Opertum – Forbidden Anthems (1999)

Country: Greece

Tracklist

 1. Lamentations In Crystal Temples... 03:41
2. Forbidden Anthems 07:40
3. Mesmerised By Nocturnal Breeze 06:32
4. Chorus Of Undying Desires 09:25
5. ...For The Forsaking Of Celestial Realm 03:00

Opertum was an atmospheric death metal band from Greece.

Created in 1997 by Michael K. (drums/vocals), Tilemachos B. (guitars),  

George M. (bass/backing vocals) and Nick Z. (keyboards). 

In 1998 they released their 1st promo-demo tape "Beyond The Shades Of Mystery" 

that recorded, mixed and produced at "Ν studios".
In 1999 while the band was in the middle of the composition of their 1st CD "Forbidden Anthems"  

George M. replaced by bassist Lord Satha of Dark Embrace.

Also at that time guitarist Kyriakos S. joined the band adding more melody and finesse.  

Thomas B. (ex-Evade, ex-Exhumation) and Vasiliki A. were the new season vocalists, 

resulting to the completion of the ¨Forbidden Anthems" album 

that recorded mixed and produced in "Underground Sound studio" by Sotiris N. (ex-Sarissa, ex-Anxiety) and Opertum.

For this CD there were participations of guest musicians such as Lina (keyboards, ex-Rotting Flesh),  

Athameron (vocals, Culto Apokrypho, Dark Embrace) and Mimis T. (violin). 

Unfortunately this album didn't released. 

After this Opertum changed for one more time their composition and their style of music 

adding more atmosphere and theatrical elements.
Their last album, called "Red", was completed with Michael K. (drums), Tilemachos B. (guitars/vocals),  

Aris D. (bass) Nick Z. (keyboards) and Vasiliki A. (vocals). 

"Red" recorded, mixed and produced by Fotis D. and Opertum in 2002 at "Studio Mix". 

Just after this album the band stopped its activity 

because of the different directions that members followed exploring other styles of music and ideas.

Memory

Each Dawn I Die ‎– Notes From A Holy War (1995)

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. Talisman 09:24
2. Brethren Of A Dark Priesthood 12:58
3. Notes From A Holy War 05:09
4. Non Compos Mentis 10:00
5. Trader Of Life 21:34

Each Dawn I Die were Peter Nyström (Megaptera, Negru Voda and other projects) and Mårten Kellerman (Statemachine).

They released one album, "Notes From A Holy War" through the German label Dark Vinyl in 1993.
The album is taking inspiration from the witch trials of the 14th century and from the book "Talisman Of Death".
Dark orchestral pieces mixed with mid paced keyboard acoustic tunes with deep clean male vocals, 

movie samples and heavy bass kicks are the main ingredients that constitute the music of Each Dawn I Die.
A second more orchestral and medieval album entitled "Frozen Smiles On Faces Forgotten" 

was supposed to be released, also through Dark Vinyl, 
with Magnus Sundström (The Protagonist, Des Esseintes, Third Eye) replacing Peter Nyström but this never happened.
The original release packaging of  "Notes From A Holy War" incorrectly has the first two songs switched.

Memory

Xharathorn – Immemorial Atlantic Veneration (MCD 1996)

 

Country: Spain

Tracklist

1. Immemorial Atlantic Veneration 04:35
2. The Triumph That Will Give Birth To The Uprising Golden Era (The Ultimate Reign Rises) 03:40
3. Poderes 04:36
4. In Diabolical Posse I'm Carried By The Stellar Storms 02:31
5. The Unheard Dismal Cry Of A Self-Abnegated Monarch 05:36

Xharathorn was a Spanish black metal band that was formed in 1992.
Their line up was: Sir Lucimrev (vocals), Iblis Trismegisto (guitars) and Lovhazhon (drums, bass).
In 1994 they released a rehearsal promo tape with four tracks.

The next year Sir Lucimrev left the band and was replaced by Goab.
In 1995 Xharathorn offered a live performance which was recorded on audio and video.
From this gig came up their "Iberian Wrath" live demo which featured six tracks of violent unholy black metal.
In 1996 they spawn their last effort the "Immemorial Atlantic Veneration" MCD.
After this release the band split up.

Memory

Skalp ‎– Registratur / Ambivalenz (10'' EP 1996)

 

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Cold Desire 04:17
2. Don't Turn 06:10
3. Work 05:10
4. Rotation 03:45
5. Dedicated 03:21
6. Heartbeat 07:36

Stefan Roigk is a multi-disciplinary artist living in Germany 

who deals with the borders between sound collages, sculptures, installations, film and graphical scores.
His artistic strategy lays in the combination of different types of media to one single composition.
Skalp is another project of Stefan Roigk (also involved in Keimbefall, Kenotaph, Religious Vision and some other bands), which offers dark and apocalyptic industrial, nicely arranged with totally distorted singing, church-chorales, 

effected synths and slow pounding rhythms with a slight deep-end orchestral feel.
The EP was released on a limited edition of 600 hand numbered copies on milky-white/clear vinyl in a foldout sleeve.

Arranged and recorded in September 1995 and released by Tesco Organisation label.

Memory

Mortifer – Masters Of The Universe (1998)

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. Masters Of The Universe 04:39
2. Hymn Of The Scythian Heroes 04:37
3. Running Out Of Time 04:45
4. Blade Of The Barbarian - Death Of A Savage 05:15
5. Master Blaster 04:34
6. Jaws In The Night 04:51
7. Demonraising 03:24
8. Deathriders 05:42
9. Eternal Winter 03:47
10. City Of The Old Ones - Mountains Of Madness - The Rise Of The Old Ones 06:34

A Tumba based black metal act with touches of epic-thrash metal

forged by bassist/keyboard player Jonas "Heinous" Berndt (aka Goth Gorgon), 
prior to his founding of Mörk Gryning, who also has association with Diabolical and Wyvern.
Raise Hell and Sins Of Omission guitarist Jonas Nilsson also participated in an early line-up.
A two song 1994 demo session featured vocalist Daniel.
Far Beyond Human Productions released their second demo, "Battle Of Titans" featuring guitarist Peter Wendin, in 1996. 

A third demo that released in 1997 entitled "Running Out Of Time", included a cover version of Kreator's "Take Their Lives".
The group then recorded tracks during 1998 for an intended full length album, 

given the title "Masters Of The Universe", but this was never released. 

For this album the band did not hesitate to even use "The Ecstasy Of Gold" theme by Ennio Morricone 

(part of his score for the Sergio Leone film "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly") on the track "Deathriders".
Mortifer's final effort, the single track promotional session "Harbringer Of Horror", emerged in 1999.
Their final roster involved Heinous, Dementor (Danny Eideholm) and drummer Devastator (Dennis Ekdahl).

Memory

Garmarna ‎– Guds Spelemän (1996)

 

Country: Sweden

Tracklist

1. Herr Mannelig 06:22
2. Vänner Och Fränder 05:11
3. Halling Från Makedonien 02:45
4. Min Man 04:20
5. Varulven 04:33
6. Hilla Lilla 06:19
7. Drew Drusnaar / Idag Som Igår 02:46
8. Njaalkeme 05:03
9. Herr Holger 04:38
10. Guds Spelemän 03:27

Garmarna was formed in 1990 in Sundsvall, Sweden.
Stefan Brisland-Ferner, Gotte Ringqvist and Rickard Westman were inspired by old Swedish music 
and Olov Johansson's musical score for a production of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
After a year of playing together and searching for old tunes and instruments, Jens Höglin joined the band on drums.
In 1992 the band recorded their self titled first EP. 
They thought that female vocals would provide a contrast to the dark mood of their music and invited Emma Härdelin, 
a long-time friend of the band, as the guest vocalist on the EP. 
She officially joined the band in 1993. The debut EP sold well in Sweden, and helped the band tour in Scandinavia.
On the album Vittrad, the band decided to add samples and sequencers to the mix. 
In 1994, Omnium released Vittrad in the USA, with English translations of the old songs.
Garmarna started a long German tour and released the album Guds Spelemän (The Fiddlers Of God) in 1996. 
The album sold well in Sweden and was reviewed favourably internationally.
It received the Swedish Grammy award as Album of the Year.
In 1998 Garmarna did a series of concerts in churches in the North of Sweden presenting their interpretation 
of the medieval works of Hildegard of Bingen, together with actress Felicia Konrad.
In 1999 the band released their third album Vedergällningen. 
The album leaned towards rock and trip hop with the atmosphere of the music being more obscure than in previous works.
Following Vedergällningen, the band returned to the studio to complete their Hildegard Von Bingen album in 2001. 
The tracks are based on the compositions of 12th century German abbess Hildegard of Bingen, and the lyrics are in Latin.
In 2015, it was reported that the band was working on a new album.

Memory

Potentiam ‎– Bálsýn (1999)

 

Country: Iceland

Tracklist

1. To Know Is To Die 11:34
2. The Pleasures Of Suffering 06:42
3. Voices Within 05:36
4. In Unity 03:53
5. Álfablóð 04:07
6. Látum Oss Biðja 05:37
7. My Journey Into Darkness 03:18
8. Sorcery 05:47
9. Flames Of Potentiam 05:26

Potentiam is an atmospheric-dark-black metal band from Iceland, formed in '97 when Eldur and Forn joined forces.
Eldur (Curse, Fortíð, Midnattsvrede) had been writing material for his band Thule which was formed in '95.

Forn started a project on his own in '96. Eldur joined him and few months after that, 

G.Ó. Pálmason from Sólstafir came along and Hel was born.Hel recorded 4 songs in a low budget studio.

Soon after that, Eldur and Forn decided to work together and form a project with deeper perspectives, 

thus Potentiam was given birth in September '97.
Ten tracks were written and recorded in a small private studio and released early in February '98.
The demo was entitled "Bálsýn" and was released in only 50 copies.

One of those copies went to Avantgarde Music/Wounded Love rec. and they showed interest and offered a record deal.

G.Ó. Pálmason joined again as a session drummer and their debut album, entitled also "Bálsýn", released in August '99.
After this release,a long dead period came along while Potentiam was developing and looking for a new drummer.

In '00 they finally found an drummer that joined in only for their next album " Orka I Myrkri " that released in '04.
Another long period was ahead for the band as they almost gave up hope 

of ever finding another new drummer on their small Icelandic soil.
It wasn't until in '05 that G.Ó. Pálmason joined the band once again and things started to look promising for the future.

Memory