Thursday, 30 July 2026

Isao Tomita – Demon Pond (1979)


Composer: Isao Tomita
 
Tracklist
1. La Cathedrale Engloutie 06:39
2. Des Pas Sur La Neige 04:41
3. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'un Faune 10:14
4. Claire De Lune 05:53
5. The Hut Of Baba Yaga 03:42
6. The Great Gate At Kiev 06:18
7. Promenade - The Old Castle 06:18
8. A Night On Bald Mountain 12:44
 
Demon Pond (Japanese: 夜叉ヶ池) is a 1979 Japanese romantic fantasy film directed by Masahiro Shinoda.
It is an adaptation of the 1913 play of the same name by Izumi Kyōka,
with an adapted screenplay written by Haruhiko Mimura and Tsutomu Tamura.
The film stars Tsutomu Yamazaki, Go Kato and Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando.
The story is set in Japan in the 1930s where a scholar visits a drought-stricken village
and finds his missing friend guarding a mystical mountain pond.
The friend must ring a sacred bell daily to prevent an imprisoned dragon god from unleashing an apocalyptic flood.
The film's score, composed by Isao Tomita, heavily utilizes Moog synthesizers, mixing classical and electronic music genres.
Scenes taking place on dry land are often accompanied by Tomita's arrangement of pieces by composer Claude Debussy,
whereas underwater scenes are scored by Tomita's arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition".
Isao Tomita (冨田 勲 22 April 1932 – 5 May 2016) was a Japanese composer regarded as one of the pioneers
of electronic and space music as well as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements.
In addition to creating note-by-note realizations, Tomita made extensive use of the sound-design capabilities
of his instrument, using synthesizers to create new sounds to accompany and enhance
his electronic realizations of acoustic instruments.
He also made effective use of analog music sequencers and the Mellotron, and featured futuristic science-fiction themes,
while laying the foundations for synth-pop music and trance-like rhythms.
Many of his albums are electronic versions and adaptations of familiar classical music pieces.
He received four Grammy nominations for his 1974 album based on music by Claude Debussy, "Snowflakes Are Dancing".

Wednesday, 29 July 2026

Mortar – Ancient Rites (1999)


Country: Italy
 
Tracklist
 1. Entrance 04:29
2. Lunar Influence 05:57
3. Hunting The Beast 04:51
4. Black Souls 05:36
5. Exmoor 07:04
6. Into The Abyss 10:26
7. Relics 4:56
8. The Full Moon 03:14
 
Dark ambient/industrial project created by Italian musician Moreno Daldosso.
Based out of Nova Milanese in Lombardia, the project serves as a side branch of Daldosso's creative venture
who is mostly known for his other industrial/noise  project Murder Corporation.
While Murder Corporation focuses heavily on aggressive mechanical noised and extreme industrial themes,
Mortar leans into slower, atmospheric death ambient and cinematic textures.
Daldosso also manages Murder Release, an underground record label used to distribute his own material
alongside physical releases from iconic industrial and noise artists like Maurizio Bianchi and Atrax Morgue.
"Ancient Rites" was released in 1999 through Blade Records 
as a limited edition of 60 hand-numbered copies CDr in a special packaging.

Sunday, 28 June 2026

Invisible Empire – Chants Before The Last Battle (1999)


Country: Italy

Tracklist
1. Intro: Fall Of Europa 02:26
2. Exhortation Au Combat 03:39
3. The Puppet's Master 05:19
4. Into The Tradition 05:50
5. Holy Roman Invisible Empire 07:54
6. Interlude 01:59
7. Behind The Azure Of Adelphi 07:01
8. Brothers Against 02:40
9. Rennes Le Chateau 03:24
10. Rockin' Odal 04:03
11. Fragments Of Honour 03:52
12. The Real War 04:58
13. The Modern Death 04:07
14. Tribute To The German Cosmic Couriers 04:51
15. A Message 01:51
16. ...And They Prepare The New Age 04:21
17. Kobaia Korps (Bonus Track) 06:28
18. Pro Guardia (Bonus Track) 07:07

Italian project that released only one album on Oktagön label in 1999.
Their line up consisted of Lupus (electronics, vocals, sampler, percussion),
Aper (vocals, guitar), Stryx (vocals, organ) and Corvus (vocals, sampler, bass).
Published on a limited edition CD housed in oversized trytich sleeve.
The Memory Link features two bonus tracks, "Kobaia Korps" taken from the compilation Octagon - The Sampler (2000)
and "Pro Guardia" taken from the compilation Codreanu: Eine Erinnerung An Den Kampf (2001).

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Republic – Freedom Through Ability (7'' EP 1995)


Country: United States
 
Tracklist
 1. Herald/Responsibility 04:31
2. Freedom Through Ability 05:13
 
 Obscure project that was formed by Harold Arthur McNeill and James Banner aka one half member of the band Enstruction.
Republic released only this limited edition 7inch EP, that comes with a two-sided insert, in 1995 through Storm Records.
It contains two tracks recorded on 4-track tape in Seattle 1982,
including the song "Herald" that features Hiram Gordon Wells who was another memnber of Enstruction.
Typsetting and liner notes by the publisher Michael Moynihan of 
Blood Axis.

Friday, 12 June 2026

Nattferd – Naar Moerket Bliver En Evig Tid (Demo 1997)


Country: Norway
 
Tracklist
1. En Vei Gjennom Skogen Foerer Mig Til Slottet 06:55
2. Jeg Saa Dauden Seile Over Fjorden 06:31
3. Gjennom Taagen Til En Tid Som En Gang Har Vaeret 03:59
4. Naar Moerket Bliver En Evig Tid 03:26
5. Likstorm I Vintermoerket 04:08
 
Nattferd was an one‑man project by Gernag (aka Bjarne Egge)
that originated around 1996 on the west coast of Norway, in a place called Byrkjelo.
The project emerged after the founder concluded his first musical venture with the band Fjord (established in 1994).
Fjord produced only a single demo, recorded in February 1995.
"Naar Moerket Bliver En Evig Tid" was the first demo release from Nattferd and was recorded in January 1997.
A second demo under the title "Der Den Evige Skugge Fell" was also recorded in 1997 but remained unreleased
until 2026 when Bjarne Egge remastered it and released it through Nattferd's Bandcamp page.

Sunday, 31 May 2026

Indra Karmuka – Su'O / Rana (7'' EP 1996)


Country: Holland
 
Tracklist
 1. Su'O 06:32
2. Rana 07:18
 
"Su'O / Rana" was the first release by this trio from Amsterdam (Floris Sirag, Peter Veenstra, Raymond Dijkstra),
that deals with religious themes from the Indian mythology.
"Indra Karmuka" is a notion from the Sanskrit language spoken in India.
The two titles are pieces of flowing and transcendental droning music using bells, synths and strange minimal sources.
Released on Drone Records as a clear vinyl with a transparent cover artwork limited to 250 copies.

Saturday, 30 May 2026

ACTUS – A Way To The Empire Of Strength And Order (1990)


Country: Hungary
 
Tracklist
1. (I.) Spiritual Heritage 01:28
2. Cataclysm 05:39
3. (II.) Spiritual Heritage 05:23
4. The Mirror 07:19
5. Ceremony 05:03
6. A Way To The Empire Of Strength And Order 04:23
7. The Decay Of A Body Is The Birth Of Another One 07:00
8. Descent 04:01
9. Apocalypse 04:22
10. Tabula Rasa 04:13
11. The Spring 03:20
 
 ACTUS (Archaic Cultic Traditions United in a Society) has been preparing
together with other branches of artistic activity (video, dance) since 1987 and has carried out its work
in the spirit of metaphysical traditions of universal strength hidden behind historical forms
differing both ethnically and geographically.
The story of ACTUS formed as an artistic project dates back to 1987, and its goal remained unchanged throughout the years: to create works, which demonstrate the crisis penetrating our world, but even more importantly,
works which are in accordance with the eternal measure, and which always carry the notion of uplifting catharsis
and at the same time can present their receiver with the joy of reinvention listen after listen.
Their releases leave no doubt about the group’s consistency, no compromise has ever affected the original concept
and this resulted in high reputation all over the world among fans of quality, spiritually dominated contemporary arts.
Starting out from the early experimental, post-industrial, electronic scene, 
the band gradually started to put acoustic instruments to use.
Their albums feature symphonic sounds, acoustic guitars, folk instruments, percussion, heroic choirs, recitations
and lyrics that are sprouting from the clearest source, the traditional worldview.
ACTUS studies original knowledge, which concentrates on answering essential questions
from the perspective of apocalyptic historical humanity, whereby it endeavors to create a new golden age.