Dies Irae (nor) - Circle of Leth demo 1994

Dies Irae (nor) - Circle of Leth demo 1994
1) Andante passione attacca: Allegretto con vivacita - Allegro
2) Molto Presto - Intermezzo tranquillamente con dolore - attacca: Cantus con affizione
3) Andante maestoso attacca: Molto Presto forza - Quasi moderato grave - Molto Presto forza
4) Allegro con moto - Molto Presto - Largo passione - Allegro con vivacita - Lento passione
5) Finale tranquillamente: Cantus pro defunctis

Reuploaded

As you might guess from the catchy track titles listed above, here's something quite different: the only demo of the avantgarde/experimental/neoclassical/post-black metal (or just come up with your own description!) band/project Dies Irae fra Norge. This sounds so unique there's no danger of mixing them up with the other dozen or so Dies Iraes. I got my copy dubbed from the band, I don't remember anymore where I came across their address - most likely a 'zine. Anyways, I got a copy of the cover sheet too, scans of which are enclosed. It's a two-sided fold-out thingy. See below for the inside bit.


The music is based on classical stuff with (black) metal parts thrown in. Heavily echoing vocal recites unintelligible (well, for me) lyrics in the more metal tracks (the middle ones). The last track is an outro-type piece which really overstays its welcome at almost 13 minutes of mostly tolling bells. Other than that it's quite good and definitely a very interesting demo. I know there are other rips around but as I ripped this to my own use I thought I might as well upload it too.
Grab it if you're into symphonic black metal, post-/avantgarde/experimental/progressive/whatever "black" metal or just very very curious.

Dies Irae - The Day of Wrath - Half an Hour Attack!!! demo 1987

Dies Irae (fin) - The Day of Wrath - Half an Hour Attack!!! demo 1987
1) Liberation from the False Power
2) Dwarf of the Court
3) The Road Goes Ever on
4) (You Are) the Victim of D.I.'s Force
5) Farewell
6) Carried by the Wind


Reuploaded (and corrected)


Today's post is a bit unusual one and a step away from the Coven's usual timeline of operations, this time however a little further into past. Dies Irae was a name used by more than enough bands (over a dozen in Metal Archives only) and back in the 80's a Finnish band had picked the monicker too. Contributed by brother Suuret Muinaiset, thank you, this is their apparently only release from 1987 and like the title tells, roughly half an hour of power/heavy metal. A cover scan is included and apparently there are no titles anywhere on the release, the M.A. pic of the tape shows it only having the title written on it and the cover has extremely minimal information. So if someone, somehow happens to know the tracklisting please get in touch!
UPDATE: I was provided a tracklisting! Oh joy! I've fixed, titled and reuploaded the demo so you might want to download it again if you have the old version.

The music here is power metal or simply heavy metal for my uneducated self as I've never been able to make much distinctions on the subgenres in the more traditional heavy metal front. I don't really listen much to this sort of metal except for the nostalgic oldies but this is ok. Sound is quite typical but good and clear demo quality and song writing and musicianship are decent enough. I suppose I'll recommend this if you're a retro enthusiast hit by the power/heavy metal boom of recent years or just in general interested in old Finnish demo tapes.

Charon - Dies Irae demo 1995

Charon (fin) - Dies Irae demo 1995
1) Maleficium
2) Tempestars
3) Nocturne
4) Omega Vortex

Mediafire

Some of you who follow the more mainstream music media might know the Finns Charon, who play gothic metal of the girly sort, similar to Entwine and heavier than HIM. Well, not on this demo, here they still play death metal of melodic and technical sort. I haven't heard their other demos, just have this one I ordered in late 1995, but they should be quite similar in style.

As mentioned above all four tracks are in melodic yet technical vein of death metal and I guess their later development can be seen as a more or less logical continuation from this material. Ripped from the original tape so the sound is quite good, they recorded it in a studio. Not really my favourite type of music but I thought someone might enjoy it.

Einherjum #1

Einherjum, issue 1 (1995)
Interviews:
Satyricon
Isvind
In the Woods...
Sverd Storm / Skogsposten
Ornament 'zine
Manes
Perished
Nattvindens Gråt
Black Funeral
Ragnarok
Esoteric
Ancient
Mortiis
Obtained Enslavement
Bifrost
Zephyrous
Unpure
Theatre of Tragedy
The Helheim Society
Dies Irae
Fleurety
Behemoth
Fenriz
+ a bunch of articles, scribbles and reviews and yet another Irish scene report

Depositfiles

Let's do a 'zine post today. Not too long ago comrade Kurgan sent me the first and only issue of the (in-)famous Norwegian 'zine Einherjum made in 1995 by Aasmund & Oðinn and I scanned it, like I tend to do. And yeah, the 'zine has been mentioned in the blog a few times before and you might've gathered I'm not too fond of it. I actually traded away my own copy back in '96 as I was quite dissappointed with how it turned out to be. Has time healed wounds and put enough water under the bridge to give me a different impression of the magazine? Not really, I still feel pretty salty whenever I leaf through this. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting interviews too (like Esoteric, The Helheim Society, Black Funeral), though as you see it is a pretty standard list of names for a 'zine of the era, even including the omni-present Mortiis and yet another goddamn Irish scene report! I swear every third 'zine I read seemed to have one of those things, each more half-assed than the previous one!!! Ok, but more than those I was and am bothered by the editors' (well, it's mostly Oðinn really) attempts at humour and being witty. The interviews vary wildly in length, depth and quality and the "articles" tend to be either rants, stupid, or like written doodles. Well, variety is the spice of life? At least they put their personalities on display so it's very bold. Reviews are generally poor, with some exceptions giving a bit better impression of their object. I'm actually getting annoyed writing about this so have a read for yourself, I'm going out for some fresh air.

Ornament #1

Ornament 'zine, issue 1 (fall 1994)
Interviews:
Katatonia
Immortal
Nezgaroth
Remyl
Forgotten Woods
Bethlehem
Bhaobhan Sidhe
Dunkelheit
Ancient
Obtained Enslavement
Silent
Crypt
Mortuary Drape
Fleurety
Equinox
Gehenna
In The Woods...
Enslaved
Satyricon
Mysticum
Einherjer
Sigh
Typhon
Articles:
Head Not Found/Slayer mag
Langsuir
Ulver
Darkwoods My Betrothed
Ras Algethi
Godsend
Harmony
Concrete Sleep
Darkthrone
Beyond Dawn
Vond
Darkness Enshroud
Vorphalack
Hades
Christophe Szpajdel
Moonblood
Mock
Ildjarn
Pentacle
Ravn
+reviews

Depositfiles

I haven't posted a 'zine for some time so it's about time and this one's pretty much straight from the oven as I scanned it last night. This is the first and to my knowlegde only issue of Ornament, a Norwegian fanzine made by Johnny Willems, of Dies Irae. His bandmate J.A.W. (aka Jan Wessel) also contributes some material.

As you may see from the listing above, a shitload of bands included in these 52 pages (if you count the covers). Quite an interesting roster too, as it features besides some of the "obligatory" names a good number of unusual ones and covers styles outside the black metal and metal genre in general. Unfortunately some of the interviews are not that exciting nor in-depth and most are quite short. Some are very short (see the Mortuary Drape one for example) and the articles are of the bio length and some seem cleary like fillers. Still, plenty of interesting reading included and as a bonus it's very neat lay-out wise and includes many illustrations by Kittelsen and thankfully no graphics under the text or switching fonts every other page or anything of that sort. The Darkthrone "interview" advertised on the cover is/was a bit of a let down as it's a translation of an article/interview sort of piece from a Norwegian newspaper. And of course at this time and age Darkthrone is not what they were back then - they were then quite isolated from the scene and did next to none interviews and actually great music. Anyways, a recommended read with some flaws and plenty nostalgia.

Exstinctio Sensus #1

Exstinctio Sensus fanzine, issue 1 (1995)
Interviews:
Nåstrond
Sorhin
Obtained Enslavement
Mortiis
Forgotten Woods
Einherjer
Manes
Demonic
Satariel
Hades
Setherial
Funeral Winds
Articles:
Gehenna
Graveland
Lord of Evil
Tha-Norr
Osculum Infame
Arckanum
Nauthis
Incitatus
Vergelmer
Sabbathan
Cacophonous Records
Ancient
Liar of Golgotha
Darkwoods My Betrothed
Mastiphal (Katowice)
Ulver
Megiddo (UK)
Vlad
Dark Funeral
Impurity
Illska
Troll (Aafjord)
"From Xmas to Solar Rites..." by Darkarts
Zephyrous
Wintergods
"The Church of Satan or the Pure Evil Swindle" by Se Irim Abrahel
Funerary Call
Prophanity
Aeternus
Murder Rape
Dies Irae (nor)
Abigail
Necromicon
The Helheim Society
Veles
+ "advances" section, "In the Mist of My Grief" poem, Darkthrone press statement, Bathory lyrics, English translations of Varg's lyrics for Darkthrone & Burzum...

Mega

How about some reading? Here's another classic-era 'zine, first issue of the Spanish black metal fanzine Exstinctio Sensus who, like was the somewhat unfortunate style of the times, were extremely Norge-centric. Or more fairly Scandinavian-focused since out of the twelve interviews six are Norwegian, four Swedish, one Dutch and then there's Mortiis. My scans, made last summer when I borrowed this 'zine from comrade Kurgan or more specific from his mate. Thanks, gents!

Besides the dozen interviews there are several, usually short, articles/bios of bands and unfortunately once again many of the most interesting names are in this section. How unfortunate but not surprising. And again no support for their local scene in any form, then again there was not much to talk about at that time, in the black metal field. If you don't mind the Norway-worship it is a good 'zine with a pleasant, clear old school lay-out and above average content in general. Notably they have no separate reviews here, but they go over most bands' (most recent) release either in the introduction of the interview or in the article. The interviews range from very good (Nåstrond, Sorhin, Setherial) to usual, okay stuff to underwhelming and really bad (Demonic being once again the worst). Generally you'll notice the usual pattern here how Norwegian bands used to give quite poor answers in interviews, especially with foreign 'zines. Enough talk, read for yourself, despite my usual bitching it's extremely recommendable!