Daily Archives: April 6, 2021

News, Various

XAEL (ft. members of Nile, The Reticent, Rapheumets Well) release music video – The Waste of Dreadrift!

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Enter if you dare “The Waste of Dreadrift”, the latest music video from XAEL (ft. members of Nile, The Reticent, Rapheumets Well). The video is the next visual exploration into the fictional sci-fi world created by band founder and drummer Joshua “Nassaru” Ward for the band’s new album “Bloodtide Rising” released this past February via Pavement Entertainment.

Ward explains the album’s story in further detail:

“Imprisoned by the counsel of Tymeer in the waste of Dreadrift, Darmak and the Watchers of Xan were presented as an offering to the Sovereign Ruler of Vuul Athmar, Atara Avuniir where they were assimilated into her elite guard, the Suun Vir. Unforeseen, the Queen fell in love with Darmak and bore him a son, yet the queen harbors a dark secret, an anomaly that threatens the outer-worlds.”To experience XAEL‘s planetary sci-fi adventure, please check out the music video for “The Waste of Dreadrift” via the band’s YouTube – 

Hailing from the American Carolinas, XAEL brings forth with them epic symphonic death metal like no other. Their new album entitled “Bloodtide Rising” is a concept record rooted in a science fiction universe that XAEL revolves all their music around. The extreme symphonic release chronicles the journey of a character named Darmak, an immortal who is trying to find purpose in a chaotic and complex multiverse. 

XAEL was initially meant to be a personal project by drummer Joshua “Nassaru” Ward, however, when other musicians showed interest it evolved into a full-fledged project with each member contributing equally towards this current full length and the band’s first album “The Last Arbiter” (2018).

Fans of progressive and brutal metal along with sci-fi enthusiasts will take interest in what XAEL is doing. It’s different, and listeners can get lost in the complex multiverse that they have conceived. Epic and extreme, it is recommended for fans of Septicflesh, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Nile.

The album “Bloodtide Rising” is out now on the following platforms:
Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer, Tidal HERE.
Spotify

Album Band Line Up:
Joshua Niemeyer – Vocals
Daniel Presnell – Guitar
Chris Hathcock – Guitar, Clean vocals
Brad Parris – Bass vocals
Joshua “Nassaru” Ward – Drums, Keys, Vocals
For more info:
Eldersverse.com/xael
Facebook.com/xael.metal
Instagram.com/xael_official
EPK

About:
Xael, based out of the American Carolinas was formed in 2018. The band’s current line-up consists of Joshua Niemeyer, Daniel Presnell, Chris Hathcock (The Reticent), Brad Parris (Nile), and Joshua “Nassaru” Ward (Rapheumets Well). Xael combines elements of extreme metal with orchestrations and folk music to create soundscapes of the imagination.

Xael’s music focuses on the endeavors of its members in a science fantasy epic. From the wastelands of war-torn planets to the pits where the fallen gods dwell, Xael paints an odd and fantastic sci-fi world both musically and visually.

Discography:
2021 – Bloodtide Rising (Pavement Entertainment)
2018- The Last Arbiter (Test Your Metal Records)

Bloodtide Rising Concept:
Imprisoned by the counsel of Tymeer, led by the insidious entity Sen, Darmak “ cursed with a degrading immortality” and the Watchers of Xan were presented as an offering to the Sovereign Ruler and rare species collector, Atara Avuniir in exchange for military and economic support. Finding Favor with the Queen, the Watchers were integrated into her elite guard where they became renowned for their success.

Unforeseen, the Queen fell in love with Darkmak and she would bear to him a son.  Vuul Athmar along with the outer planets of the Eiasian-Rim prospered yet the queen harbors a dark secret, an anomaly that threatens the outer-worlds.

Touring history:
Though Xael is a new project, the members are no stranger to touring. Brad Parris, being the frontman and bass player for Nile embarks on yearly international tours. Along with Joshua Ward (who is the drum tech for George Kollias of Nile), they have toured most of Europe, Australia, India, South America, Russia, and Japan. Other members being from bands such as Rapheumets Well and The Reticent are all versed in national and international touring.

News, Various

Composer Nikolas Schreck releases latest work, O, A Weird Flower

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Conceived on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, in a rural home that retains the peaceful feeling of old Germany, and further developed in multiple German studios, songwriter and composer Nikolas Schreck completed his latest work, O, A Weird Flower. O, A Weird Flower was released digitally on March 21, 2021, which coincides with the Spring Equinox. Purchase it here.
 
An interwoven song cycle about prophecy, sacrifice, botany, oceans and women’s footwear, the compositions on O, A Weird Flower, range from Aztec strip burlesque on “Her Birthday Suit,” to gothic surf on “Night Tide.” “Calling You From Afar” is a candle lit séance sérénade, while the epic ‘’Retrograde is Mercury’’ offers an apocalyptic and psychedelic voyage.
 
The title song is a troubadour lament, which leads into a sinister cover version of the Bossa Nova classic “The Waters of March.” “The Scottish Play” resonates with Elizabethan histrionics, while the doom-laden reflection on our current era of crisis, ‘’Breaking News,’’ tackles all the top ten trends of the terrible ’20s. Finally, the flamboyant organ stylings of Adam M’habbek evokes some of the atmosphere of Schreck’s early Radio Werewolf work with a propulsive cinematic sound driven by the rhythm section of drummer Heathen Rae and guest bassist Jerome Alexandre. 

Presented to the world on the Spring Equinox, which for many signals the cycle of growth and rebirth seen in the season change, provides an appropriate metaphor for Schreck’s body of work. It is constantly evolving with little regard to staking a permanent claim in any particular genre. Making that case is his evolution from Radio Werewolf, to work with Kingdom of Heaven, Skull Kulture, as well as his musical collaborations with Sir Christopher Lee, John Murphy, Death in June, and others. One constant, however, remains the same; Schreck’s eclecticism and distinctive voice offers vivid and colorful characters, stories, and narratives that bridge the gap between sophisticated high art, pop music and playful, albeit sometimes macabre, musical theater.
 
As a solo artist, Schreck eschews traditional rock tropes and pitfalls in favor of the smooth and dynamic range of American crooners. Due to his leadership of the band Radio Werewolf in the ’80s and ’90s, Schreck’s work has been pigeonholed as death rock or goth by some critics. In actuality, Schreck’s musical styling winds through pop, avant garde, neofolk, surf, industrial and a variety of other genres, and for good reason. For Schreck, the narrative informs the direction of the sound.
 
For the unindoctrinated, his first song as a solo artist, “Lord Sutekh’s Dream,” was released on the Epicurean Escapism III CD by German Record label The Epicurean at the Epicurean Escapism festival.  Since, Schreck has assembled a rich troupe of collaborators: Winifred Strauss (keyboards), Ohnesorg (bass), and Heathen Rae (drums and percussion), and a highlight performance was at  the Wave-Gotik-Treffen festival in Leipzig, celebrating the release of The Futura Model EP (The Epicurean).

Schreck’s debut solo album, The Illusionist, was released by U.S. label Records Ad Nauseam at an event held at Zebulon in Los Angeles on August 10, 2019, his last trip to the U.S. It was during that trip that Schreck fearfully acknowledged new, stark realities of both U.S. liberal and conservative extremism. Those observations have informed the dystopian mood of his most recent work to some extent,  especially his recent EP Schreck 2020: I’m Afraid of America. On the Autumn Equinox 2020, Schreck’s album BERLINOIR was released, featuring keyboardist Adam M’habbek, drummer Heathen Rae, and bassist Athena Heer. 
 
Despite his considerable efforts and accolades, and above all else, Schreck has a steadfast resolve to continue forging pathways to new forms of musical exploration and expression.  
 
Visit Schreck here:
https://www.facebook.com/Nikolas.Schreck.Official/
https://instagram.com/nikolas_schreck_official
https://nikolasschreck.bandcamp.com/

Reviews, Various

(review) Žulj – Kultura e.p.

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Remember Žulj from Rijeka, Croatia? They were already featured on the pages of this webzine. Well, they recently released their brand new e.p. and you can get your copy with Monsterbilly Records. This time Žulj deliver six songs and it is fascinating how this band grew from raw chaotic punk of their first release to this, remaining raw and street punk but also delivering melody, oi and untamed punk spirit and love for freedom and do what thou will. Songs are in Croatian language and deliver serious themes like culture of Rijeka, hypocrisy, melancholy, personal stuff and also a bit of fun and joke. Oli´s vocals are stronger than ever and rest of the band is pretty tight and sounds great. This e.p. is diy and you can support the band by ordering your copy from Monsterbilly Records. My personal favorites: Kultura, Melankolija.

https://monsterbillyrecords.com/