ARTIST | TITLE |
FORMAT | PRICE |
| Ancient Ceremony | "Under Moonlight We Kiss" |
CD |
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Grandiose neo-classical keyboard bombast collides with a more Thrash-oriented intensity for a raging attack this time out! * CACOPHONOUS RECORDS background info:
In the summer of 1989, Chris Anderle and F.J. Krebs began to gather musicians who were able to express their moods and emotions through the creation of litanies of dark music. Ancient Ceremony became a reality when Dirk Wirz joined the band under the winter moon of 1991, along with sessions drummer Christoph Mertes, who later became a permanent member when his band, Deformed, split in 1993. Shortly before the recording of ''Where Serpents Reign'' studio tape (Feb 1993). Frank Simon joined the band after an extensive search for a suitable bassist. Here began the formation of the band's musical identity, with gloomy guitars, atmospheric keyboards and brutal vocals. The band began their live appearances in June 1992 with performances with bands such as In Flames, Absu, and Impaled Nazarene following.
February 1994 saw the recording of the ''Cemetery Visions'' mini CD, a melancholic aria of infernal dreams. This was limited to 500 units and originally distributed by the band members themselves. It has since been repressed by Alistar Records and is now distributed worldwide.
Ancient Ceremony signed to London based Cacophonous in late December 1996, and their debut album ''Under Moonlight We Kiss'' was released by Cacophonous in Autumn of 1997. Here, they have realized the concept of a dark, gothic epic, played out in vampyric symphonies. It is a truly unusual release as the Devil's Chord of Monteverdi, forbidden by the church in the middle-ages, is used in the vocal composition.
Their second album on Cacophonous, ''Fallen Angels Symphony'' (released in February 1999), hails a new line up for the band and leans more towards the extreme metal genre. The lyrics are centered around the philosophies of Satanism and Occultism along with Mythology, as vocalist/lyricist Chris Anderle is influenced by the early 14th century Knights Templar (OTO) and Crowley's ''Book Of The Law''. The album was mixed in the renowned Danse Macabre Studios (who have also spawned albums by acts such as Atrocity and Theater of Tragedy) with Bruno Kramm (Das Ich) - a collaboration that has led to a truly eerie atmosphere. This time, two female chantresses were used - one for alto (Cynthia Follman) and one for soprano (Erne Sjjkavirta) - again adding to the opulence of the album!
As inspiration, Ancient Ceremony cite darkness, vampyric beauty, melancholia, Satanic philosophy, the darker aspects of sexuality, eroticism and hell-bound dreams. . Literature is a great form of inspiration, especially Le Fanu, Goethe, Nietzsche, Byron, DeSade, Stoker and Crowley. Musically, Ancient Ceremony favor Swedish Death Metal (Therion, At The Gates), melodic heavy metal (Iron Maiden), Slayer (especially 'Reign In Blood'), certain classical composers (Back and Beethoven), Darkwave (Goethes Erben, Diamanda Galas, Das Ich) and horror movie soundtracks: all elements pertaining to the Vampyre's blackened realm and Satanic Darkness!
Ancient Ceremony has recently played with Dimmu Borgir, Moonspell, and Therion to name but a few, and will be touring extensively to promote ''Fallen Angel's Symphony''... Enchant your spirit and kiss eternity by embracing your soul with the melancholic infinity of Ancient Ceremony!
* BAND LINE-UP:
Vocals - Chris Anderle
Guitar - Patrick Meyer
Guitar - Marc Barbian
Bass - Jones
Drums - Christoph Mertes
Keyboards - Stefan Muller
Chantress - Chynthia Follman (alto), & Erna Sjjkavirta (soprano)
| Bal Sagoth | "Starfire Burning..." |
CD |
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CD |
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CD |
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CD |
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CD
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CD
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MCD
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CD
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| Gehenna |
"Malice" |
CD
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"Seen Through the Veils of Darkness" |
CD
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| N.A.O.S. | "Melancholia" |
CD | ENTER BLACKMETAL.COM HERE |
| Root | "Hell
Symphony" |
CD | ENTER BLACKMETAL.COM HERE
|
| Sigh | "Ghastly Funeral Theatre" |
CD | ENTER BLACKMETAL.COM HERE
|
| Sigh | "Infidel
Art" |
CD | ENTER BLACKMETAL.COM HERE
|
