Barathrum - Battlecry (Unmixed) demo '92

Barathrum - Battlecry demo II 1992 unmixed 1st version
1) Sacrilegium
2) Nocturnal Dance
3) Justice of the Shining Steel
4) Battlecry/Outro

Mega / Rusfolder

Today I decided to upload a sending by brother Grev, ripped by his comrade, thanks as always gentlemen and it is an item I was requested last year by a certain person, after a bit of deliberation I decided it'd be worthwhile to include it here as well. This is the first, so-called unmixed version of the second Barathrum demo "Battlecry" and I am sure most readers should be quite familiar with this band by now? The requestor provided me with a cover so it is included.

So what are the differences between the two versions, beside the cover? Well, this one does not have the rather dumb intro Epilogue the second has, cutting the playtime to roughly 18 minutes. Also the vocals are different, devoid of the overt pitch-shifting. Music sounds less muddled too, crisper and slightly... lighter? As in heavy vs. light not dark vs. light-way. Songs and music themselves remain the same but the changed sound affects the result a lot. I personally prefer this version over the second one. All of the songs reappear re-recorded on various Barathrum albums (1st on "Saatana", 2nd and 3rd on "Eerie" and 4th sans outro on "Hailstorm") but if you wish to hear them on rougher demo form I suggest this over the "mixed" version (actually this is mixed too, read the cover: mixed and produced by Sami Jämsen and the second version does not give any further info on it, but curiously changes the studio name from Sound Grinder Studios to Gothic-Sound and reduces Jämsen's role to "help" so there is that). JetBlackMetal!

Barathrum - Rehearsal for 3rd cd "Infernal" (1996)

Barathrum - Rehearsal for 3rd cd "Infernal" rehearsal tape 1996
1) The Night of the Demon Lord
2) The Blasphemer
3) Warmetal
4) Deliver a Battle
5) Death is Saviour
6) Leaving the World of Mortals
7) Deadmarch
8) Ethereal Guest
9) Immortal Warrior
10) Demon Est Deus Inversus

 Reuploaded - 2022

Here's another big post and one that got a lot more delayed than originally intended, here's a rehearsal tape/promo by the one and only Barathrum for the third album "Infernal" which I borrowed from comrade passetiermes along with a bunch of other cassettes and 'zines last year. Thanks again to him for cooperating with the Coven! Obscure Barathrum tapes just keep showing up, I don't remember seeing mentions of this before I got it but at least this one has a good old fashioned cut-and-paste cover by Sova which has been scanned for your convenience that provides enough information.

Here's the info bit from the cover.

What was the reason for the delay in getting this done? Well, I was wondering if the tape ran at correct speed after ripping this as it sounded a bit slower than expected and I was left wondering if I should increase the speed and if so how much. After letting the rip sit for a bit I decided that was just delusional horse manure, the tape was fine and it merely sounded different for being a rehearsal recording made with a three man line-up and all that. So here it is, without any further meddling.

Skulls are cool. Notice the extremely faintly visible contact address and symbol.

Enough of your background exposition and other crap, what is it like compared to the album? Different. If the album is like scrying on a black mass ceremony performed at the altar of some abandoned Orthodox church, rickety and drafty yet still possessed of a warped magnificence, this is more akin to wandering in lightless catacombs and hearing the echoes of a bizarre ritual performed by madmen rumble somewhere in the murky gloom. Yeah, sure, not "Sanctus Satanas" crazy though. It's messy, heavier and simply quite different beast from the album. Some songs are longer, others shorter, many are more stripped down versions while others have elements present not on the album. The sound is kinda cool once you adjust to it, though the fastest parts tend to curl up to a ball and roll downhill uncontrollably. As you see from the tracklisting this is the whole album minus the almost fifteen minute title track, still almost an hour of material. It can be a bit daunting task to sit through a rehearsal recording that long but don't be a pussy, it's worth your while. Recommended for fans of Barathrum, obviously, and to any who enjoy low-end heavy, old schoolish black metal with doom touches.

Barathrum - Live in Kuopio 8.11.1991

Barathrum - Live in Kuopio, Finland 8th November 1991
1) Deep from the Depths
2) Demon Est Deus Inversus
3) Into Maze of Nightmares
4) Black Flames and Blood
5) Gate to Jetblack Desires
6) Winter of the Black Snow
7) Witchmaster

Yandex / Mediafire

I spent the Friday evening attending a gig in Kuopio and yesterday recovering from the trip. Inspired by that I decided to post this live recording, also from Kuopio but a few years back and featuring a different band which should be familiar to the readers of the blog by now. This rip was sent to me already quite a few months ago by comrade Drowned, so thanks to him. Of course no covers exist, the one seen above is again a placeholder by me.

Don't know the venue this was recorded in, I think I remember seeing a poster or flyer for a 1991 Barathrum gig which may or may not have been this one, further info welcome. Anyways, they play for a bit under half an hour and the "Witchmaster" demo in full. The sound is a little bass heavy and slightly chaotic but still listenable. Drowned had applied noise reduction to tackle the hiss but I'm not a fan of this as it tends to mess up the high end. That's not very notable here though. If you haven't heard the Witchmaster demo, or old Barahtrum in general, it's quite doomy and general slow to midtempo black metal and they keep the speeds in check live too. Recommended to Barathrum fans, obviously, as well as any into old school bm or black/doom combo.

Barathrum - War Metal Studio Session 1993

Barathrum - War Metal Studio Session 23rd October 1993
1) Beltane
2) Boundless Arts
3) Sinister Autumn
4) Soaring Up from Hell
5) War Metal
6) Dagger, Seal, Vengeance
7) Moonshine Calls

Narod / Depositfiles

Saturnal Bandcamp

Today's item is another contribution by brother Drowned and quite a rarity, the studio session for what was supposed to be Barathrum's fourth demo "War Metal" but it remained unreleased as something went wrong during the sessions and Demonos was very displeased with the producer and the recording. Later it seems like the band members have lost the tape but luckily some copies had been dubbed to people. Drowned had gotten this from a US trader who possibly got it directly from a band member, whatever the case may be in the end I'm certainly thankful for them having it and sharing it! No cover was made (as far as I know) so I just made up another one. Was a bit torn between using the old logo and the new version but considering the era of the recording went with the old one. See below how it'd look with the more recent one. And I know it's been spelled "Warmetal" everywhere but I went with how I got it, though I have my doubts the spelling might've been corrected by the traders somewhere along the chain.

Tried the new logo too.

All seven tracks were new at the time and like the Barathrum tradition is, would all eventually be recorded and used again on the future albums: first two would appear on 1999's "Saatana", next two on a 1993 rehearsal tape and album-wise as late as on 2002's "Venomous", the title track, with spelling "Warmetal" would be included on 1997's "Infernal" and last two tracks on the second album "Eerie" (1995), with "Moonshine Calls" changed to "Moon Calls". So all tracks are in a sense familiar ones and move mostly in the slower midtempo speeds, the title track being fastest number and others having that black/doom vibe to them.

Yeah but what does this sound like? Well, it is a studio recording and Barathrum stringed section of the time consisted of two guitarists and either two or three bassists, I can't remember if all three were actually there for this recording. So it sounds quite heavy and the bass presence is certainly there. Which fits the slightly slower overall tempo well. It doesn't sound quite as powerful as it might and the vocals are maybe a bit high on the mix, not completely overpowering but the most audible element still. Perhaps the sound isn't the optimal but it sounds good to me, it's a demo anyways, and it's certainly easier to digest than the rather exotic sound used on "Sanctus Satanas"/"Sanctissime Colere Satanas" so I'm not really sure what was the issue with this. Was it something to do with the mix? Or the vocals? Whatever the case, if you enjoy older Barathrum style I'm quite sure you'll like this recording too.

UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to mention here that Saturnal Records re-released a remastered version of this recording as "Warmetal" on vinyl and digital (Bandcamp link added above) and as "Jetblack Warmetal" on CD, which has the "Jetblack" 7"EP as bonus and is obviously the recommended version! Unless you're an impractical, vinyl collecting snob in which case you need to track down a separate copy of the EP, it was also re-released but limited to 300 copies.

Barathrum - Bride of Lucifer rehearsal 1996

Barathrum - Bride of Lucifer rehearsal 05-1996
1) Bride of Lucifer
2) Hellbreed
3) Half Heart
4) Whores of Hades

Mediafire / Depositfiles

More from brother Drowned, first of a bunch of items I requested from his list. This is a 1996 rehearsal tape of the infamous, one and only Barathrum. Ripped by Drowned and obtained from a trader comrade back then, I guess. Thanks for all your hard work! Has no real cover, as far as I know, but I made one using a Barathrum logo and a pic I scanned off "Okkult" album covers.So credit to whoever it was who took the pictures, it read on the booklet, check for yourselves please.

If you look at the tracklisting, you notice that it is quite appropriate that I rip off "Okkult" for my makeshift cover as three out of the four appeared on that album and the last one on 1997 7"EP "Jetblack" - whose cover has just the symbol and logo on it. Naturally these are different versions, interestingly the EP song is here a much shorter version and the ones to be included in the album are slightly longer. Comparing the sound of this rehearsal tape to the (too) polished late 90's albums is quite pointless, but let's just that say it's good for a rehearsal and would be decent enough on a demo too. Messy, sure, bit cleaner than the Rotko recordings I posted a while ago and definitely still on the chaotic side, not that very far from the "Devilry" promo actually. With the occasional special effects (which tend to murk things up extra efficiently) and all this really brings a demo more to mind than a rehearsal tape. Recommended listening for Barathrum fans, especially ones that prefer the rough approach.

Rotko - Kuilu demo II 1996

Rotko - Kuilu demo II 1996
1) Intro - Arts of Black Magick
2) The Gloomy Fallen Angel
3) Lusifer
4) Flames
5) I Rise from the Coffin

Depositfiles / Mediafire

The second Rotko demo, see the first post for background details and musings, most written there applies here. Obviously no cover for this one either. As always, I'd appreciate scans if they exist and if anyone actually has them.

To the content: as seen above intro and four tracks this time, all of them being on the short side (ranging from 2:22 to 3:37) and continuing much in the same vein as the first demo. That is, bass-heavy ritualistic jetblack metal with some (less this time) doomy touches - not much different from Barathrum material of the 90's! Though the sound and intros/effects bring an extra touch of demented morbidity to the result. "The Gloomy Fallen Angel" was recorded again for "Venomous" and "Lusifer" is familiar both from that same album and the first Rotko demo. This version is faster, a bit shorter and more maniacal than the one on first demo, yet longer than the album version and still in Finnish. I stand undecided which one I prefer most. The sound is comparable to the first demo, though it's somewhat superior with the stronger guitar sound and better drums. To me the vocals stand out differing most as they are now closer to Sova's usual black metal voice. Overall tempo is faster, as reflected by the more compact tracks as well. Sounds perhaps less unusual than the first demo but flows better. Anyways, very much recommended to Barathrum listeners and in general worth a try for any reader.

Rotko - Lusifer-Lusifer demo 1996

Rotko - Lusifer-Lusifer demo I 1996
1) Horns of Mine
2) Lusifer
3) Lord of South and Fire

Depositfiles / Mediafire

Back to Finland and obscure black metal, here is demo I of mysterious Rotko of which I only got info from my trader, besides the title, year, 1st demo status & tracklisting - quite a bit actually, that it was a "Barathrum project". Which obviously means Demonos Sova's project and as you may see from the tracklisting, two out of three tracks are familiar from Barathrum albums: "Lusifer" was redone as a faster version and with English lyrics on "Venomous" and "Lord of South and Fire" appeared already on the 1995 debut album "Hailstorm". Not sure if the first one has been renamed and -used later. I've absolutely no idea if a cover existed for this release, knowing Sova I'd be surprised if there wasn't one but I haven't had any luck finding one - or much info on this either! I was wondering if this might've been sort of same for Barathrum as The Lord Diabolus was for Beherit? Though I don't recall Sova having issues with Opyros & N.E.P. - anyone got actual information? Due the lack of cover art, or a good pic of Sova from 95/96 I decided to decorate the post with the old Barathrum seal - you could interpret Rotko as translation of Barathrum to Finnish, even though a common, literal translation of 'rotko' to English is 'ravine'.

So is this very different from Barathrum? Well, not really, it most resembles demo era sound mixed with the first three albums. Sound is quite rough demo level and he's using drum machine. Very prominent bass, slower doomy tempos and ritual atmosphere. Some (semi-)clean vocals are used besides the black metal barks and roars. Crude, ritualistic, primitive, fascinating, barbaric, occult, charming and jetblack are some of the adjectives that come to mind while listening to this tape. Absolutely fascinating and I really like the slower, Finnish version of "Lusifer" (which would again appear in slightly different form on the second demo which I'll post later). Recommended, especially if you're into older Barathrum.

PS: Forgot to write that I'd be interested in Sova's other projects Kirous and Fall so let me know if you have those recordings. I think Kirous did 2-3 tapes and no idea about Fall. And thanks but I already have Demonos Jetblack material.

Barathrum - Rehearsal 01.10.1993

Barathrum - Rehearsal 1st October 1993
1) Soaring up from Hell
2) Sinister Autumn

Depositfiles

Barathrum should be a pretty familiar name to all readers by now. If not, then you haven't been reading this blog for long and/or haven't been listening to black metal for long enough. Not going to add much, this is a two song rehearsal tape dubbed to some people by Sova (including me) and then spread in the tape-trading circles. Pretty bad sound, very much leaning to one side but I decided against ripping it as mono (which might increase listenability - let me know if you want so). Early 90s Finnish cult black metal.

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.

Barathrum - Sanctus Satanas Studio & Stage '93 tape 1995

Barathrum - Sanctus Satanas (Studio & Stage 93) tape 1995
Studio Side
1) Wolf-Age Thunder (Intro)
2) Death Is Saviour
3) SaLuBeLe
4) Land Of Tears
5) The Force Of Evil
6) Black Goat
7) Devilish Sign
Stage Side
8) Death Is Saviour
9) SaLuBeLe
10) Lord Of South And Fire
11) Black Goat
12) Land Of Tears
13) The Force Of Evil
14) Devilish Sign

Download

Here's some wicked jetblack metal from Barathrum; "Sanctus Satanas" studio session of 1993 was originally meant to be the third Barathrum demo but for some reason I've probably heard and forgotten, Demonos Sova just took the last three songs and intro and released them as "Sanctissime Colere Satanas" promo 1993. The whole session, with the notorious gig in Kuopio in 1993 on the B-side, was released on a cassette by Sova in 1995 as the first release of his cassette "label" Pit Rex (the second release was the "Devilry" promo and I think that's also the last release). I got the tape from him when it was released, around the same time Nazgul's Eyrie put out the debut album "Hailstorm" if I recall correctly.

This is a very raw sounding and extremely ritualistic black metal recording. All of the songs have been re-recorded on Barathrum albums, but here they are presented in their vilest form. The live recording sounds clear enough and certainly no less ritualistic, due to the unusual set up: Sova provides the percussion with a single drum beaten with bones while spewing out the vocals. Very recommended!

Barathrum - Devilry promo tape 1997

Barathrum - Devilry promo cassette 1997
1. Necromantical Ritual
2. Last Day In Heaven
3. Revenge By Magick
4. Angelburner

Narod

Bandcamp

Ok, another tape I bought from Levykauppa Äx in Kuopio, and whatever Metal Archives says I could swear it was 1997 fall/winter when I was there pondering if I'd buy this or the "Jetblack" 7"EP. I bought this one and was really happy about that. You all probably know these songs from "Legions of Perkele" album 1998, but the demo versions are definitely worth downloading.

I know there is at least one other rip of this tape floating around, as I had it, but I have to say my rip is better quality than the one I had loaded before. His tape was probably worn more than mine. Anyways, be sure to check it our if you like "Legions..." and even if you don't still give this a try, the versions are rawer and closer to old Barathrum sound.

UPDATE: If you're a trendy vinyl collector you'll be interested to know Saturnal Records recently released a picture disc of this, see here. Personally I'm a bit dissappointed it seems to be only version made.

UPDATE II: Added Bandcamp link, there's a digital version too, remastered by Zetekh so check that out!!!