Category Archives: featured

Brutal Assault #25 – DAY I REPORT


At last! After two years of nothing, the gates of 25th Brutal assault open to us and here are some bands giving us their best. As usual, we witnessed little longer quevesat start, but nothing that we could not withstand. Some stuff was done at the last minutes as the ceilings on the balconies, but at least everyone could see what it takes to prepare festivals this big. So here goes the Tuesday.

Fans rules!

After little adaptation getting some tasty food in various of tents, both with meat meals but also vegan options, which is quite standard now, we could see the first artists performing in one of four stages. The start (at 2.15p.m.) was quite mild and not so in your face. Japanese metalcore of Sable Hills gave us some more melodic stuff so our skulls were not crashed immediatelly. After that the hardcore crossover Slope was pumping some positive energy into people as well as exotic Bloodywood with their combination of ethnical vibes and metal music.

Slope, Bloodywood

Some heavy hitters were delivering the best tho and that was Devourment from Texas with their brutal death metal. And they were not the only one in the day. Later on, Extermination Dismemberment and Korpse showed some nice work with a public and forced the people cheerfully to do some moshing, stage diving and even wall of death with their guttural rich music. Little less intense with brutality, but with added melodies, Rivers of Nihil played on one of main stages. Vola or Czech Avatar was even further in progressive approach with their music. At The Gates continued with the milder aspect of the genre later in the night.

Devourment, Extermination Dismemberment, Rivers of Nihil, Korpse

Two bands of another direct metal subgenre could be heard. Classical thrash metal from California, Vio-lence showed themselves in nice lights with their fast show and also another local band Exorcizphobia gave us some thrashy riffs.

Vio-lence

Slower, but surely not weaker kind of stuff was represented by another, quite a new, Czech band Můra who looked like their motto is: Blood, corpsepaint and wine. Doomy steam-roller combination of doom death and black metal (mostly visually) was damn good, if you are in this kind of music and little smaller Bastion stage (new, instead of Octagon one) suited them well, too.

Můra

Later on the Pallbearer stayed in the genre as well as Evoken who represended slow funeral doom as if the time has almost stopped when heavy down-tuned riffes have been played.

Pallbearer, Evoken

Stay tuned for next days reports! Thanks.

INTERVIEW – VENOM INC.: “We explore the dark side of humanity and the endless questions of what comes next”


Interview with Tony Dolan by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

Venom Inc. vocalist and bassist Tony Dolan chatted to us ahead of their special ‘Black Metal’ 40th-anniversary set at Bloodstock Festival UK, which takes place on its final day, 14th August. He talked to us about the festival, their follow-up album to their 2017 ‘Avé’ titled ‘There’s Only Black’ due for release later this year and how Venom came to reform in 2015 with the 1989-1992 Venom line-up under the new rebranded Venom Inc and more!

Continue reading INTERVIEW – VENOM INC.: “We explore the dark side of humanity and the endless questions of what comes next”

REVIEW: ARCH ENEMY – “Deceivers”


by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

Swedish melodic death metal masters return ever triumphant with their eleventh album ‘Deceivers’, which marks some of their finest, most ambitious and explosive material to date.

The colossal opener ‘Handshake With Hell’ asserts Alissa White-Gluz’s versatile capabilities displaying incredible clean melodic vocals paired with her fierce ones, making for a crushing combination, and the excellent fiery rapid guitar work makes it unyielding. An exhilarating and impressive one to kick off with.

Continue reading REVIEW: ARCH ENEMY – “Deceivers”

BRUTAL ASSAULT #25 INFO


The great metal festival starts soon, August 9th to be precise, but if five days of non-top action in Czech is not enough for you, even afterparty is an option on Sunday in Modrá Vopice in Prague. Rock on!

INTERVIEW – I FIGHT BEARS: “Brutal breakdowns, lead-like heaviness, addictive melodies, bags of energy and a whole load of neck pain to go home with… Bears will be fought!”


Interview with Scott Preece by Carina Lawrence / Dark Art Conspiracy

Welsh modern metalcore act I Fight Bears unleashed their self-titled debut in 2018, which went down a storm. Now in 2022, armed with their new EP, ‘Liberosis’, they continue to make waves. They have just won the South Wales Grand Final of the Metal 2 The Masses competition, earning a prestigious slot on Friday 12th August on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock Open Air festival. We caught up with drummer Scott Preece ahead of their Bloodstock set to talk about the festival, the new EP, Spandau Ballet and more!

Continue reading INTERVIEW – I FIGHT BEARS: “Brutal breakdowns, lead-like heaviness, addictive melodies, bags of energy and a whole load of neck pain to go home with… Bears will be fought!”

PHOTO REPORT: EVANESCENCE, CYAN KICKS and TIGRESS


Photos and report by Serena Solomon

Evanescence played at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland this past June. They had also planned to play Rock in the City Helsinki but the festival was unfortunately canceled. Thankfully they were still able to play the brand new arena with supporting acts, Brittish rockers Tigress and home country stars Cyan Kicks. It was great to see so many people show up on a Sunday evening to support these three kick ass bands. Specially Evanescence, who don’t come to Finland often. My personal history with the band dates back almost 20 years, running into Amy in 2004 and being invited to watch a soundcheck for a gig in Florida during their debut album tour. Nostalgia and deep admiration for her and her journey in music, as well as her music’s imperative role in my own life made the gig that much more special on a personal level, but I could tell I was not alone in these feelings looking around the venue. I was also a bit surprised but grateful to see many younger attendees! Although the lineup of the band had changed (and very recently at that, only a week prior to the gig welcoming Emma Anzai to the family after Jen Majura stepped down), their cohesive stage presence was unforgettable. I also commend Amy and her ability to connect with the crowd, even a stadium gig, on a level that makes it seem like we were watching at an intimate club gig.

Cyan Kicks performed a gig beyond expectation, they definitely earned their place as an opening act! It was surprising to hear it was their first stadium gig, a they ruled the stage and captured the entire place with their energy like old pros!

Tigress made a good name for themselves, although I felt their style of music and presence would have shined much brighter in different atmosphere. That said, I look forward to seeing them progress and grow!