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