Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Profeci/Aporia/Godz of War Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Profeci  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  misanthropic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Aporia"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Godz  Of  War  Productions.


  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and   epic  in  length.  A  small  amount  of  melody  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  clean  vocals  also being  utilized  briefly.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  the  tracks  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  Misanthropy,  Philosophy  and  Nature  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Profeci  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  misanthropic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bojaźń  i  drżenie"  "Wyrosły  już  drzewa"  and  "Trzecia  ofiara".  8  out  of  10.


 www.facebook.com/profeci.band


  

Enslaved/Caravans To The Outer Worlds/Nuclear Blast Records/2021 EP Review

 


  Norway's  Enslaved  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  progressive  style  of  viking  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of their  2021  ep  "Caravans  To  The  Outer  Worlds"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Nuclear  Blast  Records.


  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  a  few  seconds  later.  Keyboards  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  clean  playing  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast beats  can  be  heard  along  with  some  clean  singing  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  elements  of  prog  rock  being  added  into  some  of  the  songs  and  when  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  folk  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Spirituality  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Enslaved  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Caravans  to  The  Outer  Worlds".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/enslaved/
https://www.instagram.com/enslavedofficial/
https://twitter.com/enslavedband

https://www.youtube.com/user/enslavedofficial   

Monday, August 30, 2021

Orgrel/Red Dragon's Invocation/Iron Bonehead Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Orgrel  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Red  Dragon's  Invocation"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black metal  screams.


  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  more  modern  structures  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.


  Orgrel  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal that  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  without  sounding  outdated.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Ogrel  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Burning  Ruins"  "Gate  Of  Eternal  Life"  and  "Carved  in  Blood".  8  out  of  10.


http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/orgrel-burning-ruins  

Skverna Liniya/In A Garland Of Wax/Casus Belli Musicia/Beverina Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Skverna  Liniya  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "In  A  Garland  Of  Wax"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Casus  Belli  Musica  and  Beverina  Productions.


  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in a  very  melodic  style.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  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  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  One  song  also  introduces  melodic  vocals  onto  the  album  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  writings  of  Boris  Poplavsky  a  Russian  poet  in  exile.    


  In  my  opinion  Skverna  Liniya  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  progressive  black  metal  solo  project  an d if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Rustle  of  Smoldering  Life"  and  "In  Forgotten  Wide  Spaces".  8  out  of  10.




  

Ánimas Defunctorum Interview

 

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project? Ánimas Defunctorum was born as such in the year 2020, however the musical compositions are not from that year, they are from the years 2011 and 2013, but the recording was finished in the year 2020, the lyrics are also finished in 2020. 

2. Recently you have released an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording? In principle, the musical style that I do is archaic Black Metal with melodious and nostalgic touches, the intention with Ánimas Defunctorum was to express despair, sadness and anger in these songs, the public likes to classify the sound in different subgenres of the Black Metal, however I don’t want to take that job, I think that if Black Metal is fast or slow, simple or complicated, flat or melodious, as long as it respects the rhythmic and musical roots and expresses the most rejected and hidden feelings of being, then it is still Black Metal without any classification.

 3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you have explored so far with this solo project? This album lyrics are about tormented man’s different moments, tormented by his own existence, by his own life and his thoughts about death that is coming, about the fear of death itself and the hatred for his own life, nut also of the hope behind the idea of death, not the hope of a Heaven or an Valhalla, but the hope of eternal rest. Although not all the songs talk about death themes, in two songs, for example, they talk about the horror and greatness of some nightmares (Songs: 2) Maldita Ceguera/Desequilibrio irracional, and 4) Contemplando la vastedad de los reinos lóbregos); those are some topics, I do not want to extend too much.

 4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Animas Defunctorum'? It is nothing mystical or secret, I simply wanted a name according to the Black Metal, and that had to do with my language roots, that is, my Spanish language that comes from the old Latin, I also needed a name referring to death and existence, then Ánimas referring to existence and Defunctorum referring to death; Ánimas: Souls, Defunctorum: Dead or deceased; and that is, the souls of the dead, that’s all. 

 5. How would you describe the artwork that is presented on the new album cover? The album is in jewel case compact disk, with a 4 pages booklet, the logo was made by Camilo Alvarez, draftsman and musician of this region. The rest of arts are my own creation, basically composed by some photography of forests, graveyards, tombs, mountains rocks and portraits. Referring to the front cover, I can say that is an open grave where you can see a coffin without a lid, old and corroded by nature and time. 

 6. With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with full bands, how would you compare the two? I have worked with some bands, in Blestema as in animas Defunctorum in a few words I have been the composer and the producer, in the other bands I have also had an important role in composition, interpretation and above all as a producer. I have had the fortune of working with extraordinary musicians, for example with drummers like Submachine (Valfar (Col), Mitt Blod (Col), Cadáver (ex UnholyBlood (Col), ex Blestema (Col)) y Nahual (Nox (Col), Blestema (Col)). For my experience, solo project has only differed in that I can manage the time to my liking and I don’t depend on the commitments that may have the other musicians. 

 7. The album was released on 'Odio Eterno Producciones', can you tell us a little bit more about this label? Odio Eterno Producciones (Col) is a very small label, and only exists to release and distribute the discs of my bands, is a discreet label, clandestine, underground…nothing more to say. 

8. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal? With the new release I can’t say much about the world wide reactions of my disc, only two compact disk have come out of my country, and the response of these metalheads has been of surprise and pleasure about it. My label is independent, with very little diffusion, and I am patient or slow in distribution, and I am not too interested in distributing the album so quickly, I suppose that in medium term and in a very personal way I will perceive the comments of the album. Your zine Occult Black Metal Zine Blog has written a review about Ánimas Defunctorum’s Album, I am absolutely grateful for that.

 9. What is going on with some of the other bands bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of? My main band is Blestema (Col) since 2009, in this moment still distributing the “Ecos Moribundos Eternos” - CD Full length, in the beginning of this year we release the 3 way split “Letárgica Mortis” (Blestema, Grimorium Serpent, Arkanus Mors), and in the short and medium term it is planned to release more music with Blestema. Contact: Facebook page “Blestema - Black Metal “ and via email “blestemablackmetal@hotmail.com”.

 10. Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future? I haven’t much aspirations as a professional musician, only as a musician passionate about the real and archaic Black Metal, without another pretense than continue distributing the black plague of true black metal from the shadows of unholy hell. Hail to the true black art adepts; fuck off rockstars and todays “Black Metal” divas. 

 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? A hard work, in summary I can mention to 90’s Black Metal bands, however many of the old bands abandoned their sound and talk about that bands is an attempt against that old masterpieces of that years. I don’t listen much Black Metal of nowadays, the most of self called Black Metal of today sucks, the professional bands of these days are only princess of mainstream with no more pretense than to be the next Ricky Martins or Madonnas of the music, and if the big labels get to press them, have no doubt that they will walk away from their roots without a moment’s thought. Especially to the Animas Defunctorum album influences I can talk about some Black Metal bands, well, it is what I have heard the most in this 21st century: Öde (NL), Wedard (Ger), Toth (Ger), Kargvint (Ger), Hypothermia-old (Swe), Trauer (Ger), Niflheim/Gris (Can), Austere (Aus), Funeral Veil (Ita), Infernal Hate (Mex), Lupus Nocturnus (Mex), Deorc (Mex), Chaoswolf (Mex)… ok, it would be absurd to extend even more. 

12. How would you describe your views on Satanism and Occultism? It is all the knowledge and potential power that lies deep at our self, ancient wisdom that just few people respect and recognize, see with your own eyes the deep of yourself, dream about the great infernal palace beyond the material body, fly far beyond the stars, raise your hands to Satan, feel the force of black metal magic in a fullmoon night… 

13. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?I want to express my sincere thanks for the attempting and interest in Ánimas Defunctorum. I wish you much success with your blog zine.

 Lifeless – Ánimas Defunctorum (All instruments and vocals) Contact: animasdefunctorum@hotmail.com

 instagram/odioeterno_producciones

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Nexus Imperium/Self Titled/2021 EP Review

 


  Nexus  Imperium  are  a  duo  from  Greece  that  plays  a  very  experimental  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  and  self  released  2021  ep.


  Atmospheric  and  sci-fi  orientated  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.   The  recording  also  has  its  experimental  moment  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  tracks  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  being  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.


  The  ep  also  adds  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals  along  with all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  clean  singing  and  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  on  the  closing  song  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  evolution  of  the  universe,  space  -  time  and  humanity  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  Nexus  Imperium  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  atmospheric  sounding  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,   you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Thermal  Perfection"  and  "Seeds".  8  out  of  10.




https://nexusimperium.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.instagram.com/nexusimperium/
https://www.facebook.com/Nexus-Imperium-109764188009330
nexusimperiumbm@gmail.com

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Nexus_Imperium/3540490239      

Die Schwarze Sonne/Tod und Melancholie/Wolfmond Production/2021 CD Review

 


  Die  Schwarze  Sonne  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Tod  und  Melancholie"  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production.


  Distorted  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  tracks  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  atmosphere  moments  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  also  getting  deep  and  demonic  sounding  at  times.  A  small  amount  of  melody  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well as  one  song  also  added  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  contempt,  melancholy,  misanthropy,  hatred,  nature  and  anti  religion  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Die  Schwarze  Sonne  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ertrunken  im  Geschrel"  and  "Cupio  Dissolvi".  8  out  of  10.


https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/die-schwarze-sonne-tod-und-melancholie-pre-order    

Svartulven/Ruins Of Desolation, Transcendence For The Other Side/Dark Terror Temple/2021 Full Length Review

 




  Svartulven  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  an  orthodox  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Ruins  Of  Desolation,  Transcendence  For  The  Other  Side"  which  was  released  by  Dark  Terror  Temple.


  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  whispered  chants  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  dissonant  structures  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  riffing.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  


  Angry  sounding  shouts  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  melodic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  the  closing  track  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Mysticism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Svartulven  are  a  very  great  sounding  orthodox  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Witness"  "Parabel"  and  "Crystal".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI9T4yPqqJ0          


  


Mystic Rites/Storming Planet Earth/Dark Terror Temple/2021 CD Review

 


  Poland's  Mystic  Rites  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  ominous  and  obscure  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Storming  Planet  Earth"  which  was  released  by  Dark  Terror  Temple.


  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  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. 


  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  adding  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  balance  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  on  a  couple  of  songs.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  finally  utilized  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  touches  of  death  metal,  a  couple  of  the  later  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  chants  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in a  mixture  of  English  and  Polish  and  cover  Occultism,  Anti  Christianity,   Ancient  and  Medieval  Mythology. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mystic  Rites  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ominous  and  obscure  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bearer  Of  All  Plagues"  "Blazes  over  Reszel"  and  "W  Dusznym  Mroku  Celebracja".  8  out  of  10.


Bandcamp
Facebook
YouTube

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Glyph/Unbinding Sacred Writings/2021 Demo Review

 


  Glyph  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  States  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw,  old  school  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  demo  "Unbinding  Sacred  Writings".


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  demo  while  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  90's  influences.


  On  this  recording  Glyph  expands  on  his  raw  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  by  adding  in  some  90's  era  second  wave  influences  to  take  his  sound  to  another  level.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Glyph  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  depressive  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Codex"  and  "Admonition".  8  out  of  10.


Bandcamp


  


  

Ánimas Defunctorum/Self Titled/Odio Eterno Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Ánimas  Defunctorum  are  a  solo  project  from  Columbia  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  titled  2021  album  which  was  released  by  Odio  Eterno  Productions.


  Dark  yet  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  vocals  being  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.


  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  leads  and  solos  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  mid  90's  to  early  2000'  era  influences.  One  of  the  songs  also  introduces  synths  onto  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  a  very  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


   Ánimas  Defunctorum  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  era  of  the  depressive  side  of  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  abyssal,  madness,  grief,  rage,  suicide,  nocturnal  and  despair  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  Ánimas  Defunctorum  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Marcha  sin  retorno  al  opaco  desierto"  "En el  tortuoso  vacío  yo  me  abismo"  and  "Terrible  extravío  en  la  maleza  vital  (momento  terminal)".  8  out  of  10.


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Gloosh/Sylvan Coven/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Gloosh  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Slyvan  Coven"  which  will  be  released  in  October.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  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  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  Field  recordings  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  songs  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  some clear  male  vocals,  as  the  album  progresses  keyboards  are  also  introduced  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  deep  forests,  communicating  with  spirits,  admiring  woodland  dances  and  songs  and  being  enchanted  by  witches  and  hiding  from  the  Night  Parade  Of  One  Hundred  Demons.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gloosh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Woodland  Waltz"  and  "The  Most  Of  Sleep".  8  out  of  10.


https://youtu.be/JaHCPHqeFKY  

https://gloosh.bandcamp.com/album/sylvan-coven     

Fiat Nox/In Comtemptuous Defiance/Personal Records/2021 EP Review

 


  Fiat  Nox  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "In  Contemptuous  Defiance"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Personal  Records.


  Dark  sounding  synths  and  chants  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  All  of  the  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences  as  well  as  some  back  up  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.


  Fiat  Nox  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  aggressive,  old  school  and  melodic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes  along  with  one  song  being  written  in  German.


  In  my  opinion  Fiat  Nox  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Zealotry  Of  Ruin"  and  "Those  Shunned  Hills".  8  out  of  10.


http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/in-contemptuous-defiance

https://youtu.be/nMmKcN5whFk    

Friday, August 27, 2021

Sangre Negra/El vuelo del condor negro/2021 CD Review

 


  Sangre  Negra  are  a  duo  form  Chile  that  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "El  vuelo  del  condor  negro".


  A  very  shamanistic  and  tribal  orientated  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  80's  thrash  and  South  American  black  metal  elements  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  screams.


  At  times  the  vocals  also  get  very  deep  and  demonic  sounding  while  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  added  into  the  recording  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  old  school  style  along  with  the  album  closes  with  some  'VJ'  and  "Ritual  Oscuro'  covers.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  War,  Destruction,  Ancient  Mapuche  Culture  and  Nature  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Sangre  Negra  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "El  vuelo  del  cóndor  negro"  "Conquistador  conquistado"  and  "Negra  locura".  8  out  of  10.


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Sorguinazia/Negation Of Delirium/Iron Bonehead Productions/2021 CD Review

 


  Sorguinazia  are  a  band  from  Canada  that  plays  a  very ghoulish  and  ghastly  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Negation  Of  Delirium"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.


  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  songs  also  add  in  evil  whispers  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  shamanistic  tribal  beats  can  also  be  heard as  well  as  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  guitar  leads.  The production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism.  Darkness  and  Shamanism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Sorguinazia  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark  and  raw  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Spell  Of  Supremacy"  "Negation  Of  Delirium"  and  "Neuromancy".  8/5  out  of  10.


http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/sorguinazia-black-spell-of-supremacy


http://www.sorguinazia.bandcamp.com     

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Vultures Ov Veles/Demo 2020 Review

 


  Vultures  Ofn Veles  are  a  solo  project  from  Ohio  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  crust  and  harsh  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2020  demo.


  Harsh  noises  and  vulture  sounds  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  sues  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Elements  of  crust  can  also  be  heard  in  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  second  track  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  demo  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  lo-fi  atmosphere  and  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  song.  


  Vultures  Ofv Veles  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  raw  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  crush  and  harsh  noise  to  create  a  sound  of  hi8s  own.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Macedonian  Folklore  and  Revolutions.


  In  my  opinion  Vultures  ov  Veles  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  solo  project  with  elements  of  crust  and  harsh  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Days  of  heat".  8  out  of  10.


https://vulturesovveles.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2020

Genocidal Rites/Unholy Live Ritual/2021 Demo Review

 


  Genocidal  Rites  are  a  band  from  Ohio  that  plays  an  anti  Abrahamic  and  bestial  form  of  war/black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  demo  "Unholy  Live  Ritual".


  A  very  dark,  distorted  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  demo  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  brutal  blast  beats  and  war  metal  elements  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording   more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  The  songs  only  add  in  a  small  amount  of  mid  tempo  or  slow  sections  focusing  more  on  a  faster  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  some  bestial  growls  on  the  second  song  and  the  whole  demo  also  sticks  to  a  very  raw,  heavy  and  brutal  musical  direction.


  Genocidal  Rites  plays  a  style  of  war  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  bestial  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  blasphemy  and  Anti  Abrahamic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Genocidal  Rites  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  war  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Putrid  Winds  Of  Mass  Graves".  8  out of  10.


  https://genocidalrites.bandcamp.com/album/unholy-live-ritual




  

Withered Land Interview

 

Answered by Olga Kann (songwriter/arranger, bass, keys, lyrics)


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


Hi! I am the mastermind of the project, Olga Kann, and now I'll try to describe to you the history of the birth of the project. The idea for the project and some of the material had been ripening for a very long time. For a number of reasons, I did not have the resources for a long time to put everything together and decide to do what I wanted for a long time. I was passionate about my other projects in other genres. And this is a big plus. Over the years, experience, skills and inspiration have grown. The project was born when the optimal time came for it. From me on the debut album composing of all songs, arrangements of all parts, lyrics, bass recording are presented. After I put together the material, it was great to invite my friend Alex Rabets, with whom we have already worked on other projects, to record the vocals. And for the recording of guitars, as well as sound engineering, I invited another friend Koliopanos Filippos from the Greek projects Ocean of Grief and On Thorns I Lay. In terms of the style of music, the project can be described as Epic Atmospheric Black Metal / Dungeon Synth. At the same time, the debut album contains various influences, be it viking, folk, pagan elements and more.


2. In September you have an album coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?


If we talked about music part, it combines classic metal riffs, black metal tremolos with orchestral symphonic music. It has room for furious blastbeats and lyric fragments. Almost meditative percussion sounds and traditional folk instruments, acoustic guitars and strings section. And of course the leading place is given to the massive textures of the keys. And lately I really like to arrange compositions with brass parts. This is my passion and obsession. This genre is the one of the best way to realize things of a cinematic scale in composing. Quite a lot of work was done by the sound engineer to give the necessary sound to every pipe, flute, oboe, and everything that was possible. And he did a great job not only in sound production, but also in recording guitars. Also, I really appreciate it when people can play exactly what I write on the music sheets, and not invent reasons to replay it in their own way. Filippos is a great master of this craft, and I will gladly cooperate with him on this and some other projects. I can say the same about vocals. Alex understood the idea well and quickly implemented it. In general the shrill scream and the wedge of the replica-narration of the hero prevail. But also an growling, unusual for the genre, was added a little. In the studio we had a great technician and the recording process was productive and quite fun.


3. The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story that you covered on this release?


This is a story about a warrior. On the debut album, all 5 songs are 5 separate stages of the protagonist's military journey. His mood and fighting spirit change from the beginning to the end of the album, his will to live is tested throughout the journey. And in each of the songs there is a certain unexpected twist. Despite all the difficulties that he has to endure, he has those who are waiting for his return to his native shores. Going on a dangerous journey, he does not realize what his lust for blood and conquest will eventually lead to. To some extent, this is a story about karma. When someone reaping death, immersing the hands in more and more blood, he shouldn't expect nothing but blood in return. I really fell in love with this character, this lonely, noble, but suffering horseman. He is as brave as he is reckless. He rushes into battle and sheds blood without regret, but at the same time, he has his own family, for which he does not want a similar fate. As a result, the blood path brings him nothing but blood. This warrior is a kind of collective image. And at the same time, he became someone personal for me. I am in some way responsible for the misadventures that happened to him. For me it was difficult to make such a final that turned out to be. But, running a little ahead, I will say that his story will not end there. I am developing a sequel concept album. But I don't know yet if it will be the next album or if I will release something else during the break. But I definitely want to give the deserved peace to my hero, he deserves a path to the cherished Valhalla.


In all, I am very impressed by the story of the heroes who lost, but fought bravely, who did not retreat, even knowing that they were doomed to failure in advance. In the future, I would really like to finish a concept album about Hannibal Barka, I was very inspired by the works of Titus Livy and some other historical literature.


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


The name was not born at once, it was a rather active reflection, I had many ideas. But then, after some time, the answer came as if immediately. From the lines of the beloved Tolkien:

"...In the black wind the stars shall die,

and still on gold here let them lie,

till the dark lord lifts his hand

over dead sea and withered land...". 

It seemed to me that the devastated land is what just surrounds me. A metaphorically scorched earth, ready at the same time to be reborn in order to then wither again.

At the same time, the lyrics are not closely tied to Tolkien's topic, but a little contain some references/inspiration from heroes and places from his books. In my lyrics, I try to convey the dualistic nature of a character or location. Try to show both the beautiful side and the unpleasant side. In general, I read a lot of different historical literature, war novels and the collective images of warriors come from there. The withered land is all that wars leave behind, at first it is watered with blood, then it dries up. And it will take many years for everything to return to normal (maybe).


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


I did the cover myself, as did the design of the booklet as a whole. It was very important to connect the images of the songs with the images in the head. Important to try to portray the monumental of nature and that loneliness inside the main character. Initially, I saw the main hero as someone from Hannibal's army. I am a big fan of the history of the Punic wars and in particular the personality of this great commander. Our tempers have a lot in common haha. But then it was decided to focus on a more abstract image of a lonely dark figure of a horseman in a cloak. More important was not the historical moment, but the very feelings of the hero, his difficult endless journey. The booklet contains images made on the basis of my photoset, which is about 6 years old, it was waiting in the wings to be embodied in something epic. Even then, I was fascinated by the medieval culture; we communicated a lot with the reenactors.


6. Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?


So far, this is pretty tricky. Firstly, a pandemic, and secondly, a rather difficult situation in our country. Plus, maybe not every musician is ready to come to terms with my temper. I'm an unhealthy workaholic. I try to do something 105% and I demand the same from others. It's not easy to find like-minded people, it is easier for me to work with foreign colleagues at a distance. But as soon as the opportunity presents itself to organize a tour without the risk of disruption due to a pandemic, it would be great to put together a project, even with session participants, and go to see the world.


7. The new album is going to be released on 'Naturmacht productions', how did you get in contact with this label?


I was very pleased that Robert liked the album and agreed to collaborate with the project. I purposefully wrote to this particular label. I like the bands that the label releases, we communicate with each other, for some of them I do the design of the covers / booklets latest time. It is an honor to be part of such a close-knit family.


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


Both me and the label have received a lot of positive reactions from different parts of the world. It is very pleasant that already from the debut album, people are passionate about music to such an extent that they are ready to support the musician by buying merch and pre-ordering cds etc. It is truly invaluable that the history of the album resonates in the hearts of those who are close to it.


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


I am already working on many songs, some of them will go to the second album, and some of them will go to the third. It would be interesting for me to release albums that differ in mood, concept and stylistic techniques. Doing the same thing, as sometimes happens with a number of collectives, is absolutely uninteresting. Sticking to your own path, but at the same time innovating and developing, experimenting, in my opinion, is quite important.


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?


I am an absolute music lover. In each genre, I try to find something interesting for myself. I am with special trepidation about underground projects, one-man projects, in which the power of a mastermind composer is manifested in a holistic concept, in its purest form, without imposed feints from the outside (how it happens with the producer-dependent artists). Something dark and avant-garde, sad... But in the one playlist I can have atmospheic black, dark americana, soul singer, oldschool death metal, cinematic soundtracks, post-punk, pink floyd, jazz and symphonic doom. Literally. But I haven't listened to much music lately. I compose it more, hehe.



11. Does Paganism play any role in your music?

This album certainly has such a theme. I am inspired by times and military battles of the past, as I noted earlier. Times when man and nature were one. Our hero is definitely from the days when the sun was a god.


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


Many thanks to webzine, to everyone for their interest, who support the project and are interested in its fate. There will be many new songs ahead, new invited members, and some relic instruments. In the meantime, I invite you to join the endless journey that has already begun.

Paydretz/Chroniques de I'Insurrection/Antiq/2021 CD Review

 


  Paydretz  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  folk  influenced  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Chroniques  de  I'Insurrection"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Antiq.


  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a   small  amount  of  clean  pagan  vocals,  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  death  metal growls  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  the  War  In  The  Vendee  and  Chouannerie.


  In  my  opinion  Paydretz  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  influenced  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Le  Tocsin  Nous  Appelle"  "Sous  la  Banniere  Blanche"  "Colonnes  Infernales"  and  "La  Fin  du  Reve".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/Paydretz

https://youtu.be/wx2-8FuvOfI