One of the best known Doom-acts from Japan is (in their home country), and will be (internationally), Funeral Moth, formed in 2005 by former members of e.g. Deathchurch, Coffins and Morquido. With their self-titled 2006-demonstrational recording they drew attention of the great Weird Truth Productions-label, but that isn’t that surprising for guitarist / singer Makoto Fujishima owns this Japanese label.
Erlen Meyer are a French combo which I had not heard of before, despite their decade of existence. And with this self-titled album they do really impress me. The quintet (bassist Jérémy Abella, vocalist Olivier Lacroix, guitar players Pierre Berger and Jérémie Noel, and drummer Karol Diers) recorded this material more than a year ago, and the initial release was via Shelsmusic (May 20th 2013).
Deus Ignotus are a Greek duo (Reshep and Xolferoth) that released two demos at the end of last decade. In 2010 they also released some material on a split with French (defunct) act Abnorm, and a first ‘real’ record was their 2012-album Chrismation, released via the strong Forgotten Wisdom-label. And now the duo returns with a new EP, consisting of five tracks with duration of sixteen minutes.
Coldun are a solo-project by multi-instrumentalist Steffen ‘Coldun’ Thümmel, whom you might know from bands like Isenburg or Andras as well. With this solo-project, he released a first album in 2007, called Necessariis? Dubiis? Caritas?. That one stood for firm and powerful Doom-laden Melodic Metal. Now, after seven years of waiting, Coldun returns with his second solo-recording, which goes further than the self-released debut.
Avitas are a project from the English-speaking part of Canada (British Columbia), formed by Patrick Myrtroen, who runs the label Bud Metal Records. All Avitas-recordings have been released via this label, and then we’re talking about three studio full lengths, an EP and a live-recording. The latest full length, by the way, called Saga Of The Nationalist, sort of gets re-issued, so I will have the kindness, once again, to review it in a very near future.
At around the same time, Belgian label Immortal Frost Productions releases two albums from Australian soil, one from Atra Vetosus (Voices From The Eternal Night; the review will be posted in a very near future, so look out), as well as the new album by Astral Winter, a solo-project of Josh Young, who is part of Atra Vetosus too (and for your undeniable important information: Josh, aka Slitver, joined forces with Immortal Frost com
Antiquus Scriptum were formed at the end of last century by Jorge ‘Sacerdos Magus’ Magalhães, after he left Firstborn Evil. He had some ideas for quite some time that didn’t quite fit to the style of Firstborn Evil, so he took the decision to leave in 1998 and start his own (solo) project. After the recording of some demos, he signed to Ophiucus Records to release the Antiquus Scriptum-debut Abi In Malam Pestem in 2002.
All The Cold are a Russian project with former and current members of e.g. Kirai and Dead. Nowadays they do not play Black Metal anymore, but that was quite different in the past. This compilation is the best example of that glorious past.
Polish horde Wolftribe were formed almost ten years ago by Satagiah, and the band released a first album in 2008 via the Czech label Radiation Noise Productions (called Pura Odium, by the way). Things went silent for quite a while, but Satagiah (guitars, vocals, drums, music) recruited two new members in order to record the sophomore album, Dolor Aeterna.
Vardan are a very productive solo-outfit by an Italian guy called Vardan, whom you might know from e.g. Nostalgic Darkness, Anwech, Tomhet, Magnus Obscurus or Leaden. I do not have all their material in my possession (I bought / received four or five Vardan-albums in the past), but what I do have is of a very satisfying quality. Enjoy Of Deep Sadness just strengthens this statement.
