Blake Judd

Infobox_musical_artist
Name = Blake Judd
Background = solo_singer
Born =
Origin = Wheaton, Illinois, United States
Genre = Black metal
Years_active = 1995–present
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar
Label = Battle Kommand Records
Associated_acts = Nachtmystium
Twilight
URL = [http://www.battlekommand.com Battle Kommand Homepage]

Blake Judd is an American musician and co-founder of Battle Kommand Records.

Biography

Judd was raised in Wheaton, Illinois, and took an early interest in music due to his parents' taste in classic rock. [cite news | first=Vince | last=Neilstein | coauthors= | title=INTERVIEWS NACHTMYSTIUM’S BLAKE JUDD | date=2008-07-01 | publisher= | url =http://www.metalsucks.net/?p=5857 | work =metalsucks.net | pages = | accessdate = 2008-08-15 | language = ] cite news | first=Mark | last=Hensch | coauthors= | title=Nachtmystium Interview | date=2008 | publisher= | url =http://www.rocknworld.com/thrashpit/reviews/08/NachtmystiumInterview.shtml | work =thrashpit.com | pages = | accessdate = 2008-08-15 | language = ] . He saw the Allman Brothers perform live when he was in the second grade, and cites it as a major influence on his musical career. Judd took up the guitar when he was twelve years old, and began to listen to heavy metal shortly later.cite news | first=Jeff | last=Pizek | coauthors= | title=Nachtmystium shines black light on black metal | date=2008-06-20 | publisher=Daily Herald | url =http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=208961 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-06-20 | language = ] He began playing in bands in his late teens, and served as the vocalist and guitarist for Ezurate and in the now-defunct thrash and black metal band Helms Deep. In his spare time, he worked at [http://www.metalhavenchicago.com/order.html Metal Haven] , a heavy metal record store in Chicago. [cite news | first=Trevor | last=Fisher | coauthors= | title=Judd’s Dread | date=2008-01-30 | publisher=Illinois Entertainer | url =http://illinoisentertainer.com/2008/01/30/judds-dread/print/ | work =illinoisentertainer.com | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-23 | language = ] Judd eventually founded Nachtmystum with a friend as a side-project, which he originally operated out of his parent's basement.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title= Genghis Tron & Nachtmystium Part II | date=2008-06-16 | publisher=Contraband Candy | url =http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIATRl-xwsA | work =Youtube | pages = | accessdate = 2008-06-18 | language = ] He started to become more involved in Nachtmystium, then a raw black metal, after receiving positive feedback from his audience. Judd eventully shaped the band into a psychedelic band, influenced by his love for progressive rock bands such as Pink Floyd and The Allman Brothers,cite news | first=Bob | last=Gendron | coauthors= | title=Nachtmystium's new album | date=2008-06-01 | publisher=Chicago Tribune | url =http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-nachtmystium-0601jun01,0,4847672.story | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-06-03 | language = ] while also using various black metal elements.

Outside of Nachtmystium, Judd founded an independent record label, Battle Kommand Records, with Rebecca Clegg in St. Charles, Illinois. In 2005 he was commissioned by the Swedish underground label Total Holocaust Records to create the black metal "supergroup" Twilight. Additionally, he was session musician on Krieg's final album "Blue Miasma" (2006). Judd for many years performed under the pseudonym "Azentrius." Also, Judd played guitar on Obscurus Advocam's 2007 album Verbia Daemonicus.

Judd has often voiced critical opinions towards modern black metal. In an interview with "MetalReviews.com", he claimed, "most bands are just carbon copies of each other, musically, lyrically, image-wise, and ideologically although I question how big and evil half these maggots are." [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Nachtmystium - Mar 2005 | date=March 2005 | publisher= | url =http://www.metalreviews.com/interviews/interviews.php?id=61 | work =metalreviews.com | pages = | accessdate = 2008-06-20 | language = ] Judd voiced a similar opinion in an interview with "The Metal Crypt", stating "Fuck modern black metal. There are a few good bands, but there are millions of horrible clones and over rated bands that are doing nothing new."cite news | first=Mitchell | last=Chris | coauthors= | title=Interview with Azentrius | date=2004-03-11 | publisher=The Metal Crypt | url =http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/interviews.php?intid=133 | work =metalcrypt.com | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-23 | language = ] However in a 2008 interview with "The Daily Herald", he claimed to respect what he view as "real" black metal, and added "as a fan of black metal, I'm offended by someone who calls their music black metal and incorporates outside elements." While Nachtmystium was orginally founded as a black metal band, Judd insited the band had "left the black metal scene" after 2004. In an interview with "Thrashpit.com", Judd stated, "It was cool at first but we're really not a traditional 'spikes and paint' band."

Equipment

*Gibson SG Standard (D tuning)
*Sunn Model T reissue
*Emperor 6 by 12 cab w/ vintage Celestion Speakers

Pedals

*Digitech Digidelay
*Moogerfooger MF-104Z delay
*Boss TU-2 Tuner
*Dunlop Crybaby Wah

elect Discography

With Nachtmystium

* "Reign of the Malicious" (2002)
* "Demise" (2004)
* "" (2006)
* ""

With Twilight

* "Twilight" (2005)

With Krieg

* "Blue Miasma" (2006)

References

External links

* [http://www.battlekommand.com/nachtmystium/nachtmystium.html Nachtmystium Website]
* [http://www.battlekommand.com Battle Kommand Records Homepage]