9 Jul 2022

EP review: Shizoparanoic Platoon – Warfare: Mass Annihilation (2019)

 

Shizoparanoic Platoon – Warfare: Mass Annihilation

Greece

Askio Productions

The latest EP from these Greek tyrants, entitled “Warfare: Mass Annihilation,” mercilessly bludgeons the listener’s brain into submission from the get-go. The album contains six tracks and clocks in at thirteen minutes, launching a barrage of straight-ahead aural violence characterized by ugly riffs, sickened growls, and cavernous drums. The hellish cacophony is supported by a raw production that fits their style perfectly.

Fans of bestial black/death metal will absolutely love this release. The EP is short, but makes up for it with pure visceral brutality. On top of that, there is no filler, so to speak. There’s a lot of replay value, thanks to the punishing riffs and well-arranged songs.

Prior to this release, the band released a compilation album, which I haven't heard, but after being blown away by this EP, I definitely plan on checking it out. Every track on this EP is great, especially the cover of Blasphemy's Demoniac, which I highly recommend hearing. Schizoparanoic Platoon's name pretty much tells you what to expect, so be prepared to have your brains reduced to a pulp with this disc. A highly recommended War Metal act from Greece! (HT)

Album review: Koldkrypt - Holocauste Global (2022)

Koldkrypt – Holocauste Global

France

Hessian Firm

“Holocauste Global” is the second full-length album by the French black metal powerhouse, Koldkrypt. Their brand of hateful, cold and misanthropic black metal is just what the doctor ordered. The disc is comprised of eight tracks, with drawn-out compositions and an atmosphere cold enough to drop temperatures in your room once you start listening.

Koldkrypt is unlike any other black metal project I’ve heard before, while at the same time sounding familiar without fitting into any particular trend. This isn't orthodox black metal, nor is it second-tier Darkthrone worship, or some war metal-like stuff – it's simply black metal without gimmicks; straight to the point, like a bullet to the head.

There is an epic quality to the riffs on this release, which at times evokes images of medieval battles and castles in some frostbitten kingdom. The atmosphere has an apocalyptic feel to it, combined with well-written compositions and hate-filled vocals.

A lot of emphasis is placed on guitars on this recording, and I must say the guy is really proficient, as he incorporates a lot of intricate melodies that sometimes border on the virtuosity of power metal, but they work well as they convey a lot of depth.

The mix of harsh elements with sombre guitar melodies works well, although don't mistake this for a post-black metal outfit trying to unite people around some lame environmental theme. Here is a quote that illustrates the misanthropic and anti-human nature of the music: 

“The release is driven by hate, but not by hate for any one group of people within society, or the fact that society even exists at all. Typhus X directs caustic hatred towards humanity as a whole, drawing attention to our shortcomings and failures as a species”

In light of that, it should come as no surprise that Typhus X covered Zyklon B's 'Warfare', and to say the cover is sick is an understatement; Koldkrypt's version absolutely honors the original. This record is driven by pure visceral and primal aggression, while also showing a certain level of virtuosity that showcases the phenomenal talent behind this project. Fans of Scandinavian black metal from the '90s will love this project. As I listened to this, I was reminded of bands like Kvist, Arckanum, and Zemial. Even so, Koldkrypt does not sound like those bands, although they do emit a similar energy.

This is apocalyptic, vitriolic, and well-executed black metal that will appeal to those with a disdain for trends and the mainstream. It is time to celebrate the end of your worthless existence with this soundtrack. Rejoice! (HT)

8 Jul 2022

Interview: Death To Peace Productions (2022)

 

We interviewed Warweolf of Death To Peace Productions, which is a record label based in Quebec that specializes in underground black metal.

1. HAILS Steve! Please tell us about your label, DEATH TO PEACE PRODUCTIONS, and what it stands for.

Hails Death by Hammer!

In the beginning, Death to Peace Productions was supposed to be solely a distributor of underground music. After meeting a few owners of production labels, I was hooked and decided to start my own label. Death to Peace Productions is an underground elitist black metal label yearning for the annihilation of all religions and a certain way of life. We have expanded our horizons over the years and are now working with extreme metal bands (thrash and death metal), as well as some dungeon synth and dark ambient, for example. This Saguenay, Québec label has not stopped growing since its beginnings, in 2012.

I’ve had two collaborators over the years. When they left, for personal reasons, I asked an old colleague to join me, with whom I had previously worked in distribution and show bookings.

Death To peace Productions also brings to the table two more services that many people don’t know about: Ombre Nordique Studios and Northern Shade Photography. At Ombre Nordique Studios, my own home studio, I offer mixing and mastering for any band, well known or not, from all over the world. After all these years, we decided to also add a distribution service to our label, like in the good old days. Who knows what else awaits in the future! Maybe event organising and show bookings are in the cards for us… I have a team that would do great at that.

As for news regarding the distro: we were lucky to buy a whole inventory, from a closing label in Hamilton, Ontario: Von Frost Records. We got a great deal on many vinyl records, cassettes, the whole distro and Discogs store. This gave us an easy start.

2. What have you released so far? And what kind of formats do you specialize in?

Putrid Christ—Queen of the Wolves, USBM CD 2013

Infernal Execrator—6 Execrating Years Of Irreligiousatanic Elite "Mastema Hedonistic Terroritual 666", Black/Death Metal, Cassette, compilation limited‎ 2014

Unrest / Idolatry—Infection Born Of Ending, Black Metal Canada 7", EP, Ltd, Split 2015

Suicidal Madness—Au Crépuscule d'une Vie, Depressive Black Metal France Cassette S/Sided, Numbered, Limited 2015

Goatpreacher—Chaos Sabbath, Goat Metal Russia Cassette limited EP 2016 en collaboration avec Von Frost Records (R.I.P)

Trwoga—Wieczyst Zima, Dark Ambient Poland Pro CD-r Limited 2020

Loup noir—Requiem, Heathen black metal France Pro CD-r 2021

Between 2015 and 2020, we were mainly into merch production: patches, back patches, t-shirts, stickers, pendants, etc.

Now we mostly specialize in DIY type cassettes. The recording is done by an expert team in Montreal, located 666km away. The booklets and stickers for the tapes are made in my hometown. When everything is ready, devoted friends of mine come over and help cutting the booklets and apply the stickers on the cassettes. All done by hand! When all goes well, we have around 100 cassettes ready in a day.

3. What bands do you currently represent and what are your upcoming releases?

As for the bands that we have worked with and released either one or many albums or merch, we are interested in releasing a 12’’ vinyl record of cult album “Chaos Sabbath”, by Goatpreacher. We will also definitely release a 5-way split, “Apocalypse of the Impure”, containing tracks by bands such as Mysteriis (Colombia), Miasma (Canada), Rotting Jehovah (USA), ENT666 (Canada) and Swarm of Hatred (Chile). Each of these bands will be showcasing two previously unreleased tracks. In addition, an intro, an outro and interludes will be churned at yours truly’s Ombre Nordique studios, in collaboration with Kashnum, composer for Trwoga, and Wampyrion, composer for Alcath. The second release will be hailing from Greece. Last year, we released Trwoga (dark ambient from Poland), and this year we got an offer from Wampyrion Markhor Necrowolf, a dungeon synth composer.

4. From your perspective, what can you tell us about the Quebec scene and what are the best bands from there in your opinion?

The Quebec scene is very rich in “Métal noir Québécois”, our own style of black metal, very sought after all over the world, but mostly in Europe. It is also the birthplace of many great bands in many styles of metal such as thrash (Voivod), and death (Crucificator, Necronomicon)

Great bands from my home town : Deathroner (Death Thrash), Triskèle and Kenaz (pagan).Atroce.

Other amazing bands from all over Québec : Forteresse, Délétère, Miasma, Monarque, Akitsa, Saccage, Hiverna, Ossuaire, Verglas Sanglant, Neige et Noirceur, Chasse Galerie.

There are also many great festivals where many well-known bands come and perform. You might be familiar with La Messe des Morts (an indoor black metal festival), Trois-Rivières Metal Fest, Skogen Festival and the Québec Deathfest, amongst many others.

5. What's 10 albums you can't live without?

Good question, I’d never really thought about it before. In no particular order, I would say:

Forteresse—Métal Noir Québécois

Deicide—Amon- Feasting the Beast

Arckanum—Fran Marder

Deathwitch—Dawn of Armageddon

Pogrom 1147—Black Metal Complete

Absurd—Werwolfthron

Storm—Nordavind

Gorgoroth—Destroyer

Cannibal Corpse—Butchered at Birth

Marduk—Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered

6. Do you agree with the humanist sentiment "every human life is precious"?

Never. It would be like saying that hippies and vegans follow the best philosophy. There are too many of us on this planet, 8 billion skeletons. Many are frail, sick, falling apart. Of those 8 billion, if only a quarter would exist, it would bring balance in the world. Life and humanity don’t go together hand in hand, and some have a goal of populating the planet more and more: it’s just too much. China and India are too populated. You can guess by our motto at Death to Peace Productions, that I am a lot more interested in the Anti-human/anti-life philosophies. Annihilation of all religions and a certain way of life!!! Death to peace!!!

7. Is life returning to normal in your area after the epidemic? What is your opinion about the whole ordeal?

Governments all over the world didn’t handle this well at all. Here, all politicians acted like assholes. Mandatory mask-wearing and 3 mandatory doses of vaccine (4th one now recommended now, they are crazy), as well as 9pm to 5am curfews. Being a night bird, I was going crazy, I couldn’t sleep and couldn’t do anything. No family gatherings, or holidays. Small businesses and restaurants were closed. Jail time for those who did not comply. Domestic violence and killing cases exploded, as well as the suicide rate. To shut us up those rats gave us each 500$, as if it would bring us our lives back. We are supposed to be in a free country, yet the Canadian and Quebec government acted like they were back to the middle-ages. In French we say GOUVERNEMENSONGES…GOVERNLIARS!

8. What is your opinion on the current state of the "underground"? (If there even is such a thing anymore.)

The underground as we know it is very rare these days because of the Internet. You can easily find just about anything right now using Soulseek, for example, which kills the scene and cult bands. Before the Internet, Soulseek, Napster, mIRC, Emule and especially Youtube, we had to order directly from the label via our local music store. I remember that we used to order from Napalm Records Austria to get rare albums, these albums that get more valuable with time. Now, with digital downloading, any band can produce itself with Bandcamp. Smaller labels like Death to Peace Productions are often asked for digital copies, but it is not our cup of tea. If bands on our label want to do it, it is their choice, as we are not for or against it. The artists can decide for themselves, but I personally love listening to an album in its analog format, a limited edition good old vinyl record or cassette of some obscure band.

9. Lastly, what's next for DEATH TO PEACE PRODUCTIONS and do you have any last words for your enemies and the fucking sheep out there?

2022 is an important year for our DEATH TO PEACE PRODUCTION label: we are celebrating our 10th anniversary in August. After ten tumultuous years, we are now happy to offer a distribution service, plus mixing and mastering at Ombre Nordique Studios, and professional photography at Northern Shades Photography.

Finally, here is what I would like to say to all our enemies:

DEATH TO PEACE PRODUCTIONS is a Canadian production/distribution Label of underground elitist black metal, wanting the annihilation of all religions and some way of life... Hail Satan...Praise the Goat!!!

Warweolf