Wednesday, June 22, 2011

ELECTRIC WIZARD – Come My Fanatics 2XLP (195gm vinyl)

Details: Second press of this second and classic album from Electric Wizard, 'Come My Fanatics', is cut from original analogue masters (not remastered like recent CDs) and housed in a killer gatefold sleeve.

Doom or be Doomed!

*Comes with embroidered patch only available from us!!
Patch size: H:13cm x W: 6.6cm
www.myspace.com/electricwizarddorsetdoom

Price: 35 euro
Availability: mail us

GENTLEMANS PISTOLS – At Her Majesty’s Pleasure LP

Details: Gentleman’s Pistols formed in 2003 as a three piece with initial influences being the classic glam bands, Slade and especially The Sweet and heavy 70’s bands such as Deep Purple and Captain Beyond. In 2006, the band released their first 7”, Just A Fraction b/w Heavy Petting on the Leeds based Art Goes Pop imprint. Soon after, Rise Above records released another 7” for the band with the tracks, The Lady b/w Creamy Lid which was followed a year later with self-titled debut album. The album was well received by the music press with Classic Rock giving it 8/10 and Metal Hammer scoring it 9/10, saying “Put simply, there should be more bands like Gentleman’s Pistols around.”

At Her Majesty’s Pleasure was produced by singer/guitarist James Atkinson and represents a labor of love, not to mention copious late nights, equipment malfunctions and frayed nerves. Despite developing a broadened musical palette including the use of strings and supplementary percussion, the recording nonetheless aimed to capture the band as they are in the raw, with little in the way of editing used. Indeed, what you hear on the record is how it was played, warts and all, with much of what is on the record captured within a couple of takes.

“It wasn’t easy,” admits Atkinson. “The studio was so cold that the guitars kept falling out of tune between takes and most of the album was recorded while the band were wearing gloves and coats!”
“The writing process for At Her Majesty's Pleasure began as soon as we had finished recording the first album,” explains James. By the time original drummer Adam Clarke decided to leave the band, we had demos of at least five tracks from the album and when guitarist Chris Rogers left (recently replaced by Bill Steer, ex-Napalm Death, Carcass etc), all of the songs were finished musically and only a few lyrics needed writing to complete the album.”

The album was recorded at James’ own Mutiny studios in Bradford, where the band practices. They had completed demos of the LP by the end of 2009 and were looking forward to getting the real thing laid down in the New Year. Come February however, they were all ready to go into the studio. Unfortunately, it seemed to be the coldest it had been in a long time. “Due to the studio being in an old mill building, warmth wasn't a luxury we were entitled to,” laughs James. Undeterred by this, the band soldiered on.
Despite quite a few issues with keeping the guitars in tune due to the temperature changes between rooms, most of the basic tracks were laid down relatively easily and by the end of Feb, they decided to take a little break before tackling the vocals and overdubs.

“Fast forward a couple of months and there we were again,” continues James. “But now the temperature seemed tropical compared to the cold winter recording session we had in February. Here we tracked the lead guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals and percussion. Adding overdubs like this was something we wouldn’t have thought of doing on the first LP as everything except the vocals were tracked live, but we had tried it on the new demos and we liked the scope it gave us for trying out new things and especially how the percussion sounded on certain tracks. A week later I was sat there with the tracked, finished product and all I had to do was mix it.”

“This took a little longer than first imagined,” admits James. “I was fully expecting a Brian Wilson style meltdown at one point but luckily managed to get it finished and remain happy with the outcome.” The end result is collection of storming and strutting rock that should have little problem in putting Gentleman’s Pistols at the forefront of UK rock n roll.
www.gentlemanspistols.com

Price: 25 euro
Availability: mail us

BLOOD CEREMONY – Living With The Ancients 2XLP

Details: Blood Ceremony's distinct style of flute-tinged witch rock evolves from an infernal marriage of occult inspired acid folk and vintage hard rock riffing. After a mind-numbing study of hundreds of witchcraft themed films, the group began to pour their energies into crafting songs, transforming their fascination for horror into a profane musical vision.
Invoking the mischievous Pipes of Pan, Blood Ceremony songs are distinguished by singer Alia O'Brien's alluring flute solos, accenting an instrument long-associated with a list of devilish figures.
A celebration of Euro-horror, '60s saturnalia and occult miscellanea, their self-titled debut album was mixed by Billy Anderson and released by Rise Above Records in 2008. Following this they completed a successful European tour alongside Brit doom legends Electric Wizard.
Blood Ceremony have recently finished recording their second album 'Living With The Ancients', working alongside producer Sanford Parker in Chicago. The album displays a definite improvement in songwriting skills and a strong musical maturity. Wider influences from obscure areas can be heard fluctuating beyond the more obvious comparisons associated their aforementioned 2008 debut.
**Comes with embroidery patch while stock last! Only from us!!
www.myspace.com/bloodceremony

Price: 28 euro
Availability: mail us

ONSLAUGHT – Sounds Of Violence LP

Details: Now is the best time to be a thrash metal band and the genre hasn't been in this great shape since the late 80s. Onslaught was at the cutting edge around that time, being the preeminent purveyors of punk-laced NWOBHM mixed with spiteful angst. Alas, the band threw in the towel after a couple of well received albums, never to be heard from again. Not even diehard collectors kept their meager discography alive, relegating them to the trash heap of history. Included Bomber(MOTORHEAD) feat: Tom Angelripper and Phil Cambell!!
www.onslaughtfromhell.com

Price: 30 euro
Availability: mail us

ANNAL NATRAKH – Passion LP

Details: The duo of Irrumator (Mick Kenney) and V.I.T.R.I.O.L. (Dave Hunt) have once again crafted an album in “Passion” that is truly it’s own beast, standing apart from comparison to all other bands. Their successful blend of black, industrial, noise and death-grind is nothing less than a scathing, caustic, sonically devastating, apocalyptic soundtrack that not only destroys with it’s vicious attack, but is also disturbingly beautiful in it’s schizophrenic epicness.
www.myspace.com/anaalnatrakh

Price: 25 euro
Availability: mail us