CD

Florida death metal at its best! This compilation album contains the earliest DIABOLIC works demo 1997 & ultra rare promo 1998. Diabolic is an American death metal band from Tampa Bay, Florida, founded in 1996 by bassist/vocalist Paul Ouellette, drummer Aantar Lee Coates and guitarist Brian Malone.

By January 1997, Diabolic drummer/founder Aantar Coates (Unholy Ghost, Exmortis, Horror of Horrors, Blastmasters), had relocated to Tampa, Florida and after forming the first complete lineup, the band recorded and released the successful demo ‘City of the Dead’. This demo immediately got the band noticed in the worldwide underground press. ‘City of the Dead’ was mastered at Morrisound Studios (Death, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide), Tampa, Florida by Jim Morris, and produced by Lee Harrison (Monstrosity, ex Malevolent Creation, ex  Terrorizer). In 1998 the band recorded a 9 track promo that as only sent out to a very few labels to get signed and never officially released. For the 2014 vinyl re-issue of the debut demo Diabolic recorded a new special track names ‘Lucifer Induced’ (never released on cd until now). Both demo 1997, promo 1998 and the new 2014 track are included on this compilation cd. 13 tracks in total. Extensive liner notes by Steven Willem (Rock Tribune, Voices from The  Dark Side with drummer / founder Aantar. Plus old and rare pictures, posters and flyers in a 16 page booklet.

The occultic and atmospheric solo project of Proscriptor McGovern (of ABSU fame) smears an avant-garde style of Pagan music with ‘The Venus Bellona’ – an invigorating and magic(k)al listen to reveal ‘the inner domains of immortality’. Awareness factor: the planet Venus is the sphere closest to the Earth and its longitude is based upon the actual epoch of time. With Venus’ perihelion passage, it is known for a fabulous role as an adulate goddess in Greek mythology. Venus also represents the alchemic(k)al metal of copper, (the fourth “Dalkhu” of fire) whereas “Bellona”, on the other hand, is the Latin term for “war goddess” to complete the bewilderment of the album title. Proscriptor comes to you with ‘The Venus Bellona’ – a collection of deathless fables gathered from a wide variety sources: from his ancestral attributions of Scottish heritage to superstitions and the Dominion folklore of Thoth. Handed down to his shadow from generation to generation, and once told in musky crofters’ cottages and draughty castles, these spellbinding tales of ‘The Venus Bellona’ will thrill and possess followers of all durations. Lightlessness of sound, which is sometimes motionless, is essential in occultic and atmospheric music.

Reissue edition on Demons Run Amok Entertainment

Comes in 8-panel digipak 2CD with an additional booklet.
 

Darkness is falling. A cold wind blows from the snow-covered Carpathians, making the windows rattle and the corners of the house creak. Something is coming, eyes flashing red in the night and its footprints filled with grave dirt. What nocturnal terror is this? Why, it’s the arrival of the long-awaited third album by The Coffinshakers, folks.

While most bands quickly lose the spark, The Coffinshakers have stayed relevant – eternal like the undead. Though humor is their hallmark, there is also poignancy and something genuinely spine-tingling in their rugged, melancholy ballads. And this new offering shows them at the height of their baleful, campy power. They truly are a band that ages like fine wine – although vampires, of course, never drink… wine.

Much will be familiar to dedicated fans. Rob’s trademark malevolent chuckles still reverberate with sardonic glee, the deep rumble of his voice continuing to send all yellow-bellies hiding behind the barn. At the same time, his vocals have gained in both power and subtleness. The same goes for the guitar, bass, and drum work, now incorporating a broader array of classic Americana influences. These unholy badmen have drunk the blood straight from the neck of the authentic country, bluegrass, folk and other rootsy music of inbred US backwaters – and it has made their fangs sharper than ever.

And though The Coffinshakers still ride forth with tongue firmly planted in cheek, there is a new apocalyptic urgency to their third offering. From the marching drums of the desolate “Graves, Release Your Dead” to the echoing vocals of “River of Souls” and the cathartic cataclysm of “Down in Flames”, it all forebodes the imminent end of the whole dirty enchilada of existence. The band’s flippancy comes with a genuinely unsettling kernel of darkness – and black humor is always the most satisfying. Vampires may not cry, but we all know they laugh wickedly as they rise from the bone orchard.