Deface - Tears demo 1995

Deface (spa) - Tears advance tape for demo 1995
1) Absorbed by Homesickness
2) Unforgettable Moments
3) Inextricable Memories (Part I)
4) The Field of Glory
5) Inextricable Memories (Part II)

Mediafire

Time to post another a bit older contribution. I'm not 100% if I simply forgot this one to sit in my download folder or had Mikael aka Vaalkoth posted this in their short-lived blog, whatever the reason may be it was left there for quite some time. Anyways, this is an advance version of Spanish death metal band Deface's only (?) demo from 1995 which Mikael had gotten from them and ripped and sent to yours truly along with some other items. Includes a pic of the cover, which is unfortunately not a scan but a digicam pic. You can see what needs to be seen on that too. Thanks for sharing!

Mikael's rip had tracks 3 & 4 together, I separated them. Otherwise I haven't meddled with his work here, it's a little lower bitrate than I usually go for (CBR 160) but it sounds ok. Note that of the 5 tracks here, roughly 15 minutes of music, only tracks 2 and 4 might be what we call "proper" tracks as the others are intro and interlude sort of pieces. The sound is kinda weak, or more like unpowerful and the music is not certainly the average sort of death metal you might've expected from Spain early 90's - it's kind of complicated mix of technical death metal with gothic influences, rather than death/doom which might seem more likely when you look at the titles here. In a way the sound supports their complex, serpentine meanderings as a heavier, cavernous or a dirty, muddled production would make them a complete mess. Vocals are death growls, gothic moans and assorted less used sounds. I don't like this. Well, the instrumental interludes are ok. Other than that the main dish is too complex and twisty for my palate, most of the time it just makes me sort of annoyed. But you have to note I'm not into Ved Buens Ende and the like either so you might find this fascinating and actually enjoy it. After all, some people enjoy eating things which make me grimace and spit them into a napkin for stealth disposal at first opportunity... I better quit now and prepare some food.

Fiendish Nymph - Promo 1996

Fiendish Nymph - Promo 1996
1) The Ethereal Nereids
2) The Drowning of Syring

Yandex / Mediafire

Here is a short item that has been lying around my HD for way too long... well the original rip was made in 2010, but I ripped it again as I wasn't pleased with that result. This one still has minor issues but I'm happy enough with it and it's about time I upload it. I know you can find a rip (or rips) of this tape elsewhere but since I've done it and like it, it's here end of discussion. Promo 1996 was the second demo of the Greek band Fiendish Nymph (if you don't count a 1994 promo track) who spawned a side project Daemonia Nymphe, playing sort of folk/world music thing and ending up with more releases than the "main band". Ripped from an original tape and includes cover scan.

Like just about all Fiendish Nymph releases, this is a pretty short tape at 11:40 which isn't bad for two tracks, obviously. Sound quality is of good demo sort but unfortunately the balance is a little screwy as most of the instrumentation is on one side. It doesn't bother me as bad as it used to. Music is midtempoish, atmospheric Greek pagan/black metal with sort of whispery main vocals which I like very much, accompanied by some half spoken ones, black metal gasps/rasps and such. I especially like the almost strangled sounding bm howls. Synths are featured quite prominently and very Greek riffs abound. I've always had a soft spot for this band and still do so I'm just going to babble like an idiot if I continue. Try it if you like Hellenic take on black metal, especially the atmospheric sort. If you don't like Greek metal give it still a listen or I won't forgive you.

PS: I would very much like to rip and post the first demo but the only dub (I should have two) I've found so far was of really poor quality. Help appreciated as the second dub is somewhere in old catacombs' nameless tombs and requires either massive effort (not gonna happen) or luck to be found.

Isengrim #1

Isengrim Magazine, issue 1 (spring 1997)
Interviews:
Wallachia
Crimson Midwinter
Dødheimsgard
Oðinn (the zine editor)
Sigh
Faerghail
Teemu Kautonen (aka Hexenmeister, ex-DMB, Wizzard, Furthest Shore, Nattvindens Gråt)
Solistitium Records
Gravferd
Helheim
Utgard
Necromorbus
Fleurety
Stille Volk
Funeral Mist
Articles:
Bleed Me Tears
Muspellsheim
Irish Metal Scene Report
"CD vs. Vinyl"
Heresies radio show (the logo reads "Heresy")
"Finland At War - Chapter 1: The Eastern Threat"
Crystalline Creations distro
"Long Live the Peasants and Their King of Night and Death"
+reviews

Reuploaded - 2022

Here is the second result of the pact I and comrade Kurgan made, the first issue of the Finnish black metal-related 'zine Isengrim. Very much a product of its time and in many ways again, like I've mentioned on some other 'zine posts of the time, reminds me how things started to turn all wrong. The interview roster is more interesting than the average 'zines as he doesn't feature that many bands who were all over the place. Unfortunately several of them are just not at all interesting or have much to say. The quasi-black metalness that had started to pervade the scene is all over these pages too, from the "blackish" (author's term) bands featured to the pretty annoying reviews. It seems like the editor has to include "unoriginal" in at least 3 out of 4 reviews and "boring" in a 2/3 ratio. Despite my irritation I have to admit he makes some quite good interview questions, especially for a debut issue but don't expect in-depth, spiritual talks or whatever. And don't let yourself be fooled to think it's a black metal fanzine, it's not. I'm sure most of you will anyways enjoy going through these pages so I suppose I recommend you to download it now.

Messier - Live at Võit Cinema, 4.4.1997

Messier - Live at Võit Cinema, Nõmme, Tallinn Estonia 4th April 1997
1) Ohverdus hingekopsude toojale
2) Kopsud ja valu ja saatuse raskus
3) Surm neile kel kõrv
4) Püha osmidus armastab loomi
5) Iisraeli rahva kõlbeline laostumine

RGhost / Yandex

Following the previous post I decided to upload right away another Messier item, this is a live recording, also from 1997. The line-up for the gig was same as for the first demo, minus Pallisõber (I think) and added our contributor Mihkel Kleis playing the synth. Mihkel recalls Messier performed live only two times. The venue was in a suburb of Tallinn and was quite popular for rock and metal concerts at that time. No cover, the pic up there is the Messier guys sans Känd hanging around at Harju Mägi, Tallinn - there was a record market every Sunday. Mihkal in the middle, Noka to the left and Lauri on the right.

The five song performance lasts a little below 17 minutes and has a pretty good sound in my opinion. Vocals are a little high on the mix but this might have to do also with the nature of the instrumentation. Some of the tracks don't seem to appear elsewhere, including the first one which sounds quite like progressive rock with the synth and guitar doing what they do. The second and third track are among the more bizarre and noisy sort and live especially so. An interesting performance for sure. I had something else I was going to write but now I'm kind of in a hurry so just download it. Or don't.

Messier - Tagasi Egiptuse lihapottide juurde demo 1997

Messier - Tagasi Egiptuse lihapottide juurde demo 1997
1) Tagasi Egiptuse lihapottide juurde
2) Infixus sum est in limo profundi et non est substantsia
3) The Stones, Where the Haft Rotted
4) Ja kopsud ja valu ja saatuse raskus
5) Seal surm on neile kel kõrv
6) Jotros poemas ja teisi luuletus
7) Sõja mõttetusest
8) Kui käib lahingulaine
9) Hodina u rak polesu
10) Õnnis, kui taevased, neistki õndsam veel Catullus

Rusfolder / Mediafire

Contributions again and quite recent one for change plus it's yet another "different" item. This is the rare first demo by the Estonian folk/something band Messier, sent to me by Mihkel Kleis, thank you, and I presume it is ripped from his tape. Scans were also provided so we're all good here. He wasn't sure how many copies were made but estimates roughly ten(!).

This demo is in a sense a compilation as it gathers recordings from 1993 - 1997, all home-recorded with a tape recorder for extremely bad, amateurish sound quality. Though I've heard worst and so have you if you've read this blog long enough. Line-up for this tape was Indrek Pauls aka "Noka" - vocals, flute & guitar; Lauri Õunapuu (now in Metsatöll) - guitar & vocals; Känd - percussion. Apparently a guy called Pallisõber participated in the band, but Mihkel had no idea exactly what he played or how he contributed. Music here is... uh, I guess it's best described as some sort of Baltic folk/neofolk, very lo-fi and as underground as such comes. Main voice is kind deep chanting one, while another voice is a bit lighter and more... ehh proper singing? Singsongy? I don't seem to be on my best descriptive edge today. Anyways, those are later expanded to spoken word and frantic, very punky sort of vocals which are surprising and cool. Instrumentation is acoustic guitars, flute(s - possibly various kinds but I understand preciously little of such!) and percussion, which you of course could already tell from the line-up I wrote earlier. Some of the songs are very traditional kind of folk while others have more of a neofolk character and yet others are plain silly/very eccentric. Listening through the tape leaves me a little confused and undecided to what make out of it. It's not very long, just over 24 minutes, despite containing ten tracks, most of them are quite short. In the end of the day I find this strangely fascinating at parts, I clearly need to give it more attention as it seems to grow on you with further listens. Or maybe I'm finally losing it. Recommeded for the more adventurous and open minded readers.

Ironsword - Promo 1995

Ironsword - Promo 1995
1) Intro
2) I Am the Defender
3) The Flame and the Sword
4) Battlecry

Mediafire / Depositfiles

A bit unusual genre for the Coven today, straight old heavy metal from the Portuguese project/band Ironsword. You're probably wondering how I happened to have it in the first place? Well, Ironsword was the project of a former Moonspell guitarist Tann who also played in Decayed and basically that got me curious to hear this tape. After confirming that yes indeed it's basic old heavy metal I lost interest and didn't get the further recordings. Ripped from a traded dub so no cover, image from Metal Archives used.

I've noticed growing old people suddenly start to listen to old heavy metal again. This is partially true with me as well, though I stick to the oldies I liked back then and don't like most of the newcomers or seek actively out new old bands of the genre. So how does this effort sound now after all these years? Well, slightly more appealing than back then but it's definitely no masterpiece. The sound is quite poor for this sort of metal, though a seasoned black metal rehearsal tape listener isn't fazed to the slightest. I like my heavy metal rough and dirty instead of polished and sugary. The vocals are quite amateurish and don't go too high for most of the time, which I find preferable. Machine drums, pretty ok guitar sound. I should probably check out how these guys (I think it's a full band nowadays) have changed over the years but as for this tape, I rather pick up some old Maiden, Manowar, W.A.S.P., Running Wild etc. (you get the idea) for my heavy metal needs. But check it out if you like undergroundish heavy metal with challenging sound or are interested in Portuguese demo bands! I'd like to hear the 1998 promo if anyone happens to have it.

Kill Yourself!!! 'zine #5

Kill Yourself!!! Magazine, issue 5 (1997)
Interviews:
Abruptum
Demonic
Denial Of God
Det Hedenske Folk
Baron Drakkheim Abaddon (aka Michael W. Ford, Black Funeral/Valefor/Darkness Enshroud/etc...)
Thy Serpent
Thromdarr
Marduk
Behemoth
Bathory
Malicious Records
Falkenbach
Triumphator
Wanderer
+reviews scattered around, gig reports

Yandex / Depositfiles

A 'zine post today. Recently me and comrade Kurgan conspired to acquire some old fanzines, with him assisting in the funding I got the 'zines and scanned them and now post here for your benefit. Not much of an evil plot, is that? Anyways, this one was something I had forgotten existed, see the earlier post here for more on KY 'zine's history. I was under the impression issue 4 was the final one but this came out two years later, delayed due military service. I'm pretty sure this one is the last chapter then!

Lay-out and pretty much everything else remains same from the previous issues and several of the interviewees are making a reappearance as well. Overall I don't find the line-up very exciting as many of these people appeared in several 'zines all the time in that time frame (especially Behemoth), the Bathory interview was a rare one, yet I seem to recall him appearing a bit more around that time in general, following the release of Blood on Ice. It's a pity Timo did only two of the interviews as Esa's were quite formulaic here. Besides the interviews there are reviews, mostly negative, all over the 'zine, a page of gig reports and an amusing journal of the guys' trip to Saarijärvi. If you enjoyed reading the 4th issue I'm sure you'll like this one too!