Saitma/Okta/Thundra Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Saitma  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Okta'  which  was  released  by  Thundra  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.

  Back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style,  on  some  tracks  the  vocals  also  add  in  more  of  a  deeper  growling  style  as  well  as  mixing  in  elements  of  other  metal  genres  and  clean  playing  is  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Saitma  expands  on  their  old  school  style  of  black  metal  as  well  as  keeping  all  of  the  aggression  of  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  evil,  murder  and  misanthropy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Saitma  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Night  Was  lit  By  The  Burning  Wolves"  "The  Scenes  of  Destruction  Outdo  The  Memories"  "Bullet  Rain"  and  "Excuse  All  The  Blood".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/SaitmaArts

Burial Gift/MMXXV/Eihwaz Recordings/2025 EP Review

 

  Burial  Gift  are  a  band  from  New  Orelans,  Louisiana  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  ""MMXXV"  which  will b e  released  in  December  by  Eihwaz  Recordings.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  ep  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  post  rock  and  shoegaze  touches  at  times.

  Burial  Gift  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding  with  some  touches  of  blackgaze  and  post  rock.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Burial  Gift  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  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Elegy  Azure".  8  out  of  10.

  https://burialgift1.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/burialgift/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5cJdRj7wwk7Hip0360NG1B

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6QVpHo19GA&list=RDJ6QVpHo19GA&start_radio=1  

Nergal/Blessed/Zombidanz Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nergal  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  old  school  and  Hellenic  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Blessed"  which  will  be  released  later  this year  by  Zombidanz  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  synths  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  Greek  style.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  there  is  also  some  session  work  from  Sakis  Tollis  of  Rotting  Christ.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Mysticism,  Left  Hand  Path,  Magick,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nergal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  Hellenic  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Echoes  From  The  Shadow  Path"  and  "Sitra  Ahra".  8/ out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/h6jIkkUs_yE?si=hZkjBxY6X18ay_X5

    

Morbonoct/No One Knows We're Dying/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Morbonoct  are  an  international  duo  with  members  from  Poland  and  Ukraine  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric,  cosmic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "No  One  Knows  We're  Dying"  which  will  be  released  in  December.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  add  in  some  ambient  and  symphonic  touches.  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  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

   Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  as  well  as  some  growls  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  the  album  progresses  and  the  closing  track  is  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  inevitable  cycles  of  life.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Morbonoct  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  cosmic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Creation"  and  "Drifting  Away".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8A8oz3aYJg

Bandcamp | Instagram | TikTok

  

Wargin Interview

 

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

This project aims to capture the very essence of black metal. Rawness, uncompromising attitude and complete rejection of unnecessary embellishments. Lyrically it is filled with hatred, contempt for the human species, nihilism and reflections on death. The project itself was created around two years ago, but only this year did I feel that anything was ready to be published.

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

Despite the raw nature of both demos, they differ from each other quite noticeably. “Hic Habitat Felicitas…”, released in April, is an older material, recorded without a clear artistic direction. The second demo is more thought-out, sounds better in my opinion, and represents the path I want this project to follow in the future.

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

So far the main lyrical themes revolve around nihilism, meaninglessness and portraying mankind as an abomination whose current state is the result of pure chance. In the track “Species Ignota” I describe humanity as something that appeared out of nowhere, dominated the world while destroying everything in its path, and now drifts towards inevitable self-destruction.

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

The project went through many working titles, I’m a rather chaotic and indecisive person, but eventually I wanted a name that wouldn’t create any obvious associations. I chose something that appears abstract at first, yet still refers to something real. Being from Poland, I have an interest in Slavic mythology, and “Wargin” is a little-known Slavic demon whose traits, as I interpret them, fit the nature of this project very well.

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

Regarding the artwork, I simply wanted something visually fitting and consistent with the atmosphere of the demo. I chose an illustration by Gustave Doré, whose works appeared on many iconic covers (Darkthrone, Emperor, etc.). The image shows beautiful yet ruined structures, symbolising the impermanence of human achievements, no matter how impressive they may seem.

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

I am generally open to collaborations. I have many ideas for other projects, and one of them may surface sooner or later. I would gladly consider doing a split with another band, and I don’t exclude the possibility of forming a full group in the future, time will tell. However, I have to admit that when it comes to this project, I strongly prefer realising my own vision without compromises. A band requires shared decisions, while I create best when I do everything by myself.

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

I am looking for a label, mainly because some people asked about physical copies. I made a few copies on my own, but handling everything myself is tiring and I cannot provide good quality tapes or CDs. For future releases, I would prefer to leave physical editions to someone who truly knows this craft. There is already some interest, so it seems the next release will most likely be a full-length.

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

The project is still very new, so there are not many reactions yet, but the feedback has been mostly positive. A few people praised the material very strongly, which makes me think I’m heading in the right direction.

9.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I have been working on the full-length for quite some time, and I am planning it for next year, although I cannot promise any exact date yet. I also work on some other musical ideas, because I have too many concepts to focus on only one thing. What I can say for sure is that the album is being created, and will probably be finished sooner rather than later. As for the future, time will tell.

10.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?

My musical influences are countless, but if I had to point out the ones that shaped this project the most, it would be Burzum for its uncompromising approach and complete disregard for human mediocrity, Mgła for its lyricism and atmosphere, and Satanic Warmaster for the rawness of its sound.

I also listen to many smaller, more obscure projects. This year, for example, Mallacht – "Black Sorcery" impressed me a lot, and the new Owls Woods Graves album has been a constant presence in my headphones. I'm still waiting for the next Mgła record, and I have no idea how long that wait will be.

One artist I want to mention specifically, despite not being metal is Mortiis. I listen to him very often, and I have a great deal of respect for both his work and the world he has built around his music. He has influenced me in ways that go beyond genre boundaries.

Bands I return to the most include Mgła, Satanic Warmaster, Watain, Darkthrone, Clandestine Blaze, Baxaxaxa, Goatmoon, Deathspell Omega, Burzum, and of course Mortiis. This is only a small fraction—truth is, I listen to music whenever I can.

11.Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?

In some indirect way, yes. I believe that satanism and occultism have been damaged by posers who think drawing pentagrams and calling themselves “satanists” makes them dangerous. My project is not literally satanic. It's more of an extension of that topic. The so-called “Satan” hides within human nature itself, people are responsible for all the evil in this world. I do not believe in paranormal entities or life after death, so I’m not interested in presenting it in a literal sense.

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

I have far too many thoughts to express them all in a short conclusion. I simply want to thank everyone who listens to my music and supports this project in any way.

1. YouTube

Dawn of A Dark Age/Ver Sacrum/My Kingdom Music/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Dawn  Of  A  Dark  Age  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric,  avant  garde  and  experimental  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Ver  Sacrum"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

  Nature  orientated  soundscapes  and  field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clarinets  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  music  also  mixes  jazz,  avant  garde  and  experimental  elements  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  grim  black  metal  style  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  direction  and  clear  singing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album

  At  times  the  recording  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  touches  of  doom  metal.  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  as  well  as  a  few  tracks  also  adding  in  some  tribal  style  chants,  throat  singing  and  percussion,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  parts  of  the  album  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  keyboards.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  covers  the  ancient  Samnite  people.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dawn  of  A  Dark  Age  and  if   you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  avant  garde,  experimental  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Il  Voto  Infranto  (L'Ira  Di Mamerte)"  and  "Venti  Anni  Dopo  -  La  Partenza  (Nascita  Della  Nazione  Sannita)".  8  out  of  10.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawn_of_a_dark_age  

  

Tünböri Interview

 

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

Tünböri is a duo black metal band focused on the historical, mythological and literary sides of our country Türkiye. We hate politics so we keep our project out of it. Our band has 2 members including Sazakan (Ohol Yeg, Seed of Cain, Ave Sanguine, Narken etc.) and Körmös (Seed of Cain, Ave Sanguine as "Semiazaz"). 

2.Recently you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

We keep our black metal in a raw way. We give importance to recording and production quality and as for our music, we try to remain raw.

3.Your lyrics cover Turkish History, Mythology and Literature, how would you describe your interested in these topics?

As the founder of the band (Körmös), I graduated from the literature department and literature has always been a passion of mine. I have always wanted to convey the old culture of my country through music and Tünböri is the result.

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

Tün means "night" in old turkic and böri means "wolf" in old turkic so it can be translated as Nightwolf.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover/

Cover art represents the victory statue of Türkiye which is located in the capital city Ankara. It is a symbol for freedom of Türkiye and it represents the glory caused by the victory in the independence war of Türkiye. In order to highlight the freedom we used it as the cover art.

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?

Personally, I don't prefer crowded populations haha. Duo has always been fine, so we prefer to keep the band like that.

7.The physical version of the ep is going to be released through 'WolfKult Religion'. how did you get in contact with this label?

They have found and contacted us through social media. We found out that we had similar values and we decided to work together.

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

It has been really good so far. We hope that it will continue on this path, or in a better direction.

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Sazakan has released an album called "Shadows of the Future Converged" this year through his one-man project called Ohol Yeg. As for me, I hadn't recorded anything until I founded Tünböri. I'm thinking of taking a break from other projects and continuing this one for a while. We're working on a full-length album, and it's almost finished.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We have finished recording the guitars, bass and the drums. We are planning to release it in a short time (as soon as possible, let's say.)

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?

Nowadays I'm (Körmös again) listening to Satanic Warmaster, The True Werwolf, Asagraum, Horna, Sargeist and Ungfell. As for the band, I'm pretty sure that Finnish Black Metal has an influence on our musical style.

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

Thanks for the interview and for the support. And we appreciate the supporters. 

https://www.instagram.com/tunbori.bm/