torstai 10. lokakuuta 2013

Mysterium - Battlefield of the Ancients (1996)

Mysterium - Battlefield of the Ancients advance tape 1996
1) This Blackened Earth
2) Pantathian Dreams
3) This Blackened Earth part 2 (cuts out!)

Yandex

Let's move back to black metal and here's another case where the Coven needs YOU! That's right, this here recording was sent by brother Wehrwolf and he was struggling to remember anything else besides this being an Australian unit, a mid-90's recording that was due to be released on Shane Rout's label Bloodless Creations as MCD but that didn't happen for some reason. And unfortunately the last track cuts. Don't know how much, if it were just an outro it might be cut a little but as I think it was a full track then probably a lot. So if you have any further info on the band and this release, please get in touch. Personally I have vague recollections seeing this release on some trading list or another and think the year would be 1995 or 96. A complete recording would be highly appreciated!
UPDATE: Wehrwolf sent the info the tape is from 1996 and it was Brad Johnston, session guitarist of Abyssic Hate, also in Blood Duster and Hecatomb behind this project.

What's it like? Black metal with dark ambient parts, separate bits and not all mixed up mind you, sounding quite oppressive and gloomy while having a touch of the warlike atmosphere the Aussies are well-known for. Speeds are more Bolt Thrower than Bestial Warlust though, slower midtempo for the metal and ambient is ...ambient. I like this and think it's a shame it wasn't released as intended. Again, if you have the full recording and/or additional info on the band, pictures whatever get in touch ASAP! I wouldn't advice reposting this elsewhere as it is an incomplete recording but I definitely recommend downloading and checking it out.

12 kommenttia:

F kirjoitti...

I do have the full version of this recording - I was actually gonna rip it for you anyway! Sorry, no cover though...

- Fenrirsson

Velkaarn kirjoitti...

@Fenrirsson:

I suspected you might have it. Nevermind the covers, the content is more important! How much is this cut, do you remember? Also, do you have any additional info on it, like the year it was recorded? My bet is 1995.

kingpossum kirjoitti...

I too would be down to hear the complete version. This is well conceived and crafted stuff. I share your posted comment Velkaarn that it's indeed a shame this band's work didn't get a proper release. Really good material.

Anonyymi kirjoitti...

I would really like the complete recording. This was some really heavy hitting stuff. I've been listening to this all day.

Anonyymi kirjoitti...

So... waiting for the completed version ;)

Velkaarn kirjoitti...

Gentlemen, it looks like Wehrwolf has also found a person with the full recording so we may hope to hear it in relatively near future!

F kirjoitti...

OK, so I finally found the tape (I'm offloading a shitload of demos at the moment, so a little more effort than usual needed to locate items). The tracklisting that I have is -

- Panathean Fields
- Beyond the Blackened Earth Part I
- Beyond the Blackened Earth Part II

So it basically looks like the whole thing (or nearly, given the cut), but a different order as well?

As you've indicated, this was to be released via Bloodless Creations, but I gather that there were a lot of issues with that particular venture. The only release that I'm familiar with (apart from the Det Hedenske Folk/Abyssic Hate split) was the Samain CD. They didn't speak too kindly of Shane afterwards, but I forget why.

Oh, the recording date that I have for this release is 1995. Going by the other material on the tape, I'm prone to believe that this is correct.

Sorry, I haven't listened to the download for this, neither the tape itself for some time, so I have no idea how long it is! The Ildjarn demo that Ihsahn sang on is afterwards, which might possibly provide a length indication.

Velkaarn kirjoitti...

@Fenrirsson:

Great, thanks for digging it up! Looks like the order of tracks is different but obviously it'd be the same release. Is that a 90 min tape, the Ildjarn demo would be ~44 mins and the upload has 20:20 of Mysterium, the cut track is only 01:16 so it might be cut anything from 3 to 10 minutes.

Wehrwolf mentioned someone he knows would also have the full recording, I expect him to let me know if he gets tape.

F kirjoitti...

Yea, I'm still working on those rips that we discussed an age ago. Sorry man, too many other things which keep on popping up.

I'm pretty certain that they weren't on the 2TB HD that died a few weeks ago, but I haven't even had the time to check that!

Velkaarn kirjoitti...

@Fenrirsson:

Well, I'd like to hear them but like I've said it's old stuff so it can wait a bit further. Though Wehrwolf & co would appreciate if you did that Lord Kaos demo.

F kirjoitti...

Argh, of course! Ironically had a listen to a couple of tracks from their CD the other day. Fantastic stuff! I don't think that I had much work left on the Lord Kaos demo, but I'm also presuming that it had horrible super high treble sound too.

Velkaarn kirjoitti...

@Fenrirsson:

I'm working on some cassettes at the moment myself and actually got two more in the mail just minutes ago. Fortunately these ones have been quite easy to work with. Well, at least so far.

Don't worry about the sound, as long as you can tell what is music and not background noise/tape wear it should be ok! ;)