FUNERAL GOD

FUNERAL GOD BIOGRAPHY

FUNERAL GOD was formed November 1997 in South Africa's capital city, Pretoria. Combining the forces of Metal in an army of Death is what Funeral God is about. The line-up began as: Mossie (vocals), Ryan (guitar), Chris (guitar), Riaan (drums) and Mocke (bass). After a few month's, Mossie left the band. Ryan and Mocke then took over the vocal side of the band. Just before finally entering the recording crypts, in July 1998, Ryan left the band. Ryan left because he could not keep up with the demands of Metal. In spite of these "losses" Funeral God only grew stronger in their Metal belief.

In the 9 month's of playing the band was fortunate to play with some of the great Metal bands on the Dark Continent. Funeral God would like to thank Omen, Gutted Remains, Metal Orison, Stryder and Architecture of Aggression for the opportunity to play with them.

Now in the winter of July'98, FUNERAL GOD and fellow Metal warriors OMEN are taking on B# Studio's to record their first demo which will be released as a tantalising split demo on Dark Ages Productions. The demo is planned to be released in August-September 1998.
 

This Review of our debut demo will appear in the fourth issue of The Crusader Fanzine due for release in
September 1998

I suppose my obvious biases towards this release make me unfit to review it, but I love it so much I feel compelled to. Pretoria's own Funeral God bring forth their first brutal offering to the tables of Metal. And what a feast it is. Nothing original here, but the classics are usually the most appetising. Track one, Blessed By the Devil, showcases a strong German speed influence ala "old" Kreator, as evidenced by the picking style, although at a slightly less frantic pace. Track 2, Insomnia, is a slow Death number with one of the most instantly infectious grooves I've ever heard, screw the nineties bands. Track three, Abomination, with it's thrash riffs and acoustic parts (played on electric) belies softer influences as well. If you want to wear your influences (Death, Black, Speed and Thrash METAL) on your sleeve, do it as well as Funeral God.

"Lunatic"

This Review of the "Dawn of the Metal Age" Gig that was played in support of the launch of the third issue of The Crusader Fanzine appeared in a local "College" newspaper, "Die Perdeby". We pity those who follow the latest trends!

Pretoria Metal Sux OK

Friday night I was off, looking for Pretoria's almost non-existent live metal scene. I ended up finding something at The Pumphouse Pub (opposite Sterland), but it was a lot worse than even my acutely optimistic self could handle. Our entertainers for the night (sic) were Omen and Funeral God, and so this very upsetting chapter in South African metal begins.

The sound was grotesque, to say the least. Between thin, cutting guitars and bassy clouds of nothing, I rarely heard vocals (which wasn't necessarily a bad thing). Omen went up, and successfully failed to impress. Their pre-90s brand of Slayer-ish metal just creates a boring I've-heard-that-before routine lacking vitality. Funeral God made me wish for Omen again. No originality, dynamics or songs, for that matter.

I went home disillusioned and disgusted with Pretoria's Metalheads. Let's hope someone wakes them up and tells 'em it's 1998, before they self-destruct in the ugly 80s where they've stagnated.

Charles Miller

miller@libarts.up.ac.za

This Page was developed and is maintained by Lunatic (Ryan) from The Crusader.
It is not an official page, just the expressions of a fan!