INTERVIEW: Kambodsja Shares Their Thoughts on Musicianship and the Creative Process of “Resilient”


 

Hailing from the city of Drammen in Norway, Kambodsja describe the alignment of their own sounds as indie-prog-punk-metal, with a touch of post-hardcore and math rock. Think of the Swedish legends Refused, but converged altogether with elements of good old ‘70s prog rock as well as influences from a wide range of artists from Manic Street Preachers to And So I Watch You From Afar. Refusing to conform to certain conventional musical dogmas, the sounds that Kambodsja present happen to be ever-transcendent and all-around eclectic; making the creative process of their music not limited to conforming to certain genre boundaries but rather, making it about intricate explorations.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Vulture Industries – Ghosts from the Past


 

With the very existence of renowned black metal overlords Helheim, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth, the west coast of Norway undoubtedly always got new enthralling releases to look forward to all year round. The key figures of the Bergen scene truly know what they’re doing, particularly in their respective nichés– and even though it’s not black metal this time, Vulture Industries and their new release Ghosts from the Past (Dark Essence), have gotta be one of the noteworthy releases from Norway’s west coast that everyone ought to keep an eye on.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Leprous – Aphelion


After two years of releasing the amazing album Pitfalls (Inside Out Music), the Norwegian Progressive Metal band Leprous comes back with an equally strong effort on their new album Aphelion (Inside Out Music). This is the kind of album that is released in what seems to be perfect timing, particularly for those who are going through some type of mental health issue. The quintet brings a variable set of songs that can capture both the passion and dexterity of the band in what seems to be a great year for Progressive Metal/Rock music.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Vreid – Wild North West


Black metal connoisseurs rejoice!

The latest Vreid record is an homage to the classic black metal sound the members helped create way back in the days of Windir while simultaneously experimenting with bold new soundscapes and storytelling. Wild North West (Season of Mist) is a pounding cataclysm of power and fury, yet it does so with a style and panache in a way that only these Norwegian black metal stalwarts could deliver. They offer a fresh take on the traditional black metal tropes while cutting the growls and blast beats with a melody that keeps your head banging and your mind racing, like on the hypnotic “Dazed and Reduced” and the ominous tone-setting title track.

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Inferno Festival 2020 Has Been Cancelled Due To Coronavirus Restrictions


Sad news as one of the greatest metal festivals in the world, and a favorite of Ghost Cult, Inferno Festival 2020, set to take place in Oslo, Norway has been totally canceled. The fest was to feature Kreator, Mayhem, Triumph of Death, Amorphis, Venom, Gorgoroth, Marduk, Ihsahn, Kampfar, and many more! According to a message from the festival, “all public events in Norway are banned until the end of April, and this period might be extended. The health authorities estimate 4-5 months. So, there are no chance that we can make Inferno happen this year.” See a message from the fest here: Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Leprous – Pitfalls


Mental health is a topic that many artists have engaged in recent times, from different perspectives and outlines, but when put into music, as an audience, we can be able to identify ourselves with it even more; it’s like having a soundtrack to your pain. This is exactly what Leprous brings with their new album Pitfalls (Inside Out Music). Keep in mind though, if you are a fan of the band and you’re looking for Heavy Progressive music, you should open your mind a bit, because the majority of this album is not heavy. Now, the fact that this is not a heavy album should not mislead you since this is probably one of the best-written albums of the year. There are tracks like ‘I Lose Hope’ and ‘By My Throne’ that are even danceable tracks (think House music and stuff in that vein) but there are tracks like ‘Foreigner’ and ‘The Sky is Red’ that have some riffing that characterize the heavy side of the band. Continue reading


Triumph of Death, Amorphis, Asphyx, Oranssi Pazuzu, and The Great Old Ones are The Final Bands Booked for Inferno Metal Festival 2020!


Events Center, Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV 8/17/19

Inferno Metal Festival has booked its final five bands for the 20th anniversary in 2020, and they are all legends. Triumph of Death (Hellhammer/Celtic Frost band led by Tom G. Warrior), Amorphis, Asphyx, Oranssi Pazuzu, and The Great Old Ones will perform at the fest in Oslo, Norway next spring, on 9-12 of April. The full lineup and details can be found below. Continue reading


Blood Command – Return Of The Arsonist


While Return Of The Arsonist (Fysisk Format) is a spiritual successor to the Hand Us The Alpha Male EP, the eight-year gap really shows the songwriting prowess Blood Command have amassed. There is less of a focus on the high octane, scattergun approach to the song structures and, as a result, more memorable moments.Continue reading


1349 – Dødskamp


In addition to being one of Norway’s finest and most consistent Black Metal purveyors, we now know that 1349 are also patrons to the fine arts. You see, 1349 was part of a group of artists selected by Innovasjon Norge, Visit Norway and the Munch Museum to musically interpret the work of Norwegian artist Edvard Munch. I’ve read that Black Metal is Norway’s largest cultural export so it’s only fitting to have one if its most deft practitioners get in on that Munch action. Continue reading


Mystifier – Protogoni Mavri Magiki Dynasteia


Brazilian Black Metallers Mystifier are a bit like the humble Coelacanth, a strange creature seldom seen and often assumed dead, but still rising from the depths now and then to remind us all it’s still there and will doubtless outlive us all.Continue reading