METAL NEWS 1997
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Welcome and Merry Christmas & Happy Upcoming New Year, folks!! As you Soae veterans know, I take my long-awaited winter break from Soae during Christmas up until Martin Luther King Day. So this'll be the last Soae of 1997, and the last one for a few weeks. Lots going on in January anyway, including the possibility of my moving to Virginia, now that one of my potential roommates, Robert, found a house and told the guy we were interested, AND, I might have another job in January too!! But enuf of me.. heh let's talk about Screams of Abel #16. If you don't have one, you'll never know
1) What happened to AETURNUS and DIRGE So avoid the mystery and get yourself a zine. Email me for pricing and sub info. SOA, P.O. Box 417, College Park, MD 20741-0417.. And a footnote to people on Soae: recently a barrage of rumors and/or biting remarks have been made about bands that some question whether or not they are Christian. Let me just put it the bluntest I can: STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus never spread ugly rumors. He spread the beautiful Word of God. Follow by example. Pray for those you don't know about and leave them alone. Lest... you be likewise judged???!!!!!
Well, here we go... A month ago I went to a place called K23 in the middle of Stockholm (Sweden) to check out Obsecration and Sanctifica from Sweden and Extol from Norway. But by some reason Extol never showed up and we never got an explanation why... Anyway, before the concert something really cool happened. The drummer in Obsecration started to talk with a girl that was all dressed in black. We soon find out that she was a satanist and the girlfriend of the singer in Dark Funeral! (a swedish very satanic blackmetal-band). But praise the Lord she was open for the gospel and we had a nice talk. She wasn't saved right there but she surely got God's Word planted in her heart and God will continue the work. Keep her in your prayers! She was also very surprised that you can be a Christian and still dress in black and love Metal. I had never heard neither Obsecration nor Sanctifica before so I didn't know what to expect but i was pleasantly surprised... Obsecration started things off with some really fast and crunchy tunes. They played a really cool tune called "crush the goat" Another of my favourites was "Quattro Spagioni". In the middle of their set their drummer talked about that the kingdom of God is not just words but power. Their music was very intense and crunchy thrash/death... This is a really cool live - band so be sure to not miss them when you got the chance. Sanctifica played next. They have a very atmopherical sound reminding a bit of Antestor. The band ripped thru some really cool tunes that were both fast, melodic and atmospherical. The singer also took the time to explain what their lyrics was about and was really upfront. One tune was called "Baptized" and another "Aterkomsten" (swedish for the returning of Jesus). They have a very good singer (fits perfect in this brutal genre) and an incredible drummer! Watch out for their demo that's on the way. All in all it was a good concert with two promising bands and I was really happy and satisfied when I went home. Greetings from Sweden
In His Service
GOD ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have an Awesome Christmas, folks, and may your New Year be truly blessed!!! Remember the Reason for the Season, especially if you go to the mall.. * End of Soae * God Bless you all!!! ROCK ON! (heh I just had to say that) Phil
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Phil Powell SANCTIFY SOA
11/12/97 Zup people?! Well, the ZAO tour was cancelled, my zines didn't make their European tour, but my flyers are (Lord willing) now in Holland for the Treasures of Legend Festival! So, if you happen to be in Utrecht, Holland this weekend, check out an SOA flyer, and tell people about SOA! :) Cheap publicity stunt, but effective.. and BTW, look for SOA flyers if you happen to be going to Tower Records in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this weekend too (more later).. Homepage Changes! Visit http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5017 and find out why! Join the really cool Christian metal webring: ChristCore Metal Ministry.. http://www.angelfire.com/tx/christcore and find out more.. I'm a part of it too! SOA #16: ZAO, SAVIOUR MACHINE (Pt. III), SOG, DISENCUMBRANCE, LIGHTMARE, AVULSION, PANTOKRATOR, VITAL DECISION, POSTMORTEM, DRIVEN, TRIGGERFUSE.. updates on AETURNUS and SLAMCAT.. what more do you need? Email me! soazine@erols.com * Stuff *
Hello Phil. Adrian here. Cool to hear from u again. How's things over there. Anyway the show went pretty well considering the fact that some of the equipments were a bit faulty before the show. But God's grace was upon us as the show went better than we expected. There were 2 bands that played before us Wired and Transection. Both had more of a grundge base sound. Wired's set was filled with pretty rocking songs but it was their moody ballad 'Eli' that really stood out for me. Transection played a set full of very 'STP' influenced songs. Excellent songs. By the time Necromanicide took the stage the crowd was already in a pretty 'mosh frenzy' mood. The first song we played was the title track from our upcoming debut album 'Hate Regime' and that really set the mood for the rest of the night. Then during our 3rd song, a new track called 'Exile' a portion of the crowd flooded the stage and everything just when totally nuts but it was great. 'Society' had very good response from the crowd because of it's modern hardcore sound. As usual we ended the night with our unblack tune 'Catacombs of Death'. We gave an altar call after that. No one responded but I believe seeds were planted in many souls that night. All in all the show went pretty well. More importantly, God's grace was there and that's all that counts. Anyway that's all I have to say. If u have any questions do mail me back ok. Bye. *End of Soae*
4/12/97 "I wanna grow my hair long and do windmills! That would be cool!" --Brett Detar of ZAO Well, you Metal Revolutionaries got an idea who won now, don't you? HA! Welcome, everyone, to Soae, your weekly source of the heavy and the distorted, and sometimes, that which is tuned down below C! Screams of Abel #16 is now out. Interviews with ZAO, SAVIOUR MACHINE (Pt. III of interview), SOG, DISENCUMBRANCE, LIGHTMARE, AVULSION, PANTOKRATOR, VITAL DECISION, POSTMORTEM, DRIVEN and TRIGGERFUSE.. plus updates on AETURNUS and SLAMCAT and more. Email me for all info! Check out my friend Markus' homepage (he's connected with both JPUSA out in Chicago and the German death band SACRIFICIUM): http://www.bellyacres.com/markus/index.htm .. * The Hair-Raising News *
And finally, a review: ZAO / PERSEVERE, Club 180, Hagerstown, MD, Sat Nov 29 Do you remember almost two years ago when I said that those people who said "Metal is dead!" would live to regret it? [re: SOA #10 commentary]. Start regretting now! ZAO has transformed from hardcore to metalcore to, like LIVING SACRIFICE and FOCAL POINT and other bands, new school death metal, and demonstrated this brutal metamorphosis in Hagerstown MD during the Thanksgiving weekend. Although old songs were performed such as "Surroundsme" and "Repressed", you could easily note a dramatic change in Zao into the new (and vastly improved, not that they weren't too bad at first) sound turned as low as C accompanied by new vocalist Dan Weyandt, in his "unblack" vocal mode. New guitarists Russ Cogdell and Brett Detar's stage antics were a near-throwback to the 80's thrash days of VENGEANCE RISING and DELIVERANCE, all the while maintaining a tight set which, if I'm not mistaken, included small leads snuck in. Drummer Jesse Smith (the original member) had a problem with his drum set, hence he faced the back wall, a first for me to see with any band. Opening act PERSEVERE, a hardcore band from Bowie, MD (1/2 hour from my house), was a reminder that hardcore is alive and well, apparently especially so in Bowie (Bowie hardcore? News to me!). Again, one must be reminded that hardcore as a rule, is not my general thing, but onstage passion definitely is, and Persevere is loaded with that. However, I should point out that they had songs filled with odd (dare I say, progressive?) time changes. To those of you who are still wondering about the Metal Revolution of yesteryear, wonder no longer: it's over, we won. Just ask Zao. --Phil * End of Review * That's it. Next week I'll try to remember to post some band tour schedules, and another review I got! * End of Soae * Phil
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Phil Powell SANCTIFY SOA
27/11/97 "If I had to list all the things I was thankful for just for this year, I'd be praying to You til Christmas straight!" --my prayer of thanks to the One who deserves it! Happy Thanksgiving to you all! We have a lot to be thankful for don't we? Let us remember the Reason for the Season.. One day I saw a beautiful young girl in the deep Norwegian forest. I approached her hesitantly yet expectant of profound truth and knowledge to be shared. As expected, these are the wonderful words the woman shared with me: Issue #16 of SOA is now out!!! Interviews with ZAO, SAVIOUR MACHINE (Pt. III), SOG, DISENCUMBRANCE, LIGHTMARE, AVULSION, PANTOKRATOR, VITAL DECISION, POSTMORTEM, DRIVEN and TRIGGERFUSE.. also learn the latest info on AETURNUS and SLAMCAT's recent demises.. email me for info here or at soazine@erols.com .. My homepage has been majorly revamped! Check it out! http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/5017 .. And if you never, ever got Issue #15 of SOA (heck, even if you did get #15), please let me know.. there has been some mailing glitch going on now whereby folks have not been getting their issues. And I do have some copies left of #15 for sale too! :) .. Email me.. * Thank the Lord for News! *
That's It! Next week a review of ZAO's show (hopefully) and some other stuff. Get #16 of SOA and read what you're missing, like POSTMORTEM's bassist's connection with a noted Christian evangelist, and what SAVIOUR MACHINE has in store for you in 1998.. * End of Soae * Phil
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Phil Powell SANCTIFY SOA
20/11/97
STEVE ROWE IS FEELING BETTER!I am leaving tommorow to the USA for a 2 month holiday so I wont be back until about January 25th. So please do not send any e-mail between now and January 25th as I will not be able to check or answer any e-mail until I get back. However If you are wanting to send a order by e-mail please make sure you e-mail it to roweorders@poboxes.com as my brother Alan will be sending all the orders while I'm away and he will be checking the roweorders@poboxes.com e-mail.for any orders that arrive. The normal mail order will be happening as normal as my brother Alan and also Steve are doing the sending of all the orders. I will write again when I get back and give you latest on Steve again. Steve is doing awesome, he is still getting better each day. We have been rehearsing every Sunday for about the past 2 months and we now have 10 new songs finished. Last week we went into the studio for a day to record 3 new songs for a demo as Nuclear Blast wanted to have a listen to some of our new songs. This demo will not be sold, it was just for Nuclear Blast and oursleves to hear how the new songs are sounding. The recording turned out awesome and Steve did a fantastic job in both bass playing and vocals. He was a bit tired by the end of the day but he played and did vocals fantastic. It was so cool to see him back in the studio recording and he was so happy to be doing it. We had a great day in the studio and are looking forward to recording our new album next year. We are booked to record the new album in March and it will called "Triumph Of Mercy". God is so awesome, we give Him all the praise, glory and thanks for Steve's recovery and healing. This week Steve was told that he could drive a car again during daylight time, which is so cool as a few months back the doctors said that his eye sight may not have come back. Steve has also started working again full time on his business and he has two new Rowe Productions releases, the new Metanoia - Don't Walk Dead and the new Teremaze - Tears To Dust albums which will be released by mail order within the next month and they will be released in U.S. and Canadian stores on January 25th. I will write again soon after I get back from the U.S. at the end of January. Below is a quick message from Steve.
God Bless
I almost died about 6 times but God has pulled me through. Now with the help of this doctor, after one month I am feeling totally normal again. I am back working full time on Mortification and Rowe Productions so expect a lot of new releases and the best Mortification album yet. Make sure you check out Teremaze who sound like Dream Theater, the brutal new Metanoia album and an album by a U.S. holy un-black metal band. The un-balck metal band's album will be out at about the same time as the new Mortification album. Both albums will be available from Rowe Productions mail order in early May and in stores around July. The reason I can not tell you the name of the un-black metal band is that I have not officially signed them yet but I am 90% sure that I will. I am looking to sign a classic metal band in the vein of Iron Maiden, Manowar. If there are any bands out there that fit this category and are full on evangelistic please send me a demo to our usual postal address. Thanks for all your prayers. It feels great to be alive. God Bless Steve
Mortification / Rowe Productions
97/11/06 Well, I'm back after my 'puter being sick for a few days.. I'm back with a whole new CD-ROM (woo hoo!).. thanx a bunch to my unofficially deputized Soae assistant editor, Chris King, whom I was told is "the bomb" when it comes to Soae. Guess I'll just have to have him be creative with a few more Soaes, that's fine by me! :) He does rock, though! Come visit me on #soae on Dalnet most nights after 11pm EST. People are starting to pop up there so come and discuss tunes, concerts and MP3's..
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