Necropolis was from right here in NB Canada and formed sometime around early 1997.Featuring my childhood friends Joe and Dale and myself on bass with Seb on drums.The early stages of Necropolis was mostly a thrash speed metal oriented sound.Heavy influences from both Slayer and Sepultura could be clearly heard.We played the first show together at Noise Fest 98.Soon not long after that event the recordings for Destined Regrets began,eventually i was given leave before adding bass tracks and started focusing on my doom band Slough of Despond.Paul who played guitar in Slough of Despond respectfully filled the the bass spot for Necropolis and played in both bands.After the album was finished cd's were made and the band started playing more shows.Some of the bands they played with were local band Earth A.D. and Initial Distrust and later a metal fest in Halifax NS with Quebec technical thrash metallers Martyr.This created a local buzz around the band and a certain mystique around the band name.Everywhere in the local scene people where talking about Necropolis.Eventually the band evolved their sound into a Machine Head type sound and recorded a second demo in this style which was never released.Over the last few years since 2007 Dale and i have been archiving as much stuff as we can and i have helped put together a myspace page and a facebook group page.So here we are 14 yrs later Dale & Joe are still playing in a band called Red Savannah!
In the early mid 90s in a small part of England sprouted a doom metal band called Blessed Realm.Back in early 97 around when i started listening and making my own research on unknown doom metal bands,Blessed Realm was a named that invoked a certain air of mystique and drab gloominess that i certainly approved of.The idea for Blessed Realm came about in mid 1993. Three friends Steve( now Kat), Garry and Johnny from the middle of nowhere North-Eastern England town of Spennymoor had a mutual love for heavy doom metal-doomrock bands such as Saint Vitus,Trouble,The Obsessed,Pentagram,Candlemass,Revelation,Penance,Stillborn,Cathedral etc.and decided that they wanted to play heavy music influenced by bands such as that,Michael (Steve's younger brother) completed the line up in 1994 wihch was Steve Gillham(Vocals) , Michael Gillham (Drums) , Johnny Sugden (Guitar) and Garry Sugden (Bass).The band recorded a handful of demos and played as openers for such bands as Solstice(UK),Rise and Shine(SWE),Cathedral(UK),Mourn(UK) and Orange Goblin(UK).They also had a song featured on the doom metal compilation "At the Mountains of Madness".Very little is known about them even to this day.The constantly evolving sound could have been an undermining factor why this band never got the recognition they deserved.The first demos where a much more traditional sounding doom metal vein,but it seemed some of the songs were hinting at a more stoner sound.The maryland DC doom sound was something very prevalent in their sound which i think suited them more,thus the biker doom look was born!! Certainly this is what traditional doom is about!! I have been corresponding with Kat online for a few years since 2006-07 and have helped with transfering some songs on to youtube.We hope to generate an interest in this often overlooked UK traditional doom band!
here is something different Grindmaster Dead!! Pre-Skyforger band originaly from Latvia.They released a demo in 1994 called "Stronger than Love" very dark sombre death/doom with flutes! This is a video i edited with scenes from the movie Navigator:a medieval story to the song At the wizard's Sabbath.
Here is a band that really kicked my ass when i saw them live in 2009 Zoroaster from Atlanta,Georgia USA.This three piece reminded me of what you would get if you blended The Melvins and Celtic Frost together.They were really heavy!! so heavy i had to step back all the way up to the balcony area!! the wall of Sunn amps and Orange stacks they had really blew my mind.The drummer Dan Scanlan was pounding a sky blue Ludwig vista lite drum kit.They also use a few 70's style moog synthesizer's and oscillator effects live.The guitarist Will Fiore and Bassist Brent Anderson both handle the vocals.I have to say listening to this band months before seeing them live i wasn't really getting it then.But after seeing them live changed my opinion about them totally.When i re-listened to the albums i found many great songs that i like alot.And they are now one of my favorite Stoner/Doom bands!! and a band that gets a lot of airplay on my radio show! Overall Zoroaster has enough fuzz and doom to satiate any doomsters thirst.Make sure to check em out!!
Orodruin is a Traditional Doom Metal band from Rochester,NY USA.For those who don't already know obviously Orodruin is a Lord of the Rings terminology,the mount doom where the ring was forged by Sauron. Originally the band was a 4 piece when they first started in 1998.They issued a few self released demos from 1999-2002 and released their first full length "Epicurean Mass" in 2003.A compilation of early demos and unreleased tracks entitled "Claw tower and other Tales of Terror" 2004.Both of which were released on Hungarian based label PsycheDOOMelic.Not long after this Nick left the band for personal reasons.Now as a 3-piece the band kept on playing shows and doom metal festivals all over the states for a number of years and released a split 7" ep with Finnish doomed legends Reverend Bizarre.In 2007 a live dvd was also released called "The World is a Funeral".There is also an ep they recorded sometime in 2008 around that is being mixed at the moment still awaiting to be released entitled "In Doom", and also currently the band is also working on a second full length album.In 2009 i got to see Orodruin live in Montreal which was one of the most moving shows in doom i have ever attended!! The magic presence that John Gallo provides on stage with his improvised soloing and his stomping feet motions is something to be remembered as long as i may live.Mike Puleo and Mike Waske were amazing to see and hear play live in the same room as i was in also.Such a memorable night! so yea All in all this is probably one of my my most favorite Doom Metal acts out there,if you haven't heard them yet check out there vids on youtube and myspace!! support the circle true doom!!
Here is Gypsy Chief Goliath from Ontario Canada.A heavy bluesy stoner rock band with some serious riffage goin' on! Featuring Al "the Yeti" Bones (Georgian Skull/Mister Bones), Adam Saitti (Georgian Skull), Chris (Salem Saints), Dave (Blood Runs Cold), John (Keef), and Brodie.It's been a few years now they have been at it together. The band is currently putting the final mixes down on their long awaited full length, and should have it out early or mid summer around that time.They will also be doing a Canadian tour which i will post at a later date once the tour schedule is confirmed!! So all in all there are alot of things comin in the near future for GCG! there is also dvd documentary to be released.I will either keep adding stuff to this post or make new ones as news develops on this great indie Stoner Rock band.Everyone come dig that gypsy soup the yeti is brewin'!!
