Review for Rebirth to Ends – “Awakening”

Review submitted by Zephyrus

 

There are many advantages to going solo when making music. As evident by Bothildir in the previous review, one-man metal bands have potentially better focus from a despotic self-government, with all the decisions left to a single person. Another advantage is the achievement of identity through such a focus. With no need to compromise, an individual vision is more likely to transcend boundaries and stand on its own.So how does Rebirth to Ends, a solo project operating out of the University of Maine at Orono, live up to such a potential? For that assessment, let’s look at what the band presents us. This project advertises itself as “industrial-tinged alt-metal”, which purposes itself to seek a median between technical prowess and marketable accessibility. Indeed this music demonstrates such a quest, with competent guitar work and aggressive vocals in mutuality with memorable melodies and emotional clear vox. The influences of popular bands such as In Flames are blatantly evident here, while the synthetic feeling conveyed by programmed drums and industrial-ish beats attempt to avoid the music from being called generic.

So does this band succeed in creating a unique identity? Perhaps, but maybe too much is sacrificed to maintain a “mainstream appeal” which in most cases requires conformity to a generic formula that is superficial and lacks sufficient depth to warrant continued listens as time goes on. Metal is not about selling out to the popular market, it’s essentially the opposite, whereby the quality of the music depends upon its creator, with the central goal never to be appealing to the maximum number of people. A musical composer should not have to yield to conformity, especially if he or she aims for uniqueness, whether as an individual or a group effort. Rebirth to Ends does bear this in mind, but the pressure to compromise proves costly.

This is not to say that the music is bad. It is quite clear the effort expended in composing this material and producing it, and for that I give my complements. As for its aims, there is no doubt this music will appeal to a large number of listeners; perhaps not veteran metal enthusiasts, but rather the thousands of youths on the journey into metal. These are the targets for my recommendations. Rebirth to Ends is the perfect band for those who are testing the waters of metal, those who require a smooth transition from the realms of popular music, such as alternative rock, into the less accessible spheres of the metal underground. There exist hundreds of bands that exhibit this purpose, and Rebirth to Ends is a fine representative of Maine’s contribution to this blurred line between the musical mainstream and the nether-regions of extreme music. So if you’re one of the many who traverse these transitional waters, and you want a taste of the local scene, give your support for this solo act, for the rewards shall be instantaneous to your ears.

Awakening is available for streaming in its entirety through http://unsigned.com/rebirthtoends

http://www.myspace.com/rebirthtoends

Operation: Patch Jacket

Today I began acquiring patches for my personal patch jacket. Patch jackets, or vests (denim or leather) are a popular side-hobby for metal enthusiasts, and something different than just collecting CD’s. Patches are usually cheaper than albums, so the financial commitment shouldn’t be an inconvenience. For the jacket, I’m using my father’s old denim jacket that he got from his old software employer, Quickturn. I was debating whether to cut off the sleeves and make a vest, but I decided to keep the sleeves for practical purposes (thanks to the GMD crew for the advice).

As for patches, I will rely on eBay.com for deals and steals. I have already purchases patches for Emperor, Limbonic Art, Burzum, Samael, Satyricon, Summoning, and Krieg. Add to that a Dimmu Borgir patch I got for free with Stormblåst MMV. I’m also looking at a large Bathory patch to cover up the Quickturn logo on the back of the jacket. Here are some of the patches I’ve bought so far…

I expect this endeavor to take a few months before I have a decent arrangement to sew on. I’ll probably pay a friend to do that part, since I failed sewing in middle school home-ec.

I’m especially on the look-out for a Borknagar patch. If anyone can find one, please contact me.

XANTHUS

After meeting in person and relentless brainstorming, Vercingetorix and Zephyrus have at last determined the new name for our black metal band Totalus Necrum. After intensive research of proper names in the Aeneid, and pages upon pages through Latin dictionaries, the new moniker will be Xanthus, named after a river of Troy which Vergil alludes to as “flowing red with blood” in his timeless epic.

As we transition into this new title, we will be scrapping our Myspace and Metal-Archives profile. However all our Totalus Necrum demos will still be available for distribution and sale by request.

As mentioned in prior posts, the band is writing new lyrics and songs, and has plans to re-write and re-record most of our demo material in preparation for an upcoming album projected for release around late 2008. This process will also see the lyrics re-written in Latin.

With a new name arises a need for a new logo. Let this serve as an request for any logo-designers interested in helping us out. We will pay for professional-grade jobs. Please contact me if you feel artistically competent for this assignment.

Let Xanthus be to Totalus Necrum as Hellhammer was to Celtic Frost. A new era has begun, and we confide in our hopes for the future. Thanks for all you support; without it we couldn’t have gotten this far.

Review for Bothildir – “For What Once Was”

Review submitted by Zephyrus.

 

Imagine you are lost on a cold windy night in the pined forests of Maine. In the distance, the remnants of an autumn storm harass the rocky coast. Above, the moon is shrouded in wispy clouds. Suddenly you are ambushed by a group of hooded beings who bind you in chains and drag you into a deep cave lit by the fires of an infernal symphony. Amidst your suffering the pains of ritual torture the trumpets of Hell are blaring and demonic figures dance about your writhing form. All the while you struggle to glimpse the night beyond the mouth of the cave, longing for peace and solitude. Throughout the night the ceremony continues until at last you are led out of the cavern in a mournful procession of your fellow victims who disappear upon exit. You look east toward the sea and upon fainting you witness the first rays of the rising dawn.

Such an account, my friends, is analogous to what you’ll experience while listening to For What Once Was…, the debut full-length by Old Town, Maine’s Bothildir, a solo project by Ardroth (drummer for Shadar Logoth). While the band for whom he handled percussion was a collective effort that could be criticized as lacking identity, Bothildir benefits from the focus of a singular vision.

Musically we have black metal which is guitar-driven and dirty, with symphonic flares that at times add either emotional ambience or fanfares of infernal majesty. The music churned forth here has several parallels with Abigor, with diabolical riffing, marching drums, accentuating synthesizers and an atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re trapped in the fiery caverns of Hades. One can also hear influences of early Bathory. Amidst the ritual hatred spewed forth here we find a few passages of synth-driven melancholy, a reminder that this is a human making this music and that sadness is a common precursor to malevolence.

The production may be a turn-off to those unaccustomed to the black metal aesthetic. Rather than a clean wall of sound surrounding you, you are rather grabbed by the ears and sucked into an abyss within your soul where you dwell in thoughts of misanthropy until you are released back into a tranquil reality. This metaphor applies well to the vocals, which sound like they are being shouted up towards you from the flames below, beckoning you to descend. All the songs demonstrate this feeling but the album’s highlight is the song “With Luciferian Pride” which dances to a main riff that elicits an evil grin from your face. Following this is the title track, a recessional hymn that reminds you that the devil himself suffers, not just his victims. Listen to this record while reading Dante’s Inferno for full effect.

For recommendations, fans of most kinds of black metal should dig this rock-solid record. Abigor enthusiasts in particular should pay close attention. This is neither the over-produced orchestrations of Dimmu Borgir nor any of that minimalist bedroom USBM. This is the true spirit of black metal, influenced both by the external beauty of the Maine environment and the internal pains of the human soul.

For What Once Was… was released in 2006. 8 songs; total playing time: 34:14

http://bothildir.net/
http://www.myspace.com/bothildir

ZephyrBlog Now On Myspace

Scarcely over a week since its inception, ZephyrBlog is expanding its cybernetic horizons into the turbulent straits of Myspace.com. Encouraged and inspired by the success of Slam-Minded and its Myspace outlet, I have crafted a page much like this site, but with the special features of Myspace included. With that site as a host, ZephyrBlog fans can more easily access band pages, sample tracks, music videos and more. Friends of ZephyrBlog on Myspace also have the benefit of posted bulletins as a convenient way to be notified of updates and new reviews, interviews and any major goings on with either site.

You can find a link to the site under the Blogroll and also here – http://www.myspace.com/zephyrblog

The Myspace extension will serve mainly for promoting the Maine metal scene. Blog posts on that page will only be metal-related, so all the interviews and reviews will appear there as well as here. Also check out the friends list, which includes many of the bands that have cooperated with this site via reviews, interviews, and general relevance. Here’s a snapshot of the Myspace page, custom-designed in a theme quite similar to the original ZephyrBlog:

In other news, last night I conducted my first interview with Ryan Page of Anal Jesus, Carrion Afterbirth and Tarsonis, the latter two having music videos featured on the Myspace page. The interview will be posted here and on Myspace as soon as Zev, my producer, finishes editing and uploading. Keep on your toes for that one.

Finally, I will be adding links to the official websites and Myspace pages of all the local bands I am supporting. Be sure to check those out. I wouldn’t want to show you these bands if they weren’t producing quality music!

Review for Shadar Logoth – Demo 2006

 Review submitted by Zephyrus.

First off, I’d like to thank Ardroth for the free copies of this CD as well as his debut solo full-length, which I’ll be reviewing sometime next week. One of my goals for this blog is to promote the local metal scene and Ardroth, the drummer for Bangor’s Shadar Logoth, has given me the opportunity to realize that goal.

So what is Shadar Logoth? The name, the cover art, the logo and song titles seem to point straight at Black Metal, but the music itself is much more complex than your typical Black Metal sound. While that genre seems predominant in the music, a range of other styles are mixed in to the point that you really can’t place these guys in any category. I would call it “symphonic blackened folk death metal” if I had to be real specific.

That aside, the best way to describe these New Englanders is through the instruments they play. Dominating the sound is the band’s vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Dan Eaton, who contrasts rough and clean vocals that are both quite reminiscent of Vintersorg, with a little Mikael Åkerfeldt mixed in. While a skilled vocalist, he demonstrates superior prowess with his guitar by belting out complex, dynamic riffs that fly all over the fret board. However, good technique does not always translate into good songwriting ability. Luckily for this band, it does. A great example of this is featured in the song “Prima Nocte” in which an emotional breaks into a clean vocal acoustic section before launching into another attack of fast-paced riffing.

To describe the work of the other instruments draws a complaint that they are a bit too low in the mix, often overpowered by the guitars and vocals. The bass is audible in some sections, and is played well. The drumming is masterfully played with blast-beats and fast-paced rhythms that keep a confident pace, but again they are suppressed, with the bass drums virtually inaudible. The keyboards harmonize well with the guitar melodies, but they are a bit of a chore trying to hear, and the atmosphere also suffers. This is especially evident in “Of the Lanterns”.

All of these instruments combine into a unique sound that reminds me much of Borknagar, with a little of Gorgoroth’s Under the Sign of Hell thrown in for an extra kick. This is a far cry from your typical suicidal/depressive USBM à la Xasthur or I Shalt Become. Given its geographical context, this band’s sound is not the only thing in common with Scandinavia (Maine has the only natural fjord in the contiguous United States, to give you an idea).

So in conclusion, Shadar Logoth is a unique find and should be placed at the pinnacle of the Maine metal scene. Composition matches musicianship in a band that I recommend for Borknagar fans or any folk/black metal enthusiasts.

4 songs; total playing time: 23:57.

Official Website
Shadar Logoth @ Myspace

UMaine Update & Band News

After a couple months of settling into the daily routines of college life, UMaine freshmen, I among them, are nearing the finish line for the Fall ‘07 semester. Finals are fast approaching and the tension in the air around campus is almost palpable. I have three finals in Psychology, Anthropology and Ocean Science scheduled for the 17th and 18th with the Honors 2-hour in-class essay of doom set for the morning of the 20th. The Latin final is available online starting the 16th. Hours of studying await me. Wish me luck!

Today I presented my final project to my Honors preceptorial. I composed a chart illustrating how four of the texts from this semester demonstrate a common theme of the unity of opposing forces by a standard of idealism. I dicussed the works of Plato, Laozi, Aristotle and Robert Pirsig: four philosophers separated by thousands of miles and years, yet regardless of context they communicate a common message: that humanity should strive for the mean between extremes as the key to fulfillment. Here’s a picture of the chart, and I have included in this post a PDF file so you can read the quotes and captions.

Honors 111 Final Project – PDF file (click this)

Totalus Necrum Update

Enough of philosophizing and now time for an update on Totalus Necrum, my Aeneid-inspired band with Nick Adams. After a season-long hiatus during the fall semester, Vercingetorix (Nick) has once again taken up his guitar and has begun writing riffs for new material. Zephyrus (Me), refreshed by his recent study of the Aeneid in the context of the Honors gauntlet and his months of strenuous translation of classical texts, Virgil’s among them, is set to pen new lyrics, but this time in Latin, making Totalus Necrum one of the few bands in the world to use that language for their lyrical content.

This recent buzzing in the TN camp has produced some ambitious plans for the band’s future. With three demos under our belt, the band feels ready to pursue a full-length recording, which will include tracks from both Perditio Troiae and Vortex Vorax, and perhaps one from Revelations Through Carnage as well. For the new album, these existing tracks will be re-recorded and re-worked to the band’s current standard of songwriting and production quality. But that’s not all. Zephyrus plans to translate these songs’ lyrics into Latin before re-recording the vocal tracks, making the new full-length exclusively sung in the ancient tongue.

And finally, after over a year of dissatisfaction, Zephyrus and Vercingetorix have agreed to change the band’s name. We feel that Totalus Necrum sounds too immature for our more serious focus. And as a Latin scholar, I can no longer stand to be in a band whose name is grammatically incorrect, regardless of the words’ own legitimacy. The name change will occur as soon as we have agreed on a new name: one that is not only grammatically sound, but one that conveys the true spirit of Virgil’s timeless epic.

Review for Aborym – Generator

Review submitted by Zephyrus.

Too often do people describe a metal album as the “soundtrack to the apocalypse,” simply for the album’s merits in brutality. However, few bands can convey the sheer terror of life in a post-apocalyptic world as Italy’s Aborym through their latest album, Generator. From the bleak introduction to the fading conclusion of “I Reject!”, the music you find here is a cold, mechanical manifestation of calculated violence and contempt for humanity.

Few bands so skillfully combine raw, hateful black metal with industrial nuances to create such a unique journey through the bowels of nuclear winter. Aborym accomplished this by advancing in maturity. Their previous album, With No Human Intervention (2003; Code 666 Records), was an excellent fusion of black metal with techno but seemed to lack the serious focus that would drive this opus into the realms of malefic perfection. Not a single sample, choir chant, or Charles Manson quote is out of place and the guitars are simply deadly. Prime Evil (Amok, Mysticum) effuses diabolical vocals worthy of such a misanthropic masterpiece, and he is a reputable replacement for the infamous Attila Csihar.

This album is devoid of mediocrity; each track contains within itself its own version of an apocalyptic nightmare, utilizing a deadly cold atmosphere which leaves the listener vulnerable to punishing drumming (now by a human, thanks to Faust) and vicious guitar-riffing. Tracks such as “Generator” or “Suffer Catalyst” come at you with explosions of hateful blast-beats and sections of emotional ambience. This method is most successful on “Man Bites God” where an unsettling exposition of keyboards and Atilla’s growls suddenly detonates into a cataclysmic blast volley.

Aborym have reached their apex with this album, their most focused effort to be “generated” from the Italian industrial black metal machine. This is my personal #1 Black Metal Album of 2006 and a must for anyone who likes their black metal with radically new flavors. Own this, and worship.

Generator was released in February, 2006 by Season of Mist. 9 songs; total playing time: 44:20.

Ad Majorem Zephyri Latinam

It’s official! After meeting with my student advisor and the dean of the College of Education & Human Development, I have been cleared to add a Latin major to my program of academic pursuits here at UMaine. I was originally going to request a Latin minor, as it would not add any more work to my requirements for Secondary Foreign Language Education, my original major. It turns out that I can bear a major just as easily as a minor, so I went for it. Under the wing of Professor Kristina Passman I will be pursuing a B.A. in Latin, in addition to the original B.S. in Foreign Language Education and the Honors thesis. The road ahead looks challenging, but with enough support and dedication, I should be able to navigate it.

While on the subject of future academics, I might as well provide a peak at my classes for next semester. These include four classes relevant to my double major, which beats out the two I had this fall.

EDB 202 – Education in a Multicultural Society
HON 112 – Civilizations: Past, Present & Future II
HON 180 – A Cultural Odyssey
HTY 402 – Roman History
LAT 204 – Readings in Latin Literature II
LAT 452 – Roman Philosophical Thought
MAT 111 – College Algebra

That totals 20 credits, so it looks like some busy months lay ahead. I’ll provide a synopsis of each course once I’ve attended a few classes in January.

As for current studies, the last week of classes is at hand, and finals are fast approaching. Wish me luck!

As far as metal goes, I’ve scheduled for next weekend a tentative video interview with Ryan Page of Tarsonis, Carrion Afterbirth and Anal Jesus. Also, I had a brief rendez-vous with Ardroth, the drummer for the local black metal band Shadar Logoth. From him I received free copies of the band’s 2006 demo as well as the debut album of his solo project, Bothildir. Reviews for both albums will be posted sometime next week, so be sure to check back for those.

And once again, I’d be more than happy to host guest reviews. Just drop me a note.

A Bright Future Ahead

First of all I’d like to thank everyone who visited the site since its launch and I am especially grateful for all the positive feedback I’ve received in such a short lapse of time. What’s excited me the most is that this blog’s potential for its metal-oriented function will soon be put into action. Thanks to your positive input and encouragement I am planning the following:

• An interview (possibly video) with a fellow UMaine student, who plays in some local projects.

• A review for Limbonic Art’s latest opus, Legacy of Evil.

• The top 10 album list for the year 2007.

• An album review for a local black metal band.

Also, a few of the folks from the Ultimate Metal Forum have expressed interest in adding their own metal reviews to this site. I’m hoping they follow through on that interest, because the more contributors there are, well, the more this site can contribute! Anyone interested in participating should either leave a comment or contact me personally. I’m open to reviews for the whole spectrum of genres, from power metal to drone doom and everything in between.

In addition, I’ve added a couple links to my friends’ livejournals: Andy Phelps‘ Visceral Pulse and Matt Warren’s Insane Kaos X.