DARKNESS SHADE RECORDS INTERVIEW May 2012

Darkness Shade Records is an underground record label from the UK, and has released some outstanding Metal artists over the last few years. The owner is also responsible for Orbis, so I spoke to owner/front-man Paul about a few things...

Hi Paul, for those who don't know, can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do? 


Hails, I'm the owner of  Darkness Shade Records, a label that specialises in releasing underground metal bands on cassette format. I also have my own Dark / Drone Ambient project Orbis.

What was it that made you want to start a record label?

I always wanted to start a underground metal label from a very young

age. So when I had money spare to invest into bands and learnt a bit

about the trade. I started in 2008 evolving the idea of DSR. With my

first releases being in the May of 2009 on cassette format.

My main aim was to keep the underground cassette scene alive by

spreading music I love and support on this wonderful format.

Can you tell me a bit about your ventures with your Ambient Black

Metal project Orbis?

This quote sums up my project Orbis in one hit -

"Dark / Drone Ambient hailing from the shores of the UK. Drowned in

pitch black ice cold depressed darkness. Capturing true emotions of a

barren desolate wasteland of a world drowned in darkness. My nightmare

I present in a atmospheric sound-scape giving you the listener an

extraordinary listening experience never heard before. Orbis is not

just samples / re-sampling, but original recordings done with real

gear and professional production."

What has been your favourite release on Darkness Shade Records and why?

I have done many releases on DSR so it's hard to pick out a favourite

one. I'm proud of the releases I have done so far and plan to keep on

going for years to come.

How do you view the Underground Extreme Metal scene in 2012?

The underground scene in 2012 is still alive and pretty strong. Still

loads of bands recording strong albums and many older bands still

active. With many new artists coming into the extreme metal scene it's

still a good scene to be apart of.

Most of the releases on Darkness Shade Records are on cassette tape,

in your opinion is there still a strong customer base for tapes?

Support for cassettes is still about but in much smaller numbers. This

only effects the volume of tapes I get pressed but still enough

support and trading active to keep cassettes alive in 2012.

Witchclan's 'Misanthropist' album was your first CD release, do you

plan on more CD releases in the future?

I might do another couple of pro-CDs in the future on Darkness Shade

Records just see where the future  takes me and what bands come my

way.

What is your main inspiration for when you write and record Orbis material?

My main inspiration is my misanthropist / depressed mindset which I

really want people to feel within my music to create my nightmare

within my songs for people to hear and escape within.

If you had the choice, which band would you most like to release on

Darkness Shade Records?

I'm happy with the current roster of bands I have signed on Darkness

Shade Records, And pleased with the bands I have worked with over the

past couple of years and plan on working with over the coming months /

years.

What UK bands are you into?

Some off the top of my head -

Abwehrschlacht – Bal-Sagoth – Witchclan - Akercocke – Barad-Dur -

Hecate Enthroned - Myrrdin - The Meads of Asphodel - Venom – Acid

Regin – Lawnmower Deth – Xentrix - Black Sister – D.A.M. - Deathwish –

Decimator - Drunken State – Evile - Gama Bomb – Re-Animator – Sabbat –

Skyclad - Blind Fury - Pariah – Satan – Slammer - Tortoise Corpse –

Virus - Cerebral Fix

I've missed out loads but could go on forever the UK has an amazing

past of many hiden gems within the world of Thrash / NWOBHM.

I remember you saying that there might be some Darkness Shade Records

merchandise such as patches available soon, is this still on the

cards?

The patches will be avaliable with the new Orbis album details below -

DSR-EVIL-XIV- Orbis - "The Unquestionable Chapters Of A World Forgotten" Tape 2012 
The logo patches have been done and will be avalibe with the new Orbis album set, details below.
Dark / Drone Ambient hailing from the shores of the UK. Drowned in pitch black ice cold depressed darkness. Capturing true emotions of a barren desolate wasteland of a world drowned in darkness. My nightmare

I present in a atmospheric sound-scape giving you the listener an

extraordinary listening experience never heard before. Orbis is not

just samples / re-sampling, but original recordings done with real

gear and professional production.

The dust partials of ash blow in the wind like a sandstorm all that

was left behind from the destruction of planet earth. Molecules settle

building a new structure of dark grey waterless waste land. All life

disappeared, just nothingness. All that can be heard is the noise that

echo's out drowning you in darkness, my vision I present you!

Limited edition tape release first 25 come with -

2x Badges - DSR Logo / Orbis Logo + 2x Patches - DSR Logo / Orbis Logo

+ 2x Artwork Postcards + 1x Letter / Signed / Dated with lyrics /

poems + 1x Flyer + 1x Pro Doubled Sided Cover + 1x Pro-Duplicated Tape

with Pro-Stickers both sides + 1x Full Black Case + 5x Tracks of dark

cold drone ambient spanning over 50 minutes long.

Due out next month.

Any last words?

Thanks for the interview.
New releases out next month on DSR -

DSR-EVIL-XIII- Temple of Baphomet "Testament Of The Heretic Priest" Tape 2012
13 tracks from the ToB era 2000 to 2005. 6 classic ToB black metal tracks
and 7 experimental / piano songs - just a little under an hour of demo material.
Lots of unreleased tracks - and the first re-pressing of the originals
in over 8 years.
Marking the 15th anniversary of ToB...

DSR-EVIL-XV- The Stone - "Golet" Tape 2012
Praising the ways of old with modern strength and ineffable
persistence and dedication, The Stone deliver their 6th opus "Golet" -
sophisticated black metal mastery, renewed through 8 chaos invoking
spells; dynamic, heavy and harmonic, yet wickedly indulging,
accompanied by top notch musicianship. A new chapter of European
darkness has begun.

DSR-EVIL-XVI- Njiqahdda - "The Path of Liberation from Birth and

Death" Tape 2012
Limited one off cassette tape limited to 100 copies first 25 come with
pin badge and on special coloured tape! Once sold out this will be
history never to see the light of day again!
The strange dark spirit of Njiqahdda is summoned forth once again for
an epic journey into an ethereal maelstrom of mystic eccentricity.
Njiqahdda easily shatters the bonds of it's former self to present
over 75 minutes of technical, complex, progressive and melodic
Njimajikal art.
This latest spell incorporates multiple guest vocalists and a densely
diverse, technically-proficient instrument performance, delving into
previously undiscovered complex chasms of mind-altering mystery. With
their signature thickly-immersive recording production, Njiqahdda this
time lashes forth with surprising skill and virtuosity to carve
violent vistas of structure out of cosmic chaos using their seemingly
endless well of creative energies. Guest Appearances: Guest vocals :
Syntax A. and
S. Trombatore.

To order just go on the above web site.

Thanks Paul. Be sure to show your support to Darkness Shade Records, the label has some excellent releases so get yourself onto the website here, and be sure to check out Orbis. You can email Darkness Shade Records directly at darknessshaderecords@googlemail.com