Avrigus – The Final Wish (EP 1998)

Country: Australia

 

Tracklist

 1. The Final Wish 07:01
2. As Ivy Groweth Green 08:13
3. Desolate 03:36
4. Flesh 05:49

 

Avrigus are a two piece gothic/doom metal band with neoclassical/darkwave passages from Sydney, Australia.
The band was formed in 1995 and consisted, at the time, of Simon Gruer and Judy Chiara.
Simon Gruer was well known in the Sydney metal scene since due to his role in the death/doom metal band Cruciform.
Avrigus first release saw the light of day in 1998 with the very well received EP "The Final Wish"

that was released on Warhead Records.
In 2001 the album "The Secret Kingdom" was followed on Well Of Urd, a division of the Dutch label Hammerheart Records.
In 2007 it was announced that Judy Chiara had left the band late in the previous year.
Despite this Simon continued with Avrigus and in 2009 it was announced that the new vocalist would be Megan Robins.
"Beauty And Pain" EP was finally released in 2010 with Megan Robins on vocals.
A single called "The Aftermath" was also published in 2017.

 
Memory

Malefic Oath – The Land Where Evil Dwells (Demo 1992)

Country: Netherlands

 

Tracklist

 1. Intro 01:04
2. Prediction Of The Unborn Son 04:34
3. The Endless Way To The Unknown 03:11
4. Garden Of Memories 06:15
5. Outro 02:39

 

 Cult early 90s black/doom band from Holland

featuring Marco Kehren (guitars, vocals, drums) of Deinonychus and Michel (guitars).
The band only released one demo, "The Land Where Evil Dwells" that was recorded in 27 June 1992 at Twinstudios.
Also The Unsane from Bestial Summoning joined the project at some point as a vocalist.
For its 30th anniversary, Iron Bonehead Productions released it in 2022 as a 12" EP in limited black and red vinyl variants.

 
Memory

Physika Kai Mystika – Fall (Demo 1996)

Country: Austria

Tracklist

1. Verfall 09:09
2. The Hopscotch Funeral 04:47
3. Lovelorn Sleeper 03:33
4. Catharsis 07:43
5. Impure 02:18
6. Totenpfahl 06:57
7. Springtime Overture 06:17
8. Mephisto And The Worm 04:20
9. Your Limbs To Mine 06:34
10. Fulmar Wings 04:19
11. The Pagan Wayfarer / Laceclad Wench Of Late, Eternal 17:14
12. Condor Years 04:07
13. Rock Me Amadeus (Falco Cover) 02:10
14. Liebe 07:00
15. Eldorado 04:25

Physika Kai Mystika was an Austrian project that was formed by Richard Widhalm in 1995.
Their name derived from the Greek Alchemic sript by Bolus of Mendes.
From 1991 to 1995 the band was known as Six Feet Below and played Gothic Metal.
In 1995 Richard released the first demo of the band under the title "Vermächtnis" using a drum machine and some samples.
The positive reviews prompted him to add Six Feet Below's keyboardist, Stoffl (aka Christoph Macheiner),

and help with the record of their second demo "Fall" that was released in 1996.
Richard Widhalm also released in 1997 the demo "Zen Koan" with his solo project Veda.
After few line-up changes, singer Kathi was added as a female vocalist extending the vocal lines of the project.
With her addition Physika Kai Mystika released their third and last demo entitled "Theravada" in 2000.
A full length album was in the future plans but the project was dissolved in early 2000s.

Memory

Cultus Sanguine – Cultus Sanguine (MCD 1995)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Il Richiamo In Rosso 01:38
2. I Ride The Winds Of Hate 05:45
3. My Journey Is Long, But My Time Is Endless 06:23
4. Into The Field Of Screaming Souls 07:21

Cultus Sanguine is an Italian dark metal band formed in 1993 in Milan, Italy.
Their music is a weird and original mixture of doom metal, gothic metal and black metal,

with a very melancholic and depressive sound.
The band was founded as a duo in 1993, but soon after expanded featuring in their ranks Joe Ferghieph (vocals),

Aqua Regis (aka Roberto Mammarella of Monumentum on guitars, bass),

Ouranos (aka Mauro Berchi of Ras Algethi and Canaan on keyboards)

and Custos Arcanorum (Figli Di Nessuno, Khephra, Malanova, Speculum Mortis on drums).
After recording a rehearsal demo in 1994 they released their self titled MCD in 1995 through Wounded Love Records,

containing the same songs from their rehearsal plus an intro.
Later the same year keyboard player Rex Nebulah joined

before signing to Candlelight Records for their 1997 album "Shadows' Blood".

Following this release guitarist/bassist Aqua Regis and drummer Custos Arcanorum left the group,

and they were replaced by guitarist Aurian and drummer Nox Perpetua.
Their second full length album "The Sum of All Fears" was published by Season Of Mist in 1999

and the group disbanded in 2001.
In 2018 Cultus Sanguine was re-activated and working for the release of their third album.

The Memory Link contains as bonus the rehearsal demo tracks.

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

Lavra – Bluenothing (1995)

Country: Finland

Tracklist

1. Strange Lands 06:36
2. To Elide Something 06:24
3. Yesterday It Was Silent 05:27
4. From The Suction Of Blue 07:08
5. E Minor 07:10
6. Never 05:33

Lavra was an atmospheric/doom/post/rock project from Finland

that was created from the progression of the band Sceptical Schizo.
Sceptical Schizo was created in 1988 as a death/thrash band and from 1989 to 1991 they released four demos.
The band was constantly searching for a more original and personal sound and in late 1991,

with the addition of a second guitarist, they recorded four tracks of atmospheric doom/death metal.
Two of these songs (Into The Suction Of Blue / Withdrawn) were released as a self-produced 7" vinyl EP in June of 1992.
The remaining two songs were offered to some labels and in late 1992 the Italian Wounded Love Records

agreed to publish them as a 7" vinyl EP entitled "The Plight", a release that saw the light of day in early 1993.
At the same time they decided to change their name to Larva.
As Larva the band moved one step forward with their style

and in 1995 they released the album "Bluenothing" on the Finnish Demonosound label.
The track "From The Suction Of Blue" was also a remade version of the Sceptical Schizo track "Into The Suction Of Blue".
After the release of the album the band for unknown reasons was disbanded.
In 2019 two of the remaining members of their old line up decided to resurrect Sceptical Schizo

and released the EP "Aggressions" with their style nowadays moving towards thrash metal territories.

Memory

HAM – Buffalo Virgin (1989)

Country: Iceland

Tracklist

1. Slave 02:44
2. Youth 03:36
3. Voulez Vous 04:06
4. Linda Blair 02:53
5. Svin 03:43
6. Whole Lotta Love 03:14
7. Misery 04:57
8. Egg Ya Hummie 03:00
9. Forbidden Lovers 03:01
10. Death 02:43

 HAM is an Icelandic rock band formed in 1988.
They are often listed as a heavy metal band (with bizarre almost black metal vocals)
 but have never categorized themselves as such.
They have gradually come to be acknowledged as an important part of Icelandic rock history.
HAM's first album was "Hold", a controversial record which received no radio airtime.
The following year they released the album "Buffalo Virgin" and held several concerts in New York.
The album "Pleasing The Pirahna" was recorded in 1990 but was never released.
Supposedly another album by the name "Pimpmobile" was also recorded but remains unreleased.
In 1991-1992, the band participated in the making of the film "Sódóma Reykjavík",

with singer and guitarist Sigurjón Kjartansson writing most of the soundtrack 

and with Óttarr Olaf Proppé (singer of the band) participating in the film.
The album "Saga Rokksins" was released in 1993.

On June 4, 1994, the band held its last concert in the now defunct night club Tunglið in downtown Reykjavík.

The live concert recording was subsequently released as the album "Lengi Lifi".

In 1995, the band's remaining studio recordings were released as the album "Dauður Hestur".
HAM remained inactive until 2001 when they performed live again in the Gaukur á Stöng bar.

This concert was later released as the live album "Skert Flog".
In 2011 they released their first new album in 16 years, "Svik, Harmur, Dauði" 

and in 2017 they released another album entitled "Söngvar Um Helvíti Mannanna".
HAM featured as members Hallur Ingólfsson (know from the band XIII) 

and Jóhann Jóhannsson (born on 19 September 1969 – died on 9 February 2018) 

known mostly for his soundtracks for Denis Villeneuve's movies (Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival), 

while the singer Óttarr Proppé is also an Icelandic politician and actor.

Memory

XIII – Salt (1994)

Country: Iceland

Tracklist

1. Zoot 06:20
2. Ghost 05:53
3. Cat 03:40
4. Thirteen 03:59
5. Hammer Down 05:23
6. Home 03:10
7. Pupate 04:43
8. Slavedriver 04:45
9. Crime 05:14
10. Serpents Child 01:12
11. Moon 05:24
12. Family Affairs 05:35
13. Necropolis 06:52

XIII (aka 13, Thirteen) was founded in 1993 by Hallur Ingólfsson.
The band released its first album in 1994 entitled “Salt”.

The music was dark and heavy and had an immediate place in the international alternative/rock scene.
In 1996 “Serpentyne” was released and introduced a slightly more refined sound but still quite dark and demanding.

In 1997 XIII went on a very successful tour around Germany to support the album.
After the tour the band went on hiatus and was not active until 2002 when it released it’s third album “Magnifico Nova”.

Again the album received favorable reviews and the album was very successful in the European market.
In 2009 they resumed work and has since been very active on the rock scene in Iceland.
On the 13th of September 2010 XIII’s latest release, "Black Box", was launched.
"Black Box" is a double album including a collection of XIII’s best songs of the first three albums 

together with 6 brand new songs as well as a remake of the "Wishbone" song from "Magnifico Nova".
At the same time XIII’s complete back catalog was remastered and re-released in digital format.
In addition to this the band is hard at work playing live and working on writing material for its next album.

Memory

Entity – Demo 1-94 (Demo 1994)

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. My Inner War (Intro) 00:41
2. The Lasting Scar 06:14
3. Jesus Christ Prince Of Lies 03:29
4. Leave The Kiss To Die 04:31

Entity was a melodic doom/death metal band that released 

three demos, two 7" EPs and a promo/rehearsal before splitting up sometime around 1995-'96.
Their two 7" EPs were released through Megagrind Records 

(later known as Heathendoom, that run by Perra Karlsson of Nominon, In Aeternum, Suffer, etc).
The band featured Thomas Hedlund (drums) and Dan-Ola Persson (vocals) 

that are mostly know for their participation in bands like The Ancients Rebirth, Fall From Grace and Pagan Rites 

while Jimmy Svensson (guitars) and Tompa Gustafsson (keyboards, bass) 

were the rest of the members that completed the line up.

Memory

Dolorian ‎– When All The Laughter Has Gone (1999)

 

Country: Finland

Tracklist

1. Desolated Colours 07:19
2. My Weary Eyes 08:22
3. A Part Of Darkness 06:24
4. When All The Laughter Has Gone 05:52
5. Collapsed 09:18
6. Fields 04:45
7. With Scorn / Perish 11:11

Dolorian is a doom metal band from Oulu, Finland.

Their early recordings are viewed as some of the earliest examples of blackened doom metal.

Later recordings mixed dark ambient music with the traditional doom metal style.
The band was founded in mid-1997 as a duo consisting of Anti Haapapuro and Ari Kukkohovi.

Their combination of varied songs, structures and melodies, several vocal styles, 

and obscure spiritual lyrics set the band apart from many others in their genre.
Dolorian recorded their first demos in autumn 1997 at Tico-Tico Studios with temporary keyboard player H. Riihinen.

They were subsequently signed with Wounded Love Records.

In 1998 the band along with their new keyboard player J. Ontero, 

recorded the debut album "When All The Laughter Has Gone" that was released in 1999.
The following year, the band recorded their second album entitled "Dolorian".
The self-titled album was a continuation of the black doom sound of their debut 

with much quieter vocals and a more psychedelic and ambient approach.
In 2002, Dolorian recorded songs for a split release with Shining, but record label problems delayed its release until 2003.

In 2006, the band released their third album, "Voidwards",

which demonstrated a further shift in their sound and included the usage of dark ambient elements.
All the members of the band are involved in dark ambient projects (such as Arktau Eos, Halo Manash, 

Aeoga and I.corax, as well in the 90's melodic black metal band Black Swan), 

which has likely shifted their concentration away from Dolorian.

Memory

Ras Algethi ‎– Oneiricon - The White Hypnotic (1995)

Country: Italy

Tracklist

1. Aldebaran Crossing 02:12
2. The Bride Eternal 10:15
3. When Fire Is Father 08:50
4. Keys of Urtam (A Translucent Vision) 08:38
5. With An Halo Of Flames 02:46
6. Symbols (In Luce Obliqua) 12:12
7. Nubes Obscura 05:34
8. In White Hypnotic 06:31

Ras Algethi was an Italian doom metal band, formed in 1993 in Milan.
Their name is Arabic for "Head of the Kneeler."
This is the name Arab astronomers gave for the star that is now called Alpha Herculis.
They are one of the pioneers of the funeral doom genre. 

The bands prevalent elements are lurching, abysmal rhythms, church organs and dense, immersive atmosphere.
Ras Algethi released two recordings, the 1993 demo “Oblita Divinitas”, 

and a full length in 1995, “Oneiricon - The White Hypnotic” released by Wounded Love Records. 

They disbanded soon afterwards. Key members went on to form the band Canaan.

Memory

Disembowelment ‎– Transcendence Into The Peripheral (1993)

Country: Australia

Tracklist

1. The Tree Of Life And Death 10:25
2. Your Prophetic Throne Of Ivory 07:40
3. Excoriate 04:45
4. Nightside Of Eden 02:39
5. A Burial At Ornans 14:38
6. The Spirits Of The Tall Hills 09:22
7. Cerulean Transience Of All My Imagined Shores 10:07

Australian death/doom band formed in 1989. 
They recorded two demos, an EP and one full-length album before breaking up in 1993. 
Two members continued to play Disembowelment songs live under the name d.USK, 
and later formed another band in a similar style called Inverloch.
The band was known for its atmospheric chanting, slow riffs and spiritual dark elements 
present in their symphonic, heavily distorted style.
During their time in Disembowelment, Renato Gallina and Matthew Skarajew 
formed a tribal/ambient band called Trial Of The Bow which is currently active.

Memory

Unholy ‎– The Second Ring Of Power (1994)

Country: Finland

Tracklist

1. The Second Ring Of Power 05:40
2. Languish For Bliss 04:40
3. Lady Babylon 03:55
4. Neverending Day 06:21
5. Dreamside 06:45
6. Procession Of Black Doom 05:38
7. Covetous Glance 06:15
8. Air 06:53
9. Serious Personality Disturbance And Deep Anxiety 07:32

Unholy was a Finnish avant-garde doom metal band. 

Formed in 1988, they were one of the first doom metal groups in their home country.
Unholy originally started as a black metal/doom metal hybrid under the name Holy Hell. 

After recording its first demo, "Kill Jesus", they changed their name to Unholy. 

The band achieved underground popularity with its next demo and the 1991 EP "Trip To Depressive Autumn", 

and signed with Lethal Records, an Austrian record label that released the band's first album, "From The Shadows", in 1993. 

Then signed with Avantgarde Music for the next album, "The Second Ring Of Power", 

but disbanded soon after its release in 1994. However, they re-formed only two years later.
Unholy released their last two albums, "Rapture" and "Gracefallen", also through Avantgarde Music. 

The band announced they were splitting up on March 25, 2002.

Jarkko Toivonen (guitars) is also member of Tiermes.

Memory

Deinonychus ‎– The Silence Of December (1995)

Country: Netherlands

Tracklist

1. Intro - Black Sun 01:53
2. I, Ruler of Paradise in Black 06:30
3. The Silence of December 04:32
4. The Final Affliction of Xafan 10:22
5. A Shining Blaze over Darkland 06:18
6. Under the Autumn Tree 07:07
7. Here Lies My Kingdom 07:38
8. My Travels Through the Midnight Sky 07:33
9. Red Is My Blood... Cold Is My Heart 05:55
10. Outro - Bizarre Landscape 02:05

Deinonychus is a Dutch black metal band with doom influences that formed in 1992 by Marco Kehren.
Kehren also provided vocals for the German band Bethlehem between 1996-1997, 

while Bethlehem bassist and lyricist Jürgen Bartsch joined Deinonychus in 2005.
The first three albums and the early demos released feature Kehren on all instruments and vocals.

In 1999's "Deinonychus" album drummer William Sarginson from Cradle Of Filth added to the band, 

also keyboard player Arkdae aka Fabien Pereira (Seth, Dark Sanctuary & Osculum Infame) 

& bassist Stafford Glover joined and 2002's "Mournument" was recorded with a full line up.

Deinonychus announced that they disbanded in September 2008.
Marco Kehren nowadays runs a martial industrial band by the name of Nihil Novi Sub Sole.
In 2011 the band has reunited to record the follow-up to "Warfare Machines".

Memory

Type O Negative ‎– October Rust (1996)

Country: United States

Tracklist
1. Bad Ground 00:38
2. 00:21
3. Love You To Death 07:09
4. Be My Druidess 05:26
5. Green Man 05:48
6. Red Water (Christmas Mourning) 06:49
7. My Girlfriend's Girlfriend 03:46
8. Die With Me 07:13
9. Burnt Flowers Fallen 06:10
10. In Praise Of Bacchus 07:37
11. Cinnamon Girl 04:01
12. The Glorious Liberation Of The People's Technocratic Republic Of Vinnland By The Combined Forces
Of The United Territories Of Europa 01:07
13. Wolf Moon (Including Zoanthropic Paranoia) 06:38
14. Haunted 10:07
15. 00:09

Type O Negative was a gothic/doom metal band from Brooklyn, New York City.
Their lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death 
resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four" (in homage to The Beatles' "Fab Four" moniker).
The band went Platinum with 1993's "Bloody Kisses", and Gold with 1996's "October Rust", 
and gained a fanbase through seven studio albums, two best-of compilations, and concert DVDs.
On April 14, 2010, lead vocalist, bassist, and principal songwriter Peter Steele died, reportedly from heart failure.
Members Kenny Hickey and Johnny Kelly stated in a November 2010 interview that the band would not continue.
Type O's "October Rust" picked up where "Bloody Kisses" left off, 
this album continued to explore themes of sex and sensuality, explored in a humorous sense on the single 
"My Girlfriend's Girlfriend" and then taken much darker with "Love You To Death". 
This record also saw a cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" as well as the fan favorite, "Green Man".

Mordor – Csejthe (1995)

Country: Switzerland

Tracklist

1. Bloody Comtess 19:25
2. First Birth Of The Cruel Nymph 04:30
3. Last Demoniac Invocation 07:41
4. Self Immolation For My Sweet Goddess 09:48
5. The Moment Of The Worship Of Total Evilution 02:19
6. In Search Of The Pure Negation 10:17
7. Agony: The Ascent Of The Mountain 13:52

Mordor formed in Switzerland by Scorh Anyroth and Dam Gomhory in 1990.
The band combines dark minimalist ambient doomy music with black death doom metal and 
industrial experimental music, always under their characteristic slow tempo.
They’ve released two demos, “Odes” in 1991 and “Csejthe” in 1992 
and also one 7'' picture disc called “Dark is the Future” in 1994.
In 1995 Wild Rags Records re-released “Csejthe” on CD format, with two bonus tracks: 
"In Search of the Pure Negation" and "Agony: The Ascent of the Mountain".
The band is currently working on new album as well on a split release.

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

Esoteric – The Pernicious Enigma (1997)

Country: England

Tracklist

Disc 1
1. Creation (Through Destruction) 13:13
2. Dominion of Slaves 16:01
3. Allegiance 11:50
4. NOXBC9701040 12:48
Disc 2
1. Sinistrous 12:40
2. At War With the Race 02:52
3. A Worthless Dream 13:09
4. Stygian Narcosis 13:17
5. Passing Through Matter 19:15

Esoteric is a British band from Birmingham founded in 1992 that incorporates extreme Doom Metal
with distorted vocals and samples over slow paced, down-tuned riffs and atmospheric melodies.
The Pernicious Enigma is their second studio album (double CD) that was released in 1997 through Aesthetic Death Records.
Ultra slow Funeral Doom (also some faster parts or songs included),heavy rhythm guitars, using reverb and delay effects (creating a "psychedelic" dark ambiance feeling), shifting bass rhythms and low guttural vocals.
Nice usage of samples over tracks and some jazzy parts also exists in songs like "NOXBC9701040".
A very good album with a lot of dark noise elements ,heavy ambiance and power.

Memory

Part 1       Part 2