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at
Little Creek
Studio - Gelterkinden - Baselland (CH)
Producer- and
Engineering-Team V.O. Pulver und Frank Winkelmann
"Of Bitterness and Hate". This is the title of the upcoming and first full length
album
composed by the Melodic Death/Black band Darkmoon from Basel (Music
by Darkmoon, lyrics by Matthias Borer). It's with great pleasure that i
accept the kind invite to visit them at the recording and mastering
studio Little Creek during one of the last days of work when the final mixing is in full gear.
Darkmoon are able to combine Black criteria with damned catchy ,very fluid
and marking melodies in Death: a trademark or, better said, an
unmistakable brand present in each of their songs. They are sinister, at times
underground harsh , at times very elegant and passionate. This is
what i call temperament. From England to Italy i have never found a person that,
checking out Darkmoon, has not said: "damn this band is cool. they grow up quickly in
me! ", hence let's see what Darkmoon are
preparing now for their fans .
I reach the Little Creek Studio while it's snowing a bit. But who cares, i'm over the moon is the case to say.
The studio is located in Gelterkinden, a calm Swiss village located
at 404 m in the valley Ergolz, among wooded hills . Actually the studio in itself is
really little , so making full honour to its name, focused on two rooms (the
proper studio/recording room and the mixing/control one): but what counts it's not the quantity, it's the quality.
Here quality is a guarantee under the excellent ability of V.O. Pulver and Frankie
Winkelmann,
the producer and engineering Team. Many of you know V.O. Pulver and
Frankie Winkelmann from the band Gurd. And here, in this studio, Destruction recorded their
album Metal Discharge. All five members are there in best mood,
evidently enough relaxed now that the new CD is taking shape. But also attentive to the last
touch, to the last mixing. There is an invisible veil of suspense, of
emotional tension.
V.O. Pulver and Frank are absolutely
busy at the mixing desk. Actually no much time for speaking with both of them, but it
is very nice to talk with all members of Darkmoon and in
particular with singer Matthias.
Well, when you land on such a delicate moment in a studio you
feel like a stranger , an alien: the famous eager
journo, the intruder (no matter if you're invited) and i think it couldn't
be otherwise. But fortunately engineers and band are exquisite and very
patient, also aware of the curiosity and the excitement about
the creation of this album, much awaited in the Swiss underground
scene. Becoming more confident and "unafraid" of the many
devices, my attention is attracted by the 32 channel - mixing
console. Faders, potentiometers, monitoring , amplitudes remind me of the
laboratories of physics i saw when i was studying. I'm mesmerised while ears are attracted by the various
tracks, that impacts so different in a studio, almost vivisected. "The
Beast" is the first song i listen to. A song with true infernal
flair. < "The Beast is one of the fastest and more brutal songs included in the album"
>, tells me Matthias, adding that the new CD will deliver 10 songs.
<"The Beast will be placed in the
"middle" of the tracklist">. This demonic song is
monitored , the channels are pulsing, yes it is powerful, it is fast an
ablaze Black, made accessible by the ever present addictive hook lines, it is haunting, it is lively it's fierce, breathtaking, evil
, with a fitful breakdown. It's time then for "Dust in my Eyes",
a morbid mid tempo , this will remain one of my fav Darkmoon song, i'm sure.
Morbid, yes Darkmoon are a bit morbid isn't it? Dust in my Eyes. Dust. Dust. I like this idea, this picture. Dust.
Even because Darkmoon's sound draws in my mound images of the East,
Russia and Central Asia, i don't know why , maybe i feel a kind of balalaika appeal
in their songs. But the Dust of the wide savage spaces suddenly is morphing into rotten
rust of our old industries, of our sad contemporaneousness. Darkmoon are full of
inexhaustible resources : the tracks Lost Soul and Bitter End are striking.
<"The CD closes with Evil Goddess of the Night an old song of ours. Drowning
and On her Grave are present too" . "Ah and concerning guitars..? - i ask - "
Christian's solos will be more underlined - is the prompt answer. Between new stuff and older one, this
"of Bitterness and Hate" seems to become a real killer.
I only hope that the bass dynamics will be well calibrated in order to
enhance the adhesion among the instruments. Important, in my opinion
is that Matthias roaring growls can be put in the proper result . Matthias
voice is mighty and recognizable among hundred, . therefore i think it's very important
the insertion of vocal tones in comparison with drums and guitars. In which way we make all songs so groovy. these are the last questions.
None of my business fortunately, but whatever it will be, "..of bitterness and hate "
will reveal itself as an accurate motherfucker production made in one of the best professional ways.
And if better if maintains a bit of that typical roughness and
abrasiveness . I think that many metallers are slowly getting bored
of the too perfect, glamorous and polished products. While talking you
don't even notice that time flies quickly. Matthias and Chris don't hide a certain veiled apprehension,
Darkmoon have put their dedication in this album and, though it
doesn't seem, Matthias and Chris are very sensible. Gianrichy is more a
philosopher, easy going. Pascal and Hubi the more relaxed and smiling.
Twilight is falling in this winterly
afternoon. i still ask about the presentation of the cd, cover art and so on. i only know the promotional photos made by Stefan.
"hehhe -
Matthias says - there are ideas- showing me some printed papers where yellow-green colours are reigning- we will see... we will see".
while leaving the studio, we make a short stop in the recording room. That
one is the microphone - tells me a thoughtful Matthias, with
slightly contemplative expression on his face- "it was used by Schmier
too">. I can imagine what Matthias is feeling.
dalia di giacomo
all photos ©
by Stefan W. Vogelaar
[The public
use of these photos is strictly prohibited without written
permission]
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darkmoon.ch i
better kiss my life goodbye
