Equitant - The Circle of Agurak promo 1993

Equitant - The Circle of Agurak promo/demo I 1993
1) The Fallen Walls of Agurak
2) The Finrir Wolf
3) De Occulta Philosophia
4) Castle of Töprak-Kale (Among Them)
5) ('Iss) Er 'Arbörkr
6) Under the Sasaian King Yezdenian III
7) The Goddess Astghik (Sea of Glasya)
8) Hofa Hilmir, ok Valhallar Visi

Reuploaded

Non-metal post, featuring Equitant's, formerly remembered from Absu and nowadays a maker of electronic music, debut release as a solo artist. Even though this recording features also his bandmates Proscriptor (flute) and Shaftiel (voice) and Black Mass Prayer aka Black Massith (while in Absu) helped him with the synths, it's mostly a solo effort. If you are familiar with the man's current and, well basically all solo work since late 90's you might be well-adviced the first two tapes are quite different from his EBM/techno/electronic releases. This one would mostly fit into the dark ambient/dungeon music category with some folky bits included. The folky parts seem mostly Celtic-influenced while the ambient parts divide roughly into half instrumental and half with spoken vocals included. The lyrics would seem to be more in the fantasy vein (concerning Agurak mentioned in the title) than mythology/occult Absu is known for. Equitant would seem to mix Celtic, Scandinavian and Howard-school sword & sorcery influences. This is judging from the track titles and narration, lyrics are not included. I got a copy of this and the 2nd demo from eBay some time ago, so a scan of the fold-out cover is included.

The sound and rip quality are good, the tape was not badly worn despite being just dubbed onto a regular old cassette. Some wear is occasionally heard but this can't be avoided. Moods presented are mostly quite solemn and gloomy with the synths dominant for majority of the time and the spoken vocals usually remain in the background. Which I find preferable. The folk bits I mentioned earlier are restricted to the intro and outro, track 6 features some distorted guitars which brings a nice refreshing change and Proscriptor's flute gives character to the 7th track. At the end of the day a good effort, recommended if you enjoy these kinds of works.

Gallows - The Butterfly promo 1993

Gallows (isr) - The Butterfly promo 1993
1) Here the Flying... Flew... Already Gone
2) The Butterfly
3) Children
4) Testimony of a Sanguinary Generation
5) ...And No One Made a Sound
6) Optimistic End

Reuploaded

Here's a bit different item, again, this time still metal though. The Israeli band Gallows isn't very well known, I think, and I don't have too much info on them either. Metal Archives lists another tape before this one, neglects this completely and then mentions the re-release in 1995 which also appears to be the last release. I have somewhere a flyer for this tape, I'll scan it add to the post if I find it. As you probably guessed by now, I got this from a trader and have no covers. Would appreciate a scan if you happen to have them.

The music is sort of progressive metal with death metal vocals and both death & thrash metal leanings. It sounds quite jazzy to me in many places, throwing in some semi-mandatory middle eastern folk influences in the mix as well. Lyrically it would appear to lean towards life metal, but I suppose that can be excused. Personally I have somewhat mixed feelings about this... I like some of the proge parts and especially the keyboards on 4 & 5 (which the tracklisting I got seemed to list as "Testimony of a Sanguinary Generation - And No One Made a Sound" but it has a clear break at 6:30, dividing it into two tracks) and the harsh vocals come out quite well. Musicianship, sound and tape quality are very good too. This just isn't my favourite sort of music in general. But as said, I like 4 & 5 and the rest is okay too so I suppose I can recommend this to open-minded readers.

Kvist - Rehearsal 1994

Kvist - Rehearsal 1994
1) Mørk, Skjebnesvanger Og Erotisk Lokkende
2) Svartedal

Depositfiles

Another request long due, I promised to get this done to a number of people. Sorry for being so late with it. Kvist is a cult band from Norway and if you don't know them yet, leave immediately, get a copy of "For Kunsten Maa Vi Evig Vike" (no, buy it you cheap bastard, it's worth your money), listen to it at least ten times and if you don't enjoy it never return here. Others may proceed to download this two song rehearsal which features a song that would be on their 1994 demo and another which would appear both on demo & album.

I got this one from a trader on a CDr quite a while ago and ripped it, slightly upping the volume which was extremely low in the process. It is still quite low and a little hissy and muffled but other than that, it's very good for a rehearsal recording. If you are familiar with the demo 1994, this is a bit more muddled but the songs have all the instruments present, including vocals and keys. Obviously it's good, it's Kvist. I'd listen to them play beer cans and unplugged guitar. If there are any more Kvist recordings in existence and you got them, get in touch for I must have them. You can have my other kidney or whatever. Recommended.

Einaugd - Promo/demo 1995

Einaugd - Promo/demo 1995
1) Mythos Graven Sorg
2) Når Vi Går Den Siste Tid I Møte

Depositfiles

This is an old request which I'm finally able to fulfill, sorry for taking so long but the dub I found from my tapes was incomplete and the full version stays hidden. Fortunately Grev had gotten a rip of this recording from a trader and sent it to me, thanks! So this is not my rip, it's... some guy's who traded with Grev. Decent quality rip and obviously no covers or images of any sort. What to call it is also a little debatable; colehawlins asked for it as "adv.demo 1995" (which I think I had the other dub called too), one of my traders had sent it to me as Promo 1995 and finally Grev had it as Promodemo 1995 - which is a word abomination I've always hated, so I've decided to title it as promo/demo 1995 until someone coughs up covers stating otherwise. Or used to play in this and gives proper info.

Speaking of info, there's little. I remember having some more somewhere, I'm pretty certain this was a project of someone who used to be in Gehenna & Nocturnal Breed. Or was it Dimmu & Nocturnal Breed??? Tjodalv? Svartalv? I'm sure it was not Sanrabb, Silenoz (who had a self-titled project) or any other of the better known names, can anyone refresh my memory? Megaborea? Whatever the case and whoever performs, this consists of two tracks for less than 10 minutes of music and the first one is an atmospheric, keyboard & vocals piece and second is Norwegian black metal, with a bit murky but listenable sound. Somewhere between Isvind, old Carpathian Forest, Manes demos and very old Gehenna. Good stuff. If I ever find my tape I'll see if I can manage a superior version off that, till then I'd recommend you to try this!

UPDATE: One of my readers verified my vague recollections of this being Kenneth Destroyer/Svartalv, formerly of Gehenna and Nocturnal Breed. Mystery solved! Thanks!

UPDATE II: The link had died so I took this chance to upload the version I ripped from my tape (which I finally came across) - being made from an unknown generation dub it's not really much of an improvement.

UPDATE III: Another commenter gives us Mōri (AKA Ben Hellion) as the second conspirator here. Thanks for letting me know!

Winterschlacht - Vollstrecker demo 1998

Winterschlacht - Vollstrecker demo 1998
1) Vollstrecker
2) Heterotrophie
3) Urwälder der Entscheidungsschlacht
4) Tod durch Aufhangen
5) Überlegenheit
6) Dunkle Gestalt

Reuploaded

This is another contribution I've received, thanks to the person who sent it! Polish black metal from a member of the great Galgenberg, this would seem to be the only demo he released. No cover artwork so I have used an image from Metal Archives. As always, cover scan is welcomed.

This demo contains 6 tracks of quite fast and straight-forward black metal with a raw underground sound, drum machine and a few dashes of synth thrown in the background occasionally. I can't say the final result would be anywhere near Galgenberg stuff. There are some good moments but the overall performance and finish is lacking, I dislike the drum machine (both sound and programming) and the whole thing sounds kind of unfinished. I'm positive this would've come out much better had he worked with someone else on it. Rip quality is very good. I'm certain the maniacs into radical Polish bm will not be disheartened by my dim view of the demo and others into underground black metal might want to check it out as well. Not essential but interesting.

I Rise In Flames - Fall demo 1995

I Rise In Flames - Fall demo 1995
1) Reaching for a Gothic Sun
2) Desolate Tears
3) Her Eternal Dreams Foreshadow
4) Outro

Mediafire

Another tape traded item, here's a 1995 demo by I Rise In Flames who changed their name to Chant after signing a deal with the German label Solistitium (with whom a quarter of the Finnish 90's bands seemed to sign with). They recorded an album "Cynthia's Fire" in 1998 at the well-known Tico-Tico studio but apparently it was never released as Solistitium got into financial problems delaying the album's release and frustrated, half of the band decided to call it quits. The remaining people reincarnated as The Chant in 1999 with a new line-up and a bit different musical direction. They've recorded a bunch of demos and an EP in 2006, debut album "Ghostlines" in 2008 and another album "This is The World We Know" in 2010 which contains "nine tracks of atmospheric rock with gothic and progressive influences. At times there are metal elements contrasting the soothing melodies." I quoted that from their site as I haven't heard it. Or anything post-this demo really, to be honest. I just felt like whipping up a little bio here.

Ok how about getting to the point which naturally is this demo here. Like said right at the start, tape traded and no cover art and little info besides the tracklisting. Metal Archives lists this as just self-titled demo but the band entry there isn't really brimming with information is it now? So until proven otherwise I'm still calling this "Fall" as I've been since I got it titled so. Yeah. Cover scans would be greatly appreciated and I'd be keen on hearing the other demo(s) The Chant interview on Imperiumi mentioned. And the unreleased (?) album too, though I doubt anybody has it. Maybe I should finally get into the music here - three songs of gothic-tinged (think Paradise Lost-gothic not rubbersuit goth rock-gothic) death/doom metal and an instrumental outro track with a decent demo sound and good enough performance. Some bearable clean vocals employed but mostly a deathlier vocal style. The source dub was of unknown generation and left a bit desired but it could be worse. There's some audible tape wear scattered hither and thither but it should not bother a seasoned listener of cassette demos. Recommended if you like mid-90s gothic death doom, are a curious The Chant-fan or just blindly grab whatever I happen to post.

Funerary Bell - Heksakosioi Heksekonta Heks promo 2007

Funerary Bell - Heksakosioi Heksekonta Heks promo 2007
1) Funerary Bell
2) Resurrection
3) XehXheX
- - -
4) Guardian of My Infernal Path (Bonus Track)

Depositfiles

Here's a post that's highly unusual to this blog... not as per the content but the fact it's as recent as 2007! Well what can I say, I'm very much into the old schoolish black metal of Finland's Funerary Bell and as I'm in touch with the Invoker (aka Profundiis) who gave his ok to post this tape I decided to go ahead as I think the band deserves more attention. Now that's been covered I might as well mention this is a rip from the tape I got from the band, dubbed with a bonus track which obviously isn't officially part of the promo but recorded soon afterwards. Cover scans included.

This is a pretty short tape, especially the Heksakosioi Heksekonta Heks proper which consists of an intro and two tracks at about 9½ minutes. A word of warning: excluding the intro, the tape is instrumental and unlike later FB material this is only Invoker of the Shadows (on this tape Profundiis) by himself and with a drum machine. Personally I've no problem with this as the songs work for me very well without vocals and the drum machine isn't that distracting. Some might disagree, of course. The bonus track is a band rehearsal, not one man only. The tracks were later included, re-worked and re-titled, on the split with Blood Red Fog. Check out that too and the debut album "The Coven" released on Undercover Rex. Recommended!

PS: I have some more unreleased Funerary Bell material which I might post as well later.