Masochist - Nocturnal Practices reh/demo '94

Masochist - Nocturnal Practices rehearsal demo 1994
1) Black Church Bells Ring
2) Bleed for Thy Sins
3) Eve of Anti Creation
4) Sucking the Tongue of the Ancient One
5) Frost of the Diabolical Forest
6) Blasphemer (Sodom cover)
7) Outro

Zippyshare / Depositfiles

Today's item might be considered a weekend filler and that is somewhat justifiable, seeing that several other rips of the tape have bobbed on the gaily rollicking waves of the cybersea for long and especially considering the extensive memorial compilation "History" released by Moribund cult in 2007 which contains all Masochist works. But then again, this could serve as an introduction to uninitiated plus comrade unholydeath's sending was made from an original tape and came with scans so it'd be a waste not to feature it. Kind of a companion piece to the Summon post made a year ago. Thanks for the contribution!

Masochist were one of the earlier second wave US black metal bands and in my mind always personified by the late multi-instrumentalist Tchort who shares the vocal duties on this recording with Xaphan (he's responsible for tracks 3 and 6). This roughly half an hour recording is a rehearsal demo meant to promote '95 release on Moribund which never came to exist. Six tracks, one a Sodom cover and an outro that was not mentioned on the cover... well actually there is also an intro which ud didn't separate from the first track and which is equally unmentioned in the cover. It's a separate track on the "History" 2-CD and titled Intro (Deliver Us unto Temptation) there. Soundwise this is obviously a rehearsal recording, clear enough to hear all instruments (yes, even the bass) but the guitars are a bit subdued. Other than that I've no complaints. Music is clearly black metal but there are touches of death metal noticeable and it sounds very... uh, early 90s USBM. I enjoy the vocals a lot, must give the compilation a good spin later today. Next post will be a special one so look forward to it!

Aufgabe - The Crusaders demo 1995

Aufgabe - The Crusaders demo 1995
1) Intro...
2) Dark Inquisition
3) Decapitation of Emperor-Shame!
4) Final Combat in Black Forest
5) Return After War
6) Outro... - The Pain of Glory - ...

Yandex / RGhost

Back to the poll results and a bit later than intended, pardon my absence. We do not travel that far from our previous stop Brazil, just to the northern continent and USA; Chicago, Illinois to be more precise for the delight of our stately readers. This is Aufgabe and what appears to be their only release, 1995 demo recording. It should be also noted that brother LKS and I are bringing this to the congregation at great personal risk as the cover states: This is not copyright, but if you will try to copy this material without our permission, we will find you, and crush you! They must've had their hands full with tape traders back in the day! Anyways, LKS ripped and scanned (caution: the cover scans are massive) and I divided into tracks and uploaded here. You download, listen.

This is warlike and chaotic stuff, a messy and hideous affair. Meant as a positive statement. Not really in the nowadays trendy bestial style, this sounds more archaic than that. Closer to Bestial Summoning than, uh, Revenge? They're popular right? Samples from film(s - I suppose?) serve as intros and interludes while the metal parts are furious and chaotic for most of the time. Vocals are somewhere between degenerate black metal vocals and punk vomits. Exception to the general form is the fifth track Return After War which really breaks the formula and is also the most interesting one for me. Not an auto recommendation this one but worth checking out especially if you are into warlike and/or primitive, ugly black metal. Next post will be something more flowery I suppose. A sunlit meadow under clear, calm blue skies sort of scenery maybe? Or perhaps a trip to the Netherlands after all?

Summon - Fire Turns Everything... Black demo 1996

Summon - Fire Turns Everything... Black demo 1995 (1996 version)
1) Intro: Blind Shadows of Darkness
2) Enter into Eternal Oath
3) Eve of Anti-Creation
4) Praising to a Blackened Moon
5) Burning Black Desire
6) Tales of Immortality
7) Outro: Forest of Dark Spirits

Depositfiles / Zippyshare

Back to more regular sort of programming and to the US with this contribution by unholydeath, thanks for the rip and scan! This is the only demo of the black/death metal band Summon, first released by the band themselves at the end of '95 and then (this version) in early '96 by Grinding Peace Records. I always tend to think Summon as the other continuation to Masochist as it features two of the former members, with a new drummer, while the frontman Tchort continued with his (originally side-project) Wind of the Black Mountains, till his demise. But enough background for now I suppose, onto the content.

As already stated, they play black/death hybrid and at this point quite reminiscent of the former band. Generally brisky pace and plenty of aggression here. The sound is very good but unfortunately (most likely thanks to the tape, oh how I've always fucking hated cassettes!) the sound kind of fluctuates and wanders about favouring one side occasionally on the first proper track. This does not happen later anymore but is really bothersome if you're listening to this on headphones. Other than that issue, this is a rather good release, I haven't listened to Summon's later material that much but now I feel like I should probably give 'em another go. Meanwhile, why don't you start with this?

Black Funeral - Journeys into Horizons Lost demo 1994

Black Funeral - Journeys into Horizons Lost demo 1994
1) Intro: Within the Ballinok Mountains
2) Into the Stars of a Blazing Past
3) Journeys into Horizons Lost
4) The Land Beyond the Forest
5) Armageddon (Lord Sathanas Returns)
6) Voice of a Forgotten Ghoul

RGhost / Depositfiles

Let's stay in the States for one more post - it's a huge place after all - and switch back to black metal with an item that possibly seems very much like a filler and might've been done to death already, the classic first Black Funeral demo from '94. Why post it then? Well, simple, I ripped "my" copy (borrowed from a comrade for undefined period of time, possibly until my death) for personal use not long ago after copying the covers for another person and thought I might as well share it. This is the No Rip-off productions version with xeroxed black and white covers (which have been cut with remarkable sloppiness and lack of care!), scans of which included. Musical content I think was same for all versions... or did the original, self-released version feature a different mix? (UPDATE: Nope, it was the vocals that were different as brother Fenrirsson reminded me.)

Whatever the case with the mix may be, this is the only version I've ever heard and listened to and I was pleasantly surprised after the long, long pause from the last time I played this tape, sounds so much better than I remembered! Can't help but wonder why the hell it took me so damn long to get back to this again? I remember people were quite keen on pointing fingers and calling this Burzum rip off back when it came out but that's not entirely fair, even if the similarities are there. I think the Baron's stuff has always had a certain aura to it, despite the ever-changing line-ups. Last track is a quite long dark ambient piece, more a track of different genre than an outro. Similar to what he did with Darkness Enshroud back at the time. Mandatory if you're into usbm, recommendable even if you're not into it at all! Has either aged well or perhaps it's just me?

Next one will be something rare again, promise!

December Wolves - Rehearsal 1994

December Wolves - Rehearsal 1994
1) The Towers of My Cold Stone Dwelling over the Mountains and Cliffside Landscapes

Mediafire / RGhost

I wanted to do a post today but since I'm a bit in a hurry it's time for another short one, here's an item I've left festering in a crypt again for longer than intended, a 1994 one song rehearsal tape by December Wolves. I think this predates the demo, but since all info I had was "rehearsal 1994" I can't say much else. Tape trader loot as expected and there's no cover, I just felt like making a placeholder in the spirit of the "Wolftread" tape. The pic was one of the members but I forgot which one.

One song only, but since this is the longest of the old bits it's still ten minutes. Sound is good for rehearsal and all elements are in place. Obviously it's not as clear as the cassette EP version. If you've heard the other older DW stuff you have an idea what this sounds like. Ok, it's epic US black metal influenced by the Scandinavians, more old Satyricon than Darkthrone to roughly put it. I really need to get going, so I recommend more listening & less reading for now!

Undead Productions compilation (1996)

Various Artists - Undead Productions compilation tape (March 1996)
1) Enkil - My Final Sunrise
2) Enkil - Mine King and Queen Are Dead
3) Nephilim - Fire Beyond the Black Haze
4) Black Funeral - Ex Sanguini Draculae
5) Black Funeral - The Floating Blue Witchlight
6) Abazagorath - Les Fleurs du Mal
7) Abazagorath - Nightrealm
8) Demoncy - Ascension of a Star Long Since Fallen
9) Darkness Enshroud - Into the Abyss
10) Sorath - The Darkness Returns
11) Sorath - Winterblack and Sorcery Beyond
12) Haborym - The Ancient Land of Serenity
13) Akhkharu - Prey to God
14) Akhkharu - Cosmic Ecstasy
15) Avatar - A Lost City
16) Darkened Skies - In Winters Ancient Slumber
17) Funeral - Night and Fog
18) Mercyful Fate - Satan's Fall

Yandex / Zippy

It's been several months since I last posted a compilation so this would be a decent spot to do so again. Also this is again a contribution from someone, thank you once more! Undead Productions was the label/distro of Enkil's Magnus Thorne. A second volume was supposed to be released in 1997 but I don't know if it actually was. Somehow I'm under the impression it didn't happen. (UPDATE: Wrong, it was released about a year later as confirmed by various sources!) I could use cover scans for this one, all I presently have is the photo of the cover seen above (and the UP logo).

This was dubbed on a 90 minute cassette, as was pretty much the standard back then. It's pretty obvious when you look at the tracklisting that one of the songs is a filler. Well, he might've been a big fan but still it's obvious. I'm kind of reminded of the Sverd Storm #2 compilation. Moving on, there's a bit hiss present but as I always say it just adds to the tape feeling, no? Most of the roster are US black metal bands, the tape starts with Thorne's own project Enkil and related band Nephilim which you'll possibly remember from the old posts. Baron von Abaddon has been given plenty of room too, with two tracks of Black Funeral, one long, rumbling Darkness Enshroud piece and intro+track from Sorath. The only non-US bands on the compilation are Belgian Avatar, with a track from their '94 demo (which is pretty cool) and France's Funeral, later reborn as Kristallnacht. Oh yeah and then there's the Danish bonus artist. Except for the last one, all tracks presented feature a more or less murky demo sound which is a unifying feature. Standouts include Nephilim's track (which seems exclusive to the compilation), Baron's stuff and Akhkharu for being plain awful. Please don't mix this one with the better one associated with DAP. Oh, almost forgot to mention, Darkened Skies is also interesting as I don't seem to find much (well, any) info on them. Would like to hear more. Anyways, check this out especially if you're interested in the 90's USBM.

Sorath - The Darkness Returns CassEP 1995

Sorath (us) - The Darkness Returns cassette EP 1995
1) The Darkness Returns
2) Winter Black and Sorcery Beyond
3) Dark Tears of Thy Past
4) Frozen Mountains Under Forboding Skies
5) Thy Bestial Winterland
6) Wings of Darkness
7) Spirits Floating Beyond

RGhost / Mediafire

Satanic Saturday sorcery! Sorath returns, with the very hard to find 1995 tape we discussed with comrade Fenrirsson in the comments for the 7" I posted here. Thanks to my anonymous contributor, this item was unearthed much sooner than I had dared to hope. According to him this was a cassette EP and I think I've seen it referred so elsewhere too so let's go with that description here. Unfortunately no covers and no luck finding them on the inter nets either so I made a placeholder cover using an old flyer printed on Pure Fucking Hell 'zine. It's supposed to be like a cassette cover though I probably have wrong proportions. Let's see how soon people who don't read these walls of text think this is an actual cover. Scan of which I'd naturally appreciate!

Seven tracks might momentarily delude you to think this'd be almost album length, but four of the tracks are short intros/interludes while the three longer tracks all clock over five minutes, bringing total time to an EP-appropriate 22 minutes. Sound and rip quality is ok, if a little muffled. I doubt the original is exactly hifi stuff either. Overall sound manages to come out quite clear, it is the low end that is mostly muddled into sort of nigh-impenetratable wall of audio fog, billowing and fluffy. There's an omni-present hiss which hints at an unknown generation dub origin of the source tape. The vocals are mostly an echoing, whispery half hiss half shriek which at best sounds quite chilling. Some kind of clean choirs are used in few places. I find myself enjoying this and wish I had an original copy of the tape. If you have one, send it to me, you don't need it. Recommended if you're a connoisseur of the good Baron's work.

Sorath - Horns of the Goat 7"EP 1994

Sorath (us) - Horns of the Goat 7"EP 1994
1) Flame of the Goat
2) The Moonlight Glittered Upon the Snow

Yandex / Mediafire

More Friday night filler follows, this time I'm posting black metal and the 7"EP by the US Sorath which often is considered to be a sort of pre-Black Funeral even though the Baron has disagreed on that in some interviews and both projects existed simultaneously for a time. But that's enough background banter... no it isn't, I should mention this is ripped from a cassette, not vinyl! Again. Cover images were sto...borrowed from Discogs.

As expected of 7"EP's, this release features only two tracks and is quite short, just over eight minutes. Which is quite average for two metal songs. Both tracks also appear on rehersal/demo 1994 but I'm not sure if they're from the same session or not as I don't have that one. The EP says these were recorded in October 1993 while rehearsal/demo only mentions winter 1993. The sound is quite rough and raw so these could easily be from that rehearsal session. There are some death metallish riffs present in Sorath's music which I have no problem with and the pace is either fast or slow, heavy midtempo. The Baron's vocals are the raspy shrieks and screams you remember from old Black Funeral but also added are some low growls which works. Thankfully brief narration also to start the second track. A good EP, would be nice to see a compilation of the Sorath material. Meanwhile try this if you like raw 90's black metal, usbm and so on.

Vampira - Demo 1995

Vampira - Demo 1995
1) Bleed for Us
2) Darkened Eternity
3) Under a Crescent Moon

RGhost / Yandex

Here's a black metal demo again and I've been meaning to post this earlier, but an unfortunately fruitless hunt through a ton of dusty old papers delayed me. You see there is preciously little information and no pictures of any sort available of the US vampiric bm project Vampira who, as far as I know, released only this quite short demo in 1995. I know I have (or had?) a bio or info sheet of some sort which I think would've had at least a logo somewhere, but it's very well hidden. Being managed by "Hardman Entertainment" (the contact in M.A.) and having an European promoter making a fuss was slightly suspicious, to say the least, not to mention the whole "Romanian vampires making black metal" or whatever else the bio sheet implied the band to be. Whether an attempt to cash in the bm (and vampire) trend, a fun side project by people in some other sort of band, or actually serious black metal vampires we'll never know. That is unless someone there has more information. Cover and any sort of images would also be appreciated!

As for the music, this demo has a bit less than ten minutes of material, divided into two longer and one short track. There's a brief intro between the first and second track, but the tracks proper are metal. The sound is quite good for a demo but it gives me really more death than black metallish feel. Though it is obvious they're going for black metal here. Brisk mid tempo most of the time speeding up to actually fast parts occasionally. Now that I listen to it while typing I'm actually reminded quite a lot of old Greek bm at certain points. I guess the machine drums contribute to that feel a lot. There is a little bit of tape imperfection, nothing really drastic again. This leaves me still kind of divided, it's dodgy for sure but still I don't feel like completely trashing them. I guess you need to have a listen as I don't make that much sense today.

Black Witchery - Evil Shall Prevail demo 1998

Black Witchery - Evil Shall Prevail demo 1999 (2nd release, original 1998)
1) Black Witching Metal
2) Evil Shall Prevail
3) Summoning of Infernal Legions
4) Destruction of the Holy Kingdom Which Spawned the Cursed Trinity of God

Narod

Here's the third and final from the batch sent by unholydeath, thanks bro! America's Black Witchery might be a familiar name to at least some of the Coven's readers and some might even recognize their first monicker Irreverent. Known nowadays for barbaric war black/death metal style, the earlier efforts like this demo still have more traces of early Scandinavian style present beside the war metal trappings. Or perhaps it'd be accurate to say it sounds more USBM than Canadian metal? However you decide to describe the difference, it's still quite primitive and in your face at the early stages as well. Note that this is the 1999 re-released version released by Chanteloupe Creations of France with a rather decieving fantasy cover artwork (stol... borrowed from TSR's AD&D Dragonlance book whose name evades me, you can Google it if you really must can't you?) - the original version was released a year before (1998) by the band themselves under the Witchery monicker which they changed as it was already in use. The contents would be same for both versions of the demo and several of these tracks would be used again later (on the 7"EP and split with Conqueror).

Good sounding rip and I think the demo sounds good itself too, you can clearly tell it's a demo recording but everything is as audible as it needs and has both rawness and power. It's not inventing the wheel again, or adding much bling to the original yet works for me. Very much recommended if you enjoy raw black metal and worth a try even if you're not into the more recent BW creations.

Issachar - Medieval Death Hymns demo 1994

Issachar - Medieval Death Hymns demo 1994
1) Black Sorrow
2) December Moon
3) Tor vinter
4) Bring Forth the Sword of Odin
5) By the Dark Winter Frost
6) Weeping Souls of the Forest (Live) - cuts

Mediafire / Depositfiles

Ok, this blog needs some metal again. Issachar from the US were a quite obscure act who released this demo in 1994, recorded an unreleased demo "Wolves in the Winter" in 1995 and turned death metal on "Dead" demo, also from 1995. Not much else I can tell you about them, though I recall reading somewhere about the vocalist/bassist Leon doing time but can't seem to remember where this was or other specifics. A 'zine, obviously. Well, pretty irrelevant I guess. Sent by a tape trader comrade back whenever and unfortunately the sixth track seems to cut, don't know how much. Cover image take from M.A.

Musically, this is quite weird ass stuff - especially considering it's from 1994. I'm not sure at all if I got the tracks divided correctly as it's a bit hard to say in places. First two tracks are instrumental and have this feel of a semi-improvised jam to them, same with the first track "Tor vinter" to use vocals, which are quite extreme black metal shrieks and howls. All instruments are audible and the guitar sound is pretty interesting, not at all the usual choice for black metal. "Bring Forth the Sword of Odin" is lenghty, slow and brooding and more like ritual music/black ambient than metal even though performed with the same instruments plus synth. The live track, which cuts, has a sound quite similar to the rest of the material and is also of the slow and brooding sort. I would be very curious to hear the "Wolves in the Winter" recording, I remember seeing it on many trader lists so let me know if you have it. Not great but probably worth checking out if you like your black metal unusual.

UPDATE: This is a bit late, but Withering Crypt has re-released the "Wolves in the Winter" recording, with the added line "Rehearsals 1995" on cassette back in 2015 and there should still be copies available. It's raw pagan black metal, I got me one.

Abomination - Rehearsal 1988

Abomination [us, pre-Profanatica] - Rehearsal Tape 1988
1) Of Pestilence
2) Crematory
3) Ghouls Chant
4) Mortuary
5) Deceased
6) Bloody Mess

Mediafire / Depositfiles

Here's another contribution from comrade Drowned, thank you! A short and brutal rehearsal tape from Profanatica pre-form Abomination, with John, Paul and a bass player. That's all I know at the moment. No covers probably existed, don't know if there was a logo or anything like that either. And once again, not to be mixed with the host of other Abominations out there.

Six tracks that amount to a bit over seven and half minutes so as you can expect these are short, violent bursts of black/death metal (lyrical topics would appear to be still pretty death metallish by the titles), not too dissimilar from what they would do with their much better known band later on. Or what Nunslaughter do. Pretty good rehearsal sound though if the bass is involved or not I can't tell. The vocal effect intros to some tracks make me smile, but at least they're better than sung vocals by a person who can't sing, for example. Worth having a listen if you enjoy simple and morbid old school black/death madness and don't mind the primitive... everything.

Into The Sunless Meridian - XXIX A.S. demo 1994

Into the Sunless Meridian - XXIX A.S. demo #1 1994
1) Meditations in a Cold and Dimly Lit Room
2) Of the Dark
3) In a Haze of Drifting Obscurity
4) Sleeping in Eternal Darkness
5) Ezeerb Nrehtron
6) The Luciferian Twilight
7) Reversed Lust Summoning
8) Celebration of Victory
9) Lunar Slumber - Part I - Tantric Meditations in the Fleeting Night
10) Lunar Slumber - Part II - Through the Looking Glass

Mediafire / Depositfiles

Today's post is the seldom seen 1st demo of Into the Sunless Meridian. Vaalkoth had lost his own copy somewhere but luckily brother Fenrirsson had and ripped it, so thanks to him for this! Scans of the cover and lyrics sheet are also included.

If you listened to the second demo, you know what to expect as this much in the same vein, though with a bit more straight black metal content. The old school influences are present like always but slightly more subdued. The intro track was used also on the self titled album, the rest of the content I think hasn't been elsewhere. Fenrirsson's rip is very good quality and the demo itself has a decent sound so there should be no problems in that direction. Recommended for people into the other ITSM material, fans of atmospheric 90s black metal sound and collectors of bm demos. Vaalkoth should be posting this also on his personal blog, go look there for the rest of his material!

Nephilim - Demo 1994

Nephilim (usa) - Demo I 1994
1) Under the Dead Moon
2) Black Earth
3) Vile Ecstasy

UPDATED WITH SCANS:
Depositfiles / 4shared

Here's some black metal from the States again and another item courtesy of brother Vaalkoth, I don't think this has been released either on their new blog nor raf's. Anyways, if you remember this post, you know I was looking for this and am thus very grateful to Vaalkoth, I owe you for yet another one! Unfortunately, as he doesn't have access to a scanner I've only the M.A. image and this snapshot he took of the covers - I'd really like a full cover scan if someone can provide one!

UPDATE: Brother Fenrirsson, my go-to guy when it comes to cover scans and obscure material, has provided me with scans of both the demo cover and an old flyer - the Depositfiles and 4shared links include the updated folder! Interestingly, the cover he had was different from the M.A. image and Vaalkoth's pic and says 1995 on it so I assume it is a second pressing/edition/whatever you call it of the demo, like the Enkil demo had two different versions as well. The image on top now has a crop of his scan, see below for Vaalkoth's pic and above this paragraph the M.A. one.

But enough about that, time to move to the music. This demo is a little bit more straight Nordic-influenced both in sound and music than the "Black Earth" recording, leading to the inevitable Darkthrone et al. comparisons. However, I enjoy it - there's something distinct enough in their rehearsal-like sound that I can identify them easily as the same band. Notably the vocals sound more brutal and raw on this recording. In general every instrument is audible and can't say anything would really drown out. Nothing fancy or really that original either here but if you enjoy basic, raw and in-your-face black metal you'll want to try this demo out. There is one more recording left which neither Vaalkoth nor me are certain of, I suppose I'll just post it soon and ask if anyone knows more.

Lycanthropy - Promo 1995

Lycanthropy (us) - Promo 1995
1) Among the Wolves
2) Godless Night
3) Transcendence in Black
4) Book of the Fourth

Depositfiles

More US material and this is the third and last demo by Lycanthropy, sent again by Seth "Baalberith" - thank you! Unfortunately he didn't find a copy of the covers for this one, the original was a rather primitive affair, logo and a Baphomet sigil on red paper so what you see above is a sort of likeness I made as I'm bored of posting just logos. Though I took the "artistic liberty" of having the colours the other way around (red on black rather than black on red as on the real deal) as it looks better on the blog. Both versions are included in the archive, as if you would have use for them. Let's see how many fools don't read these texts and go amok on the inter nets posting that as the real cover!

There is some confusion regarding the title of this recording, as it was originally planned to be released by the rather well-known Dead Christ Commune but this did not happen as Seth told on his email: 'We were in touch with Dead Christ Commune (a Polish label) back then, and this recording was originally going to be released by them with the title "Summoning Ancient Chaos."  Unfortunately, they didn't like the new direction of the recording, so we decided to spread the demo under the title "Promo 1995."' My dub of this tape was also under that title and actually it sounds a little different from Seth's rip as it is just a bit longer - I doubt it would be a different recording, I'm more inclined to think it was dubbed to me - or someone else along the trading chain - at wrong speed. After a bit of internal debate I decided not to upload my version of the rip, but if someone feels they absolutely have to hear it, drop me a note. About the content itself, I'm not really sure what the DCC guys expected as it is quite direct follow up from the previous tapes... well, the tracks are longer and not quite as raw as the preceeding material but not that different. If you enjoyed the raw shredding with programmed drums on the first two tapes I'm quite sure you'll want to give this one a try too.

Into The Sunless Meridian - Sex Magick demo 1995

Into The Sunless Meridian - Sex Magick demo #2 1995
1) ...And Be Done With Yesterday...
2) Unfurl Your Leaves
3) Weightlessly Floating Down A Spaceless Spiral Staircase In A Necromantical Astral Body
4) Ritual Cunnilingus
5) Necrosexual Meditation With A Pale Lust Goddess
6) Sinking
7) Grim Vendetta
8) Necrophiliac (Slayer Cover)
9) Soaring Through The Appalachian Valleys And Up Into The Galaxy
10) Above And Beyond What You Could Ever Comprehend (Alien Intercourse And Climax)

Mediafire / Depositfiles (with cover scans)

I am still feeling quite dead after Nummirock so I'll make this brief. Here's another contribution sent by brother Vaalkoth aka Mikael and this is the 2nd demo from his solo project Into The Sunless Meridian. As the tracklisting might reveal to the observant reader, the concept of this demo is interesting and less common than say, vampirism or war. Unfortunately he doesn't have a scanner so I don't have a proper scan of the covers, the Metal Archives image has to do unless someone has a better scan to send.

UPDATE: Got the cover scans from Mikael's new blog. Downloads now include them.

The music on the demo is atmospheric black metal with some old school touches ranging from old heavy metal to death and thrash with ambient interludes thrown in. The demo is of quite epic lenght, clocking over 55 minutes which is a bit much. The sound is of quite typical early 90's demo quality, I've certainly heard worse and so have you if you've read this blog for any longer. I'd recommend you to check this out, especially if you liked the NCD material.

Night Conquers Day - Last Rehearsal 1999

Night Conquers Day - Last Rehearsal October 17th 1999
1) The Gnostic Interpretations (no vocals)
2) Demiurge (no vocals)
3) Rebellion Is The Art Of Survival
4) Martyrdom Delusions (no vocals)

Mediafire / Deposit

And here's another NCD rehearsal contributed by brother Vaalkoth, many thanks to him again! For further background banter, see the previous post! I'm not going to repeat myself here (much at least) so let's just say another rip from him and no real covers, I just made that up.

Like you might have noticed from the title, this was the last NCD rehearsal, unfortunately as I quite enjoy it. Someone might have spotted the instrumental tag at the bottom of the post, it is there because three out of these four songs have no vocals, I'm guessing it is due the lyrics not have been finished for them. They're also marked on the tracklisting and are the unreleased ones. The sound is a little more muddled and obscure here yet at the same time comes of sounding better balanced than on the previous rehearsal tape I posted. It is listenable in my opinion, better than average or something like that. I grow weary of typing, recommended if you liked the other NCD material and you could give it a shot even if you didn't.

Night Conquers Day - Lammas Eve Rehearsal 1997

Night Conquers Day - July 31st Lammas Eve Rehearsal 1997
1) The First Snowfall
2) Banished From My Eyes
3) Untitled [Weird Guitar Noises]

Depositfiles / Mediafire

Here's a contribution sent by Vaalkoth aka Mikael from US black metal band (and a host of others) Night Conquers Day which you might remember from here. Not long ago he sent me a bunch of links to certain material from his various projects and some of them have been shared elsewhere so I don't think I'm going to repeat those but I think this and a few others haven't been uploaded by our comrades in arms yet. These are his rips, I've just packed the stuff up and uploaded elsewhere, all credit and big thanks to Vaalkoth! Has no real official cover, I just wanted to whip up a quick placeholder.

This one has a very good rehearsal sound and contains two tracks - the third one is just really guitar effects/noise as the guys goof around - which are very lenghty and have been both recorded for the NCD debut album "The First Snowfall" released in 1998. Obviously the rehearsal versions sound rougher than the album material, but this one is quite easy on the ears. NCD material is semi-symphonic sort of black metal with influences of the elders thrown in the mix, so the end result is definitely more metal than keyboard acrobatics and sounds both epic and atmospheric. Be sure to check out the full-lenght albums as well!

Horna / Fog - Split 7"EP 1999

Horna / Fog - Perimä Vihassa ja Verikostossa & Whispered Myths Split 7''EP 1999
Horna:
1) Perimä Vihassa ja Verikostossa
Fog:
2) Whispered Myths (Of Ancient Times)

Depositfiles

 It might be well worthwhile to argue this post is kind of waste of time both for you and me as this EP certainly has been available on the inter nets for the longest time and Horna's track has been released on the CD version of "Perimä Vihassa ja Verikostossa" done in 2010 by Frostscald recs. So yeah, I really have no better reason to post this (and a couple of more) than that I recently ripped an old tape where a comrade of mine had dubbed a bunch of seven inches he had bought in late 90's/early 00's and as the result turned out good I thought I might as well share.

Should you actually have missed this, the Horna track is from the same session as the "Perimä Vihassa ja Verikostossa" 10" was recorded, it was an interesting choice to not have the title track on that release but on a split 7". Some people have criticized the sound of this session but personally I've always enjoyed the raw clarity of the production and everyone's performance. The track is quite lenghty and mostly midtempo, not perhaps the most exciting thing they've done but quite satisfying and epic nevertheless. Fog's track also appears on their full-lenght album, I'm not sure if it's the same recording or a different one as I can't remember when I've listened to it the last time, but in keeping in the spirit of wasting time let's assume it's the same thing here & there. It's proficient black metal in the Nordic vein, quite fast and varied. I'm not really impressed but they do ok. So there, if you for some reason don't have this yet go ahead and download. And I recommend you to check out the "Perimä..." 2010 CD version.

Night Conquers Day - Advance Tape 1997

Night Conquers Day - Advance studio track 1997
1) Banished From My Eyes

Mediafire / Depositfiles

Today's item is a single track filler-sort of item from tape trading days, a track that would appear on the debut album "The First Snowfall" of the US black metallers Night Conquers Day. I don't know if this is a final version of the song, or if it was even re-recorded for the album as the lenght appears different and I don't have the album myself to make a comparison. Mikael who was the more-or-less mainman of the band was known as an active tape trader as well as from other projects like Into The Sunless Meridian, Shadowcaster and Tearstained. I never wrote with the man myself but I'm sure several of my contacts probably traded with him. I believe this track (and probably others) was just dubbed to some of his contacts, instead of being an official promo or advance of any sort. So, obviously no covers.

So what is it like? It's quite symphonic sort of black metal but not really carbon copy of anything that would spring into my mind right now. However, it has a feel of familiarity if you've listened to the genre and the 90's offerings. The tape was a little worn which may be heard on places but the sound itself is more than sufficient to my tastes and I find this song quite enjoyable. I wonder why didn't I familiarize myself more with the man's projects back then. Anyways, check this out and the two albums and demo as well!