Iscarioth are a pretty young Russian formation, on this debut album consisting of Dmitry Martyushev (acoustic and electric guitars, lead and backing vocals, bass guitars and synths; as well as music and lyrics), and drummer Alexander Epishkin. FYI: in mean time Iscarioth recruited Vitaly Smirnov (bass; he co-wrote some lyrical parts too) and Maxim Smolyaninov (guitars).
Grimorium Verum (or ‘grimoire of truth’) are a Russian duo named after the ‘legendary’ book of ceremonial magic. They were limitedly active at the end of last century, and they took a five-year break. But in 2006 this Syktyvkar-based act returned, with Retaliation (2008) and Reborn (2011) as result.
Moanaa are a Polish act, formed at the end of last decade at the city of Bielsko – Biała. Especially in their local scene, they gained quite some success, and Moanaa were able to play live on stage with known acts such as Nachtmystium, Jarboe, Blindead or At The Soundawn.
Orion, at least this one, are a band from Mumbai, India, that did release a demo in 2010 (Reverie Hours) and an EP in 2012. That EP, called On The Banks Of Rubicon, is getting a new life, once again caused by the helpful assistance of Kunal, the truly devoted guy behind the Transcending Obscurity-offices. For sure he is the guy we, in Europe, do need in order to cross the border amidst our scene and the one from India; the latter being strongly unknown and, more than once, totally underestimated.
Soul Collector is the first full length by German act Pestkult, released in an edition of 500 copies via Russia’s Satanath Records and German label Narbentage Produktionen; the latter, for your information, took care of the band’s last year’s split as well (with Erakko, Stardust and Funeral Dust).
Half a year ago, Blandine of Les Acteurs De L’Ombre Productions let me know that they were about to start a new label, Emanations, in order to release qualitative stuff (evidently) that does not necessarily / totally fits to Les Acteurs De L’Ombre’s roster. In mean time, this sub-label released a handful of tapes, and two of these recordings have been put on compact disc too in mean time. Alpha Omega is such one, available on both cassette and CD, as well as the digital way.
Kunal did send us (a while ago, but that’s another story) a new MFL Records aka Moscow Funeral League release, this time being a split in between two great Doom acts from Russia and Finland, gathered as The Symmetry Of Grief. Doom on!
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Svartidauði (meaning ‘black death’) hail from Iceland, and some of you might surely remember 2012’s full length Flesh Cathedral, released via Norway’s Terratur Possessions. Shortly after that release, the band started writing on some new songs, and in 2014 they released two new tracks on tape, via the very same label.
It’s not the first time that Austrian label Fall Into Void Records surprise undersigned with a remarkable release. This goes as well for the split Perception Multiplies Tour Split 2013, which is dedicated to the tour from three sweet projects that create beautiful lullabies… …despite three quite different projects involved…
The name ‘bestial invasion’ is quite ‘legendary’, for there are tens of, especially Thrash-oriented bands all over Mater Terra, that are named after the legendary Destruction-demo (more than three decades of age in mean time; can you imagine???!). Now it’s the name of a new band as well from Ukraine, which was formed by former Crucifix / Violent Omen bass player Metal Priest.
