PAGANATUM / THE DOLL / A FORGOTTEN (DEMO COMPILATION 2011)

*** Ordo Templi Orientis where a band from Belarus that plays a very raw and primitive form of ambinent/occult/depressive black metal and this is a review of their 2011 compilation "Paganatum/The Doll//A Forgotten" which was released by 9th Meridan Records. Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being thrown in at times, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them, as for the synths they bring a very dark, occult, ambient and avant garde sound to the music and they become more a lead instrument on the recording when the music switches from black metal to being dark ritualistic ambient along with some harsh power electronic noises. Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast black metal riffs that are very dark, raw and primitive sounding with a dark ambient feeling at times along with a brief use of distorted noises in addition they are only used on the beginning tracks but still show up at times in a more soft and clean direction while still adding to the darkness of the music and at times they go back to being heavy but not in the raw and primitive matter of their first tracks while the rest of the music goes more into an ambient direction on later songs and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording. Vocals which are only used on the beginning songs are a mixture of grim sounding and high pitched black metal screams that are very depressive at times with some mournful sounding cries while the later songs are mostly spoken word ritualistic parts as well along with some sex magick rituals as well as a great amount of torture and bondage, while the lyrics cover depressive, dark and occult themes, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and primitive sound to it. In my opinion Ordo Templi Orientis where a very great sounding ritualistic, ambienet/depressive black metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Through The Ravening Winterstorms" "Dance Of Consciouness Eclipses (Movement Dynamics Of Lost Control)" "Then They Silent Watch It" and "Apathied One". RECOMMENDED BUY.

Reviewed by Occult Black Metal ZIne May 2012 Occult Black Metal Zine

THE DISTANCES OF COLD (FULL-LENGHT ALBUM) 2010

*** Stigmata практически не пишет о металлической музыке, поэтому для того, чтобы на наших страницах появился обзор “тяжелого” альбома, нужны веские причины. ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS играют депрессивный black metal, но я решил, что про недавний диск этой гродненской команды написать следует а) потому что хороших беларусских групп очень немного б) The Distances of Cold заслуживает внимания даже людей, весьма далеких от black metal. Как я уже сказал, ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS – беларусская группа из города Гродно. Поговаривают, что группа не планирует издавать новые работы. Жаль, потому что у музыкантов просматривались довольно интересные идеи… The Distances of Cold представляет собой своеобразный сборник материала, записанного в разное время. Если слушать альбом внимательно, то “разношерстность” композиций действительно бросается в глаза. Так что пластинку условно можно разбить на две неравные части: первая – это экспериментальная и наиболее мною любимая; вторая – довольно обычный депрессивный black metal “как у всех”, интересный лишь поклонникам стиля. Обозначенная мною первая половина, заканчивающаяся треком Sunrays Scars, собственно и делает пластинку достойной не только вашего внимания, но даже покупки. Мои любимые композиции на альбоме – My Garmonbozia и Sunrays Scars. Их отличительная черта – наличие вокалистки, которая превращает довольно банальный депрессивный black metal в необычное и интересное явление, которое можно назвать “black metal”- вариацией некогда популярного стиля shoegazing. Продолжи ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS развиваться в этом направлении, и в Беларуси появилась бы группа вполне европейского уровня, ибо такого рода музыки очень немного, и она, безусловно, была бы интересна многим. Очень бы хотелось верить, что мои соотечественники решат не останавливаться на достигнутом, и мы о них еще услышим. Если у вас очень мало времени, то ознакомьтесь хотя бы с My Garmonbozia и Sunrays Scars (одна из них есть на “Майспэйс”-страничке команды), вам они понравятся. Остальные композиции на пластинке являются более или менее типичным депрессивным black metal, который напомнил мне ранних JOYLESS и FORGOTTEN WOODS. К слову, ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS удается не только не скатиться в скуку, но и создать своей музыкой интересные настроения и атмосферу. Безусловно чувствуется то, что группа молодая и ей не хватает опыта, но общее впечатление от прослушивания альбома исключительно положительное. The Distances of Cold от ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS – один из наиболее заметных металлических релизов Беларуси 2010 года. Мои искренние рекомендации.

Reviewed by Stigmata Stigmata Magazine

*** It took a few minutes to realize what the cover photo reminded me so much of. It finally dawned on me: Alcest's first full-length Souvenirs d'un Autre Monde. I think most of us would agree that this uncanny resemblance is not incidental (placement and framing, design and color scheme all draw almost identical parallels), and judging by the music, this band is well aware of the current trends. OTO started out as a raw depressive black metal project (paradoxically of Crowley-an variety, given the name and adorning "Do What Thou Wilt..." quotes on their discs, but also an active supporter of the "Never Stop the Madness" campaign), but appear to have made some sort of a "great leap forward" with this album. Strictly speaking, this is mostly a compilation of previously released or re-recorded songs, with only two tracks ("My Garmonbozia" and "Sunrays Scars"), if I am not mistaken, containing brand new material. Nevertheless, the progress is all too evident if one were to compare this disc to the band's previous album Dysphory (Part One), released only a year prior. Not only The Distances of Cold has the best sound I've heard from this duo, but being a compilation, it was no doubt conceived as a document of a band in transition. Transition to what? Well, see the Alcest reference. Yes, OTO are flat out jumping on the "blackgaze" express here but doing a surprisingly potent job. The disc's first half (first five tracks) basically demonstrates what the band are about here and now, while the remainder sheds a glimpse of light on where they are coming from. And, I must say, just about all songs from the said first half (minus the ethereal, ambient segue, imbued with an airy layer of static, and called "Delirium Condition (Noise Version)" - the original can be found on Dysphory) hold their own with style against their more famous counterparts. Case-in-point: tracks "Room 418 (214 Version)" (the previous take also appears on Dysphory), "My Garmonbozia" and "Sunrays Scars", all of which make for impressive examples of BM-indie fusion (if that word-combination alone does not make you puke, of course). I am not a huge fan myself, but credit should be given where credit is due. OTO, without further ado, sow together denseness, heaviness and the dark overtones of their metallic, suicidal mainframe with the shimmering lushness and sensibility of the newly absorbed, noisy dream-pop influence under the watchful eye of the gazing shoe. Sensuous female vocals (exuding both childlike innocence and more mature feeling of sorrow - courtesy of the guest performer Miss Rayne Force), backed by wavy, sparkling riffing and guitar lines rub shoulders and trade places with their evil twin counterparts in the form of decidedly blackened riff tapestry and harsh male vocals. While the general song construction formula and juxtaposition of the elements at hand are easy to grasp, the riffs, melodic insets and especially the female vocal harmonies are highly compelling. "Room 418" and "Sunrays Scars" (with the latter being slightly more melodically conventional, I think, from a metalhead's viewpoint) balance and keep side-by-side both parts of the equation pretty evenly. "My Garmonbozia", on the other hand, is given entirely to the band's ethereal, distortion-free, vulnerable longings, with quite beautiful results. The fifth track and the first chapter's tail-end called "Permanent Suicide (First Version)", meanwhile, seems to attempt a bit more consummate cross-pollination, with both darker and livelier layers fusing together and periodically coming out on top only to disappear again in the interflowing stream, as opposed to just taking turns. But being endowed with the 12-minute running time, bereft of female singing and forced to get by with considerably less distinctive male vocals, the immediacy of impression might be a bit lost for those approaching it from the indie end of the spectrum and at the same time would bring out a sigh of relief for those coming from the polar opposite direction. The disc's "other" half is a bit more awkward pill to swallow after what came before (even if "Permanent Suicide" basically preps you for this), what with the prospective listener coming face-to-face with three tracks collectively clocking in at roughly 40 minutes. The main bulk here consisting of two versions of "Funny Smiles and Purple Pills" (a song title that seems to belong on one of the hip, super-modernistic Solefald records) plus a split EP refugee entitled "Sadness Hidden in the Waters". The sound here is a notch or two rawer than on preceding material, and the band's DSBM pedigree becomes more than apparent. Here OTO stay within the confines of the subgenre but make a credible showing as well. Crawling atmosphere of agony and dread via torturous vocals and plastering guitars is ever-present, particularly on "Sadness...". The band do throw in patches of keyboard cushioning and some lead work ornamentation along the way to make for a smoother sailing (and perhaps to offer a flicker of light) , not to mention lulling, eerily calm breaks that make their appearances midway on each track for diversity's sake. By and large, it all works its way out quite well, given that the subjected listener is in the right mood, and even if throwing in two takes of "Pills & Smiles" (long version and a LONGER one) is uncalled for. The album does suffer from a certain degree of patchiness, either making it obvious that the band did not have enough new material to show for and had to fill up the vacant space with older goods. Or, they simply decided against a full-on head dive into the uncharted waters and opted for a gradual transformation, choosing to proceed cautiously by mixing up their newbies with the tried and true, SUIZID-packed numbers. One way or the other, I did not really expect the Belarusian scene to have a band within its ranks that manages to produce music of such caliber. Whether or not OTO will continue with their newfound direction, I think this is the first worthy DSBM (well, in the case of this disc, it is really "depressive plus") band from the Eastern Block that side of Czechia's Trist that I ran into. Not that I was really looking, to be frank, but that's what makes random music hunting so charming: you never know what you will fish out.

Reviewed by Boris (8.5/10) Diabolical Conquest

*** «The Distances of Cold» - компиляция, собравшая песни белорусской группы Ordo Templi Orientis, которые до этого были раскиданы по сплитам и малотиражным EP. Если вбить в Интернет-поисковике название коллектива, то первым делом выдастся информация об известной оккультной организации, а уже потом всемирная сеть расскажет о дуэте из сопредельного государства, деяния которого на металлическом поприще немногочисленные сетевые авторы описывают чаще всего как самый настоящий raw & depressive black metal, не гнушаясь также слова «культовый». В случае «The Distances of Cold» эта информация будет верна лишь отчасти, точнее, она будет немного неполной, не раскрывающей в полной мере сути происходящего на этом диске. Конечно же, в основе всего лежит чрезвычайно депрессивный, суицидальный блэк, как и положено по канонам жанра, записанный грязно и сыро, что, однако, не мешает наслаждаться (если это слово в данном контексте уместно) музыкой – медленной, наполненной истеричным криком и промозглой атмосферой склепов, кладбищ и подземелий, затекающей в уши вязкой болотной жижей, нашептывающей на ухо о пользе ванны, наполненной теплой водой и острой бритвы в руке. Здесь все правильно и верно, никаких вопросов даже у упертых ортодоксов не возникнет – свое черное дело белорусы знают четко. Но это еще не все. Ordo Templi Orientis играют еще и….шугейзинг, ту его разновидность, которую вполне уместно назвать black shoegazing. Девушка (некто Miss Rayne Force) мечтательно о чем-то поет, выпадая из реальности, гитары выводят сыроватые неторопливые партии и тревожные тремоло, с помощью которых музыканты легко добиваются гипнотического эффекта, то тут, то там мелькают клавишные – это не Cocteau Twins, но очень близко. Точнее, это можно представить как джем-сейшен Cocteau Twins и Burzum (просто вообразите себе такую ситуацию) – девичий голосок соседствует с воплями и стонами, глуховатые ударные разгоняются до монотонных бластбитов, клавиши тонут в густом гитарном тумане, сумрак становится тьмою и все приходит к своему концу: болезненному, страшному, но неотвратимому. Эффект, надо заметить, получается неожиданно сильный, пожалуй, гораздо более сильный, чем от прослушивания финальной части альбома, которая от всех нововведений и смешивания стилей отказывается напрочь и вываливает на слушателя качественный олдскульный мрачняк, концентрация которого только возрастает на протяжении двух-трех последних композиций. Экспериментальный материал «The Distances of Cold» выглядит весьма достойно, пробуждает интерес (хотя, поначалу, не скрою, было легкое чувство отторжения, которое, впрочем, быстро испарилось) подкупает желанием сделать что-то необычное «на старых дрожжах», оставляя при этом за группой право называться «каноническими», идейными блэкерами.

Reviewed by Maeror3 (7/10) Russian Darkside Webzine

*** The Silence Behind The Dark. Ordo Templi Orientis is a depressive black metal project from Belarus. The founder of the project, Gesmas Lvcen Waarg, began it alone with a raw black metal sound but was joined by keyboardist/bassist Gabriel Van Abatth before releasing their first official full-length. This is their third full-length collaboration and shows a bit more atmosphere than previous albums have, but keeps the depressive mood. While OTO's sound has never been the most original out there, even by depressive black metal standards, they have consistently moved up both in production and style with each full-length. This album moves away, just a bit, from the rawer and doomy sides of the band's previous two outputs, seeming to experiment a bit within each track. In a sense, this could be looked at as an experimental album, but the band's core sound is still very much in tact. The first real track exhibits both on a somewhat equal sort of field, Room 418 (214 Version), still utilizing a live sort of sound and more of a doomy black metal instrumental side, but what makes this track so different, so to say, is that, just from the beginning of the track, female choirs are used, clean male vocals are also used later on in the track, as well as venturing into shoegaze melodies and the occasional jazzy bass-line. What really made this entire full-length interesting was the dichotomy between the experimental tendencies that this album seemed to steer into and the traditional depressive guitar sounds and screeched vocals. The first half of this album, which contains tracks all under 7 minutes are all pretty blackgaze sounding, very melodic and using female vocals within a good portion of the tracks, hear Sunrays Scars for a good example of them. The second half of the album extends the tracks to over 10 minutes and takes them into a bit more of their older style while keeping some of the melodic edge of the shoegaze in there. While the entire first half of the record really seems to stick out due to it being just so different from anything the duo has ever really done before, to my ears, the second half can really be summed up by the track Funny Smiles and Purple Pills (Long Version), the shorter one is considered a bonus track and is only 5 minutes shorter than the long one. Beginning with a sample of Twin Peaks, the song then immediately bursts into a morbid sound of that twists and turns around itself throughout the rest of it's course. The slow moving track builds into a somewhat anti-climatic vocal breakdown, where the vocals move into almost tortured ramblings less than half way through the track. What also makes this track the standout from the second half of the album is that it features peaks and valleys, being able to move through a traditional black metal fast tremolo section and successfully moving into a slower and at one point classically piano driven section and then back. Overall, this is one of the best and most unique albums to come out of the depressive scene this year. While I'm sure there are those that won't find this as entertaining, or depressing, as the band's previous albums due to the experimentation, but it makes this album sound so much more original. If you're a fan of the depressive scene this album has enough of that sound, along with the already mentioned adventures that should be able to keep your attention, check this out. Highlights: Room 418 (214 Version), Funny Smiles and Purple Pills (Long Version)

Reviewed by Maskofgojira (8/10) Don't Count on It Reviews

...UND MONOTON HERBSTLINIEN (SPLIT WITH BLUTENSTRASSE (CAN), WINTER DEPRESSION (UKR), MOLOCH (UKR)) 2009

*** This Ukrainian-Belarusian split (well, Blutenstrasse is currently based in Quebec, but its sole member Femto Dominion has just recently moved there from Ukraine) was released by Portuguese underground tape label Herege Warfare in spring 2010, though the title and cover-art imply rather autumnal conception of this work. Each band had presented here one long track (Winter Depression's 8-minute long track is the shortest one, and Moloch's track is the longest one and it has about 16 minutes in length). All four bands in one way or another fit in the depressive black metal category, though each of them has its own approach. The opener here is "Trip I - Starve Me More" by Blutenstrasse. This track consists of two parts divided by short acoustic interlude. The first part is characterized by muffled guitar sound that probably was intended to create some sort of ambience, but the result isn't really successful. The second part has a bit cleaner guitar sound and also a bit more interesting drum pattern (though the drums are programmed). Suicidal shrieking voice is something that I don't like here, as it seems forced, boring and insincere, probably a failed attempt to sound like Silencer. Ordo Templi Orientis has this kind of shrieking voice as well, but here the vocals are more varied and better mixed, so the result is more listenable. Generally, "Sadness Hidden in the Waters" is perhaps the most interesting track on this split. I think black/doom metal would be the best description for this song due to the slow, almost funeral doom-like tempo. Melodic guitar parts, accentuated bass and some keyboards create deep, oppressive and gloomy atmosphere. "Eternal Sorrow of Mother Nature" by Winter Depression is an instrumental and, in my opinion, the weakest track on this split. There is a certain development of musical theme here, from standard repetitive depressive black metal riff to semi-acoustic parts to keyboard ambient, but generally it hasn't impressed me much. Moloch presents here really epic track "Die Vergangenheit im Wechsel", which starts with whimsical ambient part with some symphonic sounds, which reminds me of Tolkien-inspired stuff like Summoning and Uruk-Hai, but depressive vocals, which appear shortly, set the listener to a bit different wave. Sounds of ancient horn serve as a bridge to the black metal part of the track, which is long, monotonous, hypnotizing and rhythmical at the same time, and is crowned by ambient outro at the last 2 minutes. As I've said in the beginning, each band here has a bit different approach to making depressive black metal, in some cases more successful, in others less original, and this split may help a potential listener to get a general impression of each of them.

Reviewed by Fulgurius (61%) Encyclopaedia Metallum

IN UNDERGROUND OF DOWNPOUR EMPIRE (DEMO COMPILATION) 2005-2007

*** Проект Ordo Templi Orientis в определённых кругах уверенно приобретает статус культового, поэтому переиздание ранних демо записей является вполне логичным. К самому изданию у меня лишь одна претензия, диск очень маркий и при первом же прослушивании украсился отпечатком большого пальца, но это уже я сам виноват=) Материал на диске лучше всего описывается фразой из буклета «This Music is for Raw Black Metal Maniacs», сырой агрессивный материал с буквально душераздирающим вокалом. Если бы я не знал авторства музыки, подумал бы что это творчество суровых норвежских парней начала 90х годов. Одни считают, что так и должен звучать Black Metal другие говорят, что время подобной музыки прошло, и в этом споре хрен родится истина, но всем фанатам творчества ASMODEY NAHEMA да и просто фанатам старой школы блэк метала стоит оценить этот сборник, жаль на всех дисков не хватит.

Reviewed by Олег Темирязев (Ultimaratio) February 2010

DYSPHORY [PART ONE] (FULL-LENGHT ALBUM) 2009

*** With this new opus "Dysphory Part-One", once again, Ordo Templi Orientis show us the extent of their talent! Indeed, they give us here a concrete example of what they call "the ecclectic black metal art". There is no better term, I think, to define their sound! We find in their music, basically a very depressive black metal, but also touches of post-rock, not to mention all these passages to various influences such as the Gothic of the 80s and 90s, and obviously a very big part of ambient, the bottom layer, using transitional link between all these contributions! Again, listening to this album, my surprise was not so at their own because it is now very recognizable, but rather on their ability to constantly renew itself, without falling, in a translitin imitation of themselves! The album begins with a mournful sample, which is straight into the mindset of this training! Then under the "hysteria", very good as suicidal black metal is then in the following titles found their originality, with some passages, not unlike a type-o negative great day! The 7 tracks on this album clearly express the theme of the album, namely madness throughout his expression! I strongly recommend "Dysphory-Part One"! It will immerse fans of suicidal black metal in the torments of the soul tormented by despair and melancholy.

Reviewed by Alrinack November 2009 Pest Webzine

*** Продолжение и развитие в музыкальном плане, релизов вышедших после "Where Eternally Autumn Winds Blow", что называется, не без влияний. Основа всё та же, мрачный и тоскливый блэк, но в этом варианте уже и пронизан чуть лёгкой меланхолией роковых вкраплений, это можно заметить по трэку "Room 418" (представлялась возможность услышать этот трек ранее, он оставил страННые впечатления), где так же можно услышать и женский вокал. Кроме этот, на альбоме присутсвуют два трэка в стиле эмбиент (не считая интро и аутро с уже знаковыми вставками) "Delirium Condition" и "Cold Wanderings in Halls of Madnes" (первый из них очень даже и не плохой), только не оставляет чувство, что они не совсем то и вписываются в концепцию или можно сказать настроение альбома. Сами по себе они мрачные, но в тоже время, вроде как, являются обрамлением трэка "De Facie Lunae", который несколько другое впечатление оставляет, он более "живой" и создаваемый им фон более осветлёННый и прозрачный, чем они. Как то перетасовать в существующем трэклисте их тоже сложно. Возможно я и ошибаюсь. В целом, альбом будет интересен любителям стиля, аналогов пока у нас нету, да и что — то подсказывает мне, что и не будет.

Reviewed by Ha7tur October 2009

VEX IRRITATION (SPLIT WITH IAD UROBORUS (RUS)) 2009

*** Bei Ordo Templi Orientis scheint es sich um eine sehr wandelbare Gruppe zu handeln. Denn das hier vertretene Lied Permanent suicide ist klanglich um Welten besser als die Lieder von Paganatum. Aber auch stilistisch unterscheidet sich das Lied. Es ist ein knapp zwölf Minuten langes, melancholisches Lied, welches ich als eine gelungene Mischung aus depressiven Black Metal und Dark Metal bezeichnen möchte. Es gibt klassische DSBM Passagen mit dem stark verzerrten Kreischgesang und ruhigem Gitarrenspiel. Ebenso, was mir gut gefällt, enthält das Lied allerdings auch Strecken ohne diesen Kreischgesang. Stattdessen ist die Stimme klar und ein wenig leidend oder klagend, dabei aber durchaus sonor, was mich ein wenig an die frühen Lieder von Nagelfar erinnert. Diese Passagen werten das Lied enorm auf, wie auch einige eigenwillige, disharmonische Gitarrenläufe. Im Vergleich zu Paganatum konnte sich Ordo Templi Orientis also massiv steigern. Iad Uroboros ist ein Einmannprojekt, welches mich sofort mit einem differenzierten und kraftvollen Klang überrascht. Beide Stücke sind allerdings rein instrumental, was die Sache nicht schlechter macht, ich aber dennoch ein wenig als bedauerlich empfinde, da die Musik gut ist, es schöne Riffs und rhythmische Vielfalt gibt. Ich würde gerne wissen, wie es sich anhört, wenn Iad Uroboros dazu singen würde. Denn die Musik könnte sowohl melancholisch sein als auch heftig und aggressiv. Das hängt davon ab, wie man den Gesang gestalten würde. Rein musikalisch ist Iad Uroboros jedenfalls sehr interessant: Roh und harsch, aber auch sanft und melodiebetont. Vex irritation ist eine passable und interessante Untergrundveröffentlichung. Ordo Templi Orientis fällt zwar nicht durch originelle Musik auf, konnte mich aber aufgrund der Passagen mit Klarstimme überzeugen. Und für musikalische (experimentelle) Exoten wie Iad Uroboros habe ich ohnehin eine Neigung. Mir gefällt's und Kassettenjäger können hier gerne zugreifen.

Reviewed by Aceust (7/10) Hateful Metal Magazine

*** A very new output of the one-man-project O.T.O.. A Split-EP with the band Iad Uroboros from Russia, either a one-man black metal project. I must say, the songs of that band are really spicy. Also not the greatest quality, but that is not the point. The guitars are good hearable and they have an acceptable quality. And just from the atmosphere it is a nice cold piece of music. But what can I hear, nice guitar quality either form O.T.O.. And as I said, it makes much good to the song itself. A long but good song. Depressive, cold and full of emotion, that is how I would had wish it for the release before. Also the singed vocals I like. But you cannot have everything from the beginning. Though it is good to see, that he improved all things. No one, who read my reviews about this band before, would maybe thought, that this would really happen, but I must say, I like this Split. A good raw black metal EP!

Reviewed by Robert October 2009 Pest Webzine

*** Auf Vex Irritation hat man es mit zwei russischen Black Metal Bands zu tun, Dieser Release wurde ursprünglich von Rigorism Prouctions herausgebracht und wird nun von SFH-Records auf Kassette noch zusätzlich veröffentlicht. Den Anfang macht die aus Weissrußland stammende Ein Mann Band Ordo Templi Orientis. Diese hat sich dem depressiven Black Metal verschrieben und kann damit auch ordentlich punkten. Langsam und zäh wie Lava bannt sich das Stück „Permanent Suicide“ seinen Weg in die Gehörgänge, es lässt mir wohlige Schauer von immer währender Tristesse über den Rücken jagen. Die Gitarren zersägen in hypnotischem Takt das Rückrat des Hörers. Der Gesang wird zumeist sehr rauh und krächzend herausgeschrieen, das Schlagzeug schlägt dazu den Todesmarsch. Belarus kann mit diesem Stück überzeugen und durch die morbide Monotonie, wird man schon fast dazu gezwungen, sich mit einem Messer zu malträtieren. Danach folgt Iad Uroboros eine Musik, die in die gleiche Richtung schlägt, dabei aber deutlich anders zu Werke geht. Iad (alleiniges Mitglied) vertraut auf die Wirkung der Akustik-Gitarre und mit dieser Waffe, zieht man in die Schlacht. Gänzlich ohne Gesang nur mit Bass, Schlagzeug und Gitarre vermag man es tatsächlich, zwei richtig niederschmetternde Titel zu erschaffen. Das erste wird von der Akustikgitarre dominiert und kann als Einleitung gesehen werden. Beim Zweiten beginnt man mit dem gleichen Muster, allerdings scheut man sich nicht, auch mal loszubrettern. Das klingt richtig heftig, besonders jenes Riff, das einen leichten „Post“-Einschlag besitzt, ragt wie eine verschneite Bergspitze aus den tiefen Wäldern. Sehr guter Release den sich Freunde des Depri-Sounds mal auf den Wunschzettel schreiben sollten. Einziges Manko ist die kurze Spielzeit von zwanzig Minuten, da hätte ich mir ein bisschen mehr gewünscht. Aber lieber so als nur Füllmaterial drauf. Die Bands muss man auf jeden Fall im Auge behalten. Und die strenge Limitierung auf 169 Exemplare sollte auch nicht verschwiegen werden. Ranhalten!

Reviewed by Ascheregen October 2009 Schlachtenruf Black Metal Untergrund Magazine

*** Сплит диск 2х проектов исповедующих Depressive black, белорусского Ordo Templi Orientis и родного российского Iad Uroboros. Эпический трек Ordo Templi Orientis – Permanent Suicide (почти 12 минут) отличается великолепной мелодией и даже присутствием чистого вокала, лучший саундтрек для самоубийства придумать сложно, отстранённый от всего монотонный полный не то чтобы депрессии скорей полного безразличия к происходящему, думаю знакомое каждому состояние во время приступов меланхолии. Одним словом товарищ Asmodey как всегда на высоте. К инструментальному depressive black metal проекту Iad Uroboros с музыкальной точки зрения придраться не к чему. Отличный монотонный depressive с красивыми мелодиями и акустическими вставками, всё в лучших традициях стиля. Огорчило только немного небрежное сведение трека «Внутри», в наушниках слушать его не рекомендуется. В целом отличный диск огорчивший меня лишь небольшой своей продолжительностью, но если вашей целью является ознакомление с творчеством этих двух проектов то лучшего диска я вам посоветовать не могу.

Reviewed by Олег Темирязев (Ultimaratio) August 2009

WHERE ETERNALLY AUTUMN WINDS BLOW (FULL-LENGHT ALBUM) 2008

*** So what now? Now I have the great pleasure to hear the first full length album of this band. I must say that is the first time I can say that I like some parts. At least the Intro sounds good and brings some atmosphere in my room. The next songs is coming up. Not bad, the guitars are still little bit to law quality, but the screams are way more better and the keys are covering the shitty side of the guitars. Either drums are not only a monotone hacking in my ears. I am relieved. Some nice mid-tempo parts and faster ones. Bu t I wonder still, what the guy wants to tell us with the band name. There is nothing really medieval or historical, nor a topic which you could connect to a monk crusade order. Anyway it doesn´t matter that much. I must say, I am now, after the two not good examples quite surprised. Now it is really depressive black metal. But he should really try to record the guitars in a better way, they take in my opinion much of the good atmosphere away!

Reviewed by Robert October 2009 Pest Webzine

PAGANATUM (PAGAN AUTUMN) / THE DOLL (TEMPTFUL WHISPER OF SUCCUBI LILITH) (DEMO COMPILATION) 2007/2008

*** Diese Kassettenveröffentlichung enthält die zwei Demos Paganatum (Pagan Autumn) und The Doll (Temptful whisper of succubi Lilith). Paganatum erschien 2007 in Eigenregie auf CDR und bei The Doll handelt es sich um keine offizielle Veröffentlichung, die 2008 erschien. Die vier Lieder von Paganatum sind schnell und einfach beschrieben, da es sich bei ihnen um einfachen, rumpligen Black Metal mit dünnem Klang handelt. Streckenweise spielt Ordo Templi Orientis überaus roh und minimalistisch auf, wie gleich das erste Lied verdeutlicht. Das (vermutlich programmierte) Schlagzeug pocht eingängig monoton, während sich zwei oder drei Riffs abwechseln und obskurer Gesang zu hören ist. Puristischer geht es kaum und irgendeine Form von Abwechslung ist ebenfalls nicht vorhanden, wenn man mal von der kurzen, atmosphärischen Pause in der Schlussminute absieht. Die anderen Titel von Paganatum sind ähnlich puristisch und roh, wobei sich die klangliche Qualität und Lautstärke unterscheidet. Das eingängige Spiel an den Gitarren ist gar nicht mal so übel, da sich Ordo Templi Orientis vereinzelt ein paar nette, disharmonische Riffs hat einfallen lassen. Doch der radikale, nämlich aufs absolut Nötigste reduzierte Rhythmus, macht vieles kaputt. In den drei anderen Liedern gibt es zwar hie und da Tempowechsel, doch überwiegt die klopfende Monotonie am Drumcomputer, als würde man einen Sekundenzeiger im Schnelldurchlauf hören. Das fünfte Lied, Pleasurespheres of valuable maniacal erotica von The doll, ist sagenhafte 25 Minuten lang und in neun Kapitel unterteilt. Es ist absonderliche Musik, in der elektronische Noiseklänge ebenso zu hören sind, wie groteske Stimmenfetzen, Ambientpassagen und eben auch Black Metal, der zum Teil überaus harsch und giftig ist. Dieser Black Metal gefällt mir hier allerdings viel besser als der von Paganatum. Er ist zwar ebenfalls roh und primitiv, allerdings wurde die Rhythmusmaschine wesentlich besser inszeniert. Zudem gibt sich Ordo Templi Orientis hier viel übler und extremer, was mir gut gefällt. Zusammen mit den bizarren Klangfragmenten ist Pleasurespheres of valuable maniacal erotica ein düsteres und hörenswertes Stück extremer Musik. Empfehlen kann ich diese Kassette nur wegen Pleasurespheres of valuable maniacal erotica. Die vier Lieder von Paganatum sind zu simpel und belanglos, obwohl sich ein durchaus guter Ansatz erkennen lässt. Aber ohne einen vernünftigen Trommler zieht das leider die gesamte Musik runter. Deshalb bekommt Paganatum nur 4 und The Doll 7 Zähler, was letztlich zu fünfeinhalb Punkten insgesamt führt.

Reviewed by Aceust (5,5/10) Hateful Metal Magazine

*** PAGANATUM (PAGAN AUTUMN): Who read my former reviews, maybe knows, that I am a friend of good black metal, even if it is in lower quality, but there are borders. And the borders are exceeded here. I mean, this album could be somehow good, but the quality is underground. I really mean underground in a shitty way. The guitars are just a stream of somewhat, which you could call a sludge of tones, not even audible as a guitar. The drum is just a silent all the time the same rhythm picking sound. Either the voices and screams are lagging completely of variance or quality. Here you really can say, quantity doesn´t make quality. The guy behind releases much, yes, 18 pieces of music form 2007 till now, but maybe he should concentrate to make music and not just some mixture of shitty quality sounds. Beside that, I wonder how the name comes for this Demo. At least I know it already. Pagan is in, but you cannot find any pagan spirit in this music or at least I didn´t find! THE DOLL (TEMPTFUL WHISPER OF SUCCUBI LILITH): Hm, what can I say now about that release? The quality is better, luckily, but the music? Not really. Now it is some mixture of random ambient sounds and black metal songs. The same type, the same concept. At least that we have at much bands, though. But I really cannot tell you that I like it. He has good ideas and as already told, he made a process in the quality of the sound, at least little bit, but the output of them is juts not good enough to touch me in some way, then juts hope that this is soon ending. Either the porn sounds in it is a big help to that. Hard but honest.

Reviewed by Robert October 2009 Pest Webzine