I've been acquainting myself with Battlechants of late. It has been in my collection 15+ years but it never really clicked. I think the production is a bit of a stumbling block to be brutally honest. At times everything merges and it gains in strength, at other times it sounds a bit disjointed, particularly the drum sound which is a bit clickety-clackety, but we can forgive such minor misdemeanours if the music is good, and I think for the most part it is. There are some truly great parts on it that make me sit up every time, in particular the cleanly orated vocal parts (the third song has a really superb section) that makes it stand out.
I had a listen to the remnants of the ill-fated second demo which sounded like it could have been something to get really excited about. Perhaps those songs will get re-recorded at some point?
The band is listed as active on MA, and there was a single released in 2017 that sounded a bit like an album intro. Is there an album written or in the works?
Fairly sure I've never seen them live. Did they play any gigs in the early 00s?
Im good friends with the original members,im almost certain their first gig was in Dublin!,they definitely played Belfast one Xmas too.A handful of gigs in Cork,all around 2000-2002.
A lot of lads in Cork used to call them 'Bellynus'. Never got that, Russell and Ronan were quite slim :)
I loved Battlechants when I first heard it, especially the opening track. The production is below par though, there is no escaping it. Haven't heard a note since though.
It never fully clicked with me, though there was enough there to pique my interest for a second release.
Not sure if they played live but one of the lads was in Witchhammer , who definitely played live. I seen them in Doran's, made a bit of a racket as I recall. Think I picked up the Belinus cd at that gig
I saw Witchhammer that night too. Playing with Sol Axis on the Secrets of the Moon gig that didn't quite happen, if i remember correctly. I thought WH were cool live. The demo was decent but, again, was scuppered by production. SA were savage. It's a pity they didn't survive for long but Myrkr and Slidhr emerged out of them.
There was a demo that was recorded before Battlechants.
It's best unheard.
To say it was sloppy is an understatement.
A couple of the tracks were re-recorded for the follow up.
First gig was in Dublin. I can't recall the venue. I do remember that Steve Maher was behind the desk.
The last I heard Ronan was in For Ruin. Not sure where he is now.
Im sure the gig in Dublin was with Pagan Reign!
Blizzard Beast (Gordon)on here was the original drummer,im sure he'll be along to put the pieces together.
Gordon played in another band with Russell either during or after Belinus.
I can't remember the name of that band but it was balls to wall black metal.
I remember seeing them play in Fredz.
They had the beginnings of something savage.
Russell hasn't made music since then?
Bought the CD from Russell at the MDB gig in Temple Bar, surely 20 years ago now. I think they shifted a fair number of copies that night.
Russell and Gordon were in Demogorgon (Acolytes Of Demogorgon) at the same time they were in Belinus. That bands demo was recorded at the same time Battlechants was being recorded.
Quote from: jobrok1 on December 03, 2022, 12:13:43 PMBought the CD from Russell at the MDB gig in Temple Bar, surely 20 years ago now. I think they shifted a fair number of copies that night.
Russell and Gordon were in Demogorgon (Acolytes Of Demogorgon) at the same time they were in Belinus. That bands demo was recorded at the same time Battlechants was being recorded.
That's the one. Was that demo ever put out?
I have it on the IMA website and bandcamp...
https://irishmetalarchive.com/artists/demogorgon/ (https://irishmetalarchive.com/artists/demogorgon/)
https://irishmetalarchive.com/releases/demogorgon-demo/ (https://irishmetalarchive.com/releases/demogorgon-demo/)
I listened to Primal Dawn's euthanasia programme on the archive the other day, forgot how menacing that demo was. Bellys next. I'm going to Christmas present myself that catalogue, class resource.
Magtuired is up there with my favourite Irish BM tracks. Hints of Nachthymnen off it, with the acoustic interlude and cracking riffs.
Quote from: BoobC on December 03, 2022, 01:33:30 PMMagtuired is up there with my favourite Irish BM tracks. Hints of Nachthymnen off it, with the acoustic interlude and cracking riffs.
That was a track Russell did with Griff from Demogorgon in an earlier band called Avatar. It was never recorded by them, though.
Quote from: Caomhaoin on December 03, 2022, 01:19:54 PMI listened to Primal Dawn's euthanasia programme on the archive the other day, forgot how menacing that demo was.
I actually have their unreleased album yet to add to site too. John McGhee gave me a copy a good while back.
I intended to do a proper CD release for it, but struggling to justify the cost of it. And it's getting harder to justify it as each day passes.
I should really just add it for stream/download and get it out there.
It's a cracker of an album.
The first gig Belinus played was indeed in Dublin and one we'd prefer to forget,couldnt hear each other that night and the smoke machine didnt help either.
First recording was done in a studio with an engineer that didnt have a clue about metal along with a bunch of inexperienced young lads didnt help either but it was a good yet costly learning curve for us which helped the next time we went to a studio to record battle chants.There are bits in Battle Chants production wise we werent happy with but overall we were happy with it, it was a demo and it did well when it was released.
Ronan and I did chat about doing some recordings of some old and new Belinus songs pre / post battle chants as Ronan has a good lash of songs and also has his own gear to record, we didnt get round to doing anything but I think he will do something.
Demogorgon was recorded in the same studio as battle chants same period,we also did a few gigs.I really enjoyed the gig we did in Nancys as it sounded great on stage,I think we did a Dark Throne cover that night.I was told Mick Carey from the Swarm recorded it but we never saw how it turned out.
Im not sure if Russel has recorded any other music since Demogorgon,Il ask him the next time I see him as I think he will be in Cork early next year,Griffy did something with a band Iweru? I think.
Would be great to hear that stuff rerecorded at some point. The third song off Battlechants would be savage with a quality recording job behind it too. You could probably wrangle an album out of all of it but I know how difficult it is to get anything done when everyone is scattered, working and/or parenting. Here's hoping it materialises in some form in the future.
Website with links to the music here -:
https://archive.org/details/Belinus_-_Battlechants_Demo2002
Listening to this again, you can understand why lads have fond memories. Lofty ambitions and they don't all fall short. There is an atmospheric rumble throughout, and there are flashes of real elegance. Bits of Waylander and Maël Mordhas 'caoineadh..' demo in there, but with eviler intentions.
Production values are 2002 Irish demo standard (standards which were crushed the following year by Transgression'), some drum sections are rushed or something but in fairness it's a cool and unique demo. Last track would give a lad goosebumps.
I think Hexxed suffered from tinny drum production, actually. It was the one chink in their armour. There's a weird washy sound to the cymbals as well. But I mean, you can't argue with the songs otherwise, especially on Transgression. But anyway...
BELINUS!
Quote from: jobrok1 on December 03, 2022, 02:30:41 PMQuote from: BoobC on December 03, 2022, 01:33:30 PMMagtuired is up there with my favourite Irish BM tracks. Hints of Nachthymnen off it, with the acoustic interlude and cracking riffs.
That was a track Russell did with Griff from Demogorgon in an earlier band called Avatar. It was never recorded by them, though.
It's a cracker to be sure.
That first unreleased recording had some good songs.
The remark about the inexperienced people involved is a fair point.
It had its moments though.
Quote from: Paul keohane on December 03, 2022, 10:32:35 AMIm good friends with the original members,im almost certain their first gig was in Dublin!,they definitely played Belfast one Xmas too.A handful of gigs in Cork,all around 2000-2002.
I remember that xmas gig in Belfast - awful nights entertainment that was.
Quote from: Despondent_Soul2 on December 04, 2022, 01:45:57 PMQuote from: Paul keohane on December 03, 2022, 10:32:35 AMIm good friends with the original members,im almost certain their first gig was in Dublin!,they definitely played Belfast one Xmas too.A handful of gigs in Cork,all around 2000-2002.
I remember that xmas gig in Belfast - awful nights entertainment that was.
It was those Yuletide metal fests,i actually went up the following year,Primordial played.
Quote from: jobrok1 on December 03, 2022, 02:34:50 PMQuote from: Caomhaoin on December 03, 2022, 01:19:54 PMI listened to Primal Dawn's euthanasia programme on the archive the other day, forgot how menacing that demo was.
I actually have their unreleased album yet to add to site too. John McGhee gave me a copy a good while back.
I intended to do a proper CD release for it, but struggling to justify the cost of it. And it's getting harder to justify it as each day passes.
I should really just add it for stream/download and get it out there.
It's a cracker of an album.
That the album recorded in Czech or similar? It is good stuff! Actually have dvd with footage of them at and wondering around area of studio lol!
Quote from: Paul keohane on December 04, 2022, 02:11:53 PMQuote from: Despondent_Soul2 on December 04, 2022, 01:45:57 PMQuote from: Paul keohane on December 03, 2022, 10:32:35 AMIm good friends with the original members,im almost certain their first gig was in Dublin!,they definitely played Belfast one Xmas too.A handful of gigs in Cork,all around 2000-2002.
I remember that xmas gig in Belfast - awful nights entertainment that was.
It was those Yuletide metal fests,i actually went up the following year,Primordial played.
Aye, yuletide fest (couldnt remember name they used) - terrible shitshows
Quote from: Despondent_Soul2 on December 04, 2022, 02:24:08 PMQuote from: Paul keohane on December 04, 2022, 02:11:53 PMQuote from: Despondent_Soul2 on December 04, 2022, 01:45:57 PMQuote from: Paul keohane on December 03, 2022, 10:32:35 AMIm good friends with the original members,im almost certain their first gig was in Dublin!,they definitely played Belfast one Xmas too.A handful of gigs in Cork,all around 2000-2002.
I remember that xmas gig in Belfast - awful nights entertainment that was.
It was those Yuletide metal fests,i actually went up the following year,Primordial played.
Aye, yuletide fest (couldnt remember name they used) - terrible shitshows
Were they that bad!?,long time ago can't remember much now!
Im sure plenty will say differently but my memories are of low turnouts, shit sound and lots of very average bands who seemed more interested in 'outdrunking' each other before they played.
Gonna start a separate thread - enjoying the belinus chat here
Quote from: Despondent_Soul2 on December 04, 2022, 02:19:31 PMQuote from: jobrok1 on December 03, 2022, 02:34:50 PMQuote from: Caomhaoin on December 03, 2022, 01:19:54 PMI listened to Primal Dawn's euthanasia programme on the archive the other day, forgot how menacing that demo was.
I actually have their unreleased album yet to add to site too. John McGhee gave me a copy a good while back.
I intended to do a proper CD release for it, but struggling to justify the cost of it. And it's getting harder to justify it as each day passes.
That the album recorded in Czech or similar? It is good stuff! Actually have dvd with footage of them at and wondering around area of studio lol!
That's the one
Battlechants on again this evening. I think that when they mixed in the acoustic guitars they really caught an atmosphere. The production on the acoustic is warm and round. A bit of extra even on the drums might balance them out a bit. Anyway, some really good ideas scattered throughout. Consider this thread a petition to get that 'promised' album recorded :P
Exactly a year to the day after making this thread I find myself returning again to Battlechants. Looking forward to the inevitable reunion now, I must say :P