Review : Honestly one of the best stuff I heard for a LONG LONG while. This is not great, it is excellent. First listenning you are blown away by the sheer power, aggression and BlackMetal mastery. The voice hisses and coils, up and down , here and there, and here and there, and back, and the drums, extra fast are really powerfull. Guitars are scorching HOT, and the sound could be clean, it’d be great. But it is filthy, it is even better. When they go on ‘riding guitar’ mode, it starts getting nearly epic (Diabolical Mutilation or the fucking amazing The Satanic Macabre beginning), but then the voice. The fucking voice. As great as a sort of hissing Holocausto Vengeance, but different: a complete NEW FRESH concept / /idea.

Hissing, low REALLY deep growls (deeper than ARKHON INFAUSTUS for instance, and slow, more like on CARCASS’ Symphonies of Sicknessss on Slash Dementia –side 2 track 4 I think, ah ah, remember?? on Luciferian Gladiators) REALLLY deep, get it? THEN, another voice the‘leading singing voice’, is dark –not NorskBM- ‘just great’BM/DM. THEN another one,THE plus, the real plusssssss, it sounds like a fucking hose pumping pressurized air, flying in your fucking face releasing toxic gas, it is completely AWESOME, and then comes a tornado of decibel: yeah guitar solos on top (Armaments of Sadism for instance)!!! It buzzes, it hisses, basses also darken the landscape to point total darknesssss, then the voice…. Well you got the picture nah?

Extra details: Kratornas hail from Philipines and they DO sound original, read: not ‘trying to be original’ (poor Europe).

Their ‘Onslaught of Battledemons’ maxi is on Ordealis Rex, it is a masterpiece of violence and a Black Metal classic to be. (as IMPIETY’S skullfucking armaggeddon is) it is also heavy duty splatter vinyl, goodlayout etc…

It is NOT your usual, useless, -often tasteless-, ‘UGBM’ or ‘Raw and Grim’ Black metal , as we see everywhere these days, it IS fantastic, raw and grim. It is not simply ‘high pitched guitars, high pitched vox, messy drums in the back and complete disorganised chaos ‘to be really UG’. That’s the real stuff we are all looking for: you’ll get nearly the same kick with the ONSLAUGHT TO BATTLEDEMONS as when you heard BEHERIT (megagodzzzz) or BLACK WITCHERY (ultragodzzzz) the first time, though it is nothing like that.

Whereabouts : France
Author : Pierre Stratanael

Review : Who said that black metal was out of ideas? From the depths of the far eastern asian isles as Philippines, Kratornas emerges to show us how Zamora (the guy behind it) hates us and fucks us deeply. His black is totally crazy and insane, a real S/M attack. The worse is that Zamora (or Barakkuda, as he’s also called) plays all instruments, with a real drums. And Hellhammer can fuck off there… Sometimes the music goes even more mad, with accelerators (done during the mix?), and his voice turns into a yelling that a cat put in a mixer would do… Taste the southern madness…

Whereabouts : Lons Le Saunier, France
Author : Thomas Bernollin

Review : What a surprise!!! I’ve discovered in my mail-box a demo from Philippines… For sure it’s the first time I listen to a band hailing from this land, and I was looking for listening to the result of “The Onslaught of battledemons” as soon as I opened the mail…KRATORNAS is in fact a one-man band called Zamora and his declaration of war was done in 1996. Various recordings were done until now but you have to know that this one is the first official demo. KRATORNAS is the most extreme band from the Philippines and want to show his style as a non-conventional Black-Metal one… Well, I’ve just found the right words to describe “the onslaught of battledemons” : non-conventional and original. The less we can say is that this band is really bizarre. Musically, KRATORNAS plays primitive Black-Metal, really insane and crazy. I’ve never heard such a sound before. All is totally saturated, in the low and the high frequencies, the voice is impossible to describe, it’s screamy but far from what we already know. As if the vocal parts would have been recorded in a higher speed for the final result of “The Onslaught…”. The tempo is also strange, it can be fast, slow of mid-tempo, it’s unpredictable. Zamora makes changes in his music all the time… Weird and original, here are the characteristics of this demo. As for the production and the lay-out, they’re really honest, not fantastic but enjoyable enough. Well, I talk in an objective way since the beginning and I guess it would be interesting to give you my opinion… I appreciate this demo moderately, it’s not my bottle of beer and I must admit this is too strange for me. In general, I like “crazy” bands, but here, KRATORNAS needs to be more mature… The ideas are still faint. I await a better result for the next demo, it should be satisfying!
This review appears in Issue #2. Cover above is Issue #3.

Whereabouts : Luisant, France
Author : Karnage Vallot

Review : It is the first band from the Philippines I’ve heard! Kratornas plays true Barbaric Black Metal! No compromise here! Dark and crushing riffs, fast as hell drums, unholy song titles and evil atmosphere!!! The blasting parts are really killer!!!! That’s a good recording for my personal fucked up tastes! You should test Kratornas!!!!

Whereabouts : Saint-Dizier, France
Author : Mad Max Varnier (R.I.P)

Review : Totally chaotic, brutal, violent, apocalyptic, insane extreme metal!!! I’m sure you’ve rarely heard such kaos, played by one man only!! Totally dark and hostile production, sharpened guitars, killer devastating drum sound and non stop carnage!!! Don’t even associate this release with any black metal stuff!!! This war is too brutal, incoherent and evil for your ears!!






Whereabouts : Loretteville, Canada
Author : Dead Cath

Review : Is the first time that I listen a band from Philippines. Kratornas is just Brian Zamora who do everything. This is the second demo 1999 and include tracks with titles like: “The Satanic Macabre”, “Luciferian Gladiators”, “Bloodbath For Satan”, and others. The KRATORNAS sound is Satanic chaotic Black Metal, I can to cite bands as: BEHERIT(old), BLASPHEMY, ABHORER or IMPIETY, only for an idea. “The Onslaught of Battledemons” has a voice (with effect), irritating, deafening, you don’t understand any word from the lyrics, but for the titles you must guess!! The guitar has the grind sound, solos included, the drums (that the demo says isn’t a drum-machine), it has some variable parts but the majority is smoothing or crushing sound that really kill your ears. If you think MARDUK is Metal converted in a Battleground, just listen KRATORNAS, in just some words TOTAL WAR!!

Whereabouts : Mexico
Author : Michelle Zavala

Review : This stuff was created in 1999(4-5 years ago) but now its re-edited under a label but Bruno send me a promotional copy and I haven’t information about this. Well, this kid is possessed by the devil because this is the fucking chaos, something incredibly sickly and the sound isn’t very “sharp” like the 7” ep. It’s more “raw” and dark, I don’t know… Of course, it’s destroyer!!! About the songs, it’s Black/Death simple, but direct as never one. The guitar is very sharp and the drummer don’t seem like human because it’s a thunder. In some moments, the style reminds me of Black Witchery but you remember that your ears can to bleed with this.

Whereabouts : Pontevedra, Spain
Author : Jose Bouzas

Review : Asian and South American bands are, famous for their primitive sound and this is the way that Kratornas play. Six tracks of hateful death/black in the veins of old Sarcofago and Beherit with some slow warlust parts a la Blasphemy. Very extreme material with a lot of blast beats, killer riffs that blow up your head and vocals like these Holocausto of Beherit used. For all those who like, very extreme metal. 8/10





Whereabouts : Thessaloniki, Greece
Author : Tepes

Review : I’ve never listen on such a good demo for a very long time, now comes this tribal Black Metal or sadistic slaughterisation!!! Very fast drums, Ultra-sickening vocals, and treble fast guitar sound!!! This is not for possers!!! Not for weak people! Not for trendy shits!!! Not for the mass!!! Grade: 10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whereabouts : Thessaloniki, Greece
Author : Xidas Michael

Review : Arrrghhhhhhhhhh, conchetumadre!!! arrgghhh Blasphemy, Beherit y VON mezclados a mil por hora, una voz irritante, ensordecedora, con un pequeño efecto que suena como una jauria de ratas rabiosas, bateria y redoubles dignos del holocausto, temas cortos, directos, al hueso, eso es lo que ha expulsado al mundo desde Filipinas, Brian Zamora, unico miembro de Kratornas. En este Segundo demo hay temas como “Diabolical Mutilation”, “Luciferian Gladiators”, “Demonic War Slaughter”, “Bloodbath For Satan” que de seguro arrancaran tu espina dorsal y todo. “TOOTB” cuenta con una Buena produccion y sonido, solo tienes que enviar 3 dolares a este maniaco. Si Marduk, Conqueror y Black Witchery te mostraron la Guerra, de seguro Kratornas hara sentirte dentro de ella. Kill The Messiah!! Attack!!!

Whereabouts : Chile
Author : Executioner

Review : This is a new released by Kratornas contains 6 brand new tracks of sadistic slaughterization, featuring “Diabolical Mutilation 99, Armaments of Sadism, The Satanic Macabre, Luciferian Gladiators, Bloodbath For Satan and Demonic War Slaughter”. This stuff total chaos, blinding, noise, dark and highly satanic black metal in the veins of 80’s spirit. My opinion they’re not your typical black metal because they combine the riffing with furious noise grind back beats. An atmosphere of absolutely gore and horror…aarggh! The vocalist voice are done very deadly…hatred style of violence vocal. Try this one and feel the real echo of satanic black metal.

Whereabouts : Sabah, Malaysia
Author : Saiful Bahari

Review : This is Extremely Ultra-Blasting Black Metal from the Philippines. This is definitely is NOT your typical Black Metal music. This is pure hate flowing through some Black Metal! The music is fast, dark, and contains horrifying atmospheres! It is also very noisy sounding & sometimes blends together. The vocals are hauntingly Death/Black Metal vocals with some bizarre echos and effects.

Whereabouts : Pa, USA
Author : Burt Wolf

Review : Kratornas return once again to the pages of Canadian Assault. Served up we have black/grind sickness with gurgling hellspawn vocals. There is actually a nice mix here and everytime you think there is too much chaos. You are hit with a clean chugging head bang metal riff section. Super raw so if you are looking for candy-coated production then look elsewhere. Song titles include: “Diabolical Mutilation 1999”, “Armaments of Sadism”, “Satanic Macabre”, “Luciferian Gladiators”, “Bloodbath For Satan” and “Demonic War Slaughter”.

Whereabouts : Pa, USA
Author : Dale Roy