When Daniel ‘Død’ Olaisen and Tchort formed Blood Red Throne in 1998 they had a unique selling point in that the two of them played live for Satyricon, and the latter credited with bass on Emperor’s influential debut album In The Nightside Eclipse.
Fast-forward twenty-six years later and Blood Red Throne is now a well established death metal institute from Norway with guitarist Død and drummer Freddy Bolsø as the only remaining founding members. With Nonagon Blood Red Throne releases their eleventh studio album with new vocalist Sindre Wathne Johnsen, who replaces long time frontman Yngve ‘Bolt’ Christiansen.
The nine tracks on Nonagon are conceptualized around the nine concentric circles of torment located within the earth as described in ‘Inferno’, the first part of the fourteenth century poem ‘Divine Comedy’ by Italian writer Dante, but the lyrics are free for interpretation. Ever since their 2001 debut album Monument Of Death or 2002’s Affiliated With The Dead, Blood Red Throne have been delivering relentless death metal strongly rooted in early nineties US death metal and Nonagon is no exception to that rule.
Blood Red Throne stay true to their sound and treat us with yet another pounding death metal release, full of technical riffs, fat grooves and slamming parts. Musically, Blood Red Throne mixes the brutality of Cannibal Corpse and the melodic grooves of Amon Amarth and out comes a fine blend of old-school groovy yet technical death metal. New vocalist Sindre Wathne Johnsen delivers a great job with his versatile death grunts and high pitched screams and is a great addition to the line-up of Blood Red Throne.
Fans of groovy no-nonsense death metal with a great full-sounding production should definitely check Nonagon out. The album is out now via Soulseller Records.
ALBUM REVIEW – MIKE TRAMP
Mike Tramp – Mand af en tid
Reviewed By: Marsworth
Review Score: 7.5
Just in case you didn’t get enough of Mike Tramp in 2022 (singing an album completely in Danish), he’s cooked up a whole new record for us to marvel at, Mand af en tid (translating to Man Of A Time). With ten power-filled tracks, Mike Tramp and his recording band fill the ears of loyal listeners with the sound of his native language after jamming with the infamous glam metal band White Lion. That being said, Tramp is quoted as saying, “…I grew up with albums where songs could sound different. Mand af en tid is such an album.” This goes to show how diverse and relatable (for newer listeners) the album really is.
Tramp has also mentioned that while in a band (White Lion) he felt pushed into a corner to live up to a certain expectation for the band’s public perception; however, with Danish music, he’s able to let the music and creativity flow wherever it may please. The stories are stacked to the heavens within such a short span of time. As the album plays you’ll hear the rock magic you’re used to hearing, tales of Tramp’s mother, and even songs for a brutal heartbreak.
My rating for this album isn’t based on understanding what I’m listening to, it’s based on the feeling, production, and how the artist treats their new material on and offline. Knowing that while writing Tramp wrote about things and moments he cared about, real life experiences that mean something, it adds a little something you’re not used to consuming. Not many artists nowadays are able to see the latest fad, turn the other way, and succeed. Perhaps a record against the social norms is exactly what we, as listeners, need to hear. Besides, how often do you hear an album with songs about The Beatles, a late mother, Muhammad Ali, and German food!
Interview with Tomislav Perkovic – Drummer for Elm Street
Photo by Vidic Images
Our writer Tom Elke connected with Tomislav Petrovic, Drummer Extrordinaire for the Australian Band Elm Street for a “Q & A Session.”
Tom Elke: Hi Tomislav, Thanks for joining me! It’s great to chat with you. I want to get into all things Drums with you, but why don’t you get us up to speed on what’s going on in the Elm Street Camp. Of course the new album, perhaps some touring plans, etc?
Tomislav Petrovic: It’s been busy and exciting year. We always had plans to finally release our new album after COVID delays with studio time. We started off back in the studio finishing off the recordings and at the same time, had a few shows in Australia with Udo Dirkschneider, which were our first shows back since 2021. Since releasing the album in October this year, we’ve been focused on promoting the album with live shows around Australia and have some exciting plans to extend the live shows overseas in 2024. We’re hoping that the wait between the next album, won’t be so long and we’ll begin writing soon.
When did you start playing the Drums? What made you interested in them?
TP: When we formed the band called ‘Raid’ at the time back in 2003 in high school none of us knew how to play any instruments. We were heavily influenced by Iron Maiden at the time(still are). Aaron, Ben and myself all wanted to play guitar and have 3 guitarists in the band. My older brother Roko plays guitar and I wanted to get lessons from his teacher but there were no spots available. I waited 6 months hoping someone will quit so there could be a spot for me haha but that didn’t happen and my brother suggested to give drums a try. I did, I found my drum teacher Simon Gatt at his school Rhythmic Passion and I’m glad I did.
You’re associated with DW Drums, how did that come about?
TP: I’ve always wanted to play DW drums for many years and lucky for me a friend of mine Joe Torre who is the drummer for Aussie artist Shannon Noll was signed with DW at the time. He guided me in the right direction, I signed with D’addario who distribute DW, Pro Mark sticks and Evans drum heads.
Take us around your set-up. I love the Arial Toms and some of the smaller “Octobon” like Toms.
TP: The set up I have right now has been in my mind for many years and I couldn’t quite figure it out until this year. Slowly over the years I’ve added toms, experimented with different heights and angles as drummers do and finally worked it out! I bought a few lengths of stainless steel tubing and a pipe bender and through trial and error I managed to come up with what you see on this new album. New additions I’ve added are 8×6, 8×8, 8×10 rack toms. 4 rata toms at 6×14, 6×16, 6×18, 6×20 and lastly my favourite my mega 20×20 floor tom that actually hangs off the rack. haha
I love how you use you China’s. Take a Track like “Sabbath,” you just shower the listener with China Cymbal strikes in the Intro. Share some thoughts on your utilization of the China’s.
TP: Great question! I love it when my cymbal work gets noticed haha always great to hear! ‘Sabbath’ is one of my favourite songs to listen and jam out too. The way I approach using the china cymbal is where does the song need more colour by accenting certain guitar sections or vocal lines. ‘Sabbath’ was an easy one because it’s so energetic but also there’s room to breathe.
Will you be able to bring your DW Set with you when you go out on tour? Or will it have to be Backline/House Sets?
TP: Unfortunately I’m not in the position yet to use this set up live. But if I had it my way I definitely would! So for now backline would have to do.
If you would like, just comment on using Backline/House Sets. I as a Drumming Fan find it frustrating when a Drummer has to do that. Your set-up is a very personal, specific to your wants/needs with how everything is in place. So I always get frustrated by that whole concept.
TP: In my early years of touring I used to get frustrated about using backline, especially when the quality of the hardware isn’t the best because cymbals always tend to fall during songs and we all know how frustrating that gets! As I’ve gotten older I try not to let it get to me. Going through those challenges make you a better drummer so I just I smile at the boys and get the show on.
Do you have any Drummer favorites? Or who influenced you?
TP: I have many drummers who have influenced me over the years. Growing up I really liked the style of Nicko McBrain, Vinnie Appice, A. J. Pero, Tommy Aldridge and my drum teacher Simon Gatt. When it comes to set ups I was influenced by Robert Sweet of Stryper, Nick Menza of Megadeth and Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche. Especially his set up on Operation Mindcrime. The last few years drummers like Mike Portnoy, Thomas Lang and the late great Dom Famularo have inspired me.
What would you say to young _Or older) Drummers out there who want to improve their skills?
TP: The most important thing about improving as a player is consistency. Try to play as much as you can everyday even if it’s only 20 minutes. Also keep in mind when sitting behind the kit try not to get distracted by noodling around and try to focus on metronome work, exercises, learning new styles etc…
Any parting words or anything you would like to mention in closing?
TP: Tom Elke thank you for reaching out, I had fun answering these questions. Im a fan of your posts. keep up the great work, thank you for your support, take care.
Thank you!!
TP: Thanks Tom! I had fun man. You’re a legend! Tomisla
Wolves in the Throne Room – Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge (EP)
Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite
Xasthur – Inevitably Dark
Honorable mention: Iotunn – Mistland Single
By far the highlight of 2023 was my trip to Bergen, Norway this past August for the annual four-day extreme metal festival, Beyond The Gates. This year’s edition was pure perfection, with incredible performances by Deicide, Gorgoroth, Primordial, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Kreator, Bolzer, Perturbator, among many others.
It seems that 2023 was also the year that live shows returned with a vengeance. There were so many great tours that it looks like things are finally getting back to normal. With all these awesome tours and festivals, 2023 was also a year that made it easy to make some lifelong friends, both closer to home (Canada) as well as overseas. No matter where I go, I now have a crew of like-minded, metal-thrashing mad friends to hangout with!
Finally, it was also the year that saw all our hard-work here at The Metal Pit grow into something incredibly special. We now have a fantastic crew of contributors who pump out world-class metal coverage. All that hard-work is being noticed as the site is growing by leaps and bounds! Onward and upward into 2024 we go!
ALBUM REVIEW – THE RODS
The Rods – Rattle The Cage
Reviewed By: Tom Elke
Review Score: 8.5
The Rods are a U.S. metal band that was started in late 1979 by drummer Carl Canedy (who was the first drummer for Manowar) and lead vocalist/guitarist David “Rock” Feinstein (Ronnie James Dio’s cousin). Adding bassist Garry Bordonaro to complete the lineup, they put out six albums, one EP and one live album through the 80s. While still remaining friends and always keeping in touch (and perhaps playing a gig here and there) the band finally reunited in 2008 to play a festival in Norway (The Rods are one of those bands that has always had that “street-cred” aura attached to them.) This prompted them to record the album Vengeance in 2011 and Brotherhood of Metal in 2019.
The Rods are now joined by bassist Freddy Villano and have a new a studio album entitled Rattle The Cage, with a release date of January 19th, 2024 on Massacre Records. The album is produced by The Rods (which of course includes Carl Canedy, who has forty plus albums to his producer credits) while being mixed & mastered by Chris Collier… giving Rattle The Cage a modern sounding metal album that still possesses The Rods’ style of traditional metal music. It sounds great!
The album features ten tracks, with a running time of approximately forty-nine minutes. It’s a mixture of tempos from slower, to mid-paced, to up-tempo tracks. There’s even some organ/keyboards spots that are sprinkled in by guest musician Lonnie Park, but it does not take anything away from The Rods classic sound… and classic sounding The Rods it is! Whether it’s great songs like ‘Hell Or High Water’, ‘Play It Loud’, ‘Now And Forever’ or the excellent title track, The Rods bring the same passion and power they brought back in their early days of existence. This is an excellent album of modern-sounding, traditional metal music.
Rattle The Cage track-listing:
Now And Forever Wolves At The Door Cry Out Loud Rattle The Cage Can’t Slow Down Metal Highways Hell Or High Water Play It Loud Shockwave Hearts Of Steel
