The March (Deu) -- "Conspiracy"

The March play acoustic-based Folk Rock very much in the style of The Levellers and The Pogues, with occasional forays into dynamic post-punk territory. This CD was introduced to me by a guy who thought it was a side project featuring members of The Levellers and New Model Army, and it certainly sounds as if that could have been the case. However, having managed to track down an original copy of the CD, that appears to not be true; the band appears to have been German, though the music and the vocals sound very English indeed.

The March -- "Conspiracy" CD (1995)

 

01. Furore
02. Marching Song
03. Freedom
04. Refugee Waltz
05. Under The Gun
06. A Place Called Home
07. Conscience
08. Summerwind
09. Down To Size
10. The Darkest Night
11. Ignorance
12. Beggar's Tune
13. Peasants' March
14. Workers' Song
15. Dance
16. The Spark
17. When The World Is Dying


Download


As there seems to be no info available on the band, here is the info page from the inlay:

Paperhouse (UK) -- Spongy Comestibles

I've been trawling the internet forums in search of obscure UK space-rock bands, and this was recommended to me recently. Having tracked down a CD copy on eBay, this is exactly the sort of stuff I was looking for, and I thought I should share this little gem with the world.

PAPERHOUSE were a dub-tinged psychedelic space-rock band from Surrey. The obvious musical comparison is OZRIC TENTACLES, though the music of Paperhouse is simpler and more straightforward, and much less strange. As great as the Ozrics are, sometimes their ultra-complex brand of weirditude can be a little difficult to digest. This is very similar in feel and style to contemporary UK bands like MOONDRAGON and CROW though less punky and hardhitting than either of these. In fact my only criticism of this album is that I wish the guitars would get a bit beefier during the more rhythmic sections. Nit-picking aside, this is great stuff.

Info (Wikipedia)

Paperhouse (UK) -- "Spongy Comestibles" CD (1992)

1. Floating "E" Riff

2. Columbia

3. Hrmphf

4. Purple House

5. Paperhouse Dub

6. Please Leave The Room

7. Thrash Pants

8. Liquid Reality

9. Helix

Download

Note: I mistakenly tagged the files with the year 1994, instead of 1992. Needless to say, I am currently scourging my flesh in penance.


Update:

Thanks to the very nice man in the comments below, here is a link to download Paperhouse's 1991 cassette album "A":

http://ernestembryo.blogspot.com/2010/04/paperhouse.html

Arktyk (US) -- "Northern Darkness"

OK, so there's not any music to download here, as it doesn't actually exist... Arktyk was a fictitious, ultra-obscure Black Metal band from Barrow, the northernmost city in Alaska, created for an elaborate April Fools joke by Terrorizer magazine in 1999 (Issue 65). They ran an article / interview on the band, plus an album review in the same issue, both of which waxed lyrical about this fantastic band.

I have scanned the article and review below:

I am ashamed to say I was one of the poor fools who fell for it hook, line and sinker, even ordering the album from a distro who was in on the joke. How foolish I felt upon opening the following issue, and reading the hilarious "April Fools!" caption...:

Trouvère (UK) -- "Novela" CD

Trouvère are a British group who mainly specialise in authentic Mediaeval music. I picked up this CD a few years ago at a mediaeval festival, and was instantly struck by its atmosphere and beauty. Unlike their other albums, which contain 'authentic' arrangements of music from the period, "Novela" has more of a creative, contemporary folk feel; acoustic guitar and flute are the primary instruments, and they have allowed themselves to interpret the music as they wish. In places, the music and feel remind me of Ulver's sublime acoustic album "Kveldssanger", and also some of Mike Oldfield's acoustic guitar work on his early albums.

I had been meaning to upload this album for a while, but I have found a band-sanctioned Last FM page on which you can download the whole album at 128 kbps, so I here provide that link instead:

http://www.last.fm/music/Trouvere/Novela


I would also encourage anyone who enjoys this music to buy a copy of the CD from the band's website:

http://www.medievalminstrels.com

BLASPHEMER - DEMO #1 1992

Ok so it's time for a new upload. Another band from the UK here, this time from West Yorkshire. Blasphemer released three demos and then changed their name to Dominion in 1995, this is their first demo tape from 1992 and this is a pretty rare one.
With Blasphemer you can expect some nice old school Death Metal, well-played and with a good quality sound production. I can't remember how I came to own this demo but it's certainly had some plays over the years. If you like the older style DM then this is definitely for you, and there are four tracks in all with some great riffing and Rick Rozz  tremelo style solos.
Once again you can enjoy this one in 320kps and as always you will find scans of the inlay in the folder. Play this one LOUD...

BLASPHEMER - DEMO #1 1992 

1) Take Me Now I'm Dying

2) Immortality

3) Sutcliffe

4) Blasphemer

http://www.mediafire.com/?6bz0o09or71fx3r

DEAD CHRIST - LEX TALIONIS -DEMO 1992

A month or so ago I uploaded demos from Cruentus and Thus Defiled, both of whom played that dark sounding Von style early 90's Black Metal. This week I give to you another UK band from that era - Dead Christ. I first came into contact with the band in early 1993 when I traded demos with bass player Lothar Churchcrusher, and also reviewed their demo in my Crucifixion fanzine.
The band hail from Bristol and released 3 demos and finally a 7" entitiled Satan's Hunger on Greek based label Molon Lave Records.
What you can expect from Dead Christ is dirty dark Black Metal in the vein of Beherit, Varathron, Von and Blasphemy. The demo has a reasonable production quality and a good amount of tracks to get your teeth into. The band split in 1993 and Lothar went on to join Species. There were two inlay cards for this demo, the one you can see on the Metal Archives site and then an earlier one with totally different artwork. I have the earlier one which I have included as a quality scan in the folder. As usual, this is ripped in glorious 320kps for your listening pleasure so enjoy this one...

DEAD CHRIST - LEX TALIONIS - DEMO 1992

1) Intro (The Crumbling Cross)

2) Flesh Without Sin

3) Hymm Of The Satanic Empire

4) We Who Are Not Others

5) Lex Satanicus

6) Nocturnal Rites Of Blasphemy

7) The Hidden Sky

8) Outro (The Last Thrones Of Death)

http://www.mediafire.com/?41dvhu5qifjob2r

DEICIDE - QUEEN'S HALL, BRADFORD, UK - 04/12/90

Ok so it's now time for yet another exclusive. I haven't seen this on any other blog and it's a great rare recording so here I give you Deicide live at the Queen's Hall in Bradford, from 21 years ago! I got this tape through tape trading in around 1991 and it's had a lot of plays from me over the years. It was the bands first ever UK tour after their debut album was released and this gig is mostly famous and remembered by many as it was the night that Glen Benton had his bass stolen. There were also a few Christians that had turned up at the show purely to hurl abuse at Benton and his comrades so as you can imagine, the band were pretty pissed off that night and it obviously shows as Benton roars abuse back at the crowd with no mercy. 

Those of you who were trading at this time will remember the gig, those of you who weren't or are too young to have been a part of those glory days will be more than curious! So hit that download link and grab this great piece of Deicide history. I have cleaned up the sound as best I could although it was never a bad recording in the first place - the guitars are a bit quiet but all in all pretty good sound and one well worth hearing even if it's just to hear Benton lose his rag!

Ripped in 320kps for optimum listening pleasure. Enjoy this one folks.

DEICIDE - QUEENS HALL, BRADFORD 04/12/90

1) Sacrificial Suicde

2) Lunatic Of God's Creation

3) Dead By Dawn

4) Oblivious To Evil

5) Carnage In The Temple Of The Damned

6) Blaspherion

7) Mephistopheles

8) Day Of Darkness

9) Crucifixation

10) Deicide

http://www.mediafire.com/?vdj2lbx9hfd9bk4

VOMITORIUM - HAURIAM OSCULA DE TE - DEMO 1994

Here is another exclusive for the Woodman's Axe. This is an obscure band from the UK called Vomitorium. The band formed in 1994 and as far as I know this is there only release. I cannot find anything on the internet about them and there was no profile on Metal Archives for them, although I have now submitted one.

There are actually 9 tracks on this tape although the inlay only lists 7. If you like obscure Death Metal then this one is certainly for you. It's pretty original sounding stuff and with some great catchy riffs and some original sounding vocals. The production is fairly weak but with a few tweaks on your stereo you can get a pretty good sound. I was sent this tape in 1994 to review in my fanzine Crucifixion and there weren't many made as far as I know, I have never seen it pop up for sale anywhere so grab it here while you can.

Ripped directly from the demo in 320kps and as always, the folder contains a quality scan of the inlay. Enjoy this one...

VOMOTORIUM - HAURIAM OSCULA DE TE - DEMO 1994

1) The Flowers That Stank Of Slumber Divine

2) Bloodlust

3) Rhapsody In Blasphemy

4) The Dreams Of Unknown Kadath

5) In The Autumn Sorrow

6) Necrovomiting In The Chapel Of Holy Worship

7) Memories Of A Funeral

8) Untitled

9) Outro

 Vomitorium - Hauriam Oscula De Te - Demo 1994

THE FALLEN - REBIRTH OF THE ANCIENTS DEMO 1993

Here is one of my favourite UK bands of the early 90's. The Fallen were one of the few Black Metal bands from the UK at the time along with my band Witchclan, Xaztur, Immanis, Thus Defiled, Dead Christ and a handful of others. 

This is the only demo that they released before folding and I was sent this promo copy from their vocalist Aggressor in trade for Witchclan's 1993 promo tape. The sound on the tape is fairly good and features a good few songs to get your teeth into. If you like your Black Metal then this one is for you, it's pretty rare as I don't think all that many were made so lap it up and get it here, I haven't seen it on any other blogs.

As always it's been ripped in 320kps and the folder includes a scan of the cover. Enjoy...

THE FALLEN - REBIRTH OF THE ANCIENTS DEMO 1993

1. Disciple Of Fire

2.Zaghurim

3. Black Metal Holocaust

4. I Burn

5. Sombre Toll Of Funeral Bells

http://www.mediafire.com/?2v1pyhnct6acz87

TREBLINKA - THE SIGN OF THE PENTAGRAM - DEMO 2 1989

Here's something special for you all, one of my prize demo tapes and probably one of the rarest that I own. This has had a lot of play from me over the years and is still one that I listen to fairly regularly, now it's time to share it with the Metal community.

For  those who don't know, Treblinka were a Swedish Death Metal band that had an 80's Black Metal influence who released two demos before changing their name to Tiamat and signing to Metal Core for the release of their debut Sumerian Cry in 1990.

This is their second demo tape, The Sign Of The Pentagram which features four songs that appeared on Sumerian Cry. Treblinka had progressed vast amounts on this demo and when you compare it to their previous effort, Crawling In Vomits you can really hear the difference in musicianship and quality. I also own Crawling In Vomits and will be uploading this in the coming weeks.

If you like Swedish Death Metal that wasn't a clone of Nihilist or Carnage then this is for you. Ripped directly from the tape and as always includes a quality scan of the inlay in the folder. Enjoy this one.

TREBLINKA - THE SIGN OF THE PENTAGRAM  DEMO 2 1989

1. Nocturnal Funeral

2. Evilized

3. Necrophagous Shadows

4. Mould In Hell

http://www.mediafire.com/?dxfbnxxnxi7jbmb

Cadaver (Nor) -- "Hallucinating Anxiety" (Complete) 1990

EXCLUSIVE -- THE COMPLETE AND DEFINITIVE VERSION!

Norway's CADAVER have always been one of my favourite Death Metal bands, their first two albums remain some of my most played. This, their debut, is a pungent slice of raw, necro Death Metal with an unusually fuzzy, almost Black Metal guitar sound.

The only CD release of this album was as a split with Swedish band CARNAGE, and due to time constraints, one track ("Hypertrophyan") was omitted that was otherwise available on the vinyl and cassette versions. Further confusion was compounded by an inaccurate tracklisting on all versions; the song "Erosive Fester" was not listed; and the intro and first song were combined into one track.

Since Earache have repeatedly stated they have no plans to reissue the album, I here exclusively present the DEFINITIVE and COMPLETE version of the album: a CD rip, with "Hypertrophyan" (mastered and cleaned from the cassette) restored to its rightful place, plus a corrected tracklist. I have also separated the intro from the first song, to avoid any further confusion.

Info (Metal Archives)

Cadaver (Nor) -- "Hallucinating Anxiety" (Complete version) 1990

01. Tuba (intro)
02. Ignominious Eczema
03. Corrosive Delerium
04. Erosive Fester
05. Hallucinating Anxiety
06. Cannibalistic Dissection
07. Hypertrophyan
08. Petrifyed Faces
09. Innominate
10. Twisted Collapse
11. Abnormal Deformity
12. Maelstrom
13. Mental Abherrance
14. Bodily Trauma


http://www.mediafire.com/?d3rqwt2tbp9u192

320 kps

Seventythree (UK) -- Demo 1995

SEVENTYTHREE were a band from the Thanet area of Kent during the first half of the 1990s, known for most of their existence under their old name DECEITFUL BOW. Live, they were a dynamic Alt-Rock/Metal act, but this demo was deliberately more restrained in an effort to get them more gigs. The 3 (untitled) tracks are more in an Indie vein, with a laid-back Jazz/Funk feel in places. There is some inspired guitar work on show here, plus some great stream-of-consciousness lyrics.

Info (Kent Band Archive)

Seventythree (UK) -- Demo 1995

1. unknown title 1
2. unknown title 2
3. unknown title 3



http://www.mediafire.com/?7c5norf7j8wn819

(New cleaner rip, updated 11/02/11)

Tipa Gore (UK) -- "Durg" demo (1996)

TIPA GORE were a 3-piece band from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, who played an energetic form of funk-inspired Hardcore/Metal -- essentially what would later become known as Nu-Metal, though this was a good couple of years before that genre became oversaturated commercialised drivel. I put them on in Ashford a couple of times, and they were lovely guys. They even appeared on TV on the Johnny Vaughan show.

They did later release a CD, but I never had a copy.

Info (Kent Band Archive)

TIPA GORE (UK) -- "Durg" demo (1996)

1. Fudge Packet
2. Pressure
3. This Is Orange
4. Underlying Tones Of Weightlessness
5. Last

http://www.mediafire.com/?1v8cxcapcngpgnk

Sun (UK) -- Demo 1996

SUN (later changed to A BAND CALLED SUN due to legal issues regarding the name) were a great band from Whitstable, Kent, who played an interesting fusion of Psychedelic Dub/Funk with a hint of Blues. This demo was recorded as a four piece, though they later recruited a frontwoman which gave them a much more commercial sound. I may upload a later CD at some point soon, though I prefer this demo.

Info (Kent Band Archive)

Sun (UK) -- Demo 1996

1. Baby
2. Bitter
3. Go Wasted
4. Newage

http://www.mediafire.com/?7mp0yjzgdpobstr

(new cleaner rip, updated 12/02/11)

CRUENTUS DEMO 1993

Ok here is my second upload, something pretty rare here and I haven't seen it on any other blogs so far so we might even have an exclusive for The Woodsman's Axe...

CRUENTUS were a Blackened Death Metal band from Essex in the UK. I was sent this demo by the bands bass player Mark to review it in my Crucifixion Zine, and as far as I know, this is the only release that the band ever put out.

If you liked the THUS DEFILED demo that I uploaded last week then this will be right up your street. This is their 1993 demo, ripped at 320kps and complete with a scan of the inlay.

CRUENTUS - DEMO 1993

1. Of Unknown Origin
2.  Condemned To Darkness
3. Blind Devotion
4. Psychotic Dellusions

 http://www.mediafire.com/?u129c26i69tx3u3

Dr. Chair (UK) -- "Witter & Beard" CD

This album is an absolute gem. DR. CHAIR was the alias of a guy called Richard Cron from Hythe, Kent; something of a local anarchist, satanist and all-round nutter. He was renowned for turning up to local open mic nights with an acoustic guitar and just screaming into the microphone. He also once asked my girlfriend to join his coven...

The songs on "Witter & Beard" (I presume the title is a play on "Bitter and Weird") are top-notch madcap DIY Psych/Punk, with all instruments played by the man himself. Standout tracks for me are "More Weed Sir?" (the sound of a man being force-fed marijuana -- albeit very politely), and "The Bavarian Knights" (a punked up instrumental based on a traditional melody).

EDIT: I have since been contacted by the man himself, who confirms that my assumption regarding the title is correct...

Dr. Chair (UK) -- "Witter & Beard" CD (2001)

01. Lighting The Bong
02. The Doctor's Theme
03. Stormy Waters
04. Bollocks
05. Times Change
06. The Bavarian Knights
07. Prove It
08. More Weed Sir?
09. Paradise Lost
10. I've Got To Air My Feelings
11. If You're Not Mad, You Will Be
12. The Cast
13. untitled hidden track


http://www.mediafire.com/?4ctk9vk5kbqh020

The Slugs (UK) -- "Invasion Of The Slugs" (2005)

Following the vein I've been tapping the past couple of days, this is ANOTHER Folkestone Punk band featuring Rocker and Ug (previously of CLITS OF ORIS, later of THE HOFMANN SOUND). Whilst this isn't as sludgily filthy as The Clits, nor as perfectly angular as The Hoffs, it's still a worthy listen.

The Slugs (UK) -- "Invasion Of The Slugs" (2005)

01. Cocaine = Shit
02. Squelch
03. Multinational Corporate Businessman (C.U.N.T.)
04. I Am Not Your Slave
05. Plastic Robots
06. Resist The Pressure
07. Sick Joke
08. Demons
09. Operation Bug
10. Hate



http://www.mediafire.com/?78z4pjh3ophlzvp

The Clits Of Oris (UK) -- Live

THE CLITS OF ORIS were a noisy Sludge-Punk band based in Folkestone, featuring Rocker and Ug who later played in THE HOFMANN SOUND (who I posted earlier). I don't think they ever released any material, so this live recording I made could well be the only recording of them in existence.

Special mention should be made of the sheer genius of track 4, "The Nazi Cokey".

Alas, my faulty MiniDisc player accidentally deleted the 1st track whilst I was ripping this (a poor workman etc. etc.).


The Clis Of Oris (UK) -- Live @ The Harp Club, Folkestone, 12/03/04

1.
2. Scum
3. What's The Score?
4. The Nazi Cokey
5. Pay To Die
6. Alive But Dead
7. Down Not Out
8. This Is Your Life

Download link removed -- I have found another copy of my recording, with the 1st track still in place. I will reupload as soon as I have ripped it.

The Hofmann Sound (UK) -- "Is This It?" CD (2009)

THE HOFMANN SOUND were a fantastic Post Punk band, quite possibly the best band to emerge from Folkestone in recent years. I posted a 3-song promo of this album a while back, but I'm now posting the whole album (+ bonus tracks), because the bastards split up over a year ago, and this is far too good to be forgotten. The musical formula is a juxtaposition of abrasive, scratchy guitar that sounds like broken glass being ground into your eyeballs, a killer rhythm section with tight locked-in grooves, and vocals that simply ooze venom.


I love The Hofmann Sound, but I hate them for splitting up. Bastards.

MySpace

The Hofmann Sound (UK) -- "Is This It?" CD (2009)

01. Journey To Nowhere
02. No Direction
03. Velvet Lined Coffers
04. Sweetpea
05. Filth Detector
06. Disconnect
07. Nicked
08. Analysis
09. Pulse Vibration
10. Ug's Machine
11. Swamp Death
12. TWD
13. Subject To Change (bonus track)

14. Downslide (live)
15. Exit Stance (live)


http://www.mediafire.com/?9kla2biieap6ycy


Bastards.

Thus Defiled 'Blasphemous Coven' Demo 1993

Firstly a big thank you to Balbulus for allowing me to contribute to the The Woodman's Axe. I have a lot of demos that I will be uploading over the coming weeks and months but here is a fairly rare one to kick off with.

THUS DEFILED from Hove, near Brighton in the UK, began their career as a Blackened Death Metal act in the early 90's before getting a record deal and changing their style to the full on Black Metal sound we know them for today.

This is their 1993 demo Blasphemous Coven, ripped in 320kps and complete with full inlay scan in the folder. ENJOY.

THUS DEFILED - BLASPHEMOUS COVEN DEMO 1993

1. Intro

2. Invocation 

3. Desolation Of Twilight

4. Ascend...

http://www.mediafire.com/?woe88dh8eel0k1d

New contributor...

Just a quick notice to introduce you to the new contributor to the blog -- Witchclan. He will be starting to post stuff in the next few days, and he assures me he has some great old Metal demos to share. Seeing as I've pretty much exhausted my Metal demos, I will probably focus more on non-Metal material in order to maintain the blog's eclecticism.

Cheers! Onwards and upwards...

Balbulus

Epidemic (UK) -- Demos 1989 + 1990

Not to be confused with the various other bands of the same name, EPIDEMIC were a long-lived Punk band based in Whitstable, Kent from 1981-1991. These two demos are great slabs of aggressive and vitriolic Punk with a surprisingly Metallic guitar sound, verging on Thrash in places.

Founder member Pat Murphy later formed Gothic Punk/Metal band JESUS FIX (who incidentally I have now joined!).


Info (Kent Band Archive)

Epidemic (UK) -- Demo 1 (1988)

1. U.A.D.
2. Necrolatry
3. Follow Me

Epidemic (UK) -- Demo 2 (1989)

1. Bred To Fight
2. Behind Locked Doors
3. Your Mistake

http://www.mediafire.com/?t8f1uf8nylt2v81

Dribblebus (UK) -- Demo 1995

DRIBBLEBUS were a great Indie-Punk band from Ashford, Kent during the mid 90s who were (and still are) good friends of mine. This demo was their only release (to my knowledge), and contains 4 light-hearted and catchy songs -- nothing extreme or aggressive, although the band did begin to show a harder edge in later material.

Info (Kent Band Archive)

Dribblebus -- Demo 1995

1. Freakshow

2. Soap In The Eyes

3. Adios Amigo

4. Ha Ha Fashion

http://www.mediafire.com/?7na3sdn9b9ls2dc

Salem Orchid (UK) -- demos

 

One of my first posts on this blog was pre-Akercocke band Church Of Satan, and I promised to post the demos of earlier band Salem Orchid. After much time putting off the mammoth task of ripping and cleaning the tracks, I have finally taken the bull by the horns. Here then are the 1990 and 1991 demos from the band, plus a collection of various other tracks. I have taken the 1991 demo from the import version of Akercocke's "Rape Of The Bastard Nazarene" CD, as they are better quality than my tapes. It also includes a bonus track that was not on the original demo release. The 1990 Demo and other tracks are my own rip.

Salem Orchid -- Demo 1990

1. GehennaTopethe

2. The Unholy Trinity

3. Carnival Of Souls

4. Litanies Of Darkness

http://www.mediafire.com/?c1zlyybt6gwglq0

Salem Orchid -- Demo 1991

1. Sempiternal Suffering

2. The Nirvana Of Agony

3. Luciferian Canto (bonus track)

http://www.mediafire.com/?8869s7wvan178h8

Salem Orchid -- Various tracks (1991-1994)

1. The Many Quixotic Passages To Faith

2. GehennaTopethe (live)

3. Carnival Of Souls (live)

4. The Invocation (live)

5. In The Sand

6. A Garden Of Tears

7. Indecision Plagues Me

There were other tracks, but my tape appears to be damaged (or not recorded properly), and so only one track from that batch is presentable (track 7).

http://www.mediafire.com/?ab3nzbhw192t92f

Meathook Seed (USA) -- "Embedded" (early mix)

Fantastic Industrial Metal project featuring Obituary members. This is the unfinished mix accidentally released on the first pressing. As Metal Archives explains:

When Earache initially released 'Embedded' they accidentally pressed a different version of the album to the 'official' release. This incorrectly issued version appears to be an early unfinished mix, and with the exception of last track 'Sea Of Tranquility' every track sounds noticably different to the official pressing, with this earlier version missing numerous samples and effects and containing material edited out of the final mix. Only 500 copies were pressed by mistake. These 'early mix' CDs are visually identical to the official CD release and can only be identified by contrasting the audio (an easy way to spot the difference is with the opening seconds of opening track 'Famine Sector': on the 'early mix' version there are no bass notes overlaying the opening drum machine beat).

I didn't realise until recently that my copy was this early mix, and having heard the finished version, I think I prefer this one -- a bit rawer and less samples.

Meathook Seed -- "Embedded" (early mix) (1993)

01. Famine Sector
02. A Furred Grave
03. My Infinity
04. Day Of Conceiving
05. Cling To An Image
06. A Wilted Remnant
07. Forgive
08. Focal Point Blur
09. Embedded
10. Visible Shallow Self
11. Sea Of Tranquility

http://www.mediafire.com/?itrkf7cf7p9jftm

 

Hollow Bone (Swz) -- "Sacer" LP

Hollow Bone is the new post-Industrial solo project of ex-Nàda guitarist/vocalist/percussionist Remo Seeland (both of Nàda's fantastic albums can be downloaded from this blog -- "Celmètra" and "Ùr"). Hollow Bone does contain certain echoes of Nàda's dark and earthy Industrial forging, but whereas Nàda was a brutal, primal roar, Hollow Bone is a subtle midnight whisper, much more introspective and nocturnal, with an atmosphere of gothic Psychedelia. I am still exploring the full depths of the music, but I am certainly finding it a great listen.

This album is available on limited vinyl, or to stream/download from here:

http://hollowbone.bandcamp.com/

Info (MySpace)

One (UK) -- "Grass Roots" demo

Another 2 song demo, I bought this from a local Ashford music shop back in 1993 when I was still at school. I know little about the band, I never saw them, but I did vaguely know the drummer Neil as he worked in Richard Records, the local independent record shop (now sadly closed thanks to HMV).

Musically, this is bright and positive Funk-driven Psychedelic Rock; vaguely Indie in feel, but with some nice Ozrics-style guitar here and there, very much in keeping with other notable Kent bands at the time like Mind Octopus and Crow. Professionally played and recorded, although the female vocals do occasionally stray on the iffy side.


Info -- Kent Band Archive


One -- "Grass Roots" demo (1993)

1. Mary Jane
2. Change

http://www.mediafire.com/?s067fx9qn3wbqq3

Olga (USA) -- Demo 1998

A very obscure and pleasant little discovery in my demo collection -- I have no recollection of hearing this until now, and I'm not sure where I got it, though I suspect it was in a bulk-buy from a distro many years ago. It's a short demo, just over four and a half minutes over two tracks, but I'm absolutely intrigued by the music within -- simple, hypnotic acoustic guitar lines underlaid with strange and eerie synth sounds and textures. I suppose Neo-Folk/Dark Ambient would be the closest label to apply.

I managed to track down the man behind Olga, and apparently this was the only release; but he has recently resurrected the project under the new name of Goldhail, venturing in a more Post-Rock/Shoegaze direction. He also plays in a great Alt-Rock/Metal band called The Nolan Gate. Check them both out.

As for now, however, the Olga demo is highly recommended. 4 minutes of intriguing and mysterious music.

Olga -- demo (1998)

1. Damnation
2. Spirits

http://www.mediafire.com/?903isgrykcols6r

Abraxas (pre-Endura) -- "Hexe"

I thought I had lost this tape, and so was pleased when it came to light. Abraxas is the band that went on to become Dark Ambient/Industrial legends Endura (or Endvra). Really dark, disturbing ambience and soundscapes, with ritualistic chanting and samples of serial killers. Side 1 of this tape (tracks 1-5) was reworked for the first Endura album "Dreams Of Dark Waters", but Side 2 is otherwise unreleased.

I've had a search around, and at the time of writing this seems to be an exclusive.



Abraxas -- "Hexe" cassette (1993)


Side 1

01. Dreams Of Dark Waters
02. Intra-Uterine Sabbat
03. Colours
04. Twilyte Language
05. Nailed To The Cross Of Pluto

Side 2

06. Magdalene
07. Death On Women
08. Cadeau La Mort
09. Fresh Grief Blues
10. Undine

http://www.mediafire.com/?ltjfhwfa731ve2f

The inlay scans are not mine.

Nancy's Place (UK) -- sample links

Blimey, I haven't posted in almost a year, so I thought I'd help promote Nancy's Place.

Formed 25 years ago in February 1985, Nancy's Place remain a secret band in a world of information, hidden, subversive and totally underground; I have even seen online evidence of people suspecting a hoax. They have self-released an impressive amount of albums in limited editions, and have performed live only 14 times to date. Musically, the band take their cues from Post-Punk and Industrial acts like THROBBING GRISTLE, DEATH IN JUNE, SWANS and JOY DIVISION, exploring the dark depths of the human psyche with music that mixes primal pounding Punk, morbid poetry, fractured electronica, unsettling textures, drones and found sounds.

Nothing to download here, as they have material for sale, but here's some links to their website and two MySpace pages. The second hasn't been updated for a while (forgotten log-in...?), but has a different selection of tracks to sample:

Nancy's Place website

Nancy's Place MySpace (new)

Nancy's Place MySpace (old)

And here's a few video links:

To purchase material, contact the new MySpace page. They also regularly have albums for sale on eBay (seller: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/darkhawk666/).