metal hails!!!
thorn laceration rec.is a new label i recently
found through myspace and owner chris was cool enough to send a few
promo's {see next blog of review up this evening!!} thorn laceration {so
far} has released cassete tapes and a few cdr.releases but has alot of
good ideas and bands!! fans of raw,fast black metal,folk,ambient
etc.really any style of dark metal will want to check out this new up
and coming label from the u.k. and as alwyays thanks to everyone who
takes the time read our interviews,reviews and supports metal in genral.
best regards,
patrick and winter torment e-zine
http://wintertormentzine.blogspot.com
1.Metal hails chris!! How is your week starting out? Please tell the readers a little about yourself.
Hello
there! Week hasn't been too bad, but have the usual task of dealing
with both school and running my label, which isn't always easy.For those
that don't know me, my name is Chris and I'm 17 years of age. As you've
already gathered, I'm still at school and study
Religion/Philosophy/Ethics, Spanish and Geography.
I am an atheist - always
have been. Personally, I am of the opinion that religion is for the
weak, whether one be Satanist, Christian, Islamic, or whatever. I see
religion as something that helps to explain our existence rather than us
simply accepting existence for what it is, literally. The human psyche
always look for an answer to something, which is why we are constantly
evolving technology and producing new medicines (a prime example,
perhaps a cure for cancer).
The use of Ockham's Razor can be
applied when it comes to existence, with the theory of Ockham's Razor
being that the simplest answer is usually the correct one. For me, when
this outlook is applied, the simplest answer is to just accept that we
are here and move on through life with that outlook.
I prefer also not to live my life on pre-empted biasness, but I'd be going on all day if I continued down that path.
2.
When did you start listening to metal? Who were some of the first bands
you listened to? Who are some of your "current"favorites?
I
started listening to metal when I was 13, which was four years ago. My
friend was playing his MP3 in a lesson and all I could hear was a
cacophony of noise, and curiosity got the better of me and I listened to
what he was playing. He was actually listening to Cradle of Filth's
track "Nymphetamine", which at the time for me was immensely heavy in
terms of sound, so went home that night and started listening to more of
their stuff. Other bands I then got into were Dimmu Borgir and
Chthonic. Everything lead from there really, and now I'm really into the
deep underground scene.
Bands I'm listening to a lot at the
moment are Agalloch (USA), Bishop of Hexen (Israel), Dead Christ Cult
(Ukraine), Morbus Mundi (Russia), Necrovomit (Italy), Purest (Germany),
Temple of Opposites (Ireland) and Zeta Reticuli (Australia).
I also recently bought Al-Namrood's (Saudi Arabia) first EP "Atba'a Al-Namrood"
and their debut album "Astfhl Al Tha'r", both from Shaytan Productions.
I highly reccommend both of these releases if you want to experience
some high quality Middle Eastern Black Metal.
I also highly
suggest inquistive people check out Dhul-Qarnayn (Bahrain) and Kusoof
(Kuwait), another two fantastic bands from the region, as well as Ekove
Efrits and Emerna, who are both from Iran.
3. What gave you the idea to start up Thorn Laceration Records? How did you come up with the name of the label?
I basically wanted to pay something back to the scene that had got me
so into metal, Black Metal especially. There are so many bands out there
that are unheard of and my intention was, and still is, to support
bands in any way I can. As well as releasing tapes and CDs and shirts,
etc, I also help bands find labels and such forth. I'm not in the label
business for profit, but more for just helping and getting bands' names
out there. I see so many labels that charge £3.50 for a tape, which is
abysmal. My distro tapes will only ever be £2.00 at max as I don't
believe in huge profit-making.
As for how I came up with the
name, I just wanted something that rolls off the tongue and is simple to
remember, yet still at the same time quite macabre in sound. I wasn't
going to go for anything satanic as I am not satanic myself and hence
running a label with a satanic name is hypocrisy.
4. Do you run the label on your own or do you have friends that help with various areas of the label?
It's a one-man job, just myself. I prefer it that way, really, I set my
own rules and can work to my own pace. Perhaps when my label gets
larger, which I hope it shall do over time (as I don't intend to end my
label's activities any time soon, as that'd just have meant I'd have
ultimately wasted my time in a scene so important to me). I do however
have bands I work with help me promote my releases, most notable the
ones I'm releasing for them, but some also help with general day-to-day
promotion of the label as a whole.
5. What do you feel is the
easiest part and the hardest part about running a label? Do you have
any advice to anyone who wants to run a label?
There isn't
really an easy part or a hard part, though the toughest part is starting
it up and getting those first few releases in. Promotion is an ongoing
obstacle, but I make sure I get my daily dose of flyer-posting in so my
label doesn't fall into the pits of obscurity, as that'd be a disaster.
For those that are keen on starting up a label, I say go for it. In
terms of advice-giving, I'd say that as long as you firmly believe in
what you're doing, continue with it. Don't however start a label because
you feel it'll get you kudos points with people. Running a label is an
end in itself, one shouldn't treat it as a means to an end.
6. Please tell the readers about some of your "current" releases you have availble?
Most of my early releases are sold out, but I still have some Halopent
CDs left, which has all their previously recorded tracks on from their
demos. A great Death/Thrash band from the USA with gory lyrics, so
should appeal to quite a few people. I also have some tapes and other
CDs left, such as Demonic Cremator's "Perverted Goatsucker" demo on CD.
They're Scottish and play some damned sickening Black Metal, and I
highly suggest people check out their music.
I also have a few
releases out soon, including two bands from Malaysia; Omen and
Neftaraka. Both tapes are limited to 500 copies. The Omen tape is their
debut release and is fucking brilliant, and Neftaraka's is a re-release
of their EP "Raw Ist Law", that sold out on the first label that
released it insanely fast.
Probably my most eagerly anticipated
release is Folkstorm's "De Stemmen Van Het Woud", which is out November
1st on digipak MCD. It's the band's debut album, and is some fine Pagan
Black Metal with ambient influences. I've already taken many pre orders
for it so if anyone is interested they'd better get in quickly as I
don't see it being around for too long.
7. Do you have any upcoming release the fans should keep watch for?
Ah, I seem to have covered that above. I do have a release in December
for Mexican Thrash/Black Metal band "Hell Bell", with one of the members
being in Funereal Moon, who are very well known. I also have a release
for Nokturnicon of the USA and a split between Zarach 'Baal' Tharagh and
Saturn Form Essence out later this year as well.
8. Are
you currently looking for any bands to sign/work with? If any bands or
labels are reading this what styles of metal do you carry in your
distro?
I'm fully booked at the moment, and will be fully
booked until mid way through next year. Unless I go to a band and ask if
they are interested in a release, I'm not working with any more as I
can't deal with 10 projects at one time as it's not viable. In regards
to what I stock on my distro, it's mainly Black or Death Metal based,
though I'm partial to some Thrash/Doom/RAC as well. Ambient of course is
another genre of music I will carry, but no other styles would I carry
as I want people to know that if they want a certain style of release
they can come to my label.
9. You come out of the scene in
London, England.what is your opinion of the scene in your town/area? Who
are some of your all-time favorite bands from the UK? Are their any new
up and coming bands the readers should watch out for?
Hmm,
the scene is pretty poor over here, you either see twits in Burzum
shirts and Darkthrone shirts or My Chemical Romance and Bullet For My
Valentine shirts. It's all the bands that are shoved into everyone's
faces that people like round here, though there are some like minded
people who are really into the underground scene. There's a great shop
in London called Resurrection Records that sells some bloody good vinyls
(found a Zyklon-B 12" gatefold there, as well as a Throne of Katarsis
one). Their Black Metal CD range is wonderful as well, found some very
rare stuff there which is great.
All time favourite bands from
the UK would be Hecate Enthroned, Black Grave (they play some great
Black/Punk, but sadly split up, though), Desecration and Askival. Ones
to look out for from the UK would be Demonic Cremator, Gates of
Carpathia, Teutoburg Forest and Nierty.
Outside of the UK, but
in Ireland, a great band to watch for is Temploe of Opposites. THey play
some epic Occult Black Metal, I emplore people to listen to the band's
music, especially the track "Cunnis Diaboli".
10. In your
opinion what is the best and worst thing about the underground? And what
does the term "metal underground" mean to you?
I suppose
the best thing would be fidning out about new bands and the trading that
goes on between people and labels, especially. I always find it
rewarding when I trade with someone and what I get is a brilliant demo.
Meeting new people is also a great aspect of the underground, and
sharing knowledge of bands and generally talking about the scene as a
whole.
As for the worst thing, it'd be the scum that scam people
and rip people off, especially labels who don't fulfill their half of
the trade, or fake magazines. Basically, anyone with bad intentions and
practices is what I dislike, and they don't deserve to be involved in
such a wonderful scene.
"Metal underground" is a term that
essentially covers all small bands not covered by large labels or
mainstream media, though there are different levels of the underground.
Some bands like Satanic Warmaster are barely underground any more,
whilst bands like Morbus Mundi are incredibly underground and have a
tiny fanbase.
11. When not working on label business what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Sometime I'll go for a walk in the woods with my two dogs, other times
I'll be relaxing watching some television programs or being a right
bastard with mates. Generally what most people do in their spare time,
though right now time I am in need of, as working on my label eats into
my time massively, so any spare time right now is spent doing schoolwork
so I don't fall behind too much.
12. Thanks a lot Chris for taking the time to fill out this interview do you have any final comments for the readers?
My
pleasure. As for final comments, I'd just like to tell people to
explore scenes from the Middle East and South America, and not to just
stick to the mainstream bands they get force fed through large magazines
like Terrorizer or Decibel Magazine. Always look to increase your
knowledge on the scene, and never try and be someone you're not.
to contact the label or check out the blogs for the "current" distro list check out the the "official"myspace pager here:http://www.myspace.com/thornlaceration
