Interview with Tormentor of Bone Fragments!

Bone Fragments is a black metal band from the US. They recently released their second full-length Too Gruesome To Be Real. We had the chance to discuss the history of the band, the process of making a Bone Fragments album and much more with Tormentor (one of the two founding members). Enjoy!

Foul Feast: If you can, explain a litlle about how Bone Fragments formed.

Tormentor: Bone Fragments formed in 2006. At that time, it was just Phthisis and I. Our first demo was a four-song clown-themed black metal stint (Circus Maleficus) with two guitars, a drum machine, and an 8-track tascam in his basement. The initial idea behind the band was to fuse our two favorite things: black metal, and weird clown/circus music. Since then we've expanded and sort of ventured into other horror-esque themes.

FF: Too Gruesome To Be Real is in a sense, a concept album, where did the inspiration for this concept come from?

Tormentor: I've really gotten into the idea of concept albums because we are huge King Diamond fans. I love how he can tell a story with the lyrics and create the perfect music to match, so that's what has really inspired me to write lyrics that way. Our first full length, Dark Amusement, was a true concept album. We didn't really want to do that again, but the songs on Too Gruesome carried a similar vibe, so we wanted them to relate in some way. We knew this was going to be our "castle" album, so we decided that each song would represent some demonic being inhabiting this castle. Kind of goofy, I know, but it lends itself to a lot of creativity in the writing process, which makes it more fun.

FF: Bone Fragments has always had a unique sound, is this something that you strive to achieve with each release?

Tormentor: I don't think we set out with the intention of making an album weirder than the last, but we don't like to do the same thing over again. When the writing process starts we say, Ok, what sound do we want to achieve this time? I think we're just as surprised by the result as everyone else is. It has a lot to do with what kind of music we are listening to at the time, and what "mood" fits the time period. We've started talking about our next album, and I think it's safe to say it will be something we haven't done before. It's hard to establish any sort of fan base because our style doesn't stay the same. Like, we have some people who love Too Gruesome, but we also have a lot of people who have been following our stuff since Circus Maleficus and are disgruntled by the new album because it's not as raw. We never really plan out what we're going to do, it's always an adventure haha.

FF: The band started as a duo and has grown to a full lineup. How has this changed the writing process?

Tormentor: It really hasn't changed anything. The core of Bone Fragments is still the same - Phthisis primarily writes the music, and I do the lyrics. We kind of decide together how we want the sound to be. We both have a vision for the music, and together we make it take form. Then we share our ideas with the others who help us to round out the sound and bring it to completion. They pretty much let us do whatever crazy shit we want haha.

FF: How important is atmosphere to you when it comes to music?

Tormentor: Atmosphere is everything! When we do a CD, we are completely engulfed in that CD until it comes to completion. And when people listen to our CDs, we want to make sure that they are experiencing what we experience. Also when it comes to listening to other bands, we think the atmosphere is what either makes or breaks a CD. The music should make you feel something that you have never felt before, or take you to a mental place that you haven't been in a while. A rich atmospheric CD can be a total mind fuck.

FF: The album art on Too Gruesome To Be Real looks amazing, how did the concept of the Octobunny come up?

Tormentor: Haha, well, the song was originally just called Clawtooth, and was supposed to be about a demonic guardian beast prowling the woods outside the castle. As is typical metalhead style, one day we were having a super boring and nerdy conversation about how the plural of octopus is octopuses or octopodes, and I stupidly blurted out "Clawtooth the Octobunny". Anyway, it stuck, and we ended up corresponding with an artist in the U.K. (The Misnomer - awesome work check her out!!). We sent her some song titles to draw up some sketches, and she ended up coming up with the kickass pictures of the Octobunny and Dr. Slaughter, both of which we used in the booklet. Why a bunny? I don't know, we like them. We actually got a rabbit mid-way through making the CD and named him Goblin.

FF: Have you been pleased with the feedback you've received for the album so far?

Tormentor: Our feedback has always been very mixed, and we can appreciate that. Overall, I feel that Too Gruesome to be Real hasn't been as well received as Dark Amusement, but that doesn't bother us too much. Like I said, each album is going to be different from the last, so it isn't going to discourage us from doing the next one. It's funny because a lot of reviews from our earlier albums said the music had potential but the poor production held us back, and on Too Gruesome we really made some strides production-wise, and some people complained that we had lost our raw, unfiltered atmospheric sound. We just hope that people can see in our music what we see in it - a journey to a place more interesting than the bland existence that we live in, no matter how weird the music may be.

FF: Have you guys had the chance to do any shows since you've formed? It must be hard to find a lineup that your odd sound fits well with.

Tormentor: Yeah, live shows are pretty much impossible. We would love to do shows, definitely, but we would need some serious backup. Our recordings are very layered, with Phthisis on about three layers of guitar, plus keyboards, and I do bass and a layer of rhythm guitar. Without all the parts, the songs would't sound right, so we would need to look into getting a couple more people on guitar. I hope that in the future we can work something out to be able to do some live shows.

FF: Has any thought been put into the next Bone Fragments release yet?

Tormentor: Yeah definitely, we have been thinking about it, but we tend to have a long time between releases, so I don't expect to start any recording on it until next fall. Too Gruesome kind of burned us out, because we wanted everything to be perfect. We might try to do a old-skool style throw back EP to our earlier stuff before we do another full length. It's hard to tell - once we get involved in a CD, it will consume us until we finish it.

FF: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Tormentor: Well, I guess just that we know our stuff is kind of weird, but we want people to know that our music is very important to us. It is not a joke, it's just a way for us to escape and express ourselves, just like any other form of music. We really like feedback, love it or hate it, we like to know what people think. Thanks so much for the interview and review!

Sinstorm- Sinstorm

Sinstorm is a five piece black metal band from Los Angeles. The band describes their music as "vile melodic black metal". Sinstorm originally formed in 2005 and released one demo only to disband and reform in 2008, leaving Jeremy Barnes as the only original member. While the album does have some pretty good production, it does still capture the raw atmosphere that many bands try desperately to achieve. This album marks their first full-length and shows a band with some potential.

The guitar playing on the album is excellent. There are enough solos to melt the faces of everyone in a 100 mile radius. The tremolo picked sections are delivered with surgical precision and when laced with the machine gun approach drumming the outcome is nothing short of devastating. While this approach does work for them it may bore those who aren't into the intense "full speed ahead" style. It is clear that Sinstorm is capable of writing a solid track (which is shown many times on this release), they just need to find something extra to separate themselves from the pack.

The musical approach used on Sinstorm is very unrelenting. There is the constant pounding of blastbeats and so many things going on at once. The album almost has a constant claustrophobic feel. When all is said and done it is quite obvious that Sinstorm knows how to blend melody into their music without sacrificing the chaotic Throughout the albums playtime a decent amount of melody is incorporated into the sound. Luckily, unlike a good portion of other bands, Sinstorm is able channel in that melody without completely getting rid of their raw energy.

Overall Sinstorm may have the most original sound ever but they show a great deal of potential. It is also nice to see that the band included two fun covers at the end of the album. Type O Negative's "I Don't Wanna Be Me" and Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" are covered. Sinstorm add their own flare to the tracks and they definitely add to the overall entertainment factor. Apparently they are already recording their second studio album "Thy Deceiver" so it will not be long before we see if they can capitalize on the potential that is shown here. So all in all, this is a solid debut that shows the potential of a fairly new band. Fans of melodic black metal should give this one a listen.

Frosthammer- The Cold Wind Of Eternity

The Cold Wind Of Eternity marks Frosthammer's fifth release. Rather than making a big leap like they did with the past release they choose to expand the sound that we were all introduced to with Imagery Of the Forgotten Realm. This serves up a plentiful amount of melodies and keeps you guessing as to what will happen next. Prepare yourself for a feast of very dense and epic music.

There is very little on this demo that can even be considered black metal. Every single moment here is chock full of melody and it isn't often that you hear the guitar come into play. The atmosphere here is dark and mellow for the most part but every now and then the band does burst into an aggressive state. A solid example of this would be on the track "Where the Northern Wind Doth Blow Part 3 Abandoned In A Forest Of Wolves", the song starts with what is probably the most relaxing sound featured but not long after they explode into one of the more violent moments they have recorded. Sections like these keep the album from becoming dull and keeping hold of the listeners attention.

Another thing that is dominant on this album is the clean vocals. Throughout the string of releases it has been apparent that Frosthammer has added more and more each time. The clean vocals sound good and certainly fit the direction they have went in well. That isn't to say there are no harsh vocals. The unique raspy call is still used on occasion during the playtime of The Cold Wind Of Eternity. They also incorporate some spoken word parts, something that I am not normally a fan of but in the case of this record they work well.

Overall those who enjoyed Imagery Of the Forgotten Realm will probably enjoy this. Those who were turned off by the bands previous effort most likely won't be awed by this one. It is obvious that Frosthammer have found their sound with this release. Rather than releasing something that is filled with moments that one could say "Hey this reminds me off that song from (insert band name here)!" Frosthammer have chosen to put out something with a signature sound. Recommended for fans of music that, to put it simply just give off a dark vibe. It is almost hard for me to this metal but whatever it is, it's good in my book.

Frosthammer- Imagery Of the Forgotten Realm

Frosthammer is a Canadian black metal band and Imagery Of the Forgotten Realm is their third demo. The band has amped up their style and rather than just being driven by filth they seem to have thrown in an odd sense of beauty into the mix. This release is an odd symphonic black metal experience that can't be compared to the other bands that are abundant in the genre.

Rather than embracing the raw black metal sound the band explores a style that I can only describe as an epic movie soundtrack, with a little pinch of black metal thrown in for good measure. The band manages to create a very sinister sound that is similar to looking into pure darkness and walking blindly hoping nothing is waiting to harm you. Having previously heard Winter's Embrace this demo came out to be quite a surprise. Much unlike the previous release this demo is very far off from that old school sound that the band had harnessed. Frosthammer incorporates many symphonic elements, and rather than have the dense sound that was displayed, they take a leap of faith into a more synth driven realm that could have very easily been disastrous. Though the new sound brought forth on this demo may turn purist it will most likely also attract a new audience.

The eerie atmosphere that was dominant in Winter's Embrace is stronger than ever here. The clean vocals play a key factor in this, they add a certain feeling of doom to the mix. The melodies put images in the listener's head, at times the music would seem to be fitting background music to an epic battle or someone walking a long hall to the room they will be executed in. The bottom line is atmosphere plays just as big a role as any instrument on this release. The vocals are a mix of harsh and cleans. The clean vocals are used much more than they were on the past release. None of the vocal styles used here a powerful so to speak but the raspy cries have a fairly distinct sound.

Overall Imagery Of the Forgotten Realm is a big step in another direction when compared to the bands previous work. Whether it is a step up from what they were doing is for the individual to decide. The musicians in Frosthammer clearly know how to write songs and have the ability to make great things (which is shown on all their releases). Fans of straight up black metal may not enjoy this as much but people who aren't afraid of a little change should give it a shot.

Sanhedrin- Salvation Through Sin

Sanhedrin is a melodic blackened death metal band from the UK. The band formed in 2009 and has since released a demo and this full-length. They are armed with corpsepaint, keyboards, and some decent writing abilities. It is obvious when looking at the layout of the album and listening to the sound quality that this band takes their music very serious and aren't just some bedroom headbangers beating their instruments to death into a Guitar Hero microphone. For a debut full-length Sanhedrin definitely shows a great deal of potential.

The first thing that will come to the listeners attention is that Sanhedrin emphasizes keyboards in a big way. For many this may be a turn off (in most cases myself included) but somehow Sanhedrin manages to incorporate this element in a way that doesn't take away from the overall sound. This element actually beefs up the already epic atmosphere quite a bit and does so without becoming tedious. Salvation Through Sin is one of those albums that just simply works better when listened to from start to finish. This can be see as a pro or a con based on your personal point of view but in order to get the full experience it is a must.

The guitar playing on the album isn't anything particularly fancy, but it does fit what they do quite well and when intertwined with their ability to create a good song structure all in all, it comes out very effective. The vocals here are very interesting. Come to think of it, there isn't another vocalist that comes to mind to compare the style used here to. A mid ranged harsh vocal is used throughout most of the playtime and it can't really be described as a growl or a scream. Holloway has a fairly distinct voice and even though it is a harsh style it comes across as effortless in deliver which adds an interesting vibe to the performance.

Overall Salvation Through Sin isn't anything new or groundbreaking. The band still continuously holds your attention and shows enough skill in their style to make this release a success. It isn't often you find a band playing this style that doesn't go completely overboard with the symphonic elements, but luckily in this bands case they have no problem knowing when and where to draw the line. Many people will compare this release to bands like Dimmu Borgir but in more ways than one it seems that Sanhedrin has a better grasp on creating enjoyable music. Don't go into this expecting to have you mind blown and I think you'll be extremely happy with the result.

Withering Soul- No Closure

 Withering Soul is a melodic black metal band from Illinois. No Closure is their second full-length, the album is filled with gothic influenced black metal with some death metal influence thrown in for good measure. When blending these elements the band creates a sound that will turn the listener's earwax black as night. Sit back and prepare yourself for some quality melodic black metal.

One thing that separates No Closure from many other melodic black metal albums is the intensity of some of the tracks. Songs like "Sadistic Redress" blaze through full force with a great amount of ferocity while tracks like "Unquiet" feature beautiful female vocals over dreary, lingering guitarwork. The band borrows elements from a few other subgenres and mold a sound of their own. There is plenty of gothic influence as well as hints of other things spread throughout the album, giving it a fairly diverse sound that many bands in this category tend to lack.

The vocals consist of a few different styles. Shrieks dominate the majority of the release but there are also a rather large amount of low growls sprinkled in the mix as well as some clean vocals. Female vocals fit the style of Withering Soul quite well and this is displayed flawlessly on the track "Unquiet".The songwriting featured here is great. The guitar playing maintains enough variety to hold the listeners attention. Many memorable moments are created and this may be due to the haunting atmosphere that seeps into many of the tracks on No Closure.

Overall No Closure is an excellent display of how melodic black metal should be done. The only modern melodic black metal band that comes near what Withering Soul have with this release is Fairytale Abuse. This is highly recommended to those who enjoy black metal, sure the melodic tag may have many shaking this album off but in many ways Withering Soul has captured a sound that will appeal to many people who may have previously loathed the genre. Even though the album runs a solid forty minutes it leaves the listener wanting more. Check it out.