Countdown to MDF X: (4) Morgoth

I am no Tolkien fan, but I do know the name of Germany's death metal band Morgoth comes from book The Silmarillion. Although disbanded for more than a decade, the group has experienced a rebirth since 2010 and is set to release a DVD of live performances in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the release of their album Cursed.

Not only that, Morgoth will play a string of European festivals and appear on the inaugural Barge to Hell cruise in December. Not bad from a bunch of guys who went their separate ways in 1998. Of course. they don't have their complete original line up, but the spirit of the music is still there. 

Morgoth's current members include founding members Marc Grewe (Vocals), Harry Busse (Guitar), and Sebastian Swart (Guitar) with newest additions Marc Reign (Drums) and Sotirios Kelekidis (Bass).

Morgoth is down and dirty death metal with perhaps some black metal influences. Their live performances are energetic and fun. But I particularly like this instrumental title track from their second full-length album Odium. They play the 2012 Maryland Deathfest on Sunday, May 27.

INTERVIEW: Jürgen Bartsch of Bethlehem

Bethlehem call themselves dark metal and I think it is appropriate moniker. It's kind of like black metal with the growling vocals and tremolo guitar picking. But there's something more: a haunting, echoey, dungeon-y elegance to this music. It's like 80's dark wave took a turn down the left hand path and never looked back. The music can also become industrial with little warning.  Surprises can be a good thing.

I sent Bethlehem some questions via email and bassist Jürgen Bartsch replied. So I automatically "heart" them. This German band plays late at the 2012 Maryland Deathfest on Sunday, May 27. This is definitely music that should be listened to after dark. My questions and comments are in bold and Jürgen's replies are mostly unedited.

Which members will be playing the Maryland Deathfest? 

The final line-up changes have been done at the end of December 2011. This is it then. No more ones cos 21 years of pure line-up chaos should be 'nuff for me personally. The final Bethlehem is: Jürgen Bartsch - bass guitar, Olaf Eckhardt - guitar, Rogier Droog - vocals (ex-Carnivore), and Florian "Torturer" Klein - drums (ex-Belphegor).

What recording material will you be focusing on for your set list? 

Regarding the pretty short playtime of just 50 minutes we basically will play the classics from the "Dark Metal, Dictius Te Necare, S.U.i.Z.i.D." albums + "Maschinensohn" from the "S.a.d.A.W." album.

Are you doing any other shows or tours before or after MDF that you would like to mention? 

No, there won't be other shows before the MDF cos we are working on a new longplayer at the moment which takes our full concentration. After the MDF we just play one Headliner Show on July the 1st in Paris cos a week later we already are entering the studio producing another monument of pure melancholy and solitude. After this is done there will be a European Tour in Autumn blablabla....boring if you may ask me. [Not, boring at all! :)]

Will you have any special or unusual items for sale at MDF?

Yep, we gonna bring some merchandise with us. Some T's which basically are done for Europe and should not be available over there. Not too many items to be honest cos we also are taking our instruments and shit with us.

Any special greetings for your fans? Anything else we should know?

There's nothing more to say I reckon except the usual greetings for our people. Tho they already know about that cos the whole Bethlehem thing always was destined (to be) something pretty personal over all the years. And tho new generations also seem to still be attracted by what we're doing, we are not following bollocks such as the ordinary attitude avoiding listeners of our own music. This more is for the scum thinking they gonna do something extraordinary which is nothing but a lie. Amongst others.
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Check out some of Bethlehem's creepy goodness. In the second video, they look like they are wearing some kind of cult-pajamas. I can't wait to see what they do live.