01. TELL US ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF SHEMHAMFORASH?

Shemhamforash was created a few years ago by me as a black metal project, focused on obscure lyrical themes with a fast and thunderous musical style and some ambient passages.

02. WHAT IS THE FEELING FOR THE CHOICE OF NAME SHEMHAMFORASH?

For me it is way to create a portal between this plane and the dark side (or Sitra Ahra), which lies beyond the veils of our “reality”. The word comes from the ancient term used to decode the secret names of god and his angels described by the sages who studied the Kabalah and in this case it is a way to summon the (opposite) forces of darkness to manifest in our world, producing the absolute separation from the divinity to create our own universe, our own cosmogony, allowing us to become a god.

03. COMMENT ABOUT YOUR INFLUENCES?

There are a lots of bands that helped to create the sound of Shemhamforash, like Funeral Mist, Katharsis, Marduk, Deicide, Watain, Parabellum, Sarcófago, Teitanblood, Profanatica, Inquisition, Mayhem, Dark Funeral, Deathspell Omega, and many others.

04. WHAT’S THE MESSAGE BEHIND YOUR LYRICS?

As I already explained the main concept behind the lyrics is to summon the forces hidden on the other (dark) side of existence to manifest in our plane and in our minds through music and, mostly, by describing personal experiences on the occult through meditation or other kinds of ritualistic practices regarding the Qliphot. There are also lyrics about Death in all its forms as a way to express the futility of our Ego and blasphemous diatribes against those religions that try to enslave the free will of man, such as Islam or Christianity.

05. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

The only merchandise I have available right now are the copies from the first EP “The Devil’s Chalice”, which was released independently on CD format.

06. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ARGENTINE BLACK METAL?

On the one hand there are a few bands around here that are very promising and sound very professional with interesting ideas both musically and lyrically, while on the other hand, there are bands which make great music but lack a clear artistic concept or don’t really care about their lyrics and many of them include political issues which, from my point of view, it is inadmissible.

07. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF SATANISM?

I think that Satanism, whether it is taken as a Religion or a Philosophy, it appeals to our irrational side (hidden) and liberates us from the yoke of all those other religions and philosophies that try to pervert the true essence of human kind and have become an obstacle to evolve mentally, physically and spiritually.

08. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BRAZILIAN SCENE?

Well, I don’t really like the word “SCENE” although I do know a few bands which are amazing which have been suggested to me by people I have contacted from Brazil and I still listen to the old Brazilian classics of course.

09. FUTURE PLANS?

Right now I’m working on a new EP which, hopefully, will be finished by the end of the year.

10. ANY LAST COMMENTS?
AVE SATHANAS!!!

01. TELL US ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF HIVERNA?

All began in high school when I got my first guitar (not very epic, but that’s it). At the time I was more into Death Metal but started to write folk and dark metal songs… I think because that’s what I wanted to hear. So, time passed, and a friend of mine, Helorth, joined me with his guitar in what was to become Hiverna. Along the way, some other musicians joined: Froidure (bass), Marco (guitars), Yann (keys), Mireille (flute). Since then, the line-up changed a bit. After we released our EP in 2011, Hiverna returned to studio mode only with Bardunor on guitars, vocals and drums, Froidure on bass and Doom on flute.

02. WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT BANDS THAT DEFINIED THE SOUL AND STRONGES TENDENCIES OF HIVERNA?

Here are some of the bands/projects/composers that I find powerful and important: Ulver, Summoning, Darkspace, Drudkh, Howard Shore, Temnozor, Paysage d’Hiver, Eros Necropsique, Negura Bunget, Enya, Storm, Tulus, etc.

03. WHAT IS THE FEELING FOR THE CHOICE OF NAME HIVERNA?

Our homeland is blessed with long and heavy winters. Hiver is the French word for winter. The N is for nostalgia, a recurrent feeling in Hiverna’s lyrics and atmosphere. The A is for amertume (bitterness). And there you got the name of our 2011 EP.

04. HOW YOU DEFINE YOUR MUSIC?

I’d say it’s a blend between Quebec’s folklore and the musical influences from the north, and, I cannot deny, Scandinavia. Even if Hiverna presents a kind of music very different from the other projects in Quebec, I’d say that it all came very naturally. Blood speaks.

05. HOW IS THE ACTUAL LINE UP?

We are now three in the project, like mentioned sooner. The two other members are long-time mates of mine, so everything is perfect. We are maybe thinking of building a new live line-up for 2015. With the beautiful response to the new album, II.Macabre, Hiverna may perform again on stage in the future.

06. TELL US ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND SCENE IN QUEBEC?

Let’s say we are a little family, with our projects and collaborations. The underground scene here has difficulties to live because metal music isn’t really carved in the Canadian culture. So our scene is more alive on other continents via medias, etc. We went to play in Europe with Monarque (2011) and Forteresse (2012): the first time Métal Noir Québécois happened outside its homeland. It was a big step for our scene and we’ll surely do it again one day.

07. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

The three Hiverna releases are still available with some shirt models. All the music I produce independently is now gathered under the name of OAKEN FORGE. You can find it there : http://oakenforge.bigcartel.com

08. TELL US MORE ABOUT II MACABRE FULL-LENGTH?

Being the completion of the first full-length, II.Macabre contains the oldest Hiverna songs I’ve wrote in the past (between 2003 and 2006). For the curious ones, Le Grand Bucher is the first song we played as a line-up. This album is big to me because it’s the first of our releases which I find satisfying in terms of sound, texture, and reflecting Hiverna as it should be. The integration of violin in some parts of the album gave me the will to involve more real folk instruments in future releases.

09. DID YOU HAVE PLAYED MANY GIGS?

We played many gigs in the days, before I dissolved the live line-up in 2012. Maybe we’ll come back on stage some day.

10. WHAT`RE YOU FUTURE PLANS?

For now, I concentrate on other projects I have like Crépuscule, Demain Wendigo, Ours, etc. But with the release of II.Macabre, we think of maybe reforming a line-up for some tours.

11. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

Thanks to you, brother. Thanks to all the people that support our scene! Have yourself a good life and a good death.

Bardunor

01. HOW ALL STARTED? 

• MIKA: NB started a few years back when co-founder Manuel Rodriguez approached me with some ambient black riffs, I added upon what he had and came up with a few original tracks (all the acoustics and 'Anhedonia' for instance).  I recorded a quick demo of just guitars and M.w.s (Serpent ov Old, Shadows in the Crypt, Evil Divine, ex-Wykked Witch) quickly signed on and we produced the album 'Synkkä Tuuli' in about a week at his personal Thee Illuminated studio.  M.w.s. knew Mike Juliano from Horror Pain Gore Death Productions from when Shadows in the Crypt got signed and contacted him about releasing the NB stuff.  The rest is history..

02. WHY THE NAME NIHILISTINEN BARBAARISUUS? 

• MIKA: Nihilistinen Barbaarisuus is Finnish for Nihilistic Barbarism, a philosophical concept derived by French philosopher André Comte-Sponville.  In his 'The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality' he explains:
"Nihilistic Barbarism has no program, no ideal, no ideology.  It has no need of these things.  Its advocates believe in nothing; they know only violence and egotism, contempt and hatred.  They are prisoners of their own instincts, their own stupidity and lack of culture, and slaves to what they think of as their freedom.  They are barbaric because they lack faith and/or fidelity; they are the mercenaries of the void."

03. WHAT´S YOUR INFLUENCES? 

• MIKA: My black metal influences were on the progressive side with early Bal-Sagoth, Naglfar, Old Man's Child, etc., outside of black metal I listen to a lot of power metal and melodic metal in general and I think it will show on the upcoming album.  As for 'Synkkä Tuuli', Manuel had written riffs based upon his own influences like Graveland, Horna, and Hate Forest and I had to compliment those with my own riffs, so those are the bands people seem to identify with that album most.

04. HOW`S THA ACTUAL LINE-UP? 

• MIKA: I've brought in Joel Robert Thompson to do studio vocals on the newest album.  We met in college while at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill because he had a Dimmu shirt on or something, he sang for the melodic death metal band Omelas from Raleigh, North Carolina but I had no idea how insane his voice was until I brought him down to try out for NB.  I had spoken to a few other vocalists like Necrodemius Hammerhorde of Decieverion and James Dorton of Black Crown Initiate and Nightfire (who also sang on the 'Väinämöinen' EP), but there were logistical issues with their own projects and finding the time to get the studio work done.  Joel came in and absolutely killed it, and I knew immediately he was perfect.  I recorded all the guitar work for the new album, Jeff Willet (ex-Black Crown Initiate, ex-Single Bullet Theory) contributed drums and Lawrence Wallace (Lawrence's Creation, Shadows in the Crypt) returned to do synth again.

05. WHO WRITES THE MUSIC? LYRICS? AND WHERE DO THE LYRIC IDEAS COME FROM? 

• MIKA: I compose every aspect of the music, from drum hits to lyrical arrangements, I just bring in people to perform in studio when it comes time to record who can do things I can't do (sing, actually play drums...).  The next album is based on the Finnish National Epic called "The Kalevala".  A linguist by the name of Elias Lönnrot went out in the late 19th century to collect the folklore and myths of Finland and "The Kalevala" was the final product.

06. WHAT´S YOUR VIEW IN SATANISM AND OCCULTISM? 

• MIKA: Most people haven't read LaVey's "The Satanic Bible" and thus fail to understand Satanists don't actually worship Satan, LaVey even writes the "black mass" is only done as a satire on Catholic mass, thus you can think of black metal bands shouting "Hail Satan" as being in that same theatrical tradition.  Having said this, I'm not a Satanist (just an atheist), and while Satanism and the occult are interesting intellectual concepts I think they've been done to death in black metal, so to stay original I don't utilize them.

07. HOW MANY CD`S HAVE YOU RELEASED? 

• Mika: With Horror Pain Gore Death Productions in the U.S. NB put out a promo as well as a full-length LP.  With Infernal Kommando Records in France I put out the same LP and the follow-up EP as cassette for people in the underground scene who dig that kind of thing.  The next album is just about complete and I look forward to people getting a chance to hear it.

08. TELL US MORE ABOUT EP: VÄINÄMÖINEN? 

• MIKA: After 'Synkkä Tuuli' Manuel left to pursue his career as a video game programmer (he works for a large company in Denver now), thus the 'Väinämöinen' EP was the first release completely written by me from the ground up, and I think you can already taste the more progressive direction with it.  Väinämöinen is the hero protagonist of "The Kalevala" and we have a few songs on the new album which prominently feature him. 

09. TELL ME ABOUT SOME THE SONGS ON THE LASTEST EP? 

• MIKA: "Väinämöinen" has lyrics adapted from The Kalevala, it's his parting song upon being chastised by the virgin-born child.  The other song "Yö, Jolloin Hän Kuoli" is a somber acoustic number reflecting the several female suicides in "The Kalevala"; on the new album it will be called "The Night She Died".

10. HOW HAS THE FAN RESPONSE BEEN? 

• MIKA: I've been happy with it, the zines in particularly seem to appreciate the music and from what I gather the cassettes have distributed well.  I'm hoping to keep the momentum going for the next album.

11. WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY? 

• MIKA: Wherever the worms who eat me go.

12. WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE FREE TIME? 

• MIKA: In my free time I do this, make music.  This isn't a job for me, it's a hobby and a pure passion project.  Until recently I worked as a Medical Assistant for a physician in Hockessin, Delaware, before that I got a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in a few weeks I begin at the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine to be a physician.

13. WHAT´S THE BLACK METAL FOR YOU? 

• MIKA: I appreciate the rawness of the genre, there's a real charm to it...  It doesn't have to be dressed up to be deemed "good music" and appreciated, and you don't really find that with other genres (for instance, there is no "raw power metal").  Traditionally black metal has been a lot of doom and gloom, but I don't see any reason why it can't be more major while utilizing the same chording and techniques.  The new album explores this idea, and I think it really sets NB apart.  I'm not saying there are happy songs on the album, only that some songs may be more jaunty than people are used to, and I hope the audience responds well to it.

14. WHICH IS THE IDEOLOGY OF BAND? 

• MIKA: NB doesn't really have an ideology, I've been complimented on not indulging in posturing and I prefer it that way..  It keeps the focus on the music, not pictures of me in a robe clenching a dagger in the middle of the woods...  There is nothing wrong with all that, it just doesn't suit me or the music I make.  Sure, there is definitely a pagan undercurrent to NB, but it's more exploring history and traditions than promoting their practice.

15. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE? 

• MIKA: Some t-shirts are being made, should have some patches soon as well.

16. AS YOU SEE THE BLACK METAL SCENE ON YOUR COUNTRY? 

• MIKA: The new album's vocalist Joel has an interesting take on this, he says " Memory of the old ways, particularly of the North, is a huge part of Black Metal.  However, Americans of Northern heritages have become separated from that heritage."  I think that makes a lot of sense, most American's don't have an authentic connection to a pagan past unless they really dig back to their ancestors origins outside of the continent, making the creation of black metal less opportune than in other places.  I'm a dual citizen of Finland and the United States, so in making music based on Finnish traditions I don't feel as though I'm randomly picking pagan mythology to write music about, there is a real attachment there since Finland's history is my history too.

17. YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF NIHILISTINEN BARBAARISUUS? 

• MIKA: So far so good, the true test will be with the new album, it's go for broke, pretty much literally...

18. DID YOU HAVE PLAYED MANY GIGS? 

• MIKA: NB has never played any shows, like I said it's just a hobby for me while I pursue medicine, and to begin with 'Synkkä Tuuli' was only ever recorded by me and M.w.s. splitting all duties.  Recruiting a drummer, bassist, vocalist, etc and coordinating rehearsals to play local bars was never considered, and honestly we had label support early on just from recording music and having people listen to it.

19. FUTURE PLANS... 

• MIKA: I'm beginning medical school, so I envision not having much time to devote towards creating new material.  It will certainly happen, just at a slower pace...  But that is jumping ahead, for the new album there is a music video directed by Gretchen Heinel of Gretchen Heinel Photography (http://www.gretchenheinel.com) and completely original artwork commissioned by Luciana Nedelea of Luciana Nedelea - Artworks (http://www.facebook.com/LucianaNedeleaArt).  A lot of time and creativity is going into all aspects of the next release, so we hope it is well received..  Other than that I play bass in Lawrence's Creation with Lawrence Wallace who shreds all over the fuc*ing place, the debut album 'Drop Zone' was just released on Horror Pain Gore Death Productions and we are writing and recording new material for that now.

20. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

• MIKA: Yankee Rose

Vociferian - Vicious Baptism In Exaltation Of Bestiality

01. LORD GENOCIDE. PLEASE. INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE READERS?

Salutations and thank you for your interview request.

Also, I don't properly think that Vociferian needs any introduction for underground fans and readers of your zine today.

But if you insist, Vociferian is a dedicated band that was formed in 1998,

and Integrity, durability, honor and determination are the rules that any underground bands should always follow according to me.

02. WHO WERE SOME OF THE EARLY BANDS YOU FIRST LISTENED TO? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR CURRENT FAVORITES?

This is a very regular question. And as I'm used to answer, there are too many names or too few to mention there at the same time.

Also that kind of question never really get you know anything more about the band itself. Maybe a bit about my musical background of course.

To satisfy your cuiriosity I'm ok to mention a few that I've listened when I discovered the BM scene at the age of 11 years old:
Immortal, IN, DF, DT, Burzum, Enthroned, Rotting Christ, Impiety, Bestial Warlust, Abhorer and so on... of course...

Once again it's not a so interesting question and not so interesting answer... if you belong to that culture for real, you know about past acts and nowadays good stuff too.

03. WHAT`S THE BLACK METAL FOR YOU?

HATE, INTOLERANCE, DARKNESS and SUPERIOR SPIRIT.

04. WHICH ARE THE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION TO WRITE YOUR LYRICS?

Life, death, human pitiful interactions as well.

Also nature and the touch of more unseen entities out there...

05.WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

For now some new merchandising are just out: the Iscariot Gospel t-shirt and a Vociferian official OPF Longsleeve.

About the discography some albums are still findable in some good distributors.
While some are really hard to find these days.

That's why we are about to release the Iscariot Gospel material on digipack very soon with Chris Moyen illustrations all over it.
A 4 way split EP is about to come too with the title PANZERPHOMET on, together with great bands Manticore, Obeisance and Infernal Execrator.

06. WHAT`S YOUR OPINION OF CHRISTIANITY?

A mistake, like all of nowadays living relegions.
CRUSH THE WEAKNESS!!!

07. AS YOU SEE THE BLACK METAL SCENE ON YOUR COUNTRY?

BM has been important here in the past with bands like Ancient Rites or Enthroned, 

at the moment things are good and bad at the same period, because there are a lot of new things.

Which is sometime good , but often bad... because the scene gets more and more saturated by false protagonists without any real background and culture of it, even fakes...

when they are not pure ripp offs! This damage a lot the underground and we have to resist to stop that shit.

08. YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF VOCIFERIAN?

I don't really understand that question... sorry.

I'm not searching for any resuslt, as an artist I'm only expressing my soul through my work... nothing more, nothing less.
I don't pay attention about any "results". All that is important for me is to exhale the spirit that dwells me and intoxicate our poor world with it...

09. COMMENT ABOUT YOUR EP: ON ANGELBONES BLOOD ALTARIZED?

It was a bestial time for me, a period when fire and smoke were everyday feeding me.

This piece dealt with all dreamed persecution towards the enemy, the need to explore the most filthy and basic evil-filled instincts.
I think the title of the track "Vicious Baptism In Exaltation Of Bestiality" resumes very well the soul of this EP.

10. COMMENT ABOUT YOUR EP: HORNS OF ARMAGEDON?

It follows the emanation of OABA, but in a way more esoteric hate and warfare.

Even if as bestial as the former metioned opus, these 2 tracks composing "Horns Of Armageddon" contain

the fumes of a more apocalyptic spiritual essence in my opinion.

11. HOW ARE YOUR NEWS WORDS?

Some new releasing are coming for Vociferian as for my other side-projects.
For example the MACABRA "Necroverdose" 2xLP on Apocalyptic Empire Records this autumn.

Also while proceeding to the composition of the future Vociferian new album, I worked on the succession of ALIENANTE DAMNATION  band

that is becoming a more personal project to me therefore it is changing name to: EBAUCHE NOIRE.

You will be soon able to get news about all this on:

www.facebook.com/vociferian
or
http://vociferian.blogspot.com

12. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

Last word but never the least:

OBEY PROFANATORY FORCES!

Hatecrowned - Warpact in Black (Complete Album)

01. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. TELL US THE READERS ABOUT  HATECROWNED ?

 We come from a middle eastern country where any different thinking is mostly prohibited, we are a band with a musical and ideological agenda where death and darkness are the torches that shone our path, we stride to embody our hatred and chaos within death-soaked Black Metal.

02. HOW`S THE ACTUAL LINE UP?

 We passed through many line-up changes due to many reasons and circumstances, and at the mean time we have Dahaaka and Soulburner on the guitars, I, Ayvaal on the vocals, Nephtys on the keyboard and the female vocals, Warlord on the drums and Trotgoh on the bass guitar, and when Dahaaka travels Zakk Kattan takes his replacement on the stage, and due to the lack of equipments in our country we had to hire Benjamin "Goredrummer" Lauritsen from Pit of Carnage to do the drums recording at Pit Studios-Denmark for our upcoming full length.

03. WHAT`S YOUR FEELING FOR THE BLACK METAL?

 Black metal is a music and a cult that is not for the weak, musically we found ourselves sharing the same untamed passion for this blasphemous art, it went beyond the borders of being a fan or a fanatic of this genre, it is a way of life and death of a complete philosophy of liberation and vengeance, an overwhelmed volcano of cold yet furious hatred ! briefly said, Black Metal led us to find our true selves of fire.

04. BECAUSE YOU ARE ANTI-COSMIC LUCIFERIANISM?

 We don't have to explain Anti-Cosmic Luciferianism because it can explain itself to those who seek Gnosis, liberation and connection with the divines, we are not members of the temple because they do not accept any new members as we knew, but we'd be honored to officially join this revered occult. with time we learned about Anti-Cosmic Luciferianism through bands and on the internet which was the only way, and we dug as deep as we could, it came to answer many questions and it translated infinitely the feelings that we have towards the scum stained cosmos and hylic clayborns so called humanity, we are Luciferianists because we heeded the call of the wild black burning flames inside of us.

05. COMMENT ABOUT EP: WARPACT IN BLACK?

Warpact In Black was our first ever material, we can say that we did everything ourselves and we were new to recording so we acknowledge that the quality of sound was not magical, also our music and lyrics were not fully mature. Our current and future work describes us best as you will witness it soon on NEWBORN SERPENT. We faced lots of opposition and no one encouraged us and we had financial difficulties but we made it and personally I consider it a decent music quality album.

06. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RELIGIONS?

HAIL SATAN.

07. HOW ARE YOUR NEWS WORDS?

For lyrics we are everyday inspired by the Black Light as a first level, and of course the shit and lies that surrounds us and by this filthy humanity of which we are thankful, as for music we are getting more experienced and our music sounds more of what we want to, Hellish Black Fucking Metal, and as for band releases and appearances, we are willing to release our first full length NEWBORN SERPENT through FALL OF EDEN RECORDS from U.K hopefully this year, and there are plans for international yet underground splits and compilations.

08. DID YOU HAVE PLAYED MANY GIGS?

We played 3 gigs so far in Lebanon in several cities, they were all successful and we managed to get the attention and hailing of the crowds since the first concert, our 2nd and 3rd concert were a kick-ass, that might sound inexperienced but I wouldn't be showing off if I tell you that from the first time we trampled a stage we appeared and proved that we are stage beasts. You can say gigs in Lebanon are not well organized due to fear and repression but we manage to seize every moment and it seems like we are not capable to tour at the mean time.

09. TELL US ABOUT THE BLACK METAL SCENE IN LEBANON?

Black Metal scene in Lebanon? There used to be some important Black Metal bands in the past but they split up, Black metal is not encouraged or supported among metalheads in Lebanon, most of them are secretly religious and they just feel that something have impaled them when they hear the word "BLACK METAL", preference goes to thrash and heavy mostly, we are currently along with DEATHLAM and KAOTEON and very few unrecognized one-man projects and other bands with nothing to identify their work but some covers. and let me tell you about the support you would receive from some local metal magazines and Ezines, they would poorly share your achievements, promise you shits they will never do, remove you from their websites because you are too brutal for their peaceful metal movements, and move the spot light to those close to them (friends and relatives) or to those from the same stinking religion.

10. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

We still have few copies of Warpact in Black, as for shirts and accessories we are willing to start into this business soon.

11. COMMENT ABOUT LABEL: FALL OF EDEN RECORDS?

FALL OF EDEN is a label that any ascending band would like to sign to, David a very open minded and respectful man with a great passion to music and arts, NEWBORN SERPENT will be released through FALL OF EDEN and hopefully we both will grow bigger together, we look forward for more works with them in the future, and I can foresee a huge future for this label, that's what METAL give you back as a reward when you generously give to this worldwide cult.

12. WHAT`S YOUR IDEOLOGY?

Those who can read between the lines will be able to recognize it, it was vastly mentioned in most of our answers, and more to be clarified when if read our lyrics and meditate our band name.

13. FUTURE PLANS...

Few recording sessions left for NEWBORN SERPENT and then we'll enter the mixing and mastering process and of course the artwork will be made by Pedro Ortiz from EVD Graphics (the designers of the Arabic Anti-Islamic Legion's logo) and then we will release it through FALL OF EDEN RECORDS, lyrics and music ideas for another full length are also crawling towards us, we are trying to manage the financial issues to begin touring abroad as we are planning for some splits and compilations as I told you and of course playing as much local gigs as possible.

14. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

We would like to thank you for the interview and for your support for metal, we hope we provided you and the readers with the answers that best describes us, KEEP THE FLAME BURNING.

HAIL KAOS, HAIL DARKNESS.

01. TELL US ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF LAGRIMA?

Tarek Yazbek : Well , the idea behind creating ?Lagrima? dates back to the year 2000-2001, when my older band named ?Enormity? was disbanding. There was also a lot of creativity differences among the band members on how should the band sounds like, also what should I compose or shouldn?t. For me these things were very limiting to my creativity. Since then I decided to make a new band that reflects my ideas and my way of composing, without putting any borders or red lines on any guitar riff. Even choosing the band members have to pass through this criterion.

02. WHAT IS THE FEELING FOR THE CHOICE OF NAME : ?LAGRIMA ??

Tarek Yazbek: The inspiration behind the band?s name comes from a classic guitar piece by the Spanish composer ?Francisco Tarrega? that has 
the same name. I liked the sound of the word and the meaning it holds which means ?Teardrop? or simply ?Tear? in Spanish.

03. TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATIONS AND LYRICS?

Tarek Yazbek: For lyrical inspiration, I chose a theme or a direction for the band that is very intriguing to me, which is Middle Eastern 
ancient history and mythology, and more precise the history of the ?Fertile Crescent? as it is called. In which the first civilizations 
known to Man emerged from there, and not lot of bands write songs or lyrics about this particular subject. So I find it to be something 
unique for ?Lagrima? and differs us a little from the other bands out there.

04. HOW YOU DEFINE YOUR MUSIC?

Tarek Yazbek: As for the music, it?s a combination of many styles of metal into one style, which also sets us apart from many bands out there,
who, some of them just sound like more famous bands. They try to copy their sound or their style and ends up sounding like a cheap copy, or 
simply sound like a typical death or black metal band. What new bands these days need to do is to add their own factor to their music. This 
factor is what made their idols famous. This exactly what we are doing in the music of ?Lagrima?, we set no limits, and we simply compose in 
the way that we find appropriate with and creative. 

05. HOW IS THE ACTUAL LINE UP?

Tarek Yazbek: Since the formation of the band, we had many line-up changes, but currently it consists of me (Tarek Yazbek) on guitars, Bass, 
Drum Programming and Bilal Al-Aghar on vocals who also contributes efficiently on the music of ?Lagrima?. He is a very creative guy with lot 
of fresh ideas and that what I exactly want in the band. We also are adding new members so we can perfume live, hopefully in the coming month the line up would be complete and start preparing for some shows. 

06. TELL US ABOUT THE UNDERGROUND SCENE IN LEBANON?

Tarek Yazbek: The current scene in Lebanon is not that active anymore or not as active as before due to many reasons, Many bands comes and go
but never reaches anywhere because they stay local and never get the exposure they are seeking. With few bands breaking that barrier and 
performing outside Lebanon. Hopefully one day the local scene would get the attention it deserves, making the bands push harder with their 
music.

07. COMMENT ABOUT THE MUSIC? DEATH OF TH FATHER...SAGUINTUM ? AND LYRIC.

Tarek Yazbek: The whole album follows one concept and story, with the music complementing the lyrics and the mood of the lyrics. 
The album tells the story of the war between Hannibal the Carthaginian General and the Romans and the different events in his life. 
In ?Death of the Father? Saguntum?, the song starts with lamenting the father of Hannibal, ?Hamilcar? after he was killed in an ambush 
and sacrificing his own life for his sons. The lyrics continue as a story line telling, briefly of course on how ?Hannibal? becomes 
the commander in-chief of the Carthaginians and how he took control of the rest of the Spanish territories leading to the siege of the 
city ?Saguntum?, which was the reason of the beginning of the ?Second  Punic War? and the famous campaign that Hannibal undertook across 
the Alps into Italy.

08. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

Tarek Yazbek: Currently we don?t have any merchandise produced, since we are doing the releasing by ourselves on the internet and for free, 
so if anybody wants to pick up a copy of the album, he can download it through this link :

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eak43qjuomlaomk/NJ2sK4SVtB

09. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF RELIGIONS?

Tarek Yazbek: Well, I as a person am not a religious person or a believer, for me religion is a thing that progressed through time. 
Starting as way to explain the phenomenon that are occurring in nature, to immortalizing ancient kings who became gods, and then taking 
the shape of a civil law, till it became in its current form. Adding to that every new religion that get created it have its bases in more 
older and ancient religion. It is just presented to the masses in a new polished package with some new fresh ideas. Most of the times it 
have a political direction to control the people through religion. 

10. HOW ARE YOUR NEWS WORDS?

Tarek Yazbek: We are now working on a new album, based on the ?Epic of Gilgamesh?. We already did the music and lyrics, currently we are in 
the pre-recording phase, hopefully to be released at the end of this year. Also, As I mentioned earlier we are adding new members to have a 
complete line-up and perfume our music live.

11. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE LAGRIMA?

Tarek Yazbek: the band has been around for a long while now, we have many materials to be released, hopefully we?ll be able to do that, 
and get the exposure we deserve, and be able to go international.

12. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

Tarek Yazbek: I would like to thank you for this opportunity you gave us to introduce ourselves for a new fan base, hope they liked and 
enjoyed this interview, and would like to ask them to download our debut album, ITS FOR FREE, through this link :  

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eak43qjuomlaomk/NJ2sK4SVtB

and expect a new album release at the end of this year.

01. HELLO. TELL US ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF VELIGORE AND THEIR LINE-UP?

Hails! Veligore is in its original line-up, we don’t have new members, nor old ones who have gone away. Veligore started long time ago as idea and concept that represents the dark side of human’s nature. It was born in our minds many years ago, as idea. Now the spirit has flesh.

02. WHICH ARE THE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION TO WRITE YOUR LYRICS?

Edgar Allan Poe, Elder Edda, Kalevala and many more..and the nature, of course.The contemplation of nature is the main thing which is inspires our lyrics. 

03. WHAT`S THE BLACK METAL FOR YOU?

Black Metal is the perfect form of music for people who wants to be free, people who are tired of hypocrisy and conformity of this sick world. For me, this is what I like in metal music, raw, venomous and wicked power, like a primal scream of newborn demon.

04. WHY THE NAME VELIGORE?

Veligore in old Russian folk demonology is the name of the teacher of the Satan, or Satanael when he was an angel, before his falling. Veligore made him the person he is now. We like this apocryphal alternative history. Also in slavic languages “Veli Gore” (велие горе) means “Great Sorrow”.

05. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

T shirts! Because it’s both a piece of art and very useful thing! Also we are planning make patches and possibly stickers.

06. DO YOU HAVE ANY SIDE PROJECTS?

We have several side projects. Some of them use gulag folklore music, other dark and noisy electronics, others include a theatric elements. However, now the main project is the Veligore project.

07. WHAT IS THE BAND LIKE WHEN YOU PLAY LIVE?

Veligore band has never played a live gig... yet. In near future we will play our first gig and I hope it will be look (and sound) like an occult ritual, which actually is what the Veligore music is about.


08. HAVE YOU GUYS EVER PLAYED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY?

Yes, with our another projects. Germany, Finland, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine.


09. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE US BLACK METAL?

This is very powerful and sinister thing, full of dark energy. American Black Metal get old roots in the history of United States. Hartford, Salem, mystery of Croatoan, and many more. Actually, in past history there were large numbers of witches, warlocks, satanists who escaped from old Europe to New World avoiding inquisitional persecution.

10. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE VELIGORE?

New albums, new gigs, new art. New meaning of our lives.


11. ANY LAST COMMENTS?

Ave Veligore! \m/

INVERTICRUX-On Six Limbs

01. TELL US THE HISTORY OF INVERTICRUX? 

Well, for its short existence , it certainly has walked a long twisted road. It began in 2005 as a psychobilly/Metal band consisting of my white ass and two Mexicans from Texas US. They moved to Massachusetts seeking a new life and to reform their band there. I met them the same day i answered the flier looking for a drummer. Influences were Alice Cooper, W.A.S.P. and the Misfits among others. i was in! They knew nobody in the area. They had no choice but to hire me.  No one else answered the fliers.I had no drum set and have never played drums professionally . But i knew i could do it with some faith. We opened for Michael Graves (MISFITS) on our first live show in Lowell MA. made one album with them and they disbanded. The bassist moved back to Texas and i turned the guitarist onto Black and dark Metal. He took to it naturally and i suggested we reform as a Black Metal band. We formed VintageFlesh. suicidal Horror Black Doom Metal. INVERTICRUX would follow after two releases as V.F..


02. WHERE DID THE BAND NAME COME FROM? 

It began as Vintage Flesh. A name i had unused since the eighties. Flesh to a necrophiliac is like wine all necro's have a personal preference as to when they would like to sexually defile the dead flesh. Like what vintage they prefer.
As for INVERTICRUX, I wanted to make up a word so there would be no chance of another band with the same name. IT means Inverted Cross. but the cross has acted as a CRUX to human civilization.  holding back our evolution and development into civil society as is the fault of most religions. 


03. WHICH IS THE IDEOLOGY OF INVERTICRUX?

We have none. We have no real political message other then perhaps, anti religion. but we are more about horror story telling. Much like King Diamond songs.  

04. INTRODUCE THE BAND MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY DO IN THE BAND?

James-Hellkhunt on rhythm riffage & bass bellowing bottom, Michael-CoffinRage on destructive drums of desolation, Matt Gemini on all laser precision leads and profound  production, Raypissed on Vox from the coffin box and VooDoo bongos on "Loretta's lost leg". 


05.  TELL US MORE ABOUT:¨VIRGIN REAPER ÄLBUM?

VirginReaper was an attempt to move away from the deadly seriousness of our first Metal band Vintage Flesh. Virgin Reaper was the debut release as INVERTICRUX.  VintageFlesh basically imploded after two albums with all the dark negativity we harvested to create that Hellish music. We decided to create something more old school and traditional in the way of Metal. Not having to always be so serious with each song. At that point we were made up of members from many different Metal backgrounds. The album is a result of every influence we ever had rather then a pin point direction that we wanted to go.
The product of mass consumption of much weed , alcohol , and psychedelics. As is all our output.

06. COMMENT ABOUT: ¨MALCONTENT MANIFESTATION MONITORING PROGRAM? 

Again we experienced a loss of band members. With the decimation of Vintage Flesh, we lost Rev.John Hex. Founding member. Terry Savastano of  Boston's sludge doom band GRIEF & Disrupt replaced Hex after doing a guest spot on the last V.F. release.
I can only guess, but i think he had a problem with my extreme on & off stage behavior at live shows. Terry was then replaced with our roadie James at the time. He was well versed in all things Death and Doom Metal. This was his first band opportunity but we had faith in him. He knew the direction we started with and he just gave us his interpretation of it as the new guitarist. We think both VirginReaper & M.M.M.P. sound very similar in style while only the drummer and singer remained in the band by the second release. 

07. PLEASE. TELL US MORE ABOUT VIRGIN REAPER MUSIC?

We plan on always staying with one continuous theme on all our work past and future. We write our lyrics around dark New England folk lore. some stories we write into music may be of factual origin or possibly made up by me but always the story is based in New England. We feel we have the best haunted history of all the American states and we wish to shed light on that to the rest of the world. Not many, if any New Metal bands have that as its focus here in N.E... None that i know of. 
So both albums are based on a number of factual or fictional tales based around New England folklore.


08. DID YOU HAVE PLAYED MANY GIGS?

We have only played five gigs over one summer in 2011 as INVERTICRUX. Around  Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. The band dressed in typical Metal head wear, while I dressed sort of like a monk with spike leather arm bands and corpse paint. I would go to the local Salvation Army for cheap used items to use as props. it was never the same show twice. We liked to trample rap, disco and country albums, rip them up, and throw them at the audience to shred them some more. Always over the top and outlandish behavior on stage. 


09. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE USA BLACK METAL?

I am not a purest. So I dont think any one country owns Black Metal. I think all parts of the world have contributed worthy adaptions to the genre. All Metal genres for that matter. The American scene has given a lot to the suicidal B.M. scene in particular. I love it all, where ever it is from. if it is true and from the heart it has worth. 

10. WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

I am not sure. I almost found out late last year when i put a bullet in my head in an suicide attempt. some how i survived. After one month in Boston general hospital and a bullet lodged in my brain for life. But i think i would have had a horrible after life had i succeeded in killing myself last November on my birth date. So i was given a second chance to complete my life properly and possibly have a better outcome in the worlds beyond. As long as i dont have to relive life in this imperfect world,
 I do not really care what the after life has waiting for me. Anything is better then the uncertainties and threats of physical pain this world has to offer.


11. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS OF INVERTICRUX?

So far yes. IT is important we continue to grow and evolve while maintaining our identity as an extreme Horror Metal band. For the first time i am the only member left in INVERTICRUX. Though I am a founding member. The Vocalist is all that remains. but it has always been my band more so then anyone else's. Nobody yet has claimed equal ownership. But its open to the next members who want to make it their own. Its a matter of dedication.  I may return to drums and vocals on the next release and just hire one other member to perform guitars as we did with the second Vintage Flesh release. Remaining only as a studio band via Dark Throne style. Expect even greater things with the next release. we have a few years yet to map that one out . 


12. WHAT`S THE BLACK METAL FOR YOU?

Black Metal in its purest form, which we are no longer, is an attempt to draw musical influence from the deepest darkest well of our minds and souls. An attempt to create the harshest and bleakest sounds and feelings possible.  We have done that with Vintage Flesh and we witnessed two deaths and one suicide attempt, multiple demonic haunting's among people related to the band, and other tragedies surrounding band members over the process. When you here of bands having faced dark adversities during the making of certain albums, that is a direct result of attracting dark forces to your music and those who create it. That's true Black Metal.

13. ARE YOU A MYSTICAL PERSON? SATANICS? SADO?

I am simply an Agnostic. So yes, i am a spiritual person. More concerned in my after life rather then this one. But i know this life has a direct effect on how i will spend eternity. I anticipate an after life of my own dark sadistic creation. I have tried to experience everything good and bad that this life has to offer. All in the hopes of graduating from this into something far superior then human existence. 


14. WHAT MERCHANDISE DO YOU STILL HAVE AVAILABLE?

EXALTEDWOE.com There you can order our latest release M.M.M.P. and the latest Exalted Woe compilation with us included. Satanica Records (New Zealand) has a new compilation coming out called "Most unholy convergence" with one contribution from us. I sang and wrote lyrics for the latest Mystic Forest (France) album "In THE END". out now on DRAKKAR Productions.  Other then that ,no. No stickers or t-shirts left. But we hope to have some available in the future. 
A Japanese label is negotiating a deal with me now, to re-release the two Vintage Flesh c.d.'s so who knows.


15. FUTURE PLANS...

To stay out of jail and stay alive long enough to create more soul shattering Metal. To continue my twenty year career as a Tattooist/HorrorMetal illustrator. 

16. THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT. ANY LAST COMMENTS? 

LETS GET INVERTED!!!! Thanks for your interest in INVERTICRUX. We are glad to be within your Hallowed Halls of Metal...

nobody wants me hangin' around unless it's from a tree in the nobody wants me hangin' around unless it's from a tree in the middle of town...