Sol Invictus – Lex Talionis (1993)

Country: England

Tracklist

1. Blood And Wine 01:32
2. Lex Talionis 06:01
3. Black Easter 04:29
4. Kneel To The Cross 04:47
5. The Ruins 02:50
6. Tooth And Claw 06:52
7. Blood Against Gold 04:24
8. Fields 03:56
9. Abattoirs Of Love 05:23
10. Heroes Day 02:39
11. Rex Talionis 02:25
12. Wine And Blood 02:29

13. Black Easter (Live Bonus Track) 04:15
14. Reynardine & Abattoirs Of Love (LP Version) 05:10
15. The Hammer Or The Anvil (From Original DAT) 03:25
16. Fields (Originally Released On The Yangki Vinyl) 04:07
17. Abattoirs Of Love (Edit - Originally Released On "V/A - Sacred War") 03:18

Sol Invictus is an English neofolk band fronted by Tony Wakeford and formed in 1987

after the disbanding of his project Above The Ruins.
The name Sol Invictus (The Unconquered Sun), derives from the Roman cult of the same name.
Wakeford has been the sole constant member of the group since its inception,

although numerous musicians have contributed and collaborated with him over the years,

including Sarah Bradshaw, Nick Hall, Céline Marleix-Bardeau, Nathalie Van Keymeulen, Ian Read and Karl Blake.
Wakeford repeatedly referred to his work as folk noir.

Beginning with a mixture of a rough, bleak, primitive post/punk/industrial sound and acoustic/folk elements,

the band's music gradually evolved toward a lush, refined style,

picking up classically trained players such as Eric Roger, Matt Howden, and Sally Doherty.
In the mid-1990s, Sol Invictus spun off a side project called L'Orchestre Noir (later changed to Orchestra Noir)

to explore an even more classically influenced direction.
2005 saw the departure of longtime contributors Roger and Blake,

leading to a new line-up including Caroline Jago, Lesley Malone and Andrew King.
In 1990, Wakeford formed his own label, Tursa, to release his material and the music of other artists. 

The World Serpent Distribution previously distributed this material worldwide, followed then by Cold Spring Records.

In 2009, Sol Invictus signed to Prophecy Records and in June 2011,

they announced the end of their partnership both with Cold Spring Records and musician Andrew King.
The band's imagery and lyrical content, in its early days, was influenced by traditionalism

and antipathy towards the modern world and materialism.
A superficial interest was the Italian philosopher Julius Evola while a more serious influence was the poet Ezra Pound.
The band also had considerable interest in heathen and Mithraist themes, often with an explicit antipathy to Christianity,

reflecting the involvement of Wakeford and other members in neopagan groups.
The 1997 album "The Blade" incorporates an Odinic chant, Gealdor, into its varied laments.
Wakeford tended to write from a melancholic position of doomed Romanticism,

which lamented the loss of beauty, love, and culture.

He saw the American influence on global culture as very damaging to Europe.
The later albums have seen a turn to a more personal writing style, as interest in,

what Wakeford calls, "knee-jerk anti-Americanism and anti-Christianity" has been rejected.
Sol Invictus album artwork has often showcased the expressionist paintings of American artist-musician Tor Lundvall.

Memory

Akrabu – Kispu Ina Ina Nekelmu (1996)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Awakening The Serpent Force (Declaration) 00:19
2. Raising The Serpent Force (Conservation And Channeling) 01:54
3. Summoning The Desert Winds From The Scorpion's Domain 02:06
4. Invoking The Chaos Beyond The Stars 03:26
5. Chant Of The Dreaming Ancients, A Curse Unto The Elders 05:32
6. Conjuring The Shadowed Mountains Of Mashu 03:04
7. Procession Through The Desert Lands Of Sumeria 01:02
8. Invoking The Temptress Of The Dark Waters 03:02
9. Summoning The Ancient And Immortal Ones 05:16
10. Spilling The Water Of Life Upon The Stone Altar (The Sacrifice) 02:59
11. Opening The Gate Beyond The Stars 06:45
12. Embracing The Immortal Wine (Communion) 03:02
13. Conjuration Of The Serpentine Eye (Ascending The Path Of The Vampire) 02:47
14. Channeling The Dragon Realm (Awakening) 02:31
15. Towards The Veil Of The Dreaming (Crossing The Veil Of The Abyss) 04:57
16. The Scorpion's Sting (Penetrating The Sleeper's Astral) 04:43
17. Unleashing The Serpent Force 01:43
18. Releasing The Ancient Winds 03:01

Formed in 1995 with the release of the "Kakos Draconis" demo, 

Akrabu has been the musical outlet of Scorpios Androctonus (Crimson Moon, Sabnack, Possession Ritual).
Consisting entirely of acoustic instruments, Akrabu has continued with this tradition throughout its recordings, 

avoiding the use of synthesizers or sampled/synthetic sounds.
Based on Sumerian lore/ritual and mythology, the music of Akrabu is intended to evoke a meditative state 

utilizing a variety of acoustic guitars, exotic stringed and wind instruments, various percussion, voices and field recordings.
The hour long album "Kispu Ina Ina Nekelmu" was recorded entirely with acoustic instruments, 

chanting and voices without the use of synthesizers.
It was originally released on Dark Age Productions in 1996 as a cassette covered by printed paper sleeve, 
wrapped in snakeskin, all in black velveteen bag with printed booklet in a limited edition of 100 copies 
and it was reissued on it's 22nd anniversary with a different cover, again on a cassette and for the first time on a CD format.

Recorded at the Serpent Chamber, Covina California on analog 4-track in 1996 and performed by Scorpios Androctonus 
with the help of Darke Shadoe on female vocals, conjurations and invocations.

Memory

Pilori – Feuilles Tombantes (1999)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. La Naissance Pour Des Riens 01:18
2. Maple Leaf 04:10
3. Thorns 03:36
4. Talking About Wolves 04:04
5. Morgenwind 01:06
6. Dark Clouds Over Green Meadows 04:16
7. The Burden 04:29
8. Kassiopeia 05:05
9. Deceptive Appearance 04:32
10. 1927 03:11
11. Les Yeux Fermés 03:32
12. Daz Heydenkreutz 05:25
13. Le Soleil Et La Lune 03:41

After the breakup of his metal band Desolated, Gernot Musch was looking for a new musical activity.
What first started for fun in the living room then soon developed into a creative band project 

with Marion who completed Gernot's compositions with her vocals.
In 1998 their demo cd "Soufre" was released and their music rapidly found fans within the gothic scene.
Only few months later Trisol released Pilori's first official album "Feuilles Tombantes".
The band soon played concerts all over Europe together with well-known artists from the scene.
During the years quite a number of musicians contributed to their releases as well as joined them on stage.

Especially Inge and her beautiful viola melodies shaped the music of Pilori.
Th band ended around 2009 with the release of their last album "Until The Day Dawn".
Today Marion and Gernot are still actively into music with several projects and cooperations.

Marion is currently working on a crossover project with Indian and Western experimental music called Zindagi.

Also she is working on the Broken Lines Project.

Gernot is working with Tony Wakeford as Twa Corbies after being part of :Golgatha: for some years.

Memory

Black Raven – The Solitude Of Ravens (MCD 1997)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Solitude Of Ravens 03:09
2. Solitude 03:06
3. III 03:41
4. IV 02:31
5. Macht 03:52

From the 1990 Angel G. Villani has created various musical jobs, including theatre and video works.
His first project was the classical-ambient band Agonije, that was discovered and produced by Marco Milanesio of DsorDNE.
In 1991 begins the collaboration with Marco Milanesio and between 1991 and 1994 
he participates in the Festival Young Cinema of Turin with his works of experimental video.
In 1994 Agonije released their first cd Testament, produced and distributed by the Swiss label of contemporary music 
Ar-Goat / Allegoria Rec. while Villani gives live performances in Italy and Switzerland in collaboration with Kor-At.
In 1997 the same label, publishes the cd of his new project Black Raven entitled The Solitude Of Ravens, 
composed with the American musician Michael Todd.
After that Villani begins his collaboration with Claudio Ottavi Fabbrianesi, musician and director of theater and cinema 
and together they produce the video-installation: Figura Umana of Agar Teatro, 
a job inspired to the works of Francis Bacon and collaborates with Paola Bianchi and Paola Chiama.
In 2007 he finishes the project: En-d-Core, initiated to Mexico City and he meets Peter Greenaway. 
He also creates in Barcelona the video-installations Esperar and Blues For Derek, 
with the latter one being inspired by the jobs of Derek Jarman and William S. Burroughs.
He currently works between Turin and Barcelona.

Memory

Strength Through Joy – The Force Of Truth And Lies (1995)

Country: Australia

Tracklist

1. The Force Of Truth And Lies 05:40
2. Master And Slave 05:00
3. Rosin Dubh 05:53
4. The Blond Beast 02:34
5. The Bridge 05:04
6. Absolute Power 03:45
7. The Force Of Truth And Lies (Instrumental) 05:33
8. A Grave For Burning Wings 04:03
9. Life's Absurdity 04:19

Strength Through Joy was founded in Adelaide, Australia in 1991 
by bassist Timothy Jenn and vocalist Richard Leviathan.
After cutting a short demo of dark folk material, the band wrote to Death in June leader 
Douglas Pearce to ask his permission to send a demo to him. 
Pearce responded affirmatively and then pointed out that he actually lived 
only a little more than 10 kilometers down the road from them.
Upon their meeting, Pearce agreed to produce Strength Through Joy’s first album.
In 1994, Strength Through Joy released a single on vinyl called Dark Rose that featured three songs.
Later that same year, Pearce produced Strength Through Joy’s first full-length album, The Force Of Truth And Lies.
The song A Grave For Burning Wings features Douglas Pearce that actually sings and plays acoustic guitar.
The band released their second album in 1996 called Salute To The Light before disbanding.
In 2000 Jenn and Leviathan formed Ostara taking their music towards a more pop oriented direction.

Memory

The Absolute Supper (1998)

Label: Cold Meat Industry

Tracklist

Disk 1

1. In Slaughter Natives – INRI... Raped By The Cross 08:36
2. The Protagonist – Imitation 04:43
3. The Protagonist – Zoroaster 05:51
4. Ordo Equilibrio – The Perplexity Of Hybris. I Glorify Myself 04:31
5. Sanctum – {-} 04:09
6. Puissance – Love Incinerate 05:16
7. Arcana – Winds Of The Lost Soul 04:35
8. Mortiis – Child Of Curiosity & The Old Man Of Knowledge 05:42
9. Desiderii Marginis – Chaos Undivided 04:12
10. Sephiroth – R'lyeh 09:21
11. Raison D'être – The Verge Of Somnolence 06:45
12. Hazard – Who Blew Out The Northern Lights? 05:50

Disk 2
1. Brighter Death Now – I Wish I Was A Little Girl 09:41
2. Frozen Faces – Zyklon B Doll 05:53
3. Mz.412 – N.B.S. Act 1 - Begravning 05:34
4. Megaptera – Don't Desecrate The Dead 06:31
5. Deutsch Nepal – Logo 09:37
6. Nacht – Svartsinn 08:12
7. Archon Satani – A Time Of Ruin 06:19
8. Ildfrost – Hearts Perturbe 05:07
9. Ildfrost – Slept Awake 02:15
10. Cintecele Diavolui – The Devil Must Kill 05:50

Cold Meat Industry was a Swedish independent record label, 
which specialized in dark ambient, death industrial, noise music and neo-classical.
It was founded by Roger Karmanik (mainly known for his project Brighter Death Now) in 1987.
At the time of its spreading popularity, end 1980s and mainly early 1990s, 
the label introduced a genuine innovation in music history. 
Especially within the gothic and industrial scenes, the innovations would become legendary.
In the early nineties, the phrase "Cold Meat Industry" for a while even denoted a musical genre, 
that is the avantgarde genre of industrial and dark ambient.
Cruel Moon International, Death Factory, and Sound Source were some of the most known sublabels of Cold Meat Industry.
In February 2014 a notification posted on the CMI facebook page claimed the official end of the label. 
The Absolute Supper released as a double cd in a quad-panel digipak and featured some of the major bands of the label.

Memory

Sixteen Horsepower ‎– Sackcloth 'N' Ashes (1995)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. I Seen What I Saw 03:21
2. Black Soul Choir 03:52
3. Scrawled In Sap 02:16
4. Horse Head 03:01
5. Ruthie Lingle 02:11
6. Harm's Way 03:20
7. Black Bush 03:16
8. Heel On The Shovel 03:11
9. American Wheeze 03:33
10. Red Neck Reel 02:41
11. Prison Shoe Romp 03:11
12. Neck On The New Blade 03:13
13. Strong Man 04:21

16 Horsepower was an American alternative country music group based in Denver, Colorado. 

Their music often invoked religious imagery dealing with conflict, redemption, punishment, 

and guilt through David Eugene Edwards's lyrics and the heavy use of traditional bluegrass, gospel 

and Appalachian instrumentation cross-bred with rock. 

For the bulk of its career, the band consisted of Edwards, Jean-Yves Tola and Pascal Humbert, 

the latter two formerly of the French band Passion Fodder. 

After releasing four studio albums and touring extensively, the group broke up in 2005, 

citing "mostly political and spiritual" differences. 

The members remain active in the groups Woven Hand and Lilium.

16 Horsepower are among the Denver-based bands credited for laying the foundation 

for what today has become known as "Gothic Americana".

A music video was made for the track "Black Soul Choir" directed by the Brothers Quay.

Memory

Backworld ‎– Anthems From The Pleasure Park (1999)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Of Seven Things 02:33
2. Leaves Of Autumn 03:44
3. Pleasure Park 03:33
4. Flowers Of Passion 04:09
5. The Devil's Plaything 04:11
6. Sirens Of Titan 04:04
7. Destroying Angel 02:34
8. Lake Of Ice 03:20
9. After The Fall 04:14
10. Magick Is Love 04:31
11. In The Beginning Was The End 03:59
12. The Shadow Of Eden 04:59
13. The Naked Soul 03:56
14. Bed Of Stone 02:57

Joseph Budenholzer grew up in Nebraska, immersed in the rural lore and religious traditions of the region.

As a boy he attended parochial school where he was taught by nuns to play guitar for folk Mass.
Backworld was formed in 1993 owing to Budenholzer’s growing passion for English folk music,

 minimalist classical composition, Christian mysticism, and a desire to make music that could reflect these interests 

and hopefully be as spiritual and beautiful.
Guest performers on BW albums have included Jarboe of Swans and Michael Cashmore of Current 93.
In 2006 Joseph returned to NYC after three years living in Scotland where he recorded the bulk of 'Good Infection'

 released in 2007, enlisting the talents of Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian, Gentle Waves),

 David Tibet (Current 93) and Drew McDowall (Coil).
Other notable collaborations include playing in Current 93 and co-writing and producing the Little Annie album

 "Songs from the Coal Mine Canary" with Antony Hegarty (Antony and The Johnsons).
Anthems from the Pleasure Park combines masterful sound arrangement, very pretty melodies and brilliant yet melancholy songwriting to bring you a musical delight. Featuring as guests Jarboe, Michael Moynihan and Annabel Lee.

Memory

Presumed Guilty (1998)

Label: Misanthropy Records

Tracklist

1. Dream Into Dust – Stormbringer 05:51

2. In The Woods... – Let There Be More Light 06:30

3. Solstice – The Sleeping Tyrant 06:11

4. Hagalaz' Runedance – The Oath He Swore One Winter's Day 03:45

5. Primordial – Journey's End 08:00

6. Burzum – Et Hvitt Lys Over Skogen 09:04

7. Amber Asylum – Dreams Of Thee 03:27

8. Babylon Whores – Somniferum 04:07

9. Madder Mortem – These Mortal Sins 05:05

10. Mayhem – Ancient Skin 04:57

11. Beyond Dawn – Need 05:17

12. Endura – Vestigial Horn 01:49

13. Aphrodisiac – Lux Et Tenebrae 04:09

14. Monumentum – The Colour Of Compassion 07:30

A great compilation of artists by the mighty British label Misanthropy Records, 

Elfenblut and Heroine sub-labels containing unreleased and album tracks.
Released in order to protest against censorship in music business. 

The booklet contains thoughts by each individual artist regarding censorship 

and an essay by Tiziana Stupia (owner of Misanthropy Records).

Many different styles of quality music here but of course the highlight of the compilation is the unreleased,

back then, Burzum track "Et Hvitt Lys Over Skogen" which travels you back to the early days of Black Metal.

One of the best Burzum tracks ever, recorded at Grieghallen in 1992.
Hear it and feel the chills running down your spine.

 Memory

Changes – Fire Of Life (1996)

Country: United States

Tracklist

    1. Fire Of Life 04:19           
    2. Sweet Eve 03:04      
    3. Bleeding Out Your Feelings Evermore 03:41      
    4. The Saddest Thing 02:14      
    5. Early Morning Hours Of The Night 02:38      
    6. Memorabilia 04:23      
    7. Horizons That I See 03:17       
    8. Satanic Hymn #2 00:54       
    9. R.I.P. Van Winkle's Pipe Dream 03:20       
    10, The Stranger In The Mirror (Pt. 3) 03:56      
    11. Twilight Of The West 10:37

Fire Of Life contains analog open reel demo material from 1969 to 1974
remastered and reworked by Michael Moynihan and N. Taylor.
Amazing apocalyptic/dark folk band by cousins Robert N. Taylor and Nicholas Tesluk.
Based on acoustic guitar ballads, combined with dark lyrics covering lost love, 

existentialism and the death of the West.
A far cry from sixties hippie idealism!

Memory