for years to come. Dark deep, scary shit. If Cannibal Corpse and Einsturzende Neubauten and Laibach had a jam session, it wouldn't sound as good as this. Freakin intense, with echoy vocals, drum blasts, grunts, electronic weirdness. The next gen of electric horror freakouts. get it now!

"Slavic Blasphemy" - A Tragic Opus - 2002

Zaraza, simply put, is nothing like anything you have ever heard. It is a nasty and frightening trip into realms only explored by Esoteric, whilst still sounding nothing like Esoteric. The music is definately doom, but mixed with industrial in a way that literally no other bands have before. It at times reminds me of early Swans and other bands such as Einsturzende Neubauten, which are ugly and hideous sounding industrial bands in the first place. Mixing this sound with doom has produced some brilliant, if scary sounding results. Simply put, the music sounds like the soundtrack to the ship's log in the movie Event Horizon.

It should be noted that the entire album was recorded using mostly (if not all) samples, giving it a very cold and mechanical feel. It is also partly sung in another language, which escapes me at this moment, Polish from memory, which to anyone who doesn't speak understand it, adds an extra alien sounding tinge to the music. It also leads to some very weird and distorted samples rearing their ugly heads, at times (towards the end of 'Zakazany' and 'Cell Of Skin') degerating into harsh outbursts of noise and distortion, which sounds unbelievably good, if a little unsettling. Also thrown into this ecclectic mix is shades of death metal, which are particularly evident right from the outset on '24 Hours', which shows the least doom tendancies out of the entire album and as such sounds a little out of place, and is probably the only fault I could point out in this nightmarish assault from Zaraza. On the other hand, the rest of the album is a highlight in itself and I find it difficult to pick out a favourite track as they all show excellent song writing and they all ooze doom like a black plague leaking out of my speakers, unsurprising considering that Zaraza translates into 'plague'. I have to say though, that the track 'Cell Of Skin' should be used in a horror movie. Not a crappy B grade or teen movie, rather a horror movie so terrifying and bloodthirtsy that it couldn't possibly me made. The track is very unstructured and sounds very organic, almost as if it was alive, with piles of strange unsettling samples thrown in all over the place, culminating in distorted piano chaos. The tracks 'Everyday Is A Funeral' and 'Necessary' would probably be of immediate interest to doom-metal fans, as these two are the least strange and disturbing, at least when you compare them to the likes of 'Cell Of Skin', but they in their own right have plenty of weird samples and things happening in the background. There isn't really much more I can say about this album, I probably haven't done it justice in this review as it truly is a masterpiece of horror /doom /industrial /metal, and the amount of work put into it is obvious as the music is incredably densely layered, bringing new little details with every listen. Excellent if not unsettling album that is definately worth getting your hands on.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - www.doom-metal.com - 2001

Let's not deny it any longer: Zaraza are not human. The creatures that created something as cold, sick and claustrophobic sounding as 'Slavic Blasphemy', can definitely not be human! This album is an obvious plot for world domination by letting us dwell in endless nightmares. I have rarely encountered and album this scary! This is the stuff that nightmares are made of, a soundtrack of a horror movie too sick to actually be shown. Haunting miserable sounds are twisted around in such a way that I lack the words to describe this myself. As such I am forced to fall back on the dead on description the band themselves give: "Brutal Experimental Symphonic Industrial Doom Death Metal". Especially the mixture of Industrial with Doom creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that has me gasping for air. No, this has not been made by human beings, this simply is too unholy. If you feel your up to the challenge the band has made the entire album available from http://www.mp3s.com/zaraza/ or you can buy the album directly from them for a mere $3!! (check their homepage for further details) These cheap prices once more proving my point that Zaraza are evil nightmarish creatures out for world domination!

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Enslain Magazine - 1999

This here, is not your average release. Creeping dark experimentation finds itself an outlet through Canada's Zaraza. They have produced an album of industrial at its finest; used with taste, without too much repetition, and with many other influences. These would include doom, especially, with its slow tempo and long, horror-esque songs; and death metal, with the growled vocals and heavy beats. The samplings are appropriate, and dark, instead of cheesy and weak. If you are into the more experimental side of music, there should be no excuse for you not to get this!

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Scream Magazine (Norway) - 1998

Zaraza deliver dark - very dark - music on this CD. Stylewise it's a sort of doom interwoven in industrialized and classical music streams. The combination has become a very characteristic and weird and wonderful kind of music. I can't say I've heard anything like it before. This unique combination gives the music a quite special atmosphere. Zaraza offers a very special listening experience indeed.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Mastock zine - Summer 1999

First CD from this Montreal duo. I probably listened to this one at least forty (40) times and the only good description I could find is written on the back cover: brutal, experimental, symphonic, industrial, doom/death metal. I was scared after hearing the "demo" tape (Life Is Death Postponed). But the CD is even scarier, more evil, diabolical "666"-oriented music. What makes this release so horrifying is the perfect mixture of orchestral sounds, doom/death metal, and vocals. The voice itself is so dark that it conjures visions of hell. Not recommended before going to bed!

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Chain D.L.K. zine - Feburary 1999

"Brutal experimental symphonic industrial doom/death metal", that's how the band themselves label their music. I couldn't believe it as I've read it. Before putting the disc into my player I was worrying about its real content because it's quite awkward for us to receive stuff that our editorial musical choices do not allow us to review, but I suddenly eased and stopped worrying about that as I heard their original, strange and industrial-fueled art of death metal...Apart from the voice, which actually is of the growling/howling kind, the rest is pure metal-shaped, industrial-driven music...As a matter of fact this means that they're experimenting new forms of death-metal made through industrial music...no real guitars, no real drums...Only cold drum-machine beats, sampled guitar riffs, down-pitched guitar chords and really cool atmospheres!

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Crass Menagerie e-zine - April 1998

This is electro-industrial-core-metal at its finest. ZARAZA tap into a variety of emotions and deliveries on this disc. The underlying constant is electronics but the band venture into all kinds of arenas from doom metal to black metal to industrial to just plain experimentation. The album has a very dark and somber tone for the most part and could serve as a soundtrack to your nighttime terrors.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Chart magazine - March 1998

More bizarre and frightening music from those damned people at Musicus Phycus. Y'know, stuff that could easily pass for soundtracks to one's nightmares. While focusing mostly on the experimental side, Zaraza does branch out to bring a doom/death metal style of music (vocal growls and heavy guitar riffs) to the material here and this is one of those rare moments in musical creativity where it was meant to be this way. Long numbers (six songs clocking in at 65+ minutes) release tension, anger and hatred through a fistful of noise and harsh musical interludes. A soundtrack for the damned? Could be. This band proves that heavy experimental music does have a place in the music industry and it's there for many, not just fans of this music genre to take care of.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Chronicles of Chaos webzine - February 1998

A powerful display of molding together experimental metal, death metal and noise. And it works. In a fist of fury, Zaraza lash out at the listener a truly dynamic outlook on heavy, aggressive music with a touch of ingenuity and electronic mayhem. I was thoroughly impressed with the way the band weaves technology into their pure aggressive nature of heavy rhythms and pounding beats. What also seems to help make things a bit more diverse and interesting is the inclusion of sinister death growls, that not only heighten the creativity of what they are doing but also seems to place a real unsafe experience into their music. It's creepy and that makes it all the more enjoyable. Other outfits on this label (Phycus in particular) have been known to throw a bit of eerieness/creepiness into what they do musically and it seems to have carried over into this project as well. For those wanting to experience something a bit different, but still containing familiar sounds/styles of the metal genre, then give this a go. A good band from a label that shows a promising future in band development.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Eternal Frost webzine (U.S.A.) - January 1998

The Canadian band ZARAZA has crafted a piece of wonderfully strange music on this disc. There are elements from many different styles of music; death metal formost with heavy doses of industrial and samples combined with some noise here and a smidgen of techno effects (a la SKINNY PUPPY) there. I suppose, if you want a label, it would be industrial death. The vocals are fucking guttural, sometimes straying into screechy territory, but most times staying in the realm of death. The opening song, which is the shortest at about four and a half minutes, starts off quickly, with a nice helping of blast and around the middle it goes into a catchy part that brought to mind MINISTRY (Psalm 69-era), but better, with some of the ever-welcome double bass. The remainder of the disc continues in this style, alternating between slow- (doomy) or mid-paced to blasting. It takes a few listens to get used to it, but I would recommend anyone who enjoys death and/or industrial to give it a chance. It grows on you. I think they're doing something original and (gasp!) groundbreaking. I can't wait to hear future recordings.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - TERRORIZER magazine (U.K.) - September 1997

Laibach meets Disembowelement head on in the music of Zaraza. At times torturously slow, at others blindingly fast, always brutal, always weird, this stuff does not make for pleasant listening. Incredibly ugly yet strangely beautiful on occasion, "Slavic Blasphemy" is Black Industrial in its most uncompromising form. About as easy to swallow as a putterfish (and probably a darn sight less tasty), this is one for only the sick.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - Soul Killer webzine (Canada) - September 1997

Remember a time when musicians tried new things because they didn't want to be just like everyone else? Well, these guys sure do. This CD is called "Brutal Experimental Symphonic Industrial Doom/Death Metal", just to give you some idea of the musical styles that influence this band. And it's a pretty successful mix of styles, lots of melody, lots of brutality, dark, depressing, haunting, great stuff to listen to at 3:00am when your girlfriend has just left you, and your car was repossessed by the bank and the mafia is coming for a 'visit' in the morning. Just try to remember after the album is finished that life is still worth living, even if only so you can hear the album again.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - VOIR magazine (Canada) - June 1997

Cruellement morbide, sombre, lugubre sont des adjectifs qui décrivent parfaitement Slavic Blasphemy. Jacek The DoomHammer et Grzegorz Haus ov Doom voulaient créer un style décapant et original, un grondement de musique doom/death avec de l'industriel. Réussi. L'echantillonage, les voix basses, les tempos lents et creux nous tiennent dans cette atmosphère tragique à travers les six pièces de l'album qui dure plus d'une heure. Pas besoin de blast beat ou de grind pour être heavy, Zaraza l'a compris. Imposant mais déroutant.

English translation: Cruelly morbid, somber, mournful are the adjectives that perfectly describe Slavic Blasphemy. Jacek The DoomHammer and Grzegorz Haus ov Doom wanted to create an original style, a mixture of doom/death music and industrial. Mission accomplished. The sampling, the deep vocals, the slow and deep tempos keep us in this tragic atmosphere during the six songs of the album which lasts over 1 hour. One does not need blast beats or grind to be heavy, Zaraza has understood it. Imposing but unusual.

"Slavic Blasphemy" - EXCLAIM! magazine (Canada) - May 1997

From the extreme world of Canadian industrialities, Phycus, comes a death metal release from Montreal's Jacek and Grzegorz Haus ov Doom. Throat-grinding vocals bark out in a Slavic tongue over thrash guitars and drum machine beats on the opening "24 Hours" and "Zakazany". Samples and keyboards dominate when the pace slows down to a deathly crawl on the bleak "Every Day Is A Funeral" and the tortured 12 minutes of "Necessary". Strings and pianos are added on a further progressive metal epic, the "Cell Of Skin". If you like your metal dark and symphonic, dare to hear the Slavic Blasphemy.