Infernal Presence Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

After the recording and release, we focused on bringing the material to the stage. The reactions have been overwhelming, and we’ve shared the stage with bands like Akhlys, Fides Inversa, and others who represent the same uncompromising spirit. At the same time, we’ve already begun shaping new ideas — darker and more suffocating in atmosphere.

2. Recently you have released your first full-length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

The album combines elements of Death and Black, also Heavy Metal but without concern for boundaries. It’s rooted in the raw aggression of the early 90s, yet we always aim to create a certain tension between chaos and structure.

3. Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

Our lyrics revolve around the downfall of light, the cycle of death and rebirth, and the presence of the infernal within and beyond the human shell. It’s not about fantasy, but rather an internal descent. Lyrics should reflect the mood of the song and create pictures in mind. 

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Infernal Presence'?

We both thought about the right name on our own and when we compared our ideas, the name Infernal Presence was on both lists. It represents the idea of something ancient and ever-present within the human spirit — the shadow that can’t be erased. It’s both a reflection and an invocation.

5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork mirrors the concept of spiritual decay and illumination through darkness. It’s a vision of transformation — from the mortal form into something eternal yet consumed by its own fire. Every detail was chosen to reflect the album’s lyrical core. Stefanie from Totenkult Arts captured this essence perfectly and managed to translate the original tape layout into the full album artwork with great care and precision.

6. Currently there are only two members in the band, are you open to expanding the line-up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Infernal Presence will remain a duo at its core. The essence of what we create comes from a very focused unity. For live performances, we collaborate with B who understand the energy and intention behind the songs.

7. With the live line-up, what are some of the best shows that the band has played so far, and how would you describe your stage performance?

Sharing the stage with Akhlys and Fides Inversa in Erfurt was definitely a highlight. Our stage performance is intense and direct — no theatrics, no unnecessary movements, only the raw channelling of what the songs demand. Every show should achieve its effect through music and ritualistic passion.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

Yes. We’re currently preparing several shows across Germany. Details will be announced soon through Darkness Shall Rise and our channels.

9. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

The response has been strong. We’ve received support not only from Germany but also from South America and Eastern Europe. It shows that the energy of this music still transcends regions and languages — it connects those who seek something real beneath the surface.

10. Where do you see the band heading musically in the future?

The next material will push further into darker, more ritualistic territories. Less structure, more atmosphere — but still rooted in death and black metal tradition. It's an evolution without compromise.

11. What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

It’s a wide range — from the classics like Morbid Angel, Mayhem, and Funeral Mist to acts like Dead Congregation and The Ruins of Beverast. Outside of metal, we also draw inspiration from dark ambient or 70s psychedelic music. Every music you consume throughout the years has an impact more or less. Listeners, for example also mention comparisons that we ourselves had not initially thought of. 

12. Does occultism play any role in your music?

Yes, but not in a decorative sense. It’s part of the foundation — not as religion or dogma, but as exploration of hidden forces and the inner abyss. The songs are manifestations of that path.

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

We want to thank those who support and understand our musical vision. The infernal flame continues to burn.

D – Infernal Presence, 2025

infernalpresence.bandcamp.com 

Asira Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?

Since recording, we’ve been hard at work crafting the visuals for the release. We worked closely with Freya - Martin and Ethan’s bandmate in Cairiss - to create the excellent artwork for the singles. Ever since the music started releasing, we’ve just been trying to keep on top of the love and the messages.

2. Recently you’ve released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It’s a darker experience than our debut, and it pays even less attention to genre convention. What I particularly love about it is that, despite being born from a very difficult and painful period for us, it still has a core of unmissable, burning hope.

3.This is also your first album in 8 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

We’ve never been able to just sit down and turn on the songwriting. Our music has always been an unplanned and organic response to our own experiences, whether those are personal or or reaction to what is happening in the world. The last 8 years, for better or worse, are what was needed to create this particular record.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

All of our music has the philosophy of humanism at its heart. It’s a reverence for human reason, welfare, ethics, justice. Some of our songs are reactionary and those take quite a sonically extreme shape, sometimes our music is a quietly hopeful listening experience. The underlying drive and belief system is always the same.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Asira'?

We really wanted a single word that captured the colour and character of our music. We started with the colour ‘azure’ and that eventually morphed into ‘asura’ and then finally ‘Asira’.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

We returned to the fantastic Scottish painter Scott Naismith, whose artwork we’d previously used on our debut album ‘Efference’. I think this piece reflects the journey we’ve all been on. The colours and the tone are familiar, but the scene has developed. What was once a vibrant sea is now a cracked frozen lake - it’s calmer, but also more dangerous.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

My favourite was Warhorns Festival, because of the incredible atmosphere. A room full of people who are there to enjoy themselves, soak in the music, and make friends. It’s exactly the right environment for an Asira set, because it lets us be very authentic and communicative with our performance. We’re at our best when we can really savour the push and pull with an open-minded audience.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

We’ll never say never, but right now we see ourselves staying off the road. We want to focus on this album release, and on building a connection and community with those who really hear and love it.

9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We had some interest, but we decided it was important to us that we remain in independent control of this album, and our future. There are plenty of excellent reasons to sign a record contract, but the more we thought about it, the more we realised that we’re not a conventional band and those reasons could never outweigh our independence.

10.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme and progressive metal?

This is something we always find so difficult to predict. Metal has its fair share of purists, and some of them see our music as an injury against what they stand for. For every purist out there, we also get messages of love and appreciation. There will always be people in any scene who are looking for something unfamiliar and real; those are the people who our music truly resonates with, and we’re very grateful for them.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

It is just impossible to say. Coming back to our writing process (or lack of one), this all depends on how our lives play out from here. I’m hopeful that the next 8 years will prove to be a safer time for everyone who most needs safety right now, so who knows? Maybe our next album will be a celebratory soul record.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Way more than this but the first that come to mind are Eric Whitacre, Stevie Wonder, Steven Wilson, Opeth, Gareth Coker, Strapping Young Lad, Alcest, Daft Punk, Leprous and iamthemorning. Those are all on pretty permanent rotation for us. More recently, I’ve really been enjoying the new One of Nine album, and have been diving back into Blackbraid.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Just a huge thank you to everyone who listens to our record. It could be called many things, but not “conventional”. We have a deep respect and appreciation for anyone who takes time to understand and digest art that they’re not familiar with.

• Website: www.asira-band.com
• Bandcamp: asira.bandcamp.com
• Spotify: Asira on Spotify
• YouTube: youtube.com/@asiraband
• Facebook: @asirauk
• Instagram: @asira_band

Warahran Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

Thank you for having us! Warahran is an Iranian extreme metal band focusing on black metal. The band started in 2022 but due to some problems, our first release will be in late 2025.

2.You have a new album coming out in November, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

We tried to mix many genres while keeping black metal as our main sound. On this record, we mostly explored thrash, death and progressive metal.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

Although the last track on the album (Ten Thousand Immortals) is a song based on history, for the other songs we focused on war and the different aspects of it.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Warahran'?

"Warahran" is the ancient god of war in Persian mythology. We wanted something related to war while representing our nationality.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

The artwork shows a man that is crying blood and burning in fire. He is seeking help to get out of the fire of the war which he himself started.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Yes, we are open to any change that we think is good for the project and would help us in making better music.

7.Is life still very dangerous for a fan of extreme metal in Iran in 2025?

Although it got better in past years, it is still dangerous for an extreme metal fan here, specially for artists.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

We haven't received any interest yet, but we are open to it. It is important to remember that transferring money here might be a problem which makes it harder to find labels.

9.On  a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?

We have to wait until the album is fully released, but we anticipate many people (especially fans of old-school black metal) might hate us. We try to find our own fans in the community.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We may or may not change the sound that we already have, we try to explore and experiment with different things and keep what sounds good.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Our inspirations are mostly black and thrash metal bands, especially bands like Slayer, Exodus, Kreator, Marduk, Death, Dark Funeral, Dissection, Immortal etc.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

We will keep making music. Right after releasing the album, we are going for new songs, so stay tuned!

Hakla/Piesni Konca/Via Nocturna/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Hekla  are  a  duo  form  Poland  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Piesni  Konca"  which  will  be  released  on  November  28th  by  Via  Nocturna.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.

  Hekla  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  old  school  in  the  mid  90's  European  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  the  fall  of  man,  the  decay  of  values  and  the  end  of  everything  familiar.  

  In  my  opinion  Hekla  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Piesni  Konca"  "Pod  ziemia"  and  "Szil  tak  jakby  zwyciezyli".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/uY2Y5CL7rSg

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Zeit/R.U.M.S/2025 EP Review

 

  Gerrmany's  Zeit  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  techno  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "R.U.M.S".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  electronic  beats  and  techno  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Elements  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  slower  parts  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  90's  style  hardcore  techno,  acid  house,  drum'n'bass  and  minimal  electro  touches  are  also  utilized  throughout  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  introduced  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  word  samples  are  brought  in  briefly  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Zeit  takes  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  it  with  techno  and  other  forms  of  electronic  music  to  create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Nihilism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Zeit  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  techno,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wunde"  and  "Immer".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RumsDieZeit/

Bandcamp: https://rumsdiezeit.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/zeit.official
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RumsDieZeit

Primordial/Live In New York/Metal Blade Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Ireland's  Primordial  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  bringing  their  Celtic  folk  music  inspired  form  of  pagan  black  metal  to  the  live  stage  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Live  in  New  York"  which  was  released  by  metal  Blade  Records.

  Live  audience  reactions  and  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  clear  vocals  go  for  more  of  a  pagan  metal  direction.

  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  the  throat  singing  also  adds  in  a  ritualistic  touch  when  it  is  used  briefly.  Angry  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  The  album  also  mixes  in  elements  of  folk  music  into  the  heavier  riffing  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  utilized  at  times.  When  the  recording  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  tracks  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Irish  Paganism,  Mythology,  Heritage,  History  and  Struggles.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Primordial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Rome  Burns" "To  Hell  Or  The  Hangman"  "The  Coffin  Ships"  and  "Heathen  Tribes".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.primordialofficial.com

https://www.facebook.com/primordialofficial

https://www.instagram.com/primordial_official

Matru-Zebu/Ulations Before The Forbidden Teraphim/Ancient Culte/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Matru-Zebu  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  primitive  and  elemental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Ulations  Before  The  forbidden  Teraphim"  which  was  released  by  Ancient  Culte.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  clear  chants  also  being  used  on  a  couple  of  tracks,  synths  are  also  added  into  the  background  at  times  which  also  adds  in  an  atmospheric  touch.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  album  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in   the  old  school  era  of  the  genre,  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Matru-Zebu  goes  for  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Matru-Zebu  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Profound  Eternal  Abyss"  "Drown  In  Hell"  and  "Black  Fate  Awaits  The  Souls  Of  Satan".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDOABCOEeQY