| KELLER |
Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Speed Metal, Pagan Metal, Folk Metal, NSBM, Folk, Pagan, Rock, Folk Rock, Gore Metal, Grind Core, Metal, Goth Metal,
EBM, BM, DM, TM, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Relapse, The End Records, Plastic Head, Distribution Company,
Record Label, Extreme Metal, Darkthrone, Morbid Angel, Dissection, Mayhem, Marduk, CD, Cassette, MC, Vinyl, Horror, Satan, Evil, Death, Slipknot, Frost,
Religious, Religion, Christians, Pentagram, Nokturnal Mortum, Geimhre, King, Snowfall, Evil Wrath, Overthrow, Grendel, Primal Dawn, Roadrunner Records,
Blabbermouth.com, Northern Horde Records, Terrorizer, Bravewords and Bloody Knuckles, BW BK, Metal Maniacs, Decibel Magazine, Resound, 666, Devil,
Burzum, Varg, Burning Churches, Black Circle, Black Sun, Storm troopers of Death, Slayer, Metallica, Pantera, Dimebag Darryl, Sodom, Possessed,
Destruction, Coroner, Guitar, Drums, Bass, Fender, Washburn, Jackson, Sex, Porn, Cheap CDs, Record Shop, Record Stores, Record Store, Thy Flesh
Consumed, Tyrants Blood, Hot Graves, Hot girls,
EBM, BM, DM, TM, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Relapse, The End Records, Plastic Head, Distribution Company,
Record Label, Extreme Metal, Darkthrone, Morbid Angel, Dissection, Mayhem, Marduk, CD, Cassette, MC, Vinyl, Horror, Satan, Evil, Death, Slipknot, Frost,
Religious, Religion, Christians, Pentagram, Nokturnal Mortum, Geimhre, King, Snowfall, Evil Wrath, Overthrow, Grendel, Primal Dawn, Roadrunner Records,
Blabbermouth.com, Northern Horde Records, Terrorizer, Bravewords and Bloody Knuckles, BW BK, Metal Maniacs, Decibel Magazine, Resound, 666, Devil,
Burzum, Varg, Burning Churches, Black Circle, Black Sun, Storm troopers of Death, Slayer, Metallica, Pantera, Dimebag Darryl, Sodom, Possessed,
Destruction, Coroner, Guitar, Drums, Bass, Fender, Washburn, Jackson, Sex, Porn, Cheap CDs, Record Shop, Record Stores, Record Store, Thy Flesh
Consumed, Tyrants Blood, Hot Graves, Hot girls,
Tracklisting:
1. Colossal Spell
2. The Drums Pound Every Night in a
Glorious Celebration of Life
3. Blossoms Will Sprout From the Carcass
4. ...With a Warm Recollection
5. Caliginosity
6. A Night That Ends, As All Nights End,
When the Sun Rises
1. Colossal Spell
2. The Drums Pound Every Night in a
Glorious Celebration of Life
3. Blossoms Will Sprout From the Carcass
4. ...With a Warm Recollection
5. Caliginosity
6. A Night That Ends, As All Nights End,
When the Sun Rises
| SKAGOS - AST CD |
| RELEASES |
| AFFILIATE SITES |
The Shop: www.nhrrecordsshop.vstore.ca
NHR Distribution: www.nhr-distribution.com
VFTU Magazine: www.vftu-magazine.com
My Space: www.myspace.com/nhrrecords
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NHRRecords
You Tube: www.youtube.com/nhrrecordstv
NHR Distribution: www.nhr-distribution.com
VFTU Magazine: www.vftu-magazine.com
My Space: www.myspace.com/nhrrecords
Twitter: www.twitter.com/NHRRecords
You Tube: www.youtube.com/nhrrecordstv
| MEDIA |
| REVIEWS |
NHR Records is pleased to announce the CD release of Skagos' highly acclaimed debut full length
"Ast". With a stark and beautiful atmosphere, this Canadian collective have unleashed a near hour of
flawless, mesmerizing Blackened Metal. Definitely a candidate for top 10 lists the world over this
debut can easily sit alongside with the very best of Wolves in the Throne Room, Fen, or Cobalt. A
true pioneering Metal landmark if there ever was one. Believe the hype. Believe in Skagos
"Ast". With a stark and beautiful atmosphere, this Canadian collective have unleashed a near hour of
flawless, mesmerizing Blackened Metal. Definitely a candidate for top 10 lists the world over this
debut can easily sit alongside with the very best of Wolves in the Throne Room, Fen, or Cobalt. A
true pioneering Metal landmark if there ever was one. Believe the hype. Believe in Skagos
Skagos? Heard of indeed but not in association with BM. "Ást", however - being the debut of this very
band - is the Black Metal sensation of not only this year. Until recently, I thought Dictator's
"Dysangelist" to be a singularity in terms of quality, but we are apparently living in interesting times -
and that is everything but a curse for admirers of good music.
For established bands, however, things might be not quite that peachy: Skagos only need one song
of 15 minutes to outshadow the whole discography of Wolves In The Throne Room. "The Drums
Pound Every Night in a Glorious Celebration of Life" offers - apart from an endless title - epic BM with
great lead guitars and lots of magic. And Skagos do not even show their full potential on this track:
"Blossoms Will Sprout From the Carcass" is the song where they really let go, a truly overwhelming
piece of music introduced by siren-like guitars. This is Larger-Than-Life-BM that sends shivers down my
spine, brings me to tears and that invokes the inner berserker.
"Ást" is a highly dramatic and emotional album of the kind that one doesn't find all that often. (OK,
"Dysangelist" is quite new and certainly just as good (it is just a completely different style) but the
previous record of comparable quality was released in 2000). How a bunch of Black Metal newbies
with a Death/Thrash background can come up with such music is not easy to explain but actually not a
new phenomenon: a lot of Norwegian classics were born under similar circumstances. Skagos will of
course never be as "big" as the pioneers from Northern Europe, if only because Black Metal has been
invented already. These Canadians, however, manage to create Black Metal that profoundly touches
me like the grand masters did back then. For this, I cannot thank them enough. 5/5
Myrrthronth.de
We've all heard this before. The sensitive blackened folk, filled with dense emotion and beauty. Don't
let the ages of Isaac Symonds and Ray Hawes fool you, they've crafted a pure and mature effort on
Ast. Cloaked in atmosphere, this album involves a variety of folky passages as well as the typical black
metal fare. At this point in time, one may consider their sound overdone and derivative, however
Skagos manage to stand above the sea of post-black metal through some genuinely interesting music
and structures. On first listen, elements of Fen, Fauna and Wolves in the Throne Room are apparent
as well as some from earlier waves of black metal. Occasionally some extended passages seem to
drag on but are essentially made up for by the more intersting sections of the album. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Symonds utilizes a mid range rasp as well as some clean singing throughout the
record which is perfectly suited to the music. While there is not much variety apparent in the vocals, it
does not truly serve as a hindrance to Ast. The record focusses on themes of misanthropy and
nature. 'The drums pound every night in a glorious celebration of life! The earth is bountiful and rich-
fertilized and multiplied' could be seen as an illusion to the destruction of the environment yet also as a
symbolisation of the circle of life. Once again, these paganistic themes are nothing new to the realm
of black metal but are executed with striking maturity. // 8
Impression: Through interesting song-writing, Skagos make something fresh of a quickly stagnating
genre. Much like the other bands in the 'Cascadian' scene of black metal, a purifying essence is
present in the music as well as a depth of sorrow which is clearly explored in the album. Ast is a
notable record not because it sets out to do something entirely new, but expounds on it with great
emotion and determination. // 9
9/10 www.ultimate-guitar.com
Over the past several years a number of black metal bands have emerged that have taken the genre
in a different direction. Many of them are based out of the United States and Canada and theme
their music around nature and other mystical themes while incorporating ambient and folk ideas into
their instrumentals. Skagos is one of the latest groups to try their hand at the style and their debut
album Ast has been given a CD release by NHR Records after coming out on cassette in 2009. There
are some moments that drag on just a little too long, but as a whole this is a very promising debut that
hints at even better things to come.
Ast offers all of the elements that listeners have come to expect from this genre, as there are plenty
of ambient build ups and beautiful melodies that lead up to harsh blast beats and stunning climaxes.
Compared to their peers, the instrumentalists in Skagos incorporate a bit more folk sections and head
in melodic directions more frequently. This gives them a sound that is distinguishable from many of
the others out there but the instrumentalists do throw in some extremely harsh riffs when it seems
appropriate. However, there is one thing that is holding back Skagos a bit right now and that is the
way in which they build up their songs. The majority of the effort features songs that last anywhere
from 10 to 15 minutes, and some of the melodies feel as though they drag on for just a little too long.
If the instrumentalists can find ways to vary their build ups just a bit more then they could definitely
become an even stronger band.
Vocalist Isaac Symonds alternates between harsh screams and melodic clean singing, and while this
type of black metal tends to let the vocals get buried underneath of the instrumentals Symonds
manages to break through on a number of occasions. He may not have the range that some black
metal vocalists are able to bring to the table, but the combination of harsh and clean pitches works
quite well and ensures that the vocals never become repetitive. One thing I would like to see this
group do is expand even further on the clean vocals as it sounds as though there is a lot more they
could do with them.
Skagos has interesting ideas but let’s some of them drag on for a little too long. However, if you’re a
fan of this atmospheric brand of black metal then still consider giving Ast a shot as it does manage to
create a sound that is distinguishable from the other bands out there. These guys have the potential
to take this project and make it one of the best in the genre though, so I will be watching them and
waiting to see what direction their next full length ends up going in.
Chris Dahlberg - cosmosgaming.com
January 16, 2011
Die Abkehr von den klassischen Schwarzmetallthemen der Anfangstage vollzog sich schleichend,
schreitet aber stetig fort. Auch SKAGOS befassen sich, wer hätte es anders vermutet, nicht mit
Lobpreisungen des Gehörnten.
Zyniker würden das Schaffen der zwei Kanadier wohl am ehesten als alternativen Wald & Wiesen
Schwarzmetall bezeichnen, doch SKAGOS sind mehr als das. Neuartig, ja stellenweise visionär
erscheinen die Klangwerke der Formation, fernab von jeglichen Konventionen, Regeln und
Beschränkungen. Zumeist mit deutlicher Überlänge ausgestattet besteht das 55-minütige Debüt ÁST
aus sechs andersartigen Kompositionen. Raserei, Akustikpassagen und zweistimmige Melodielinien
leiten auf verschlungenen Pfaden durch unberührte Gebiete. Besonders in den zahlreichen
getragenen Abschnitten manifestiert sich das Händchen SKAGOS für mitreisende Arrangements. Auch
das Klanggewand scheint nahezu unberührt von heute üblichen Bearbeitungstechniken. Eine Tatsache
die ÁST eine gehörige Portion Glaubwürdigkeit verleiht.
Mit ÁST legen SKAGOS ein mehr als gelungenes Debüt vor, dass aufgrund seiner Vielseitigkeit und
träumerischen Erscheinung selbst für Genrefremdlingen interessant sein dürfte.
www.evilized.de (German)
band - is the Black Metal sensation of not only this year. Until recently, I thought Dictator's
"Dysangelist" to be a singularity in terms of quality, but we are apparently living in interesting times -
and that is everything but a curse for admirers of good music.
For established bands, however, things might be not quite that peachy: Skagos only need one song
of 15 minutes to outshadow the whole discography of Wolves In The Throne Room. "The Drums
Pound Every Night in a Glorious Celebration of Life" offers - apart from an endless title - epic BM with
great lead guitars and lots of magic. And Skagos do not even show their full potential on this track:
"Blossoms Will Sprout From the Carcass" is the song where they really let go, a truly overwhelming
piece of music introduced by siren-like guitars. This is Larger-Than-Life-BM that sends shivers down my
spine, brings me to tears and that invokes the inner berserker.
"Ást" is a highly dramatic and emotional album of the kind that one doesn't find all that often. (OK,
"Dysangelist" is quite new and certainly just as good (it is just a completely different style) but the
previous record of comparable quality was released in 2000). How a bunch of Black Metal newbies
with a Death/Thrash background can come up with such music is not easy to explain but actually not a
new phenomenon: a lot of Norwegian classics were born under similar circumstances. Skagos will of
course never be as "big" as the pioneers from Northern Europe, if only because Black Metal has been
invented already. These Canadians, however, manage to create Black Metal that profoundly touches
me like the grand masters did back then. For this, I cannot thank them enough. 5/5
Myrrthronth.de
We've all heard this before. The sensitive blackened folk, filled with dense emotion and beauty. Don't
let the ages of Isaac Symonds and Ray Hawes fool you, they've crafted a pure and mature effort on
Ast. Cloaked in atmosphere, this album involves a variety of folky passages as well as the typical black
metal fare. At this point in time, one may consider their sound overdone and derivative, however
Skagos manage to stand above the sea of post-black metal through some genuinely interesting music
and structures. On first listen, elements of Fen, Fauna and Wolves in the Throne Room are apparent
as well as some from earlier waves of black metal. Occasionally some extended passages seem to
drag on but are essentially made up for by the more intersting sections of the album. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: Symonds utilizes a mid range rasp as well as some clean singing throughout the
record which is perfectly suited to the music. While there is not much variety apparent in the vocals, it
does not truly serve as a hindrance to Ast. The record focusses on themes of misanthropy and
nature. 'The drums pound every night in a glorious celebration of life! The earth is bountiful and rich-
fertilized and multiplied' could be seen as an illusion to the destruction of the environment yet also as a
symbolisation of the circle of life. Once again, these paganistic themes are nothing new to the realm
of black metal but are executed with striking maturity. // 8
Impression: Through interesting song-writing, Skagos make something fresh of a quickly stagnating
genre. Much like the other bands in the 'Cascadian' scene of black metal, a purifying essence is
present in the music as well as a depth of sorrow which is clearly explored in the album. Ast is a
notable record not because it sets out to do something entirely new, but expounds on it with great
emotion and determination. // 9
9/10 www.ultimate-guitar.com
Over the past several years a number of black metal bands have emerged that have taken the genre
in a different direction. Many of them are based out of the United States and Canada and theme
their music around nature and other mystical themes while incorporating ambient and folk ideas into
their instrumentals. Skagos is one of the latest groups to try their hand at the style and their debut
album Ast has been given a CD release by NHR Records after coming out on cassette in 2009. There
are some moments that drag on just a little too long, but as a whole this is a very promising debut that
hints at even better things to come.
Ast offers all of the elements that listeners have come to expect from this genre, as there are plenty
of ambient build ups and beautiful melodies that lead up to harsh blast beats and stunning climaxes.
Compared to their peers, the instrumentalists in Skagos incorporate a bit more folk sections and head
in melodic directions more frequently. This gives them a sound that is distinguishable from many of
the others out there but the instrumentalists do throw in some extremely harsh riffs when it seems
appropriate. However, there is one thing that is holding back Skagos a bit right now and that is the
way in which they build up their songs. The majority of the effort features songs that last anywhere
from 10 to 15 minutes, and some of the melodies feel as though they drag on for just a little too long.
If the instrumentalists can find ways to vary their build ups just a bit more then they could definitely
become an even stronger band.
Vocalist Isaac Symonds alternates between harsh screams and melodic clean singing, and while this
type of black metal tends to let the vocals get buried underneath of the instrumentals Symonds
manages to break through on a number of occasions. He may not have the range that some black
metal vocalists are able to bring to the table, but the combination of harsh and clean pitches works
quite well and ensures that the vocals never become repetitive. One thing I would like to see this
group do is expand even further on the clean vocals as it sounds as though there is a lot more they
could do with them.
Skagos has interesting ideas but let’s some of them drag on for a little too long. However, if you’re a
fan of this atmospheric brand of black metal then still consider giving Ast a shot as it does manage to
create a sound that is distinguishable from the other bands out there. These guys have the potential
to take this project and make it one of the best in the genre though, so I will be watching them and
waiting to see what direction their next full length ends up going in.
Chris Dahlberg - cosmosgaming.com
January 16, 2011
Die Abkehr von den klassischen Schwarzmetallthemen der Anfangstage vollzog sich schleichend,
schreitet aber stetig fort. Auch SKAGOS befassen sich, wer hätte es anders vermutet, nicht mit
Lobpreisungen des Gehörnten.
Zyniker würden das Schaffen der zwei Kanadier wohl am ehesten als alternativen Wald & Wiesen
Schwarzmetall bezeichnen, doch SKAGOS sind mehr als das. Neuartig, ja stellenweise visionär
erscheinen die Klangwerke der Formation, fernab von jeglichen Konventionen, Regeln und
Beschränkungen. Zumeist mit deutlicher Überlänge ausgestattet besteht das 55-minütige Debüt ÁST
aus sechs andersartigen Kompositionen. Raserei, Akustikpassagen und zweistimmige Melodielinien
leiten auf verschlungenen Pfaden durch unberührte Gebiete. Besonders in den zahlreichen
getragenen Abschnitten manifestiert sich das Händchen SKAGOS für mitreisende Arrangements. Auch
das Klanggewand scheint nahezu unberührt von heute üblichen Bearbeitungstechniken. Eine Tatsache
die ÁST eine gehörige Portion Glaubwürdigkeit verleiht.
Mit ÁST legen SKAGOS ein mehr als gelungenes Debüt vor, dass aufgrund seiner Vielseitigkeit und
träumerischen Erscheinung selbst für Genrefremdlingen interessant sein dürfte.
www.evilized.de (German)
| SKAGOS - OTHER PRESS |
SKAGOS - INTERVIEW WITH VFTU eMAG
Read Skagos interview with Metal eMagazine Voices
From The Underground
Read Skagos interview with Metal eMagazine Voices
From The Underground
