Blood Of The Black Owl – Light the Fires
This isn’t the kind of album you’d listen to during a first date, but it’s great to do reading or studying to. I now feel ready to take a long nature hike on a chilly November day.
Agalloch
Musk Ox: The Hellbound Interview
“I first saw Musk Ox perform in southern Ontario in the late spring of 2009. I was struck by the contrast between ambient acoustic music and a vibe that is perfectly resonate with that of many progressive, folk, and black metal bands. Musk Ox inhabits a place within two different styles of music, and gives us cause to appreciate both and ask questions about the relationship between them. My interactions with Nathanaël Larochette have always been easy due to his being such a friendly and approachable person, and I am thrilled that he took the time to answer my questions.”
Interview by Jonathan Millard-Smith
Agalloch / Taurus / Musk Ox @ Opera House, Toronto ON, July 23, 2012
“The relationship between musicians and the music they play comes in varying kinds. Some artists are clearly intent on displaying their mastery of the musical tools they wield. Others are more willing to relinquish control, letting the music itself dictate the ways it’s conveyed. Agalloch’s latest visit to Toronto was of the latter type, a night of musical channelling and possession, with all three bands performing as conduits between primal source and receptive fans.”
Live review by Laura Wiebe
Agalloch – Faustian Echoes
This new track sounds like an epic, though straight-forward, closing song in a full-length Agalloch album, not a stand alone experience. It’s an A-side that lacks a B-side.
Hellbound invades Maryland Deathfest 2012, Part 1
“If you’re a fan of extreme metal and you live in North America, it’s likely that you have a strong impulse to attend the continent’s biggest annual festival: Maryland Deathfest. Actually attending the fest, however, isn’t always possible, especially if you live thousands of miles away.”
Part one of Jay H. Gorania’s recap of Maryland Deathfest 2012, with live photos by Albert Mansour.
Falloch – Where Distant Spirits Remain
Where Distant Spirits Remain is not the strongest release of its ilk this year, but overall it’s a good debut that shows much future potential and talent. The biggest issues found here (vocals that don’t always fit in as well as tendencies toward being long-winded) are hazards of the band’s chosen style, and both are issues that could very well be addressed by the next release.
Disma – Towards The Megalith
Towards the Megalith is crushingly heavy – like monolithic pillars being dropped on top of you. Firmly anchored in the OSDM realm, the album features a demoralizing mix of harsh, seriously downtuned, doom-laden dirges that crawl along on split knuckles.
Hellbound Staff Interrogations #13: Natalie Zed
Who else could be number thirteen in our staff interviews but Natalie Zed?
Hellbound Staff Interrogation #7: Laura Wiebe
Our seventh staff interview is with fellow Hamiltonian Laura Wiebe
SXSW Day 1 Videos: Kvelertak, Worm Ouroboros, Witch Mountain and Agalloch
Just before heading down to SXSW this year I bought a new Kodak Sport handheld camera to document some of the bands I saw. Here are some videos that I made of bands that I saw on my first day there, Thursday, March 17th