Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Independent

The Netherlands are a hotbed of metal activity that for whatever reason seems to escape the view of a lot of people. Thankfully, some bands are proactive in getting their names out there, and Posthuman are one of those bands. They emailed me asking if I wanted to do up a review of their new, independently released album.
And this album is awesome. It reminds me a lot of Swedish melodeath, but at the same time has a different flavor. It’s nice and original, a fast moving concept about the end of humanity, the destruction of the world at our own hands, and the rebuilding just to go back to our old ways.
I’m definitely liking what I hear, and if you’re into melodic death you’ll probably like these guys too.
7.5 out of 10.

Posthuman on MySpace.

Tweet This Delicious Digg This Post Facebook Reddit Stumble This Post

Genres: Black Metal, Doom, Post Rock
Label: A Sadness Song/ATMF

An Autumn for Crippled Children present a genre-bender of an album that is easy to get Lost in. And I mean it. It’s quite a beautiful sounding album full of post rock passages that flow into crushing doom, then kicks your face in with black metal gladiator boots.
Emotionally, this album is everywhere, just like the sound, but it’s not the type of everywhere that is like forced schizophrenic ideas, but a more genuine sense of the emotional spectrum. It’s got great riffs, spectacular drumming, and a voice that brings my spirits down and uplifts them simultaneously.
If you’re into depressive black metal, this might be your cup of tea. Doom and post rock fans will definitely find something here in AAFCC to bang their heads to. Traditional black metal purists might have some trouble with the album, but those with more open minds should enjoy it immensely. I know I love it, and recommend it totally.
8.5 out of 10.

An Autumn for Crippled Children on MySpace.

Tweet This Delicious Digg This Post Facebook Reddit Stumble This Post

Genre: Pagan Folk Metal
Label: Napalm Records

A pretty damn good metal album sits here in the arms of Heidevolk, full of Dutch lyrics, heavy guitars, and epic traditional instruments.
From Gelderland, a province of the Netherlands, Heidevolk use the history of their homeland to weave these folk metal songs. I just wish I understood Dutch, I’d be having a great history lesson right now! My favorite track is the faster paced “Dondergod”, with the slightly slower “Gelders Lied” right behind it.
If you like mandolins and violins and pounding drums joining forces, raise your mead horns high to Heidevolk.
7.5 out of 10.

Heidevolk on MySpace.

Tweet This Delicious Digg This Post Facebook Reddit Stumble This Post

Another old interview from October 2009. Since this was done, Dennis and I have become pretty good friends, and the -NL has been dropped from the name. A great label that deserves your support.

Hello Dennis. How is your week going so far? What can you tell us of yourself?

It hasn’t been too bad, a lot to do and not enough time to do it in, but I’ve gotten pretty used to that. I’m a workaholic, with my dayjob and Ziekte-NL combined I work between 15 and 18 hours each day, in weekends as well. As for telling you more about myself…I’m never too sure what to say, besides shamelessly advertising Ziekte-NL, so what would you like to know?

You run Ziekte-NL, a fairly new record label. How long has Ziekte-NL been active?

Ziekte-NL has been active for almost a year now, we’ll have our anniversary in December.

What kinds of music do you release, and on what formats?

We mainly release various types of metal, but also rock, ambient and minimalistic. So far we have released albums on CDr, CD and in digital ways (like iTunes). In the future we will also release music on tape and hopefully on vinyl as well. The only thing holding us back from releasing on vinyl is the price really.

I see you’ve had a working relationship with a fair amount of bands I’m familiar with (and fands of), including Demonic Cremator and Necrosadik, among others. Is there any band out there, still making music or defunct, that you’d like to work with and haven’t had the pleasure yet?

There are way too many bands I’d like to work with. If you want a list/overview, well…take a glance at our myspace friendlist. Pretty much all of them. If we had the budget, we would be working with all of them, if they want to as well of course.

Aside from what you release on the label, is there any form of music in general, or any band specifically, that you enjoy? Anything that would surprise readers?

I enjoy pretty much every form of metal. I prefer black metal and death metal. One of my personal favourite bands is Marduk, I saw them live last month, together with Vader. It was a great concert. As for anything that would surprise the readers…I’m not sure. I also enjoy experimental / alternative music like Carnival In Coal. Is that surprising? You tell me.

In the world of metal there are some very controversial bands, with topics and themes that in themselves are controversial. One such topic is antichristian lyrics, and openly satanic lyrics. This seems to be a part of black metal the most, and I’m wondering if you subscribe to these religious views yourself?

If you were to label me when it comes to religion, I guess you can label me Nihilist. So I have no religious views really.

In the same vein as the last question, one topic that seems to be gaining more and more ‘popularity’ in metal as well as other genres is National Socialism, not just as a topic . Does Ziekte-NL as a label support such acts, or do you yourself personally support such acts?

NS may be gaining more and more popularity, but it’s still only a very small group. I haven’t really given it much thought, since I haven’t spoken to any such acts either. Unless they just have it in their lyrics for shock value, I don’t think I’d sign any such acts, simply to prevent conflicts with any of our other artists.

Let’s stay on the topic of controversy for one more question: what makes music metal? I know a lot of people have their own notions of what is or is not metal, so what are your ideas on the genre? Also, what separates rock from metal, when so many people call one band rock and another set calls the same band metal (Led Zeppelin comes to mind, specifically)?

When the first metal bands started getting known, it was all fairly clear what was rock and what was metal. These days, with so many bands playing so many styles, it’s become more difficult. I was talking about this with our photographer, Vincent, not too long ago. He didn’t really know what to say either. I guess what makes metal music metal is the combination of amplified guitars, prominent bass and a large drumset for a usually fairly constant beat. Though as soon as you start to give a description, there’s always a ‘But what about ?’ that you can give as a reply.

Finally, is there anything you’d like to add to the interview?

Again a question where I’m tempted to just shamelessly advertise. I’ll keep it simple; keep checking our website, there’s a lot of new stuff coming.

Tweet This Delicious Digg This Post Facebook Reddit Stumble This Post

Genre: Folk Metal
Label: Napalm Records

It’s been a while since I practiced my Dutch or read anything about Germanic history or mythology… but I don’t think any of that matters since Uit Oude Grond is a headbanging good time!

Uit Oude Grond (meaning, “from old soil” in English) is rife with heavy, crushing riffs and raging basslines that appear to be born and bread for battle! The vocal approach is a sturdy one at that, combining Dutch lyrics with clean and death vocals that resonate off of one another in perfect harmony. As for the token unique instrument, the violin accents everything it was meant to and is a more than welcome addition to the fray. And if you dig magic as well as might, then these songs are right up your alley with content ranging from Nehalennia, the Goddess of trade and fertility, Vlammenzee, a song about a man who dies and has his spear pointing towards his next destination; beside the all-father Woden, Dondergod, the God of thunder and his giant slaying adventures and my favorite, Best Bij Nacht, which means “beast by night”. A vicious tale about a werewolf and his prey!

Overall: Heidevolk breaths new life into a genre that blew up too big, too fast with Uit Oude Grond. It’s a mythology/history lesson that kicks your ass from beginning to end with it‘s folk-y tinge and metal heart! A must own for any fan of the genre.

9.5/10

Heidevolk on MySpace

Originally Posted at E-MetalSpace

Tweet This Delicious Digg This Post Facebook Reddit Stumble This Post