Thursday, May 19, 2005
Pub 340
Vancouver, BC  Canada

**Review & All Photos By Lord of The Wasteland

Vomit Remnants/Godless Truth

London Archway pub.

The 19th of May 2005

Archway pub, London, England

By: Mikael Da Costa

The SEVEN SEALS Early Listening Party

Report & Photos By Lord of The Wasteland & Tanay Ulgen

**Other pics from PrimalFear.de

Vocalist/Guitarist Ola Lindgren

Interview By Lord of The Wasteland

**Many thanks to Jodi for the transcription.

**Photos Courtesy of Century Media Records and Grave.se

The Swedish old-school death metal scene is popularized mainly by three bands: Grave, Unleashed and Entombed.  All three bands have certainly had their ups and downs whether it be changes in the musical climate, personnel changes or releases that just, truth be told, didn?t measure up to the rest of the band?s catalogue.  Grave, in particular, took a five year hiatus from recording in the late 90s after the EXTREMELY ROTTEN LIVE album was almost universally scorned by fans and critics alike.  Fast forward to 2002 and Grave returned with the punishing BACK FROM THE GRAVE to show fans that they still had some life left in them but it was on 2004?s FIENDISH REGRESSION that the band really found their groove again.

I spoke with Grave?s vocalist/founder Ola Lindgren at the ungodly hour of 6:00AM about his choice of working with Peter (Hypocrisy) and Tommy Tagtgren on the new CD, the new lineup, melodic death metal and what exactly the band did during their extended break from the studio.

Vocalist/Founder Alex Erian

Interview By Lord of The Wasteland

Live Pics By Lord of The Wasteland.  Promo Pics from Neuraxis. org and Century Media.

To say I was knocked for a loop by THE HEALING PROCESS, the new CD from Quebec, Canada? s Despised Icon, is an understatement.  The band?s sound is described as ?deathcore? in the promo materials and that certainly wouldn?t be far off.  THE HEALING PROCESS combines technical death, grind and a few breakdowns to concoct an album so brutally heavy, so musically complex and so perfectly played that it is sure to top my list of 2005?s best releases.

I managed to catch the band live here in Vancouver (read review here) during their three-week Canadian tour that lead up to the release date of the new CD and despite only playing for a half hour, the band smoked.  After the band returned home again in late April, I spoke with Despised Icon vocalist/founder Alex Erian about the new CD, the burgeoning talent of the Quebec metal scene and many other things.