Federico Ágreda

Federico Ágreda (Zardonic)

Zardonic performing in Caracas, Venezuela
Background information
Birth name Federico Augusto Ágreda Álvarez
Also known as Zardonic
Fredrik Akhraeta
Gorepriest
Born 22 October 1985
Barquisimeto, Lara
Venezuela
Genres Drum and Bass
Industrial
Dubstep
Dark Ambient
Black Metal
Occupations DJ, Record Producer, Composer
Instruments Synthesizer
Years active 2002–present
Labels Human Imprint
Freak Recordings
Big Riddim
Counterstrike
Cymbalism
Subsonik Sound
Associated acts Triangular Ascension
Sol Nocturno
Website facebook.com/djzardonic

Federico Augusto Ágreda Álvarez, best known as Zardonic, is a Venezuelan keyboardist, DJ, composer, producer and remixer known for his drum and bass act as well as his dark ambient, black metal and minimal techno sideprojects.

Contents

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Biography

Federico started composing at the age of 16 under his black metal moniker Gorepriest, and two years later he earned the Best Keyboardist award at the Premios Metal Hecho en Venezuela 2002-2003 (Metal Made in Venezuela Awards).[1]. During the next years he evolved through various projects of industrial, ambient and electronic music under different aliases. As Zardonic, he distinguished himself as a remixer for artists including The Berzerker (Australia)[2], Gorgoroth (Norway),[3] and Nine Inch Nails.[4]

His catalog of remixes continues to grow as well as his collaborations with other artists including Counterstrike (South Africa) and Messinian (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). With the latter, he composed the Policia track which was a worldwide dancefloor hit, even played by DJs like Andy C and DJ Hype.[5]

Lewis Davidson, owner of American Drum & Bass label Technorganic Recordings, states that Zardonic "...is showing how his varied background, environmental location and unique production styles are quite possibly the secret recipe for Drum & Bass perfection".[6] He has also been referenced as "the biggest dark Drum & Bass act in Latin America".[7]

Some of his other known projects are Intimus Universum[8] (now known as Triangular Ascension), Sol Nocturno[9] (previously known as Gorepriest) and Klipp (together with production partner Moreon).[10]

History

In 2003 his first album was released as Gore Priest, entitled "War Against Humanity: The Armageddon Chronicles", through Venezuelan label Melomaniac Metalmedia Records.[11]

In 2004 he earned the Best Keyboardist award in the Premios Metal Hecho en Venezuela 2002-2003 (Metal Made In Venezuela Awards 2002-2003).[12]

In 2006 Zardonic's first tracks were released through Death Brigade Records in 12" vinyl format, becoming the first Venezuelan drum and bass producer to release a single in an international imprint.[13] Later this year, he also founded Zardonic Recordings, an independent drum and bass netlabel.[14]

In 2007 he was booked for his first international event in Mexico on the 19th of May.[15] Months later AK1200, pioneer of the American Drum & Bass scene, selected Zardonic's Moonlight Ceremony for his Weapons of Tomorrow mixed compilation CD.[16] Soon after, his tunes earned the support of international performers such as Dieselboy, Pendulum and John B.[17]

In 2008 he released several drum and bass tracks, as well as an Industrial Metal album under the Blackholepit moniker, entitled "Portals", published through James Fogarty's Death To Music Productions netlabel,[18] referenced as "the 1992 cross-over album from Varg Vikernes (Burzum) and Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) that never happened".[19] A compilation of Zardonic's previous black metal oriented demos was also released later this year, entitled Chaotic Serenity.[20] In December, he was also featured both as Zardonic and Klipp in the Venezuela Electrónica Vol. 3 compilation, sponsored by Venezuelan wireless telecommunications company Digitel GSM and Motorola, by selling the new MOTOROKR EM30 mobile phone model together with a microSD card including all the tracks.[21]

2009 saw the release by Big Riddim Recordings of Zardonic's remix of AK1200's classic Junior's Tune,[22] and being commissioned by Dieselboy to do sound design for the Planet of the Drums 10th Anniversary Tour video intro. In a Dieselboy interview for Broken Beats on May 8, Zardonic was named as one of the five outstanding artists in Drum & Bass at the time.[23]

In 2010, Zardonic toured Europe together with Joanna Syze, compiling a total of 12 gigs in Spain, Austria, Romania and Bulgaria.[24] Shortly after, his studio mix Retaliation was released on drum and bass web site Dogsonacid.com paired with an in-depth interview.[25] The first Human Imprint release also happened this year, entitled South Of Human EP.[26] Later on, he headlined two Therapy Sessions events in Ecuador[27] and Argentina,[28] as well as more gigs in Colombia[29] and Venezuela. By the end of December, he also founded Saturnoculto Records, sister label of Zardonic Recordings.[30]

In 2011, Zardonic got three tracks included in Dieselboy's latest studio mix entitled Unleashed.[31] Later on, his release "The Last Invocation" was picked on Beatport's 10 Must Hear Drum & Bass Tracks - Week 17 chart.[32] Triangular Ascension's debut album Leviathan Device was released through dark ambient label Cyclic Law, described as "a carefully crafted work full of cinematic drones of ruthless atmospheric power, destined to make Triangular Ascension a name to be reckoned with".[33] For the month of March it was picked by The Silent Ballet and reviewed as "a spell of torpor and muck that ensnares the listener like quicksand".[34]

Furthermore, his track "Scream!" was picked as part of the Trackitdown.Net One For The Weekend - 15th July 2011 - 50 Of The Biggest Recommendations For Your Mix bundle, together with tracks from artists like Paul Oakenfold, Lazy Rich, Darth & Vader, Teebee, Scott Brown, and many more.[35]

More recently, The social networking website VampireFreaks.com released a free compilation with a total of 36 rare tracks by various artists including KMFDM, Suicide Commando and Left Spine Down, as well as Zardonic's mix of the track "Ready Or Not" by the latter.[36]

Discography (incomplete)

Zardonic

Sol Nocturno

Gorepriest

Triangular Ascension

Intimus Universum

Blackholepit

See also

References

  1. ^ "Premios Metal Hecho en Venezuela 2002-2003". Ariah Records. January 17, 2004. http://www.ariahrecords.com/PMHV1.htm. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  2. ^ "Berzerker Industries European Webstore -- The Reawakening". Berzerker Industries. September 1, 2008. http://berzerkerindustrieseuro.bigcartel.com/product/the-reawakening. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  3. ^ "Gorgoroth Begin Recording Vocals For New Album". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 29, 2006. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=47556. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  4. ^ "Remix Spotlight, Zardonic - The Nine Inch Nails Army - NINarmy". NIN Army. October 4, 2010. http://ninarmy.com/home/remix-spotlight-zardonic.html. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  5. ^ "Melting Pot Records - Artista - Musikaze.com". Melting Pot Records. http://www.musikaze.com/es/musica/sellos/artista.php?cod=3408&cat=690&&band=5530. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  6. ^ "Top DJs Venezuela - DJs". Top DJs Venezuela. November 12, 2008. http://www.topdjsvenezuela.com/djs_bio.php?id=471. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  7. ^ "www666: Zardonic + Replicator – "Ten Commandments"". Internet Recordings. October 27, 2010. http://internetrecordings.org/?p=355. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  8. ^ "Intimus Universum - Metal-Music". http://metal-music.blogcindario.com/2005/08/00010-intimus-universum.html. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  9. ^ "Sol Nocturno (ex-Gorepriest) con nuevo disco.". Alondra.com.ve. June 24, 2009. http://www.alondra.com.ve/noticias.php?idnoti=321. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  10. ^ "Moreon & Klipp / Dressing Federico EP / Inverzo Records". RumbaCaracas.com. April 17, 2008. http://www.rumbacaracas.com/noticias/04-2008/musicnews/moreon-klipp-dressing-federico-e-p-inverzo-records-631/. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  11. ^ "Gore Priest - War Against Humanity: The Armageddon Chronicles (CD Info)". Sincopa. http://www.sincopa.com/rock_pop/cdinfo_rock/gorepriest_2war_against.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  12. ^ "Premios Metal Hecho en Venezuela 2002-2003". Ariah Records. January 17, 2004. http://www.ariahrecords.com/PMHV1.htm. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  13. ^ "Subsonik Sound Recordings". http://www.subsoniksoundrecordings.com/zardonic.html. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  14. ^ "Zardonic Releases Rare Grooves 3". Knowledge Magazine. February 15, 2011. http://www.kmag.co.uk/editorial/news/zardonic-releases-rare-grooves-3. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  15. ^ "Zardonic (Venezuela) 19 May 2007". Drumandbass.com.mx. May 23, 2008. http://www.drumandbass.com.mx/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=50. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  16. ^ "AK1200 - Weapons Of Tomorrow (CD) at Discogs". Discogs. October 23, 2007. http://www.discogs.com/AK1200-Weapons-Of-Tomorrow/release/1211933. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  17. ^ "ORDER IN KAOS DIGITAL". Order In Kaos. November 29, 2010. http://www.orderinkaos.co.uk/zardonic.html. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  18. ^ "Federico Agreda Speaks...". DEATH TO MUSIC. http://www.deathtomusic.com/bhpint/bhpint.htm. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  19. ^ "Download Blackholepit's New Album For Free". Metal Underground.com. May 19, 2008. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=36725. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  20. ^ "Zardonic's "Chaotic Serenity" EP For Free Download". Metal Underground.com. June 17, 2008. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=37336. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  21. ^ "Venezuela Electrónica Vol. 3". Diverso Magazine. December 3, 2008. http://www.diversomagazine.com/2008/12/venezuela-electrnica-vol3.html. Retrieved 26 February 2011. 
  22. ^ "Juniors Tune (Remixes) at Juno Records". Juno.co.uk. November 9, 2009. http://www.juno.co.uk/products/367108-01.htm. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  23. ^ "Interview with The Upbeats and Dieselboy". Broken Beats. August 5, 2009. http://www.brokenbeats.co.nz/dieselboy-usa-the-upbeats/. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  24. ^ "Raid Over Europa Tour". Dropdread. February 22, 2010. http://dropdread.ro/2010/02/raid-over-europa-tour-feat-syze-zadornic/. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  25. ^ "DOGS ON ACID AND ZARDONIC PRESENT RETALIATION". Dogs On Acid. May 24, 2010. http://www.dogsonacid.com/showthread.php?threadid=678030&mode=article. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  26. ^ "South Of Human EP at Juno Records". Juno.co.uk. August 16, 2010. http://www.juno.co.uk/ppps/products/397585-01.htm. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  27. ^ "THERAPY SESSIONS ECUADOR: THE DARK SIDE OF DRUM & BASS". http://quito.sonorika.es/e_586987. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  28. ^ "18 de Diciembre - THERAPY SESSIONS ARGENTINA". http://www.buenosaliens.com/foros/mensajes.cfm/id.35621.t.18-de-diciembre-therapy-sessions-buenos-aires.htm. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  29. ^ "ZARDONIC(RAVE)/CHITE(ROCK) @ UNIAPEL". http://www.bogotaelectronica.com/evento/zardonicravechiterock-uniapel/. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  30. ^ "ZARDONIC RECORDINGS LANZA SU DISQUERA "SATURNOCULTO RECORDS"". http://crestametalica.com/?p=877. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  31. ^ "Dieselboy Unleashes New Studio Mix". Knowledge Magazine. February 1, 2011. http://www.kmag.co.uk/editorial/news/dieselboy-unleashes-new-studio-mix. Retrieved 25 February 2011. 
  32. ^ "10 Must Hear Drum & Bass Tracks". https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/chart/detail/34911/10-must-hear-drum-and-bass-tracks-week-17. Retrieved 20 May 2011. 
  33. ^ "TRIANGULAR ASCENSION "Leviathan Device" (34th Cycle)". http://www.cycliclaw.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=784. Retrieved 27 February 2011. 
  34. ^ "TSB Reviews". http://www.thesilentballet.com/dnn/Reviews/tabid/54/ctl/Details/mid/438/ItemID/3953/Default.aspx. Retrieved 6 March 2011. 
  35. ^ "One For The Weekend - 15th July 2011 - 50 Of The Biggest Recommendations For Your Mix". http://www.trackitdown.net/genre/house/track/3455740.html. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
  36. ^ "VampireFreaks.com - Download Cry For Death Volume One (Industrial / Electro Edition)". http://music.vampirefreaks.com/download/album.php?id=1227. Retrieved 20 August 2011. 

External links

Audio links