"VERY COLD"- ATTILA CSIHAR. WAXEN IS, FOR NOW, NO MORE, BUT THE LEGACY WILL LIVE ON. WAXEN WAS NOT A BAND PER SAY, BUT A ONE MAN PROJECT IN THE VEIN OF OCTINOMOS, DIABOLI, TARTAROS, GRAVELAND AND COUNTLESS OTHERS. MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST TOBY KNAPP BECAME AM EXTREME SUPPORTER OF UNDERGROUND BLACK METAL IN THE EARLY NINETIES, BUT STOOD ON THE SIDELINES AS A FAN. KNAPP HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DISCOVERED AS A "GUITAR PRODIGY" AT A YOUNG AGE BY MIKE VARNEY'S SHRAPNEL RECORDS WHOM RELEASED HIS DEBUT INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM "GUITAR DISTORTION" IN 1993. KNAPP HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT "CROSSING OVER" TO A THEN EXCLUSIVE "MEMBERS ONLY" GENRE, BUT COULDN'T RESIST BLACK METAL'S RELENTLESS CALL. A FRIEND, NECROTRITON, URGED HIM TO COMBINE HIS TECHNICAL SKILLS WITH THE RAWNESS OF BLACK METAL (IN 1995 IN THE U.S. THIS WAS AN ORIGINAL IDEA). THE RESULT WAS THE DARKEN DEMO "REIGN FROM FUNERAL THRONES" WHICH FEATURED KNAPP ON ALL INSTRUMENTS AND NECROTRITON'S HORRIFIC SCREAMS. A POSITIVE IF NOT EXCELLENT RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED BY EVERY LABEL AND ZINE THE DEMO WAS SUBMITTED TO, AND THE LABELS CAME COURTING IMMEDIATELY. DARKEN SOON SIGNED WITH DEFILED RECORDS WHOM RELEASED THEIR SELF TITLED DEBUT IN 1997. DARKEN MEANT TO GO ON HIATUS AS IT CREATED A BIZARRE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE BAND "ONWARD" INTO EXISTENCE. ONWARD ACHIEVED SIMILAR SEEMINGLY INSTANT SUCCESS AND DARKEN DISBANDED. FAST FORWARD TO 2004 AFTER ONWARD'S BRIEF BUT PRODUCTIVE TENURE. KNAPP'S OBSESSION WITH THE PUREST STRAINS OF BLACK METAL ONCE AGAIN TOOK POSSESSION. FED UP WITH THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF BANDS HE ONCE LOOKED UP TO FOR INSPIRATION, KNAPP SOUGHT OUT MORE SINISTER FORMS OF THE MUSIC FOR INSPIRATION, AND IN A DEEP STATE OF DEPRESSION WAXEN'S "FUMAROTH WAS CREATED. WITHIN A MONTH WW3 RECORDS (THEN GOING THROUGH TRANSITIONS) CONTACTED HIM "BLOWN AWAY" AND WERE READY TO NEGOTIATE, BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED. FRUSTRATED AND IN NO MOOD TO "SHOP" THE ALBUM FOR A DEAL, IT WAS SHELVED AS A "PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT" FOR HIMSELF AND THE EARS OF A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. IN 2006 A SMALL LOCAL LABEL RELEASED WAXEN'S ALBUM GIVING IT AT LEAST A MODICUM OF EXPOSURE. ALTHOUGH WAXEN REMAINS OBSCURE (AS INTENDED) IT'S IMPACT ON THOSE THAT "GOT IT" AND THOSE THAT WILL IN THE FUTURE REMAINS STRONG. KNAPP PLANS ON ONE DAY OFFICIALLY RELEASING THE DEMO THAT STARTED SUCH A LARGE CHAIN OF EVENTS, DARKEN'S "REIGN FROM FUNERAL THRONES". KNAPP IS CURRENTLY GUITARIST FOR THE BAND GODLESS RISING AND IS WRITING MUSIC FOR THEIR NEXT RELEASE ON MORIBUND RECORDS.
Ave WAXEN, Greetings & Salutations from The Metal Goth Queen & The Coven~I Thank Thee for Becoming a Cherished Friend of The Coven~I Pray That Thou Joineth My Other Spaces~I Most Enjoyed Thy Graven Images in Thy Picture Gallery~The Blood In My Veins Warmeth~And I Thank Thee~Gothick Illuminaten~Thy Friend...LHP Jinx of the Coven
Hails from RADIGOST! Thanks for the add & support! Our new album is out now! "A Stellar Kingdom" is a fantastic mix of symphonic dark metal parts with opera soprano voice, classical and folk music.
When you are in the mood for some fine quality metal, why not throw in some Waxen to your home media center's cd playing device? Why not punch a Trivium fan in the throat? Why not have that ever elusive 11th beer? Why not order a shitload of food in the Jack In The Box drive thru and then flash a Hustler centerfold at the cashier before driving off without your order? Why ask why. Do not question your feelings, play the Waxen and let all of your questions become answered. HAIL!
Thanks for your support Keep it loud as Hell & Stay drunk in madness !
Marie blackplague@crushuntilmadness.com CHECK THE NEW HELLSITE -click on the image below- CRUSH UNTIL MADNESS records BLACK/THRASH/DEATH-grind -VINYL, CD, Tape, Button, TShirt- Distribution and Production !
Thanx for your praise and interest. I am afraid that there will be no albums of Shroud in the future (unless, in the more immediate future). But Phaul and me hope that the next Beelzeb full-CD is released soon. Perhaps in two or three months.
Again, the song was done in one separate take by each member (And I improvised half of my parts). Be as honest as you want. Constructive criticism is a must.
TOBY KNAPP- Guitars, bass, drums, vocals.
