Blood Axis

成立于上世纪80年代末的Blood Axis是真正的实力与名气成正比的伟大乐团。Michael Moynihan这位记者同志的乐团不仅是各个厂牌的宠儿，更是后工业文化积极的奠基者和倡导者，为他灌上再多华丽的词藻既是无助的事也是浪费时间的事。这张The Gospel Of Inhumanity是其第一张正式专辑，包括了以往发行的tape及LP小样的重新灌录，封面采用了德国著名新艺术主义画家Franz von Stuck19世纪末经典作品Der Krieg，以此来表达对其的敬意，或是更贴切这张专辑的主题。专辑全部在美国完成混音，于1996年由德国的Cthulhu Records和英国的Storm联合发行，2年后又在美国Elfenblut发行，此后包括bootleg在内共被发行6次。专辑大量引用古典音乐，包括Prokofiev及Bach的作品都被做为素材，并配以已故诗人Ezra Pound的原音诗颂，这张邪恶的专辑充分体现出Blood Axis这颗嘲笑世俗的心及阴诲无比的异教徒本质。此后那张引人惊叹的CMI10周年现场专辑Sacrifice In Sweden就是以此张专辑的的曲目为主体。Blood Axis尽管专辑不多，但却张张精品，而每个唱片公司都以能收录Blood Axis的单曲为荣，归根结底都是因为这种最大限度发挥的自己意志力而非一种世俗的丛流，及作为一个长期活跃于欧洲的老牌乐团所应有的磅礴。每当夜晚听到Michael Moynihan绵延苍白的独白，就会看到和理解Blood Axis，一种伟大的可以颠覆圣经、在这二十年来为我们所作出的榜样的力量。 Emerging officially in 1989, Blood Axis is the result of much earlier foundations. Created and directed by Michael Moynihan, it has been and remains a sincere and uncompromising expression of his often controversial thoughts and instincts. The first recordings by Blood Axis consisted of "Lord Of Ages" and "Electricity," two songs appearing on a German sampler CD. Thoroughly unique in their sound, the first of these tracks is a stirring orchestrated hymn to the ancient Persian sun deity Mithras, a god later adopted for a cult of subterranean worship by the legionnaires of the imperial Roman army. Although appearing on a relatively obscure release, these two initial efforts resulted in extensive radio airplay, dance club rotation, as well as mail from hundreds of enthusiastic listeners living as far away as Scandinavia, Malta, Eastern Europe and Thailand. Blood Axis had made its mark. The band again inspired a rapturous response with the contribution of a pair of further songs to the acclaimed collection Im Blutfeuer,demonstrating more highly involved recording techniques and the ability to hypnotize listeners with subtle yet forceful atmospherics. "The Storm Before the Calm," the second of the two tracks on this CD, utilized winding piano loops, lilting choirs and the eerie sounds of early nature recordings (a thunderstorm from 1935) along with earnest vocals and historical samples to create a sound that is more than the sum of it parts, possessing an ineffable power. In the last days of 1995, more than six years since its formation, Blood Axis unveiled the first full-length CD, The Gospel of Inhumanity. This long-awaited album has more than fulfilled all expectations, demonstrating that Blood Axis is proudly distinct from any other modern musical groups in both sound and presentation. Sealed within a stunningly aesthetic digipak, The Gospel... is a shape-shifting soundtrack which reveals more and more depth with repeated listening. Spanning from neo-classical reveries to guitardriven aggression, the sonic incisions of Blood Axis provide a haunting backdrop for vocal elucidations from Ezra Pound, Charles Manson, as well as Moynihan's own demanding voice. The Gospel of Inhumanity falls into no easy category, requiring a highly attuned level of intelligence and a mind free of pre-conception to appreciate its vast scope. The Gospel of Inhumanity sold out two pressings for its initial release on German cult label Cthulhu Records, ensuring a fanatical following from Russia to Ireland, Norway to Portugal and everywhere in between. With virtually no promotion to speak of, the CD received rave reviews in Europe and America, and was even voted one of the 10 best albums of 1996 by UK extreme music glossy Terrorizer. Now powerfully remastered and re-issued on Misanthropy, the Gospel is destined to be heard by an even wider audience. In November of 1997, Blood Axis played its first proper live show in Sweden at a special 10 year anniversary celebration for the legendary death industrial music label Cold Meat Industry. This special concert was attended by fans who came from as far away as Germany, Belgium, Austria and Latvia, and drew a rabidly enthusiastic reception from the crowd. In 1998, following the release of the planned second album, Ultimacy, the band will embark on a European tour. But until then, The Gospel of Inhumanity will continue seeping its way into the subconscious of the worldwide underground. Blood Axis answers to nothing and no one but itself. It offers a frightening and honest expression of the souls of its creators, refusing to cater to either popular opinion or the approval of the music industry. At the same time Blood Axis continues to proudly shun popular trends and the mainstream, legions of listeners respond in growing numbers to a music presented with such undiluted care and willpower