Disco debut de Hallux Valgus ya está disponible en CD y casete

Arte de la versión en CD de «Reflections of Distant Dreams».

La versión en CD está disponible a través de Ex Nihilo Music mientras que la versión en casete está a cargo de Burning Coffin Records. 

“Reflections of Distant Dreams” es el título del nuevo trabajo de la banda de Death Metal puertomontina HALLUX VALGUS, material que reúne un total de 10 composiciones fuertemente influenciadas por bandas como REPULSIONAUTOPSYDEATH BREATH.

De un carácter musical cercano a los cánones clásicos del género, HALLUX VALGUS ofrece en esta nueva producción un trabajo instrumental variado y de gran nivel, tanto compositivo, en ejecución y producción. 

El plano conceptual está fielmente reflejado en el arte de tapa así como el interior del disco, trabajo que es compartido por dos artistas nacionales: José Triviño (arte exterior) y Daniel Hermosilla (arte interior). 

Las letras, por su parte, se inspiran en una suerte de terror surrealista y a su vez autóctono, propio de las zonas rurales e insulares del sur de Chile. 

Todo el trabajo instrumental fue registrado entre noviembre y diciembre del año 2019 en los estudios Sound Pro de la ciudad de Puerto Varas. Todas las voces fueron grabadas en octubre del año 2020. 

La mezcla y masterización estuvo a cargo de Rafael Fuentes, quien realizó el trabajo en el estudio Anti Play Rec. de la ciudad de Valdivia. 

La actual composición de la banda -misma alineación que registró el disco-, consiste en Old Ripper en batería, Spectre en voces y Horrorhammer en guitarras, bajo y coros. 

La edición en CD está limitada a 500 copias y puede ser obtenida a través de Ex Nihilo Music y la propia banda. 

Un primer tiraje de 100 copias del casete fue lanzado a fines de abril del presente año y se agotó en pocos días. Un segundo tiraje de 100 copias adicionales ya está disponible a través de Burning Coffin Records y la propia banda. 

Review: Verbimus – The Stone is Grit (1995)

Banda: VERBIMUS.

Título: The Stone Is Grit.

Sello: Forgotten Treasures.

¿Qué se puede decir de este clásico trabajo originalmente lanzado en 1995 y ahora re-editado bajo el alero de Forgotten Treasure?

Este demo fue la piedra angular para estos músicos que ahora son parte de bandas de increíble calibre como HETROERTZEN, CAPILLA ARDIENTE, TEMPLE CODEX GIGAS. Estos tres cortes ya son himnos en las mentes de los metaleros del extremo sur de Chile. Para aquellos años en esta zona era casi inconcebible grabar música extrema, sin embargo de alguna forma esta banda pudo nadar contra la corriente y dejar dos registros de místico Black/Doom/Death Metal entre 1994 y 1995.

El primer registro fue grabado como demo rehearsal en las salas del local teatro Diego Rivera de Puerto Montt en 1994. El segundo trabajo, cinta de demostración propia y tal, fue registrada en los Studios Attic en Santiago de Chile en 1995. La música expresada aquí es lúgubre, pesada y dinámica ya que nos sorprende con cambios de ritmos y de emotivos pasajes de oscuridad.

Seguramente muchos concuerdan que el trabajo vocal es unos de los más brutales y significativos hecho en aquellos años y, por qué no decirlo, hasta la época actual en lo que a interpretación y magia se refiere, como si hubiese cantado un ente mitológico.

Me pregunto que hubiera pasado si esta banda hubiese seguido adelante. Lo más probable es que estarían haciendo una fructífera carrera en el lado oscuro del arte musical.

La producción trae una biografía más un completo explicativo por parte del sello, además de una foto extraída del zine Hidden Truth. Hubiera preferido la foto alternativa que apareció en la Infernal Death, issue#5 de 1996. Esa foto expresa en mayor medida lo que fue la banda. Excelsa re-edición.

Post Scriptum: La foto del tape original fue tomada en el cerro Santa Lucía en Santiago de Chile y el arte de la portada, al contrario de la creencia popular, no es una tumba de un viejo cementerio del sur de Chile, si no que esta fue sacada de una vieja revista. A Sekker le gustó la imagen y calzaba con el concepto del nombre de este trabajo. Contacto del sello: forgotten.treasures.records@gmail.com

Por Satran. 

Review: Osculum Obscenum / Cavernal – “Feeding On Southern Horror” (2019)

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Banda: OSCULUM OBSCENUM / CAVERNAL.

Título: “Feeding On Southern Horror”.

Sello: Independiente.

“Feeding on Southern Horror” es el título del CD split que comparten OSCULUM OBSCENUM y CAVERNAL, dos jóvenes promesas del Death Metal nacional provenientes de la ciudad de Puerto Montt. Además del género al que adscriben y esta producción, ambas agrupaciones comparten actualmente algunos integrantes. Lanzado de forma independiente en julio del año 2019, “Feeding on Southern Horror” contiene 6 composiciones que se dividen en partes iguales por cada banda.

La primera mitad pertenece a OSCULUM OBSCENUM, banda que se mantiene activa desde el año 2013 según leo en la Encyclopaedia Metallum. Tras un breve intro se inicia “Osculum Obscenum”, tema que nos permite reconocer la excelente producción en cuanto a sonido, algo que se agradece y que da muestras de que detrás hay interés por hacer un trabajo profesional. Sin tratar de ser muy descriptivo, puedo contarte que el trabajo en guitarras es muy sólido -el que se mantiene durante toda la producción-, y que se encuentra a cargo de los hermanos Sebastián y Cristóbal Soto. La base rítmica cumple con su rol, destacando una propuesta equilibrada y apropiada para el estilo en lo que a batería se refiere, la que está a cargo de Víctor Villanueva. También asistimos a oír por primera vez la voz de Pablo Opazo, quien se caracteriza por ser muy versátil en su función dentro de la banda.

El segundo corte es “Proceso Cadavérico Incompleto”, tema que mantiene el estándar de calidad ya mostrado en “Osculum Obscenum”. Acá destaca el trabajo en bajo de Cristóbal Pérez, especialmente durante el coro, quien propone algunas líneas que van un poco más allá del mero acompañamiento rítmico. La propuesta musical en estas dos primeras composiciones se acerca mucho al Death Metal vieja escuela del que muchos somos fanáticos.

El último tema de la primera mitad de este lanzamiento es “Dulcis Melodia Mortis”, composición que resulta ser la más variada en cuanto a cambios rítmicos, pasando de pasajes con tempos lentos a otros más veloces. También considero que los mejores riffs de esta primera mitad están presentes en este tema. Un dato interesante en esta primera mitad es que todas las letras están escritas en español. Para quienes hemos tenido la oportunidad de ver a OSCULUM OBSCENUM en vivo, conocemos la calidad y profesionalismo de sus músicos, y este lanzamiento solo viene a reafirmar algo que ya sabíamos.

Como se sabe, la segunda mitad de este lanzamiento pertenece a CAVERNAL, agrupación formada en el año 2018. El primer tema es “Nodus Tollens”, una composición que parte a medio tiempo para luego subir la velocidad, momento en que podemos oír por primera vez la voz de Nicolás Miranda, quien además está a cargo de una de las guitarras. Las voces acá están un poco cargadas de reverb, pero nada excesivo. Las variaciones rítmicas se van intercalando a medida que avanza el tema, pasando de momentos de descanso para luego volver a la brutalidad y velocidad, cuyo clímax llega casi finalizando la composición con un sólido blast beat a cargo de Víctor Villanueva, el mismo señor tras los tarros de OSCULUM OBSCENUM.

El siguiente tema es “Sadistic Obscurity”, el que se inicia con un breve solo de batería y que da paso a unos de los mejores riff de esta parte del split. Tras ello, CAVERNAL ataca con toda la artillería disponible: guitarras veloces a cargo del propio Miranda, además de Pablo Castillo, quien según entiendo también hace voces en este registro. Ambos se hacen acompañar de unos veloces blast beat y unas líneas de bajo propias del estilo, aunque echo de menos un poco más de presencia de este instrumento, el que es ejecutado por Matías Moya.

Cierra esta producción “Invoke the Serpentine”, un tema que es tan veloz como el anterior, lo que hace que se mantenga de alguna manera la intensidad y desempeño mostrado en “Sadistic Obscurity”. A diferencia del tema anterior, las líneas de bajo pueden apreciarse con mucha mayor notoriedad. Ya llegando al cierre de esta composición, baja un poco la intensidad con unos medios tiempos, pero que sin embargo están cargados hacia el doble bombo. El cierre llega con unos sólidos blast beat.

A diferencia de OSCULUM OBSCENUM, que se orienta más a -como ya ha sido dicho- el Death Metal vieja escuela, CAVERNAL lo hace más hacia el Death / Black Metal, pero que -al igual que sus coterráneos-, se encuentra fuertemente influenciado por el metal de décadas pasadas.

No es menor destacar que ambas bandas grabaron sus respectivas composiciones en los estudios Caja Negra, lugar en que muchas bandas locales han logrado registrar demos y discos a lo largo de los años. La masterización corrió a cargo de estudios Black Sheep. Para ir cerrando esta reseña, puedo decirles que mis temas favoritos son “Dulcis Melodia Mortis” y “Sadistic Obscurity”. Solo queda invitarlos a adquirir este material a través de ambas bandas. Acá van los contactos: o.obscenum@gmail.com y cavernal@outlook.cl

Por Miguel Negrón.

Hallux Valgu’s ‘Death Will Prevail’ debut EP soon through Ex Nihilo Music

Death Will Prevail is the title of the upcoming EP CD by Chile’s Death Metal act HALLUX VALGUS. Hailing from Puerto Montt city, HALLUX VALGUS was formed early 2013 by Lt. Nekroshit and Horrorhammer.

Music was recorded between 2014 and 2016 in Puerto Montt and Santiago city and the band is strongly influenced by old school Death Metal, Punk and Crust Punk. Some references are AUTOPSY, DEATH STRIKE, MORBUS CHRON, REPULSION, AMEBIX or G.B.H.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the Old School Chilean extreme metal scene, then Death Will Prevail will satisfy your thirst for Death Metal… 6 hymns of death in the old classic way!

HALLUX VALGU’S current line-up is Horrorhammer on guitars (SATANIC RIPPER, ANGELCRUSHER, INFERNAL SLAUGHTER), Nigredo on bass guitar (ANGELCRUSHER), Rotting on guitars (INFERNAL SLAUGHTER), Old Ripper on drums (SATANIC RIPPER) and Jorge on vocals (EXANIMATVM).

This stuff will be released on CD format in a limited edition of 500 copies. First 25 copies includes a free embroidered Hallux Valgus patch. Follow their steps at their Facebook fan page and check out the tracklist below.

1.- Twilight Of The Dead.

2.- Crawling Are The Dead.

3.- Hot Puke.

4.- Under The Ritual Of Necromancy.

5.- Slaughter Lambs.

6.- Only Death Will Prevail.

Watch here the ‘Slaughter Lambs’ video clip.

 

 

EXHUMED FROM THE PAST: TEMPLE

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Formed in summer months of 1995, TEMPLE, a Doom/Black act, is considered one of the biggest and most respected extreme metal bands coming from Puerto Montt, Chile. This project was born shortly after the demise of VERBIMUS. In 1999 TEMPLE released an impressive EP titled The Crepuscular Circle Of Eternity where you can hear an interesting mix of Doom and Black stuff plus some contemporary Heavy Metal influences.

The line-up of this recording included Sekker (TEMPLE, EXCORIATE, FUNERAL CHANT, ex-METZERGENZEIN) on vocals, Julio Bórquez (ATOMIC AGGRESSOR, CAPILLA ARDIENTE, ex-AGANICE, ex-INSORCIST, etc.) on guitars, Mauricio Enipane (ex-VERBIMUS, ex-MENTAL ATROPHY, ex-DRAKHER) on drums and César Orellana on bass guitar. The EP was released on pro tape by Extreme Music in a limited edition of 250 copies. Is relevant to mention that The Crepuscular Circle Of Eternity is one of the first “professional” extreme metal recordings in Puerto Montt’s underground scene.

R-8663525-1466164234-7964.jpegShortly after the release of The Crepuscular…, the band lost three of the members that recorded the EP, remaining only Sekker, who started searching for new members to continue with TEMPLE. After trying different lines-up, the band put out a new demo tape titled just as Demo-Advance in 2003 including two tracks: a new version of ‘Nosferatu’s Passion’ and ‘Lady Ghost’. The new stuff sounds more oriented to the Doom and Black territories than the previous work, criticized because of its Heavy Metal influences.

Another demo was released on CD in 2005 including for the first time in TEMPLE’s history a song sung in Spanish language and a couple of cover tunes from Czech ROOT and German BETHLEHEM. It was titled Laudes Del Malfadado. Between 2008 and 2010 TEMPLE released 3 different productions: Mistress of the Timeless Shadows (single, 2008), Promo (demo, 2009) and Single + Promo Rehearsal (demo, 2010).

TEMPLE enters again to the studio to record a 3 way split CD with THE FALLEN and MISCHIEVOUS AUGURY. Issued on CD by the Chilean label From The Grave Productions, TEMPLE included 3 songs:  ‘Mistress of Timeless Shadows’, ‘Only A Flame In The Darkness’ and ‘Gilgamesh’. TEMPLE takes participation on another split release in 2015 titled A Funeral Chant in the Temple of Behead Christ, issued by Old Silver Productions. The other 2 bands were FUNERAL CHANT and BEHEAD CHRIST. TEMPLE contributed with the tracks ‘Introduction to Mourn’, ‘First Meeting’ and ‘Last Halt in the High Volcano’.

In 2016 The Crepuscular… was officially re-released for the very first time on vinyl format in a limited edition of 500 copies by Chile’s Melipulli Records. This version was remastered and contains one extra track: it is a sung version of the instrumental composition ‘Tears into the Nocturnal Haze’, the fourth track on the original tape version released by Extreme Music back in 1999. A new release was announced: a split CD including stuff from Brazil’s BLAZING CORPSE and TEMPLE, whose title would be The Blazing Temple.

Exhumed From The Past: Verbimus

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VERBIMUS was a short-lived band and is between one of the first extreme metal bands in Puerto Montt city, Chile. VERBIMUS was formed from the ashes of MENTAL ATROPHY in 1994, another early extreme metal project coming from the same spot and split-up in 1996. Their sound was labeled as Doom/Black metal at the time. They’ve released just two productions between 1994 and 1995.

The first one was an independent demo tape titled just as Rehearsal in 1994. This tape included just two songs: «A Millenium Of Dread And Sadness» and «Dwellers In The Wind»The line-up on this demo included Iván Bobadilla (CODEX GIGAS, ex-VERBIMUS) and Nelson Altamirano, both on guitars, Julio Bórquez (ATOMIC AGGRESSOR, CAPILLA ARDIENTE, ex-AGANICE, ex-INSORCIST, etc.) on bass guitar, Mauricio Enipane (ex-TEMPLE, ex-MENTAL ATROPHY, ex-DRAKHER) on drums and Fernando Olivares (TEMPLE, EXCORIATE, FUNERAL CHANT, ex-METZERGENZEIN) on vocals, who later would use the pseudonym ‘Sekker’.

Verbimusss

VERBIMUS released the, for sure, first professional production in the local extreme metal scene ever, The Stone Is Grit… demo. Released on pro-tape format as an independent production, this demo included three tracks: «A Millennium of Dread and Sadness», «Quintrala: Pagan Dream» and «Dwellers in the Wind». It was recorded between July 22-28, 1995, in Studios Attic, Santiago, Chile, by Marco Cusato, known for his work with bands like ABHORRENT, NECRODEAD, WARPATH, among others.

At the time the line-up was integrated Iván Bobadilla on guitars, Julio Bórquez on bass guitar, Walter Tölg (HETROERTZEN, ex-HHAHDA, ex-HORNS, ex-DIE KUNST DER FINSTERNIS, ex-DRAKHER, etc.) on drums and Fernando Olivares on vocals. The backing vocals on this demo were performed by Aldo Doomicus (ex-BEWITCHED, ex-NOTUNG, ex-MJÖLNER).

Finally, The Stone Is Grit… was officially released in October 1995. In October 1996, and to promote their release to the local extreme metal community, VERBIMUS share stage with FORKED, a Death/Grind band coming from the neighbouring city of Calbuco, at legendary Cirus Bar in Puerto Montt, who were promoting their demo debut Electromutilated.

On its short existence, VERBIMUS shared the stage with EXECRATOR, SLAVERY, UNDERCROFT, 13 CANDLESS, ALIENATE, ACRIMONIOUS, FORKED, INQUISICIÓN, BLACK MOON, among others.

*All the information published was collected from different written sources.

Interview: Profound Grave

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PROFOUND GRAVE is a Black Metal band hailing from Puerto Montt, Chile. They have just released their first production, a split CD with their countrymates OCCULT PANTHEON titled Immortal Chaos Ascends released by Ex Nihilo Music. We get in contact with Satran, the man behind the vocals, who talked with us about how they started the band, their new release, their influences and everything about the future of this savage horde. Enjoy!

1.- When the band was formed and what was the motivation to form PROFOUND GRAVE? Please tell me about the current PROFOUND GRAVE line-up.

Cheers Miguel, how is going everything there? Ok, let’s talk about history. PROFOUND GRAVE was born from the ashes of FORGOTTEN GRAVES, a band formed in 2013 with another guy in the vocals department. After a while with no activity and one instrumental demo recorded, in 2015 ‘Grave’ and ‘Orravan’ get in contact with me to offer the vacant place to which I agreed. I know ‘Orravan’ long time and from a long time ago we desired to work together.  The same year I recorded the vocals, rewrite all the lyrics and renamed the band as PROFOUND GRAVE.  By now PROFOUND GRAVE is a trio and includes ‘Grave’ on guitars, ‘Orravan’ on drums and ‘Satran’ on vocals. We are currently looking for new musicians to complete the five points of the pentagram.

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2.- Your debut recording has a huge dose of brutality thanks to the raw sound and your particular approach on vocals, plus the speed, dynamism, and intensity that the band achieves to put in every song.  Tell us more about the production, how long it took to record it, where was recorded and some interesting details.

Well, the drums were recorded at Subnivel Studio, Puerto Montt, while the strings were recorded in 2013 in Maullín city at Anubis Studios. Then, one year and a half after, I recorded the vocals at Caja Negra Studios (Puerto Montt). As you see, there’s the reason why our first work has that raw and chaotic sound. Just three different recording studios can give you that. The mastering work was done by our drummer, who is an experimented sound engineer and the results are evident.

3.- Which are the topics that inspire the PROFOUND GRAVE lyrics?

It’s always difficult to answer that question because my approach to life is totally twisted and I follow patterns coming from occult and philosophic currents, trying from all the shit around take a bit of truth. But the lyrics are mainly visions about death, the awakening and birth from ancient Cathar and ascetic visions are seen absolutely by my own sick reasoning.

4.- How you define the PROFOUND GRAVE music style and which bands are your influences?

PROFOUND GRAVE plays Black Metal and by now is the perfect dimension where we can manifest our arrogance and hate against this extremely rotten material world.  Also, it allows us to bring to this earthly plane new metaphysic elements that we will not hesitate to use if our own manifestation deserves it. PROFOUND GRAVE will not only be about music. Our main gravitational laws are DARKTHRONE, IMPALED NAZARENE, GRAND BELIAL’S KEY, BESTIAL MOCKERY, DESTRUKTOR, SODOM, MARDUK and totally different bands to the already named that soon will be incorporated into our sound.

Profound Grave Photo

5.- Tell me about your next steps for PROFOUND GRAVE. Are you working on new stuff?

The closest thing is to make the official release of our split CD Immortal Chaos Ascends with our comrades from OCCULT PANTHEON, in what will be a ritual somewise private since it will be organized and controlled by us in a one hundred percent. We don’t want to work with worldly producers who are only interested in making money or filling the void that will leave their own lack of self-esteem.

6.- PROFOUND GRAVE already played a couple of times live. Which bands are you already shared the stage?

We’ve played live in two opportunities at the time with the current line-up, and as pre-PROFOUND GRAVE entity, the band played just one time with their previous vocal.  In one way or another, we don’t play a lot live, is usually just one time per year. We’ve shared stage with INSORCIST, SIASKEL, OBSENUM, GOATIMPURITY, PUTRID YELL, EXCORIATE (Chi).

7.- Are you currently working on another project related to the local extreme metal scene?

By now I’m just concentrated in PROFOUND GRAVE, since today I have no too much time. Anyway, I’m all the time thinking about new projects, not necessarily musical but always of total terror.

8.- The current year PROFOUND GRAVE released its first production, a split CD with OCCULT PANTHEON, a band from southern Chile, the same as your current band. In the past, you were part of DEMONIC RAGE and another old band from Puerto Montt called DESERTOR. Also, you’re working on your own zine, called PUTRESCENSE ZINE. In that sense, as a witness of what happens today in the southern zone of the country concerning the extreme metal evolution, ¿how do you see the Chilean underground scene?

I’ve been more than half of my life on this and I’ve seen born and die thoughts, attitudes, and dreams… and I’ve been seen enough commune there is things that should never have been born and some things that should never have been died. Every time the metal scene is bigger and powerful, but also dangerously more popular.

9.- Ok, that’s it by now. Thanks for your time and here is a space to tell whatever you want.

Today April 2nd, 4:27 is the hour where darkness extent its black mantle on the southern sky and the hypocrites feel fear and the dreamers drink. Cheers northern brother, that the aurora borealis suggest your path…

Discography: 

Profound Grave/Occult Pantheon – «Immortal Chaos Ascends» (Ex Nihilo Music, 2017)

Contact: profoundgrave@gmail.com

Exhumed From The Past: ARADIS

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For everyone who saw ARADIS playing live on stage, there is no doubt they were at the time one of the best bands coming from Puerto Montt city, located in southern Chile. ARADIS was a Doom/Death metal act with some Black influences. Strongly inspired by bands like TIAMAT, PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDETORMENTOR (Hun), among others, the band was formed in the mid of 1997.

The classic line-up included Patricio Inostroza (known as Azael) on vocals, Cristian Cárcamo (currently in SATANIC RIPPER, HALLUX VALGUS, ex-MORTINATVM) on drums, David Briones (currently in SON IN CURSE, THE BLACK HARVEST, ex-REGNUM ET MORTEM) and Jaime Aros (currently in REGNUM ET MORTEM) both on guitars, Jorge Campos on bass guitar and Héctor Rubio (currently in REGNUM ET MORTEM, ex-TEMPLE) on keyboards. Other members who participated in this project were Víctor Low (currently in DEMONIC RAGE, RUINED, FUNERAL CHANT, ex-INFERNAL SLAUGHTER, ex-WARFARE) on keyboards and Francisco on guitars and bass guitar.

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Morbid Metal V flyer (2000). ARADIS shared stage with IN MORTIS, BURNING FLESH, WARFARE, DISTORTION, among others.

Their style was characterized by the use of mid-tempo guitars and acoustic interludes, melodic arrangements on keyboards, guttural vocals and some double kicks here and there on drums. The band composed around 9 songs and just recorded two of these songs: “My Dark” and “The Rebellion” but was never released. Other titles were «Dark Souls», «Endless Tempest» and «Black Death Butterflies».

Early 2000 the band worked on a demo recording with Walter Tölg (currently in HETROERTZEN, SAPIENTIA, ex-HHAHDA, ex-HORNS, ex-VERBIMUS, etc.) in Puerto Varas city, 16 kilometers away to the north of Puerto Montt, but for different reasons it was never finished despite the interest showed by the extreme metal scene, fanzines and labels at the time.

ARADIS participated of the classic Morbid Metal shows in their hometown, played some shows in Osorno, Valdivia, Punta Arenas and Temuco and shared stage with bands as TEMPLE, BLACK MOON, DORSO, BEWITCHED, HETROERTZEN, INQUISICIÓN, TORTURER, EPSILON, RETRAL, UNDERCROFT, VICTIMIZED, BURNING FLESH, IN MORTIS, among others.

ARADIS demise occurred in 2002 and after that, some members have tried to reform the band with a different musical direction with no success. The only ARADIS recordings you can find today is some old videos on YouTube performing some original songs and cover tunes live on stage.

*Thanks to David Briones for information provided.