Monday, November 23, 2015

Appollonia - Dull Parade (Album Review)

Formed in 2005 in Bordeaux / Biarrit France,Appollonia have been steadily producing albums ever since. Dull parade is the bands 4th release. It’s a 9 track album and the album’s length is around 40.28 minutes. The album was released in 20/10/2014. 
The set list of the album as per the track number is as below.
1.      On a bed of Sulfur
2.      Strange Blooms
3.      Lights Out Knives Out
4.      Ammunitions Please
5.      Everest
6.      Elizaberri
7.      To Study Lips
8.      Anelace
9.      Welsh Rarebit

The album is produced by Franck Hueso and so far in my view, it is the bands bands best release. Some of my favorite tracks from On a bed if Sulfur, Dull Parade are, Lights Out Knives Out, Elizaberri, Everest and Strange Blooms. Infact, I felt that the band has tried to created Dull Parade as a story line and in some parts I even felt that they are successful in executing it. If I am asked about the best sonsg from the album, it’s definitely Lights Out Knives out and On a bed of Sulfur (man this track have some massive startup for an album).

The thing that I like about this band is their consistency in release and with each release the band is getting better and better. Going through this album couple of times, some bands stuck in my mind especially Mastodon, Deftones and Sound Garden stuck on my head while flowing with the album. The other key part of this album is that, the band has organized the song in a perfect way and matches with the album name.

Strong points of the album.
·         Successfully created a storyline, infact a powerful startup with On a Bed of Sulfur
·         Original and Versatile
·         Has the ability to capture a mood and trust me it’s not a once give a listen album.

Some of the track may feel a bit depressing as per the name of the album with high level of energy in the initial stage and gets gloomier as it proceeds which can be felt in the some tracks, in short lived up with the album name.

Now based on what I felt I will like to rate the album 7 out of 10.


Saturday, November 7, 2015

Nepal Death Fest 2016

Let me begin with asking what is metal music in your view.. Many of the non listeners out there will misjudge by saying violence, aggression, its not music at all and some say kids having troublesome teenage times. It was until 25-4-2015 the entire concept of metal music changed here in Nepal. Here in Nepal after the disaster metal music became the savior. Entire metal community from round the globe acted as one and raised hand to help the people who got victimized by the massive destructive force of mother nature, massive earthquake of 7.9 rector claiming life for more than 9000 people. Here metal became the savior, various metal shows were organized round the world and fund were raised to help the victimized people.

The aid and help from the metal community from round the world has changed the attitude towards metal music and musicians in the country. Recent example is Funerus 2 days 2 cities Nepal tour. Hosted by non other than BRUTAL POKHARA and MASSACRE EVENTS. We hope that the organizers will come up with some more huge acts here soon in coming days..

Today i am going to write about non other than NEPAL DEATHFEST a collaborative effort of BRUTAL POKHARA and EUMSN since 2014. In the period of less than 3 years the event has become one of the premium extreme metal festival here in Nepal as well as one of the most respected extreme metal round the world.

The 1st installment of NDF was held on 11th Jan 2014 witnessed by more than 300+ supporters featuring bands from Nepal, India and Bangladesh. The gig was one day event featuring Fragarak from India, Homicide and Creature of Judgement from Bangladesh. The gig was headlined by Ugrakarma and were supported by promising Nepali acts such as Dying out flame, Aakrosh and Nude terror. It was one hell of a gig and its impact motivated the organizers to do the 2nd installment making the gig much intense and extreme,

The 2nd installment of NDF was a massive one 2 days of epic madness with crowd attendance of more than 500 which is  massive for an indoor gig in a country where metal is not that old compared to the global scenerio. Bringing the most accomplished and intense Extreme metal bands together in the same arena.. Must say it was two days of extreme Metal Veneration.. Held on Jan 9 and 10 2015 the organizers hosted ASIAN DEATH METAL GODS DEFILED from Japan along with SMALLPOX AROMA (Thailand) and MALAPETIKA (Malaysia). This show did left an massive impact thus many extreme metal bands from round the world are now showing interest to play here in Nepal. Whenever i have talk with some senior global metal personalities they ask me regarding NDF this simply shows how effective and intense the show is. Its unethical for me to say this but there are many renowned extreme metal acts from round the world who have a desire to play in Nepal and i hope some of them will for sure play in days nearby.. I

Few weeks back NDF released their entire lineup and dates of NDF. This installment is probably one of the biggest announcement so far for 2016.. The upcoming 2016 edition is the 3rd installment and features 5 international acts. Its going to be a 2 days death metal assault featuring 

*** Day 1, Friday (Date - 22nd Jan 2016)***

- Headliner - SETE STAR SEPT (Japan)
- Co - Headliner - Meat Train (England)
Rip Off (India)
Rog (Pokhara)
CHILDWIFE (Ktm)
Asphyxiate (Ktm)
Laash (Ktm)
-Grenade (Ktm)

***Day 2, Saturday (Date - 23rd Jan 2016)***

- Headliner - Fleshcrawl (Germany)
- Co - Headliner - NervoChaos Official Page (Brazil)
- Co - Headliner- Dying Out Flame (Ktm)
- Undefined Human (Hetauda)
Nihility Nepal (Banepa)
Defleshed Nepal (Ktm)
Corpse Sick (Ktm)

Yes globally renowned act Fleshcrawl, NervoChaos will be tearing your skull apart, supported by SETE STAR SEPT, Meat Train and Rip Off. Local acts like ROG, Childwife, Asphyxiate, Laash, Dying Out Flame, Undefined Human, Nihility, Defleshed, Corpse Sick and a newly formed extreme act Grenade will be supporting for this massive assault.

One thing that makes me feel proud about NDF is that along with providing platform to play with globally respected extreme acts NDF crew have provided opportunities for young bands and infact giving a massive scale exposure which has thus helped in rise of young bands. As per the flow of information/Promotion and current flow of music in my view there will be massive crowd attendance.

With a motto of bringing tight bands NDF's prime objective is to uplift and promote local talents and provide them ample exposure. The organizers have also made 2 goodwill ambassadors one of them is a very good friend of mine as well. Yes it non other than my good friend and one of the globally respected alternative model/ Promoter  NaTyMeTaL from Costa Rica and the event is going to be hosted by non other than  Pragati Amatya

Melvi is the official merch partner. They will be selling official Freshcrawl, Sete Star Sept and Meat Trains merchandises.

Now again you may think why should i attend this gig paying Nrs1000 buysing now and later 1500 in doorsales. I will give you the reason why you must attend???
  • Probably the 1st major gig of and the biggest announcement made for 2016.
  • Dude Fleshcrawl are GLOBAL DEATH METAL MONSTERS!!!!
  • Fleshcrawl are the 1st German Metal band to tour Nepal.
  • Obviously it's FLESHCRAWL touring Nepal with another giant Nervo Chaos. These two are one of the most respected bands in the extreme scene GLOBALLY.
  • 5 international acts sharing 2 stages in 2 days. You aint going to get 5 international monsters to witness live anywhere for just 1500 rupees which is less than $20.
  • SETE STAR SEPT, Meat train and Nervo Chaos features female members who are ready to tear you up with their brutality screams and riffs.
  • Its a fucking tribute to Jim Konya and Martin Kiddie Kearns. The stages are on their name. Now dont ask me who are they. You will be making an ass out of yourself if you ask this question!!!
  • Dude FLESHCRAWL is an old school act who are dominating the world since 19 fucking 87 and have made 10 releases 1 demo 1 ep 1 compilation abum and 7 fucking album and trust me they are all gem.
1990: Festering Flesh (Demo)

- 1991: Lost in a Grave (EP)

- 1992: Descend into the Absurd
- 1993: Impurity
- 1996: Bloodsoul
- 1997: Bloodred Massacre
- 2000: As Blood Rains from the Sky – We Walk the Path of Endless Fire
- 2001: Soulskinner
- 2004: Made of Flesh
- 2005: Crawling in Flesh (Best of)
- 2007: Structures of Death


     What else can you ask they are fucking Legends.
  • Dude they are signed under METAL BLADE records bhanepachi CHANCHUNE BAND HAINA TA.
  • FLESHCRAWL  joined a month long tour with Kataklysm and Vader, as well as participating in festivals with Cannibal Corpse and Dark Funeral.
  • Played at Wacken Open Air.
  • Fleshcrawl are extensive touring bands worldwide.
  • NervoChaos have toured and have shared stages with VENOM, CANNIBAL CORPSE, KRISIUN, NAPALM DEATH, KREATOR, BIOHAZARD, DISMEMBER, AGNOSTIC FRONT, DISGORGE (USA), D.R.I., MONSTROSITY, VULCANO, DEEDS OF FLESH, PANDEMIA, TOTAL FUCKIN DESTRUCTION, BELPHEGOR, ICONOCLASM, POSSESSED, MAYHEM, SADISTIC INTENT, THE EXPLOITED, CARCASS, ASESION, BENEDICTION, DIVINE HERESY, RAGNAROK, CONQUEST FOR DEATH, TORTURE SQUAD, ACHERON, CENTURIAN, HEADHUNTER D.C., INCANTATION, WAR-HEAD, ABSU, MASACRE (Col), CHRIST AGONY, VADER, MALEVOLENT CREATION, BLOOD RED THRONE, ENTHRONED, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUSTO, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and many more to list. 

Now what else reason can i give you all. I hope to see you all in the pit.. What else can i say if you guys want to miss the most intense gig of the year. 

Lastly all i can say is MARK YOUR CALENDER ITS 22ND AND 23RD JAN 2016. 

I will be coming with more updates about this gig in coming days..