Saturday 13 December 2014

Midnite Madness LXVI - 2014

As always, with the closing of the year comes the AFITFOG annual, recounting the best of the past year. This was not a golden year by any stretch for me, but I still had to omit some pretty decent stuff just to make this two-show happen, and as always, I am sure I will discover some great 2014 release next year and beyond.
Big thanks to all the promo guys for keeping me in touch and to the NTS guys for keeping the show alive, even when I wanted to pretty much finish up. Also, shouts to Fenriz for his work on BOTW and for the killer OOOOO podcast; Brad Smith; Tom Swine (HATEFUL ABANDON album rules!); Daniel and Cato DEATHHAMMER; Marek and Oscar for keeping Live Evil LIVE and pretty EVIL too; Kick, Sindre and the NEKROBLIT guys; Tooth of NATURE (killer show with CAUCHEMAR in London this year), brothers Jan and Torm OCCVLTA, Theo OMEGA, Daragh at Invictus and any band/distro I ordered from this year (OCCULT BURIAL!), and to this year's guests—Jake SHALLOW SANCTION, Deano, James Knight, and to you all for listening. Massive unhails to British Airways—fuck you and die.
I will be back on January 13th, 2015 for more MIDNITE MADNESS, so in the words of a good old friend: "don't you go dying on me!"

Friday 14 November 2014

Midnite Madness LXV - Unholy Norwegian Forces of Evil IV

Here it is, finally, the long-awaited Norwegian-only edition of the Unholy Forces of Evil franchise is GO. Again, this is not a definitive compendium as such, more a ripping collection of tracks from the golden era of Norwegian metal—the mid-80s to the mid-90s. Well, it is still exporting many greats, but it was then that it all started, and this show is just giving props to those bands who, like or not (Emperor!), changed the sound of so-called "extreme metal".
Also, I wanted to use my outlet to showcase the actual music from two of the scene's pioneers whose myth and legend has somewhat obscured what should be their musical legacy. I am of course talking about Mayhem and Burzum, so hour two is almost fully occupied by tracks from their best (my favourite) releases, with a couple of Darkthrone tracks in-between. Refer back to the all-DT show for further listening on them, should you need it.
Midnite Madness will return for its final show of the year on December 9th with the 2014 show. There may be a new version of the show for 2015, but that has yet to be decided. SOON!

Thursday 16 October 2014

Midnite Madness LXIV - Live Evil Special 2014

ALRIGHT. The time has come again for another radio onslaught. This show, as promised, is a Live Evil Special, featuring part of last week's mix, plus 75+ minutes of the best of the bands to have played the previous three festivals. A cracker, if I do say so myself. Also features brand-new tracks from upcoming Zom Flesh Assimilation and Deathhammer Evil Power LPs.
Midnite Madness will return for the penultimate show of the year (/ever? I have not decided yet) on November 11th, and will most likely will be a Norwegian black metal show, as I haven't done one and have intended to do so since show one. December's show will be a 2014 one, that is guaranteed. SOON!

And this just in—set times for this weekend's festival from Marek and the guys.

FRIDAY 6PM - 1AM (SOLD OUT)
22.15 Deathhammer
21.15 Ranger
20.15 Amulet
19.15 Division Speed

SATURDAY 2PM - 2AM (Ticket Collection from 2pm!!)
Upstairs

21.00 Manilla Road
19.45 Antichrist
18.45 Morbus Chron
17.45 Nocturnal
16.45 Portrait
15.45 Lizzies

Downstairs
18.15 Wytch Hazel
17.15 (Surprise act!)
16.15 Nocturnal Witch
15.15 Riddles

SUNDAY 3PM-11PM
9.45 Nifelheim
8.00 Quartz
6.30 Vulcano
5.30 Lecherous Gaze
4.30 Bunker 66
3.30 Nightmare City

MON 20TH @ The Alibi FREE AFTER-BANGER
20:00 BLOOD ON SATANS CLAW movie
22:00 Heavy Metal Karaoke and Records


Looks epic, can't wait. See you there!

Thursday 9 October 2014

A Fist In The Face Of God presents... Live Evil Mix 2014

Artwork illustration by Andrew Walter
Live Evil festival is back for another year, and this year's line-up is as strong as any previous, if not the toughest lineup yet. So if you live near The Dome in Tufnell Park, be prepared to spend next weekend sharing the streets with lots of men wearing patched vests, bullet belts, moustaches and leather, as well as plenty of women in very similar get-ups, minus the facial hair, hopefully.
So, in annual fashion, here is a mix featuring one track from each of this year's participants. I lovingly pieced the tracks that curators Marek Steven and Oscar Tuttiett sent me over, with tracks running in chronological order from oldest to newest. There's even a brand-new, exclusive track on here from the mighty Deathhammer's soon-to-be unleashed third album, Evil Power, and also some brand-new stuff from the Marek's own Amulet, and Italy's speed metalpunks Bunker 66. I will let the guys do the rest of the talking followed by the mix.
What we have here are some of our favourite tracks from the amazing 19 international acts from this year's Live Evil Festival. Every year of the fest so far has been legendary and we will feel genuinely lucky to help this event happen. There is something very special about the atmosphere that is inclusive, fun, and completely unhinged, all at the same time. Every year we have bands that get huge shortly afterwards and others who remain unappreciated cult acts, and this year we genuinely think it's the best line-up yet. Still some tickets left so don't miss out - we look forward to hosting you!
Marek Steven and Oscar Tuttiett—Live Evil
1. Quartz (UK) - "Satan's Serenade" [1980]
2. Manilla Road (USA) - "Hammer of the Witches" [1985]
3. Vulcano (Brazil) - "Spirits of Evil" [1986]
4. Nifelheim (Sweden) - "Storm of the Reaper" [2007]
5. Division Speed (Germany) - "Ominous Silence" [2009]
6. Antichrist (Sweden) - "Dark Sorcery" [2011]
7. Wytch Hazel (England) - "Wytch Hazel" [2011]
8. Lizzies (Spain) - "Sacrifice" [2013]
9. Ranger (Finland) - "Steel Dawn" [2013]
10. Nocturnal (Germany) - "Rising Demons" [2014]
11. Bunker 66 (Italy) - "(She's Got) Demon Eyes" [2014]
12. Deathhammer (Norway) - "Powertrip (Unreleased)" [2014]
13. Nocturnal Witch (Germany) - "Black Star" [2014]
14. Nightmare City (Sweden) - "Nightmare City" [2014]
15. Morbus Chron (Sweden) - "Towards A Dark Sky" [2014]
16. Lecherous Gaze (USA) - "End Rising" [2014]
17. Riddles (England) - "Psychedelic Power Engine Iron Claw Thunder Mistress" [2014]
18. Amulet (England) - "Glint of the Knife" [2014]
19. Portrait (Sweden) - "Mother Sun [Judas Priest cover]" [2014]

And don’t forget there’s a pre-Live Evil show next Wednesday the 15th at east London’s premier blackout drunk vortex, The Alibi, featuring one of the festival’s act’s, the USA’s Lecherous Gaze.
Also, next Tuesday I will hosting a special Live Evil show on my radio transmission, Midnite Madness, 12am next Wednesday morning. You've been warned!

Tuesday 23 September 2014

A Fist in the Face of God presents... Shallow Sanction

It seems that when it rains mixtapes, it pours. Not even a full week after I offered up an audible chasm of darkness in the form of Fenriz's latest opus comes a somewhat different mix altogether, this time compiled by two of the minds that make up east London's finest post-punk band, Shallow Sanction.
Well, post-punk isn't quite fitting, but before I started using words like "gothpunk" to describe their sound, I asked guitarist Jake Gill if making a mixtape would sum up the band's sound better than an interview full of questions they've likely already answered. He and frontman Jesse Cannon came up with a 60-minute trip into the psyche of Shallow Sanction, accompanied by these short, but fairly profound words:
Here lies a blitz of UK punk and industrial music for your aural pleasure. This mix for A Fist In the Face of God/VICE was pieced together by Jake Gill and Jesse Cannon, consisting of 15 tracks of prominent pieces of underground music that have influenced us and Shallow Sanction.
We are swimming in the lunar sea, drowning in insanity between the devil and the deep blue sea – our world is dying and nobody's driving!
TRACKLIST:
1. Amebix - "Monolith/Nobody's Driving" from Monolith [1987]
2. Part 1 - "Ghost" from Pictures of Pain [1985]
3. Killing Joke - "Tension" from What's THIS For...! [1981]
4. Whitehouse - "Wriggle Like a Fucking Eel" from Bird Seed [2003]
5. Rudimentary Peni - "The Psycho Squat" from Death Church [1983]
6. Conflict - "Cruise" from Increase the Pressure [1984]
7. Vex - "World In Action" from Sanctuary [1984]
8. Crisis - "No Town Hall" from No Town Hall [1978]
9. Flowers In the Dustbin - "Nails of the Heart" from Nails of the Heart [1985]
10. UK Decay - "Middle of the Road Man" from The Black 45 EP [1980]
11. The Grey Wolves - "Beyond Hypocrisy" from Catholic Priests Fuck Children [1996]
12. Throbbing Gristle - "E-Coli" from D.o.A. The Third And Final Report [1978]
13. Flux of Pink Indians - "Tapioca Sunrise" from Strive to Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible [1982]
14. Omega Tribe - "Is This a Future?" from Angry Songs [1982]
15. Alternative TV - "You Bastard" from How Much Longer/You Bastard [1977]
16. The Mob - "Witch Hunt" from Let the Tribe Increase [1983]

Monday 22 September 2014

Midnite Madness LXIII - Unholy Forces of Evil III/O.O.O.O.O. feat. DJ Fenriz

AVE. Sorry for the delay in posting this latest offering, been having serious hard drive woes to the extent that this show almost didn't get made. But it did, and thanks to DJ Fenriz, it is a ripper. Thanks again to him for compiling this evil little 75-minute mix, which can be downloaded separately on the post below. He went for some newer stuff that I will admit to hoarding a bit myself for the final show, the annual end of year show.
The next show will be a Live Evil special on October 14th, and will feature tracks from all this year's participants selected by none other than LE mastermind and Amulet riff-wizard, Marek "Heathen" Steven. Beware!

Thursday 18 September 2014

A Fist in the Face of God presents... O.O.O.O.O. - A Mix by DJ Fenriz



It's been almost three years since Fenriz—Gylve Nagell to the gods—sent me his last offering, the arrestingly cavernous "Slow Black Death", which he compiled for his 40th birthday.
A few months back, he told me he'd begun working on something "evil" for me, but it wasn't until I saw two recent mixes with his lovely wife Marte (one was for Lodown, and the other seems to have somehow vamoosed already), that I thought, 'Hey, how 'bout my mix, man?' To which he replied: "Keep pestering me for it." Which I did. Maybe two emails later he sent me this opus in the darkest arts of death and black metal, imaginatively entitled "Out of Our Own Orientation" – morbid visions, indeed. In his own words:
Obviously I went for the jugular immediately here and ferociously mixed a heap of evil ripping tracks together, then a little detour to Trondheim's bleaker side with the Black Majesty track before I head on off again. But then... there's the Goatwhore obscure intro thing, and suddenly I'm on a different vibe altogether with three majestic AND intricate longer songs at the end. The transmission concerning Quorthon's horses on top of the Bölzer outro came to me when I listened to the Bölzer track at work. Now let me rest.
- f e n r i z


TRACKLIST
1. Occult Burial (Canada) - “Occult Burial” [2013]
2. Abyssous (Germany) - “Burial Sea” [2012]
3. Protector (Germany) - “Apocalyptic Revolution” [1986]
4. Alchemyst (Germany) - “Kharon” [2013]
5. Quintessenz (Germany) - “Back to the Cult of the Tyrants” [2013]
6. Ruins (Germany) - “Chambers of Perversion” [2010]
7. Abysmal Lord (USA) - “Revelation” [2014]
8. Black Majesty (Norway) - “Thus Singeth the Sword of Curse, Key of Truth” [2009]
9. Sabbat (Japan) - “Witch Hammers” [2011]
10. Deathstorm (Austria) - “Awakening of the Dead” [2013]
11. Törr (Czech Republic) - “Exorcist” [1987]
12. Goatvomit (Greece) - Just some awesome intro they have on tape
13. Funereal Presence (USA) - “The Tower” [2014]
14. Bölzer (Switzerland) - “Labyrinthian Graves” [2014]
15. Bathory (Sweden) - The first 10+ bit minutes of the Blood Fire Death LP, you maniacs [1988]


Friday 22 August 2014

Midnite Madness LXII - Demo Entrails VI—Buried and Forgotten


Finally, the semi-classic Demo Entrails is here. I did endeavour to play tracks only from my most-listened-to demos, but a few others snuck in. I could easily do another one, but I am sure you've had enough of the grainy, under-produced sounds of underground 80s death/thrash/speed/black metal for another few months. Perhaps October's show—which is pencilled in as another Live Evil special—will contain the classic 2000s demos I originally thought might make this show, but alas, there was too much demo power in my realm to mix decades on this particular effort.
Thanks to the mystery listeners, as always, and to the power from hell that inspired these demos back in the 80s. I will return at midnite on Tuesday, September 16th, or 00.00 hours Wednesday the 17th. I don't know which date is correct, I am guessing the latter. Confusion aside, there will be more to come, but as yet a theme has not been established. Maybe a death or black metal show, or something less noisy, perhaps. Time waits, for the ripper!

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Midnite Madness LXI - Fight Back VI—Make Noise Not War

I didn't forget about you, just been busy. But here, finally, is last week's show for your listening and downloading. Thanks again to James Knight of Blue Tapes who came in and played a 40-minute UKHC set which, in many ways, was the perfect accompaniment to this documentary he had a large hand in making.
I just tried to play some different and newer stuff to the past five Fight Backs—no Discharge this time (!). I will be back with more MIDNITE MADNESS on August 18th, so check back for that (probably the classic demo show).

Friday 27 June 2014

Midnite Madness LX - HMM VI—On the Run

The return of Heavy Metal Mania sees me take in the best of the series in this pretty much uninterrupted two-hour mix. Like mentioned in the show, this special was inspired by a mixtape I made for the road late last summer. I tried to do a World Cup show but only had 19 of the 32 participating countries so thought 'FUCK IT, let's go with the HMM mix instead', and here it is.
I will return with more Midnite Madness on July 22nd, so make sure you tune in for that one.

Friday 30 May 2014

Midnite Madness LIX - BANZAI!

Unfortunately due to conflicting schedules, Maniac Monday is no more. However, it has been renamed as Midnite Madness (same initials, just another stupid title) and now airs once a month at witching hour. So no more 9-11GMT shows every two weeks unfortunately, but one a month regardless for the same 120 minutes as always. Here are the remaining shows for the year:
-June 24th
-July 22nd
-August 19th
-September 16th
-October 14th
-November 11th
-December 9th
Which will take me up to 66 shows in total. These air at midnite UK time, alright? ALRIGHT.
Onto the most recent effort then, a Banzai Records show. Again, this is not the best tracks released on the legendary Banzai imprint, but perhaps my favourite records and tracks I hadn't played off them already over the last 58 shows. It came out pretty good so go download and play it fucking LOUD on the train or mow the lawn to it. Hails to all the 80s gods who appeared on this epic two-hour journey through 80s metal, without you I might not be here, ughhh...



Tuesday 13 May 2014

Maniac Monday LVIII - Demo Entrails IV—2000AD

A one-hour show for you, dear maniacs, which was due to some takeover on NTS. No biggie, it gave me the chance to play some stuff that just would've gotten lost in a two-hour show. It was tough deciding on which show to represent for an hour only, and I almost did an all-Metallica one, a 1994 show and some others, but decided on this instead.
But, this is not the last of Demo Entrails. There will be one collecting all my favourite demos soon, which is why I left out 2000s demo titans like Deathhammer, Antichrist, Bastard Priest etc. from this edition.
Anyways, I am all set now for monthly shows from here on in, with the next being on May 26th, the following June 23rd to my knowledge, so be ready!

Monday 5 May 2014

Maniac Monday LVII - Epicvs Metallicvs IV

Finally, show 57, another Epicvs Metallicvs. Yes, as mentioned in the show, this is a lazy effort, as it really is the castaways-ish from three shows back. But as I also said, this is due to total radio burnout after 57 shows, all but one being a two-hour show. It is just getting tougher to come up with something different now with the way the show is structured etc, and after this month I will only be doing one a month, probably until the year's end and then SILENCIO.
Sorry if this is a bummer to anyone, but it's time. The next show on May 12th will only be one hour long and it commences at 2200GMT, so bear that in mind as something else will be playing during my usual first hour. If anyone wants a download link, just ask.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

Maniac Monday LVI - Fight Back V—Culture Degeneration

Maniac Monday's Fight Back show returns with its fifth instalment, this time featuring two guests, Deano Jo and Jake Gill, guitarist in Shallow Sanction. Thanks to those guys for coming down and tearing the studio a welcome 'new one', we had a blast in there. The delay in posting had mainly been due to the long playlist, of which I think is now correct. Let me know if you spot anything awry.
Maniacs unite once again on April 28th for something a little less intense, perhaps. Show up at 2100GMT and find out! DIE HARD.

TRACKLIST:
[Dylan]
Bastard - Tragic Insane (Controlled In The Frame 1989)
[Jake]
Vex - Sanctuary (Sanctuary 1984)
Rudimentary Peni - Blissful Myth (Death Church 1983)
Crucifix - Annihilation (Dehumanization 1983)
Bunker 66 - Blasphemous Ignorance (Out Of The Bunker 2009)
Dirt - Unemployment (Object Refuse Reject Abuse 1981)
Discharge - Ain't No Feeble Bastard (Why 1981)
Amebix - Fear of God (Arise! 1985)
Cress - Prisons (Monuments 1997)
Conflict - Cruise (Increase The Peace 1984)
Omega Tribe - Man Made (No Love Lost 1983)
Crisis - No Town Hall (No Town Hall 1978)
[Deano]
Avskum - Auschwits II (Avskum 1982)
Bastard - Spend Your Life (Controlled In The Frame 1989)
Blitz - Never Surrender (Never Surrender/Razors In The Night 1982)
Broken Bones - I-O-U (Decapitated 1987)
Channel 3 - I've Got A Gun (I've Got A Gun 1982)
Discharge - Fight Back (Fight Back 1980)
Doom - Police Bastard (Police Bastard 1989)
Germs - American Leather ((GI) 1979)
Jerry's Kids - Strait Jacket (This is Boston Not L.A. 1982)
JFA - It's Not Right (Untitled 1984)
McRad - Greed (Dominant Force 1984)
Nausea - Home Sweet Home (Extinct Demo 1988)
Out Of Touch - Warsystem (Demo 1991)
Perdition - Degeneration (Viciöüs-Circle/Perdition 1985)
[Jake]
Icons Of Filth - They've Taken Everything (Not On Her Majesty's Service 1983)
Antisect - The World's Biggest Runt (In Darkness, There Is No Choice 1984)
Aus-Rotten - Vietnam is Back '94 (Fuck Nazi Sympathy 1994)
Flux Of Pink Indians - Some of Us Scream, Some Of Us Shout (Strive To Survive Causing Least Suffering Possible 1982)
Amebix - Sunshine Ward (Glad to be Bad) (No Sanctuary 1984)
[Dylan]
Anti-Cimex - Victims of A Bomb Raid (Victims Of A Bomb Raid 1984)
Bombanfall - Aforismer (Åsiktsfrihet 1987)
Discard - Blistering Light (Death From Above 1986)
Riistetyt - Vapaa Maa (Valtion Vanika 1982)
Absurd - Anarki Nu! (Absurd 1982)
The Varukers - No Hope of A Future (No Hope Of A Future/Never Again 1984)
Poison Idea - God Not God (Kings Of Punk 1986)
[Deano]
Church Whip - Sodomy Pile (Demo I 2011) [played it from my selection by accident!]
Siege - Drop Dead (Drop Dead 1989)
Dead Corruption - Proud to be Punk (Kloak Skrål 1 1983)
Diablesse Grupp 6 - Våldtäkt (Kloak Skrål 1 1983)
Mob 47 - Dom Styr Våra Liv (Stockholms Mangel 1986)
Crudity - The Total End (Stockholms Mangel)
Viciöüs-Circle - Personality Crisis (Viciöüs-Circle/Perdition 1985)
Vile - Vile Fight Song (Solution 1983)
Zouo - No Power (The Final Agony 1984)
[Dylan]
MDC - I Remember (Millions Of Dead Cops 1982)
Integrity - Dead Wrong (In Contrast of Sin 1990)
Detestation - Searching for Oblivion (Unheard Cries 1996)
Shallow Sanction - Ouroborus (EP 2014)
Shallow Sanction - The Passage (EP 2014)
Shallow Sanction - Shallow Sanction (EP 2014)
Besthöven - Rest in Silence (More Victims Of War 2002)
Haveri - Mental Kollaps (Into The Crypts Of… 2010)
Krömosom - Culture Degeneration (Nuclear Reich 2013)
Infernöh - Strida för Vadå? (War Tjard 2012)

Thursday 3 April 2014

Maniac Monday LV - Epicvs Metallicvs III

That's right, the temple of truth that is Maniac Monday returns with a third instalment in the Epicvs Metallicvs series. I had to open with a track off the new Teitanblood such is its ferocity, and it promptly set the tone for what is surely one of the heaviest shows in a while, albeit with a few lighter moments, hehe.
Thanks again to all who listened in live, and to all the bands I featured for making these great, epic tracks. I will return on April 14th, 2014, with maybe something a little less gargantuan. Maybe...

Friday 21 March 2014

Maniac Monday LIV - €UROTHRASH ('N' SPEED METAL)

YES. €urothrash, indeed. Title is pretty self-explanatory, so enjoy this (almost) all-80s European thrash attack, should you have missed it last Monday.
Maniac Monday returns with more insanity on March 31st, 'til then, stay clean.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

(A New) Interview with Victor Whipstriker

Here's the interview I did for Iron Fist last year with Victor Whipstriker that I've been promising to share with you eager maniacs for some time now. I was simply waiting for that issue to be outdated by a newer one before posting it. Enjoy and support REAL METAL!

AFITFOG: First up, can I start with a question I meant to ask the first time I interviewed you—how exactly did you get the name Whipstriker?
Victor Whipstriker: I really don't remember. I only remember that 'Whip' comes from Venom's track "Sadist (Mistress of the Whip)". It was just a nickname I started to use in Diabolic Force in 2001. Then when I decided to start a one-man band I choose Whipstriker because it seems a band name. But there's no a interesting meaning behind that.
Ha, it is a great band name, so well done in keeping it. So, for the readers of Iron Fist magazine, can you give a bit of an introduction to Whipstriker and the new record.
Well, we started in 2008. The first idea was only record some stuff and work like a studio band. But I really love to play live, so we started to play some shows after the first releases. We recorded a lot since 2008—two demos, two albums, and six 7" EP splits. Some more stuff is coming, like the new splits with Apokalyptic Raids, Bulldozing Bastards, Raw Poison, Kriegg, Alcoholic Force, etc.
About the new album, we recorded it very fast. I think there was only four or five sessions. It was released in partnership with four labels—Kill Again, Hell Music, Urubuz, and Fuck the Mainstream, We are the Mainstream. The LP version will be released soon by Evil Spells in Germany and the tape version by Muerte Negra in the USA. Basically, the plan is keep on recording and playing gigs.

You planning any tours to promote the record?
We want to play in the USA next year, 20 or 25 shows would be nice, but we have problems with visas. If some of us are denied, we cannot go. And if that happens we will play another European tour, perhaps playing in some countries we didn't play last time.

So you will only play Europe if you can't guarantee access for everyone to USA?
Yes. We'll go to europe if some of us cannot get the visa for the US. [And this has now been confirmed. European tour begins November 2014]

Alright. Do you play all instruments on the record?
No, I play bass, rhythm guitars and vocals. The guys from Farscape play drums and guitars solos.

Say, last time we spoke you said the next album would be a Farscape one?
Yes, and it is out now. It was released by Kill Again Records on CD. The LP is coming soon from Mutilation Records.

How did it come out, are you happy with it?
Yes, I like the final result. I think it is our best stuff. It could be dirtier, but OK!
 Ah okay, cool. So, hey. What is the track "We Came from the Wild Lands" all about exactly?
It's simple—we really live in the wild lands. Brazil is fucking wild and savage. There's a civil war in my city, Rio de Janeiro. You know, the state against the drug dealers. Many people die everyday here and there are many dangerous areas where you can see children holding guns—is it not wild?

The track "Troopers of Mayhem" is a track about this war we live in our everyday lives—blood, corpses, guns, mutilated children. It's our landscape.

Damn man, that sounds savage alright. Have you ever been a victim of crime in Rio? And aren't things getting better with the World Cup next year and the Olympics in 2016?
Yes. I have been a victim for many times and my friends too. About the World Cup, I am totally against it. They are not solving the problems. The violence has stopped only in tourist areas. The government is wasting money with these things and we don't have good schools and hospitals.

Yeah, that is exactly what is being told on the news here in Europe—nobody wants a World Cup in a country where the infrastructure needs attention more. How bad have the protests been?
People are destroying everything in the downtown. Nobody is happy with the World Cup. Now the city is more expensive to live and we are still without the basic infrastructures. I am going to the protests always I can. 

Shit, sounds crazy. Do you think this is what is the driving force in ways behind your prolific music career?
Yes, for sure. I like to talk about these issues in some lyrics, but I don't think it is a influence for the music career. It's hard to be a headbanger here. Everything is expensive. We usually play in shit places with horrible equipment. The promoters have no money to organise a good underground show and the headbangers have no money to pay for an expensive ticket. The good venues are exclusive for other styles like samba, boss Nova, jazz, etc. Brazil is a big country, so it's hard to play tours because the distances between the cities are so vast. There are many problems. Believe me, we are diehard headbangers.

Do you think people look down on metalheads in Brazil?
Yes, there are many preconception in Brazil. Everybody looks down when you pass. Brazil is totally conservative and people think you are a drug junkie if you have long hair, tattoos, leather jackets, etc. But we don't give a shit about them, it keeps us strong!

That's pretty much how it is here in Ireland and England pretty much too, even though that's where heavy metal COMES FROM. 
So you still watching football or totally boycotting it altogether now?
No man, I don't give a shit for football now.

This interview was done over Skype, and while I was waiting for his answers to come I was looking on his Facebook page when I came across this lady:
STOOOPPPP!!! Who is this girl in the picture???

HA! I saw her on your Facebook page, followed some links, and got to there basically. Her name is Laure Rosenoire? She is posted on your page in some bunny suit or something, haha [and, having just checked, is now half-wearing a Whipstriker shirt on his page, ugh!].
Oh yeah! Laure! I love her, haha! I have composed a song for her for the next album... She is a Whip' fan. Her boyfriend organized our gig in Belgium. Good girl and metalhead.

Bonus! Alright, back to the music. How come some Whipstriker stuff has a way more d-beat/Swedish punk Anti-Cimex-vibe and some not at all? Like, the demos seem to have almost a totally different sound to albums and one or two splits.
I always try to mix all my influences, that's why each release has a different identity. The demos are more Swedish  crust like Anti-Cimex and Crude SS. On the other hand, the albums and EPs are more in the UK vibe—Venom, Motorhead, Warfare. I like many different styles from rock 'n' roll to death metal. At the same time, I'm a big fan of Thin Lizzy and Sarcófago. Indeed I don't want to be trapped in only one style. You can see these different influences on "Troopers of Mayhem". You can find Venom, Tank, Thin Lizzy, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Bathory, and Discharge.
Alright, killer. You love the true 80s sound and it tells! Who is doing your artwork these days?
Each release was done by a different guy. The artwork for the new album was made by Jeferson Pizoni. He is a punk friend and I really like his work. He is a punk guy so his price is fucking good for me. He asked me around €25 for this art. There are other guys like Marcio Blasfemador, Umberto, and others.

Wow, amazing price—I want one! I thought maybe he did the artwork for Worshippers Of Death and Brazilian Bestial Attack also?
Kill me, but I forgot the name of the guy who made both of these arts.

Haha okay, fair enough. So thanks again for another killer interview, I had a blast listening to it all.
Great man!!! THANX FOR THE SUPPORT!
As mentioned in the article, Whipstriker will be touring Europe, November 2014. Keep an eye on his page for more info. If you missed the first interview with Victor, click here. If you missed the mix he did for me last year, click here.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Maniac Monday LII - BOTW—The New Flesh

 ALRIGHT, another 2000s-only show, this time playing only BOTW-inductees. It is also a semi-best of Maniac Monday show to some degree, so apologies to regular maniacs if this one comes off a little lazy. But, these are all great tracks from some of today's best acts, so to some it may be a goldmine, hehe.
So a BIG THANKS to Fenriz and Arjan for all their hard work to keep like-metal-minded maniacs in the know. I, for one, have found tonnes of killer bands on the page. Sure, there have been almost as many that didn't do it for me, but hey, you can't like 'em all.
Maniac Monday returns on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, so expect some sort of Irish feature then. SLÁINTE.

Tuesday 18 February 2014

Maniac Monday LII - DARKTHRONE—Lust for Hell (The Next 978 Years Are Still Theirs)

 YES. At last, it has arrived—the Darkthrone show. As mentioned at the top of the show, this is not a definitive guide to Darkthrone or anything like it, just me playing 22 Darkthrone tracks I haven't played on the show before (I have already played 22 tracks—a whole 'nother show's worth—over the past 52 shows), with one track appearing off each official release. Sure, I skipped the singles and anything retrospective pretty much, but you get the gist.
Nothing more to say here really except enjoy the show and here's hoping for more classic Darkthrone releases in the future!
Maniac Monday returns on March 3rd for more metal madness (I have no idea what exactly yet because I can't stop listening to Juju, Catastrophe Ballet, and Closer, haha. Maybe a deathrock show :P), so be sure to tune in then. Or wait and get it here afterwards. The choices are yours, motrals...


Thursday 6 February 2014

Maniac Monday LI - Total Death II

It's been some time coming, but here's a fresh death metal show for your brain to devour. In classic MM form, hour one is 80s and 90s gems, with hour two covering post-00s bands.
It was great to finally play a few things I've wanted to for a while—like Excoriate and Deathcult—yet I still managed to forget Possession and some other stuff. Oh well, there will something similarly evil again soon, faithful maniacs.
Maybe the next show will be this Darkthrone one I have mentioned more than once in the past, who knows (I certainly don't). Tune in to NTS on February 16th to find out...

Thursday 23 January 2014

A Fist in the Face of God presents... Full Speed Ahead - A Mix by Hades

ALRIGHT. Here we have the first mix of the year, compiled by none other than Hades of Greek speed metal band, Omega. I met Hades at a recent metal festival where we talked about our shared love for fast heavy metal with shrieking vocals and naturally we spoke about a mix. He wanted to make a kind of Best Of mix, and he did not disappoint, taking in sounds from 1971 right up until today. Hell, he even managed to squeeze in some Queen (on a speed metal compilation?!).

He also mimicked my usual style of mix covers (this is the first one I did not make of all the mixes to feature on here) and sent over a few different edits of the comp before settling on a 30-track, nigh two-hour long opus. I make one of these every two weeks for my radio show, so it was nice to see what bangers a fellow speed freak would concoct.

And, he even had the good sense to include a ripper off his own band's latest offering The Hell Patrol (that I included on my end of year show), in the midst of action. I will let him tell his tale now…

I came across this heavy metal sub-genre when I was looking for bands playing stuff like the fast songs of Judas Priest, Saxon and Iron Maiden.  I had to find more, so I asked an old friend of mine (who has a killer vinyl collection) in my town and he told me about this Speed Metal genre. A week later he gave me a tape compilation with Exciter, Agent Steel, first Anthrax, Warrant (from Germany, of course), Violent Force, and a few more obscure bands from the 80s on it. I was beyond impressed, because I could hear the heavy metal riffs and solo melodies, but in a more THRASHY way and with faster tempo then the usual NWOBHM bands I'd heard previously. This gave me a fascinating mania to DIG deeper and deeper in the 80s underground scene and find more bands playing this so called Speed Metal genre. 

Many of you may ask WHY there is a song from Queen and Deep Purple in the compilation—do they play Speed Metal? The answer is "no, they don’t", because there wasn’t a genre called Speed Metal back in the 70s.  The reason I HAD to include these specific songs is because they gave the inspiration to bands like Metallica, Exciter, and Anvil to create this heavy metal sub genre in the early 80s. So it’s more or less for history reasons and it’s for those who are interested to learn how all this craze started.

A very important factor was also the Canadian label, Banzai Records, which gave birth of the so-called “Speed Metal Swirl”, which they used for many of their releases, some of which were not even Speed Metal by definition, but they had this mark or symbol for all the extreme and fast metal bands coming out then. I hope people will enjoy this compilation as much as I do and I want to thank all the NEW bands which are still keeping this way of playing metal ALIVE, even after 30 years of existence. Bang your head and raise the dead!

HADES


1. Judas Priest (England) - "Exciter" [1978]
2. Riot (USA) - "Warrior" [1977]
3. Queen (England) - "Stone Cold Crazy" [1974]
4. Whiplash (USA) - "The Burning of Atlanta" [1985]
5. ADX (France) - "Caligula" [1985]
6. Darkthrone (Norway) - "Circle the Wagons" [2010]
7. Violent Force (Germany) - "Sign of Evil" [1987]
8. Deep Purple (England) - "Fireball" [1971]
9. Phantom Lord (USA) - "Speed Demons" [1986]
10. Agent Steel (USA) - "Mad Locust Rising" [1986]
11. Ranger (Finland) - "Touch of Death" [2013]
12. Motörhead (England) - "Speedfreak" [1982]
13. Exciter (Canada) - "Stand Up and Fight" [1983]
14. Tank (England) - "Turn Your Head Around" [1982]
15. Tröjan (England) - "Hypnotized" [1985]
16. Megadeth (USA) - "Rattlehead" [1985]
17. Savage Grace (USA) - "Sins of the Damned" [1985]
18. Omega (Greece) - "Speed Metal Force" [2013]
19. Razor (Canada) - "Take This Torch" [1985]
20. Enforcer (Sweden) - "Live for the Night" [2010]
21. Iron Maiden (England) - "Aces High" [1984]
22. Flotsam And Jetsam (USA) - "Hammerhead" [1986]
23. Warrant (Germany) - "The Enforcer" [1985]
24. Saxon (England) - "Set Me Free [Sweet cover]" [1984]
25. Exorcist (USA) - "Riding to Hell" [1986]
26. Bitches Sin (England) - "Hold On to Love" [1980]
27. Diamond Head (England) - "The Prince" [1980]
28. Griffin (USA) - "Hunger" [1986]
29. Hallows Eve (USA) - "Outer Limits" [1985]
30. Metallica (USA) - "Metal Militia" [1983]

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Maniac Monday L - Heavy Metal Mania V

Heavy Metal Mania returns! Like mentioned in the show, I was going to do a best of—seeing as it is the 50th show and all—but I was too lazy to even do that, so here is a new speed/heavy/NWOBHM show. There are a few tracks I have played before, but as always I tried to come up with different bands/songs. Getting trick now I'm 50 shows deep, so who knows how many more of these genre-themed shows there will be in the future.
What I do know is that but the next show will be death fucking metal, and that is a sure thing, on February 3rd.
Tomorrow will see the first guest mix of the year, a two-hour speed metal opus from Omega mastermind Hades, so check back for that, it's a ripper!

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Maniac Monday XLIX - Unholy Forces of Evil II

UGHHH. A week into the new year and we have maybe one of the grimmest shows to ever play out on NTS, for sure, if not my own. There will be another black metal show comprised of only Norwegian bands/1994 releases soon, so hold tight for that if you liked this one.
Was cool to play some stuff I admittedly used to be very into in the mid-00s mainly, and of course some new discoveries, as always. That Vemod LP has been soundtracking my winter, thus far.
The next show is the official 50th MM, so I might do a kind of a best of so far show, or maybe not. Tune in January 20th to find out, fellow pilgrim.

Pt. XL