Forgotten Silence

 Today in 2002 Forgotten Silence released the EP Yarim Ay

Rosice Czech Republic Experimental Progressive Death Metal/Folk/Jazz

Status:Active

Years active: 1993-present

Often it is the more remote, less traditional locales where truly original music can be found, and here is a case in point. Hailing from the Czech Republic, Forgotten Silence is really on to something here, with a style truly all their own that changes radically from one album to the next. Reviewing their last three albums, the styles range from the avant-garde death metal of Ka Ba Ach (replete with Hanka's wonderful jazzy mid-range vocals complementing death growls) to the experimental ethno-ambient work that is Bya Bamahe Neem to the clear 70's prog rock influences that are all over Kro Ni Ka. Of these three, Ka Ba Ach is the BNR favorite, a fascinating album that is highly recommended for those seeking an original twist on metal, but Kro Ni Ka is noteworthy as well. This is one of the most adventurous metal bands in existence, truly a hidden gem for those seeking something unique.

Independent

Krusty Vocals, Bass, Percussion

Hanka Nogolová Vocals (female)

Medvěd Guitars

Biggles Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Siki Cello

Side A

1. Göl / The Lake 08:13

2. Caminin Üzerindeki Sabah Ayı / The Morning Over The Mosque 04:58

Side B

3. Onward 08:07

21:18

7" picture disc vinyl.

One track with three parts.

A1 Göl / The Lake

A2 Caminin Üzerindeki Sabah Ayı / The Morning Over The Mosque

B Onward

Recording information:

Recorded & mixed at AudioLineStudio from August to October 2002.

Dionysus

 Today in 2002 Dionysus released there debut album Sign Of truth

Bålsta,Sweden Power Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1999-2008

Dionysus was formed by drummer Ronny Milianowicz around the time he left his previous band Sinergy, eventually recruiting a respected set of musicians, all of which have previous ties to various European metal bands in one way or another. What we have here is yet another classically Germanic-styled melodic speedy power metal band, featuring the familiar happy choruses and rollicking leads that are the mainstays of the genre. The same positives and negatives that apply to countless other bands in this field are applicable here, the positives being a sterling production, top-notch musicianship (guitarist Johnny Öhlin and vocalist Olaf Hayer both give excellent performances) and a general band tightness and maturity, with the negatives being very little in the way of originality -- really, there just isn't much here that makes Dionysus stand out as a unique band. Nevertheless, the aforementioned good points make this band a recommended one for Euro power metal fans. The band managed three albums between 2002 and 2006 before breaking up in 2008.

Painful Lust Records

Kaspar Keyboards

Nobby Bass

Johnny Guitars

Olaf Vocals

Ronny Drums

1. Time Will Tell 05:04

2. Sign of Truth 05:32

3. Bringer of Salvation 04:33

4. Pouring Rain 05:20

5. Anthem (For the Children) 05:36

6. Holy War 05:24

7. Don't Forget 06:03

8. Walk on Fire 05:57

9. Never Wait 05:47

10. Loaded Gun 05:11

54:27

Note:

The bonus track "Loaded Gun" is to be found on every version of the album since it was released as limited edition only all over the world.

Blood Duster

 Today in 2002 Blood Duster released the EP D.F.F.

Melbourne, Victoria,Australia Death Metal/Grindcore (early), Grind 'n' Roll (later)

Status:Active

Years active: 1991-present

Blood Duster's brand of grindcore, speed bursts, and 30-second songs would normally be far removed from what I prefer to listen to, but the newest, Str8 Outta Northcote, slows the overall pace a bit and mixes some ultra-heavy downtuned riffing that I find strangely compelling. The album covers (and probably lyrics as well, given some of their album/song titles) are pretty gruesome. The band at one time labelled their style "grinding death rock", and that seems an apt term, at least for Northcote. Their newer albums mark a return to the faster grindcore style of their earlier work.

High Voltage Productions Records

Jason P.C. Bass, Vocals, Drums (track -2)

Tony Vocals

M.Lo Pantz Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Matt Rizzo Drums, Vocals (backing), Guitars (track -2), Maracas

J.J.La whore Guitars

Guest/Session

Rob Wog Vocals (backing) (track 2)

Ja Vocals (track 2)

Rick Vocals (backing) (track 2)

Olivia Vocals (backing) (track 2)

Dianne Vocals (backing) (track 2)

Mike Filth Vocals (backing) (track 2)

Tommy Guitars (track -2)

Youngy Bass (track -2)

Andy Christ Hammond Organ (track 1)

1. Ornery Hornery 01:14

2. D.F.F. 02:09

3. 66.6 on Your FM Dial 00:49

4. Ticket to Ride / Htabbaskcalb Part 2 02:50

5. Let's Fuck (The Dwarves cover) 00:57

07:59

There are also 2 hidden tracks. They are found by holding the rewind button after the start of the first track.

1. The Spirit of Sore Throat has Long Since Died (00:17)

2. Painfull Noise Entitled "Htabbaskcalb" (04:03)

There is also another hidden track after "Lets Fuck"; it is 57:54 of silence

"D.F.F." stands for "Drink Fight Fuck".

Recording information:

Recorded at Toyland Studios (Northcote, Melbourne).

Bathory

 Today in 2002 Bathory released the album Nordland I

Stockholm,Sweden Black/Viking Metal (early), Thrash Metal (mid), Viking Metal (later)

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1983-2004

Bathory must be considered a major influence, either directly or indirectly, on virtually every black metal band in the last decade. It was Bathory, along with Venom, who helped pioneer the raw death/black style and gutteral vocals that are now standard in the genre. Basically a one-man band (with a scattered few early-career exceptions), Bathory's work have run the gamut from more simplistic Venom-ish fare (first two albums, the debut in particular) to a more epic, Manowar-ish style, steeped in Norse mythology, on much of the middle and later albums, to a more thrash-based style on releases such as Octagon. Quorthon (the man himself) also recorded apart from the Bathory name, releasing two albums under the name Quorthon, said to be very un-Bathory-like. The last releases were the two part Nordland effort released in 2002 and 2003, with an expected new album in 2004 cut short by the unfortunate and unexpected passing of Quorthon in June of that year.

Black Mark Production

Quorthon (R.I.P. 2004) – all instruments

1. Prelude (2:34)

2. Nordland (9:20)

3. Vinterblot (5:17)

4. Dragons Breath (6:45)

5. Ring of Gold (5:34)

6. Foreverdark Woods (8:06)

7. Broken Sword (5:34)

8. Great Hall Awaits a Fallen Brother (8:16)

9. Mother Earth Father Thunder (5:37)

10. Heimfard (2:12)

Total Time: 59:21

Recorded in July-September 2002.

The album was also released as a digipack

Nordland I is the eleventh studio album by Swedish extreme metal band Bathory. It was released on 18 November 2002, through Black Mark Productions. It is a return to the Viking metal of Bathory's middle period, and features songs mainly concerning Norse mythology. It was to be the first in a projected four-album set,[citation needed] but Quorthon only lived long enough to finish the first two volumes (2003's Nordland II being the second

Amon Amarth

 Today in 2002 Amon Amarth released the Versus the World

Stockholm,Sweden Melodic Death Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1988-1992 (as Scum), 1992-present

Amon Amarth is a card-carrying member of a healthy Swedish death metal scene. There is little here that hasn't been done (or is being done) by fellow bands such as Hypocrisy or perhaps (earlier) In Flames, but they do deliver crunchy, energetic death metal with conviction and style. They've settled into a comfortable groove now, as their last few albums are virtually interchangeable with each other in terms of style and quality.

Metal Blade Records

Johan Hegg Vocals

Ted Lundström Bass

Johan Söderberg Guitars

Olavi Mikkonen Guitars

Fredrik Andersson Drums

1. Death in Fire 04:54

2. For the Stabwounds in Our Backs 04:56

3. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard 05:47

4. Vs the World 05:22

5. Across the Rainbow Bridge 04:51

6. Down the Slopes of Death 04:08

7. Thousand Years of Oppression 05:41

8. Bloodshed 05:14

9. ...and Soon the World Will Cease to Be 06:57

47:50

Trivia:

- Track 4 is intentionally entitled "Vs the World" on most pressings.

Music video:

- Death in Fire

Recording information:

Recorded at Berno Studio in August 2002.

The Black League

 Today in 2001 The Black league released the album Utopia A.D.

Helsinki,Finland Gothic Metal,Stoner Metal

Status:Split-up

Years active: 1998-2014

Taneli Jarva's departure from Sentenced after that band's 1995 release Amok was mourned by many fans, and it can be argued that Sentenced hasn't quite been the same since. Five years later, Jarva returned in a new band, The Black League, with a style that is very much a continuation of the Amok style of dark metal, though in places the band stretches out a bit, such as on the excellent "Winter Winds Sing" and "The Everlasting", both of which would sound at home on Tiamat's A Deeper Kind Of Slumber. While Ichor and its followup Utopia A.D. fit solidly in the old Sentenced mold, the band's third album, 2004's Man's Ruin Revisited, was quite a different beast. Could the title be an homage to the now-defunct stoner rock record label Man's Ruin? Maybe not, and it may be just a coincidence, but this album, unlike its predecessors, isn't a dark metal album, but more a spirited, 70's-influenced hard rock album -- i.e. an album that would have fit perfectly on the Man's Ruin roster back in the day. A largely different lineup continued the progression away from their early style, with albums released in 2005 and 2009 before breaking up in 2014.

Spinefarm Records

Taneli Jarva Vocals, Lyrics

Alexi Ranta Guitars

Maike Valanne Guitars

Mikko "Florida" Laurila Bass

Kimmo "Sir" Luttinen Drums

Guest/Session

Mika Pohjola Keyboards (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13)

Nattu Khan Percussion (tracks 1, 6, 7, 12, 13)

1. Transit Gloria Mundi 02:41

2. Empiria 04:58

3. Voice of God 03:23

4. Day One 05:17

5. To Suffer & to Smile 05:02

6. Tedium Vitae 04:03

7. Harbour of Hatred 05:59

8. The Everlasting - Pt. IV 03:31

9. Rex Talionis 02:23

10. Blue Sky Magic 04:47

11. Citizen Cain 03:59

12. α/Ω, the Desert Song 04:01

13. Utopia Anno Zero 09:48

59:52

Front cover design and metallurgy by Susanna Jarva

Graphic design by Janne Peltonen

with art direction by Taneli Jarva

Live band photos by Pekka Ala-Aho

Transit and Utopia photos by Timo Mankinen

Keyboards on tracks 1/4/5/7/12/13 by Mika Pohjola

Percussion on tracks 1/6/7/12/13 by Nattu Khan alias Jarkko Latho

All music by The Leaguesmen, All lyrics by T. Jarva

Produced by Taneli Jarva

Recording information:

Recorded during the dog days of 2001 (June-August)

Drums recorded at TICO TICO, Kemi, with Ahti Kortelainen

Other instruments at SoundMix, Oulu with Mika Pohjola

Mixed in September 2001 at FINNVOX, Helsinki, by Mikko Karmila

and mastered by Mika Jussila

Eisregen

 Today in 1999 Eisregen released the EP Fleischfestival

Thuringia,Germany Gothic/Black/Death Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1995-present

German death metal band Eisregen is chiefly notable for singing in their native language rather than English and for being "indexed" by Die Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Medien (i.e., the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons). For example, the band's album Krebskolonie (1998) is prohibited from being played in public for audience members under the age of 18, a fate known as verbreitungsverbot, on account of its lyrics, which were deemed "grausamen, menschenverachtenden, frauenfeindlichen und verrohenden" (i.e., cruel, human-despising, misogynistic, and brutalizing). Other Eisregen albums, including Farbenfinsternis (2001) and Wundwasser (2004), were indexed as well -- actions that severely limited the band's commercial ability while at the same time engendering infamy. In fact, it was in the wake of Wundwasser's indexing that the band enjoyed its best chart debut to date, as Blutbahnen (2007) entered the German album chart at number 32.

Last Episode

Blutkehle Vocals

Yantit Drums

Bursche Lenz Guitars

2T Viola

Der Hölzer Bass

1. Des Heilands Haut (Album Version) 03:59

2. Zeit zu spielen (Version Extrem) 05:41

3. Herzblut 2000 05:03

4. Fleischhaus (Neueinspielung) 04:47

5. Scharlachrotes Kleid (Version Schopfheim) 04:06

23:36

Tracks 2-5 are re-recorded versions from earlier titles.

Re-released by Massacre Records in 2003 with Krebskolonie and a new artwork.