Tales from the Pit: 1998-2002

Yes, the album done by our good Aerik or Snxke, who also writes reviews and columns for this site. Aerik has an unhealthy obsession with classic metal and good old-fashioned balls-out rock. Catchiness and a rock and roll mentality are the main factors of this album.

The album is basically a collection of musical ideas and live songs done by Aerik Von’s band. It starts off with an insane song called Curse of the Screaming Skull, which actually reminds me of those little flying skulls in doom that were so hard to kill, and charged at you at alarming speeds. Aerik goes through several songs, including what I like to call his “hit” built to burn, which he has now recorded with Gunnar (Faustcoven) on vocals. Songs like the bluesy After Hours hit the spot too and create the needed diversity on the album.

To come out with a compilation album as one of your first efforts may sound a little odd, but keeps you from people that want to define your sound because you played a certain style of music on your first album, and want you to stick to that. Aerik said to me that he wishes to create new music, not derivative “crap”, and let’s hope we will see that in his future releases.

This nifty little EP here titled TALES FROM THE PIT: 1998-2002 is a collection of demos, rehearsals, and live cuts from New York’s rock-punk-metallers, Black Moon Rising. Fans of BMR (or those unfortunate enough to be exposed to them already, lol!) know exactly what to expect from drunken hooligans of raw, under-produced metal.

“Curse of the Screaming Skull, ”an odd intro, though one that fits BMR’s uncouth style assaults you as the album starts. Right away, we get the “classic” BMR songs: “Built to Burn,” and “Devil’s Highway.” Even in its rough rehearsal state, “Built to Burn” still manages to be catchy and forceful in its riffage. The vox are buried, but that’s ok, ‘cause Von certainly can’t sing (then again, neither can Quorthon). “Devil’s Highway” is such a fucking evil song that I can’t get enough of it. The first “After Hours” on the disc is a priceless BMR moment: the song was written right there, on the spot, totally live. Quite an interesting piece, since it comes across so well on the later BMR performances on TRANSILVANIAN BLUES. A more fleshed-out rehearsal version of the song comes up next. Solo time! “Chromatic Hell” is Von’s little joke on us, giving a quick scaled solo. Who wants another version of “Built to Burn”? Ooh! Ooh! I do! Well, alrighty then. Here’s a little instrumental version with some excellent drumming that really kicks it up. “Raining Hell” exists here in a rough demo form. This one’s got the same feel as “Built to Burn,” with that dark and evil atmosphere oozing forth. “Crazy Moon” is another track that was written live and on the spot. This one is just a little meandering, trippy instrumental, totally different from what we’ve experienced thus far. Finishing up the album is “69 West,” a tribute to the debauchery haus is a sick little blues number, and a nice drunken way to end this 24-minute EP.

This is it, the Black Moon Rising early chronicles. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you should know whether or not this one is for you to check out.