Age Of Sinfonia album teaser

The wait is almost over: Age Of Sinfonia will be releasing the EP An End & A Beginning in early 2011 but for those who are eagerly anticipating the material of the Singapore based based, here is a teaser of what to expect from the band which can be found on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=473430038018&oid=116825681663879&comments.The year 2010 has been a busy year for Age Of Sinfonia with numerous appearances onstage and working hard behind the scenes to ensure perfection of An End & A Beginning but with 2011 just around the corner, expect to hear more from this hugely talented band

Chugga Ritual 2010

(Dalsix & Burhan Skullbanger, the man behind Chugga Ritual)

Held at J3 Studios and the brainchild of Burhan from the weekly RIA metal programme Vicious Volume, this edition of the annual Chugga Ritual show featured a well rounded lineup of BajoLoco, Musqkara, The Misfit Ramones, AGT and the headliner of the showcase, Chugga Ritual. Combing the various genres such as punk, metal rock and even hardcore, the 2 hour set was complemented by a supportive audience and even at one point, members of the crowd joined in the fun which gave the gig a cohesive feel and a testament to what music brings to the word unity. But it was the bands onstage that were the main talking point as AGT delivered their mystical blend of the Middle East meets Mastodon with the guitar being exploited for its worth, The Misfit Ramones stringing one infectious tunes after another and Chugga Ritual transporting the audience into the glorious days of metal along with their supporting guest performers. Who said that you have to wait until the 25th? Santa was there and delivered the present everyone needed this festive season: A mind blasting kick into the system!

Electronic Music Lab: Sonic Cities at The Esplanade

(From Left: Benjamin Ang, K K Tan & Adrian Lo)

Held at The Esplanade Concourse over 2 nights on a breezy weekday, the recent installation from the Electronic Music Lab (EML) might have looked different judging from the picture as those who have attended previous shows would have expected tons of visuals and vigourous movements from the performers. As for onlookers watching the EML for the first time, their maiden voyage might have peppered with curiosity ranging from the relaxed stationary position of the performers to an unidentified object that resembled a remote control but that is the magic of the melodic think tank: The surface is anything but a teaser beneath it

Sonic Cities featured the trio of Benjamin Ang (one half of Cosmic Armchair), K K Tan and Adrian Lo plus an array of gadgetry which included a laptop, mixers and the unidentified object which was later made known as a Wii joystick. Impossible? That is when the boundaries begin to break down and like music archaeologists, EML dug deep into unearth valuable fossils and samples that complement together like a jigsaw puzzle completing a beautiful portrait or in this case, tracks that bring forth a myriad of tracks suffice to pump through your veins faster than an injection. From their depiction of what city life is all about to historical milestones, EML brought life into the enclosed semicircle of the Esplanade bringing a picture perfect standstill for 30 minutes and an anticipation of future performances soon after Adrian pressed the last button to bring Sonic Cities an end. Yet the buzz still resonates in the minds of many and given any time of the day, the creative suits in EML can stand toe to toe with the best

Mosh Party 6

Its back once more and at a new location no less: This edition of the Mosh Party series will be held at *scape Lab on December 4 2010 and the line up includes the likes of Flawed Element, Metalgunz & Wormrot to obliterate the stage. As an added bonus, there will be guest performances from V.I.N, Thambi K Seaow featuring Shyam Raj and Merkmaid (Malaysia) Get ready to rumble in the city jungle and create some chaos with Mosh Party 6!

Meltgsnow To Perform At Sonic Forge Festival 2010

Local goth metal ringmasters Meltgsnow will be creating chaos in a
foreign land once more as they are slated to perform at the Sonic Forge
Festival on December 4 2010. As Australia prepares to brace themselves
for a hard rock hallelujah from Lord Insanity and company, Meltgsnow is
the only foreign band in the all star bill featuring the likes of
Be'lakor, Okera and Thrall. 3 stages, 12 hours of music and an array of
bands that will gurantee you of a headbangers ball, tickets for the
Sonic Forge Festival are available at www.espy.com.au

Truth Be Known - Sucks To Be You trailers

Taken from their recent release Aphyxihate, Singapore metal band Truth Be Known are in the midst of releasing their Reservoir Dogs styled video that will be released for your ferrous fix of furious finesse exhibited by the quartet comprising of Subash, Damien, Joshua & Gene. Get ready to raise hell, drink beer and sing along with the best this little red dot has got to offer!

Hellsurrection

For those who have been pondering on my whereabouts and primarily absent from here, this should answer your queries:


But with that seemingly conquered and Halloween/getting old/etc out of the way, it is time for the fortress to whip up another maelstrom altogether!

ChthoniC Unleashes Painkiller

(Click on the picture to access the video interview with ChthoniC and Meltgsnow)

Taiwanese black metal band ChthoniC have recently done a cover of the classic Judas Priest song Painkiller as a single and bringing out the motorcycles, leather and class at the same time. The 5 piece band are currently on a tour in the UK after their recent Mirror Of Retribution tour in Singapore with goth metal band Meltgsnow as the opening act and they are showing no signs of taking a break anytime soon! So rev up your engines and blast this song, available now at www.play.co.uk

Tenti-cally, Its Called Art

Click on the image to view the photoset of Shadow Angelina's tattoo

Recently, the amazing Shadow Angelina from New Orleans, USA was in Singapore for a short holiday and just when you thought that her eye for detail was limited to just her photography skills that has seen the likes of Alice Cooper, Children Of Bodom and various dark alternative models gracing her page (http://www.drowningwoman.net), Shadow has a liking for tattoos and the stay was not going to be restricted to just watching the Hungry Ghost Festival (which by the way, she thought was unique)

Together with Murderfreak Shion, Jean Reiki, myself and my partner, we brought Shadow to the renowned tattoo establishment Visual Orgasm (http://www.visual-orgasm.com), opened by Joseph in 2005 and has won accolades and appearances in several tattoo conventions. Incidentally, Joseph himself will be the tattoo artist who is bringing Shadow's idea to life and from the looks of it, the final product seems like a tantalising prospect. Deciding on having an octopus being inked onto her right shoulder, Shadow was a picture of calm as Joseph was focused on wielding his weapon and overlooking every single detail of the artwork as the rest of us looked on in anticipation and after several hours, it was finally complete. The result? A menacing creature of the sea that strikes fear into the hearts of many while comfortably residing on the shoulders of a fantastic individual who was such an absolute joy to be around with

Photography: Murderfreak Shion (http://www.shionsosei.blogspot.com)

Cosmic Armchair - A Second Look now available on Amazon

If you missed the opportunity to purchase their new EP A Second Look during their Baybeats 2010 set at the Chillout Stage, it is now available for download at Amazon! Consisting of 5 wonderfully serene tracks, the local synth pop duo of Cosmic Ben and Jane are back to provide the soundtrack to paving the path of bliss through their music. Click on http://www.amazon.com/A-Second-Look/dp/B004189QIE/ref=sr_shvl_album_2/175-4844973-2264951?ie=UTF8&qid=1284891772&sr=301-2 to get your hands on a copy of A Second Look and you will never want to turn a blind eye on quality music ever again

Baybeats 2010: Reflections

(Click on the photo to visit the Dalsix Tumblr website)


Baybeats 2010 was anything but boring as a variety of acts from all genres converged together at the Esplanade to deliver a show that is spectacular and encouraged mass participation from the crowd at the same time. From today till Thursday, I will writing on my reflections about Baybeats on Tumblr and you can read all about Day 1 right here which featured Rudra: http://dalsixvisser.tumblr.com/post/1040988322?ref=nf. Day 2 and Day 3 will be released on Wednesday and Thursday respectively so look out for my heartfelt reflections and relive those moments once more

Meltgsnow Black Penance Album Release

(Click on the picture to visit Mourningsound Records)

The insanity has arisen once more and after raising a storm at The Mirror Of Retribution concert opening up for ChthoniC and their epic performance at Baybeats 2010, Singapore goth metal band Meltgsnow will be releasing their much awaited second album Black Penance next month. Brought to you by Mourningsound Records, the album launch will be held at Scapelab on 25th September 2010 and joining alongside Lord Insanity and his dark knights are Fall Of Mirra, Lunarin and Age Of Sinfonia. To find out more about the event, visit http://www.fullbattleorder.com or visit Meltgsnow at http://www.myspace.com/meltgsnow666. Let the conquest begin with the shrill of the chief!

Suit Up With A Touch Of Kink

(Click on the photo to visit Kinknology)

Need ideas to spice up your love life or simply interested in the art of BDSM? Then look no further as the wonderful Hendricka has the one stop solution to your needs in Kinknology. Like an anorak of sex, this website features from items to tips on enjoying this tantalising art form and with a history that goes all the way back to medieval times (though taboo and not mentioned much), Kinknology is simply an educational tool to explore your innermost desires

Strobe Like A Butterfly

Strobe like a Butterfly is a visual and musical study of the industrial music movement of the 80s and 90s. The project explores arrangements, formulas and its relationship with the present popular aesthetic environment. By establishing pseudo scientific links and almost downright illogical transpositions of electronic music production into visual art; the team works towards an interpretation of the coveted visual and aural gratification demanded by the masses. The industrial phenomenon, despite representing a general dehumanization, is still born out of human needs. The grand (almost irresponsible) idea is to saturate and exaggerate the formulas and trends of both music and visual production ; bigger bass, louder volumes, more contrast, flashier images, subtler subtleties, stronger language and so on… Essentially, the experiment is that as much as it would lack that human feel, that grace that you would expect from visual-music collaborations, (theoretically) it will fulfill you. It is after all, despite our efforts to convince you otherwise, a rock concert.



The Substation's Address: 45 Armenian Street
Time: 8pm
Date: 23rd August 2010

Admission: Free

Meteoor: Cedric (Meza Virs)

As Chien from Abyssal looks on at the destruction Cedric is about to create, click on the image above to read about what the Meza Virs frontman has to say in the August edition of Meteoor!

The Interview: Abyssal

Its dark, brutal and above all, magnificent. In a interview conducted as part of Metal Horde Singapore, I managed to catch up with the nefarious Abyssal as they provide the sermons to your disorientated souls

i. What is the history behind the formation of Abyssal?

ZAHID :

Believe it or not, it all started with a birthday song. From there, we moved on to explore other genres that basically had movement or feel in any sense of the songs we played. As time passed, we got more and more confused and we didn’t know what we were playing till we suddenly landed where we are right now.

All of us happened to be in the same secondary school and we didn’t exactly start out on the right note. Chien and Hafiz were like bread and butter, Chien and Zahid were rivaling drummers, Zihan and Hafiz used to pick on Zahid, Zahid feared Bakar, Bakar picked on basically everyone else. Haha it all sounds like we were from a soap opera cast.

CHIEN :

Yes, the birthday song was the earliest trace of us writing a song together, but i would say

Abyssal truly began when ‘A Blasphemy Is Born’ was developed about 2 years ago. Prior to that, the band can be summarized as this:

80s Rock (Scorpions, Deep Purple) à Mandatory Metal (Metallica, Iron Maiden) à

Power Metal (Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Rhapsody, \m/ Blind Guardian!!! \m/) à

Going Heaver (In Flames, Opeth, Kalmah) à

Now (Everything from Doom, Black to various Folk music, whether it is going to be represented on the EP or not)

Basically, we met in secondary school, started to play music together (covers first), developed our taste(s) for music together according to the ‘timeline’ above, and began to aproduce songs as we discovered ‘new’ sounds and influences. Of course it (influences) varies with each individual, but the general summary is that.

We wrote a few 80s ballads and Heavy/Power metal songs, then upped the symphonic elements, added Melo-Death influences, then some Melodic Black and eventually arrived at ‘A Blasphemy Is Born’

singapore is/has a very kancheong society, so if you are typical and do not have time to pay

attention to details (which is a very sad thing) here is the summary in 4 bullet points.

-Met in secondary school. [Ancient History]

-Played covers of 80s Rock, Heavy/Power metal [Early Beginnings]

-Developed sound with symphonic elements, Melo-Death. [Formation Era]

-A Blasphemy Is Born. [Abyssal]

ii. Recently, we have witnessed the band sharing the stage with an orchestra (at the recent Clash Of The Titans showcase with the Fused Orchestra). How did this collaboration come about?

CHIEN :

A violinist at my school who leads the Fused Orchestra approached me (and

Abyssal) to play for the concert. They wanted to try out different genres for the second half, which included pop and Jazz and of course Metal. It was a good experience for both sides, as well as an opportunity for us to hear our how our songs will sound like with live strings.

iii. How does it feel doing a concert that is different from a metal gig?

ZAHID :

Well, for one, it was bloody VCH, so it was an honour to be playing at such a venue. Can’t say the same about the management though, but the stage was pretty and had so many lights so we were content. Also, there was more restraint for keeping the tempos and the volume so it was pretty tough.

CHIEN :

The first big difference would be the huge stage and dressing rooms.

The first big difference would be the restraint and inhibiting atmosphere/mood of the event.

Not an easy task trying to balance just the right amount of ‘metal’ to put into the performance. It is no mass ritual: we wanted to respect the organizers and the orchestra. However, it would have been unfair to both sides if we had toned down all the way and did it ‘peacefully’. We would have been posers, and the audience would have watched a lie. I’m quite sure the balancing could have been much better, but it was a rushed concert anyways.

iv. Prior to Clash Of The Titans, what other gigs have Abyssal been involved in for the year 2010?

Mass Ritual II, III which were our third and fourth gig respectively


V. Word has it that there is a disc coming out for Abyssal, would you like to talk more about its upcoming release?

Firstly, it is being produced at Inversion Studios with Cedric, and should be ready by late September/early October for release.

CHIEN :

This is more of a demo-EP for us. We are still heavily experimenting with our music and developing our sound*, but figured that it is a neverending process for any band, so we decided to produce a CD. The experience gained from the whole production, from recording to reviews and criticism, would give us new perspectives to work with for future materials/releases.

*This can be clearly seen from the disjointed nature of the five tracks. We have a blend, or mess, of

Symphonic/Melodic Death/Black, some Folk, some Doom, traces of ‘Classical’ music some Gothic elements even.

ZIHAN:

What is made has been with us for quite some time (for eg. ABIB 1 year+). We needed the right moment to start the recording, and i believe that as of now, the songs are

ready, and thus we decided to go into production.

Vi. The underground metal circuit consists mostly of extreme metal bands and being a symphonic metal act in the pack can be an eye opener to some. How do you keep the crowd engaged by offering a different dish to the table?

ZAHID :

Being symphonic doesn’t make us any less extreme or brutal, which is what we try to reflect in our songwriting and chants. We’ve made our chants a tradition in our performances and we love the responses we get from the crowd. One day, we hope to see our chants being echoed by anyone and everyone. It’s kinda like spreading our seed. yummyyummy.

CHIEN :


Symphonic?: A Preliminary

The label ‘symphonic’ has probably caused quite a few arguments since the times of Emperor. Labels were awesome in the past, because genres were still pure and straightforward. When you say Thrash Metal in the 80s, you know your neck is going to get snapped. When you say Black Metal in the 90s, you know a church is getting burnt. Nowadays, the genre(s) is(are) so highly developed, inter-influenced, confused, and misunderstood that it would take countless layers of sub-genres and an essay to define a band.

With all that said, I am not against labels and genres. They still serve as a (non-authoritative and non-definitive) guide for audiences. Also, anyone is entitled to label us as anything. Perspectives are astronomically diverse as of 2010. Hypothetical and extreme but: A pure Westlife fan would probably label Slipknot as Raw Black Metal. A pure Gorgoroth fan would probably label Sonata Arctica as Pop-Metal/Hard Rock. People from my grandmother’s generation would probably think that the speakers are spoilt when they hear Nile. And the thing is, all those views are legit. Views are never wrong, they are only formed. They key is to always look deeper, and never settle for a one word genre label, unless the band is indeed that. Exploration and discovery is one of beautiful things in music that has been neglected due to instant noodles.

In simple words, a symphonic band can be extreme, an extreme band can be symphonic. The raw materials are all laid out infront of us. Everything has been done before. What keeps bands and music going is the personal/unique way of rearranging and fusing these materials. Use labels as guides and as a descriptive medium, not as expectations.

‘How do you keep the crowd engaged by offering a different dish to the table?’

CHIEN :

Technically, we try to

Mix and match sounds that are already developed, which is what musicians have been doing for hundreds of years. Then we try to avoid re-creating a ‘blend’ that has ‘already been blended’, which is also what bands have been doing for decades.

Incorporate some of the rarer sounds (of which none are present in the EP, upcoming songs probably), like Renaissance music, rarer folk influences like Traditional Japanese. Also, we try to improve the quality of blend that is already common, like classical music and Middle-Eastern-ish stuff.

But, no matter how much we try

Someone else has done it before, and has done it better. So the only option left is to be as true to the music as possible, working with it as children and not products. If we enjoy our own music, there is a high chance other like minded people would enjoy it too.

FIZ :

Different dish? sushi or murtabak? hmm…its the appeal we have i guess…we engage the crowd through our sincere compositions and theatrics.

ZIHAN :

We are symphonic, but symphonies should not be the main focus of our sound. It may be the feature in some tracks, but generally, it functions as support and color in our sound, and should not be treated as prime. Even some may think that we are symphonic on first

impression, personally, to me, the thread that goes through all our songs is more of atmosphere and a fusion of melody and elements of Death/Black. To us, the scene and the genres do not pressure us. It is basically our enjoyment of our own music.

Vii. While most bands jump at the fastest opportunity to get their material promoted by various social platforms, Abyssal only has a myspace page to spread the word around. Too much of a hassle making multiple pages or refusal to cave in to instant gratification?

ZAHID :

We’ve seen countless bands dying before they’ve even started and even more so are doing it just to be famous and known in the scene. We just don’t like the idea of being seen as one of them. Although with the upcoming release, we will definitely be expanding to a few of those platforms.

FIZ :

Music is precious…and something genuine…not many can (truly) appreciate (true) music…its like a contamination…once good music is released it’ll spread around like wild fire…to spread good music, we have to engineer it to the best quality…its not easy to make good music. We wouldn’t want to rush…we want to make proper music with soul.

CHIEN :

We are still young and growing. Too much exposure may not be healthy. For example, we have Doom metal influences, which is not particularly popular locally. If we promote ourselves too much and receive many negatives, some of us would probably want to give up the genre. Not to say that we are not true to the music we make, but we have human blood in us, and it is, unfortunately, a natural reaction i would anticipate. Personally, we have to be confident in and assured of our own musical identities before engaging in these commercial and social aspects.

ZIHAN :

If the music is really of worth, somehow, people will be able to find the myspace page. Besides, it is time consuming to manage multiple accounts. The time and effort

can be put into improving our material.

Viii. Is there a power metal influence amongst your members?

ZAHID :

Indeed, most of us were listening to Power metal, trying to keep up with their ridiculous double pedals and solos. Trying to pull a Rhapsody falsetto. Hahaha it was hilarious but that was the genre that showed us our limitations during our youth and it contributed tremendously to our songwriting, especially in terms of strings.

FIZ:

Not me.

CHIEN:

I’m glad you managed to pick that out. Very subtle. Yeah we pretty much started out as a ‘Power’ metal band, Heavy/Power to be exact i think. Then from there all the symphonic and epic elements came in. Kalmah and to a lesser extent In Flames showed us the bridge from Power metal to more extreme influences.

ZIHAN :

All i can say about this is that from what i learnt about Death metal. All us have somehow liked or appreciates Power metal at one point of our lives. It is definitely more easy to the ears of those who just got into metal and stuff. Personally when i started listening to metal i hated bands like Opeth, CoB, Kalmah and stuffs like that mainly because of the vocals, blastbeats and also the weird time signatures. but as time progresses, we all managed to find the beauty of the art of growling, screaming, blastbeats etc and slowly, we start to leave behind our Power metal influences. Nonetheless Power metal is part and parcel of our roots as metalheads.

IX. Growing up, what did the members of Abyssal listen to and who were your musical heroes?

FIZ :

OPETH, Mikael Åkerfeldt.

ZAHID :

Zahid and Chien first started off listening to boybands, punk rock and nu-metal.

Hafiz started off with Limp bizkit and Eminem.

ZIHAN :

As for me, i started listening to Metallica as my first metal band with the song ‘Nothing Else Matters’. had to admit that although they are a thing of the past, they are still good musicians and will always be remembered as the ones who got me into the metal world. Though i’m now into Melodic Death/-Black stuffs, i cant deny the fact that there are other types of music that are worth listening to besides metal. In fact they are the roots to the creation of some of the riffs in our compositions..

X. What keeps the band going irregardless of the obstacles?

ZAHID :

(Law-ee Chee-an Tah-ee)

CHIEN :

A belief that this band’s (and music in general) worth and value is beyond the overrated achievements of o levels, degrees, wifes, children, buying a big house and cars and ___________ (insert whatever desires mediocre singaporean/human culture lusts after here).

ZIHAN :

It’s simple. Our devotion and passion for music. We enjoy playing music we like and we enjoy making music and getting ideas and inspirations from songs we cover or listen to. That’s what have been keeping us together.

XI. Do you have any plans to venture beyond the region?

ZAHID :

Well duh. singapore is too small. we’d like to spread our seed as far as possible. Dubai, Wacken, Stockholm.. nothing is impossible.

CHIEN :

Yes of course. It will be interesting to see/hear reactions from audiences from/with different countries, upbringings and cultures.

FIZ :

Europe

ZIHAN :

I’ll go for Finland. Sweden. Norway. Germany and any other places that appreciates our music. Even Malaysia. I’m not choosy. I’m appreciative.

XII. Any last words to your fans before concluding this interview?

FIZ : I LOVE U

ZAHID : Huh? We have fans?

CHIEN : Do not hesitate to dislike us, or the song(s), if we produce something that you don’t like. Don’t just be fans. Always let the music decide for you.

ZIHAN :

Hmm…I’m not sure if we really have fans yet but if we do, i just want to say thank you for appreciating what we’ve worked so hard for. Honestly, we never made a song to please others. All our songs are made

genuinely from our hearts and soul. It’s an effort to see how far we can go about composing songs that Abyssal band members would like. To me there is no point playing a song by your band that you don’t like. You become an outsider playing a cover song instead. So whatever Abyssal has came up with is what Abyssal’s all about. If it turns out to be accepted well by the people out there, then its a bonus for us as a band (knowing that we can produce things that people enjoy) And if that makes them happy, it makes us happy.

The Sounds Of The Future: EML

Abundance of music festivals in August aside to appease your hunger for music, when was the last time you discovered something exciting without prior knowledge of the artiste? Like the little known gem that is waiting to be discovered, I was left enthralled and mesmerised by the R.O.J.A.K installation that took place this year at NUS and just when I thought that the Electronic Music Lab would produce something similar, all it took was arriving at the venue for the answers. Held at the University Cultural Centre, the EML showcase was part of NUS Centre For the Arts's House Party and from the moment I stepped onto the premises at the foyer, the crowd did not hesitate to join in the fun and groove along to the unique offering spun by the mixmasters with their cheering and clapping livening up the surroundings. It might have only been a brief setlist of 30 minutes and jostling for position with the other acts but the EML was outstanding in leaving an indelible mark and judging from the resounding ovation that they received, it will not come as a surprise to me if the group is being earmarked for greater things to come. It might have only been a segment for that night but come tomorrow, it will be titular show of their own at a bigger platform. Because when it comes to the beats, EML definitely knows how to come up with the potion to trigger the passion of the human mind

A Rock Salad Fit For Consumption

It might been their last show before a short hiatus due to the fasting month for 2 of its members and the upcoming National Service enlistment for guitarist/vocalist Syam but The Misfit Ramones were not about to go off into the sunset with a whimper. In fact, the recently concluded Rock Salad provided a fitting way to give themselves a much needed break which has seen the punk trio performing at various gigs and making an immediate impact on an unsuspecting crowd with instant results. Held at Fyewerkz, The Misfit Ramones played a medley of covers and their original songs for 2 separate sets with their trademark enthusiasm and laidback candour complementing well with the music that they play. The Misfit Ramones have been steadily climbing up the digital punk charts and with songs such as Your Breasts Are Big and Sai Kang Warrior, it is just a matter of time before the band reaches new heights both locally and in the region. Who says that punk music has to be all about mohawks and anarchy? With a smile and great interplay, The Misfit Ramones brings positivity and rocks just as hard

The Misfit Ramones at Rock Salad

EML Music Showcase at NUS (11/08/10)

As part of the National University of Singapore (NUS) Centre For The Arts' House Party, the Electronic Music Lab will be putting up a showcase that will leave you amazed as original compositions from their members will be used for their perfomance. Like their recent installation R.O.J.A.K, the creative collective from EML has the natural ability to pull all of the stops in ensuring a good time and to find out more, visit the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141965412497822. The event starts at 8.30pm and is located at the foyer of the University Cultural Centre

Absinthe Heart: Dark Skies Within The Beast

As you enjoy Baybeats and the Youth Olympic Games this month, pause for a moment and ponder: What does this man pictured above have to do with local music? Simply click on the picture as Absinthe Heart swaps the usual poison for the Singapore Sling this month

Proost!: Age Of Sinfonia

Formed in late 2008 by brothers Rasen John (Guitars) and Dr Jekyll Hyde (Keyboards), Age Of Sinfonia was formed while being inspired by bands such as power metallers Dragonland and symphonic goth metal band Nightwish with the latter carrying a huge influence on their style of play. After several auditions and line up changes, the band finally came into place with another set of brothers in the form of Elfie (drums) and Andy (bass)plus the addition of a permeanent violinist (JC) whereas vocalist Savvia Lenore was announced as their current frontwoman on 17 February 2010. Combining the sounds of metal and melody in the form of classical music, Age Of Sinfonia is a nice respite from the usual extreme metal acts that Singapore produces in abundance and with the country making great leaps into the global metal scene, Age Of Sinfonia provides a variety that amazingly ables to bring listeners to all genres together. This has been evidenced at their shows, including an appearance for the Singapore Street Festival and the upcoming Youth Olympic Games at *scape Youth Park stage on 21 August while Savvia has recently performed at the Dio tribute gig held in Blackhole 212. Fans of the band and those who are into symphonic metal take note: Their upcoming EP Capriccio will be released by the end of the year and there are possibilities of them doing promotional gigs and do not be surprised if you see their name in countries such as Greece. For a band that is well stocked with talent, Age Of Sinfonia are a testament to the Singapore music scene and could very well be the flagbearers of an emerging symphonic goth metal scene right here

An interview was recently conducted with the band and the article can be found here:
http://www.sdam.sg/content/meteoor-wishblaster-age-sinfonia

To know more about Age Of Sinfonia and listen to their tracks, visit them at:
http://www.myspace.com/ageofsymphony

Proost!: Age Of Sinfonia

The Misfit Ramones at Rock Salad

(Click on poster to RSVP)

Missed their last gig for Toxic Toy? Then fret not as The Misfit Ramones will be performing at Rock Salad which will be at held on Saturday, 7 August 2010 in Fyewerkz Studio. From 4 - 6pm, catch the trio perform alongside acts such as Hatedrome, Scaphoids and Heaven as the melting pot of genres come to bring you a fun and exciting show. Tickets are at $6 and interested parties can contact targetfifty@gmail.com. It will be The Misfit Ramones last show before taking a break so don't miss out!

Truth Be Known - Asphyxihate EP Review

Read all about the Singapore version of Boyzone simply by clicking on the album art to Truth Be Known latest offering, the stunning Asphyxihate

Mass Ritual III: Thanks For The Blackhole Memories

As you would have heard by now, the soon to be iconic Blackhole 212 will be closing down by end August and


The last band to be added to the line up, Humongous C did not show any signs of nervousness as they opened up for Mass Ritual III with Ashley Rozario (Stillborn) assuming mic duties whereas Raguram and Sean flanked side by side on guitars. Inspired by the duo Tenacious D, one would think that Humongous C would follow suit and emulate their source of inspiration but they are as different as chalk and cheese: Ferocious, thrash fused metal that will lacerate your face if you stand too close to the band and remarkably managed to gather a following despite being first in the bill, a rarity but for a good reason. Special appearances by Sathish (Stillborn) and Jaarvis (in an Osama mask) livened up the atmosphere and gave their setlist a Neapolitan twist to satisfy the licks of the masses. Never judge a book by its cover they say, for Humongous C has pages that will stick to you like an Oriental lady on a summer day


Its dark, gloomy and above all, in chains. The nefarious beings Abyssal have arrived and making an entrance that could turn skeptics into spineless heaps of nothingness. Samhain may be months away but on that day, Abyssal took the sun and swallowed it whole, unleashing the fire of retaliation against spoken hypocrisy that has plagued society. Last seen at Victoria Concert Hall performing at Clash Of The Titans, Hafiz and his priests of annihilation delivered on all counts with the middle of the Chan triplets Chien providing the background sermons and expertly stroking the fretboard with ease. The song Colder Than Life was one of the many tracks that caught my attention as the doomy goth masterpiece was a departure from the usual style that they have played and hopefully it will see the light on their upcoming EP


It was finally Jaarvis’ turn to take centerstage with his band Zaganoth and this time, he has opted for a modest pair of boxers with strategically placed tape along with his trusty fishnet stockings. But it was not just all flash and no dash, Zaganoth brought the latter without the need to compromise and somewhere in skanky heaven, GG Ailin would be smiling to himself while watching a metal version of unabashed scumfoolery being played out

Special mention to the rest of the bands who performed at Mass Ritual III as well (Chaosinfernos, Xanadoo & Fallen Thy Kingdom), for being part of a special occasion and powering the stage to life for the last time. Blackhole 212 will forever remain dear in our hearts and hopefully the management will take root in another place and live for another day. Because music binds us together and breaking the chains of conformity

Mass Ritual III at Blackhole 212 (31/07/10)

(Click on poster to view and RSVP to the event)

Presented to you by the showstopping Jaarvis from Lights Out Inc, the third installment of the Mass Ritual series is being held at Blackhole 212 on Saturday 31st July from 5pm onwards and the line up alone is worth the ticket price! Featuring the terrorisers known to the metal community as Humonguos C, Zaganoth, Chaosinfernos, Abyssal, Xanadoo, Thy Fallen Kingdom and Wormrot, it is the last event to send July off into orbit until the next year. In light of the recent dark skies that has befallen the island nation with torrential rain, those seeking to get a tan will definitely get roasted in the pits of Blackhole 212 in the presence of the metalocalypse and they will not just bring the thunder, it will be ground breaking lightning served up by the best in Singapore!

Chronicles Of Reverence: Max Schreck

This dapper European gentleman is one Max Schreck: An accomplished actor with the Munich theater and has a speciality for a certain genre. To find out more, simply click on the photo to access this month's Chronicles Of Reverence at sdam.sg

Absinthe Heart double feature: Chateau Of Grotesque

Its dark, gory and nothing is spared: It is the Absinthe Heart double feature special with the Chateau Of Grotesque Volume 1 and you can read all about it by clicking on the picture to access sdam.sg

Meteoor: Wishblaster (Age Of Sinfonia)

It has been undoubtedly a productive year for local symphonic goth metal band Age Of Sinfonia as the year 2010 kicks off with a change of personnel, constant gig appearances and most importantly, adding the final touches to their upcoming EP album Capriccio. In an interview conducted by Metal Horde Singapore, I had the opportunity to interview Age Of Sinfonia days after their performance at the Singapore Street Festival and present the questions that local listeners wanted to know about via email and social networking sites with the band eagerly giving their responses in return
Age Of Sinfonia

(From Left: Elfie, Dr Jackyll Hyde, JC, Savvia Lenore, Andy Swift & Rasen John)
Metal Horde Singpapore (MH): Congratulations on your recent performance at *Scape (as part of the Singapore Street Festival) What were the emotions that were running through your mind before going onstage?
Elfie: It was an emotional roller coaster ride. Though every gig makes us more confident and more prepared, I guess all of us have an added responsibility of not wanting to disappoint. For me personally, it’s more of getting all the co ordinations right. To ensure that all the parts we play and the delivery of the songs is right. Most of us are perfectionist and we do want to give our best with minimal mistakes on stage. All the co ordinations and running through the whole image with showmanship and interactions, it’s a daunting task. But when the whole set is over, I guess all of us were glad that we gave 100%. Playing at an open air event, its comfortable performing in front of friends and families, but its the task of performing in front of unknown people is where we find most challenging. It’s how we deliver to the audience and getting them feels our music that is difficult.

MH: It is heartening to note that fellow symphonic metal band Abyssal had the chance to perform at the Victoria Concert Hall and Meltingsnow slated to perform at this year's Baybeats festival. Is it time for Singaporeans to sit up and notice their local talents?
Andy: Definitely! Our local musicians have the potential to go further but the fact is that our country is small and resources are limited. It would have been different if we were all in Europe and America. Most bands would have made a living playing music. But there’s a remarkable support now as compared to a decade ago and Singaporeans are beginning to appreciate local talent. There are more gigs and enthusiast like yourself and Metal Horde trying to do things for local music. That itself is very forthcoming.

MH: Going back to basics: What is the history behind Age of Sinfonia?
Rasen/Jack: Jack and I were very into symphonic metal/power metal bands like Nightwish, Epica, Dragonland, Adagio and etc. We decided to form a band, play music that we like and write our own originals. Things weren’t smooth sailing as we had a lot of line up changes due to direction and commitment issues and that was until we found the best candidate for drums (Elfie). Andy (Bass) was the next addition when Elfie strongly recommended his brother to us. Jack had the idea of having a violinist so as to enhance our music. That’s where we roped in JC (Violins). We had Savvia as the latest addition with her stunning sopranos. That made us complete. The current line up has been playing together for four months.


MH: Savvia, did you have any experience performing onstage prior to joining Age of Sinfonia?
Savvia: I have been performing since I was young, throughout my schooling and non school-related life. I’ve been on stage as an emcee, an actor, a singer and a musician. It’s been quite while since I’ve stepped foot on stage though, so I must admit I’m quite rusty.

MH: Something that I have highlighted in my recent review of the band was the fact that the band only has one guitarist as opposed to two that is being employed by most bands to handle lead and rhythm duties respectively. How does guitarist Rasen John cope with doing both parts?
Rasen: When recording, I had the solo played over my rhythm layers. When playing live, some of the solos I had to improvise a little because I have to play the rhythm right after the solos. I have few patches on my effect to change between lead, rhythm, clean sounds and definitely as the only guitarist I would have to do more switching between my pickups and zoom effects pedals. Thank zoom for the fast switching between patches so I can conveniently handle the rhythm and lead.


MH: How does violinist JC bring her talents into the foray and at the same time bring balance between symphony and metal for Age of Sinfonia?
JC: The beauty of the Violin is that it can be either a support or lead instrument. In symphonic metal, we tend to hear a lot of strings in the background which can be created with the keyboards. Imagine an Orchestra - the violin creates a fuller sound to complement the layers of strings from the keyboards during verses, and adds to the build up at the chorus. Sometimes, Jack composes more structured classical styles, and other times we go crazy improvising with distortion effects using “Metal Zone” guitar pedals! I guess it really is up to us to create a sound befitting for Symphonic Metal.


MH: Tell us about your upcoming EP that was being played in its entirety at *Scape on Friday
JC: I won’t reveal too much for now but we hope it’s something different for local music in general.

MH: Is there a story or a subliminal message that runs through the upcoming EP?
Savvia: Well, the lyrics I write are inspired by things around and within me. Every song I write either tells a story or has a message behind them, but I wouldn’t consider them subliminal, that sounds too sneaky, haha. But I don’t think I want to reveal too much about what my message or stories are before the EP is out as that may alter the perspective of a first person listener. You guys enjoy it for yourself first and perceive it your own way. Besides, every song holds different meanings for different people. =)

MH: How do you deal with criticism, especially with the inevitable comparisons that are being made with your Western counterparts?
Jack: It’s nice to be compared to other Western bands but we do prefer to have our own identity and originality. Though we have influences from symphonic metal bands, we do hope that we don’t sound like any one of them. It’s for the audience to relate and appreciate. We will always do our best to improve on our shortcomings. I’m also glad that the boys and girls from AOS are one dedicated and disciplined bunch. We do practice hard to improve ourselves constantly.

MH: Juggling a day job and a passion is an uphill task, how do you guys find the time to play together as a band?
Savvia: Our sessions are usually at night to accommodate to our work and schooling schedules. But, I guess for us music is our sanctuary and so juggling the band is not really an “uphill task”. It’s more of a joy and a wonderful stress reliever; it’s what all of us look forward to at the end of our work and schooling day.
Elfie: Definitely stress relievers for all of us, because it’s escapism from the real world.

MH: What plans does Age of Sinfonia have in store for the future?
Elfie: For now, to release our EP, entitled Capriccio. We’re in the production process and we are working towards releasing it in July/August. Then maybe play a couple of promo gigs. Tentatively we have received an offer from Malaysia and Greece to release the EP, but we are keeping our options open. If things go well, we might do a short tour to Malaysia as well. Then it’s back to the drawing board, write new stuff and head back to the studios by the end of the year to complete our LP.

MH: Before wrapping things up, when is the next Age of Sinfonia performance going to take place?
Jack: Our next performance to date will the Youth Olympic Games at *Scape on August 21. Will keep everyone posted our on Facebook and Myspace accounts.
AOS: We would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the people from Metal Horde for interviewing us. It’s such a pleasure.

Much Love
Age of Sinfonia
Savvia-JC-Jack-Rasen-Andy-Elfie

Their upcoming performance will be at *Scape on 21 August 2010 as part of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) celebration which will begin at 4.30pm. Their upcoming EP Capriccio will be released on the same month and vocalist Savvia Lenore will be performing at the Stand Up And Shout Dio tribute gig on 24 July 2010 held in Blackhole 212. To find out more about Age Of Sinfonia, visit them at http://www.myspace.com/ageofsymphony

Forhekset: Stage Smoke And Inferno Mirrors

After talking about corpse paint and death for the previous editions of Forhekset, it acted as a precursor on what to expect here and to put it succinctly: Unorthodox pleasantries. Giving my 2 cents worth on what my ears and occasionally the eyes pick up from the grapevine, this month takes a look into the seemingly huge issue of stage theatrics and how it has destroyed the reputation of extreme music



It all started with a performance from death metal band Zaganoth during Now Suffer and the mixed reactions from the crowd and internet anonytrolls alike when vocalist Jaar Vis decided to go onstage with his briefs and a stocking adorning his head throughout their setlist. While some were appalled by the shock antics and derided it as a tactic to climb up the metal hierarchy, others applauded the said vocalist for his ability to get the attention of the crowd while backing up with an impressive performance to complement the rest of the line up for the night. It definitely caught my eye no doubt but never did it raise an eyebrow since the likes of scum rockers The Dwarves and G.G Ailin have gone that route before so it is not unusual to see a performer onstage in his innerwear and showcasing his inner Manowar tendencies. What I could not comprehend however, was the blind negativity directed towards Jaar Vis and his band that had nothing to do with the quality of the music churned out but for the minor fact that his theatrics left a sour taste in their mouths. An irony of sorts given that part of the reason why these critics probably got into metal is due to the fact that their favourite band was appealing to their and to a subliminal extent, the image portrayed by them



From Eddie to pyromania at concerts, theatrics and image have become part and parcel of a band aside from their music which fundamentally forms the basis of their varied career lifespans. Metal purists will attempt to put down the notion and quickly insist that image is nothing more but a minor criteria in order to make it in the music industry and forming a fanbase but even the likes of Slayer resorted to corpse paint in the early years of their music career back when Kerry King had hair to rival Dave Mustaine. The black metal genre made the two tone death mask an iconic feature with the likes of Immortal and 1349 wearing the corpse paint until today whereas death metal prefers to say it with blood as evidenced in Carcass' album artworks and the regalia of Polish knights Behemoth. Let us not forget the pioneers of extreme metal as well, for it was the head of a goat featured prominently on Venom's Black Metal album (which also attributed to giving the grim genre its name)that pushed the envelope and gave bands the opportunity to use gimmicks as a tool to launch their material instead of being confined to watching Stryper delivering gifts of goodwill. Since then, masked men in overalls (Slipknot) Vic Rattlesnake (Megadeth) and skinned pigs onstage (Mayhem) are just one of the many ways bands are trying to get the attention of the download generation to skip the mouse and head to the record store instead

Back to the context of the local metal scene, the idea of having stage theatrics are being frowned upon by certain sections of the crowd who wholly reckons that it should be all about the music and nothing else. I beg to differ, having the element of surprise has become a powerful tool that does not exist online in order for a band to get ahead to the rest. The music should never be compromised but it doesn't hurt to make an impression on the crowd visually as well

Dalsix Joins Madness Magazine - Dalsix Visser's MySpace Blog |

Dalsix has recently joined the ranks of Madness Magazine as their music columnist and giving readers a glimpse of what to expect from releases both new and the yesteryear and to break the ice, the Danzing album was put under scrutiny. Read more about it at the link provided below:

Dalsix Joins Madness Magazine - Dalsix Visser's MySpace Blog |

The Misfit Ramones Playing In Toxic Toy

Its a non stop rampage from the Proost! featured artiste The Misfit Ramones as they are part of the line up for Malaysian punk rockers Toxic Toy at J3 Studios on 31 July 2010 along with Dropbeat Heartbeat, Frostymug (who also played at The Misfit Ramones showcase), Random Arrival, Morphrunt, Murder By Ska and Shoe Size Nine. Located at Jalan Sultan, tickets for Toxic Toy are going for just $3 and merchandise will be sold on that day as punk music is in revolt and The Misfit Ramones will not be bothered to go to work the next day. More updates to appear on The Misfit Ramones right here including a new track for your listening pleasure on Soundcloud this week after Your Breasts Are Big (I'm Gonna Sue You)

For more information about the gig, go to: http://www.myspace.com/toxictoypiyol

Thambi K Seaow at The Strip Show

Southern style Singapore rockers Thambi K Seaow will be performing at The Strip Show held on 31 July 2010 at the open field located in Merchant Loop just opposite Clarke Quay. Despite the initial postponement of the event, it looks set to go ahead as planned as promises to give both artistes and revellers alike the ability to express their emotions and passion with the likes of stand up comedian Kumar, Mark Bonafide and Wicked Aura making an appearance onstage. Tickets are available at www.tdc.sg and tickets.com outlets at all NTUC Malls for only $15 (inclusive of one free drink) and let the articles of restriction be removed by the madcap Thambi K Seaow!

Stillborn & Zaganoth To Perform At Causeway Chaos

Its a full on war at Blackhole as 4 bands from Malaysia go head to head with 4 bands to defend local shores as Causeway Chaos prepares for a royal rumble unlike no other! Alongside Deus Ex Machina and Metalgunz are the meteoric death metal band Stillborn and the sadistic ballsy act Zaganoth as they pit their horns against Wynken Delirium, Controlled Issues, Predicate Not Defined and Maddame from Malaysia in a no holds barred contest and a crowd baying for metal ferocity. Organised by Jaar Vis from Lights Out, tickets are available at $10 (presale) and $12 (at the door) so do not hesitate and get your ringside tickets to see the main event before its sold out

(Contact Jaar Vis at 91443884 for details / ticket bookings)

Savvia Lenore (Age Of Sinfonia) Performing At Stand Up And Shout!

With Age Of Sinfonia preparing the finishing touches to their upcoming EP, vocalist Savvia Lenore has taken some time off to lend her sultry pipes for the Stand Up And Shout! tribute gig for the late Ronnie James Dio (Black Sabbath, Rainbow) on 24th July 2010 at Blackhole 212. Starting at 5pm, the line up consists of Steel Damage, Maelstrom, Rocket Kingz, Aural Vibes, The Burning Shield, Greensleeves, Endless and Merrapes with Savvia slated to perform at 7pm with tickets going for $6 (presale) and $9 (at the door) For more information and RSVP, click on the poster above and get a glimpse of the steel lunged chateuse

Asphyxihate EP Launch (24/07/10 at *Scape)

Local death metal quartet Truth Be Known will be releasing their debut EP album this month at *Scape, 24th July 2010. Starting at 7pm (with tickets on sale from 6pm onwards), the price of $16 not only entitles you to a free copy of their EP (while stocks last) but also a full metal assault from the likes of Solemn (Taiwan), Bhelliom, Assault and rising death metal rangers Stillborn who will bring Orchard Road to their knees as they deliver the shots down your throat and burn up those veins! Performing both locally and overseas, Truth Be Known has won over plaudits with their full on brutality without the frills that pollute the subculture while wearing their old school death metal patches without any compromise. If you had missed their earlier shows at Blackhole this year, here is a great opportunity to experience the insanity of Subash and his crew onstage! To RSVP for the event, simply click on the banner and be part of the gag

For more information:
www.fullbattleorder.com
www.myspace.com/fullbattleorder

SchmerZ delays the release of Navegante!

Industrial dark ambient band SchmerZ has delayed the release of the album Navegante!. Scheduled to be released on July 15, personal issues affecting DerWolf (the brainchild and sole member of SchmerZ)have pushed back the release of what could be a a fabulous album judging from the tracks that are being heard online on their page. To read more about it:

News from "Navegante!" - SchmerZ's MySpace Blog |

Dalsix on Carbonmade

(Click on image to visit the site)


While I am usually accustomed to typing away at the computer and waxing lyrical on paper, there are times where I go behind the lens either to capture certain moments of a concert or bring back a piece of a country that I have visited. After being relegated to the hard disk or a bit part player on social networking sites, Beauty Through Broken Glass (aneyesettokill.carbonmade.com) showcases selected photos that I feel are capture at the right time and while the selection for now seems haphazardly, there will be updates every now and then whenever a wonderful photo has been captured on my digital camera. It might not be up to professional standard but it definitely tells a story behind those pixels

Pissing On The Ignition: Meza Virs

The skies were hovering aroud in darkness and drops of rain were beginning to turn lush greenery into sludge as the crowd began to gather around to prepare for an experience unlike no other. If you think that it was going to be a hands on the shoulders and chiming choruses in Woodstock fashion then you were in for a huge jolt. Irregardles of genre and ancient folk, the storm has arrived and with thunder came the act everyone was anticipating in contrast to the dull monotomy earlier in the day as Meza Virs made their appearance onstage as the band brought out the chains and facecages to dominate and destroy to full effect. Taking some time off from working on their upcoming EP, Meza Virs did not look lethargic at the very least as they continue to set the benchmark for what a live performance should be all about: Stage presence, stunning visuals and the element of unpredictability and they definitely maanaged to do all of that while not compromising their crafted sound. Combining the snarling diabolical growls of Cedric and sweet comforting sounds of Jasmine along with the cohesive rhythm section that holds the fort with nary a gap in between, Meza Virs propelled through their 35 minute set with a medley of their original songs, a cover of The Cure in the form of Love Song and indication of how the upcoming EP will sound like. A special appearance in the form of Abyssal's Chien as Cedric's doppelganger had everyone seeing double momentarily but the Gemini effect definitely gave an element of surprise, much to the joy of the audience and also fans of Abyssal as well. Unfortunately, their set was cut abruptly by the organisers midway through Tragic Vendetta but disputes aside, the deserved credit to the band should not be compromised at all as it is always about the music first, above anything else. Meza Vir's appearance alone sparked a resurgence into the crowd and it was mission accomplished for the band for they have successfully set the stage alight and showed them how to ignite it right

For more information on the band:
http://www.myspace.com/mezavirs

Meza Virs- Love Song.mp4

Metal lords Meza Virs took to the stage at the IGNITE! Music Festival with great aplomb and this is their rendition of Love Song by The Cure. Note that prior to this, Meza Virs used to do a cover of Du Hast by Rammstein but they definitely know how to give things a huge dose of metal injection!

Proost!: The Misfit Ramones

Formed in 2008 by the trio of Syam41 (Guitar/Vocals), Justin Ramone (Bass/Vocals) and Mizar "The Miz" Ramone (Drums), the Singaporean bred punk band are not just your typical covers band despite the nature of their name that is a combination of horror punks The Misfits and brotherhood bonded The Ramones although renditions of their songs have been sung in The Misfit Ramones gigs as a form of tribute to their main influences. Sounding like a clash between an upbeat cousin of Turbonegro and early NOFX other than their main idols, The Misfit Ramones combine catchy hooks with tongue in cheek lyrics such as Your Breasts Are Big (I'm Gonna Sue You), local matters (Saikang Warrior) and personal misfortunes (Bird Shit) to a vocal and loyal band of followers in every gig that they have performed. This year alone, they have made appearances at Home Club, the Fade Of Blackhole tribute to Metallica and their very own standalone showcase at Chapter 6 with an upcoming performance at J3 Studios on 31st July together with Malaysian punk band Toxic Toy. A laidback candour, easy to sing songs that will hit you faster than a sugar rush and a mission to have fun irregardless of the occasion, The Misfit Ramones will definitely be singing Hey Ho Lets Go until its Saturday Night!

To find out more about The Misfit Ramones:

http://www.myspace.com/themisfitramones
http://www.reverbnation.com/themisfitramones
http://www.soundclick.com/themisfitramones

Meza Virs Performing At Ignite! Music Festival

Catch the imposing symphonic black metal band Meza Virs perform at the Ignite! Music Festival this Saturday (03/07/10) at Republic Polytechnic along with the likes of The Analog Girl, The Marilyns, Plainsunset and many more during this 2 day festival. Their set will begin at 7pm but do turn up early and form the line of destruction as Meza Virs will put on a show that will make poseur scene teens quiver in their pants while the horde raise their horns in full glory

Age Of Sinfonia releases Unfrozen

In anticipation of their upcoming EP release, symphonic gothic metal band Age Of Sinfonia have uploaded the track Unfrozen on their Myspace site and to hear how it sounds like, simply click on the image above and be prepared to be swept away

Now Suffer Gig Review

The lights might have been dimmer than usual in Blackhole for Now Suffer but it was anything but below average onstage as Stillborn, Zaganoth, Xanadoo, Bhelliom and Oshiego put up fiery performances onstage that could rival the sweltering weather outside with the gauntlet being thrown from the word go and the crowd just as prepared



It has been a whirlwind month for rising death metal band Stillborn and despite being unable to perform for Damaged, the five man wrecking crew made up for lost time by channeling their pent up aggression onstage as the first band and while their cover of I Got Erection was not resurrected after receiving a rapturous response during Mosh Party 5, their original compositions was suffice to keep the crowd engaged. A slight stage mishap prior to their set was quickly brushed aside as tunes such as Words Of A Priest resonated clearly and the message was spread throughout the revellers for the evening, notching yet another feather to their impressive collection of caps



The brakes were not applied and bringing things to a halt just yet: In fact, Zagaroth stomped on the accelerator pedal and brought things to a new level not just musically but also in terms of appearance as vocalist Jaar Vis appeared onstage with what can be described as a cross between an executioner and a metal Chippendale beefcake. It definitely caught the eye of the audience and certainly a few catcalls as Zagaroth was bulging with extreme metal testosterone, ready to prick on its skeptics and unleashing the gates of hell at the same time with the rhythm section not being distracted by their main purpose and it was definitely an eye catching performance for all the right reasons in the end. Combining a variety of elements into their music and providing a refreshing respite, Zagaroth delivered an elongated shot to the metal system and the screams from the pit is a testament to their dedication



The best of the rest were definitely not forgotten as well with the remaining trio building up the successful momentum of Now Suffer as thrash infused heroes Xanadoo bellowed a commanding presence that has seen them getting rave reviews in recent months while special guests Bhelliom making a triumphant appearance soon after and justifying their cameo without any moment of doubt. The set for the night finally ended with local pharaohs Oshiego bringing down the house with the wall of death poised to portray their adulation. Just like what the papyrus indicated, it was nothing less than a vicious sandstorm with Oshiego made incantations in the form of their songs that comprised mostly from their recent offering Unending Carnage that was given away as a door gift for those who attended the gig. With the edicts being spread and a rousing applause for Arv Ind and his crew, Now Suffer was an extreme jolt from start to finish!

To listen more:
Stillborn http://myspace.com/stillbornsg
Zaganoth http://www.myspace.com/zaganoth
Xanadoo http://www.myspace.com/xanadoosg
Bhelliom http://www.myspace.com/bhelliomsg
Oshiego http://www.myspace.com/oshiego

Stillborn- Words Of A Priest (Now Suffer 27/06/10)

With June coming to a rocking end, what better to end it than a clip of Stillborn performing their well known song Words Of Priest as performed in the recently concluded Now Suffer. With such ferocity and fervent fans backing them up, its easy to see why Stillborn are lauded as the next wave of local extreme metal bands that will whet your appetite!

Chronicles Of Reverence: Vlad III, Prince Of Wallachia

What does Christopher Lee, Romania and impalement have in common? Chronicles Of Reverence column at the Singapore Dark Alternative Movement site looks into the life of one Vlad III, Prince Of Wallachia who is also known as Vlad The Impaler and a man whose love for blood led to the birth of a renowned fictional character. Who is it? Just click on the image above to find out more

Johnny Shameless And His Minions Slated To Perform At Good Music For Bad People

(Click on poster to view the event)

Fans of Johnny Shameless And His Minions who craving for more shock, scum and cum, here is a chance to catch them live next month as they are slated to perform at The Stoned Revivals Good Music For Bad People gig next month at The Substation on 27th June 2010. Marking their 20th anniversary in the local circuit and bidding farewell to Slowjaxx, Good Music For Bad People features an all star line up which includes Johnny Shameless And His Minions, The Great Spy Experiment, Stellarium Moods plus appearances from Francis Frightful (OP), David Knight (USA) and members from The Stoned Revivals both past and present as they play their greatest hits. Tickets are at $10 and only available at the door