The Lamb and the Goat have finally fused as one...
Warning:
This entry contains delicate themes like occultism, demonology and
other complex metaphysical points of view not recommended for the faint
of heart and mind. Also, there's a lot of imagery and symbolism linked
to "shocking" topics like war, murder and terrorism. Not everyone will
understand all the theoretical construction behind this, not even me.
For further information, do your personal research and have your own
conclusions. Thank you.
Oi! my chaton.ne.s. We're finally back with a special that I've been thinking of since long time ago: the unofficial guide to Holy Terror. Following the succes of Neocrust/Blackened Crust and 80s Japanese Hardcore Punk (thank you so much les chaton.ne.s!
I'm really grateful) unofficial guides, I decided to talk about one of
the most debated topics within the hardcore/punk community: Holy Terror. We've already featured hardcore punk bands related to this "movement".
Now,
there are some key elements common to these bands: dark, apocalyptic
and vicious metal-infused hardcore punk (some of them with evident
japanese hardcore punk influence like G.I.S.M. and Zouo) exploring
existentialist, occultist and demonology related themes. These bands
were trying to surpass the natural boundaries of hardcore punk with
their musical style and lyrical content, but don't get the wrong idea
that this is a separated hardcore punk subgenre. In fact, other
metalcore bands, and even crust punk bands, that could easily fit into Holy Terror
and not necessarily be related to are, for example, Catharsis or His
Hero Is Gone. And, as you may already know, the most iconic and
influential Holy Terror band undoubtedly is Integrity.
This
kind of images and symbols are commonly used by Holy Terror bands. For
example, in this image we see the Process... "4Ps cross", Baphomet's
symbol
and Manson posing like a "Messiah".
But, why has Holy Terror been a delicate topic within the hardcore/punk community? First, over the years, Holy Terror bands
have used imagery and thoughts of different secret religious movements
like the Process Church of Final Judgement (an american sect that got
mass media attention mistakenly accused of being satanic and and having
potential links with Charles Manson) or the Abraxas Foundation (a now
defunct Church of Satan's offshoot whose philosophy basically is resumed
in "the strong rule the weak, the clever rule the strong"). Also, these
groups have a strange yet fascinating obsession with serial killers
(notably Charles Manson, which is seen as a martyr, like a new messiah,
an outcast, a misunderstood free thinker) and other symbols, imagery and
modern interpretations related to the bizarre, occult and demonology.
Second, Holy Terror
bands in different interviews have mentioned Jack Abernathy, the
founder of the "Holy Terror Church of Final Judgement" which compiled
all the thoughts and philosophies (some of them mentioned in the last
paragraph) that nourish the "movement". No one really knows Abernathy's
"true" identity (some people argue that it's Dwid Hellion himself) and
the whereabouts and activities of the Church. For example, in different
interviews, most of these bands have teased some things related to the
Church and the Holy Terror thing, but they have "strictly prohibited" to give detailed information of their activities.
Last but not least,
it's unclear the existence of the Church and Hellion isn't interested
in getting adepts or that kind of things. In fact, he doesn't matter
what the hardcore/punk community thinks about
Holy Terror related activities. All of the "members" of the Church, self-proclaimed as
Holy Terrorists, see
Holy Terror
as a weapon, and not as a musical genre. Despite all the controversy
and discussion about these bands, I've always been fascinated with the
occult and bizzare imagery these bands manage, as well as their superb
music and the apocalyptic yet inevitable destruction of mankind as a way
of salvation.
Finally, we will feature the bands that
are linked (or presumably) to the "Holy Terror Church of Final
Judgement", respecting the premise that
Holy Terror is a mindset,
but some bands mislabeled as such will be featured as well due to its
musical influence to the "movement". Also, there will be other
experimental music groups (most of them side-projects) related to this
fascinating mindset. I hope this entry will please you and we'll be back
soon (I certainly hope so) with more surprises. Kisses and hugs. So,
let's begin...
Integrity - Humanity Is The Devil
If
someone dares to ask me what is the musical "bible of The Holy Church
of Final Judgement", I wouldn't hesitate twice saying that is the
spiritual guide to the inevitable destruction of mankind as the supreme
act of love you're looking for. Originally released in 1995 by Victory
Records, Humanity Is The Devil is considered by many the magna opus
of Integrity. As a curious fact, the front cover features Abraxas, an
ancient entity worshipped by gnostic basilidians that represented, in
most cases, the duality of good and evil, and was designed by Pushead
(Septic Death).
Compared to Integrity's works prior to this release, we see a more refined and mature sound without leaving behind the glorious
metallic hardcore punk
style of the time. Also, the last two songs have harsh noise, ambient
and experimental music influences in the same vein of Psywarfare and
Rapewhistle, Hellion's side projects. In fact, some reissues of the
record mention Psywarfare in the credits (You can listen to Psywarfare's
From Xicotepec with Love and
Process of Elimination EP, as well as
Rapewhistle). And, this is the first hardcore punk record ever having
Processean references and symbols on it.
Now, one of the most interesting features of this superb record, it's the last track, Humanity Is The Devil, because it has a strange manifesto that nourrish most of Holy Terror Church philosophy.
It's been said that god would offer eternal bliss after 70 years of
perpetual slavery. Humanity obviously refused this and opted for a more
"free" yet material life. This decision, alongside the constant battle
between angels and demons, emphasizing that the latter walk among us
seeding pain and suffering, the inevitable destruction of mankind is a
fact. Humanity is doomed per se and nothing can change that.
Finally,
you should get this record. Even though most recent Integrity material
is darker and more complex, this is an excellent introduction to this Holy Terror
madness and is also one of the best hardcore punk records in the 90s.
Last year, it was remixed and remastered by Magic Bullet Records and
also reissued this year by Organized Crime Records. I strongly recommend
the latter because it's closer to the original release with a "special
feature" contained in the last track, absent in most of reissues. Click
on the image to be redirected to Holy Terror Records (Hellion's record
label, formerly known as Holy Terror Church of Final Judgement Records.
Coincidence?) official bandcamp account and get this masterpiece at a
good price. You'll be really pleased with the aforementioned "surprise".
Go on and listen to it. Mandatory adquisition. Enjoy!
Gehenna - Negotium Perambulans In Tenebris
If
I'm not mistaken, this is the first full-length of this amazing
California-based hardcore punk band. This record was originally released
in 2000 by Crawlspace Recordings and later reissued by Magic Bullet
Records (CD version) and A389 Recordings (LP version) in 2013.
Gehenna,
today known as The Valley of the Son of Hinnom, is a place outside the
Old Jerusalem (more precisely south to Mount Zion) and the Jewish and
Christian analogue of hell.
As a curious fact, only the
first LP release also featured an alternative black front cover due to
the shocking value behind of the original. Something similar that
happened with Carcass'
Reek of Putrefaction. Also, the name of
the record (translated to English as "Business walking in darkness") is
mentioned in the Bible and was mistakenly translated to English in
Negotiam Perambulans, a short story written by english writer E.F. Benson, whose writing style is compared to H.P. Lovecraft's.
Regarding
the sound, Gehenna is one of the first hardcore punk bands that
perfectly mixes hardcore punk with black metal. If something named as
blackcore ever existed (I'm glad this never happened...well, kinda...damn you,
dark hardcore!!!), probably this band, alongside with the first
blackened crust
groups, would be the first reference to it. Also, their lyrics evoke
different topics like war, fear, hate, death, individualism and, of
course, total fucking destruction of mankind.
Finally, I
recommend you this album. Click on the image and you'll be redirected
to Gehenna's official bandcamp account. Oh, I almost forgot. If you get
Magic Bullet Recrords' reissue, you'll get an extra track,
Yes Ma'am,
which is a D.R.I. cover and, if you get the A389 Recordings version,
just like the original LP release, you'll get another extra track, the
Bite It You Scum cover, originally recorded by G.G. Allin. Also, get the Gehenna's
The War Of The Sons Of Light And The Suns Of Darkness
LP/CD, originally released in 1998 by the anarchist collective
Crimethinc. with a 2013 reissue by A389 Recordings, which contains
material prior to the release of
Negotium... Pretty good stuff. Mandatory adquisition. Enjoy!
Ringworm - The Promise
Another outstanding
Clevo hardcore punk band, whose sound has been a huge influence to almost all of the
Holy Terror
bands, as well as different modern hardcore punk and metalcore bands.
This is their first album, and most well-known work, originally released
in 1993 by Indecision Records
. It's regarded by many as one the
best and most iconic 90s hardcore punk albums and, of course, it's one
of my favorite hardcore punk records.
Regarding
the sound, Ringworm took the best of late 80's hardcore punk mixed with
a metallic touch, as well as a "darker" approach.
Their lyrics
are heavily influenced by different "negative" states of mind and old
horror films. This band, as well as Integrity and Gehenna, was also
labeled as
Holy Terror in the 90s,
but they never seemed to despise this
. In
fact, I read an interview where Human Furnace, vocalist of the band,
said that they were really proud of being a musical influence for the
movement.
Finally, I'm not really sure if
Ringworm nowadays is a disciple of the Holy Terror Church of Final
Judgement, but they're good and close friends to Integrity. You should
get this amazing record. Click on the image and you will be redirected
to Ringworm's official bandcamp account, where the 2003 reissue is
available. This reissue was released by Deathwish, featuring a different
front cover from the original 1993 release, with the anotation that the
tracks number 1 and 2 and 9 and 10 are respectively combined, as well
as adding the original demo and a live version of
Deuce, a Kiss cover, as bonus tracks. For an unknown reason,
Gimme Sopor,
a Angry Samoans cover, is absent. And, A389 Recordings re-released the
original 1993 release in 2009 with the original artwork (a picture of
different demons) with the anotation of the combined tracks and the
omission of the Angry Samoans cover.
Mandatory adquisition. Enjoy.
Catharsis - self-titled
In this special, we couldn't left behind the band that first coined the term
Holy Terror. The first reference started when Brian, vocalist of Catharsis, wrote an article in his ancient fanzine
Inside Front
about emerging metalcore bands in the 90s that had a relentless sound
mixed with dark and apocalyptic lyrics like Integrity and Gehenna. In
fact, some of these bands, for example, Gehenna, despised the term but
would later embrace it in recent years.
Even though this band has never officially been linked to the
Holy Terror
movement, its sound has been a big influence. And, their record label,
the anarchist collective Crimethinc., formerly known as Inside Front
records, released some early works of Integrity and Gehenna (We already
featured some compilations of this label, you can refresh your memory
here:
http://lamortdunemoderniste.blogspot.com.co/2015/12/penultima-entrada-del-ano-addenda.html.
It's in Spanish, though). In fact, they were close friends in the 90s
but each one would eventually take its own path...
Now, I decided to feature the first Catharsis 7" because later superb works like
Passion and
Samsara (that
have been an influence in my life) will be featured in the near future
with other purposes. Promised. Also, in musical terms, this record marks
the beginning of the sonic madness Catharsis is known for. It should be
noted that some lyrics of this record are weird reinterpretations of
some passages of the Bible, (de)constructing an abstract and complex
comprehension of this decaying and material world anticipating a prelude
of destruction. Cool.
Finally, this the Crimethinc.
edition, released in 1996, that compiles the original Endless Fight
Records release of the same year, with their 1995 demo (named
Fall) tracks, two covers of
Sick People (Breakdown) and
Our Fight
(Confront), previously unreleased and with some minor changes in the
lyrics, and the whole 7" tracks played backwards and in reversed order,
as bonus tracks. Click on the image to download this interesting work.
Sadly, I don't have the inserts but I added the original 7" artwork with
lyrics for your amusement. Mandatory download. Enjoy!
Pale Creation - Wake Of Temptation
Pale Creation is a Cleveland-based hardcore punk band formed back in 1994. They have a self-titled (1994),
Twilight Haunt
(1999), this record (2010) and different splits with Repugnant (2000),
Hessian (2012), Integrity (2010) and Abraxis (2012). There's also an
anthology that compiles most of their work named
Before Twilight and After,
released by Holy Terror Records in 2008. As a curious fact, they also
participated in the legendary Cleveland Hardcore compilation
Dark Empire Strikes Back.
Regarding
the sound, Pale Creation plays metalcore in the same vein of Integrity
and Gehenna, although some songs have interesting
stoner rock and
goth rock influences mixed with clean vocals, complex guitar riffs, and
slow and introspective interludes that finish with brutal
breakdowns. And, of course, the lyrics have the
Holy Terror trademark. It's one of the few
Holy Terror bands that don't use the complex symbolism imagery they're known for.
Finally,
give it a try. It's pretty neat. Click on the image, and you'll be
redirected to A389 Recordings'
official bandcamp account where you can listen to it and get it. If you
dig 90s hardcore bands like Mean Season and Strain and want to hear Pale
Creation's classic sound, get
Twilight Haunt, this one is for you. Also, some members of Pale Creation, Integrity and VEGAS had an superb acoustic side-project named
Roses Never Fade. It's dark and creepy as fuck. Highly recommended. Enjoy!.
Creepout - OVSKVERE TORTVRED ORDER
Ah...Japan...It's
a country that never stops to impress me. Japanese hardcore punk bands
explore every hardcore punk subgenre surpassing their limits and this
enigmatic group is not an exception to this rule. They formed way back
in 2004 with beatdown influences (yes, there are japanese bands
that play this way) paying tribute to NYHC and Cleveland Hardcore
styles. With the release of the split with Integrity - Love Is...The Only Weapon (the name is an obvious Holy Terror reference), Creepout changed its image...
OVSKVERE TORTVRED ORDER is the first full-length that confirms the new shift the band took. Unlike other Holy Terror related bands, the sound of Creepout is closer to modern beatdown
bands. So, you can imagine a Hatebreed-influenced sound mixed with the
occult and individualistic attitude of Integrity. Also, this is their
first record where Holy Terror imagery and references are more common (even the band's name uses the same font as Integrity does).
Finally, I recommend you this band. We're not really used to post beatdown
related groups but this one really rocks. Click on the image and you'll
download this amazing album. Also, you can check their official
bandcamp account (http://creepoutjapan.bandcamp.com) where you can listen to their latest release SON OV A VVITCH EP.
And, I encourage you to get their split with Integrity. It's monstrous
as fuck and has a top-notch presentation. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Blind To Faith - Under The Heptagram
This
is the second album of this outstanding Belgium/Netherlands hardcore
"supergroup" (it features members from Reproach, Rise And Fall, Amen Ra,
Skullhog, Inhume and Lifespite). It's one of the best european modern
hardcore bands nowadays. As a curious fact, the heptagram is a symbol
used by ancient alchemists for representing the 7 planets known at the
time and it's also used for Babalon (the Great Mother of Abominations
representing the female sexual impulse and the liberated woman) in
Theleman law, among other interpretations.
Regarding the sound, Blind to Faith mixes
la crème de la crème of
both hardcore punk and extreme metal alike. Thus, we find different
influences from groups like Repulsion, Celtic Frost, Bathory, Entombed,
Ringworm, Gehenna and Discharge, among others. And, as you may expect,
the lyrics are filled with an impressive violent, lawless and pure
attitude. The band itself says that their musical agent is Richard
Ramirez, so you know what you'll get from them...
Finally,
I highly recommend this masterpiece. Click on the image, and you'll be
redirected to A389 Recordings' official bandcamp account where you can
listen to it and get it. It's worth it. Also, get their
The Seven Fat Years Are Over EP
and the split with Gehenna (both released by Holy Terror Records).
They're fucking amazing. If you're looking for some raw, violent, and
dissonant sound attack, this is the right place. Highly recommended.
Enjoy!
VEGAS - Sagevisule
VEGAS (also known as VVEGAS)
is
a Belize-based german hardcore punk band, whose mastermind is an
enigmatic yet charismatic man known as "T", formed back in 1999
. In
the same fashion as G.I.S.M., the acronym VEGAS has different
interpretations. For example, V.enerous E.idetic G.alimatias
A.boulomaniac S.chizogenesis, V.eritas E.nquesta G.uerra A.rratum
S.anctuarium and V.raiment E.ffrayé G.amin A.tavique S.ang. The two
latter names were used for some limited edition records during their
Japan and Australian tours last year.
Regarding the
sound, VEGAS has 90s hardcore punk influences like Integrity, Ringworm
and Catharsis, as well as japanese hardcore punk influences like
G.I.S.M. and Zouo. There are some songs with a more experimental
approach but in general terms they play fast and rabid straightforward
metalcore like most of
Holy Terror bands. Also, most of their lyrics display the same attitudes as the bands posted so far and
in differents languages (english, french, german, italian and portuguese). We do hope some record with spanish lyrics in the near future.
Finally, you should check this amazing musical project. It has the best elements of
Holy Terror with an interesting touch. Also, you should check out their
split with Integrity
, which
pays tribute to british comedy artists Dudley Moore and Peter Cook and
it has a superb artwork as well as a full size 24x36 movie poster print
"promoting" the collaboration between thes two
Holy Terror powerhouse bands. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Rot In Hell - Hallways Of The Always
This
is a compilation of the early works (including demo, first 7" and
shared splits with different bands, as well as top-notch Meanstreak,
Integrity, Inronside and Last Rites covers) of this brutal UK-based
Holy Terror
band. It was released by A389 Recordings in 2015. So, you will find the
best of Integrity and Ringworm's sound in the 90s with a superb modern
hardcore punk touch displaying
"musical terrorism with an extreme religious manifesto". Also, this is an amazing apéro for their brutal Deathwish debut As Pearls Before Swine.
So, you'll be asking, why so short this review? Well, the band itself
gladly ask me to do it this way...No, I'm joking. Finally, you should
get all of Rot In Hell records. It's worth it. Mandatory download.
Enjoy!
Withdrawal - Faith, Flesh and Blood
This
is the second album of these Canadian disciples of the Holy Terror
Church of Final Judgement. I chose this record because it's their most
well-known and, in my humble opinion, their best work. Also, they have a
superb split with
blackened crust fellows Young And In The Way (already featured in our infamous
neocrust/blackened crust
special). Finally, you'll get everything you'd expect from a Holy
Terror band (just like the last record, we won't say more about it).
Highly recommended. Enjoy!
AVM - Shokography
This
is a fascinating and cryptic Japan-based (allegedly)
G.I.S.M.-influenced noisy hardcore punk project. No one knows who they
are and it's been said that they have forbidden going to USA for
national security reasons...Well, this is absolutely getting out of
control...But, we don't care. Anyway, this compiles their splits with
Integrity and Cape of Bats. Click on the image, and you'll be redirected
to Holy Terror Records official bandcamp account where you can listen
to this superb record. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Broken Cross - Anti-Human Life
This a Sweden-based one-man musical project that draws influences from
Holy Terror, "metal punk", early black metal and noise for creating this impressive experience. Broken Cross has already released 4 records:
New World Soldier (2011), this record (2013),
Secret Destruction (2014) and
Through Light To Night
(2015). And, as you may expect, this project displays the auditive
terrorism Holy Terror bands are known for. Click to the image, and
you'll be redirected to the official bandcamp acoount. Highly
recommended. Enjoy!
OEDE - One Man's Trash 7"
This a Norway-based one-man dark
ambient noise musical project.
The name of the record, as well as the brief musical description, says
it all. You can imagine Burzum and Psywarfare combined in a deep dark
electronic ambient jail in Hell, for getting an idea of what this superb
project does. Some songs have southern american folk rock, blues and
creole influences. And, of course, he's a
Holy Terror partisan. Finally, OEDE has been a curator of different
blackened musical projects. In the near future we'll feature two of them. Just wait and see. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Vermapyre
This is the most recent Hellion's experimental music project. It shares the same musical taste and approach like OEDE.
Hellion describes himself the project like this: "
Vaudevillian horror soundtrack performed on home made instruments. Flickering imagery haunts, concealing the forgotten past
of our vaudevillian
apparition. Distorted, broken sounds from the deteriorated reels of many
lost, 1920s silent era horror film devours the listener within the
blackened, grit-pocked nightmare that is conjured through the home-made
electric cigar box guitar". The only exception is the song Return Of The Sorcerer, featured in the split with japanese "metal punk" outfit Parasite, that has
blackened
hardcore punk influences. We do hope in the near future songs like this
one. Click on the image and you'll be redirected to Vermapyre's
official website where you can listen and download their works. Also, if
you can get their split with Saturnian Tempel, a french dark ambient
project. It's pretty amazing. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
Shades of Mankind - Songs Thou Shall Worship
Last but not least, we finish this special with this outstanding brazilian grindcore band. They mix crust, black metal, deathgrind, and
Holy Terror
perfectly. I never thought listening to something like this. I really
enjoyed it. In the other hand, I'm not really sure if they're disciples
of the Holy Terror Church of Final Judgement, but they use the same
imagery, symbols and their music and lyrics are influenced by Integrity.
Now, this record has amazing Integrity, Cro-Mags, Impaled Nazarene,
Eyehategod, Nasum and Amebix covers. You should obey the title. Those
covered songs are mandatory for any hardcore punk and extreme metal fan.
Finally, check this band out. It's pure gold. Highly recommended.
Enjoy!