Forseti – Jenzig (1999)

 

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Gesang Der Jünglinge 04:19
2. Am Abend 02:28
3. Heilige Welt 05:20
4. Abschied 01:39
5. Wolfszeit 02:53
6. Erlkönig 04:20
7. Jenzig 02:18
8. Jenzig II 04:38

Forseti was a German neofolk band formed in Jena in 1997 by Andreas Ritter.
The band is known for its musical settings of German romantic poetry and mythology.
Forseti's music style is built around the acoustic guitar but also involves instruments such as accordion, cello, horn and flute. Ritter has mentioned Leonard Cohen and Johnny Cash as important musical influences.
 Forseti debuted in 1999 with the 10" album "Jenzig", released by Eis Und Licht label.
"Jenzig" established Andreas Ritter's literary interests with musical settings of Ludwig Uhland's "Gesang Der Jünglinge"

and Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe's "Erlkönig".
Ritter's interests were also present in references to 18th and 19th century poets such as Eduard Mörike,  

Joseph Freiherr Von Eichendorff, Matthias Claudius, Friedrich Schiller and Friedrich Hölderlin,

but also 20th-century writers such as Paul Celan and Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
Later in 2002 "Jenzig" was re-released on CD format featuring the the bonus track "Jenzig II"

that was recorded in 2000 and previously released on the "Lichttaufe - Der Folklore Liedschatz" compilation.
The band's second album "Windzeit" was released in 2002 and includes poems by Hermann Hesse and Ricarda Huch.
It also features two song with lyrics by Uwe Nolte of the band Orplid and guest performances

from members of the band Sonne Hagal and from Douglas P. of Death In June.
In 2004 Forseti released its third and final album "Erde".

"Erde" includes covers of songs by Sonne Hagal and Orplid and guest performances

from the Ukrainian opera singer Andrey Kulinich, B'eirth of the band In Gowan Ring,

Kim Larsen of Of the Wand & The Moon and Ian Read of Fire + Ice.
At the time of its release, Ritter described it as possibly the final chapter in this style of nature poetry 

and said that he might move into something more historical or start to set older classics to music.
Unfortunately in May 2005, Ritter suffered a cardiac arrest which had serious consequences for his health.

To support him, a number of neofolk acts collaborated on the compilation album "Forseti Lebt" in 2006.
The proceeds from the album went to support Ritter.

Memory

Xytras – Passage (1997)

Country: Switzerland

Tracklist

1. Regen 03:34
2. Glänzendes Königreich 03:20
3. Des Engels Untergang 03:54
4. Jupiterianische Schwingungen 03:35
5. Die Vorher Kamen 03:45
6. Der Stamm Kains 03:42
7. Mondhaut 04:39
8. Mein Retter 04:15
9. Wintersonnenwende 03:20
10. Ein Mensch Im Kopf 03:34

Xytras was the side-project of Alexander Locher (aka Xytraguptor / Xy),

keyboardist and percussionist of the Swiss black metal / industrial band Samael.
Locher released his first solo album entitled "Passage" in 1997 by Century Media Records.
"Passage" featured re-arranged instrumental/keyboard/classical versions of most of the tracks on Samael's "Passage" album and a couple from their MCD "Exodus", with the titles of the originals been translated into German.
After a very long hiatus Locher released his second album "Sedunum" in 2014.
"Sedunum" was recorded at Smecky Studios, along with the Filmharmonic Orchestra and Choir from Prague,

conducted by Adam Klemens, who has recorded music for projects in film, television, musicals and video games.
The songs vary from modern classical influences to more experimental elements,

with orchestral instruments mixed with percussions and tribal rhythms.
The album was released in Switzerland via Galactical Records / Musikvertrieb and in Europe by Kronos Records.

Memory

Forest Of Impaled – Mortis Dei (MCD 1996)

 

Country: United States

 

Tracklist

1. Beckoning Midnight Dreams 04:35
2. Orgy of Unearthly Delights 03:17
3. Mortis Dei 02:26
4. Mystic Sight Of The Infernal Horde 04:01
5. Dark Shades Of The Astral World 04:58

Chicago's Forest Of Impaled was originally formed in 1991 under the name Nocturnal Serenity.
A the time the band started out playing At The Gates-inspired material

before changing their name a year later to Forest Of Impaled.
Several unreleased demos were recorded through the 90s

before the release of their first official MCD entitled "Mortis Dei" in 1996.
The MCD was released by Terrorizer Records featuring influences

from the Scandinavian black metal scene, especially the Swedish one.
Forest Of Impaled released another three albums, that its one of them while kept the black metal spirit 

was also fused with more death metal elements, before disbanding around 2007.

Memory

Enchanted – Daylights Wing Collides (MCD 1998)

Country: Norway

Tracklist

1. With Eyes I Am Cursed 04:53
2. Daylights Wing Collides 05:06

Enchanted was a melodic black metal band from Bergen, Norway that was formed in 1992.
The band was led by Iscariah aka Stian Smørholm (Dead To This World, Amok, Wurdulak etc.)
and released a rehearsal tape in 1994, followed by the demo "Breed My Sorrows" in 1995.
Their last work was the promo CD  "Daylights Wing Collides",
that was recorded at Grieghallen Studio and published by Edged Circle Productions in 250 copies.
This recording was actually supposed to be officially released as a 7" or 10" vinyl
with full color artwork but Edged Circle Productions went bankrupt before this could be finalized.
The band had actually a lot of material for a planned debut album but this was never happened.
Enchanted split up around 1999 because of lack of time since Iscariah had joined Immortal at the time.

Memory

Mainliner – Mainliner Sonic (1997)

Country: Japan

Tracklist

1. Mainliner Sonic 06:55
2. Tsukisasaru 05:41
3. Last Day 05:35
4. Blue Pieces 06:39
5. Mainliner Sonic II 06:07

Mainliner are a psychedelic/acid/noise/rock band from Tokyo, Japan.
They were formed in 1995 by Kawabata Makoto, guitarist and founding member of the band Acid Mothers Temple,

and bassist Asahito Nanjo with the intention of creating a new form of psychedelic music.
From 1996 to 2001 they released several albums and live recordings
before the members went on hiatus to pursue other musical interests.
After almost a ten years, on December 20, 2011

Kawabata Makoto, Koji Shimura and newcomer Kawabe Taigen began recording new material.

The music from these sessions was released on May 13, 2013 on their album "Revelation Space"

under the moniker Kawabata Makoto's Mainliner.

 After the release of the album the band began a worldwide tour.

Memory

Trom – Evil (1995)

Country: Switzerland

Tracklist

1. Alchimie 04:05
2. Là Où Naissent Les Têtes De Sang 03:53
3. Balmor 07:26
4. Dead Prophets 04:19
5. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. 04:36
6. Extrom 03:06
7. Nigra Opera 03:16
8. 31 06:16
9. Nagual 06:29

Trom was a Swiss Gothic/Deathrock/Post/Punk band that was formed in early 90s.
They released their self titled demo in 1992 followed by a MCD entitled "Balmor" in 1993.
In 1995 they released on cassette format the live album "Evil" that was recorded at "La Case à Chocs"
in Neuchâtel, Switzerland showcasing their mix of mystic, obscure sounds with dark, hypnotic and occult vocals.
In 1996 Shivadarshana Records re-released "Evil" on a CD format with a different cover.
Trom's last offering was the demo "31" in 1996.
The band probably split up in 1996/1997, after the release of "31" and having played live shows all over Europe.

Memory

Belmez – Siechtum (1995)

Country: Germany

Tracklist

1. Belmez 03:25
2. Und Süß Setzt Ein Das Leiden... 06:19
3. Morella 03:20
4. Spiritistische Sitzung 02:07
5. Bizarro 02:18
6. Violine Mit Knochenkopf 05:09
7. Wirkliche Erfüllung 04:44
8. Die kriechenden Särge Von Barbados 04:08
9. Siechtum 04:12
10. Hort Des Sterbens 04:18
11. Schwerter, Äxte, Lanzen 03:40

Belmez was the solo project of former Eminenz member Karsten "Zwerg" Breitung
 (ex-Opacity, ex-Sarkophag, ex-Mortal Discipline) and was formed in 1993.
After the release of two demos Karsten released two albums ("Berserker" and "Siechtum")
through Napalm Records before joining the German label Christhunt Productions 
where he released in 2001 his final Belmez album entitled "Wundgrind".
The name of the band was inspired by a small Spanish town called Bélmez De La Moraleda 
that became famous because of paranormal phenomena which allegedly occured in the 70s and consisted
of strange images of faces which used to appear on the ground and on the walls of a modest family house in the town.
One of those face images can be seen on the cover of Belmez's debut album "Berserker".

Memory