Midnight Odyssey/Swords Of Dis/Oros Kau/Serpent Ascending/From The Waters Of Death - A Retelling Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh/I, Voidhanger Records/4 Way Split Album Review

   This  is  a  review  of  a  4  way  split  album  between  Australia's  Midnight  Odyssey,  United  Kingdom's  Sword  of  Dis,  Belgium's  Oros  Kau  and  Finland's  Serpent  Ascending  with  the  album  being  called  "From  The  Waters  of  Death  -  A  Retelling  Of  The  Epic  Of  Gilgamesh"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  of Serpent  Ascending  a  solo  project  that  plays  death  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  while  clear  male  and  female  singing  and  synths  are  also  used  at  times.  The  track  is  also  over  14  minutes  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  death  metal  growls.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  technical  sounding.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  track  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  guitar  leads  also  expanding  more  of  the  technical  approach,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Epic  Of  Gilgamesh. 

  In  my  opinion  Serpent  Ascending  a  very  great  sounding  death  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  different  in  this  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

  Nest  up  is  Oros  Kau  a  solo  project  who  returns  with  a  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  medal  screams.

  The  track  is  also  over  7  minutes  in  length  along  with  some  operatic  clear  singing  and  death  metal  growls  also  being  used  at  times.  The  song  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts   as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  touches,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover the  Epic  Of  Gilgamesh.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  song  form  Oros  Kau  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Swords  Of  Dis  a  duo  that  returns  with  a  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  middle  eastern  style  folk  instruments  and  operatic  female  vocals  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Clear  male  vocals  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  harsher  vocals  being  mostly  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  a  few  black  metal  screams.

  Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  music  bringing  in  elements  of  death  metal.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  some  melodies.      When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  orchestral  sounds  can  also  be  heard  at  times. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Epic  of  Gilgamesh..  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Swords  Of  Dis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Blood  Stains  The  Altar  Of  The  Sun  And  In  Ishtar’s  Mourning  The  Feral  Lord  Of Desolation  Awaits  The  House  Of  Dust".

  Next  up  is  Midnight  Odyssey  a  solo  project  who  returns  with  his  ambient  and  cosmic  style  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  epic  ambient  style  keyboards  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  only  song  that  is  present  on  his  side  of  the  recording  is  also  over  20  minutes  in  length.

  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  briefly,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Epic  Of  Gilgamesh.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Midnight  Odyssey  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  cosmic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  the  more  creative  sides  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal.  8/5  out  of  10.

 https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/from-the-waters-of-death  

          

Gorrch/Stillamentum/Avantgarde Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Gorrch  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Stillamentum"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Chants  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  at  times  and  riffs  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  melody.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  when  guitar  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  dissonant  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existential  dread.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Gorrch  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  experimental  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nimbus"  and  "Phlegma".  8  out  of  10.

  https://gorrch.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/UGkwQiD-oDs

  

Vorago/Morulus/Amor Fati Productions/2026 EP Review

 

  Vorago  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Germany  and  Mexico  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Morulus"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  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  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  era  of  the  genre.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Some  of  the  vocals  also  go  into  a  more  grim  direction  in  certain  sections  of  the  music  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Vorago  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  heavy  and  aggressive  in  the  classic  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  order  from  chaos.

  In  my  opinion  Vorago  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  shold  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Torquemada"  "Darkhammer"  and  "Morulus".  8  out  of  10.

  www.amor-fati-productions.de  

amorfatiproductions.bandcamp.com  
www.facebook.com/amorfatiprod

  

  

De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube/Rituel: Initiation/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

    De  l'Abîme  Naît  l'Aube  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Rituel:  Initiation"  which  will b e  released  in  February  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Drones  start  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  lot  of  the  songs  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  clear  male  and  female  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.    

  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

 

  De  l'Abîme  Naît  l'Aube  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  sounding  and  focuses  more  on  a  slower  and  hypnotic  approach  to  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swiss  and  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  De  l'Abîme  Naît  l'Aube  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Une  pleine  absence"  and  "Une  absolue  présence".  8 out  of  10.

  Le Vertige d'une Descendance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FTu-ofrCdk

Une Pleine Absence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5TFLzpgCng

Un Sanctuaires de Cendres: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-hyb_uC7_0

https://linktr.ee/dana.postmetal  

      

Vermilia/Karsikko/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  solo  project  Vermilia has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  folk  influenced  style  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2025  album  "Karsikko".

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Clear  pagan  style  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  folk  music  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  and  growls  are  also  used  at  times.

  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.  At  times  the  album  also  adds  in  some  ritualistic  touches,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  Paganism,  Mythology  and  Nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vermilia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  folk  influenced  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Karsikko" "Suruhymni"  and  "Kansojen  Kaipuu".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.vermiliaofficial.com

https://vermiliastore.com/
https://www.facebook.com/vermiliaofficial/
https://vermiliaofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/vermiliaofficial/
https://www.tiktok.com/@vermiliaofficial

http://www.youtube.com/c/Vermilia    

Dwellnought/Monolith Of Ephemerality/Caligari Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

    Dwellnought  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  2026  album  "Monolith  Of  Ephemerality"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Caligari  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  noise  interludes  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Dweellnought  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  emtal  and  mixes  it  with  doom  metal  and  the  brutality  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  cosmic  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dwelnought  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Final  Desire  Is  Unbeing"  and  "Whispers". 8  out  of  10.

  http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/monolith-of-ephemerality

dwellnought.bandcamp.com   

Motljus Interview

 

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

Motljus is a black metal project, although the music occasionally takes other musical paths. If you enjoy atmospheric music that takes its time—rather than jumping rapidly from riff to riff—and balances heavy intensity with softer moments, Motljus might be for you. It is the creation of me, Arvid, based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

I started Motljus out of a desire to make music entirely on my own, and to create something I genuinely love listening to myself. I’ve played music almost my entire life, mostly with other people—starting with the violin as a child, then moving on to guitar, and later drums.

The drums really hooked me as a teenager, and I put the other instruments aside. Over the years, I played drums in several bands and projects around Gothenburg.

When I began working under the name Motljus, I had been playing indie rock and post-rock for a long time, and I deeply missed the feeling of playing more loud, heavy music. My other band, Balloon Maker, had a rehearsal space that was also set up as a studio. There, I spent a lot of time on my own, reconnecting with instruments I hadn’t touched in years. With a strong DIY mentality, I recorded the music that became the foundation of Motljus, and eventually the album För Evigt.

2.So far you have released 2 full length's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

I’ve actually released just one full-length album so far, which is my debut, För Evigt. However, it exists in two different versions. The album was first released digitally in 2024, and then on January 9th, 2026, Darkwoods and I released a physical edition as a limited CD.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with your music?

Both the music and the lyrics have been with me for many years. The lyrics reflect my personal journey—from being a young adult free from major struggles or responsibilities and simply enjoying life, to growing older and confronting the harsher realities and burdens of modern society.

Music stayed with me through those difficult years, and also through the moments when life began to turn in a more positive direction. I actually completed the music for För Evigt during one of the happiest periods of my life, while I was on paternity leave with my first child. The album deals with feelings of misery and heaviness, but also with the moments when life slowly moves toward something brighter and lighter.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Motljus'/

Motljus means “backlit” in Swedish. The word is made up of mot (against) and ljus (light), which initially felt very fitting for a black metal project. Over time, however, I’ve also come to see it as a personal striving toward the light in my own life. I also enjoy the fact that it’s a strange and unfamiliar word for anyone who doesn’t speak Swedish.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork on the current album cover?

The artwork for this release is a collaboration between myself and Darkwoods. We drew inspiration from the typical winter atmosphere of my hometown, Gothenburg, which resulted in something dark, realistic, and urban. The album has a modern visual feel while still staying close to a classic, old-school black metal aesthetic. I think the atmosphere we created is something most people can relate to, regardless of where they live.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

Motljus will remain a very personal project, and I’ll continue to write the music myself. That said, the recording process may look different going forward. These days, I don’t have the time to spend endless hours recording everything on my own, so I’ll need to work in a more time-efficient way. 

I’m also open to once again inviting friends to contribute with guest appearances in the future. Motljus hasn’t performed live yet, but I sometimes dream about giving the music a physical presence on stage. To make that happen, I would need the help of others to truly bring it to life.

7.'Darkwoods' are releasing the physical version of your current album in 2026, how did you get in contact with this label?

Daniel from Darkwoods told me that he actually came across my Bandcamp page by chance! He reached out to me with the idea of doing a physical release of my debut album, and from there we began the process of bringing För Evigt to life in physical form.

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

I started making music purely for myself, with no expectations that it would ever reach an audience. Even releasing the first digital version felt like a huge step. Honestly, I’m still quite shocked that people seem to connect with the music, and it genuinely means a lot to me when someone reaches out to share their thoughts.

I’m very excited about this physical release with Darkwoods, and I think the album has turned out beautifully.

9.Do you also have any experience playing in other bands or musical projects?

Yes, as mentioned earlier, I’ve played drums in several bands in and around Gothenburg, mainly within different styles of metal, rock, and post-rock. Alongside Motljus, I currently play drums in the indie rock band Balloon Maker. If you enjoy calm, cozy indie music, it’s definitely worth checking out.

10.where do you see yourself heading into as musician during the future?

I’m currently in the early stages of writing new material under the name Motljus, and I’m really enjoying the process so far. It feels like a strong foundation for the project’s next chapter.

While Motljus is a solo project, playing music with others is something I truly enjoy. I haven’t had much time for that in recent years, and it’s something I’d really like to bring back into my life again.

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?

Motljus was initially intended to be fairly straightforward black metal, but it gradually became heavily influenced by post-rock and post-metal. The songs grew longer and more dynamic, with multiple sections, turning each track into more of a journey.

Two bands fundamentally changed how I view black metal: early Wolves in the Throne Room and Deafheaven. The way they took the beauty that exists within black metal and other heavily distorted genres and elevated it into something much greater was a real game changer for me. I’ve always loved being immersed in an ocean of distortion, where the melodies are only just visible—like music drifting through a snowstorm.

Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to Augustine, a fantastic Swedish indie rock project with great melodies and a warm electronic atmosphere that works just as well for focused listening as for more relaxed moments. On the heavier side, I’ve lately been enjoying Umbilical by Thou and Confusion Gate by Yellow Eyes.

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

I just want to express how grateful I am that you took the time to listen to Motljus and to write such a thoughtful review for Occult Black Metal Zine. Thank you as well for reaching out to do this interview—it’s truly been a pleasure.

https://www.instagram.com/motljus.gbg/