
Informationen
đ„ THULCANDRA đ„
âThe magic of Thulcandra is that theyâre really fucking good. Itâs not just nostalgia for nostalgiaâs sake.â (Decibel Magazine)
One might argue that the artistâs intent is irrelevant. In Thulcandraâs case, taking the bandsâ aesthetic intentions into consideration not only enriches and elevates the experience of the music, it also enhances its value for extreme metal.
When Thulcandra was founded in 2003 by Obscuraâs lead guitarist and vocalist Steffen Kummerer and Juergen Zintz, it was done with one intention: To celebrate the music of bands from the golden age of Swedish extreme metal such as Dissection, Sacramentum and Unanimated; songs that comprehend, reinterpret and pay tribute to old-school Swedish blackened death metal and its overall aesthetic. Yet, after the demo âPerishness Around Usâ was released in 2004 and preparations for the recording of Thulcandraâs first studio album were already taking place, events took a grim turn. All activities came to an abrupt end when Juergen Zintz tragically committed suicide.
Thulcandra was reborn when Tobias and Sebastian Ludwig (both Wraithcult, Ex-Helfahrt) und session drummer Seraph (Dark Fortress) joined forces with Kummerer in 2009 â and the bandâs debut album âFallen Angelâs Dominionâ was finally recorded. With its release in 2010, a merciless winter storm was unleashed upon the masses that can only be described as the an accurate homage to Dissection, including the infamous âblueâ Necrolord cover artwork and the grim reaper imagery.
By doing so, Thulcandra was coming âas close as possible to reviving those fallen heroes of oldâ as angrymetalguy.com put it. Fans and critics agreed, that with âFallen Angelâs Dominionâ the band had âcreated a mighty powerful and superbly executed melodic black metal album with exceptional songwriting and impressive musicianship. Through the debut, Thulcandra show they understand how to evoke the best moments of Dissection and pay tribute while still tearing your face off.â
The band continued to walk this musical path when releasing the follow-up âUnder a Frozen Sunâ only one year later. However, the second album shows increased ferocity, more ambitious and mature songwriting, improved musical variety and better balance of melody. But it wouldnât be until the third album, that the band was going to show what it was truly capable of.
Backed by the expertise of highly-acclaimed musician and producer V. Santura (Woodshed Studios; Triptykon, Dark Fortress, Celtic Frost) and, again, by the visual mastery of the legendary Kristian âNecrolordâ WĂ„hlin, Thulcandra in 2015 released âAscension Lostâ. The album demonstrated the bandâs âability to use their songwriting skills to craft a narrative, and push that narrative to interesting and haunting places,â as Metal Injection puts it â and concludes that âMetalheads who hope to see their beloved style retain both its menacing and ornate qualities should be happy.â Well, they were. And âAscension Lostâ was named one of the best releases of 2015 by critics and magazine throughout Europe and the US.
It was then, that Decibel Magazine respectfully put the band on top of its list of âTop 5 Dissection Clonesâ by stating: âThe magic of Thulcandra is that theyâre really fucking good. Itâs not just nostalgia for nostalgiaâs sake. The Germans are actually writing songs, branched logically off of Storm of the Lightâs Bane and predecessor The Somberlain. If Reinkaos wasnât Dissectionâs proper send off, then Thulcandraâs entire discography surely is.â
However, Thulcandraâs discography is not complete just yet. In 2019 the band announced a new album and a refreshed lineup, featuring M.D. (Haradwaith, Soulscape Project), Christian Kratzer (ex Hailstone) and Erebor (Secrets of the Moon, Haradwaith). Get your winter coats out, it might get very cold very soon.
Written by Anja Delastik
https://www.facebook.com/ThulcandraMetal
https://thulcandra.bandcamp.com/
đ„ HELLRIPPER đ„
Band Description:
Crowned âScotlandâs King of the arcane moshâ by Metal Hammer magazine, Hellripper aims to invoke the quintessential âblack ânâ rollâ sound, mixing influences from classic 80âs black metal records with a more modern edge. Heavily inspired by witchcraft and the supernatural, Hellripper is also deeply rooted in its Scottish origins, using the landscape and historical events as a backdrop for its lyrics and imagery. Hellripper is fast, loud and uncompromising.
All hail the goat!
Bio:
Hellripper is a one-man black/speed metal band formed by James McBain and based in the Scottish highlands. Formed at the end of 2014 and with the release of the debut EP 'The Manifestation of Evil' at the start of 2015, the band have made their statement clear... Total fucking mayhem!
2015 and 2016 saw the release of an EP and a couple of split EPs to positive reviews in the underground as well as the assembly of a live line-up.
The band's debut album 'Coagulating Darkness' was released in April 2017, resulting in Metal Hammer crowning Hellripper âScotland's King of the arcane moshâ.
2018 saw the band sign to US-based 'Reaper Metal Productions' - a division of 'Hells Headbangers Records' and the release of a 4-track EP in April 2019.
At the end of 2019, the band signed a deal with 'Peaceville Records' for the release of their second album 'The Affair of the Poisons' in 2020, which again, was also released to great reviews and led to the band's first appearance on the US Billboard Charts.
Website: https://www.hellripper.com/
Bandcamp: https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellripper1