INTERVIEW: THE GRAND ASTORIA

Welcome Kamille Sharapodinov, the mastermind of Russian psychedelic doom rock project The Grand Astoria. He’s only constant member of this outfit and it doesn’t stop him from doing month-longs tours with new line-ups or do two records per year with different sound and conception. The core of his ever changing work is deep love to psych, prog and doom rock traditions of the past, but it would be boring when you have nothing to add to legacy of Old Ones. About two months ago Kamille has released a new child of his experiments - epic doom thing “The Mighty Few”, let’s try to understand what kind of force did drive his hands this time to work in this direction and compose this soundtrack to story of Doom, Death and Damnation.

Hi Kamille! Man, I see that The Grand Astoria new album "The Mighty Few" already has a damned lot of positive reviews, how have you gained such result? How much do you pay to all these people?

Hello Alex! It’s very easy; I just totally controlled everything this time and have made all the promotion myself. I’ve sent a shitload of packages with CDs for reviews and have plans to send at least 20 more in the near future, it just the question of money. We worked really hard recording these songs so I just don’t want them to sink into the black hole. I know that this music deserves a good attention and just needs to be heard.

What’s about album’s distribution in this case? I remember that usually you work with German label Setalight Records; do you work this time on your own?

Setalight are good friends of ours and they are selling this new album via iTunes and other electronic stores. American distro Laser CD got some copies for their shop so all the US citizen can easily get it there. Swedish Ozium Records also ordered something so the things are moving and we are selling this album more than the all previous ones.

WIZARD EYE: PHILADELPHIA PSYCHEDELIC ROCK TRIO TO UNLEASH NEW FULL-LENGTH THIS FALL

Philadelphia psychedelic rock trio, WIZARD EYE, will release its self-titled new full-length this Fall via Black Monk Records. Recorded in three days at Haddon Heights, New Jersey's Gradwell House Studios with the imminently irascible and talented Steve Poponi behind the board and mastered by Dave Downham, the long-awaited follow-up to the band's 2010 Orbital Rites debut takes WIZARD EYE's signature brand of mind-bending riffs and kaleidoscopic soundscapes to a new level of titanic glory. A fusion of bottom-heavy grooves, fiery fuzz, churning bass, otherworldly effects and raw vocals with roots still planted firmly into the lysergic soil of '70s acts like Hawkwind, Budgie, Blue Cheer, Captain Beyond, Motörhead and Black Sabbath, Wizard Eye shows the band operating at the pinnacle of its creative and musical abilities.

INTERVIEW: MOONBOW

Moonbow was born on dark night in forsaken barn somewhere in Kentucky. That was a bloody fateful night and four acolytes of doom did gather there to do that must be done. Matt Bischoff (vocals), Ryan McAllister (bass) from Velley of the Sun band, Steve Earle (drums) and David McElfresh (guitars) of Lethal band… They weren’t novices in this discipline and first Moonbow album “The End of Time” was really good, two years have passed since then and the band returns with new work “Volto Del Demone” / “Face of the Demon”. I’ve got in touch with David McElfresh himself through Ouija board (and internet).

Hail David! I’m glad that we have a chance to tell our readers story of Moonbow, but hell – you’re already finishing new record! What will it be?

Hey man, the new one is called “Volto Del Demone”. Its an acoustic/mellow album of sorts.

We freely can determine Moonbow’s first album “The End of Time” as flawless and attractive album; and you did record it for a few years, did you consciously seek for absolutely perfect result or is it only because you were busy with other projects?

There were many things going on after we started recording the album. I was touring with Hank 3 a good bit last summer and our bassist Ryan did some touring with Valley of the Sun. And there were many different other factors that made this album happen over a lengthy spread of time but not as much actual time was spent working on the album as one may think. But over all we are happy with the album and always looking forward tho getting it to the people and what to record next.

How do you fasten your achievements from “The End of Time” on forthcoming record?

I feel that “End of Time” gave us a great introduction to the underground rock/stoner world and we are very grateful for that. Hopefully those same fans will dig this new one!

One of best album’s song “The End Of Time” starts with country style intro, yet I see that you do not abuse that extravagant musical gem in other tracks. Do you see necessity to be original, catchy band at all?

I love good “hooks” in songs for sure. I also love bizarre music that never repeats itself. But as far as this new album “Volto Del Demone” uses the fiddle in several instances

INTERVIEW: BLACK OATH

Black Oath has started their career in catacombs of Milan in 2005. Since then the band constantly practices in musical witchcraft performing the best they can in a form of traditional doom music telling morbid stories of blood, damnation and black magic researches. Right now Black Oath have new full length release “To Below And Beyond” on hands. I’ve heard their new song “Wicked Queen” and a whole album promises a lot of great infernal tunes. So it seemed right to me to invoke Black Oath mastermind A.th (vocals, guitars) and discuss with him latest band’s news.

Hell and damnation! Salute A.th! How are you? How is Black Oath?

Hello again. BLACK OATH is stronger than ever before and we are planning the return with a new great album, new merch and cursed live apparitions..

Black Oath got rid of Paul V., as I did an interview with him two years ago… I need to ask - where did you dig his body?

Due to lack of attitude and dedication he is no more part of the band.. We all are glad about his decision to leave and finally we have a strong line up with real musicians! Beside vocals, i took bass and we found another guitarist (already in TERRORSAW line) .. At the moment things couldn't be better.. I will never let someone else ruin my band.. B.O. Is not a fairytale but a terrifying nightmare, an horror movie and i am the director!

A week ago I've seen news that Black Oath returns to it's congregation with new tunes of dark and occult under the name “To Below And Beyond”. Will new stuff songs continue same conception you have on other records?

Of course, it wouldn't be Black Oath otherwise. The concept behind the band is the same even if music evolved and became much more mature. We worked a lot on every single track and we made a hell of an album !For the first time in almost ten years i can say i am 100%satisfied and would not change anything on it ! We are ready to lead you below and beyond.

So we can suppose that Black Oath will show their best with sinister traditional doom featuring melodic tunes and clean vocals, isn’t it?

Oh yes, be ready to listen our most intense work… everything improved on the album and we are very excited to hear the reaction of our supporters..

Black Oath have released single “Wicked Queen” in anticipation of “To Below And Beyond”. What kind of songs does this record consist of?

The single is part of a concept album.. An alchemic and deep research ,which is needed to reach highest levels of spirituality.. I made a sort of story with as final result the fall of men.. There's a sentence in the booklet of the album which represent the perfect concept of the whole work.. I will let you find it by yourselves.

INTERVIEW: SEREMONIA

Welcome one of most perspective occult outfits from Land of Thousands Lake. Psychedelic doom rock band Seremonia have released their third conceptual album through respectful Svart Records. The band still holds to features they performed in two previous works: retro sounding catchy songs, female vocals and occult lyrics written in their native language. Seremonia's priest Ville Pirinen (guitars, keyboards) is here to reveal some secrets of band's inner alchemy and new album "Kristalliarkki".

Terve Ville! How are you? What's Seremonia status now?

Terve Aleks! I’m fine, thanks for asking, and Seremonia is doing great, playing shows and writing new songs.

Svart Records have released "Kristalliarkki" in May, it's third Seremonia's album. And I see that you record pretty regular as if you have some certain plan since the band was born. What's your vision of Seremonia?

I think our musical vision is pretty clear and something that comes quite naturally without too much planning or second guessing things. We’ve had a some kind of vision where we are going from the beginning, but a big part of that vision is doing things very spontaneously and doing what we want when we want it. So we do have a plan when we enter the studio, but improvisation and inspiration may change the plan at any given moment. Freedom and surprise are key elements in our vision.

What's Seremonia current line-up? It looks stable since moment when band was born.

Noora Federley –vocals, Teemu Markkula –guitar, Ville Pirinen –guitar, Erno Taipale –drums, Ilkka Vekka –bass. When we recorded the first album Teemu was “only” the engineer & producer, but he’s been playing guitar since the first live show, so it’s a stable line-up. Mikko Siltanen is a sort of special extra member of the band, he’s also been playing guitar on many of our shows, and also does some crazy wah wah soloing on the new album.

REVIEW: BROKEN GURU - BENT UP HALO

Have you ever wondered, “What if The Pixies were a retro-60s psycheldelic rock band?” Well if you have then you’ll find it with Broken Guru. I’m a big fan of Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats so I enjoy a little psychedelic freak out every now and again and that’s exactly what you’ll get in Bent Up Halo. You’ll catch flashes of 60s rock you’ll recognize if you’re musical knowledge extends that far but rather than sounding old and rehashed Broken Guru make these groovy sounds fresh marking them with their own funky flavor.

The album starts off with what is my favorite track in Plight of Imemine which really just rocks starting the album off on a high note. It’s a fun song kicking the album off on the right foot letting you know that you can just sit back and groove for the next 45 minutes or so. As you listen along the biggest thing that comes across is that Broken Guru seem to just be having fun and it comes across loud and clear from start to finish. They firmly know what they like to do and they just do it which is refreshing in and of itself.

WATCH THE CHRISTIAN MISTRESS MUSIC VIDEO FOR "OPEN ROAD"

Check out the music video for "Open Road", directed by Christine Davis (Christian Mistress vocalist) and Marit Schmidt, now below.  "Open Road" appears on Christian Mistress's forthcoming album To Your Death.  Coming September 18th, this album is an 8-song excursion in pure American heavy metal. Marked by the powerful vocals of Christine Davis and the rich harmonies of guitar duo Oscar Sparbel and Tim Diedrich, Christian Mistress is simultaneously relevant and anachronistic.  The band serves the song, the art, and the listener with To Your Death ignoring the line drawn between past, present and future.

See Christian Mistress on tour across North America in September and Europe/UK in October in support of To Your Death. (Tour Dates below)

ALL THEM WITCHES SHARE A NEW TRACK, "DIRT PREACHERS"

All Them Witches, the Nashville psych-rock quartet whose recent Bonnaroo debut was heralded by Fuse, American Songwriter, Consequence of Sound and the Nashville Scene, release their label debut, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker, on Oct. 30 via New West Records.

Have a listen to their new song below titled, “Dirt Preachers."  The song is one of the nine new tracks recorded during the band’s seclusion at a remote cabin in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“You couldn’t hardly walk in there, dodging cables, mics and guitars,” Parks says of the small space, “the cabin was a wreck. We immediately got up there, unloaded our 15 seater van and a trailer packed to the brim with gear, and started moving things around, set up amps, and a mixing board.” They recorded much of the album live, but used the studio as an instrument in itself, helmed by producer Mikey Allred and McLeod. The location, Parks says, also had an influence on the feel of the album. “Pigeon Forge is tourist central, with Dollywood and moonshine distilleries, pancake houses, and Christmas stores. But our cabin was up on the mountain. We were the only ones there. We didn’t have to worry about anyone calling us in for being loud. It was quiet. In the morning, the mist would be hanging over the city, then it would clear up and you’d see all these terrible tourist shops. It was nice to know we didn’t have to be a part of it. There’s a duality that happens throughout this record, that of  the solitude of the mountain and the absolute Babylon that is Pigeon Forge.”

WITH THE DEAD TO RELEASE DEBUT OCTOBER 16TH

Supergroup is such an erroneous term - images of bored playboys pissing on their legacy spring to mind - but the members of WITH THE DEAD have a history of creating criminally good records as long as your arm. They've all served hard time in the subterranean worlds of Doom and the heaviest forms of Metal and have now reconvened to surpass previous projects. They're back - and this time the aim is to maim.

WITH THE DEAD were formed by the founding rhythm section of occultist Doom overloads Electric Wizard: guitarist/bassist Tim Bagshaw and drummer Mark Greening, a pair once notorious for the sheer brute heaviness of their bowel-shaking sound and early extra-curricular activities that involved excess, injury and low-level criminality (arrests for the theft of a crucifix from a church roof and drunkenly robbing an off-licence to name but two). Both have also played together in Ramesses.

TRIBULATION ANNOUNCES NORTH AMERICAN TOUR THIS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

This October/November, Sweden's TRIBULATION will return to North America for their first stateside run in support of their recently released new album, The Children Of The Night. DEAFHEAVEN will also join the band on the trek (plus ENVY on select dates), making this one tour not to be missed!

TRIBULATION comments: "We are very much looking forward to our third tour in North America. Together with DEAFHEAVEN, who are bringing something unique to the genre, we will explore the darkest corners of our inner, but also where it is as most beautiful. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Come and meet us at the doorstep to the Other."

On their latest album, TRIBULATION combines foreboding death and black metal with vintage rock/metal, as well as dark wave-- offering nods to influential bands of the aforementioned scenes, but refusing to fall into mere mimicry. With a willful drive, an irresistible groove, bewitching melodies and a haunting atmosphere, The Children Of The Night is guaranteed to turn heads of both newcomers and the initiated alike. Join them in death, life, and beyond!