darzamat

Location :Katowice, Poland
website http://www.darzamat.art.pl/
genre (s) :Death , Black , Goth



..:: Biography ::..
1995 - Darzamat comes into being in winter 1995 as the initiative of Flauros and Simon - the two members of the black metal band - Mastiphal. The band owes its name to the Slavonic mythology in which Darzamat is a protective deity guarding gardens and forests. The very vision ideally composes with the dark, majestic spirit present in the musician's compositions.
1996 - The debut album "In The Flames Of Black Art", released in 1996 by Faithless Production, constitutes a certain novelty in that time, due to the fact that it's the combination of black metal and the complex orchestral sequences. Shortly before the album's recording session, the band is joined by Kate. Owing to her, the very aggressive material is to some extent soothed and unquestionably enriched with the note of melancholy and sensuality.
The first record is marked as a very good by both : the listeners and the musical press. Originality, innovation, exceptionality - these are the words that appear in many reviews. Despite a few proposals of signing the contract overseas, Flauros and Simon decide to release another record under the aegis of the native Faithless Records.
1997 - In summer, 1997, the former Dragon's drummer - Bomba and guitar player - Daamr are recruited to supplement the ranks of the band. In the same year musicians enter the studio in order to register the next material - –In The Opium Of Black Veil –. The album is the continuation of the direction taken on the first record. And this time, too, the opinions of the critics are positive. The band is gaining power.( in 2002 both these albums will be reedited thanks to Metal Mind Productions )
2003 - After having signed the contract with Avantgarde Music (1999), Darzamat stops its studio activity for a couple of years. The main reason of such a long break is the founding of Post Street Studio, the owner of which is Simon. There is in that studio that in 2003 the third material –Oniriad– is recorded. The work on the recording is, however, accompanied with a pretty bad atmosphere as well as personal rotations ( Daamr leaves the band, his place is taken by the young guitar player - Chris ). The new drummer - Paul - appears. Shortly after the album's recording, Kate leaves the country. It is, however, not all. "Oniriad" becomes a bone of contention between the founders of the band. The third record is a far-moved musical experiment and a product of a few musical styles. It is not the effect Flauros expects. Too many compromises he allows for during the recording session apear to be too much. The growing tensions between the musicians explode. It is the time when the roads of Simon and Flauros must split up. The first one focuses on the work in his studio, the second undertakes to create the band anew.
The very same year Flauros assembles the new lineup. Daamr comes back and together with Chris they start composing the new material. In order to 'say good bye' to the 'beauty and the beast' vocal convention, without depriving the band of the female vocal at the same time, Nera - the vocalist of remarkable timbre of voice- joins the band. Golem is the one who sits behind the drums, additionally, the former midi programs are replaced with the keybord instrument under Spectre's 'command'.
2004 - In 2004, with the record entitled "Semidevilish" (Metal Mind Productions), Darzamat begins its new history. The 'fresh' material skilfuly joins black and death metal with the dark atmosphere characteristic of the band. Good reviews of "Semidevilish" appear very soon. The positive attitude to the record results in multitudinous invitations to the concerts. During the short period of time the band is able to present itself on the large numbers of festivals :" Moscow After Midnight", "Brutal Assault" ( with Canibal Corpse and Impaled Nazarene ), "Metal Head Mission" ( with Pungent Stench ), "Metalmania" ( with Cradle of Filth, Apocalyptica, Napalm Death, Arcturus, Katatonia, Pain and Amon Amarth ), "Wave Gothic Treffen ( with Tiamat, Atrocity, Darkwell and Mortiss ), "Hard Rock Laager" ( with Katatonia and Lord Belial ) or "S-Hammer Festival" ( with Entombed and Vomitory ). Musicians also participate in the part of Polish tour "Dark Stars Festival" as well as in the concerts promoting "Semidevilish" in Germany, Russia and Ukraine. The album appears also on the licence in Russia ( CD Maximum ) and Mexico ( Gravis Records ). Furthermore Darzamat appears on the cover of the biggest Mexican rock-metal magazine "Barahunda". There's the videoclip made to the piece entitled "In Red Iris", the emission of which takes place in several music stations, also beyond the borders of Poland. Another videoclip that occurs on the record as a bonus, is made to the piece "Era Aggression". It is filmed during the festival in Czech Republic. After the recording of the album, there is a change of a bass player - Daamr's place is taken by Bacchus.
2005 - A huge musical leap forward is for the band the fifth album in Darzamat's body of work entitled "Transkarpatia". In autumn, 2005 the band decides to enter the "Maq" studio. There the traces of all the instruments and vocals are laid. Yet, the real revelation occurs to be the choice of the album's producer. It is Andy La Rocque himself - the cult band's "King Diamond" guitar player. Darzamat is one of a small number of Polish bands that decides to produce the album beyond the borders of Poland. It is owing to this fact that the record sounds truly impressive. The album is the stylistic continuation started on "Semidevilish". Eleven premiere compositions included on "Transkarpatia" astonish and surprize with the remarkable arrangements full of emotions and dark passions. Thanks to the work in the Swedish "Los Angered Recording", the new album gains a kind of surprizing selectivity as well as the power of sound of each and every instrument.
The record appears at the beginning of December, 2005 thanks to Metal Mind Productions, and the history continues....

birdflesh

Location :Sweden
website http://www.birdflesh.net
genre(s) : Grindcore


..:: Biography ::..
Birdflesh is a Swedish extreme metal/grindcore band, formed in 1992. The lyrics, members' alter egos, and stage outfits focus on the humorous and absurd. Birdflesh have released three full-length albums and a multitude of split albums and demos.

Chimaira

location :lousiana usa
website http://www.chimaira.com
Genre Thrash , Hardcore , Metalcore


..:: Biography ::..
“This isn't a 'first listen' record,” says Chimaira frontman Mark Hunter. “The songs will stick in your head for the rest of your life, but it's not dumbed down. People are going to listen and say, 'This is interesting. I need to hear it again.' By the third time they listen, they will go, 'Whoa, I 'get' it.'”

Those are bold statements, but Hunter and Chimaira thoroughly back it up on their new album, appropriately titled Chimaira. It's fitting that this wrecking crew have named their third full length, Chimaira. That's because this Cleveland sextet have fine tuned and honed their style so deftly, that this album truly represents everything they were, everything they are, and everything they are poised to become once this monster is unleashed on the heavy metal world.

Chimaira is Chimaira, from the opening note of the brain damagingly heavy “Nothing Remains,” which Hunter reveals was written the day Dimebag Darrell was murdered, saying “The song has nothing to do with the situation, but musically, it's brutal and anger-filled, and the shooting brought out the feelings. We sat in the practice space, staring at the ground for an hour, when Rob picked up his guitar, and the song was just born.” The heaviness quotient doesn't lessen, thanks to the brutal breakdown present on “Save Ourselves,” which feels like a mortar grinding your skull and bones into a fine powder. “Salvation” is the album's most melodic song, due in part to the enormous chorus. The album's closer is the epic, dynamic mindfuck called “Lazarus.” It's the “most roller coaster track. It's not about the Biblical character, but a friend who committed suicide 11 years ago. It's the most personal song I've ever written, and I got it out of my system,” Hunter says, admitting he envisions kids listening to the song on headphones, to fully absorb it.

Hunter continues, saying, “The lyrics are really personal, and fans looking for a 'Fuck you,' or a 'Power Trip' type song will be disappointed. This is more thought-out, more realistic. I thought it was time to be upfront in my lyrics and strip away the ambiguity.” That makes the lyrics a perfect complement to the music, which directly connects like a series of punches to the groin.

When Chimaira commenced the writing process, they were coming off a marathon, two-year road trek in support of their most successful album, The Impossibility Of Reason. They had toured as headliners, with Lamb Of God, as well as with Ozzfest 2003, Jagermeister Spring 2004, which featured Slipknot and Fear Factory, and co-headlined the Summer 2004 Road Rage tour with Machine Head. The played a spate of European festivals and clocked 330 shows in 21 countries. “We were eager to write new material,” says Hunter. “While we were touring, we didn't think there would be pressure. We thought it would be a breeze. But when we sat down to do it, we were like deer in the headlights. It took a month of toying with ideas.” They joined up with Ben Schigel for the second time, recording at Spider Studios.

On Chimaira, the band refused to write songs that fit any stylistic format. Most of the songs on Chimaira hover at the five-minute and over mark, making it clear that they evolved through a natural progression rather than a preconceived notion. “We were trying to not have any restraints. If it was a 1 and a half-minute song and or a 15-minute song, as long as we were happy, that's all that mattered. The songs are as long as necessary, in order to get the point across.”

The band contends that Chimaira is Chimaira at their most musical, and that the solos ripped out by guitarist Rob Arnold are unlike anything on previous records. Hunter's screaming is much more intimidating and Chris Spicuzza's ambient/electronic element has added an additional, yet crucial layer to Chimaira's sound. Hunter says, “Chris took epic parts and made them more epic. You'll ask yourself, 'Why does this sound so big?' That's our trick!” New drummer Kevin Talley, who cut his teeth in death metal bands Misery Index and Dying Fetus, is more of a brutal, in your face live drummer, and Talley's intensity is omnipresent on the recorded album as much as it is on stage. “You can't deny that the drums are ripping your head off. These sound ferocious,” Hunter says.

The addition of Talley and Chimaira's progression as individuals and a band are what give Chimaira its fresh, invigorated feel. “Everyone put their two cents in,” Hunter explains. “Everyone contributed their flavor and style. So, it's truly a Chimaira record. We're like the three-headed beast we're disagreeing animals forming into one monster.” And what a monster it is.

Dark Angel

Location :Los Angeles, CA
Website :http://www.myspace.com/darkangel
Genre(s) :Thrash




..:: Biography::..
Dark Angel was a thrash metal band from Los Angeles. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine" and the motto "too fast, my ass". Drummer Gene Hoglan is considered to be among the best underground metal drummers in the world.[1]

They released 4 demo albums until their debut full-length LP We Have Arrived was released in 1984. In 1986, Dark Angel released their album Darkness Descends which joined Master of Puppets (Metallica), Reign in Blood (Slayer), Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? (Megadeth), and Pleasure to Kill (Kreator) as highly important thrash metal releases of 1986 and is now considered by many to be a seminal 1980s extreme metal album[citation needed]. At this time Dave Mustaine asked Eric Meyer to join Megadeth, but he declined in order to stay on D.A.

Two more studio albums followed, Leave Scars (1989) and Time Does Not Heal (1991), showing increasingly progressive song structures (the latter album famously containing 246 riffs) and Hoglan's lyrics dealing with (especially for thrash metal) serious subject matter, often concerning psychological issues and traumas.

After breaking up in 1992, Dark Angel briefly re-united in 2002. However, Ron Rinehart's injury forced them to cancel plans to tour and the band is on hold. Rinehart also formed the band Oil in 1997 after converting to Christianity.[2]

Children Of Bodom

location :Espoo, Finland
website http://www.cobhc.com
genre (s):Power , Speed Metal

..:: Biography ::..
Children Of Bodom that darted to international fame with their debut, 1997’s "Something Wild", has gone from being "this amazing band from Finland" to a household name in the metalscene. And that, of course, is obvious given the intensity, sheer quality of their material and the flawless execution.

Formed in 1993 and hailing from the city of Espoo, Finland, this young Finnish group took their name from one of the biggest murder mysteries in the history of their home town and Finnish crime: the murders at the Lake Bodom. After starting out as a thrash-metal combo, the founding members Alexi Laiho (guitars and vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Seppälä (bass) and Alexander Kuoppala (guitars) soon found elements of classic heavy metal creeping into their music. After taking in keyboardist Janne Wirman to complete their line-up, they honed their combination of old schoold black metal, classic heavy, and death metal vocals into the sharpest instrument of its kind and headed out to a studio record a demo tape.

After Spinefarm Records received Children Of Bodom’s demo, it didn’t take long for the company to figure out what they had in their hands back in late 1996. Soon the band was signed and ready to knock a few heads off.

The self-titled debut single "Children Of Bodom" went straight to number 1 on the Finnish charts and sold platinum. The debut full-length album "Something Wild" was released in Finland in 1997. The Bodoms supported Dimmu Borgir at the band's Helsinki show in November and were hailed as the new kings of Finnish underground metal by the press. Licensing deal with Nuclear Blast for central Europe was inked quickly and soon after Middle Europe the album was also released in Japan and Thailand.

Soon Children Of Bodom was flying all over Europe and writing new material that would become the "Hatebreeder" album, which was released in February 1999. On "Hatebreeder" their music had found its true shape: the album was faster, heavier and more versatile than "Something Wild". The single "Downfall" went gold and ruled the Finnish charts.

During the summer 99 Children Of Bodom toured Finland and Europe. In June they did three sold out gigs in Japan with Dark Tranquillity and Sinergy and recorded the live CD: "Tokyo Warhearts-Live in Japan". "Tokyo Warhearts" came out as a limited digibook-edition in Europe in October and all the 20.000 copies of it were almost immediately sold out. The buzz around the band was reaching new heights.

In 2000 the single "Hate Me!" went #1 at the Finnish charts and sold gold in Finland in just a couple of weeks. Platinum sales soon followed. While the single was topping the charts, Children Of Bodom finished their studio sessions at Peter Tägtgren's Abyss Studio, and the third album "Follow the Reaper" saw the light of day on the 30th of October 2000.

"Follow the Reaper" was a glorious mixture of their debut album's heavy riffing raw sound, combined with "Hatebreeder" monstrous technical metal acrobatics. The most noticable thing however was how much the band had improved as a unit and in bringing the personal levels of musicianship to a new high.

On "Hate Crew Deathroll", which was released in January 2003, not only did the band take their songwriting into new levels of aggressivity and heaviness but the way the songs were carried out pummeled everything they -or anyone, for that matter- had done into dust.

On "Hate Crew Deathroll" Alexi Laiho spits out his lyrics with vitriolic hate, the guitars (courtesy of Alexi and Alexander Kuoppala) shred everything in their wake with razorsharp precision while the rhythmsection (the demolition duo of Henkka T. Blacksmith & Jaska W. Raatikainen) pounds away like the world is about to end. As a final coup de gracé come the keyboards of Janne Warman, making sure the path of destruction is complete with the fervour and precision of a seasoned executioner on a killing spree.

In the Summer of 2003, Alexander Kuoppala left the band and was replaced by Roope Latvala, whose stellar playing had already graced countless of Finnish metal records. Being perhaps the most widely acclaimed metal guitarist in Finland ever, Roope’s flexible playing style and strange sense of harmony was a strong influence on CoB by the way of his early nineties speed metal band Stone.

In 2004 the band tested their new line-up on a four-track EP and a separate DVD-EP "Trashed, Lost & Strungout" that gave a little taster of the future alongside with two great cover songs. The EP was an introduction to a new-found drive, a rougher edge, still sounding definitely and unmistakeably very CoB.

After the relase of the successful mini-album, Children of Bodom barricaded themselves into studio Hästholmen, Helsinki, to record their next full-length album together with producer / mixer / engineer guru Mikko Karmila. The result was "Are You Dead Yet?", title of which is merely rhetorical: the fourth studio album from the trailblazing Finnish metal hate crew is killer stuff throughout.

Children of Bodom have come a long way since their humble beginnings, and today stand tall in the all time extreme metal hall of fame, commanding the respect and awe of both fans and colleagues alike. Children of Bodom have been hugely influential, but still, eight years down the road east and west alike, remain the leaders of the genre. "Are You Dead Yet?" is all the proof you need.

helloween

location :Hamburg, German
website http://www.helloween.org
genre (s): Power , Progressive Rock , Speed Metal


.::biography::.
Helloween’s history dates all the way back to 1978 when Kai Hansen and Piet Sielck formed a band called “Gentry“. Around 1981 Kai and Piet changed the name of the band to “Second Hell” and recruited drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg and bassist Markus Großkopf who at the time had been playing in a band called “Traumschiff. In 1982 Piet Sielck leaves Second Hell to become a record producer and sound engineer and the band changes their name to “Iron Fist”. Michael Weikath of the band Powerfool tries to lure Kai Hansen to join his band, but in the end decides to join Kai’s band Iron Fist.

1984 comes around and an upstart independent label called Noise records invites the band to record two tracks on their new “Death Metal” compilation alongside bands such as Running Wild, Dark Avenger and Hellhammer. The band, still not satisfied with the name “Iron Fist” changes their name to Helloween. Ingo Schwichtenberg comes up with the idea to not only replace the “o” in Helloween with a pumpkin, but to also come up with pumpkin artwork which would later become one of Helloween’s biggest trademarks. The band contributed to the Death Metal compilation with two songs, a slower and sloppier version of “Metal Invaders” ( a song that would later appear on their debut full length Walls of Jericho) and the track Oernst Of Life.

In 1985 Helloween goes into the studio with producer Harris Johns and releases their debut, a self titled 5 track EP also known to many fans as “The Mini LP”. In October of 1985 the band then releases their first full length album, “Walls Of Jericho”, also produced by Harris Johns. The band also recorded the “Judas EP” which contained a new non album track entitled “Judas” and a compilation of live cuts. Helloween captured the media’s attention and received great reviews all over the world. In November of 1986 while the band toured, Kai Hansen found it difficult to sing and play guitar at the same time so when the tour was over the band began searching for a new singer. The band recruits 18 year old ex-Ill Prophecy singer Michael Kiske and begins work on a new album. The band decided that they wanted to release a double album, however Noise records said that they did not want Helloween to release a double album and therefore Helloween began work on the first part of a two part concept album.
1987’s Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1, produced by Tommy Hansen and Tommy Newton, puts the band on the map. Helloween received rave reviews everywhere around the world including America where they embark on their first US tour with Grim Reaper and Armored Saint. The following year the band released the second part of their concept album called “Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II” which is even more successful than part 1. The band embarks on the Pumpkins Fly Free tour which takes them all over Europe and they even become one of the headliners at the Donnington Monsters of Rock festival in England along with bands such as Kiss, and Iron Maiden. In late 1988 Kai Hansen decides to leave the band because of the long touring schedule. In 1989 Helloween recruits former Rampage guitar player Roland Grapow and the band then embarks on their second Headbanger’s Ball tour in America with Anthrax and Exodus. Helloween also releases two best of albums, “The Best The Rest The Rare” and “Pumpkin Tracks“. They also release a live album from their Pumpkins Fly Free Tour of Europe. In Japan the album is called “Keepers Live”, in the USA it’s called “I Want Out Live” and around the rest of the world the live album is entitled “Live In The UK”. Helloween, unhappy with their current contract with Noise records decides to break their contract and sign to EMI records. Noise filed a lawsuit against the band for breach of contract and the band fights a major legal battle with Noise records which would last a long time. In the end, Helloween loses the legal battle and must not only pay Noise records a huge sum of money, but they cannot release any material outside of Europe or Japan. This left many people around the world wondering….”What happened to Helloween?”

Finally in 1991 the band releases the “Kids of The Century” single which contains a message from the band telling fans where they have been for the last 3 years. They then release their next album “Pink Bubbles Go Ape” which was not received well by the press and fans alike. Although the album does contain some great songs, especially the ones written by Roland Grapow, tensions inside the band begin to build up between members over which direction musically the band should take.
1993 sees the release their next album “Chameleon” which becomes the band’s most unsuccessful album to date. The band begins to endure even more trouble on the Chameleon tour as tensions build up even more while drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg begins to have problems with his psychological condition and cannot finish the tour. Richie Abdel Nabi replaces Ingo on a temporary basis and finishes the tour. After the tour EMI releases the band from it’s contract they fire singer Michael Kiske, citing musical and personal differences.
In late 1993 Andi Deris, former Pink Cream 69 singer, joins the band along with former Holy Moses and Gamma Ray Drummer Uli Kusch, a new lineup for Helloween is born. The band signs to Castle records in 1994. Their next album “Master of the Rings” was released and became what many people called a great comeback album! The band went on a successful tour and new singer Andi Deris surprised many fans with his versatile and powerful voice. The album was released a year later in North America with a second disc containing all 7 b-sides from the album. Tragedy also struck the band as former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg committed suicide in 1995.

Helloween went back into the studio and released “The Time Of The Oath” in 1996, which was hailed by the press as their best album since the Keeper era. The album contained songs loosely based on the writings of Nostradamus. Helloween was back on top as The Time of The Oath earned them many gold and platinum albums throughout the world. Later that year they released the double live album “High Live” and was elected best band of 1996 by the Japanese magazine Buurn.

While the band began to write for the next album, Andi Deris released his first solo album “Come In From The Rain” and Roland Grapow released his first solo album “The Four Seasons of Life”. 1998 brought along the album Better Than Raw which was yet again released to rave reviews throughout the press. The band combined modern elements with their traditional Helloween sound which made for quite a unique album and went down well with fans. Roland Grapow also releases his second solo album. 1999 saw the band take a break and release a covers album entitled “Metal Jukebox”. This album contained a variety of rock, pop and metal classics which influenced the band. The band then set off to write their next album.

The band signed a two album deal with Nuclear Blast in the year 2000. Their next album entitled “The Dark Ride” , produced by Roy Z and Charlie Bauerfeind was released shortly after. The album became one of Helloween’s worst selling albums ever as the band took a darker and more modern sounding approach. Reviews of “The Dark Ride” in the press were mixed along with many fan reactions. Some liking the new direction and most wanting the Helloween of old. Tensions between members of the band began which led to the firing of guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch. The band also released "Treasure Chest", a 2 disc best of release that also had some older Helloween songs remixed. The best of also came as a limited edition with a bonus disc called "Buried Treasure" which contained some rare b-sides.

The band then recruits former Metalium drummer Mark Cross on drums and former Freedom Call guitarist Sasha Gerstner. In 2003 the band began to record for their next album, however their new drummer Mark Cross was diagnosed with mononucleosis and could only complete two songs for the recordings and thus was forced to leave the band. Former King Diamond and current Motorhead drummer Mikkey Dee is called in to complete the band’s studio recordings on the drums.
Rabbit Don’t Come Easy was released and drummer Stefan Schwarzmann is called in to join the band for the tour. The album sold well and the band completed a very successful tour around the world. Stefan Schwarzmann decided to leave the band after the tour but stayed throughout the preproduction for the next album until the band found a replacement. Dani Löble, ex-drummer of RAWHEAD REXX turned out to be the perfect drummer for Helloween and the band began to record the follow-up to Rabbit Don’t Come Easy.
On October 31st 2005 the band releases a follow-up to their legendary Keeper albums entitled “Keeper of The Seven Keys - The Legacy”. The album brought more critical acclaim to the band and was received well throughout the world. The success of the album and it’s subsequent tour was so strong the band released a double live DVD and double live CD. In 2007, to commemorate their last two years of success, Helloween released a double Live CD entitled "Keeper Of The Seven Keys - The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 - Live In Sao Paulo" and a double live DVD entitled "Keeper Of The Seven Keys – The Legacy World Tour 2005/2006 - Live On 3 Continents".

The band has just released their newest album "Gambling With the Devil" to great reviews. It's an album that takes them down a much heavier path and is described by singer Andi Deris as a mixture of Walls Of Jericho and Master of The Rings". The band will be embarking on a world tour that kicks off in Europe with Gamma Ray and Axxis.