Brandpest - I Fandens Vold og Magt EP 1998

Brandpest - I Fandens Vold og Magt EP 1998
1) Intro
2) Monstrum Marinum (Kraken)
3) Sagen om Chresten Pedersen
4) Outro

Mediafire / 4shared

Now that I've somewhat recovered from Jalometalli it's about time I continue with Chris's contributions (see the Apollyon posts) and here's some more Danish black metal, Brandpest's EP 1998 which was on the same mixtape. Brandpest shared several members with Apollyon and released a demo tape in '96, this EP two years later and nothing more. Unless someone whips out an unreleased recording, that is. As this isn't a vinyl rip I didn't go look for full cover images, just picked up the cover from M.A.

Intro, outro and two songs for just over ten minutes is pretty standard for a black metal 7" and usually leaves the listener hungry for more. Brandpest's material is rougher and more in your face than Apollyon's. Not bestial war metal way, mind you, there's guitar leads and all. The sound is quite demo-like, which is not a bad thing, it has a fair bit of power to it too. A recommendable EP whether you enjoyed Apollyon or not as it clearly is different, closer to Denial Of God actually. Not bad at all.

Apollyon - Grafsoen (1996)

Apollyon - Grafsoen unreleased MLP 1996
1) Grafsoen
2) Rege Pestis
3) Winter's Prophecy
4) Heksene Samles paa Bloksbjerg

Unreleased track 1998
1) Perfect Symbiosis

Mega / Yandex

Ok, back to the items sent by Chris and the last Apollyon items on the menu, but not the least. This is the unreleased May '96 recording, a mini-album (or EP, where did you draw the line again?) titled "Grafsoen" which features four tracks, three exclusive to this release. I also included in the same download another unreleased track, from a different session but should be 1996 too. Naturally no covers as it was left unreleased.

Three of the songs are longer, between 4:40 and 7:34 while the last one is short folky piece and I suppose functions as an outro as well. The sound gives an impression of being a little unfinished, it's soft and the balance is odd. The vocals are dominant and most distinct element while the rest of the instrumentation kind of tumbles along in the background. Musicwise it sounds a bit different from the demos too, the keys seem more prominent now. Some female vocals have also been added. The new vocalist at the time, Vrykolatios from Brandpest, has a slightly deeper roar than Diabolos did.

The extra track "Perfect Symbiosis" sounds like a rehearsal recording with a pretty good sound and I'm not sure when exactly it was recorded but I think it has the same line-up so perhaps it is a later recording, summer or fall '96 maybe. UPDATE: I was informed this was a later song, recorded after the "Diaboli Gratia" mini, intended for a 7" release and would feature Diabolos again on vox. Thanks for the info! The song is more straight-forward and aggressive than the Grafsoen material. I'm getting tired so not going to type more, grab this if you like Apollyon. Or if you're extremely curious about unreleased stuff.

Apollyon - Rehearsal Tape '96

Apollyon - Rehearsal Tape 1996
1) Omnia in Majorem Diaboli Gloriam
2) Rege Pestis
3) Troldeskovens Aander

Yandex / RGhost

More Apollyon courtesy of Chris, see the previous posts for further details, this is a rehearsal tape with three songs recorded at different times, judging from how they sound. Less than surprisingly no cover for this one.

First song appeared later, re-recorded (UPDATE: Nope, I was informed it's exactly the same version - thanks!), on the FMP compilation "A Tribute to Hell" and it's a lengthy track with somewhat gothic sounding touches. Well, it's mostly the keyboards, but it still evokes a kind of "My Dying Bride meets mid-era Obtained Enslavement mixed with black metal" -vibe. This one has a rather clean sound. The next two tracks don't. On the contrary, they sound like they were recorded in a bucket placed in a cabinet two doors down from where they microphone was left. Maybe not that bad really but the contrast is somewhat jarring. Everything is audible enough despite the murkiness. "Troldeskovens Aander" makes another appearance, again a little shorter than the previous incarnation. Recommended for Apollyon fans and the lo-fi lovers among the congregation.

Apollyon - In the Moonlit Valleys unreleased demo 1995

Apollyon (den) - In the Moonlit Valleys unreleased demo (?) 1995
1) Shadow Shapes
2) My Sadistic Queen
3) Troldeskovens Aander

4shared / Rusfolder

Now that the easiest to find has been taken care of (see previous post) let's move to the more obscure fare provided by comrade Chris, this is again Apollyon of Denmark and what appears to be an unreleased demo recording from 1995. It was on the same mixtape as the '95 demo, unfortunately Chris could not find the sheet Azter sent him with the cassette which might have had more details so if anyone out there knows more please share your info with us! As you see the title track of the Troldeskovens Aander demo appears here too, while the other titles as well as the title of the whole recording are in English, a mix similar to the '93 promo which leads me to suspect this would've been recorded earlier in '95. If the biography is to be believed, they were pretty much inactive in 1994.

The sound is a bit rough, actually somewhat rehearsal-like but certainly good enough for a black metal demo. In a way it's actually a bit better than on Troldeskovens Aander as it doesn't get as cluttered in the faster sections and the bass is pleasantly audible. Music is similar to the official 1995 demo, generally midtempoish and atmospheric, though they do speed up a bit from time to time. Now that I think of it, given how well the bass can be heard, maybe this could've been recorded after T.A. when they let Korihor go and Azter joined? The second track ends sounding like the tape got wonky but I suppose this is special effects rather than an error. The version of Troldeskovens Aander here is shorter than on the demo and sounds better to my ear, the different elements are more audible and distinct thanks to the recording. So, recommendable especially if you liked them already and worth checking out even if you weren't that keen on the other releases. Again, any further information is appreciated!

Apollyon - Troldeskovens Aander demo 1995

Apollyon (den) - Troldeskovens Aander demo III (?) 1995
1) Ensomheden af en Frossen Skov (Intro)
2) Troldeskovens Aander
3) Vinternat

Mega / Zippy

Let us start this week off with contributions, this and several soon-to-follow ones were sent to me by comrade Chris who had decided to start ripping his stockpile of cassettes. The Coven's thanks to you, your efforts are appreciated! This is the best known demo by the Danish black metal band Apollyon who started in '92 as more death/black oriented, did some tapes and released a MCD on FMP back in '98 and that's pretty much it. Their personnel featured people who were involved with such bands as Brandpest, Goat Worship, Denial of God and Nortt to mention a few. This rip, as well as some other items, are from a mixtape our collaborator got from DoG/Horror Records' Azter back whenever. No covers then, an image from M.A. used once again.

This is not a very long demo, an intro and two tracks for a bit over eleven minutes, but enough to leave an impression. The intro is an atmospheric instrumental piece and feels short. The title track is shorter of the two proper songs and has quite a bit of synth going on the background. Fortunately it's not of the annoying circus variety, more Graveland than Tartaros. Despite being a studio recording, the sound is not very good, it's a bit muddled and things have a tendency of burying each other a little. Less noticeable on the last track which is slower in tempo and almost twice the length of the previous piece. The demo leans a bit towards the trollish/winter foresty side of 90's black metal which for others is a recommendation and some an instant turn off. I find it quite enjoyable as it's not as silly as most weather report recordings, has decent songs and the production is underground enough. But no need to heed my words, just take a listen for yourself!