like Barón Rojo, Iron Maiden, Dio ,Ozzy Osbourne. As a singer Thrash metal bands like Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Possessed and early death metal bands like Benediction, Bolt Thrower, Death and Entombed among many others.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Thomas Gabriel Fisher of Triumph of Death, Triptykon. Formerly in Hellhammer, Celtic frost.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Party San or Milwaukee Death Metal Fest. Pure extreme metal festivals with a healthy touch of underground feeling!!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Do whatever the hell you want!!!

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Let sleeping corpses lie!!!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Producing a piece of music that comes from your own creativity and playing live with an audience reacting like wild animals to your music. I hate mostly the greedy promoters and label people that treat the musicians like shit on some occasions!!!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The high prices of the physical material. Physical formats are a luxury now.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Celtic Frost “Morbid Tales” with “Emperors Return” as a bonus.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?

ONLY VINYL IS REAL!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Maybe a festival named Eje Rock in the city Pereira not far from here. And opening for Incantation and Suffocation in Bogota two weeks ago.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I teach philosophy at a University!!!

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Five hot chicks!!! Hahahahaha

What’s next for the band?

Promote the album like crazies!!!

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

You can visit us at our official page Www.the-scum.com or https://www.facebook.com/thescummusic
https://www.instagram.com/thescumband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ty8gmffA4KE6JVBzQQo1J#_=_
https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat342-the-scum-the-hunger-2022

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

What are you talking about?????

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thanks for the interview. Horns up for all the readers of this site!!!

Ingested – Ashes Lie Still

Ingested – Ashes Lie Still
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 04/11/2022
Running Time: 44:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10

In my never-ending quest to review everything Metal Blade puts out this year it’s time for some Brutal Death Metal that I’m only allowed to crank when my wife’s out because it gives her a headache (and I’m sick of hearing that excuse as it is – amirite lads?! Eh? Eh?).

So, you know that Metal thing? Turns out the UK’s fucking great at it. We invented it when some lad called Tony chopped his fingers off over 40 years ago – and we’re pretty bloody great at it in the present day as well. Furthermore, it’s really satisfying that we’re really good at the nastiest, most foul aspects of it, as exemplified by local heroes like Venom Prison, Pupil Slicer and Dyscarnate. Ingested can also be added to that list as they come roaring back with album number six “‘Ashes Lie Still”.

Upon reading the press notes (for once) and seeing that this album potentially offers a departure and a more melodic approach, I was praying that this wouldn’t be the moment the band introduced bland clean vocals and castrated their absolutely vile Death Metal approach. Thankfully this proclaimed dynamism doesn’t compromise on the brutality one iota and still contains enough sonic bile to incite the desire to disrespect one’s surroundings. There are hulking riffs and big hooks throughout the album along with a healthy dose of melody, but the face-breaking intensity is always present; it’s just that now it’s catchy as fuck!

Despite featuring the lilting melodic vocals of Julia Frau, the title track opens things up in a suitably mean fashion, quickly racing to chug city via blast boulevard and shrieking like a seething pig / man hybrid all the way. Stitching the whole thing together is a clean picked arpeggio, that acts as an unsettling motif and a further demonstration of the band’s growth as songwriters. By the time the swelling majesty of the outro has hit like a tidal wave of anguish, it’s already clear that the sonic tweaks Ingested have made are a welcome addition to the band’s strong foundations, rather than an unnecessary reinvention.

On ‘Shadow In Time’ Jason Evans demonstrates his canny knack for creating big vocal hooks without having to do any actual singing and ruining everything. You guys know I love melodic vocals, but this kind of music works best when the front person sounds like a disgusting goblin creature experiencing severe road rage! As if they knew me personally, the band caps the song off in a flurry of deranged whammy-bar squealing and a beatdown section that made me want to commit abhorrent acts of extreme physical violence. More than usual I mean.

Not content with merely injecting their molten brand of filth with more compositional variety, the band have also enlisted the help of some excellent guest vocalists. Aside from the ethereal presence of the aforementioned Julia Frau, Aborted legend Sven De Caluwé lends his haggard pipes to the abrasive stomp of ‘Hollow Words’ and bolsters the scowling mantra of ‘Fuck your hollow words!’ in a cathartic anthem brimming with spite. Elsewhere Trivium main man and Metal polymath Matt Heafy lays down some shrill commanding growls on one of the album’s grandest moments ‘All I’ve Lost’, which features widescreen symphonic parts that elevate the surprisingly vulnerable lyrics to biblical heights.

Despite staying within the confines of Brutal Death Metal, there are enough bells and whistles added to the band’s tried and tested sound to make for an engaging and varied listen from start to finish, with things going out on a melancholic yet malevolent high on the tortured melodicism of ‘Scratch The Vein’. The runtime absolutely flies by even if everything on here doesn’t hit the emotional highs of the gut-wrenching ‘Tides Of Glass’, which is possibly the most successful incarnation of Ingested’s current direction.

All in all, this is an immensely satisfying release that will please the Death Metal die-hards while adding new dimensions and a magnificently huge production job that will no doubt broaden the band’s appeal. Like I said the UK rules at Metal, and this is an example to shove down the stupid throat of anyone that says otherwise. Sorry to be needlessly aggressive but this album does that to me!

‘All I’ve Lost’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Ashes Lie Still
02. Shadows In Time
03. You’ll Never Learn
04. Tides of Glass
05. From Hollow Words
06. Sea of Stone
07. All I’ve Lost
08. With Broken Wings
09. Echoes of Hate
10. Scratch the Vein

LINE-UP:
Jason Evans – Vocals
Sean Hynes – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Lyn Jeffs – Drums

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Aurora Borealis – Prophecy is the Mould in Which History is Poured

Prophecy is the Mould in Which History is Poured Album Cover Art

Aurora Borealis – Prophecy is the Mould in Which History is Poured
Hammerheart Records
Release Date: 04/11/22
Running Time: 44:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
7/10

They have plied their trade for nearly 30 years and released seven full length albums over that time. Propelled by founding member Ron Vento, whose song writing has been a key part of the band since the earliest days, the current line-up of Aurora Borealis sees new blood in bassist Eddie Rossi who joins powerhouse drummer Mark Green and Vento in the ultimate black/death metal trio.

Four years have passed since “Apokalupsis” but there is no respite from the relentless combination that Aurora Borealis bring to the table. With their lyrics focusing on a range of topics from Sci-Fi to fantasy to earth creationism, it’s the blend of aggressive blackened death metal that really scorches the earth. Frantic blast beats, screaming lead work that lacerates the skin, and Vento’s black metal screeching combine to bring a sound that offers no half measures.

Eschewing the more mainstream European melodic sound commonly associated with the style that Aurora Borealis deliver, there’s more of an American flavour to the band’s delivery, unsurprising when you learn they originate from Waldorf, Maryland. There is variation within the album, with the intro ‘From the Abyss, Reborn’ and ‘Thralldomnation’ both featuring audio clips blended with eerie effects.

Most of “Prophecy …” focuses on face blistering aural assault and there is savageness lurking in every corner. Opening track ‘God Hunter’ is visceral, violent, and crushing. The sweeping elements of ‘Serenade of Designations’ and the feral abuse of ‘Hymn to the Archfiend’ all vary in style yet retain a nastiness that is the musical equivalent of a rusty can slicing flesh. It’s punishing stuff, although not without its merits. Vento’s vocal style isn’t going to be for all, but if you can tolerate or accept it, there’s plenty of intricate and technical musicianship which is at times superb. By the time you reach ‘Cosmic Control Mechanism’ you’ll be fully converted to a sound that has evolved over time into something quite unique.

‘Founding Fathers Of Deception’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. From the Abyss, Reborn
02. God Hunter
03. The House of Nimrod
04. Ephemeral Rise
05. Serenade of Designations
06. Thralldomnation
07. Founding Fathers of Deception
08. Khafres Mark
09. Awakening
10. Hymn to the Archfiend
11. Cosmic Control Mechanism

LINE-UP:
Ron Vento – Guitar, Vocals, Programming
Mark Green – Drums
Eddie Rossi – Bass

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s With Winds of Creation

EMQ’s With Winds of Creation

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Brazilian Death Metal band, Winds of Creation. Huge thanks to bassist/vocalist Adriano Utsch, guitarist/vocalist Thiago Borges and drummer Paulo Ludgero, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Adriano Utsch: Hail all headbangers, my name is Adriano Utsch (bass/vocal). The band was formed in July 2000, when me (playing just bass) and Pedro Lima (vocala) got together to play some of our Death Metal influences, basically traditional Death Metal. After some tests with other musicians, the band was consolidated in the late 2000, with Thiago Borges (guitars), Keiji Shimodaira (guitars) and Walter (drums). In the early years the band had a regular presence in several events in Brasilia / DF (Brazil) and cities nearby. In 2003 Walter left the band, then we recruited Rodrigo Bogossian to drums, giving continuity to the concerts and the compositions for our first and only full-length, named “Septem”, recorded in 2004 and released independently in August 2005.

We took a break from activities in November 2009, when Pedro Lima moved to the USA. Even with this break, the band continued to perform some shows whenever Pedro visited Brazil. In 2018 the band fully returned to activities, as a power trio, having as members Adriano Utsch (bass / vocal), Thiago Borges (guitar/vocal) and Paulo Ludgero (drums).

How did you come up with your band name?

Adriano Utsch: The band name comes from the classic Decapitated Album “Winds Of Creation”.

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

Adriano Utsch: The Band is from Brasília, capital of Brazil, also called “capital of rock”!!!! There is a real and alive rock and metal scene here, with some big concerts but mostly it is the UNDERGROUND BANDS that keeps the scene alive.

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

Adriano Utsch: Our latest release is the album “Septem”, released in August 2005, and a new one is expected to be released in 2023.

Winds of Creation – Septem (2005)

Who have been your greatest influences?

Adriano Utsch: I usually say that everything we hear influences our sound in some way, classical metal bands like Dismember, Death, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Gorefest, Behemoth and many others are influences.

Paulo Ludgero: I usually listen some good and old stuff as Morbid Angel, Decide, Death, Cannibal, but I also listen some albums that give more musicals ideas to execute on my play, new stuff and some bands that drummers make the difference as Obscura, Hate Eternal, Despised Icon and Ulcerate.

Thiago Borges: At first, I would say Florida’s early Death Metal bands, such as Death, Obituary (my first Death Metal record) and Morbid Angel, but nowadays my main musical influence comes from the old-school Swedish and Finnish Death Metal scene.

What first got you into music?

Adriano Utsch: My first led to music was a family influence, with some rocks!!! So still in childhood I had my first guitar, which was just deepening my musical studies until today.

Paulo Ludgero: I started playing blowing instruments at age 13, then change to Acoustic guitar, then electric guitar, after bass and, least but not last, Drums at age 15. My majority influences were some close friends that as able to play few songs and teach me my first notes.

Thiago Borges: Initially some influences from my mother and her family, when I first listened to Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden and other stuff, but mainly through my brother and some bad influences at the school when I started to play the guitar and to listen to extreme music.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Adriano Utsch: I´m one of the biggest fans of Dismember, so that’s natural choice! HAHAHA

Paulo Ludgero: Absolutely Hate Eternal!

Thiago Borges: Mercyful Fate, even if it’s as a roadie.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Adriano Utsch: Hummm that’s a great question, it will be a fucking honour to play in Wacken, HellFest, Setembro Negro and others around the world.

Paulo Ludgero: I guess Wacken.

Thiago Borges: Hellfest, for sure!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Adriano Utsch: Hahahaah! the weirdest, but very important, was a carrot cake!!!

Paulo Ludgero: A slice of cake (the day was her b-day).

Thiago Borges: To be honest, I have never received any gift for a fan at all!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Adriano Utsch: First, I would like to thank all the fans who have maintained interest in the band over the years.

The Winds Of Creation is BACK, and we will spread Death-Metal!!!!

Paulo Ludgero: I hope that you all enjoy what we are creating for you guys!

Thiago Borges: Thanks to everyone that follows our work over the years and supported us even when the band was inactive. Hope you enjoy the new line-up, the new songs and the upcoming full-length.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Adriano Utsch: We lost a lot of important people to Metal scene, in quick time, I think it would be Chuck Schuldiner the one to bring back.

Paulo Ludgero: Does Jeff Porcaro from TOTO count? hahaha That guy was Genius!

Thiago Borges: Since Adriano will bring Chuck Schuldiner back and Lemmy Kilmister, the God himself, can rise alone from the dead, I will say Ronnie James Dio!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

Adriano Utsch: I really enjoy being a part of a band, the compositional work, the rehearsals and create fucking MUSIC!!! I hate the way that Metal musicians are treated in my country! We don’t have any recognition because of the kind of music we make!

Paulo Ludgero: The possibility to change the people’s emotions because of what I created, what I’m executing.

Thiago Borges: To play without any sense of music theory and just banging with some heavy and dirty riffs. What I hate though is the guy above (a.k.a. “The Drummer”) counting the beats and the notes.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Adriano Utsch: Just give more space and recognition for all! Not just for commercial sounds…

Paulo Ludgero: More talent, less money involved… To make songs to last not to sell.

Thiago Borges: That the intellectual creation of the artists would be more valued than the material production of the record companies.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Adriano Utsch: Hard! Real hard question! Maybe “Massive Killing Capacity” from Dismember.

Paulo Ludgero: Depends on the moment… But, for sure, “I’m Monarch” from Hate Eternal is one that I always listen to.

Thiago Borges: “Scream Bloody Gore” from Death, for me, the beginning and the main musical and lyrical foundation of Death Metal.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?

Adriano Utsch: I don´t think that´s have one silver bullet! They all have their value at some point…

Paulo Ludgero: Today I do prefer a good quality digital audio.

Thiago Borges: Any physical format, but especially CDs!

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Adriano Utsch: I can´t name just one, but I some of this: With Malevolent Creation in 2003, Behemoth in 2004, Brutal Devastation in 2004 and Forcaos (a huge festival in Northeast of the country) in 2005.

Paulo Ludgero: Unfortunately, it was not a metal gig, I also play drums with other musicians and play at an annual party here on Brasília for over 20k people.

Thiago Borges: VIII ForCaos in Fortaleza-CE, 2005.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Adriano Utsch: In Brazil it’s very difficult to live only by extreme music, so I work with computers, as a security information analyst.

Paulo Ludgero: As Adriano I also work with IT as Project manager as my first job, as secondary I play drums at some Pubs and parties, and I got Winds of Creation as my band with our own copyright songs.

Thiago Borges: I’m not a real musician, I never studied hard for it or tried to build something professionally in this way. Music is one of my biggest loves, but still a hobby not a job. I graduated in History and work as a teacher in a high school, that’s where the money and inspiration come from.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Adriano Utsch: Answering only from the extreme metal scene to reduce the choices: Chris Barnes, George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, Glen Benton, Adam “Nergal” Darski and Peter Tägtgren. I think it would be fun!

Paulo Ludgero: Derek Roddy, Bob Jarzombek, Jamie Saint Merat, Darren Cesca and David Diepold.

Thiago Borges: The guys from Bloodbath, just to try to join the band ha ha ha!

What’s next for the band?

Adriano Utsch: The next steps to Winds Of Creation is record and release a new full-length! We believe it should happen in 2023!

What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Adriano Utsch: We use Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/windsofcreation_band) and Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/windsofcreationband).

All links can be found at https://apptuts.bio/winds-of-creation
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1mkutjITXAaDxTtpittLNe
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHGwRsSArV5VU3jPVVw4qAg
Bandcamp: https://windsofcreation.bandcamp.com/

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

Adriano Utsch: In WIKIPEDIA I found this “Jaffa Cakes are a cake introduced by McVitie and Price in the UK in 1927 and named after Jaffa oranges.” So that’s a CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thiago Borges: Goddammit, this is so fucking good!!!

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Adriano Utsch: I would just like to say that it was a mixture of pleasure and honour to answer these questions! Many thanks to everyone who offered us a little time reading this interview! Special thanks to our friend Victor Augusto who invited us to respond to this agenda! Keep fucking brutal all headbangers! We hope to see you soon!

Slaughter the Giant – Depravity

Slaughter the Giant – Depravity
Hammerheart Records
Release Date: 28/10/22
Running Time: 33:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
7/10

Now this was a conundrum. Brutal Death Metal combined with Symphonic and Operatic elements topped off with some real marmite vocals. A real challenge to explore. Firstly, who are Slaughter the Giants? Formed in 2018, the Belgian quintet released a debut EP “Asylum of the Damned” in 2019 and now unleash their debut record “Depravity” on an unsuspecting public.

“Depravity” is a short blast. A mere 33 minutes keep the band on focus and directed towards one vision. Delivering monumental chunks of Melodic Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal and a Fleshgod Apocalypse style Symphony. It works overall, although I admit that Benny Ubachs’ vocals were something of a challenge until I acclimatised.

The tempo is relentless as one would expect for a Death Metal band. The blast beats are hard, fast, and regular. Drumer Joren Baert does a fantastic job throughout. Duelling guitars feature prominently, with Broos and Devos complimenting each other with some fine flicks, tricks, and more routine thunderous riffing. It’s blisteringly fast, punishingly abusive. ‘Co-Ed Butcher’ is probably the closest to Fleshgod and it’s also one of the most impressive tracks on the album, with female operatic voices providing a contrast to the gruffness of Ubachs. It’s been done before, but the Belgians give it a real good go.

Whether it’ll set the Death Metal world alight is another thing of course. There’s plenty here to enjoy, from the opening title track that has a symphonic intro in classic style, shades of Arch Enemy’s melodic vibe edging through in parts, through to the concluding sing ‘Dark Days’ with its sweeping orchestral flourishes that intricately fold together with the crunching guitars. As I said, Ubachs vocals are a marmite challenge, and they are in my opinion, the weakest link here. Although they improve in certain songs, the delivery at times could be improved. But that’s a minor quibble, for overall this is a debut with promise.

‘The Undead’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01.Depravity
02. World to Come
03. Compliance
04. Co-ed Butcher
05. Ritual Abuse
06. Ecological Collapse
07. The Undead
08. Dark Day

LINE-UP:
Daan Vangoidsenhoven – Bass
Joren Baert – Drums
Jeron Broos – Guitair
Timi Devos – Guitar
Benny Ubachs – vocals

LINKS:

Defleshed – Grind Over Matter

Defleshed – Grind Over Matter
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 28/10/2022
Running Time – 34:00
Review by Richard Oliver
8/10

Some albums you listen to and you can immediately see the circle pits swirling in your head and heads and masses of hair being thrown around without care or caution. Grind Over Matter is one such album and it also heralds the welcome return of Swedish Death-Thrashing bastards Defleshed after an absence of seventeen years.

Grind Over Matter sees the power trio of Gustaf Jorde (vocals and bass), Hell Y. Hansen (guitars) and Matte Modin (drums) reunite for a long awaited sixth album of Death Metal filth. Originally intended only to be a few songs for a vinyl box set, the band hit inspiration and just kept going. The end result is eleven songs of Thrash driven Death Metal which is very no frills in its attitude and delivery but just exactly the sort of audial bitch slap that the band delivers so well. It is impossible not to bang your head furiously with a maniacal grin when you get delicious nuggets of filth such as ‘Heavy Haul’, ‘Staring Blind’ and the title track. It is very much an Old School Death Metal style with nods to Grindcore at times in the delivery and definitely a huge Thrash influence, especially in the riffing style. The songs have plenty of groove as well as being relentlessly furious which comes to the fore in the absolute carnage of ‘Blastbeast’. This is an album that barely pauses for breath with only ‘Behind Dead Eyes’ slowing the pace a tad, but retains all of the intensity that the rest of the album holds.

Defleshed have always been a band sat in the underground with some of their prior releases seen as cult classics. It appears the seventeen-year break has worked wonders for the band as “Grind Over Matter” is a fantastic album. With their own lives and obligations outside of the band, Defleshed will only remain a part-time thing for the trio and there are currently no plans for the band to tour but it is damn good to have these guys back and judging from the songs on “Grind Over Matter”, Defleshed are pleased to be back as well.

‘Grind Over Matter’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Bent Out Of Shape
02. Grind Over Matter
03. One Grave To Fit Them All
04. Heavy Haul
05. Dear Devil
06. Staring Blind
07. Blood Well Spent
08. Unburdened By Genius
09. Behind Dead Eyes
10. Blastbeast
11. Last Nail In The Coffin

LINE-UP:
Gustaf Jorde – Vocals, Bass
Hell Y. Hansen – Guitars
Matte Modin – Drums

LINKS: