The Protagonist – A Rebours (1998)

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. The Eternal Abjectness Of Life 06:12
2. Kämpfende Pferde 06:39
3. Mutability 06:30
4. Zoroaster 05:48
5. Song Of Innocence 04:53
6. The Puritan 06:38
7. Imitation 05:08
8. The End 06:02

Between 1987 and 1991 Magnus Sundström (also in Des Esseintes) started collaborating

with Peter Nyström (Negru Voda, Megaptera, Each Dawn I Die) on the projects Fiskebåtarna and First Aid.

After Nyström joined Megaptera Magnus Sundström was involved on another project in 1992 called Twat.

It wasn't until 1994 that Sundström discovered that he could make industrial music

when Peter Nyström asked him if he wanted to participate on a split tape together with his new side project Negru Voda. Sundström accepted and after choosing the name Third Eye

 the split cassette was released later that year on the Italian label Slaughter Productions.
In 1995 Third Eye also appeared on the Death In June tribute compilation "Heilige Tod".
In 1996 after changing the name to The Protagonist Sundström appeared on the "Palace Of Worms" compilation.
More compilation contributions followed like "Riefenstahl" (1996), "In De Ban Van Tiwar" (1996), 

"Ahimsâ" (1997), "Thorak" (1998) and "The Absolute Supper" (1998).
By 1998 the band had already build a well respected name and their forthcoming debut was highly anticipated.
"A Rebours" was finally released in late 1998 through Cold Meat Industry 

and was excitedly greeted and well received by the dark industrial crowd.
The album's modern classical/orchestral music draws a lot of inspiration from cinematic and literary sources

as well as the ancient zoroastric religion, leaving little doubt about the ardour

with which Sundström approaches his compositions.
Guest appearances on vocals featured Mark St. John Ellis (Elijah's Mantle),

Peter Pettersson (Arcana), Mårten Kellerman (Each Dawn I Die), and Izze.
In 2005 Magnus Sundström released the MCD "Interim"

and later the same year his second, and last, album entitled "Songs Of Experience".

Memory

Otus Scops – Les Neiges Éternelles (Demo 1994)

Country: Austria

Tracklist

1. Myth 07:25
2. Everlasting Snow 13:08
3. Myth (Bonus Instrumental Version) 07:25
4. Everlasting Snow (Bonus Instrumental Version) 13:08

Mostly known for the involvement of Renaud Tschirner (Elend, ex-Korovakill etc.),

the band was created around 1992 and had continuously faced line-up problems.
The core trio of keyboards/synths, violin/vocals and drums, untypical for any metal band,

was finally completed by a permanent guitar player in 1993.
From the start, the electric violin used heavy distortion, as a guitar substitute,

and the synths provided the base of the band's sound.
In 1993 with the addition of Roland Wurzer (Darkwell) on bass guitar, Otus Scops set the foundations of a strong line up.
A few concerts were played in 1994, and following the release of the first Elend album 

one month prior to the recording of “Les Neiges Éternelles”,

the band thought the time was convenient for finally trying to secure a record deal.
Two compositions that best captured their sound were selected for this recording.
Unfortunately, they were over a year old by that time 

and what once must have sounded extremely original had certainly lost most of its appeal by late 1994.
The distorted violin, which had surely contributed to Otus Scops’s originality,

was completely dropped for this recording and all concerts during this last phase in the band’s existence.
The violin still plays from start to finish on both compositions, making massive use of various effects, 

but due to the two guitars, which could provide the continuous stereo low end brutality a single guitar and violin could not,

no violin distortion was deemed necessary any longer.
Also the rudimentary recording conditions did certainly not help

at a time when bands generally went into a professional recording studio even for their demos.
No serious record label seemed to be interested, so the band finally dissolved after one more gig was played in early 1995, with the musicians either moving to their main bands, abandoning their instrument, or venturing into other genres.

Memory

Netherworld – Netherworld (1996)

Country: Australia

Tracklist

1. Into The Netherworld 01:24
2. Sacrificial Slumber 04:04
3. Dark Spirit Of Our Time 04:02
4. Netherworld 05:39
5. Succubus Descends 04:04
6. She... The Undead 03:52
7. Grim 03:48
8. Horizons Past 04:58
9. Ascent From The Netherworld 01:58

Netherworld was an Australian black metal band from Melbourne.
The band was created around 1994 and after the release of a promo tape in 1995

they signed with the Norwegian label Head Not Found.
A year later they released their first and only full length album entitled "Netherworld".
The band consisted of Morgue (Bestial Warlust, ex-Corpse Molestation, ex-Orchestra Infernale),
Tom Anvil (ex-Atomizer) and Vanthe.
While the band is leaning towards to mostly typical black metal passages there are also some more melodic,

almost gothic, elements in many tracks utilizing Vanthe's beautiful female vocals.

Memory