Shub Niggurath – Les Morts Vont Vite (1986)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Incipit Tragaedia 15:46
2. Cabine 67 05:56
3. Yog Sothoth 12:28
4. La Ballade De Lénore 08:58
5. Delear Prius 04:03
6. J'ai Vu Naguère En Peinture Les Harpies Ravissant Le Repas De Phynée 04:19

Shub Niggurath was a progressive rock/zeuhl band, formed in France in 1982 and consisted of Allan Ballaud (bass),

Franck Coulaud (percussion), Frank W. Fromy (guitar/percussion), Jean-Luc Hervé (harmonium/piano/organ),

Ann Stewart (vocals) and Véronique Verdier (trombone).
Their name was taken after one of the deities in Cthulhu Mythos created by the American horror writer H.P.Lovecraft.
The project was created after the bands Aspara and Gorgonus were merged together.

Ann Stewart and Franck W. Fromy from the former, Véronique Verdier, Jean-Luc Hervé and Allain Ballaud from the latter.
Drummers had to be changed often, due to the difficulty of certain compositions,

which were at times too free-form, or too strictly written at others.
Their debut album "Les Morts Vont Vite", that was released in 1986 on the Musea label,

received critical acclaim for its innovative avant-garde inclinations,

and major developments influenced by Magma's "Zeuhl" style.
Musea also reissued the album on CD in 1997, including two bonus tracks.
The debut sold well and later, one song appeared on the tribute compilation to Magma "Enneade".
After its release percussionist Franck Couland left, as did Franc Fromy.

Jean-Luc Herve, also being a guitarist, took Fromy's spot.

In the next years Shub Niggurath appeared on the compilations "Douze Pour Un Vol. 2" (1987) and "Dithrambe" (1988)

followed by a live tape with the new line up: Allan Ballaud (bass), Jean-Luc Herve (electric guitar),  

Veronuque Verdier (bass trombone/percussion), new singers Sylvette Claudet and Jean-Pierre Lourdeau,

and new drummer Michel Kervinio.
Prior to the release of their second studio album, "C'étaient De Très Grands Vents" in 1991, also on the Musea label,

Jean Pierre left the band to become a painter and a new percussionist, Edward Perraud, was added. 

Since then, the band has toured around Paris playing for small audiences.

In 1995 bassist Allan Ballaud passed away due to cancer an incident that put the band on a permanent hiatus.
In 2003 Musea issued their third album "Testament" which consists from archive material recorded in 1992-1994.
The label Soleil Zeuhl reissued on CD in 2009 their demo tape from 1982 entitled "Introduction" and on Vinyl in 2018.

 
Memory

Sammath – Strijd (1999)

Country: Netherlands

Tracklist

1. De Glorie Van Het Slagveld 05:13
2. Zwaardbroeders Bij De Bergengte 05:52
3. Strijd 07:05
4. Drakenbloed 05:07
5. De Heidense Vlam Zal Branden 04:02
6. Als Duisternis De Kasteel Torens Bedekt 03:39
7. Met De Strijdbijl In Mijn Hand 04:32

Sammath was formed in 1994 by Jan Kruitwagen,

inspired by the new wave of black metal and the great thrash/death/black formations of the eighties.
Within a year the first promo tape "Visions Upon Winter Lands" 1995 was recorded.
Soon after this tape J.Kruitwagen got in contact with M.Gertsen to help with the drums and the recording.
The following demo "Zwaardbroeders Bij De Bergengte" was released in 1996

and sold over 650 copies thanks to great help from the underground.
A year later, in 1997, the third demo "De Ruïnes Fluisteren" followed.
The reactions were positive and this finally led to a deal with the German label Folter Records.
After this M.Gertsen was forced to leave the band due to a lack of interest.
The first CD entitled "Strijd" was released in 1999 and was recorded on 16 tracks and produced/mastered by J.Kruitwagen.
The CD gained a good review in the main Dutch metal magazine Aardschok 

and an interview in Holland's largest mainstream music magazine Oor.
Searching for more diversity within the sound J.Kruitwagen got in contact with Cor Van Maris

 to help with the vocals on the album "Verwoesting/Devastation", that was released in 2002.
By 2002 Sammath had developed into a full line up band with Koos Bos on drums and Ruud Nillesen on bass.
Two more albums were released, "Dodengang" in 2006 and "Triumph In Hatred" in 2009.
Sammath signed to Hammerheart Records in 2013 and released the album "Godless Arrogance".
In 2016, Wim Van Der Valk (Inquisitor, Centurian) replaced Koos Bos on drums.
After the release of the album "Across The Rhine Is Only Death" in 2019

live shows were performed in Germany, Serbia, Romania and Russia.
Their latest album entitled "Grebbeberg" was released in 2023.

 
Memory

Avoid Catoblépone – Musiques De Chambre Froide (1998)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Heute 04:17
2. Clash 04:15
3. Prisonnier 03:53
4. End Never Ends 04:47
5. Little Worker 05:45
6. Vertigineuse 07:03
7. Humiliation 04:53
8. Les Tribulations D'un Soldat En Solde 24:54

Avoid Catoblépone was created in 1992 by Stéphane Bot (Stafkhan)

and his brother Sébastien (also member of Dead Souls Rising on their demo and two first albums).
The band started as alternative/gothic rock project but soon moved towards a cold wave style.
Their first self titled 8-track cassette was released in 1994

followed by second, "Déporté Sur Terre..." in 1995 with the singer Delfine.
Their first CD album "Musiques De Chambre Froide" was self released in 1998, this time with the singer Nadège.
A second album followed in 2002 entitled "Décharné De L'âme".
In 2007, the trio recruited two musicians, Julien (guitar) and Tommy (keyboards), now members of the band Mamadjo,

and recorded the demo "Don't Look Now".
They also started working on their third album but it was never released.

 
Memory

Ornament – Adorers (1999)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Feed The Fortress Of Hate 06:31
2. Burning Blood-Vessels 05:31
3. New Flesh For Your Incarnation 06:48
4. Terminal Equinox 12:05
5. The Absent God 03:19
6. Plague-Spreader 09:57
7. The Finger 04:40
8. Chasm 08:26

Ornament was the first solo project of Italian artist Davide Del Col, that was created in 1999 and ended in 2003.
In 1999 he released his first mini-album on cassette "Strychninlovenectar",

published by the label Ossarium, which consisted of four structured death-industrial tracks.
His second work entitled "Adorers", inspired by the great plague,

was released shortly after on Oktagön Records as a limited edition CD-R.
In 2000 Davide released the album "Unicorn Lullaby" on Ossarium label, where he explored deep dark-ambient territories.
In 2002 "Yzaniaveis" was published by Blade Records followed by "Effortless"

that was made available by the author in late 2003 on his own website

and later in 2006 was published in digital version by the net label Benekkea.
Davide Del Col was also involved with the projects:

O Diabo De Vila Velha (electronic compositions based on 70s and 80s cosmic music), Nimeton Geist (experimental ambient),

Echran (experimental abstract-ambient in collaboration with Fabio Volpi and Accursio Graffeo),  

Molnija Aura (cosmic ambient project in collaboration with Andrea Marutti),
Rhetra (black metal band with guitarist-vocalist Sophia Anna Pezzaliin),

30 Seconds Over Teheran (collaboration with Paolo Romano of I/O),

while his more active ones are Antikatechon, Cult Of Light (with Ascanio Borga)

and We Promise To Betray (collaboration with Giuseppe Verticchio of Nimh).

 
Memory

Hollow Earth – Dog Days Of The Holocaust (1998)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Floor Of Hell 11:29
2. Scrawled In Blood 10:19
3. Rape Machine 14:02
4. Whispers Of Hatred 12:20
5. Probe 15:05

Hollow Earth was the product of two unique experimental artist's combined vision,

Michael J.V. Hensley (Yen Pox, Blood Box) and Jonathan Canady (Dead World, Deathpile, Blunt Force Trauma).
The project released only one album offering claustrophobic and suffocating dark ambient

in its absolute disturbing form with the sentience of death permeating every sound.
Released on the American label Old Crowd Control Activities.

 
Memory

Law – Wading Knee-Deep In Your Blood (1999)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Negation Of Desire 11:29
2. Sacrificial Key 05:39
3. 7.62 x 39 07:12
4. Negative Silence 09:37
5. Swift And Severe Retribution 03:58
6. Procedure 09:54
7. Flows Through Me 06:44
8. Solitary Determination 12:12

Law was an dark ambient/industrial/power electronics act based in Elkhart, IN, United States,

created by Mitchell Altum, founder of the Triumvirate label, with the help of Marissa Lafferty.

The project was active between 1994 to 2004, with releases on Ant-Zen, Old Europa Cafe, Triumvirate and Nuit et Brouillard.
Mitchell Altum was also involved with the project Citadel.
"Wading Knee-Deep In Your Blood" was originally released by Old Europa Cafe as a limited edition clear red vinyl

in 350 hand-numbered copies and later in 2002 was reissued on CD with two bonus tracks.

 
Memory

Drape Excrement – Born Dead (1995)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Sirayat 01:37
2. Leitbild 04:25
3. Dangerous Gases 03:56
4. Out Of Control 04:14
5. I Want You 02:19
6. Yaum Ed Din 03:48
7. The Lost Age 04:51
8. Sinnlose Opfer 02:27
9. Jammer Und Geheul 04:12
10. Good Grief 04:48
11. I Give My Soul 04:10

German industrial/noise project created by Markus Kropfreiter 

(also known as a part of Söldnergeist and Metaplakia projects) that runs the Art Konkret label.
"Born Dead" offers dark death-industrial combined with deep bass droning
and atmospheric crackling sounds creating a menacing atmosphere.
Released by Art Konkret as a limited edition vinyl of 525 copies.

 
Memory

Luciano Dari – Wajd (1989)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Metatron Of The Sea 07:45
2. Sirens 03:25
3. La Luz 06:35
4. Night Of Djinn 04:05
5. Lotus 04:34
6. Manvantara 05:43
7. Antro Dei Misteri 04:05
8. Inno Ad Helios (Bonus Track) 02:38
9. Lapide Minerali (Bonus Track) 03:49
10. Theatrum Naturae (Bonus Track) 22:13

Luciano Dari is an Italian dark ambient musician/producer

and founder of the Musica Maxima Magnetica label that operated from the late 80s to late 00s.
In 1987 he released "Idrogeni Superiori", as part of the split album together with The Hafler Trio, 

followed by the album "Wajd" in 1989.
He also participated in many cassette compilation releases.
The Memory link contains three bonus tracks that were taken fron Dari's participation in the compilations:

"Hora Aurea (1989)", "Devastating Templaric Sounds (1990)" and "Nature Morte (1991)".

 
Memory

Keep Of Kalessin – Through Times Of War (1997)

 

Country: Norway

Tracklist

1. Through Times Of War 04:31
2. Den Siste Krig 04:43
3. As A Shadow Cast 06:09
4. I Choose To Suffer 06:50
5. Skygger Av Forg 05:22
6. Obliterator 05:42
7. Nectarious Red / Itch 14:19

Keep Of Kalessin is a Norwegian extreme metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1993.
The group's early lineup consisted of Ghash on vocals, Obsidian C. (the group founder) on guitars and keyboards,

Warach on bass, and Vyl on drums.
Two albums were released under this lineup, "Through Times Of War" in 1997,

and "Agnen: A Journey Through The Dark" in 1999, before splitting up.
Obsidian C. then toured with Satyricon, but revived the the band in 2003 with the release of the EP "Reclaim"

and all new members featuring Frost (Satyricon, 1349) on drums and Attila Csihar (Mayhem, Tormentor etc.) on vocals.
This line-up did not last and fell apart because of the distances between the band members.
In 2006, Obsidian C. once again reconstituted the group with a new lineup

and released two albums "Armada" in 2006 and "Kolossus" in 2008.
These releases brought a good attention from mainstream media in Norway

and as a result Keep Of Kalessin was nominated for a Spellemannprisen in the metal category in 2008.
In 2010 they also entered a song in the the annual competition Melodi Grand Prix,

to select Norway's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, but they failed finishing in the 3rd place overall.
The band released its fifth album, "Reptilian" in 2010 demonstrating a deviation

from the black metal influenced sound of their previous music in favor of a more extreme metal sound.
Two more albums followed, "Epistemology" in 2015 and "Katharsis" in 2023.

 
Memory

Black Tape For A Blue Girl – This Lush Garden Within (1993)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Left, Unsaid 04:37
2. The Broken Glass 03:38
3. We Exist, Entwined 05:17
4. Overwhelmed, Beneath Me 03:20
5. This Lush Garden Within 01:49
6. The Christ In The Desert 06:29
7. The Turbulence And The Torment 05:44
8. The Flow Of Our Spirit 03:28
9. Into The Garden 04:10
10. Decomposed By The Fire Of The Firmament 04:14
11. Gravity's Angel 01:50
12. On Broken Shells Of Crystal Dreams 06:40
13. Our Future Imagined 03:21

Black Tape For A Blue Girl is an American dark wave band formed in 1986

by keyboardist/songwriter Sam Rosenthal, the founder of Projekt Records.
Their music has elements of dark wave, ethereal, ambient, neoclassical, and dark cabaret.
The band released seven albums in their first 13 years, covering the mid-80s through late-90s.

Their debut album "The Rope" was released in 1986.

The band's line-up consisted of a core of Sam Rosenthal,

Allan Kraut (on multiple instruments, including drums and guitars) and vocalist and guitarist Oscar Herrera.
Their second album, "Mesmerized By The Sirens", was released a year later, followed by "Ashes In The Brittle Air" in 1989,

"A Chaos Of Desire" in 1991 and "This Lush Garden Within" in 1993.

The core members through this period were Rosenthal and Herrera, with a variety of guest musicians.
Recording of "Remnants Of A Deeper Purity" began in 1995 in Los Angeles and was concluded in 1996.

This was the second album to feature Lucian Casselman on vocals and Vicki Richards on violin.
In 1999, the band released "As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire", with Oscar Herrera singing two songs on the album

as a parting favor to Rosenthal. The album owes some artistic inspiration to Marcel Duchamp.
Julianna Towns returned for female vocals and also provided guitar arrangements.

After a 15 city tour in July 1998 in preparation for the album's release, she was ejected from the band.
Elysabeth Grant joined the band as violist, but she soon became the lead vocalist

for the band's seventh studio album, "The Scavenger Bride".
Male vocal duties were given to Bret Helm (of Audra) and Athan Maroulis (of Spahn Ranch).
"The Scavenger Bride" was released in 2002, with only two live appearances, as Rosenthal's son was born.
Two years later, the album "Halo Star" was released, which shifted the vocal focus to Bret Helm.
This release also marked a change in the band's lush, ethereal sound,

with a dark cabaret musical style, very similar to the Dresden Dolls and Katzenjammer Kabarett.
In 2009 Athan Maroulis, who appeared on two songs on "The Scavenger Bride" album,

as well as on a cover of Dead Can Dance's "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book", took over as lead vocalist.
On September 22, 2009, the band released their 10th album, "10 Neurotics",

with the lineup of Rosenthal on acoustic guitar, programming and keyboards,

Brian Viglione (The Dresden Dolls) on drums, percussion, bass and guitar,

and vocalists Maroulis (Spahn Ranch), Laurie Reade (ex-Attrition) and Nicki Jaine on additional vocals.
From 2013 to 2021 four more albums were released while their 30th anniversary in 2016 with the release of "These Fleeting Moments", was marked with the return of original vocalist Oscar Herrera after 17 years absence from the music scene.

 
Memory

Agonije – Testament (1994)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Testament 05:23
2. Adieu, Les Jours 04:33
3. Désir De L'Âme 03:33
4. Millenium 04:57
5. De Loin (Deuxième Movement) 04:05
6. À La Lune 02:32
7. Jeux De Massacre 06:10
8. La Fin 05:30
9. Testament II (The Prelude) 11:53

Agonije was another project by Italian artist Angel G. Villani (also in Black Raven).
The first work of Agonije was published in 1991 with the cassette "Orgasme Du Temp" on the Italian label Hax.
Later in 1992 some tracks from the cassette appeared on the Italian compilation "Tecnologie Del Movimento II".
"Testament" was released in 1994 on the Swiss label Allegoria 

and recorded at Acqualuce Studio and Radio Video Studio in Turin between 1993-94.

 
Memory

Incarnator – Nordic Holocaust (Demo 1992)

Country: Norway

Tracklist

1. In Nocturnal Glory (Bonus Track) 05:04
2. Part I 04:14
3. Part II 03:50

Underground one man black metal project created by Bård Titlestad (aka Zyphrianus)

in the end of 1991 and hailing from the southern part of Norway, Stavanger, Rogaland.

The line up at the beginning except Zyphrianus on vocals and guitars also featured Sanrabb (of the Gehenna fame)

on the guitars but shortly after he left searching for other musical tasks.
The first recording was the promo track "In Nocturnal Glory",

created in February 1992 with Zyphrianus handling all the instruments and vocals.

Later that year by mid-October Zyphrianus went to Sound Suite Studios to record the two track demo "Nordic Holocaust".

Both recordings were passed only to close friends and contacts around the world.

By that time Euronymous of Mayhem got very interested in Incarnator's material

to the point of offering Zyphrianus a contract for a debut album on his Deathlike Silence Productions label.

Of course nothing happened due to Euronymous' death in 1993.

After all these incidents Zyphrianus returned to the isolation he came from,

loosing interest in the then growing black metal scene, which, at his eyes, was getting too much attention from outsiders.
The Memory link features as bonus the promo track "In Nocturnal Glory".

Memory

Pauline Oliveros – Accordion & Voice (1982)

Country: United States

Tracklist

1. Horse Sings From Cloud 22:14
2. Rattlesnake Mountain 22:03

Pauline Oliveros (May 30, 1932 – November 24, 2016) was an American composer, accordionist

and a central figure in the development of post-war experimental and electronic music.
She was a founding member of the San Francisco Tape Music Center in the 1960s, and served as its director.

She taught music at Mills College, the University of California, San Diego (UCSD),

Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Oliveros authored books, formulated new music theories, and investigated new ways to focus attention on music

including her concepts of "deep listening" and "sonic awareness", drawing on metaphors from cybernetics.
"Accordion & Voice" was the first of her recordings as a soloist.

The tracks rather than initiating musical impulses of motion,

melody and harmony represent the subtlety of a tone taking space and time to develop.

The tones linger and resonate in the body, mind, instrument and performance space.

For my beloved father

 

Memory

Bearer Of The Inmost Sun – Destroyed Beauty (7'' EP 1999)

Country: Austria

Tracklist

1. Fate Of Resistance 08:31
2. Hail Jerusalem! 05:18
3. Empire 04:59

One-man project created by Eric Sinister-Dexter (Operation Julmond, Der Blutharsch)

that released only one 7" EP in addition to some compilation contributions.
Another 10" EP was planned to be released on the German label Membrum Debile Propaganda, but was never happened.
At the few live concerts (featuring Jörg Lanz from Amestigon, Graumahd and Der Blutharsch, among others),

further unreleased tracks were performed while some were included on various artists compilations,

the rest remain unreleased to this day.

Memory

Masaharu Iwata – Baroque Original Soundtrack (1998)

Composer: Masaharu Iwata

Tracklist

01. Great Heat 20320514 02:31
02. Into Our Trespasses 01:06
03. Sanctuary 03:04
04. Iraiza 02:47
05. Confusion 03:04
06. A Style Of Baroque 01:13
07. Namu Ami 03:08
08. Little 02:31
09. One Foot In The Grave 03:32
10. Alice in 03:29
11. One 02:40
12. Neverending Cycle 00:57
13. Multiplex 03:59
14. Hold Baroque Inside 04:10
15. Deep Interludium (John Pee) 01:47
16. Baroque 204 Forest (Toshiaki Dakoda) 01:02
17. Baroque 205 Blue (Toshiaki Dakoda) 01:21
18. Baroque 206 Black (Toshiaki Dakoda) 00:37
19. Proto One 03:01
20. Proto Two 02:09
21. Miraculous Loop (Haruko Aoki) 06:36
22. Timelessness 06:32

Baroque is a roguelike role-playing video game developed by Sting Entertainment.

It was originally released for the Sega Saturn in 1998 by Entertainment Software Publishing,

then ported to the PlayStation the following year.

A remake for PlayStation 2 and Wii was released in Japan by Sting Entertainment in 2007 and later overseas in 2008.
Baroque is set in a post-apocalyptic world,

where an experiment to understand the Absolute God caused devastating climate change,

with surviving humans becoming physically twisted by manifestations of guilt.

This experiment was led by a being called Archangel.

The protagonist is guided by Archangel through the Neuro Tower to find the Absolute God and fix the world.

All versions of the game feature dungeon-crawling through randomly-generated floors of the Neuro Tower,

with deaths in the dungeon advancing the narrative.

The original uses a first-person perspective,

while he remake includes a third-person camera and adjustable difficulty levels.
The game was conceived by Kazunari Yonemitsu,

who was involved in multiple aspects of its design and created the narrative.

Originally in production for the PC-9800 series, Yonemitsu's wish for 3D graphics resulted in it shifting to the Saturn.

Its dark tone, a reaction to Yonemitsu's previous work, was influenced by European cinema and film noir.

The gameplay drew inspiration from Torneko no Daibōken: Fushigi no Dungeon.

The music was composed by Masaharu Iwata, who blended ambient noise and sound samples into the tracks.

Baroque was supported with several supplementary products, including a visual novel based on a promotional novella.

The remake featured new staff and several changes,including redone character designs from Kenjiro Suzuki and replacement music by in-house composer Shigeki Hayashi.
The music of Baroque was composed and arranged by Masaharu Iwata,

who had previously worked with Sting Entertainment on Treasure Hunter G.

When asking for music, Yonemitsu requested tracks that did not sound like music,

using the natural sound backgrounds of documentaries as reference

for creating natural emotion in an audience without using a separate musical track.

Sometimes as descriptions, Yonemitsu would send Iwata a short poem,

but even then it was difficult for Iwata to create satisfactory tracks.

When Iwata complained about a lack of reference material, Yonemitsu found some suitable musical tracks,

notably music from the anime Night Head and Adiemus albums by Karl Jenkins.

The tracks were designed to be listened to alongside the in-game sound effects.
The first song created for the soundtrack was "Sanctuary".

Originally planned as a story location theme, it was reused as a dungeon track.

While an opening theme was created by in-house composer Toshiaki Sakoda,

Iwata was asked to create a new opening theme.

Something he was able to do on the project that was new to him

was adding in sound effects to increase the ambience impact of his tracks.

The track was half a minute too long, so in-game it was cut short while the album release featured the full track.

The track "Confusion" was made entirely with sound effect samples.

He considered his strangest theme to be the track "Namu Ami", which he described as a meaningless Buddhist-like chant.

His last song was the staff roll "Hold Baroque Inside", which was a subdued piece based on the game's story themes.

Iwata described both the game's content and the music he had to create for it as entirely new to him at the time,

and was impressed by Yonemitsu's vision despite not understanding it at times.

Yonemitsu named all the tracks.

Memory

Black Candle – Nightfire (MCD 1999)

Country: Luxembourg

Tracklist

1. As Darkness Rises... (Intro) 00:59
2. Millenium Battle 03:47
3. A Strange Vision 03:22
4. Nightfire 04:22
5. The Black Stone 03:12
6. Do Wou Däischtert And Niwwel Regeiert 04:29
7. Cosmic Icewinds 02:47
8. Besiess Vum Schwaarze Liicht 04:55
9. The Summoning Of Giddim-Xul (Outro) 00:32
10. Meeting With The Beast (Bonus Track) 04:00

Black Candle was formed in 1994 and was one of the first black metal bands from Luxembourg.
The band started rehearsing without a drummer and consisted at the time

by vocalist Dark Lord Tenebrus (aka Simon), Azael (guitar) and Thummiel (second guitar).
Thummiel left Black Candle to form his own band Sargatanas back in 1996.
Some weeks later Simon and Azael met a drummer called Shadow, who soon joined them.
The demo "My Black Sky" was released in March 1996 featuring five tracks, created during rehearsals of 1994-1996.
In 1997 Azael left the band due to lack of interest

and Simon was forced to play the guitar and the bass making Black Candle a two-piece.
Second demo "Winter Of Wrath" was materialized as a result of band's first studio experience.
Shortly after bass player Lord Mogon joined Simon and Shadow and their first gig in Germany was performed.
On November Black Candle entered the studio again to record the track "Meeting With The Beast".
This song was featured on the 1998 Shiver Records compilation "Sometimes Death Is Better Part 5-9".
Soon after, disinterested Lord Mogon quitted and the band lost their rehearsal place in Luxembourg.
These events combined with lack of support from local music scene caused one-year hiatus for Black Candle.
Shadow took part in the act called Vinsval, while Simon joined German the band Pagan Winter as a singer.
Black Candle and Pagan Winter were featured on the compilations "Germanische Tyrannen" (Frontfire Distribution, 1998)

and "A Taste Of Blood" (Mortuary Khage Productions, 1998).
In the late 1998 new rehearsal room was found and line-up was completed with Phosphoros (lead guitar) and Fallen (bass). In 1999, "Nightfire" was recorded during two days (August 1998) and released via Pagan Winter Productions.
In 2002 during many line up changes "The Faceless Angel" album was released

with the support of Burhuc ASBL (local concert promoter) and Pagan Winter Productions.
Between 2002-2004 a lot of gigs were performed in Luxembourg, France and Germany.
In 2004 the demo "From The Deepest Level" (limited to 30 copies) was released

followed by a promo-single containing two tracks in 2005.
"Lead Me To The Tombs" album consisting of eight new tracks

and re-recorded versions of "Meeting The Beast" and "My Black Sky" was finished in early 2006.
By 2007 all members of the band were busy with their side-projects

and also everyone had their own opinion about the future direction of Black Candle.

As a result band split up in June 2007.
Black Candle reunited in 2009 as a duo (Simon - all instruments, Styxx - vocals)

but it didn't last long because Styxx died of leukemia in June 7, 2009.
Creation of new full-length album (which serves as dedication to deceased Styxx) began in 2012

and released by the label Possession Productions in August 30, 2013 under the title "Smoke And Monoliths".
Two more albums followed, "Lost Light Of The North" in 2016, and "Trees In Space" in 2020, before their disbanding in 2024.

Memory

Donis – Deinainá (1998)

Country: Lithuania

Tracklist

1. Deinainá 06:45
2. Šokis 02:12
3. Ateičiai 04:55
4. Ryto Rasa 04:18
5. Vai Kur Tu Buvai Bernyti Mano 02:52
6. Ir Atlėkė Juodas Varnas 10:05
7. Sodai, Sodai 04:02
8. Medžių Kalba 07:00

Donis is a Lithuanian ambient, folk and experimental music project

created by multi-instrumentalist Donatas Bielkauskas.

He was also a member of music projects such as d.n.s., Wejdas, Notanga, Ha Lela and Eirimė.

Most of Donis’ works combines old Baltic folklore with contemporary sound interpretations.

His extensive knowledge of instruments, rhythms and music styles allow him to create unique sound projects, 

including both electronic and pure ambient soundscapes,

in which ethnic motifs intertwine with industrial sound structures and sounds of nature.
His well known release "Bitė Lingo" that contains archaic Lithuanian war songs featured folk vocalist Rasa Serra.
The album "Švilpiai" presents ancient ocarina (švilpynė) music,

while the record "Sotvaras" was made together with members from the Lithuanian pagan/folk group Kūlgrinda.
Donis has also made the Greek mythology themed album "Alexandreia".

Memory

Kenotaph – Promise (1998)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Underwater 06:10
2. Gelüsttodnötigung 05:58
3. Broken Horizon 09:26
4. Tauch 04:06
5. Bullet Junkie 03:29
6. Water Chant 07:34
7. Salz 06:17
8. Hörst Du Die Hörner? 06:24
9. Promise 17:03

Kenotaph was a sideproject of Skalp, featuring Stefan Roigk with the help of Eric Metz.
"Promise" originally released on cassette in 1997

and reissued in 1998 by Functional Organisation on cd with bonus material.
Distorted noise loops, low frequency waves with grinding metal bells, chimes and dark sounds.

Memory

The Thieves Of Impressions – Trifolium: The Autumn Catharsis (7'' EP 1994)

 

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Changes 06:13
2. Leszerazz Galliard 05:42
3. Autumn 02:05

Short lived project formed in 1993 and led by author Aleš Pickar

 who together with Stefan Alt (aka Salt) were the two founders of the cult label Ant-Zen.
The band gathered many members among their releases featuring Aleš Pickar (keys, bass, drums, guitar, vocals, flute),

Erich Kogler (vocals, bass, piano), Katha (vocals), Peter Megele (guitar), Sirod Allabmort (vocals),

Uli Jenne (drums), Wolfgang Hierl (guitars, vocals, flute, keys) and Pia Horn (violin).
The Thieves Of Impressions later reshaped into the band Concrescence 

while Aleš Pickar, together with Brandon Gonsalves, was also involved with the ambient project Tidal Flow.

Memory

Sechres Mound – D2 740m440 (1995)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Dia 02:16
2. Spir 03:46
3. Pore 04:23
4. Cycle 1 01:51
5. Expir 04:02
6. Contus 06:13
7. Anthro 05:14
8. Senescence 05:41
9. Infra 03:00
10. Cyclodrome 05:05
11. Cycle 7 02:56
12. Traumatism (Bonus Track) 08:27

Sechres Mound was a collaboration between Cédric Peyronnet (Toy Bizarre)

and Cyril Herry (Lecanora, Ashes To Ashes, Ninth Desert, Exotoendo)

which began in February 1995 following the discovery of an unused & monumental tank unit.

The aim was to exploit the sound potential of the place by using materials

mainly found on the site and installations built inside the one and only tank (no. D2 740m440).
New materials were brought in (PVC pipes, strings, metal bars etc.) to try out the unique reverberation of this space.

After a few weeks, the tank became a true research laboratory, full of various objects (wood pieces, cables and nails).

The purpose was to reveal the authentic sound identity of this place.
In October 1995, it was decided to release a cassette with a selection of live recorded sequences.
It was a little cardboard boxset with rust taken from the tank and the cassette inside.
80 numbered copies were released on Cédric & Cyril's own label, Cynistrose.

 Each "D2 740m440" piece was improvised and recorded live on site without any external contribution or sound treatments.
Exactly ten years later, "D2 740m440" was re-released on a A5-sized carboard cover in a plastic sleeve CD-R

including the bonus track "Traumatism" that was taken from the compilation tape "Germ",

released by Incense (Cyril's own label) in 1995.

Memory

Vargariket – Vargariket (Demo 1996)

Country: Norway

Tracklist

1. Taakeheimens Trone 03:43
2. I Nattens Fule Mørke 06:33
3. Vargnatt 02:40
4. Vaart Fedreland 04:37
5. Mørkets Palass 04:04
6. Brenn 03:10
7. Nattens Onde (Bonus Track) 05:02

Hailing from the dark woods of Aurskog-Høland Vargariket was created in 1995

by Sturlason and Turgeis (aka Kjell Rune Sønsthagen) as a two-piece.
The idea was to play old school pagan black metal (Aasgard Metal)

and in the beginning they both switched between playing the drums and the guitars.
They were joined by Strømsæther soon thereafter

and recorded their first self titled demo during eastern 1996 in Lydhodene Studio.
The demo was professionally produced with a glossy printed cover-sleeve

and released in co-operation with Luisitanian Rec. selling around 1000 copies world-wide.
This lead to a contract with the Portuguese label Impio Productions 

that promised to release their second demo entitled "The Rise Of The Aasgard Cult".
However after the master was sent off nothing happened.
Later the band signed a deal with the Dutch label Hammerheart Records for 3 CDs

but due to disagreements this did not become reality.
At the same time Strømsæther moved to do civil duty and later Sturlason and Turgeis joined to serve the army

resulting in Vargariket being put on ice in December of 1997.
Around 1999 there was an attempt by Sturlason to resurrect the band with the help of Eirik Blodøks (guitar/backing vocals),

Torgeir P. Krokfjord (vocals/guitars) and Anna (fiddle) as a session member.
There were plans for a 7'' EP or a CD-single during the spring of 2000

and for the release of their long awaited debut in early autumn of the same year but all these never happened.
In 2021 Cold Northern Breeze Records released the compilation CD "Taakeheim"

that featured their "Vargariket" demo, the rehearsal tape "Yggdrasil" and the track "Nattens Onde".
The memory contains as bonus the track "Nattens Onde" that was recorded at Studio Strømmen in 1997 

exclusively for the 1998 CD compilation "Sometimes Death Is Better Part 5-9".

Memory

Semper Eadem – Ode To Sadness (Demo 1996)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Unreal 05:20
2. Raving Of A Lonely Mind 05:41
3. Like A Candle About To Die 02:59
4. Burial While A Rainy Night 06:43
5. Unhappy Ending 04:34
6. Abyss 03:26
7. She Rains Storms Of Tears 05:27
8. Chagrin De Sang 04:10
9. The Frozen Garden 06:28
10. La Chaine 05:43
11. Aeternalis 04:11

Semper Eadem was a French neo classical project created in 1995 by David Vallée with the help of Régis Decloquement.
After their first demo, "In Remembrance", and the departure of Régis, Vallée welcomed Rachel B. as a vocalist.
Rachel participated in the second demo cassette, “Ode To Sadness”, released on Vallée's personal label La Cadera.
David Vallée composed solo in 1998 the third Semper Eadem's CDr release "Les Arbres N'étaient Plus Comme Ceux D'hier".
A split CD followed in 2001 with the French medieval/neo folk band Maelifell on Cauldron Music.
"Divagations Esthétiques" released in 2005 as a limited to 30 copies CDr edition

containing as bonus two video clips presenting an enigmatic and aesthetic illustration of some of the titles.
Around 2007 David Vallée and Stéphane Flauder (Maelifell, Fin De Siècle etc.) created the project Post Mortem Photographs 

and released their one and only self titled album in 2009 on La Manufacture De Bruit label.
The last offering from Semper Eadem was released in 2010 entitled "Symphonies Irrationnelles".
David Vallée today continues with his other projects Lith and EKS.CENTER.

Memory

Stigma – Structures Of Chaos (7'' EP 1995)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Untitled 07:32
2. Lethal Radiations 03:54
3. Structures Of Chaos 04:18

French short lived project featuring Licinio Da Costa (No Empty Room, Noït, Onukeio),

Antonio Da Costa and Laurent Kistler (Neon Cage Experiment).

They self released in 1994 on cassette their first album "Anastigmatic Aperture",

followed by "Putrefaction Taste" in 1995, on Daft Records, and "Inhumanity" in 1996, on Ant-Zen.

Their style was a mixture of industrial/dark ambient with chaotic rhythmic percussions.

"Structures Of Chaos" was co-issued by Ant-Zen and Ombre Sonore in 1995,

as a limited edition clear vinyl of 327 copies in a printed folder.

Memory

Ashes To Ashes – Museum Of Dust (1994)

Country: France

Tracklist

1. Imperturbable Stiches Of Time, The Diverted Device, The Great Theatre Of Decrepitude,

The Long Experience, Damage Melody/The Last Elegy 21:53

Ashes To Ashes was another project created by Cyril Herry (Exotoendo, Lecanora, Sechres Mound, Ninth Desert).
The band released two cassettes, "Museum Of Dust" in 1994 and "Figement Profile" in 1995,

on Herry's personal label Incense.
"Museum Of Dust" was recorded in Dark Sound Studios (Lausanne) in May 1994,

and is presented as five tracks in one continuous play, with a unique handmade cover and a separate info insert.

Memory

Le Syndicat – 1985 - 1995 - Ten Years Of Excess (1995)

Country: France

Tracklist

Disc 1

Delikatëssen
1. Masse Dépréciatrice 13:19
2. Farce De Morse 09:31
3. Machefer Recharge 10:06
4. Terrificante Matter 07:41
5. Chanson Bruitiste 02:13
Relapse
6. Quadripartite 21:53
7. Dentiste-Surprise 04:24

Disc 2

Vorgine
1. Exorde 06:44
2. L'Horloge De St-Luce 06:25
3. Jouvenceau 00:46
4. Maelström Fornicator 06:16
5. Le Corps De Jehan 05:53
6. Deux 02:55
7. Vorgine 08:36
Relapse (Continued)
8. Roméo Ou Juliette 19:20
9. Dissection-Fantaisie 05:33

Le Syndicat is a collective entity and a former cassette label that began activities in 1982.

It is one of the leading bands in the industrial movement in France

and was created by Jean-Marie Onni (aka Ruelgo) and Zyklon B.
The project later collaborated with visual artists Zorïn and Mïrka Lugosi,

produced a lot of audio concrete cassettes and participated to a lot of "mail art" international compilations.
As a label Le Syndicat released cassettes for artists such as Merzbow, Parazite, Pacific 231, Controlled Bleeding,

Blackhouse and Dog As Master while they also had contacts,

notably with exchange of sounds and compositions by correspondence, with Japanese noise bands like The Hanatarashi.
After the departure of Zorïn and the arrival of Veidt Mjolnir, their  music is experiencing a significant change,

leaving the fields of improvisation and moving from collages, tape loops,

film samples or sequences of classical music, to prominence electronic rhythmic noise beats.
During the second half of the 1990s , the group enters into sleep and reappeared in 2010 with a new album,

this time reconnecting  with bruitism, collage and extreme dynamic forms.
"1985 - 1995 - Ten Years Of Excess" is a double compilation CD released in 1995 by Staalplaat 

featuring the re-release of their cassette albums "Delikatëssen" (1985), "Relapse" (1987) and "Vorgine" (1986).

Memory

Subterfuge – Darkland Awakening (MCD 1994)

Country: Australia

Tracklist

1. Darkland Awakening 07:32
2. Haborym 03:44
3. A Prayer For The Kindred 03:06
4. Pre-Dawn Hours 03:52
5. Darkland Awakening (Pray Hard Mix) 07:34

Subterfuge was formed in 1993 by Clifford Ennis along with Rick Mullen and Brendan Toull in Melbourne, Australia.

Although involved musically together since 1987-88 it wasn’t until 1993 that started to take the whole thing more seriously.
They began work on a 4 track demo tape, briefly recruited a 4th member (Jonathan Mee)

and the self-titled demo tape saw the light of day in September 1993.
One gig at a private party for a newly opened record shop in Melbourne called Heartland Records followed

in December before they started working again as a 3-piece band after they discarded with Jonathan’s services.
On the strength of that live show and the demo tape, they were approached by Heartland Records to release a MCD.
In 1994 after a gig that they played as a 3 piece Brendan left the band and Clifford and Rick decided to continue as a duo

and started working on their debut MCD "Darkland Awakening".
Work on the MCD finished in March and it was released the following month to very favorable reviews.
For the remainder of 1994 Subterfuge played live in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane promoting the MCD.
The time was perfect for an album to capitalize on the success, sadly though, a follow up did not eventuate.
Between 1995 and 1997 they sporadically played live around Melbourne while releasing songs on various compilations.
Subterfuge became less active as the years passed, however Clifford stayed involved in the scene.

 In 1996 he created the project Jerusalem Syndrome, a collaboration band with Chris McCarter of Ikon.
He also joined Ikon and played guitar with them and later created the side project Razorfade 

this time with Mark Tansley from UK goth band Suspiria.
In May 2013 a Subterfuge CD album entitled "Reflect<<Rewind" was released on European label, Strobelight Records.
This was a comprehensive collection containing 16 tracks, including unreleased songs and mixes plus some demos.
in 2016 Clifford found himself back in the studio recording brand new material

and in March 2017 a new album entitled "Blind To Reason" was released.
One third of the album is co-written with Rick Mullen thus essentially keeping the 90s duo alive.
2019 saw a return to the studio and a new CD EP entitled "Heat" was released on 2nd April 2020.

Memory

Fabio Fabor – Pape Satan (1980)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Ad Inferos 02:52
2. Acheron 03:06
3. Infernal Galop 03:14
4. La Forgia 03:26
5. Segno Di Fuoco 02:13
6. Caronte 02:58
7. Dies Irae 03:34
8. Stige 03:20
9. Trillo Del Diavolo 02:39
10. Dalle Sirene 03:49
11. V Bolgia 02:33
12. Diabolic Love 02:40

Fabio Borgazzi (24 April 1920 - 3 August 2011), also known as Fabio Fabor,

was one of the most prolific library music composers in Italy between the 1960s and 1980s.
A versatile and multi-talented musician, he explored almost all existing genres, from classical to jazz, 

from pop to electronic music, and released hundreds of records through his own publishing company, Minstrel,

and its numerous sub-labels, such as World, Hard, Flam, Fonovideo and Ring.
"Pape Satan" was originally released on the Hard label in 1980 and has become a cult record,

one often regarded as a groundbreaking exploration of electronic music.
In this work Borgazzi makes extensive use of synthesizers (ARP 2600, ARP 3620, ARP Omni and Roland System 700),

percussion, keyboard instruments (piano, harpsichord, Fender Rhodes) and voices,

developing an abstract and experimental electro-acoustic soundtrack to a dark and infernal environment,

or, as Borgazzi himself explained in the liner notes, an "eschatological-Dantesque environment

caught in its side of transcendent imagination metaphysics and, sometimes, even ironic interpretation.".

Memory