ANCIENT RITES - das neue Album der belgischen Metal-Legende
Metalheads,
freut Euch auf die Rückkehr von Belgiens Extrem-Metal-Legende ANCIENT RITES.
"Laguz" ist das sechste Studioalbum der Band, die bereits Ende der Achtziger startete und seitdem kontinuierlich für Furore sorgt.
Schon immer setzen Gunther Theys und seine Mannen auf eine Balance aus Härte und Anspruch, ignorieren Moden und Trends und ziehen unbeirrbar ihr eigenes Ding durch.
"Laguz" taucht tief in längst vergessene Welten ein, imponiert mit düsteren historischen Lyrics und kombiniert musikalisch harschen Metal mit klassischen Orchesterparts.
Das ANCIENT RITES-Universum ist um eine faszinierende Facette reicher!
ANCIENT RITES was created at the end of the 80’s. All members used to play in other bands before, rooted in early 80’s Heavy Metal but also pioneering in the first wave of Black and other extreme Metal genres. When the band was formed their music style and the entire concept of occult and historically inspired lyrics was far from being popular. It was an era when Glam and Alternative styles dominated the scene. Still, a local following was built up who called themselves the Ancient Rites Death Militia. The line-up consisted of JOHAN and PHILIP (guitars), STEFAN (drums) and GUNTHER (bass/vocals). One year later the "DARK RITUAL" demo was released and spread throughout the entire underground worldwide, still by old fashioned regular mail as it was the pre-internet age. Soon after the recordings PHILIP died in a car accident, problems forced the band to replace STEFAN by drum roadie WALTER (STEFAN took his own life) and JOHAN decided to leave the Metal scene. PASCAL and BART (guitars) joined and the "EVIL PREVAILS" ep ('92) was recorded and released through their own label FALLEN ANGEL RECORDS as initially no one was interested in signing a band in their style. The D.I.Y. attitude by releasing their own material and international underground contacts through tape trading spread the band name. The “Evil Prevails” sessions were released through several other record companies such as WILD RAGS (USA) and Colombian WARMASTER. PASCAL left the band when joining the Navy. As a three piece ANCIENT RITES released several split ep's (Belgian AFTER DARK RECORDS and Greek MOLON LAVE RECORDS), a split lp and appeared on several compilation albums. 1994 The debut full length album "THE DIABOLIC SERENADES" was released through AFTER DARK (CD version) and MIDIAN CREATIONS (LP format). Licensing deals were signed to guarantee a worldwide distribution (OSMOSE, MORBID NOIZZ). AFTER DARK turned out to be a total rip off and eventually ceased to exist leaving no penny for the band that had invested its own money in the recordings, artwork and photo sessions. In 1995 a deal was signed with Dutch MASCOT RECORDS and "BLASFEMIA ETERNAL" was released January '96. The band toured Europe and the U.K. several times and performed with acts such as DEICIDE, MOTÖRHEAD, JUDAS PRIEST, CRADLE OF FILTH, METALLICA, DISSECTION, MORBID ANGEL, S.O.D., MERCYFUL FATE, MARDUK, IMPALED NAZARENE, MANOWAR, SEPULTURA, VENOM, ROTTING CHRIST, GUNS ’N ROSES, BEHEMOTH, SAXON to mention a few. They also played the United States and Asia. Throughout the years of A.R.'s existence the band had to deal with a lot of misfortune (boycotts, bomb threats, hostile anti-B.M. audiences in an age when none of the few existing B.M. bands were touring, ripped off for large amounts of money by labels and promoters, members ending up in hospital or dying). However hardship can be turned into motivation. May '96 BART left the band which made A.R. a duo (WALTER & GUNTHER) working with session musicians. Guitarists of bands like PENTACLE, ABSU, KATATONIA, SWORDMASTER, LUCIFERIAN volunteered to give A.R. a helping hand. Although rooted in Flanders (Belgium) ANCIENT RITES slowly turned into an international act. On the third album entitled "FATHERLAND" (recorded February/March '98) musicians from Holland, Suomi-Finland, Germany and Belgium made their contribution consisting of ERIK (ex-INQUISITOR, guitars), JAN "ÖRKKI" (ex-PRESTIGE/TWO WITCHES/LACRIMOSA, guitars), WALTER (drums) and GUNTHER (bass/vocals). A compilation album entitled “THE FIRST DECADE 1989-1999” was released to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the band. After a negotiation and business transaction between the labels ANCIENT RITES moved from MASCOT RECORDS to HAMMERHEART RECORDS for which a fourth full length entitled “DIM CARCOSA” was recorded in winter 2000/2001. The album entered the independent Dutch charts on the 9th position. A Line-up change took place when DOMINGO SMETS (ex-RENAISSANCE/AGATHOCLES, keyboards) was replaced by DAVY WOUTERS (ex-OBLIVION). The Live CD/DVD “AND THE HORDES STOOD AS ONE” saw the light of day in 2003. Guitarist BART VANDEREYCKEN made his unexpected return to replace JAN YRLUND. The “RUBICON” album also marked the return of two other former band members: guitarist RAF JANSEN (who played with ANCIENT RITES during the BLASFEMIA ETERNAL tour) and DOMINGO SMETS on bass guitar. GUNTHER decided to concentrate on vocal duties in ANCIENT RITES. With this old/new line up combination the band released an album entitled “Rubicon” through Season of Mist. Today the band consists of WALTER VAN CORTENBERG (drums), ERIK SPROOTEN (guitars), DOMINGO SMETS (guitars) and GUNTHER THEYS (vocals) and a new album for MASSACRE RECORDS entitled “LAGUZ” is recorded. The journey of ANCIENT RITES is a long one, always distanced from popular trends and often against all odds. For years A.R. fans often refer to themselves as “Ancient Hordes” or more recently as “Leg I (A) XVIII (R) in the atmosphere of the ancient historical concept which is typical for the band. There always has been a strong and spontaneous bond between the band and their public, untouched by commercialism or latest fashions in the scene, away from rock star attitudes. This was celebrated on the live cd/dvd “AND THE HORDES STOOD AS ONE”. Through “LAGUZ” ANCIENT RITES mark a new chapter in the band’s history. As always, each album sounds different from the other, yet all works are recognisably ANCIENT RITES, displaying an own style and authenticity. “LAGUZ” is an invitation to enter long forgotten worlds through the dark/historical lyrics and the music, which combines fierce Metal with classical orchestrations in order to evoke era’s buried by time and dust. Testimonies of the rise and downfall of civilisations and individuals who come to life again when the heart and mind open to echoes from the past. Also philosophy is touched upon through a message of cultivating a positive inner strength while facing the storms in life. “Laguz” in A.R. tradition avoids lyrical and musical clichés which sometimes makes it a bit difficult to place the band for those who like to use typical terms to describe the universe of ANCIENT RITES.
ANCIENT RITES
Laguz
Massacre / Soulfood
VÖ: 20.02.2015
www.ancientrites.be
www.facebook.com/ancientrites
Quelle: Gordeon Music