Archives of the Dead part VI: Astaroth –
Operation Warlord (EP 1994 - Teutonic Existence Records)
Recording line up: Teemu Vähäkangas (guitars), Kuisma Uotila (vocals, bass), Remmu Mäkilaine (drums), Hessu Rantanen (guitars)
Recorded and mixed at Soundwall Studio, Seinäjoki, December 1994.
And one more completely unknown band; one which
back in the old days never really been too recognized and nowadays is only
known and remembered by only very few maniacs… Band, which never went anywhere
further than releasing few demos and the traditional 7”EP single... I am
talking about Finnish troop called Astaroth. Well, about the band I cannot say
anything more than what we can find on Metal Archives, so Astaroth was formed
in 1988 and released several demo tapes between 1990 and 1994 and then they’ve
done “Operation Warlord” EP in 1995. Their last demo was released in 2000, so it
looks like Astaroth never managed to interest any labels with their music
(well, except Teutonic Existence from Holland, who’re responsible for putting
out the single). Does that mean that their music was so bad? I don’t think so,
it was actually pretty decent, but the problem was I think that death metal
wasn’t so popular anymore in the mid 90’s and not many labels cared about signing
small bands, which were playing this style of music. Astaroth was one of many
and one which was just destined to perish in the crowd.
But as I already mentioned “Operation Warlord”
EP is not so bad. I quite like the riffing and the production of these two
songs, which really reminds me mid 90’s Benediction, with maybe some more
thrashing parts here and there. But there are even some more doomy, kind of
early Paradise Lost moments, with some slow, melancholic melodies (like in the
title song), so really the whole music on the EP is varied and structured. But the
music reminds me mainly Benediction, from such LPs as “The Dreams You Dread” –
guitar tone, the riffing, the vocals are all quite alike, so is the feeling of
the music. Astaroth is pretty good at what they were doing. Maybe the music is
not for those, who prefer blasting, brutal and massive death metal; “Operation
Warlord” is more or less mid paced and slow, speaking of the tempos, but it
works well enough for my taste. Sure, it would be nice if the music had some
more power and aggression, but whatever… It is OK. And when I listen to “Operation
Warlord” I wonder what the demos of Astaroth were like; because if they were
anything like this EP and maybe had more rawer and violent production then it
could have been a nice stuff. I definitely will keep my eye open for some more
music of this Finnish band.
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