Here's the contents of the last newsletter I sent to everyone on my email list. If you're not on it let me know at lee@elitistrecords.co.uk and I'll add you.
Some of this stuff I've already posted, but there's a few new bits.
Check out the Rakoth review at the bottom. This is what this band does to people
Lee
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the latest newsletter from Elitist Records. For those
unfamiliar with the label, we're an imprint of Earache Records
specialising in state-of-the-art and cutting-edge underground
metal. So far we have four bands on our roster, namely Ephel
Duath, Rakoth, Without Face and Forest Stream. More about
those bands later.
Firstly I'm pleased to announce that our website is finally online at
http://www.elitistrecords.co.uk . Please let me know what you
think. Our aim at Elitist is to always try and be sure that our web
presence stays one step ahead in terms of design and structure,
and the website will evolve accordingly in the future. By following
the "flashing" links you can download pictures, MP3s, visit our
forum and more. If you wish to trade links please get in touch.
The Ephel Duath CD "Rephormula" has now been out for a
couple of months and the response has been great on the whole.
Davide from the band came to the UK for interviews and photo
shoots with Kerrang, Terrorizer and TotalRock, the album got
8/10 in UK's Metal Hammer, KKKK in Kerrang, 8/10 in BW&BK
plus many more great reviews and interviews around the world. If
you've still not heard this fantastic album, then you're missing out.
There's an MP3 to download on the new website. Check it out.
The next releases from Elitist will be in May / June (still to be
confirmed):
Firstly we will release the new album from the Hungarian
progressive metallers Without Face. Entitled "Astronomicon", it will
usher in a new era for the band. Their debut album "Deep Inside",
originally released on the Hungarian based Hammer label, was
recently re-released by Dark Symphonies to much acclaim. Now
two years on from those recordings, Without Face have built on
those foundations and can promise an album packed with finely
crafted, technically perfect and convincingly executed songs. The
band meld stunning dual male / female vocals with musical
influences from the likes of Death and Dream Theater to a wholly
unique effect. We will upload a track from the new album to the
website as soon as we are able. You can also check out the
band's website at www.withoutface.com
Secondly we will be re-releasing "Planeshift", the debut album
from Russian avant-garde maestros Rakoth. Code666 of Italy
originally released it in 1999 where it was hailed by most who
heard it to be a genuine masterpiece. The album received an
unprecedented 100% in Aardshok magazine, 6/6 in Norway's
Scream magazine and many, many more in similar vein. We will be
completely re-mastering this album, with the duties being handled
by Tim Turan (who has previously worked with Emperor, Opeth
and many more), there'll be brand new artwork and the first 3000
copies will come in a Digipac case. Scream's review of the album
has been added to the bottom of this page.
Rakoth will be recording their first album for Elitist in the early
summer. No title or song titles are available at this time. Rustam of
the band had the following to say about what direction the album
might take: "The only thing I can say is that it's definitely less
"fantasy" or "medieval" sounding than the previous albums.
Personally I thought that it's absolutely different from what we did
before but when I just let some various (independent) people listen
to those unfinished pieces they all said "pure Rakoth!" Maybe it is
the same "epic" and pompous vein... I think new material is more
like "Planeshift" than "Jabberworks". Though, of course, it differs
a lot from both". We'll let you know more as soon as we can.
Forest Stream are presently recording their debut album "Tears Of
Mortal Solitude" in their own studio based near Moscow, Russia.
"Tears..." will be the first in a trilogy, with the albums following a
"All The Sorrow", "All The Majesty" and "All The Hate"
sequence. "Tears..." will showcase the "All The Sorrow" aspect,
with the music and lyrics predominately of a black / doom nature.
Bleak and unforgiving, this album promises to be a suicidal,
crestfallen classic. The band is also working on the artwork for the
trilogy of albums, where the secrets to the concept will be
revealed and pieced together like a jigsaw, only to make complete
sense once the final fragments are in place. Unique plans are
afoot to make it wholly interactive by adding clues and riddles that
will eventually lead to someone winning a very special prize.
Again, more when we have it.
Ephel Duath has put a full band together and a presently
rehearsing the new material. The sound is said to be more
"organic" than the Rephormula debut, and the early indications of
the material show a far more progressive, almost jazzy nature.
Davide Tiso is going to prove that the stylistic, futuristic creativity
of Ephel Duath's debut album was in no way a fluke. Be prepared
for black metal to be taken to an entirely new level. Check out the
band's stylish website at www.ephelduath.net
We hope to announce another two new signings in the very near
future. We're just ironing out the contractual details, but as soon
as we have any definite news you'll be the first to know.
If you have any questions then please email me or post something
in our online forum.
Best regards
Lee B - Elitist A&R
Here's the Rakoth review from Scream magazine (Norway). I
couldn't have put it better myself!
RAKOTH
"Planeshift"
6 pts. (Reviewed in Scream # 51 by; AJ. Bliztenokov)
Eternal Almighty of the seven heavens! How am I to describe my
feeling for this band and their music? I have discovered a new
world, a new horizon, a totally new sphere. My defence is all
gone, like dust in the wind. Everything's gone. I'm numb all over,
hit to the ground. Rakoth's flute and the melodic keyboard magic
are divine elements in their brutal and beautiful music that humans
can't have created. The inner core of beauty yet to be discovered
must have given it to Rakoth in a dream or a revelation. The
glittering melody splendour and the incredible atmosphere are
strengthened through beautiful clean vocals and devil vocal cords
from the dark underworld. The brutalbaroqueflutish (!) and
atmospherehymnical metal from this Russian band is visionary and
absorbing. A new ground metal is found. I reach for the light! I'm
floating! I'm in Rakoth's power!!
Some of this stuff I've already posted, but there's a few new bits.
Check out the Rakoth review at the bottom. This is what this band does to people
Lee
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the latest newsletter from Elitist Records. For those
unfamiliar with the label, we're an imprint of Earache Records
specialising in state-of-the-art and cutting-edge underground
metal. So far we have four bands on our roster, namely Ephel
Duath, Rakoth, Without Face and Forest Stream. More about
those bands later.
Firstly I'm pleased to announce that our website is finally online at
http://www.elitistrecords.co.uk . Please let me know what you
think. Our aim at Elitist is to always try and be sure that our web
presence stays one step ahead in terms of design and structure,
and the website will evolve accordingly in the future. By following
the "flashing" links you can download pictures, MP3s, visit our
forum and more. If you wish to trade links please get in touch.
The Ephel Duath CD "Rephormula" has now been out for a
couple of months and the response has been great on the whole.
Davide from the band came to the UK for interviews and photo
shoots with Kerrang, Terrorizer and TotalRock, the album got
8/10 in UK's Metal Hammer, KKKK in Kerrang, 8/10 in BW&BK
plus many more great reviews and interviews around the world. If
you've still not heard this fantastic album, then you're missing out.
There's an MP3 to download on the new website. Check it out.
The next releases from Elitist will be in May / June (still to be
confirmed):
Firstly we will release the new album from the Hungarian
progressive metallers Without Face. Entitled "Astronomicon", it will
usher in a new era for the band. Their debut album "Deep Inside",
originally released on the Hungarian based Hammer label, was
recently re-released by Dark Symphonies to much acclaim. Now
two years on from those recordings, Without Face have built on
those foundations and can promise an album packed with finely
crafted, technically perfect and convincingly executed songs. The
band meld stunning dual male / female vocals with musical
influences from the likes of Death and Dream Theater to a wholly
unique effect. We will upload a track from the new album to the
website as soon as we are able. You can also check out the
band's website at www.withoutface.com
Secondly we will be re-releasing "Planeshift", the debut album
from Russian avant-garde maestros Rakoth. Code666 of Italy
originally released it in 1999 where it was hailed by most who
heard it to be a genuine masterpiece. The album received an
unprecedented 100% in Aardshok magazine, 6/6 in Norway's
Scream magazine and many, many more in similar vein. We will be
completely re-mastering this album, with the duties being handled
by Tim Turan (who has previously worked with Emperor, Opeth
and many more), there'll be brand new artwork and the first 3000
copies will come in a Digipac case. Scream's review of the album
has been added to the bottom of this page.
Rakoth will be recording their first album for Elitist in the early
summer. No title or song titles are available at this time. Rustam of
the band had the following to say about what direction the album
might take: "The only thing I can say is that it's definitely less
"fantasy" or "medieval" sounding than the previous albums.
Personally I thought that it's absolutely different from what we did
before but when I just let some various (independent) people listen
to those unfinished pieces they all said "pure Rakoth!" Maybe it is
the same "epic" and pompous vein... I think new material is more
like "Planeshift" than "Jabberworks". Though, of course, it differs
a lot from both". We'll let you know more as soon as we can.
Forest Stream are presently recording their debut album "Tears Of
Mortal Solitude" in their own studio based near Moscow, Russia.
"Tears..." will be the first in a trilogy, with the albums following a
"All The Sorrow", "All The Majesty" and "All The Hate"
sequence. "Tears..." will showcase the "All The Sorrow" aspect,
with the music and lyrics predominately of a black / doom nature.
Bleak and unforgiving, this album promises to be a suicidal,
crestfallen classic. The band is also working on the artwork for the
trilogy of albums, where the secrets to the concept will be
revealed and pieced together like a jigsaw, only to make complete
sense once the final fragments are in place. Unique plans are
afoot to make it wholly interactive by adding clues and riddles that
will eventually lead to someone winning a very special prize.
Again, more when we have it.
Ephel Duath has put a full band together and a presently
rehearsing the new material. The sound is said to be more
"organic" than the Rephormula debut, and the early indications of
the material show a far more progressive, almost jazzy nature.
Davide Tiso is going to prove that the stylistic, futuristic creativity
of Ephel Duath's debut album was in no way a fluke. Be prepared
for black metal to be taken to an entirely new level. Check out the
band's stylish website at www.ephelduath.net
We hope to announce another two new signings in the very near
future. We're just ironing out the contractual details, but as soon
as we have any definite news you'll be the first to know.
If you have any questions then please email me or post something
in our online forum.
Best regards
Lee B - Elitist A&R
Here's the Rakoth review from Scream magazine (Norway). I
couldn't have put it better myself!
RAKOTH
"Planeshift"
6 pts. (Reviewed in Scream # 51 by; AJ. Bliztenokov)
Eternal Almighty of the seven heavens! How am I to describe my
feeling for this band and their music? I have discovered a new
world, a new horizon, a totally new sphere. My defence is all
gone, like dust in the wind. Everything's gone. I'm numb all over,
hit to the ground. Rakoth's flute and the melodic keyboard magic
are divine elements in their brutal and beautiful music that humans
can't have created. The inner core of beauty yet to be discovered
must have given it to Rakoth in a dream or a revelation. The
glittering melody splendour and the incredible atmosphere are
strengthened through beautiful clean vocals and devil vocal cords
from the dark underworld. The brutalbaroqueflutish (!) and
atmospherehymnical metal from this Russian band is visionary and
absorbing. A new ground metal is found. I reach for the light! I'm
floating! I'm in Rakoth's power!!
