our spotlight feature for issue #9 is a Germany based kvlt label, and one of the better new up and coming underground labels/distros in Europe right now. Ketzer Records is run by Alex Hehnle, and offers some of the best kvlt death and black metal demos, vynil and CD's from Europe. True underground kvlt kids who want to sample the new breed of fresh bands in the Euro scene are advised to check out Ketzer Distro, offering records at fair prices. most releases are from Germany, and also includes bands from Russia, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and a few US imports as well. some of these releases are in conjunction with other labels such as Beverina Productions (Latvia), and Pesten and Neodawn Productions, both from Germany as well. (by Rx Zenabi)Here are some CDr reviews to give you an overview of what to check out from Ketzer Distro. You can visit his online distro at: http://ketzer-records.de
Alkonost - Alkonost
From Russia comes Alkonost who play high ended, semi melodic folk/death/black incorporating the cold, grim atmosphere of their Motherland and adding some keyboards into the mix. You could compare some of the moments of the music to early Amorphis without too much of the slowdowns and a more somber feel all throughout. The black metal styled grim, raspy vocals fit the mood of the music well, but could get a bit monotonous in the long run. Alex (bass/vocals) plays some solid weaving basslines though while doin the vocals. Not too technical but adding some inetresting lines in the rhythms. Some of the guitars remind me of the twin harmonies of early Dark Tranquillity, where they utilize a lot of riffs in the upper registers though not as involved and as intricate as their style. The Alkonost CD comes with extra media including a couple of videos shot in the chilling woods, one even shows movie style credits while the band fools around in the background, showing they don't take themselves too seriously. The other one is a collage mix of studio and live performances and footage of Alkonost walking around and doing the helicopter hair swing in some random places.
Grabnebelfursten - Von Schemen Und Trugbildern
Grabnebelfursten hail from Germany and conduct a cacophony of atmospheric ambient art fused with straightforward semi melodic black metal, but contrast it with gruff low growls and spoken, Enslaved/Emperor style authoritative baritone clean vocal passages and the gargoyle screeches, sometimes used all at the same time - this combination does not succeed in most cases, but offers a more unique sound than most more recent black metal outfits. They also utilize keyboards but don't really pepper the whole song or drown cleaner parts with it. Their arrangements are rather chaotic, riff jumping and shifting a lot of times in one song while keeping the vocal styles changing a lot. I'm not sure if this will work for those who prefer a simpler, more savage black metal approach or those who prefer a more involved and progressing sound, though the band is far from being prog black (though most songs tend to be long, and above the 6, 7 minute mark). They can sometimes be compared to Bethlehem, without a lot of the dark, dark suicidal feel and the psychotic slash your wrists decimation, yet have their own personality. They tend to stick to more oddtimed to mid paced speeds and double bass on and off entries, and cue the blasts properly without really overusing it, allowing some room for the vocals and giving proper space where it is needed. Grabnebelsfurten are a good, accomplished band and they just need the extra push to raise them from their underground cult status to more listeners who prefer a less commercial style of atmospheric black metal.
Pest - Ara
Also from Germany hails Pest, and is no way related to Pest from Obtained Enslavement, who had a brief stint with Gorgoroth. But this is somewhat related musically due to this being raw, lo-fi blackmetal not really far from Gorgoroth, but lacking the solid punch of true total fucking chaos approach of that band maybe due to some of the production, but closer listens do give out some of that feel, with a few instrumental tracks in between, showing off a more skilled and subdued side, some of which are well done, using a low string section, others acoustic axes and pianos without sounding cheezy. Playing chaotic out of control black metal in a lo-fi style doesn't take a lot of math, you only need the most true and bare bones approach on the riffs and a production job that recreates a cold, grim and really noisy overall sound. Pest has most of the elements already and it shows on this CD, but a louder, full on, full throttle aurally destructive studio sound will really give them justice and show their real soul on CD. For now this will do, and it shows the potential of Pest, I hope the next one can give them a sound that these crazy black metal Germans really deserve.
Realm of Carnivoria - Vengeance Shall Come
A good surpirse here from Estonia, nothing out of the ordinary, but well played black metal that focuses on raspy styled gargoyle vocals and with a good sound. Keyboards are used, but only in slower parts. I don't think this is necessarily generic, though but if you're a purist black metal fan, you could stick to the main players of the black arts, but if you're looking for newer, fresher talent, you could give this a try. The usage of keyboards will most definitely turn off most pure elitist black metal followers, I for one personally dislike any keyboards on my black metal, but RoC use them well, especially when they slow down and use cleaner guitars to add space and dynamics. Nothing new, but well done and breaks the monotony of the faster, blaze-a-thon parts, unless you're the marduk/gorgoroth/judas iscariot/immortal/etc. style who digs unrelenting brutality, this is full of intricate and cleaner passages in between. included here is a well done cover of Judas Priest's Hell Patrol, done with gravelly low black metal vocals but retaining the original tempo with the band's heavy, raw sound.
Enid - Der Tag Zur Nacht Sich Senkt
Hell, most of these releases have an instrumental/half instrumental intro. Enid's 10" starts out with a dramatic, anthemic intro accompanied only by piano and percussion, conjuring up images of medieval battles and warriors overlooking the land from the hills, that is until the clean vocals come in, the style of delivery of which is not particularly my cup of tea (beer?whiskey?) particularly the vocals, they could have done without it, or could have used it as just a pure instrumental track. The next tracks though are classical/ambient infected, raw, battle-scarred black metal epics, Immortalish in delivery sometimes, interspersed by folk instrumental parts and pianos/keyboards, (the band hails from Germany though). Although it sounds a bit weirder in listening to than when read, the odd pairing works in mostparts, but still needs a bit of fine tuning for the band to streamline the sound and balance the weight of the non-black metal parts. I personally prefer when the band goes into high octane fierce black metal with distorted bass (the last track) even with the grandiose segments that conjure the Conan The Barbarian scene soundtracks in between and in the intro.
Dark Domination - Blasphemy
Hailing from Latvia are Dark Domination who prefer doing black metal the oldschool, raw, lo-fi way. In most of the songs, it offers some enjoyable moments especially for those who dug Atilla's on Mayhem's De Mysteriis... since the vocals are close to that style, while the rugged oldschool riffing is prevalent all throughout. but they also use keyboards, which is a big contradiction in regards to having an oldschool, "necro" sound blackmetal. Half of this is ok, half is a bit dragging, they could have cut some of the material in half, lessen ineffective elements (such as the predictable spoken passages) and gone through the more into their solid necro oldschool approach. Only when they go for the full throttle attack do they effectively churn out their real sound.
Bloodline - A Pestilence Long Forgotten 7"
Totally raw blasting high end, high frequency ambient black from Sweden, too much frenzied guitar insanity in the mix with majestic horn sections. I suspect this was from a demo or a rough recording. guitars, vocals on the second layer and no drums save for the occasional crash coming down fast. It's difficult to make out the whole concept of the first song because of the sound, (plus it's all treble and high end mids). Burzum cover for the flipside 2nd track. You need to check out the upcoming full length as these are advance tracks only, to get a better listen, hopefully with a better sounding quality.
Necroplasma - Black Funeral Horns
Swedish Black Metal that conspires with thrash/speed elements for a balanced attack and Legion-style vocals. Although this style has been ridden by agents of the horned and hooved one for far too many times already, I like stuff like this when done well, recorded and mixed in proper fashion and when the band is killer enough in their delivery. Nothing new really, just solid the Swedish style which means there's a degree of skill and quality even without much originality in it. They also included a well done cover of Venom's Witching Hour, totally raw and faithful to the original.
Grave Desecrator - demo
Brazil keeps churning out a huge number of agents of the black arts, this time spawning Grave Descrator, who hail and praise the Horned and Hooved one a bit Darkthrone-style, lots of blazing crash riding blasts and mid tempo tremelo riff rides all througout. Production is a few notches higher than the revered cold, lifeless sound patented by Fenriz and Nocturno Culto, yet maintain the band's personality by adding their own South American baked forlorn evil riffs.
Seges Findere - Wolves in Battlelust demo
is this a drum machine? kind of sounds like it. The rolling just sounds ridiculous sometimes, only when it sticks to the grind does it move on a better pace. They should have gotten a real drummer to do the incessant time keeping and rhythm. Relentless lo-fi demo of pure cult blackness again from our friends in Brazil. low mixed bass, dirty guitar destruction and loud vocals. This pure bred, necro cult black sound is actually good to these ears again, as I haven't heard totally underground South American black metal in a long time, this is done in true kvlt sound, whether given good sound will this be better, I'm not sure, but oftentimes the relentless attack becomes repetitive. These guys should know when to balance out the direction of the song, and cut back on the sonic slack and streamline the songs to make it effective. Otherwise this is good for any and all oldschool true elite types who enjoy a good sonic battering lo-fi style once in a while. Something about Brazilian bands that always has the raw appeal to them...
and there you have it, our overview/review on Ketzer Distro. check out the website and check out some of the fine releases under this good, up and coming German Distro. we will be tackling another spotlight feature next issue...
