The Gardnerz are a Swedish Doom/Death Metal band that comfortably straddle both genres, taking the best of both for their nefarious purposes.
As a stylistic starting point; think of the old-school Anathema, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, etc. sound, and for a more modern reference point think bands like Eye of Solitude. Powerful Metal that embraces both the past and the present to deliver a portal into another world where this band stride as giants and lord of their strange world.
The songs immediately suck you into their orbit and transport you to the environment that the band portray.
Vocals are varied and consist of growls, shrieks and clean singing, all used to great effect and helping to cement the atmosphere. The singer is adept at switching styles quickly and effectively, enhancing the feeling of the songs and working with the music to create inspired slabs of Metal that you can’t help but be carried away by.
This EP contains 5 original songs of emotive, darkened Metal and a surprising and very-different cover of Darkthrone’s Transilvanian Hunger.
The Gardnerz have created an EP that is chock full of great tracks and enough talent to put lesser bands to shame. What are you waiting for?
Branislav: After quitting another band sometime in 2006, I had some riffs and ideas of mine that were not used in Sangre Eterna, so logically I decided to form my own project, which eventually became BANE.
Summon: What kind of music do you play?
Branislav: The style would be best described as Black/Death Metal.
Summon: How has the fan response been?
Branislav: Mostly positive I guess, judging from the hundreds of reviews published so far our albums got.
Summon: Where did the band name come from?
Branislav: Originally from Serbia, a small country in Eastern Europe. That was until this year, when the band re-located in Montreal, QC, Canada.
Summon: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
Branislav: The current line-up consists of Max on guitars (Frostbite), Edd on bass (HolloW, Karkaos) and Gabriel on drums (Brought By Pain).
Summon: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
Branislav: In 95% of the time, I write both the music and lyrics for the band.
Summon: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Branislav: Chaos. Human abhorrence, ignorance and stupidity.
Summon: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism?
Summon: Tell me about some the songs on the latest CD?
Branislav: It’s our fastest stuff yet. We raised the bar up to 240bpm on some songs there, and for the first time used some orchestral arrangements, keyboards and clean/choir vocals which was not heard on previous material.
Branislav: As far as Metal bands go, here are some of my most inspirational ones: Dissection, Naglfar, Setherial, Dark Funeral, etc…other than that I really listen to just about any musical genre, no limits.
Summon: Which current bands?
Branislav: Lately I have been more into Modern Death Metal like: Job For A Cowboy, As I Lay Dying, The Black Dahlia Murder, etc…
Summon: What is the band like when you play live?
Branislav: Just four really passionate guys about Metal.
Summon: Have you guys ever played in another country?
Branislav: Yeah…so far we have played in over 10 European countries.
Summon: How big of crowd shows up at shows usually?
Branislav: That really depends…from 10-15 people, up to 200-300…it really depends on lots of things such as the bands on the bill, day of the week, season, venue, promotion, etc…
Summon: How is the crowd response when you play?
Branislav: It also really depends on the previously mentioned factors…but it’s very simple, actually – if the band gives their 666%, then so will the people in the crowd.
Summon: What do you think of the US Black Metal/Death Metal scene?
Branislav: There are few really amazing bands, that is for sure. My buddies from A Hill To Die Upon is a great example, also Abigail Williams have proven to be a great band, just to mention a few.
Summon: What do you think of the Overseas scenes?
Branislav: It’s really hard to generalize a question like that, but one thing I know for sure – everywhere there will be ups and downs. In just about any single country you will find great bands, great people.
Summon: What are some of new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Branislav: To be quite honest, in the last year or so I did not come up with new bands that have really grabbed my attention in the Black/Death Metal scene. Mostly the bands or records I listen to are from lets say 1990 to about 2010, and just in those two decades there are tons and tons of good releases.
Summon: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
Branislav: I am slowly writing some new songs, but at this very moment I have no clue when will it be finished, recorded nor released…time will tell.
Summon: What does the future hold for the band??
Branislav: If everything goes fine we will hit some stages in North America during 2014, and will work on some new stuff for sure.
Bane is basically Branislav Panic(began as a one man project). The line up has been pretty unstable and so has Bane in general, as you’ll see on their page here on the archives they’ve been on hiatus(or split up?) numerous times since forming in 2006; 2006-2007, 2009-2012, 2013-present. Branislav moved from Serbia to Canada(wooo!) in 2012 I believe and got a so far stable line up as of 2013. I was a huge fan of the debut “Chaos, Darkness & Emptiness” which proved the guy has an impressive amount of songwriting skill so when “The Acausal Fire” came out in 2012 I got my hands on it as quick as I could and I was VERY impressed. Their sound is extremely Dissection influenced but not to the point of being a full on clone but nonetheless, this has Dissection written all over it. If you feel like you’ve listened to the first two Dissection albums seemingly 1000 times and want more, Bane is definitely recommended.
They even chose to show their Dissection influence and cover the legendary “Night’s Blood” and did a great job. Believe it or not, I think it’s so close to being as good as the original, the only thing that stops it from being on par is that it doesn’t have the dark atmosphere that “Storm of the Light’s Bane”(wonder where they got their band name?). I blame this on the production, it’s pretty polished but it doesn’t take away from the album as it’s not over polished. Oddly enough, the album still maintains a rather eerie atmosphere but nothing compared to the aforementioned album. Don’t let the production being clean turn you away from listening to this, you’ll regret it.
The album opens up with a rather predictable intro “Bringing Forth the Endless Dark Aeon” which is somewhat unnecessary but it does set the mood of the album which could be described as eerie. Then “The End of Humanity” kicks you in the teeth with an amazing melodic tremolo riff with an icy guitar tone. I love the guitar tone on this album, it just has that cold, icy tone you hear in black metal bands, yet another DIssection similarity. This album is loaded with amazing, melodic tremolo riffs, the opening riff from “In Endless Silence” is a great example. The majority of the riffs are tremolo but Branislav also makes good use of chords and power chords which are also commonly found in black metal, Behemoth uses that style of riffs with chords but I can’t really describe them. There’s also a decent amount of eerie, melodic harmonies(see: “As Chaos Rises”, great melodies and harmonies in this track). There’s also some amazing acoustic sections, the outro of “In Endless Silence” is a good example. The leads/solos are very much as the riffs; very melodic, well executed and eerie. if you’re looking for technical shredding you’ve come to the wrong place, the sole purpose of the leads/solos are to be extremely melodic just like everything on the album. Branislav is great at coming up with melodic black riffs, it may be nothing completely original but I don’t think his intent is to be original, only few bands are these days.
As for the other instruments, the bass is somewhat audible, not much but it’s definitely there, doesn’t do anything spectacular but the fact that it’s audible is satisfying considering it’s became a trend to leave your bass player for dead. The drum work was done spectacularly. There’s loads of phenomenal fills/rolls in each track, Occultum really impressed me when I noticed he did perfect on the beginning drum fill at the beginning of “Night’s Blood” and kept up with the drumming greatly. There’s also very well executed double kick, I can’t tell if he was using a trigger or not but if he is it doesn’t sound very mechanical which is a bonus. There’s lots of wicked blast beats as well which should go without saying, as far as I’m aware every band I’ve listened to that has any sort of black metal in their genre makes good use of blast beats. I’m just a guitarist but I play my buddy’s drum set at least a couple times a week and I can barely even keep a beat so it just amazes me how these guys do this stuff. As for the vocals, there’s two different styles; gravel throat black metal vocals and death metal growls that aren’t guttural at all. There’s times when Branislav layers them over top of each other which somewhat reminds me of Glen Benton’s aside from the fact Glen sounds like a fucking demon, i still question myself if he actually is a demon.
I only occasionally talk about the lyrics in reviews but I feel I must express how much I like the lyrics on this album, there’s some lyrics that are slightly predictable but others that are phenomenal. The majority of the lyrics are based upon misanthropy and misery with a couple songs having a different theme. Here’s some of my favourite lyrics from the album, taken from “In Endless Silence”;
“From the eternal night, in endless silence I watch the world go by No hope is left, and all was lost I watch the human race die Take away – knowing I will be Forsaken – I shall set my spirit free… Leaving this world – without a goodbye… Frozen – my heart’s bled dry…”
I’m not sure what it is about this song but when I listen to it while thinking of the lyrics I just get that odd, eerie feeling in my gut, that says enough. Now, for the most important thing about an album; the songwriting. The songs are pretty straight forward, most are within 3 minutes and a few a bit over 4 minutes. The song structures aren’t complex at all but they aren’t all “verse, chorus, verse, chorus…etc.” and I’m not usually paying attention to song structures when I’m listening to an album anyway. The songs are highly enjoyable, memorable and all have replay value, aside from the intro “Bringing Forth the Endless Dark Aeon” and “Entering the Paradoxical Sphere” which is kind of an outro but it leads into the Dissection cover. There’s not any filler on here, not even the cover which is impressive as most bands just run out of ideas and figure “Let’s just throw a cover on there instead of writing another track”. I think the statement “no filler” speaks volumes of how much songwriting skill Branislav has especially since this is their second full length and he did great on the debut as well, although he has been in several other projects as well, nonetheless he’s still phenomenal.
“The Acausal Fire” is a great record from start to finish. They have a new single coming out tomorrow “In Darkness and Hatred” so there may be a new album in the works! Hopefully. I highly recommend this album(and their debut) for fans of Dissection, Thulcandra, Behemoth(particularly 1997-2003 era), Sacramentum, Belphegor and although they aren’t similar fans of Watain, Vesania and Necrophobic will probably like this.
Highlights, no order: “As Chaos Rises”, “In Endless Silence”, “World of Desolation”,
DEAD AWAKEN (Sweden) “Where Hope Turns Dripping Red” CD review by Whiplash
By Vitor Franceschini
There were five demos since 2002, year of its foundation, to the Dead Awaken reach this debut. And the hard work ‘extra field’ was very worthwhile, since “Where Hope Turns Dripping Red” is a beautiful album of Death Metal.
No innovations or inventions, the band shows they do not want to change the world with their sound, but keep intact the legacy of traditional Death Metal. The influences of Swedish Extreme Metal restricted to guitar tone, as the whole work hangs for something more obscure and anything melodic.
It should be noted that the work of Mats Blyckert battery is phenomenal, showing a refined technique and a great variation. Not to mention the insane face. The guitar work by the book, while the low realizes making the ground shake, to manage everything Jörgen Kristensen, who also howls well.
Highlighting the Kingdom of Damnation (Where Hope Turns Dripping Red), Rocket Symphony and his lilting compositions start to fight and then fall in Venom of the Population with his insane broken. A job that will appeal to true fans filled the Death Metal!
Rating: 8/10
This review was originally written in Portuguese and has been translated using Google Translate. To view the original review in Portuguese click the link below.
Nils Meseke (vocals), David Wikström (Guitar), Patrik Ström (bass) and David Wikström (drums) do not know much bureaucracy or ‘mirabolância’. So invest in a direct, aggressive and extreme sound Septekh this third EP, which has not released an official album.
There are four compositions directed to Death / Thrash Metal, but with great influence of Black roots. A good reference would be the Finns Impaled Nazarene, but Septekh has few influences from Punk / Hardcore.
With an organic production that arrives to cause nostalgia, the band distills direct and with a vein completely ‘from hell’ songs. This shows itself in Apollonian Eyes, Burn It To The Ground and Cursing The Skies. Have Vlad Tepes shows the most versatile side of the band and a more varied sound that closes the disc so masterful.
Produced and mixed by Eric Forsberg at Midtown Music in Sweden, “Apollonian Eyes” is more than a proof that the Septekh already deserves a debut. Fans of extreme metal of old will thank you.
This review was originally written in Portuguese and has been translated using Google Translate. To view the original review in Portuguese click the link below.
First of I love the name Bane, not because of Batman’s adversary now made benign by treacherous movie incarnations but like Bane of existence. I knew I was going to love this even before I heard it. The vocals are powerful, and though they do not sound alike, Branislav Panic is more modern Black Metal, I thought of Glen Benton quite a bit. A real icing on the cake, was the song Light The Black Flame, I can not be sure but I believe the title is a reference to the first “real church” and there legendary publication. The lyrics reflect this instead or contradict this assumption. Now onto the highlights As Chaos Rises is the first song to stand out with it’s dissonant tortured choir, The Truth Unleashed really keeps the albums pace going and ending with the strongest and most brutal sounding track Night’s Blood. There have been times when I have forgotten to mention the lyrics, but these are definitely worth checking out. If you are not aware of the violent and unstable, also beautiful and historic, country of Serbia check out Serbian Film, written as a metaphor of the Serbian struggle you can see an origin of the world view expressed throughout the CD. I think The Acausal Fire deserves multiple listens.
DEAD AWAKEN (Sweden) “Where Hope Turns Dripping Red” CD review by Extreminal Webzine
By Battlepig
The Swedes DEAD AWAKEN put this year their first full-length cd “Where Hope Turns Dripping Red“ via Abyss Records on the Metal market. What resounds here off my loudspeakers is something you like. Genuine Death Metal, straight and dark, is presented to the listener. Thereby DEAD AWAKEN have no regard for anything! Merciless thrashing in highspeed rolls like a roller towards the listener. Easy kept riffs which reinforce and manifest the rawness and nativeness of the production.These can be of course also chopped and brute. Even, if DEAD AWAKEN step a little bit off the gas doesn’t harm the bite and hardness of the production. In addition the little short of unhuman drumimng which is hard to beat of brutality. The dark, emphatic growls of shouter and guitarist Jürgen Kristensen go little short of into the Grindcore area. They outstanding fit in the overall structure. This extremely brutal and aggressive musical mixture literally invites for headbanging! Technically adept and forceful recorded you can very well pick out the professionalism of the recording. For fans of brutal Death Metal an absolute must!!!!
SÒLSTAFIR and SKÀLMØLD, there you have two great established bands from Iceland. BENEATH, GONE POSTAL, KONTINUUM and OPHIDIAN I, a few of the many great upcoming bands from Iceland. Yes, the Icelandic Metal scene seems to be booming of late, that much is clear. Reykjavik´s ANGIST should definitely be added to the lot as well, because what I´m hearing on their 2011 EP is to great extent fresh while also being rooted in a classic sound.
The influences are obvious so to speak, but the band doesn´t play it safe either. “Circle Of Suffering” opens with the title track; a foreboding, crawling intro gives way to an attacking mid-paced verse with engaging drum work, blackened melodic guitars and ghastly growls from frontwoman Edda Tegeder. The dark tone is set right from the start, you immediately get the feel you´re in for a rough ride, don´t expect anything polished here.
The band pays homage to the late eighties/early nineties sound of Death Metal mixed with doses of classic Doom Metal. “Godless” uses faster and more punishing tempos with even more ominous results, think MORBID ANGEL brutality fused with DEATH circa “Spiritual Healing” era melodies, very cool and very ominous like I said before. There are also these experimental, horror-like ambiences at the end of each track, which adds a very haunting, almost conceptual feel to the flow of the EP.
“Silence” slows things down a bit, being more atmospheric with more UK inspired Doom Metal verses (plus some utterly tormented vocals) and up-tempo sections with great harmonious guitar arrangements. “Unwelcome Thoughts” and “Death Incarnate” close the thirty minute ride with more classic arrangements that still manage to stay pretty strong. The very well balanced song-writing of Edda Tegeder and Gyða Hrund is what keeps the material from sounding mediocre, a worthy skill that´s underrated in my opinion.
Wrapped in a ruthless, eerie sound production, this band is definitely onto something. The goal is undoubtedly to create good Death Metal songs with means to progress whenever the opportunity presents itself. Nothing sounds forced. It´s not like your jaw is gonna drop in amazement all the time, but for what it is, it´s very good.
The GATES OF SLUMBER (U.S.) “…the Awakening” CD review
by Metal Rulez
By Poodle)
The recently disbanded group Gates of Slumber was quite a well-known object in the doom metal firmament, however, ashamed to admit, the music of this team meet for the first time right now, on the occasion of the renewal of their full-length debut in 2004. Resumption made by Abyss records in the past year is different from the original one bonus track, as amended by the order of “songs” as well as new artwork and cover (drawn by Ken Kelly, known for his jokes cover Manowar, Kiss, Rainbow and … books on Conan) . The fact that I did not know this band before is of course proof of my ignorance, but when describing re-edit this has the plus that I do not have to exert yourself how should I describe something he knows by heart, hehe. In any case – I do not know why, but I associate the Gates of Slumber playing some mighty funeral doom or something like that, while it turned out that – at least on the debut – it was playing quite traditional. So at this point I could begin to write in cliches about sabbathowych riffs, Saint Vitus weight, etc. However, the first thought while associating with the “Awakening” went in my case, in the direction of Oakland and works of masters from Sleep. More precisely, the debut of this formation. The opening number of the publishing house “Resurrection from the Underworld” could easily be found on that album – especially the vocals can be associated just with the Dream. But the “Awakening” is an album – as much as possible the fairly conservative convention of course – varied in subsequent issues goes, for example, heavy metal guitar solo, dirtier, even punkujace, garage motives (of course not la Exploited, rather in the style of hardcore tour St . Vitus …), some slightly psychedelic (or rather the desert?) climates also found … and the “Executioner” from the beginning seems to be almost a carbon copy “Sign of the Wolf” Pentagram! Generally, “Awakening” album feels too can the original (although remember that a decade ago, some other things were on top …), but a well-thought-out and robust and simply successful. For fans of such heavy barbaric play – the position can not mandatory but strongly recommended.
Rating: 7/10
This review was originally written in Polish and has been translated using Google Translate. To view the original review in Polish click the link below.
“WHERE HOPE TURNS DRIPPING RED” is the debut full length release from Sweden’s DEAD AWAKEN. These guys have been around since 2002 and put out a bunch of demos prior to this release. These guys take things back to the old school. They play a combination of European & American Death Metal that was really big in the ’90’s. The music has that very brutal and aggressive European Death Metal sound mixed with a more technical American Death Metal style. These are both favorite styles of mine, so of course I was digging everything that DEAD AWAKEN was dishing out. The guitar work is some what intricate at times and then leads right into fast paced shredding madness with the mile a minute drum beats and blast doing the same. The vocals done by Jörgen Kristensen are a mid ranged to lower Death growl style. These guys are going to be huge in the Death Metal underground, especially after this album hits many ears. This is a must for fans of SUFFOCATION, DISMEMBER, CARCASS, AVULSED, ABORTED & INSISION!
abyss records 