Thursday, February 9, 2012

Roses Never Fade ' Fade To Black'

                            ROSES NEVER FADE  'FADE TO BLACK' 

Roses Never Fade is a collective of artist/musicians with international backgrounds ( Belgian/ American / German  / Australian,...).
One of the main creative minds behind this collective is Dwid Hellion, known of Integrity and Psywarfare, and one of the originators of the 'Holy Terror' label and advocate of the nearby apocalypse. 
Alongside the collaboration are Stephanie VH (Vocals, Mbira Huru piano), Nick Fiction ( Pale Creation ,  Artistic guitar ), Matt Shack ( Art Attack, Southern guitar) and T ( VVegas, Heeding vocals and Grand guitar) and of course Dwid Hellion ( Vocal, Piano, Percussion & Short Stories).

Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black' frontcover
with Dwid Hellion's distinctive artwork

The first release was in 2006  distributed by Rock Vegas Records but sold out pretty soon.
Belgian label Neuropa Records has reissued their debut in 2009 and added the limited 7" ep as a CD only release last year, this was released as a selftitled album and can still be purchased here. 



But since i'm mainly into vinyl nowadays i'm gonna discuss the vinyl release of Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black'. 
This precious piece of wax came through the 'Holy Terror' webstore where they sold the yellow 12" band colour ( out of 100 ) and at that moment the actual test press of the album with original artwork by Dwid Hellion himself. Since i hesistated too long i ended up only ordering the band colour since the test press
had already found an eager collector/musiclover awaiting it's arrival.
This record in the band colour yellow according to the Holy Terror store out of 100 pressed fits perfect with the albumcover. Also there are clear and black vinyl versions still available at A389 Recordings.



A-side of the band colour 12"

B-side of the band colour 12"

The album itself is released through A389 Recordings in 2010. 

Roses Never Fade 'Fade To Black' back cover
Insert to RNF album, with Dwid Hellion artwork

Insert other side of RNF 
The album itself is not your typical 'Holy Terror' sound but actually mostly acoustic folk-noir
as it can be best described. Some songs are more folk/guitar driven while others are more like....
Just imagine a dark desolate place clouded in mysterie, suddendly strange creepy noises
swell on and a soft whispering voice guides you through. All of these sounds just creep into your ear
to nest themselves in the deepest corners of your brain. Picking at it note by note untill all is left is a remainder of what you once believed was true and pure. 
This record is best played late at night ( @ a sabbath perhaps?) , alone in the dark and loud. Just listen and be swept away to another dimension inhibited by Dwid's illustrated army of Hellion. Embark on the journey and be blown away by the simplicity of it all. 
The lyrics are what we can expect from a 'Holy Terror' production, they preach 'The Process' to all who want to hear and understand. Not many will grasp this idea and fully understand it, but once you do it will
liberate you.

Warning : this record is not for the weak harted or easily upset, be prepared to indulge yourself into
'dark' corners of your mind and be prepared to be reborn.
If you're looking for another Integrity HC/Metal copycat then stay away from this one, it will dissapoint
you and show that you are not suited to fully grasp the meaning of it. 

As to leave you all, here is a video directed by Dwid of one of the songs on the album.
To have you all and idea and to warn those who can not handle this.



In the meantime there has been another Roses Never Fade release on Neuropa records.
This time it's a three song 7" with songs performed and written by collective members
Nick Fiction, Matt Shack and newcomer Nathan Opposition.
As soon as this one arrives in my mailbox i will be discussing it on this blog.



As it is, So it be


Ezekiel02:24:81