Metal Storm Magazine

Origin interview by Vince DiMaggio

MSM: Wikipedia describes Origin as an American technical death metal/brutal death metal from Topeka, Kansas. How do you describe the music that is Origin?

Paul Ryan: That is pretty much a generalized view of it. I feel that we possess the technical and brutal aspects of metal music. I see us as a tornado of death, I guess.

MSM: (laughter) I like that�The tornado of death!

MSM: I hate to ask this, but what is the origin of the band name Origin?

Paul: It is a word that creates question in itself. It could be beliefs in the beginning, or where you are. It also has meaning in that we are trying to do something new or hasn�t been done before in this style of music. A lot of our music has to do with personal interpretation, it is not so boldly written but more cryptic. Like the lyrics of Napalm Death is a good example where they might mean something different to me than why they were written. They hit me in a way when I was growing up that made me feel better about life. That is what I like in our music and lyrical approach; I call it a positive release of negative energy.

MSM: Alternative Press defined Relapse Records as �The Justice League of Extreme Metal�. How has Origin�s relationship been with Relapse now that you have completed �Antithesis�, the forth release?

Paul: It has been great. Everyone has been super stoked as Relapse has been pushing it. We have been touring everywhere in support of it. Hats off to Relapse, this was the label we wanted to be with since the beginning. We felt that the lineup and the promotion that we saw the label doing with our band that it was the right combination.

MSM: That�s the best of working relationships that can happen between a label and a band.

MSM: Describe the songwriting process on how you wrote this album?

Paul: All the members of Origin live in four different states. Since the goal was to have the album out by Spring, we went in the studio last November. Fortunately, we work really well under pressure. I wrote five songs and sent out the tablature to the guys so they could hear the songs develop. Jeremy wrote one song and Mike and Jeremy wrote three songs together. John made the �Void� intermission song (track 7) I feel to give the listener a break from the music and to build the atmosphere for the second part of the album.

MSM: Absolutely.

Paul: We sent demos back and forth the whole time. We only had nine days to practice together as a band before going into the studio to record. Nine hours a day for nine days, nothing but a workshop. Then we went into the studio and while John was tracking, James was penning down vocal patterns. When I tracked, James then wrote the words based on the vocal patterns. It was all done in a small amount of time that I think kept the whole process fresh. The pressure was on to outperform our last album. I think we did because we didn�t have time to be over analytical or too technical, otherwise it could have turned out differently.

MSM: What impresses me is that knowing the distance between all four members and yet this release is truly monumental. Is it easy to throw down the phrase �epic� in describing �Antithesis� without sounding over enthusiastic.

MSM: May 23rd was the tenth anniversary of your first show, opening up for Suffocation. A decade later, you are headlining The Contamination Tour playing 19 shows in 12 states. How has the tour been so far?

Paul: Great! We have been hitting some markets we have played before throughout the years. We had a great show in Fayetteville, Arkansas�in Austin and Victoria, Texas. Some markets that usually don�t get to see shows but now there is a strong scene�There are kids that are playing guitar again and listening to metal that need a way to express themselves are coming to the shows and having a good time. We have played the really nice venues to art galleries to the smaller venues and hole-in-the-walls...

MSM: Some of the best shows are in the hole in the wall bars.

Paul: It is part of the business and I have no problem with that. We will show under any circumstances as long as we get to play!

MSM: What is your most memorable show so far? Tonight?

Paul: (laughter) Tonight was a new twist in the Origin history!

MSM: You guys were what, halfway through the first song when the building�s electrical system and lighting went out?

Paul: Yeah.

MSM: I stepped outside to get some fresh air and I can attest to the fact that no one was leaving to beat the crowd and go home. You did not lose one person from the inconvenience of having to wait for the power to be restored. The place was packed with devoted, crazy fans tonight and you did not disappoint at all.

Paul: Right on!

MSM: With bands like Testament gaining their second wind and practically becoming a household name to bands like Guns n Roses and Metallica anticipating record-breaking releases this year, what do you think of the current state of metal music?

Paul: With more kids playing the guitar and writing music to express themselves, they are looking up to their peers. Those are some big names and when I was younger I looked up to those bands. I do believe the guitar is back!

MSM: Yes! We went a long time without guitar solos.

Paul: Even our music has changed somewhat because of the foundation of the scene, yet on our own terms. I have had my eyes up on the big dogs, and my ear down on the underground to find out what is going on. I gotta have a pulse on both sides.

MSM: As a recording band on a well-known label, what do you think of Internet downloading?

Paul: To me, it reminds me a lot of the tape-trading days when I was growing up. Now, with MySpace, it is easy to see if you are going to like a band. Most kids will says that they downloaded it but bought it from the band on tour because it supports the band and they are fans of Origin.

MSM: With Topeka, Kansas as your stomping grounds from which you hail, are there any bands there that deserve some recognition? Who should the readers of Metal Storm Magazine look out for?

Paul: There are a bunch of talented musicians from Kansas in the scene. One is Unmerciful, which have former members of Origin. There is another band called Diskreet. Those are the two major bands that totally stand out and have the Origin mentality to bring it live, but there are many talented kids and formidable bands out there.

MSM: 2009 is right around the corner getting ready to kick this year in the ass and bring the end of this decade to a close. What is in the future for Origin?

Paul: Well, right now we are trying to play shows to as many people as possible and have a good time doing it. We got another tour coming up after this one. After October, I�ll spend time taking it all in and figuring out what worked live and what didn�t, then start orchestrating the next album. This one is going to be hard to top and we don�t want to rush the process.

MSM: Just from a musician/listener�s perspective, �Antithesis� is revolutionary and absolutely impressive from beginning to end. It is truly a unique perspective on a unique style of metal music.

Paul: Thank you. It is a different mentality and different approach to music. With Origin, we had to carve a niche in the scene for ourselves. We are trying to stay at the forefront of the movement. There are some amazing bands out there, but we share a distinctive approach to our songwriting structure. I think that separates Origin from a lot of the technical death metal bands out there.

MSM: More than riffs and screaming.

Paul: Yeah.

MSM: Paul, thank you for your time and the great performance in Oakland tonight.

Paul: Thank you!

Misery Index interview

MSM: Historically, Baltimore is known for their contributions to Western jazz, classical and jazz music. It is also well known for piano and woodwind manufacturing. Truly, this is a city not exactly know for having metal roots, that is until recently as it has birthed Relapse Records� American death metal band, Misery Index. How long have you been writing and performing as a band?

Sparky: Jason, our bass player, formed the band back in 2001 after he left Dying Fetus with Kevin Talley the original drummer of the band who was also a member of Dying Fetus and Mike Harrison, the original guitar player. They recorded a five-song EP in the spring of 2001. After it got some favorable reaction, they asked me to join the band and we rolled on from there.

MSM: The name Misery Index was a term that President Carter made popular during his administration to gauge how the national effects of the unemployment and inflation rates were affecting the U.S. What made the band choose this name?

Sparky: There�s a band called Assuck which people who are familiar with grindcore and death metal might have heard of�

MSM: (laughing) I saw them listed on your MySpace page.

Sparky: They had an album back in the mid-90s called Misery Index. So, the combination of being a fan of the band as well as Jason�s penchant for writing political and socially conscious lyrics, everything kinda worked together.

MSM: Congrats on your support slot on the Contamination Tour! As of tonight�s show in Oakland, you are more than halfway through the 19 shows in 12 states scheduled dates. What has been your favorite show so far?

Mark: L.A. was pretty badass. I don�t know how many people were there, like around 500+ or something like that. That was a really good show, great crowd reaction. This show tonight (Oakland, CA at the new Metro) was actually phenomenal�

Sparky: Yeah!

Mark: �as far as crowd response. It was insane; they were tearing each other apart! We like to see that. Unfortunately, we had some technical difficulties and we had to cut it short. But, we still had a good time and I think we made our point.

MSM: People realize that they (technical difficulties) happen at metal shows. Fans are pretty forgiving. Half the audiences are either musicians or have seen enough metal shows to know what that shit is all about.

Sparky: Yeah, unfortunately it happens too often.

MSM: But no one walked away from your set feeling disappointed. You guys showed up to impress and you accomplished your goals.

Sparky: Thank you!

MSM: MySpace metal fans have totally embraced Misery Index. You have nearly 23,000 friends listed and your music gets and average of 350 to 450 hits per day. Do you see the Internet as a valid option in reaching a wider audience?

Mark: Of course!

Sparky: Yeah! This day and age the Internet in some ways is the only way to reach people. Especially in other parts of the world where they don�t have access to go to shows all the time. We are lucky here in the United States that bands constantly tour here. We get people messaging us from Southeast Asia and the Middle East and all other places. It is crazy with the Internet that everyone�s music can reach everyone all the time now. I come from back in the tape-trading days and writing letters to bands. Yeah, you could get your stuff out that way then. Now, it is one-stop shopping. You can just go online and any band that you hear the name of, you can search their name and bam, there�s their music! It is a really tremendous way to be able to connect with people.

MSM: How do you feel about Internet downloading?

Sparky: I fully support it.

Mark: Download it.

Sparky: Download it. Burn it. Give it to your friends. Spread it around. The labels kinda created their own monster when they went away from the vinyl format and went to digital format when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed. It allowed recordable CD players to enter the U.S. market and then things went downhill in terms of a label�s ability to hold you by the throat and say this is what you are going to pay for something. Underground bands need to be able to have the opportunity to have their stuff spread around by fans that are going to show other fans what the music is. Labels are just going to have to figure out how to do their business differently to stay relevant. Otherwise, they will cease to exist like every other industry that has gone by the wayside.

MSM: Right on!

MSM: How does working with Relapse Records differ from your last label, Nuclear Blast?

Sparky: With Relapse, we are a little bit higher on the totem pole. They don�t have so many bands on the label. Nuclear Blast being a German-based label with American offices as well�they have tons of bands that sell hundreds of thousands of records, especially overseas. For a band like us while we definitely appreciated the work they did with us, I don�t think we were really ever high on their list of things to worry about. As with Relapse, they are genuinely fans of the bands they sign and bring in, so you can tell that when they are working with a band, they are sincere about it.

Mark: They are really great people and we are all friends. They are very personable and easy to get along with. They produce results and get stuff done. They answer your calls, basically.

Sparky: Yup!

MSM: Betsey with Relapse was very cool to Metal Storm and made sure she kept us informed with all the details of the show.

Mark: Betsey is cool.

MSM: Your merchandise and album artwork truly kicks ass! Who does your work?

Sparky: With the new record, Orion who is the in-house artist at Relapse, he created all the layout stuff and the front cover for Traitors, the new album we have coming out. In the past, we have worked with an artist by the name of Greg Houston who is based out of Baltimore. He does pieces of artwork where we give him an idea and he comes up with a rough draft, show it to us and then he�ll create the whole thing. For tee-shirts, we work with a company called Grind Design from Germany. They create a lot of different designs. Basically, anything that is cool and fits in with our aesthetic and is eye-catching for people to pick it up and check it out.

MSM: Wear that extreme artwork and advertise the band at the same time.

Sparky: Yes indeed.

MSM: Being Baltimore natives, what other bands hail from your stomping grounds that deserve some recognition from the legion of Metal Storm Magazine?

Sparky: Through the years, there have been a handful of bands�Meatjack. Trephine. Triac. Magrudergrind. There are a lot of bands in the D.C./Baltimore that have had the opportunity to go out and tour. Actually, Mark and Adam (drums) are from St. Louis and they moved out to Baltimore�so there is another half of the band that have their own bands that they grew up with and played with. So Mark, you wanna do some shout-outs?

Mark: Yeah�Adam joined to 2004 and I joined in 2005 and the first tour I did was with Suffocation. From St. Louis, there are a few bands coming from that city�

Sparky: Pimp your band!

Mark: Adam has a band called All Will Fall and I have a project called Cast The Stone. They were once our full-time projects and now since we are in Misery index, they are our side projects. I have an EP that is in the works right now that will be mixed shortly now that all the tracking is done. It has got my boy, Jesse Shobel on the drums who played with Strong Intention and Eternal Ruin, both from the Baltimore area. My bass player Derek Haden has done stuff with Covenance also from Baltimore; he is currently in Unmerciful with Unique Leader.

MSM: We are nearing the end of 2008 fairly quickly. What does the next year have in store for the Misery Index fans?

Sparky: The new album will be out on September 30th with Relapse called Traitors. We plan on doing a bunch of touring like we always do. If people go to MySpace, there is a brand new song, which we are playing live called �Occupation�. And, we believe that Relapse will probably do an e-card soon so people can check the record out. Say what�s up online and we�ll stay in touch and send any info about tours coming up and hopefully we�ll see everyone soon.

Mark: We will definitely be doing a lot touring for Traitors.

Sparky: Yes indeed.

MSM: That is some great news for the Misery Index fans!

Mark: You will see us soon!

MSM: Thank you for your time, Sparky and Mark. Remember to keep it metal!

MARTYRD with YNGWIE MALMSTEEN @ Starland in NJ

Michael Martinez Press Representative 212-712-7362 Please call or email for promotional press and radio C.D.s NYC METAL BAND MARTYRD @ the Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, N.J. Opening For Guitar Virtuoso YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Friday October 24th, 2008 www.myspace.com/martyrd Rising stars of the American Metal Scene, MARTYRD continue their promotional tour for the release of their debut CD "MANIAC" with a special performance at the Starland Ballroom opening for one of rock's premiere virtuoso guitarists YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Tim "Ripper" Owens of Judas Priest and Iced Earth will be fronting Malmsteen's infamous guitar playing. Known for their blend of "old school thrash with a new school edge," MARTYRD have created a heavy metal album that wears it's influences proudly (Exodus, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Megadeth). MARTYRD have also established themselves as a great live band with appearances at B.B.Kings in N.Y.C.opening for TESTAMENT, then returning to B.B.Kings to open for DEATH ANGEL. This is an all-ages show, 21 to drink. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20.00. To purchase tickets, please email MARTYRD @ martyrd13@yahoo.com PRESS TICKETS AVAILABLE About MANIAC: "Maniac is a heavy metal album that will fit as well in 1985 as it will in 2008. Many people describe us as thrash band, really we're a metal band with a lot of influences, you'll hear a lot of Megadeth and Exodus in us, as well as more classic Maiden and Judas Priest. We like to keep things fast and heavy, but at the same time harmony and melody are very important. We haven't forsaken everything that is new, but we've definately tried to hold true to what classic metal really is. Our album can hold its own against any of the metal classics, and will blow any of this new metal stuff right out of the water" - Michael Andreas: Lead Guitar and Founding Member of MARTYRD MANIAC will unleash a thrash metal attack that captures what MATYRD's growing fan base have loved and admired. The title track can be described as a slightly schizo ride through the head of a madman forced on antipsychotic drugs, the track "Betrayal" displays the band's technical wizardry, for the ladies there is the ballad "Six", and of course fast and heavy neck-breakers like "Blue and Black" and "Soldier of Fortune." Press tickets or interview inquiries with Martyrd: Please call Michael Martinez, 212-712-7362. To purchase music or for more information: www.myspace.com/Martyrd For booking inquiries please contact the band directly by email: Martyrd13@yahoo.com Yngwie Malmsteen Info: www.yngwiemalmsteen.com Starland Ballroom: 570 Jernee Mill Road Sayreville, NJ 08872 www.starlandballroom.com

Rockers FANZAMAR issue CD via digital download

MICHIGAN ROCKERS FANZAMAR ISSUE CD VIA DIGITAL DOWNLOAD In celebration of the band's 15th anniversary, FANZAMAR has released a preview of the group's reissued "FANZAMAR!" as a digital download, available through the artist's official SNOCAP store. Due October 28th via a wide variety of digital retailers, and featuring thirteen of the psychedelic metal group's strongest tracks,"FANZAMAR!" offers hard rock and metal fans a journey down a rabbit hole of tripped-out, distorted aural phenomena. Regional fan exposure to FANZAMAR is very strong, with the group having performed on stage in front of thousands of fans at various festivals and events, including Buzz Blast I and Freedom Jam. Reaction has been consistently strong for the group's far-out metal style, with the tracks "Purple Jazz" and "Down" being streamed on a plethora of internet radio stations. Visit the band at www.myspace.com/fanzamar

ZEMIAL Discography to Go Online

ZEMIAL have signed an exclusive agreement with Metalhit.com to make their music available to digital download stores worldwide, including iTunes, eMusic, Amazon Mp3, Rhapsody, Napster and others.

Band leader, Vorskaath, states: "In keeping with the times, we are in the process of making the entire Zemial catalogue (including vinyl only releases) available digitally for those who prefer digital downloads."

www.metalhit.com
www.myspace.com/zemial

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Kreator interview

MSM: Greetings and thanks for taking the time out of you busy schedule to do the interview!

MSM: Kreator has just released a killer DVD in that of �The Pulse of Kapitulation�. Congrats on the release! I bet the DVD is selling well and you are getting a lot of killer feedback?

Mille: Yeah, it�s doing great, feedback is amazing1

MSM: let�s talk about that era just a bit. How did it feel to play in what was East Germany after the Berlin Wall had come down?

Mille: It was definitely a strange experience but it was cool to play for the people that weren�t able to see any bands for so long!

MSM: Also on the bill that night were the bands Tankard, Coroner, and Sabbat.

Mille: That had to have been an amazing time with those bands on the bill as well.

MSM: Do you have any memories of that night aside from Kreator playing?

Mille: Yeah, I had to throw up after the show because of bad magic mushrooms

MSM: Will this next release be in the same vein and aggression as �Enemy of God�?

Mille: Way more aggressive!

MSM: During the 90�s you moved away from the thrash aggression that you were known for. What made you change direction back then? Are you happy with those albums?

Mille: Those 90´s Albums were very important for the band�s musical direction on Violent Revolution and Enemy of God

MSM: How do you feel about this resurgence of new thrash that is happening today? Are there any bands that have caught your attention?

Mille: Violator from Brazil and Suicidal Angels from Greece are great bands!

MSM: When Violent Revolution came out, it really helped to re-establish the band as a front-runner of thrash again. Do you feel more comfortable playing aggressive music again?

Mille: Yeah, it�s in my blood!

MSM: Now that metal music is back in full swing again after the Grunge and Alternative music styles came and pushed it underground� there are many more bands than there was before. What do you think is a major contributor to this new cycle? Do you think it will get pushed back underground again?

Mille: No, it will stay here now! There�s a whole new generation of bands and a new Grunge movement will not happen!

MSM: Kreator has been around since 1985. Did you ever think that 20 years after forming Kreator that you would still be playing music and touring the world? Was it ever a goal of yours to do so?

Mille: No, it was and still is a part of my live, but I did not plan on a career at all!

MSM: Will Kreator ever throw some older songs that aren�t played anymore back in the live set like maybe �Fatal Energy�,� Stream of Consciousness�, or �Ripping Corpse�?

Mille: We did Ripping Corpse on our last euro tour�.

MSM: When putting a live set together, do you find it hard on what and what not to play being that you have so many albums out now?

Mille: Oh yes�..

MSM: I see your back in the studio can you tell us a little about the new album your working on?

Mille: It will be fuckin brutal! I can�t wait to hear our fan�s reaction to this, they�ll love the material!

MSM: Will this next release be in the same vein and aggression as �Enemy of God�?

Mille: More aggressive!

MSM: Are you able to make a living just off music these days?

Mille: I am since 1985, don�t worry!

MSM: What happened with the tour you guys were going to do with King Diamond?

Mille: The King has a bad back�

MSM: I�m sure you guys are planning to come back to the sates.

Mille: Yes, in April! Can�t wait!

MSM: Tell us a little about what you do on tour to keep from getting bored.

Mille: Sport, reading, movies�.. Taking a walk�.

MSM: Do you have any favorite places you like to go when you come to the US?

Mille: Oh yes! But I like almost all places, the US rules!

MSM: What would be your ultimate tour, what bands ect?

Mille: Good question�. Wait till we announce the line up for our next US tour!

MSM: Are there any new bands that stick out these days that you�re a fan of?

Mille: Many�..

MSM: Thank you again for letting us interview you is there anything else you would like to add?

Mille: Thanks for the interview! See you on tour!

Abysmal Dawn

MSM: With �Programmed to Consume� being the Relapse Records debut disk for Abysmal Dawn, how has the reception for the band been so far?

Charles: Really good, man. Most of the reviews have been pretty good. Every once in a while I see something where it is like they have no business reviewing death metal because they don�t care for the style of music. Whenever I see a negative review it is usually been by people I think who have no business reviewing our album in the first place.

MSM: Absolutely.

Charles: Not that I am not open to criticism but I think for the most part the response has been pretty overwhelming. People come up to us at the shows and tell us they really like the record and want us to autograph the CDs. It is a good feeling; a lot of people enjoy the record and get the music.

MSM: You guys signed with Relapse in February of this year and you are already on a very decent tour with some great bands in Origin and Misery Index. After the tour with Monstrosity and Grave was cancelled, how is this touring experience been for you?

Charles: It has been great! We weren�t sure how the turnouts would be. None of us are huge bands but the turnouts have been fucking amazing, I mean far beyond our expectations. The crowds have been fucking great, really energetic. That�s what we like because we put on an energetic show so we want something back in return. The crowds have not let us down! Aside for today with having a blown out tire and shit like that�

MSM: That�s just the rigors of touring, you know?

Charles: Actually, we have always had pretty good luck on tour, but today was fucking hell. Coming down the Grapevine and changing the tire on a hill�it wasn�t the best of situations.

MSM: But that�s the kind of stress that brings a band together.

Charles: Yeah!

MSM: Since you guys are the newbies on Relapse, are the other bands treating you like rookies?

Charles: Nah, all the bands are really cool. There are no rock stars on this bill. We are treated with respect and they give us a longer set time than we are scheduled for sometimes. I got a lot of respect for those guys. I think they are two great bands and it is a pleasure to see them perform each night and to be touring with them.

MSM: The Contamination Tour is bringing new audiences from 12 states known to love extreme metal to experience Abysmal Dawn for the first time. What would you say has been the overall response to your music so far?

Charles: We are a live band, we love recording and are very proud of our record. When people really get us is when they see us live. That experience when they see us live is what we thrive on. Not to sound arrogant but every city we have played in, if they haven�t heard of us before then once we get done playing we feel that we have converted the whole crowd.

MSM: That�s what it is all about!

Charles: At every city, the people come to the show looking for some fucking death metal. So, it is not like we are playing to a crowd that would not like our style. All the bands on this package are different: Origin is fucking technical death metal gods, Misery Index are this fucking grinding machine and we are more traditional in a sense, with thrash roots in death and black metal.

MSM: To your credit, I have never heard a debut like Programmed to Consume.

Charles: It is actually our second album! The first one with Relapse.

MSM: What city has been most memorable to play in so far?

Charles: I�d say in Fayetteville, AR.

MSM: Arkansas has some metalheads, huh?

Charles: Yeah man! They were fucking nuts out there! It was wall to wall people with a really low stage and the crowd is right in front of you moshing the whole time and going crazy. When we would stop playing, it was like a fucking arena of people screaming back at us, which is what we want to hear. Our guitar player got knocked on his ass into his cabinet with the people going crazy. They ran into my mic a bunch of times almost knocking my fucking teeth out and running into our bass player as well. They were fucking crazy and it was undeniably a great time overall.

MSM: �Walk the Path of Fire� is the perfect closer for such a great debut, especially the climatic buildup of the kicks and feedback at the end of the tune. Each song is a main course serving of brutal metal; there are no filler tracks to be heard on Programmed to Consume. With four members in the lineup, is it a combined effort in creating the music, or does one person mostly do the writing?

Charles: I write all the lyrics and the majority of the music. Terry (Barajas - drums) comes in and really brings the songs to life and adds the extra bits that are needed. I tend to write with the drums in mind, having a bit of breathing room for him to groove and do different shit so we don�t come off as technical at all times but also have riffs that the drum parts can interact with.

MSM: Just as construction workers make a living on what they build, a band makes their living on their songs. What do you think of Internet downloading?

Charles: It is tough to say, bands really don�t make much money off of record sales for the most part. We make money when people come to the shows, buy a shirt�We play hard for you guys and if you like it show your appreciation and get us some gas money for the next show! It is a tough call but I like the job our record company is doing for us. Downloading obviously hurts the record companies. If I hated our company, I�d say fuck �em.

MSM: Los Angeles is like the Bay Area where around every corner there is a band trying to get their music heard. What bands do you want to bring to the attention of the Metal Storm Magazine readers?

Charles: Well, there is Reciprocal. They just signed to Unique Leader and they are gong to be recording their new album very soon. They are technical death metal and they just played their second show with us last night. They are fucking awesome, a really good band. There is Dreaming Dead, a female-fronted death/black metal band�also, really great. Exhausted Prayer is another great band. Intronaut are some really heavy indie progressive shit, kinda like Neurosis, Isis and Mastodon.

MSM: On behalf of all the metalhead addicts worldwide, I want to thank you for such a great offering of extreme brutal brain-bashing tunes! And like every addiction, we want more of what we crave. What does 2009 have in store for Abysmal Dawn listening audience?

Charles: We are going to write another record and might have it out by late 2009. We would like to do a few more U.S. tours this year and the next. And maybe a European tour in 2009 if everything works out. And then use the rest of the year to write the next album.

MSM: Any closing words?

Charles: Spread the word and support your local scene and make sure that shit doesn�t die! Right now, metal is hot and is becoming trendy again which is cool, more people come to the shows now because times are bad. Times like this is when metal is the most popular. So, when times are good, don�t fucking forget us!

MSM: Right on! Good to chat with ya, Charles.

Scandinavian melodic metal act Black Succubi releases debut album

Scandinavian melodic metal act Black Succubi from Denmark have released their debut album and it is now available from iTunes.com and common Danish pay sites. The album has noticeable guest appearances by Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate, Force of Evil), Kirk Backarach (IronFire) and California based female rocker Rachelle Ramm and the band have already received positive and supporting reviews online and in magazines.

"After an unsteady beginning with several line-up changes, we have finally found our sound and musical style. The music on the album connects our past with today and songs like Troubled Times and Dark Side shows us the way forward", says Swedish drummer Jens B. who is also known from legendary Fate (MTM Music/Replica Records) and Martie Peters Group (Sheer Class Music).

In June Black Succubi signed a promotional deal with Two Side Moon Promotion in England and are currently working on material for the follow up to their debut album. In conjunction with the release the band have updated their website at blacksuccubi.dk with a new design and lots of content including liner notes and lyrics for the digitally released album. Music samples and video are also available from the website as well as biography and press info.

www.blacksuccubi.dk

Music of American Metalhead � Turned Terrorist, Published

Metalhit.com has digitally released rare tape recordings of Adam Yahiye Gadahn�s musical project, APHASIA. Adam Gadahn was an active member of the death metal underground in the early 1990�s before converting to Islam and eventually getting involved with the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, popularized by his videos in support of anti-American sentiments. Gadahn is listed on the FBI�s �Most Wanted Terrorists� list and is the first American charged with treason since 1952.

"DELIRIUM: 7 Hallucinatory Interludes, Op.2" is a mélange of experimental sounds and ambient-noise passages, fused with occasional guitar interludes and drum machines creating a snapshot into the adolescent mind of this future propagandist.

Preview Adam�s music: http://www.klicktrack.com/metalhit

Metalhit.com and Klicktrack.com have no direct affiliation with Adam Gadahn.

www.metalhit.com

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