Absent Silence - Demo II 1996

Absent Silence - Demo II 1996
1) Dismal Silence (Intro)
2) Clouds
3) Whisper From North
4) Lakes Of Mist
5) There Where Wolves Gather
6) Autumn (Outro)

Reuploaded

Some of you might have heard "Dawn of a New Mourning" the only album by Finnish dark/black metal band Absent Silence, released on No Colours in the end of the 90s. Most probably haven't. I'm not posting that album here however, this is their 2nd demo from 1996, recorded while they were still a three-piece and with the old vocalist. He might not be the greatest singer around but gets the job done and I like the whispers he sometimes uses. Fiendish Nymph, Black Crucifixion and such come to mind.

The sound is clean, recorded in studio and ripped from an original tape without much wear or tear so it's quite easy on the ears. No Colours called their style "bombastic dark metal" on their flyer and it's not very far fetched even if the demo is a little more down to earth than the album. Try it, it's the last post for 2009 too.

Moonspell - Live in Beerse 17.09.1995

Moonspell - Live at CC Heilaar, Beerse, Belgium 17th September 1995
1) Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)
2) Love Crimes
3) ...Of Dream And Drama (Midnight Ride)
4) Vampiria

Reuploaded

Last calls for 2009 and can't have the year end without another live tape, can I? Even better it's old Moonspell. Yes, again. I told you earlier I was fond of this stuff. Wolfheart-era songs, but only four this time. I'm not sure if this is incomplete or if they really had such little time to play, but this is all I got. If this is incomplete, I'll be pleased to know what's missing and even happier to receive a full show.

As usual this is a bootleg with less than stellar sound. Listenable, sure, but a little muffled. You wouldn't be even reading this if you minded too much I guess.

Meathooked #2

Meathooked 'zine, issue 2
Interviews:
Unhola
...And Oceans
Bethzaida
Gorewinter
Northern Sound Records
Imperial Foeticide
Red Harvest
Gandalf
Jesus Martyr
Choronzon
The Great Kat
Woods Of Belial
Heresiarh
In The Woods...
Thyrane
Season Of Mist
Musta Surma
Jotunheim
Mother Depth

Deposit

This was requested by Gal of Into The Woods... but I think it will be of interest to others as well. Meathooked was a Finnish 'zine made by the Sorvali cousins of Moonsorrow (the primary reason for interest in this I suspect) and some of their buddies in the late 90's, the era of decline in the black metal scene, which can be noticed while reading. Some of the interviews will no doubt be of interest to the visitors of this blog and there are some articles and two scene reports as well. I don't personally like the 'zine too much, it reeks of later 90's and the editors have read too much Isten. But give it a try, there is worthy content too.

Belsemar - De svarta gudarnas sömn demo 1993

Belsemar - De svarta gudarnas sömn demo I 1993
1) De svarta gudarnas sömn
2) Blow Out All Candles
3) Dream Journey
4) Den vise blöder
5) Bleeding Of Despair

Reuploaded

Like earlier kind of promised, here is the first Belsemar demo. For more babbling about Belsemar & Satariel, see the other post. This is not my rip, I wish it was but I don't have this tape, yet*. I got this from the Inter Nets and am not 100% sure of who ripped it so thanks, person! This sounds a little more rough and raw than the second demo and I think I might prefer this one out of the two. All instruments are audible, including even the bass (at times at least) and again synths are well used in few places to add to the atmosphere. I think that's enough, you should know without reading if you want this or not.

*If you have this tape, send it to me immediately, you don't need it, who listens to tapes this day and age?

C.O.D. - Burn The Victims demo 1993

C.O.D. (fin) - Burn The Victims demo 1993
1) Through The Gates
2) Kingdom Of Death
3) Disaster Area
4) The Executioner
5) Inner Self (live)
6) End Has Begun (Live)

Reuploaded

First off I apologize for the piece of shit image I had to use here, but seems like the corrupt pic uploaded to M.A. is the only one available on the Inter Nets. I got this demo tape through a tape trading contact who didn't copy me the cover, unfortunately. Anyways, it's what's inside that counts, right? Right... this is the Finnish C.O.D. and they play death metal. You see them called doom death around the web but that'd be really appropriate for the later material. This demo is death metal with touches of thrash, though if you're really determined you can find hints of doom in it I guess. More like thrash and heavy metal influences I say.

The tape is split into studio and live part like you probably could tell by looking at the track listing, the studio tracks have a good demo sound with all instruments audible, if little muffled. It doesn't sound very heavy or morbid, not very death so to say. The two live tracks have a clear enough sound, I don't know if they're older tracks or what, but they sound more brutal. Probably courtesy of the live conditions. It's a tape worth downloading if you are obsessed with old Finnish metal, happen to be an actual fan of the band (though it's different from the later material), compulsively need to hear every 90s demo or whatever else you come up with.

UPDATE: New link as the archive on MF was, once again, corrupted.

Absu - Live in Rotterdam, 22.04.1995

Absu - Live at the Baroeg, Rotterdam 22nd April 1995
1) Intro
2) Cyntefyn's Fountain
3) Feis Mor Tir Na N'Og
4) ...And Shineth Unto The Cold Cometh...
5) The Thrice Is Greatest To Ninnigal
6) The Coming Of War
7) Never Blow Out The Eastern Candle

Reuploaded

Absu is one of my favourite US bands, so naturally I've picked up some bootlegs of their live shows as well. Unfortunately, I had most on VHS. Here's one of the few I got on tape, another gig at the Baroeg and promoting "The Sun Of Tiphareth" album & the "...And Shineth..." 7"EP released the same year. Good set, I would've only switched "The Coming Of War" with "The Sun Of Tiphareth" or "A Quest Unto The 77th Novel" or preferably added them and a song or two from "Barathrum.: V.I.T.R.I.O.L." but can't have everything, I know. Especially pleased with them including "Cyntefyn's Fountain" - they better still do that live if they ever finally wander up to Finland!

Enough babbling, back to business. The sound of the recording is pretty good for a Baroeg gig. Nothing's really too loud, though this time I could have the drums louder. Biggest gripe with this one is probably the way too long and tedious intro bit, but I decided to remain faithful to the original dub and not shorten it. At least you can skip it, unlike me when I listened to it on cassette. Recommended to all who bother with these live bootlegs in the first place and Absu fans of course.

Northern Heritage #1

Northern Heritage 'zine, issue 1

Reuploaded

Another request, this time I scanned the first issue of the Northern Heritage zine. Pictures are simply jpg's, I don't like pdf. NH the label should be familiar to most of you, but the short-lived 'zine (I think he made two issues) might not be. All the bands in this issue are Finnish and play black metal. Not much more to add, it's a good little zine (A5 size) and recommended read for people into Finnish black metal.

UPDATE: Go here for the 2nd NH issue!

Mirkhall - Winter Of Tragedies Reign demo 2000

Mirkhall - Winter Of Tragedies Reign demo 2000
1) Winter Of Tragedies Reign
2) Stormbreath Of Fear
3) Heathen Hearted
4) Under The Banners Of Eternal Pagan North
5) Cursed Fullmoon Fog

MediaFire

December 6th is the Finnish Independence Day so to celebrate that I decided to post something Finnish, Mirkhall's 2nd demo to be precise. Mirkhall was a pagan, or I guess they prefer heathen, metal project featuring Shatraug of Horna and several other Lappeenranta-based musicians. This is their second demo which I bought quite recently, ripped the other day and uploaded now. Sound is good enough for a demo recording (home studio I'm guessing) and actually adds more to the atmosphere than a polished studio job would. I'm not feeling like writing now so go ahead and download it already.

Forest Of Impaled - Mortis Dei EP 1996

Forest Of Impaled - Mortis Dei cassette EP 1996
1) Beckoning Midnight Dreams
2) Orgy of Unearthly Delights
3) Mortis Dei
4) Mystic Sight of the Infernal Horde
5) Dark Shades of the Astral World

MediaFire

Once again across the ocean to the States and this time the debut EP of Forest Of Impaled, who play quite fast and wicked hybrid of black and death metal, leaning more on the black side at least here I think. Tape-traded item, but with good sound. My copy was of the Polish cassette EP version, I don't think it differs fundamentally from the CD version. No cover and all the cover images online seem to be from the CD version so I just uploaded the logo.

The music is mostly fast-paced and might remind you of middle-period Marduk, not a carbon copy though and the death metal elements spice things up, as do the occasional synth bits in the background. It's not the melodic Swedish style, more brutal. Good release and makes me want to check out their albums.

Decortication - Promo 1994

Decortication - Promotape 1994
1) The Silent Winter Sky
2) (Blue) Like A Sky Without Clouds
3) Funeral Symphony
4) Shadows Of The Dead
5) As The Banshee's Calling

Reuploaded

Swedish material again, now blackened death metal band Decortication, which is kind of connected to Belsemar, the previous Swedes here, as members from both have played in Incinerator! Ok, that was far fetched, I'll admit. Anyways, I got this 2nd release (which was also to be their last) dubbed from the band in 1994 after asking them for the debut demo "Lucichrist - The Third God" which I had spotted in a fanzine. I either didn't receive a cover for this or I've lost it long ago, but luckily this rip had one.

Why am I posting this, as there's a rip already out? Well, to be honest I wasn't too happy with the quality of that one so I decided to rip my tape as soon as I found it. I'm pleased to say this one turned out good soundwise. The music presented is Swedish melodic death metal with black metal influence and touches. Good stuff. If you've heard The Everdawn's debut EP, the first song here was recycled to that release. Give this a try if you're a fan of The Everdawn, or Swedish death or black metal.

Moonlore - Demo 1993

Moonlore (nor) - Demo 1993
1) In My Kingdom
2) There Again

Reuploaded

Here is a rare (I think, at least I haven't been able to find anything but the album by them) demo from the Norwegian Moonlore, later known as Moon Lore and best known for their 1997 album "The Spheres Beneath the Heavens" which was quite unique. The demo days material is still closer to black metal, sort of. Very atmospheric music, quite eerie at times. There is hissing on the dub that I couldn't remove but it should not be a big issue, creates a more authentic demo feeling and all. As you probably guessed, I ripped a dub of the recording I got from one of my traders and I don't have the covers for this, not even a proper era logo, so I just slapped a Moon Lore logo on the post.

There are only two songs on this demo, "There Again" being re-recorded on the album and appearing on at least one or two of the rehearsal tapes too, plus a short outro. Not nearly enough material if you ask me. So, if you have any Moonlore rehearsals or if you know someone who has them, start uploading them goddammit! Also the more recent demos and material (as Moon Lore too) is welcomed with open arms. I realize this won't be everyone's shot of vodka but I still recommend to try it out with open mind - if you like old Manes or Black Crucifixion you might enjoy this.

Belsemar - Epistles Of Pain demo 1995

Belsemar - Epistles Of Pain demo II 1995
1) Slay The Believers
2) De dömdas sång
3) In Autumns Burning Reap
4) ... (Outro)

Mediafire

Uncommon if not rare Swedish black metal offered today, the second demo of Belsemar which I finally acquired recently. I don't understand why I never got around ordering this demo and the Satariel one back in 1995. Belsemar was a project by Satariel members Aemelgoth & Azazel (Pär Johansson & Magnus Alakangas), I can't remember how it was supposed to differ from the main band as early Satariel was pure black metal too, though the melodic death metal influences started to creep in around the second demo. As I don't have the Satariel demos I'm unable to compare.

Concentrating on the release at hand, this is a little more melodic than the debut "De svarta gudarnas sömn" demo and the sound is slightly better as well. It's hard to say which one I'd prefer as it was just as recently that I got the debut in mp3 format.* There are some keyboards in the background but they are by no means dominating. Sound quality is good (for a demo) and the rip is ok too if I say so myself. Recommended to all black metal fanatics, especially ones into Swedish style, demo collectors, underground fanatics etc.... fans of later (well, post demo era) Satariel might want to approach with care as this is black metal, not melodic death metal.

UPDATE: Informed by a Swedish source (these can usually be trusted to know the language) of correct spelling to track 2: sång not säng! Oops, sorry!


* I still need a physical copy of the tape so if you want to get rid of yours, let me know! Satariel tapes too.

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA 01.10.94

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA, USA 1st October 1994
1) In Rapture By The Fenrir Moon
2) Shemhamforash
3) Sleeping Princess Of The Arges
4) Sumerian Fairy Tale
5) When Darkness Rears Itself A Throne
6) Goat Of A Thousand Young

MediaFire

Here's another GBK live for John who asked for them. This is after the release of the second tape, which you can of course tell by having a look at the setlist. I liked that one too, not as much as the debut demo, but it was still good stuff. I'm not going to start comparing it to the later material.

This is again an audience recording with what might be politely called a rough sound. I'm afraid I couldn't tidy it up much without actually doing more harm than good, so it's pretty much left as it was. Fear not, it's still loud and relatively clear, instruments are quite balanced, volume is consistent and the setlist is great if you like old GBK, so don't be a pussy - just download it.

Suhrim - Mountain Of Skulls demo 1994

Suhrim - Mountain Of Skulls demo III 1994
1) 21st Name (Intro) / Thoughts Without An End
2) Blind Servelety
3) Mountain Of Skulls
4) Forgotten Years
5) I'll Await Your Fall

MediaFire

Death metal from Belgium, this is the third demo of Suhrim, a band I randomly picked from one of my tape traders' lists back around 1997. Doesn't probably sound too exciting but don't fret, it's not at all bad stuff! Quite brutal death metal mixed with melodic if not even atmospheric bits. Not too shabby sound quality either, though the tape hissed like a few hundred snakes in a cavern, I think I managed to fix most of it to a toleratable end. No covers so again I've borrowed a Metal Archives image. It is slightly larger than a stamp. Recommended to all Suhrim fans (I know there are such, why else they'd have a forum?), death metal collectors and 90s demo enthusiasts.

Kaamos - Demo 1995

Kaamos (fin) - Demo 1995
1) A Cry Sound Asleep
2) Lusting for the Sky

MediaFire

Here's the only demo of the Finnish Kaamos, a death/doom band from Helsinki. I have no information on what happened to the band after the release of this demo in February 1995 and unfortunately I have no covers (if any were made) as I got this from one of my tape trading contacts.

UPDATE: Grev provided me with cover scans, which I am not uploading now since I'll ask him for a better dub too and then update the whole thing!!!

There are only two songs here, but they both clock around seven minutes. The music is death/doom, songwriting decent and good demo sound so I don't see any reason not to check them out. Well, if you came here looking for the Swedish Kaamos, you might not be too excited.

Nordlys - Reisen Til Den Høyes Hall

Nordlys - Reisen til den høyes hall demo II 1996
1) Reisen til den høyes hall
2) Die Macht des Todes
3) Walkürentanz
4) Freitod
5) Walhall
6) Zeit es zu beenden

Mediafire

I was going to rip both Nordlys demos but I gave up on the first demo because of the poor cassette quality and the fact it's been posted on a few other blogs (here for example) so I wouldn't bother fiddling around any longer with how it sounds. I then decided to do this, their second demo. Then I noticed the tape was worn badly and the result was pretty awful. Luckily I had gotten a decent rip a few years ago on Soulseek, so I dug it up, dusted it a little and packed it for uploading. So, not my rip, thanks to whoever it may have been. Included scans of the covers so I could say I did something to contribute.

Nordlys, known earlier as Fjell (see also this), was a German black metal band highly influenced by both the Norse mythology and sound. Changed name after this demo to Pest and then Die Pest and finally to Schwartze Wut. A compilation of Nordlys/Pest/Die Pest material has been released but it does not include complete releases, just selected tracks. However, it has a good sound (obviously) compared to cassette rips so you might want to check it out. Nothing more to add, I recommend you to try it.

Hordes - Longing For The Kingdom Of Steel

Hordes (hol) - Longing For The Kingdom Of Steel 7"EP 1994
1) Part I
2) Part II

Mediafire

This is the second and last Hordes release, mentioned in the previous post. I didn't get this one from my comrade D.B.M.W.'s blog, though he has posted it there for sure, I've had it for a while, probably acquired from Soulseek. This is a re-recording and - arrangement of the first song on the "Songs To Hall Up High" demo and sounds quite a bit different as well as being split into two parts. The sound is different and reminds me a bit of Barathrum's "Hailstorm" or "Infernal" - it's by no means clean or polished and fits the gloomy feeling perfectly. Enough talk, get this EP.

...And if you happen to possess a copy of it, sell it to me, you don't really need it!

Hordes - Songs To Hall Up High

Hordes (hol) - Songs To Hall Up High demo 1993
1) Longing For The Kingdom Of Steel
2) Deep In The Woods Of Evil
3) On The Wings Of Western Storms

Reuploaded

First off, thanks to Dutch Black Metal & Dutch Black Metal Warrior who originally uploaded this! See his blog for an amazing collection of Nederlands bm and contact him if you might have something he doesn't. This leads us to the question why am I posting this then? Simple, I have a (slightly perverse) liking for Hordes and want to shove it down your throats, it was a quite unknown project after all.

This here is their first demo as "Hordes" having been called "Hordes Of Lust" earlier. No cover scans, unfortunately, and MA pic was crappy so only logo uploaded. The line-up featured Orlok of Countess (and half dozen other bands), some Fallen Temple members and Guido Hammerheart of Bifrost and Hammerheart Records, later known as Karmageddon Media. Material presented is black/doom metal done in a primitive, crude and oddly charming fashion. Old fashioned and rough, with bizarre keyboards, it reminds me of old Barathrum at times actually. Not as haunting as the 1994 EP but still recommendable stuff for the brave ones. Fans of old Barathrum, Countess, old school black metal freaks and other crazy ones need this!

...and I need an original copy of the cassette so if you have one you want to sell, let me know!

Mayhem - Live LA2, London 8.11.1997

Mayhem - Live at LA2, London, UK 8th November 1997
1) Intro / Deathcrush
2) Ancient Skin
3) Freezing Moon
4) Fall Of Seraphs
5) Chainsaw Gutsfuck
6) Buried By Time And Dust
7) Carnage
8) The Vortex Void Of Inhumanity
9) I Am Thy Labyrinth
10) Symbols Of Bloodswords

Reuploaded

Not again you ask? Yes, again, it's another live from "new" Mayhem, with Maniac on the vocals duty. This one is from quite early stage of the reappearence so the setlist is mainly "Wolf's Lair Abyss" (well, make it the whole mini-album), old songs and as usual with Maniac-fronted Mayhem, way too little "De Mysteriis..." material. However, I'm quite pleased with this set and the quality is decent too.

Sound is clear and every instrument can be heard, even if the drums dominate. I'd say it's easily the best in quality from the Mayhem lives I've posted. Curiously someone Finnish seems to have found his way to this gig as you can tell by his happy swearing during the intro. Recommended to Mayhem fans, black metal live enthusiasts and so on.

Valhalla - Winterbastard (2000)

Valhalla (rus, Ekaterinburg) - Winterbastard CD 2000
1) Winterbastard
2) Dreams Of Apocalypse
3) ...Fireshine Of Lightnings
4) Wintry Dreams
5) Towards The Eternal Unlight ...On Black Wings Of Death
6) Ins Nama'v Great Fyr
7) Requiem To The Welkin
8) Starflaming Heart Of Ural
9) Eve Of Winterdawn

Reuploaded / Here too
 

We continue with material that sounds awfully similar to black metal but is not black metal, this time featuring the Russian self-titled "forest metal" band Valhalla, not to be confused with the other Russian Valhalla, or the Ukrainian Valhalla... or the other ten or so Valhallas either but the first ones might trick you. The band stated on several interviews that they are neither Satanic or pagan (and actually resented pagan bands) and that they were antireligious and misanthropic. Having a look at the lyrics reveals a quite Immortalesque approach. The music is melodic and not bad, better than I remembered. A bit "soft" maybe but it's not black metal after all.

This CD was released on Finnish Northern Sound records (who later evolved into No Sign Of Life) in limited edition of 666 copies and sold out, according to the interviews, in three months. As a repress seems unlikely I thought I'd rip and upload it, so here you go. Cover scans included. That's all I guess, take it or leave it.

Winter Tales - Figments Of The Imagination

Winter Tales - Figments of the Imagination demo 1997
1) Somewhere In The Mountains Dark
2) Desecration So Beautiful
3) A Winter's Tale
4) In The August Break Of Dusk
5) Figments Of The Imagination
6) As Night Slowly Pass
7) Across The Emerald Sea

Reuploaded

Winter Tales was a Norwegian two man operation who, as far as I know, released only this one demo of very atmospheric, heavily keyboard-dependent "black" or dark or forest or whatever metal. Don't let the vague description freak you out, it is actually good stuff but not black metal even if it heavily borrows elements from it and especially the Norse school. Out of the seven tracks here, four are either fully or mostly instrumental and this works better than you might first think. The remaining three more metal tracks are all quite lenghty so the total clocks a little under 40 minutes.

The tape had a good sound (even if Metalion described it muddled in Slayer mag, what the hell? Many albums sound more muddled!), but as my copy was a dub there are minor tape glitches and the usual associated little imperfections. Nothing significant though, this can be safely recommended even if you're intimitated by the typical demo sound. The only gripe I have here really is the spoken parts on some tracks; they make me cringe on almost any and all releases (especially underground ones) and this is no exception. That's probably part of the reason I like the instrumental bits here. I didn't get a copy of the covers back then so we're stuck with the Metal Archives image.

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA 27.03.93

Grand Belial's Key - Live in Manassas VA, USA 27th March 1993
1) Intro I
2) Intro II
3) Shemhamforash
4) Sumerian Fairytale
5) Goat Of A Thousand Young
6) The Seventh Enochian Key
7) Countess Bathory (Venom cover)

MediaFire

Another live recording, and seems natural to follow December Wolves with another US act, Grand Belial's Key. I've been a big fan of their "Goat Of A Thousand Young" demo ever since I heard "Shemhamforash" on some compilation in late 1993 and I still think it's their best stuff. Say what you will of Lord Fag Pussyferian, as Gelal him affectionally calls, the man was a good vocalist back in the day, before he went way overboard with the vampire stuff.

This old live must be one of their first shows, I've a video tape of this as well somewhere and it looked to me like the venue would've been a school or a youth centre or something equally awesome. Nevermind that, it's a good gig despite the little problems they appear to have and as this contains all of the debut demo I'm pleased. You judge for yourselves and download it.

December Wolves - We Are Everywhere

December Wolves - We Are Everywhere Promo 1997
1) We Are Everywhere
2) ...Not With Tainted Blood

Narod

Here is the hard-to-find 1997 CD promo of December Wolves, I recently got an original copy of it and ripped it to replace the cassette rip I almost uploaded here. Scans of the covers are included. This is also last of the December Wolves releases I'm into, I don't care too much for their last two full lenghts, even if these songs are included on "Completely Dehumanized." These versions were recorded in late 1996.

This is a transition piece between the old, atmospheric black metal and the later modern black/deathrash style, good sound and good songs. Should be enjoyable to both camps of December Wolves listeners. Recommended to others as well.

Primeval Chaos - From Infinity of Chaos

Primeval Chaos - From Infinity of Chaos demo 1998
1) Under The Dying Sun
2) From Infinity Of Chaos...
3) Gotterdammerung
4) Master of Infernal Flames
5) Immortal Creatures of Darkness
6) Kingdom of Eternal Grief
7) Call From the Past Forlorn
8) Primeval Chaos

MediaFire

Another less-known black metal release, this time from St.Petersburg, Russia. Melodic and atmospheric style but still quite raw, with a very obvious drum machine. In general the sound is ok and there is certain ambition to the music, even if it's not really my shot of vodka it's not at all bad. I got this by tape-trading so again no cover, there's not even a logo available this time so I posted it with the MA band image. If you happen to have the cover and have access to scanner leave me a note!

Morningstar - Alcoholive 1993

Morningstar - Alcoholive 1993 Live tape 1996
1) Goddess Of Witchcraft
2) Power In My Pagan Heart
3) Vampire
4) Before The Dawn

Reuploaded
 

This is an extremely limited cassette release from 1996, released by Ari "Sinister Satyr" Honkonen and featuring a live show (it's probably just these songs) from 1993. It is a good quality live from one of the original Finnish early 2nd wave black metal bands in their early stages. They quickly moved into what would be called pagan heavy metal and then eventually proceeded into basic heavy metal expression. All songs are from their 2nd demo "Inside the Circle of the Pentagram" from 1993.

A few more words need to be written as this was kind of an "official bootleg" as the cover scan mentions, I'm not sure if Honkonen counts this among the official Morningstar discography or prefers to keep it out of it. And I had an original copy in case you wondered. Recommended for Morningstar fans, those into old black metal and collectors.

Tormentor (hol) - Return To Nemeton demo 1992

Tormentor (Nederlands) - Return to Nemeton demo 1992
1) Sounds of Nemeton (Intro)
2) Reborn Alive
3) Return to Nemeton
4) Gruesome Malversation
5) Godforsaken Misery
6) Invasion

Reuploaded

If you came to Asmodian Coven looking for a long-lost demo by Attila & co's Tormentor* you can move along, this is the Dutch Tormentor who played death metal. Not bad death metal either, at least on this 4th demo. I'm curious to hear the earlier demos so leave a note if you've seen 'em. Or have them. I think they started out as thrash (like the other 400 - 500 bands called Tormentor in the 80s did) but as I haven't heard the older material I can't tell.

Back to this one, intro + 5 songs of death metal, a little muffled demo sound quality but not bad at all. My unknown generation dub was hissy like a teenage catgirl with PMS but I think I managed to clean it up without screwing up the overall sound. I got this by tape trading so no cover but luckily MA had a toleratable one up for change so that's what's I use. Without further ado, feel free to check it out.


* Not that I wouldn't like 'em, there just isn't anything from them that wouldn't have gotten released by now.

Hieronym Inferiorum - Worship To Asmodeus - VIVIVI - 666 - FFF

Hieronym Inferiorum - Worship to Asmodeus - VIVIVI - 666 - FFF demo 1995
1) Cursed Flutes of Witchcraft (From the Souls of the Heretics)
2) Worship to Demononymous Asmodeus
3) My Soul Returns to the Demonocult Cemetaries of Middle Age
4) Hymn for Asmodeus, Exorcism for the Profanated Christian Souls
5) Hermetical Pilgrim of the Ancient Fire (Upon the Forgotten Hills)
6) Knowledge from the Grand Lemegethon
7) Diabolical Revenge of the Black Gods (Unworld Sounds)

Reuploaded

Hieronym Inferiorum is very likely not a familiar name to you. A Greek one man band, started apparently while Nowead Luczebeus Sutagel was in prison in the early 90s having "many black thoughts," as an old bio I have states, he released two demos and a rehearsal video tape under this monicker before changing the band name to Funebre Inferni, which then released one demo. I've no further information on his later endeavours, unfortunately. Hieronym Inferiorum might be among the first "religious" black metal bands as that is exactly what he refers his band as. Well, "true hermetical and religious" but anyways.

So what is on the tape? Devil-worshipping, demonology drenched, ritualistic black metal with often struggling musicianship and occult feeling. Serpent King of Zephyrous features on track IV. What Nowead L.S. lacks in skill, he makes up on dedication and honesty. I find myself strangely fascinated by this demo and its genuine feeling of darkness and uncommercial, non-trendy approach, but I'm certain majority of the listeners will dismiss it as crap. Decide for yourself, give it a chance.

Rotting Christ - Live at Black Metal Mass III, Rotterdam 18.12.93

Rotting Christ - Live at Black Metal Mass III, Rotterdam NL 18th December 1993
1) Intro
2) The Sign of Evil Existence
3) Transform All Suffering into Plagues
4) The Mystical Meeting
5) Inside the Eye of Algond
6) Fgmenth, Thy Gift
7) Visions of the Dead Lovers
8) His Sleeping Majesty
9) The Forest of N'Gai

Reuploaded

Live tape again, but as promised it's black metal and pretty damn classic stuff too. Rotting Christ should not need any introductions and this show was recorded right in the middle of their "golden era" so to speak. Though I like 21st century Rotting Christ too, the later part of the 90s was not so great. Back to the item at hand, this show has an excellent setlist and a raw yet clear enough sound. Of course it's not something like an official live album would have, but very good by bootleg tape standards. Being pretty much a fanboy I can't really write very objectively, so I'll give up and just recommend you to download it.

Immortal - Rehearsal 1991

Immortal - Rehearsal Late 1991
1) Blacker Than Darkness
2) Unholy Forces Of Evil

Reuploaded again

Here is a two song rehearsal tape from Immortal, who most of you are familiar with, recorded in late 1991 (judging from the songs present) OR early 1992. One of my tape trading comrades was the source for this and as you might guess the sound is very murky and muddled. Not the worst sort though, it is perfectly listenable once you adjust your expectations. Nothing to add really.

Tunrida - Eternal Twilight demo 1996

Tunrida - Eternal Twilight demo I 1996
1) Eternal Twilight
2) In Satans Embrace
3) Scandinavian Female Devil
4) War Declaration

Reuploaded
See also their Mikseri page

As you might remember, I uploaded the 2nd Tunrida demo "Astral Majesty" some time ago. I ripped also this debut at the same time but wasn't too excited about uploading it after I learned of their Mikseri page (see above). But since I had already ripped this I decided to upload anyway. Includes scan of the covers too.

What about the content? Finnish black metal, pretty much in the same vein as the 2nd demo but more raw and generally not as good. Good enough to impress me & my friends back in 1996 even if it didn't age that well. As didn't the tape, there's a few places where the tape's wear & tear is audible, unfortunate but unavoidable. Try the Mikseri versions if it bothers.

Paradise Lost - Live in Helsinki, FIN 27.10.1993

Paradise Lost - Live at Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki Finland 27th October 1993
1) Gothic
2) Mortals Watch the Day
3) Widow
4) Eternal
5) As I Die
6) Pity the Sadness

Reuploaded

Live recording from Helsinki again, different year, venue and band though - and fortunately better result overall. This person manages to shut the fuck up while recording the gig, the sound quality is good and so are setlist and performance. There's always a catch and this time it's that this seems to be an incomplete recording. Appears to me the person had to go to toilet or get beer or who knows what near the end. Don't know what's missing but I'm sure they played more than six songs, so if someone knows what was played between "As I Die" and "Pity the Sadness" leave a comment. Even better if someone has a complete recording.

Oh yes, it is Paradise Lost, I used to like them circa Gothic/Shades of God and this would be still in their gothic metal phase before they turned completely into girly listening. I promise I'll post some black metal next time I do a live, in case someone wondered if this is turning completely casual easy listening fag blog.

Moonspell - Live in Gothenburg, 10.10.1995

Moonspell - Live at Kåren, Gothenburg Sweden 10th October 1995
1) Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)
2) Love Crimes
3) ...Of Dream And Drama (Midnight Ride)
4) Vampiria
5) Alma Mater

Reupload

Continuing with live tapes, here's more Moonspell '95. A short gig from Sverige, this one has a pretty good sound quality. All songs are, as predictable, from "Wolfheart" and usual choices. Personally, I'd swap "Vampiria" or "Wolfshade" for "An Erotic Alchemy" any day, or one of the "Under the Moonspell" songs. If you like old Moonspell and/or live bootlegs you'll probably want this.

EDIT: There was something wrong (well, the 4th track to be exact) with the MediaFire upload. It has now been re-uploaded. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Amorphis - Live Tavastia, Finland 22.4.1995

Amorphis - Live at Tavastia, Helsinki Finland 22nd April 1995
1) Intro
2) Better Unborn
3) Into Hiding
4) The Castaway
5) Against Widows
6) Magic and Mayhem

No link atm

Some live recordings for change, this one from Amorphis, on the heels of the classic "Tales of the Thousand Lakes" album, before the recording of "Elegy." The first two songs of the latter are actually performed here, if not for the first time, then for one of the first times. Sound quality at Tavastia seems to have been quite good. Unfortunately, the recording is not good: the idiot recording the show chooses to engage in inane conversation with other primates which is really annoying. To be honest, the gig itself isn't very good either. "Humour", quasi-proge and typically dumb speeches abound and the crowd reaction doesn't seem too stellar either. It's a pretty short set to boot (was it part of some event?) so I guess I can really recommend it mostly for its historical value. Obviously Amorphis-fans will want to check this out as well.

Blessed In Sin - A Tribute To Euronymous/Odes Obscures

Blessed In Sin - A Tribute to Euronymous / Odes Obscures tape 1998A Tribute to Euronymous - Live 20-01-95
1) Finis Gloria Dei
2) Genochristiancide
3) Desecrated Altar
4) Gloria In Excelsis Lucifero
5) Beyond The Black Lake
6) Necromancy (Bathory cover)
7) Goetia
8) Purify By Fire
Odes Obscures demo 1995
9) Enter Into The Vaginal Temple Of The Night Queen
10) Infernal Ceremony In The Antique Dolmens For The Dark Victory
11) En Mon Âme Et Conscience
12) Purify By Fire
13) Northern Nightmare (A Tribute To The Kings)
14) Ode Obscure Á La Dame Noire
15) Outro

Reuploaded

This tape released by Blessed In Sin in 1998 combines two of their demos (though "A Tribute..." is a live recording) on single cassette. I ordered this probably from Pakana distro in 1998/1999 and ripped it for personal use some time ago. The live recording has a surprisingly good sound and "Odes..." side, while mostly rehearsal recordings, is very much audible too. Good underground sound, no overproduced and polished shit here. Music is melodic and takes clues both from the Nordic and Mediterranean styles of black metal. I could survive without the quite bizarre track 11 though. Not going to bother with a lenghtier sales pitch here, just grab it if you don't have these demos already.

UPDATE: Reuploaded 13-12-11. Since I had lost the original rip (along with a load of others) recently, I ripped this again. Perhaps with a bit better result I might add.

Usva - Seitsemät Siivet demo 1999

Usva - Seitsemät Siivet demo 1999
1) Seitsemät Siivet
2) Syysmyrskyt
3) Vaults Of Sin
4) From Another Dimension
5) Yön Sylissä

New / Old

I took a look at a bunch of old CD-R's burned for me by my friend 10 years (and more) ago and noticed that one of them had this demo on it. I then realised I'd never heard or read much of this band and decided to rip it just for the heck of it. I don't know where he got this back in the day but according to Metal Archives, who are also the source for the sorry image of the cover you see below, this was released on tape and apparently was the band's sole release using this name.

Whatever the band's story might be, this is a demo with good studio sound, 5 tracks of melodic dark metal (I refuse to call 'em black metal even though the demo cover sports a pentagram) which isn't bad. Try it.

UPDATE: I recently got another rip of this from master Henri Sorvali, thanks again, at higher bitrate (320) made directly from a tape and including cover scans. That's the link up there that says "New rip" - click it. Do it now.
UPDATE II:
The old, actually slightly better rip is gone. Someone decided to report it to 4share four years after initial uploading and I'm not going to bother reupping it. It's not worth the hassle. 

Barathrum - Witchmaster demo 1991

Barathrum - Witchmaster demo 1991
1) Demon Est Deus Inversus
2) Deep From The Depths
3) Into Maze Of Nightmares
4) Gate To Jetblack Desires
5) Witchmaster
6) Black Flames And Blood
7) Winter Of The Black Snow

Reuploaded


Another Barathrum tape, this is the first demo (if you don't count the rehearsal demo and Darkfeast material) from 1991. Very old school material, doomy and ritualistic in nature, comparable more to early Necromantia and Samael than other Finns like Beherit or Impaled Nazarene. I think just about all of these songs have been later re-recorded for the full-lenght albums but naturally they sound here quite different. Sound is clear and the rip came out pretty good too so I decided to share it. I got a dub of this demo from Sova around 1995 and he included a version of the cover, it differs in few places from the original. Scanned and included. No more to say, recommended.

At The Gates - Live at Jaxx, Springfield VA 03.06.1996

At The Gates - Live at Jaxx, Springfield VA, USA 3rd June 1996
1) The Flames of the End
2) Slaughter of the Soul
3) Terminal Spirit Disease
4) Cold
5) The Swarm
6) Blinded by Fear
7) Suicide Nation
8) Under a Serpent Sun
9) Need

Reuploaded

Swedish death metallers At The Gates don't probably need much introducing. This here gig (3rd June or 6th March, I've never checked to be sure but I think 3rd June) in the States is a part of some tour (with Morbid Angel headlining) so they only had a bit over half an hour to play. Naturally this limited the amount of songs considerably and they play only tracks off the last album and 2 from "Terminal Spirit Disease" which is a minor issue, but perfectly understandable. As you might've guessed, I got this through tape trading.

You might wonder why I used the old At The Gates logo as they only play "new" songs? Well, simply enough the later logo looks extremely lame. Fortunately (to me at least) the material is still enjoyable. Comes with a good enough sound too so pick this up if you like At The Gates (expect if you're an "only old albums are real"-purist), (new wave of) Swedish death metal... oh well you know if you want this.

Horna - Unmixed Advance Tracks 1998

Horna - Unmixed Advance Tracks 1998
1) Yhdeksän Yö (Part I)
2) Yhdeksän Yö (Part II)
3) Kun Jumalan Sydän On Murskattu

Reuploaded

Horna should be a familiar name to those who listen to Finnish black metal. So without further ado here is a rip of the unmixed advance tracks for "Haudankylmyyden Mailla" album. This was not an official promo of any sort, I think the guys dubbed these to give some people a taste of the new material and that kind of spread out to the tape trading circuit. I got my dub of this from a Dutch friend of mine in 1998 or 1999, it was very good quality, possibly a 2nd generation dub or so. Maybe he even got it directly from the band, I never asked.

As you notice the song "Yhdeksän Yö" is here as two separate tracks. I like the sound on these versions actually better than the finished album, I wish I had the whole as an unmixed version. Recommended!

Mayhem - Live Baroeg, Rotterdam 17.04.1999

Mayhem (Norway) - Live at the Baroeg, Rotterdam Netherlands 17th April 1999
1) Intro Tape
2) I Am Thy Labyrinth
3) Freezing Moon
4) Intro to Carnage
5) Carnage
6) From the Dark Past
7) Symbols of Bloodswords
8) Drum solo / View from Nihil
9) Fall of Seraphs
10) Pure Fucking Armageddon
11) Silvester Anfang
12) Deathcrush

Reuploaded

Another Mayhem live bootleg from Maniac-era, but this one is a notable curio as it does not feature the man himself. I don't know who is filling in for him but as you can (barely) make out from the short speech titled here as "Intro to Carnage", he couldn't make it and well that's about what I could gather from that rant.

UPDATE: I've been informed that it is Necrobutcher talking in the aforementioned piece and Blasphemer is filling in for Maniac! Thanks for the info! Blasphemer does ok in my opinion, on some songs actually better than M, like on "Freezing Moon." He's not very talky overall which is not a big miss. As usual, "Pure Fucking Armageddon" is a fucking torso and this time "I Am Thy Labyrinth" gets the shortening treatment too.

After the introductions I'll move into the catch: the sound is pretty much shit. I remember that several of the old bootlegs I had from the Baroeg gigs of various bands suffered from poor sound so I believe the venue is "challenging" to put it nicely. The guitar is buried under the drums, often very overbearing bass and the vocals. Naturally the sound quality also changes a few times, probably due the person moving a bit. It's not the worst I've heard but takes certainly a hardened listener to bear and enjoy, your mileage will probably vary here. So consider yourself warned. For Mayhem-maniacs, black metal live collectors, historians and masochists.

Draconis Sanguis - Gloria Draconis demo 1999

Draconis Sanguis - Gloria Draconis demo 1999
1) Chapter I - Chaos of Fate
2) Chapter II - Shadows of the Past
3) Chapter III - Under a Spell
4) Chapter IV - Gezeichnet für die Ewigkeit
5) Chapter V - Sword of Wrath
6) Chapter VI - Verbranntes Land
7) Chapter VII - Der Schwur
8) Gloria Draconis - The Final Chapter
9) Epilogue - Schicksal

Reuploaded

German stuff this time. Sounds a lot like black metal but isn't, this is black metal based fantasy metal and a concept demo to boot. Sounds like melodic later 90s bm strewn with some awkward sounding clean singing (reminds me a bit of early Darkwoods My Betrothed actually) and spoken narrative bits which make me only a little bit uncomfortable. But those spoken parts are always hard to pull off without sounding silly. The grating main vocal does ok.

I ordered this demo with a bunch of others from Elven Witchcraft, who specialized in fantasy/mythology-oriented stuff. Déjà vu, I think I've written about EW earlier so I'm not going to babble anymore, download or don't. Recommended for fantasy enthusiasts, fans of melodic dark metal and curio seekers.

Nargothrond - Moria C-LP 1999

Nargothrond (Portugal) - Moria Cassette LP 1999
1) Middle-Earth's 13th Age
2) Ungolianth
3) Black Realm Of Morgoth
4) Orcish Steel
5) Golden Wyrm Of Angband
6) In The Ruins Of Nargothrond
7) Under The Red-Eye's Banner
8) The Fires Of Gorgoroth
9) Moria
10) The Witch-King Of Angmar
11) The One Ring (Interlude)
12) Return Of The Black Foe
13) Pussywhipped (bonus track - S.O.D. cover)

Depositfiles

Something a little different this time - the cassette album of Portugal's Nargothrond, side project of Firstborn Evil, later known as The Firstborn, members. As you can see from the titles above, this is very Tolkien-influenced material and based on black metal. However, don't dive in expecting material in the vein of Summoning, like the bonus cover track might hint the approach is quite different.

I remember it being referred to as "orcish battle metal" or something on similar lines - it's noisy, chaotic, brutal and warlike on first take and I must admit I was far from overjoyed when I got the tape in 1999. I was (and still am) a big fan of Summoning and Tolkien too and was at least checking out just about anything so themed. Now as I listen to it after a long time I find myself enjoying the punkish yet still very metal racket. There is more than at first assaults the ear so this was a nice re-discovery. Not trve but fun listen, why not give it a try?

Ecclesia Satani - NS Satan

Ecclesia Satani - NS Satan CD 2001
1) NS Satan I
2) NS Satan II
3) NS Satan III
4) NS Satan IV
5) NS Satan V
6) NS Satan VI
7) NS Satan VII
8) NS Satan VIII

Depositfiles

More "monumental black metal with NS ideology" from the Polish Ecclesia Satani in the form of their only full-lenght released by Under the Sign of Garazel in limited edition of 555 copies. I got this at the same time I ordered the tape, uploaded here, from Pakana distro I think. The CD covers contain no tracklisting, just stuff written in Polish which is among the many languages I haven't mastered yet, so I just titled the songs NS Satan I-VIII. There were 88 tracks, but tracks 8-87 were just blanks to get the number and the last one (here VIII) is a short outro bit.

The description monumental applies well here with most proper tracks ticking well over 5 minutes in lenght, II taking the cake at intimidating 25 mins! The music is again keyboard-heavy, from the symphonic school of black metal and this time the sound quality is obviously better than on the demo. Give it a shot if you're not put off by their ideology. Coverscan included for your Polish-reading pleasure.

Moonsorrow - Tämä Ikuinen Talvi demo 1999

Moonsorrow - Tämä Ikuinen Talvi demo 1999
1) Taistelu Pohjolasta
Osa I: Luo Veljien
Osa II: Punaisen Lumen Valtakunta
Osa III: Jäisten Järvien Kimalteessa
2) Vihreällä Valtaistuimella
3) Talvi
4) Luopion Veri
5) Kuun Suru

Reuploaded

I ripped my tape of the second Moonsorrow demo - you have heard of Moonsorrow, haven't you? - some time ago and decided to upload the rip as most rips around seem to be from the CD version released by Sagitarius in 2001 which was remastered and partially re-recorded (vocals and some other part I can't remember for now). So it's quite different from this original version. I don't think I need to go lenghts to explain Moonsorrow's music, but I'll mention the demos are closer to old Enslaved and slightly more black metallish than viking metal. Good stuff.