Monday, February 28, 2022

Saqraruna Interview

 

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


Davenium:  Saqraruna is born in April 2021 in my hands. Basically, and to be honest, it was an impulse that I had kept for many years generated with the thousands of attempts to form a band, to produce it and make it known. I never managed to get the people, the desire and the perseverance to keep it alive. I told myself, I'll try it alone and without help… I recorded the first album “Obscure and Malignant Rituals” in 4 days. I felt that something was missing, it was not complete. It is there where the other members arrive and give all the productions another nuance and, by far, an improvement. Therefore, Saqraruna is Ghoulfist on vocals, Lord Grinder and myself on guitars, and Hastur on bass.


 


2. So far you have released a full length and an ep, musically how do they both differ from each other?


Hastur: To answer that question, let's situate ourselves in the concept of our first production “Obscure and Malignant Rituals” (2021).


Psychological terror is the main theme of our first album, infested with disastrous melodies, harmonies and well-crafted atmospheres in which the guitars play an extremely important role in achieving it.


Now, our Ep “An Altar to the Nameless Entity” (2022) recounts the events that gave rise to the Obscure. As all inception is raw, we wanted to put more emphasis on giving it a more 'primitive' sound and vibe. The composition of the themes is maintained.


Now, our second EP is coming (March-2022): “Ayar Betrayal”. Here we take a turn on the lyrics and music. We have incorporated pre-Hispanic rhythms and the lyrics are now focused on Inca mythology as the foundation of the largest empire in South America, while preserving the twisted atmospheres and aggression that characterizes us. “The Ayar Betrayal” will welcome you to our second production to come out: “Under the Light of Mountains”, a twisted chronicle of our Inca history.


 


3. Some of your lyrics cover the pre-Hispanic Pagan era of Peru, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?


Ghoulfist: At the beginning - first two releases - we lyrically developed a particular mythology that allowed us to explore and delve into the darkness of the soundscape that was composed.


However, from the beginning (as the name of the band suggests), our interest in revaluing native themes was shared. We believe in the possibility of connecting the history of the cultural massacre to which our ancestors were subjected by the conquerors and the vindication of some myths and features of our historical identity, with the sound that we are proposing as a band and that both fronts are enriched in favor of the final result of our work.


 


4. Hat are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?


Ghoulfist: At the beginning - first two releases - we lyrically developed a particular mythology that allowed us to explore and delve into the darkness of the soundscape of the compositions through stories about beings related to nature, time and death.


 


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


Hastur: Saqra is a word of Quechua origin that would be translated as evil/perverse. Runa is people. If we put this together, it would lead us to a sinister concept where we want to demonstrate that evil and darkness is part of our culture conceptualized in anthropomorphic and/or mythological creatures and that is part of our identity.


It is where the name of the band is formed, in which we carry evil and paganism in an archaic and atavistic way in our songs.




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


Davenium: The photo is about the Pisac-Cusco’s ruins from Peru. Pisac is located at the eastern end of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In the century XVI, after the arrival of the Spanish people in Cusco, Pisac was invaded and its people fled. Its main monuments were damaged. The Inca cemetery was destroyed and looted. One of his best-known stories is that of a single statue that tells an Inca legend, in which the chief of the town: Huayllapuma had a daughter, called Inquill, whom he had to marry to the man who could build, in just one night, the bridge over the Vilacmayo river (a bridge of great importance for the shelter and defense of the place). Despite everything, Asto Rímac (a prince) decided to accept the challenge. With it, she would marry Inquill. The local authorities arranged everything so that Asto Rímac began the work, while the princess had to climb a hill without turning around; because otherwise she and her fiancé would turn to stone. Almost at dawn, the prince had completed the work, but Inquill, unable to bear the blazing sunlight any longer, turned and remained turned to stone to this day. For this, the name of the album: “Under the Light of Mountains”


 


7. Do the band members have any plans for live shows in the future?


Ghoulfist: Being a band with a pandemic birth certificate, there are certain conditions that have to be met, such as the time to coordinate and in our case, get a drummer, but above all the possibility of replicating the sound that we have achieved... if conditions are met, it could be considered. In a strict sense we are a studio band, but it is not ruled out.


   


8. The new album was released on 'Super Sargasso', how did you get in contact with this label?


Ghoulfist: Super Sargasso is a serious and close label, with which some of us already had contact for previous projects. Precisely because of that closeness there was trust and interest in working together.


 


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


Ghoulfist: So far we have read good reviews and thanks to the digital world and its indicators we could say that there are people interested in our work, which is relatively motivating: it is not the reason for what we do, but it is satisfying.


 


10. 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?


 


Ghoulfist: Currently in my case there are several works in progress: Incantamentum's debut album and AntiPröphet's EP came out at the end of last year, Crown of Worms' second album is about to come out under Super Sargasso as well; two splits are coming up with unreleased material from Motherfog, and we're in the pre-production stage for Ghoulfist, Despoil, NDR and something new from AntiPröphet, between this and next year.


 


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


Hastur: To tell you the truth, that each job we do is 'differently the same', I can tell you that in substance it´s Saqraruna.


We will probably incorporate new instruments to give it a rich sound in the atmospheres depending on the concept of the album.


But who knows, you will hear something new from us and a dimensional door to new cosmic horrors will open for you.


The demons are in the detail and that is what we are heading for.


 


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


Davenium: To tell the truth, although I listen to a lot of music, I don't think I have a direct influence on the style we do with Saqraruna. What I can mention are some bands that I often listen to that indirectly got me into this project: Ildfar, Ethereal Shroud, Drudkh, Olhava, Këkht Aräkh, Korpituli, among others.


 


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


Saqraruna:


Thank you for giving us a space for people to get to know us better and the people who follow us on digital networks and platforms.


Stay tuned we are making new material!!!


Thanks for the interest and support of the band's work, we hope to continue producing material worthy of it. Greetings.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_Alkp2dgBg

Burial Curse/Self Titled/Dawnbreed Records/2022 EP Review

 


  Burial  Curse  are  a  duo  from  Los  Angles,  California  that  plays  a  bestial  and  cavernous  mixture  of  war,  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2022  ep  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Dawnbreed  Records..  


  Ritualistic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  war  metal  elements  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  bestial,  guttural,  cavernous  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.


  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom/death  metal  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  era  influences.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  


  Burial  Curse  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s war,  bestial  black/death  and  doom/death  emtal  and  mixes  them  together   to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  war,  death  and  decay  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  Burial  Curse  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  and  cavernous  mixture  of  war,  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeping  Bile"  and  "Levitating  Flesh  Construction".  8  out  of  10.


https://burialcurse333.bandcamp.com/


  


    

Cursed Excruciation/Initiation: The Oath Of Darkness/2021 Demo Review

 


  Cursed  Excruciation  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  old  school  and  blasphemous  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  demo  "Initiation:  The  Oath  Of  Darkness".


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  demo  while  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  movie  samples  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of t he  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.


  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  elements  of  death  metal  can  also be  heard  at  times.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  to  early  90's  era  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  synths  also being  utilized  briefly  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and fast  sections,  spoken  word  parts  can  are  also  added  on  one  of  the  songs  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.


  On  this  recording  Cursed  Excruciation  goes  back  to t he  80's  and  early  90's  era  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Anti  Religion  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Excruciation  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Beast  Of  Fire".  8  out  of  10.


https://tranceoftheundead.bandcamp.com/album/initiation-the-oath-of-darkness-2   

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Nihilum/Cascading Darkness/2022 Full Length Review

 


  Nihilum  are  a  band  from  Missouri  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Cascading  Darkness".


  Melodic  yet  heavy  sounding  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  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  grim  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  lot  of  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  the  Swedish  style  along  with  some  throat  singing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.


  On  this  recording  Nihilum  remain  true  to  the  aggressive  and  melodic  style  of  black  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  story  of  an  alien  species  and  their  quest  for  structural  domination.    


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Nihilum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RFECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Lightbearers"  "Waves,  Temporal"  and  "Death's  begotten".  8 out  of  10.


https://youtu.be/ZulCoi7r5nM


https://open.spotify.com/album/5IMLTCR7rIvMpe4oQpDEAs


https://music.apple.com/us/album/cascading-darkness/1604785837

https://nihilum.bandcamp.com/album/cascading-darkness


https://nihilum.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.instagram.com/nihilumusbm/

https://www.facebook.com/NIHILUMusbm      

Black Fucking Cancer/Procreate inverse/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2022 Full Length Review

 


  Black  Fucking  Cancer  are  a  band  San  Jose,  California  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  abhorrent  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Procreate  Inverse"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.


  Ritualistic  soundscapes  and  Gregorian  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  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  French  and  Scandinavian  influences  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  deep  sounding  growls   into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  as  the  album  progresses  synths  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  closing  song  is  a  cover  of  Katharsis's  "Krossfyre".  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cove r nihilism,  hatred,  violence  and  misanthropy  themes.   


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Black  Fucking  Cancer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  abhorrent  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Obscene  Lusting  Dagger"  and  "Procreate  inverse".  8  out  of  10.


   BANDCAMP RELEASE

KrvL Interview

 

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

We have been working hard on the vinyl release.

We’re happy to say it will arrive around may.

Furthermore we already started writing for our second album.


2.You have your first full length coming out in March, musically how does it differ form your previous singles?

The singles are in fact on the album! We liked them too much to not include them.

Atmosphere is very important to us and I think we have managed to put the right amount of atmosphere into  every song on the album.


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

Lyrical topics that are touched on the album are nature, humanity, finding inner peace, nemesis & resurrection. At first it wasn’t our intention to write in our native language.

This actually happened by accident but it definitely adds to the atmosphere.


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

KrvL is short for Kravaal. It’s a nearby forest. 

We have a common love for nature and we all like being in the forest.


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

This comes from the shooting of one of our videos. When we saw the image we all agreed this would make the perfect cover.


6.I have read the band has interest in live shows has that became a possibility yet with the pandemic restrictions being lifted?

We never really intended to play live but nevertheless, it’s always possible.

We keep this option open…


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

We were very close to signing a record deal but in the end we chose to release it ourselves.

Who knows what might happen for future releases…


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

We’re very honored about all the positive reactions we got so far.

People seem to really like and understand the atmosphere that is created through our music. 


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

The atmosphere will remain. That’s for sure! We’re happy with the way our songs turned out and we will keep on creating music the same way. We will keep on evolving!


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?

Our fellow countrymen amenra & wiegedood have definitely been an influence!

But we have been listening to black metal for over 25 years. 

We still listen to black metal in all its forms. Also doom & sludge.

Besides these things there are also a lot of non metal bands like Tindersticks, Wovenhand, Nick Cave, The National…


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

We all have a common interest in nature and also whisky 😊

& we all appreciate nice historic buildings too.


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

Thank you for showing an interest in KrvL and we really hope our debut album wil be appreciated by all atmospheric black metal fans out there!


Beyond Mortal Dreams/Abomination Of The Flames/Lavadome Productions/2022 CD Review

 


  Beyond  Mortal  Dreams  are  a  band  from  Australia  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  bestial  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Abomination  Of  The  Flames"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Lavodome  Productions.


  Apocalyptic  so8undscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  demonic  voices  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  bestial  death  metal  growls  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  a  more  chaotic  yet  old  school  style  as  well  as  having  their  melodic  moments.


  When  screams  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal  while  some  of  the  faster  sections  also  add  in  a  touch  of  war  metal.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.


 A  couple  of  tracks  also  introduces  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  chaos,  evil,  destruction  and  darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Beyond  Mortal  Dreams  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  bestial  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hell  Of  Eternal  Death"  "They  Are  Secen"  and  "Peace  Through  Annihilation".  8  out  of  10.


https://youtu.be/ktSUwGm2FyM


https://beyondmortaldreams.bandcamp.com
https://beyondmortaldreams.bigcartel.com

https://facebook.com/beyondmortaldreams   

Saturday, February 26, 2022

Kouta/Aarnihauta/2022 EP Review

 


  Kouta  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Aarnihauta"  which  will  be  released  in  March.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  evolving  into  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  growls  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.  


  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  folk  music  elements,  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clean  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.


  Kouta  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  th e lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  are  inspired  by  Nordic  Lore  and  Myths.


  In  my  opinion  Kouta  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Mannviha".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/koutaband  


  


  


    

Firmament/The Ætheric Pathway/Naturmacht Productions/2022 CD Review

 


  Firmament  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  an  ambient  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "The  Ætheric  Pathway"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Naturmacht  Productions.


  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  and  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  journeys  nd  solitude  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Firmament  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient  and  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nightfall"  "Echoes  From  The  Forests  of  Old"  and  "Guardian  Of  The  Damned".  8  out  of  10.


Video link

Friday, February 25, 2022

Boötes Void/C.O.L.D/Ketzer Records/2022 CD Review

 


  Boötes  Void  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  C.O.LD"  which  was  released  by  Ketzer  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  done  in  a  very  dark,  dissonant  and  melodic  style  when  they  are  brought  onto  the  recording.  One  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  clean  plating  into  the  recording  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   


  Boötes  Void  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  heavy,  aggressive  and  traditional  sounding,  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  ancient  pagan  and  occult  holidays.


  In  my  opinion  Boötes  Void  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Yule"  "Beltane"  and  "Mabon,  Samhain".  8  out  of  10.


https://botesvoid.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/booetes_void/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hIGXludVMnmcRThyZT1M0?si=_OvqG83bRnqHo72vjItDNA
ketzer-records.de

Cursed Cemetery/A Forgotten Epitaph/Dusktone/2022 CD Review

 


  Cursed  Cemetery  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  plays  a  ritualistic  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "A  Forgotten  Epitaph"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Dusktone.


  Ambient  style  synths  and  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Tortured  voices  can  also  be  heard  for  awhile  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bringing  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.


  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  music  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments.


  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  choir  style  vocals  and  Gregorian  chants  into  the  music  as  well  as  some  clear  singing  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  all  of the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitar  solos and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  psychical/mental  torture,  suicide  and  occultism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Cursed  Cemetery  are  a  very  great  sounding  ritualistic  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Burned  Anchor".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqxcRxK_ktM&feature=youtu.be   

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Deviltook/Heretic Manifesto/Negra Nit/Base Record Production/Abstract Emotions/2022 CD Review

 


  Deviltook  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Hate  Manifesto"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Negra  Nit,  base  Records  Production  and  Abstract  Emotions.


  Clean  playing  and  chants  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  that  are  get  very  high  pitched  sounding  at  times  an  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  tradition  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants.


  On  this  recording  Deviltook  goes  for  more  of  a  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal  in  the  classic  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Luciferian,  Paganism,  Occultism  Theosophical  and  Nietzschean  Philosophy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Deviltook  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Theosophical  Awakening"  "Wolves  Of  Kali  Yuga"  "Adventum  Lucifer"  and  "Doomed  By The  Snake".  8  out  of  10.


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Aethyrick/Pilgrimage/The Sinister Flame/2022 CD Review

 


  Finland's  Aethyrick  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mid  tempo, melodic  and  satanic  style  of  occult  black  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Pilgrimage"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  The  Sinister  Flame.


  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  also  being  added  into  the  background  at  times.


  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  while  one  track  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  on  a couple  of  songs  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  As  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals  can  be  heard  along  with  another  track  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  most  of  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  style,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Mysticism  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Aethyrick  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic,  mid  tempo,  satanic  and  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Turning  Away"  "Winds  Of  The  Wanderer"  and  "Kingdom".  8 out  of  10.


www.aethyrick.com 

 https://youtu.be/uRg4kIIepOA

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Midnight Loss/Alma Ofuscada/2022 EP Review

 


  Brazil's  Midnight  Loss  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  depressive  and  suicidal  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Alma  Ofuscada".


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  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  high  pitched  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.


  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  more  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  era  of  the  dsbm  genre.   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.    


  On  this  recording  Midnight  Loss  remain  true  to  the  depressive  and  suicidal  style  of  black  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  suicide  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Midnight  Loss  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  suicidal  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Orange  Skies  Of  The  Afternoon"  and  "My  Funeral".  8 out  of  10.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMtlXboX4nw    

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Nhaarg/When All Hope is Gone/Crush The Desert Records/2022 CD Review

 


  Nhaarg  are  a  solo  project  form  Spain  with  a  ember  from  Durthang  and  Pesticum  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "When  All  Hope  Is  Gone"  which  was  released  by  Crush  The  Desert  Records.


  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  tortured  sounding  black  metal  screams  that  also  add  in  a  melancholic  touch  at  times.


  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a r aw  feeling  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  finally  introduced  onto  the  recording  and  most of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumental  and  on  the  closing  track  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  can  be  heard..


  Nhaarg  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  and  old  school  in  the  90's  second  wave  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  Darkness  and  Paganism  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  Nhaarg  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aura"  and  "Chamber  of  The  Dead  orc".  8  out  of  10.


Bandcamp

Hellige/Camino de Agua/Dying Sun Records/2022 CD Review

 


  Hellige  are  a  duo  from  Argentina  that  plays  an  avant  garde  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Camino  de  Aqua"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Dying  Sun  Records.


  Choir  style  vocals  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  At  times  the  music  also gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.


  The  riffing  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  avant  garde  structures  which  are  also  mixed  in  with  some  of  the  cleaner  vocals  while  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding.


  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.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  classical  instruments  also  being  utilized  on  an  interlude  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction,.


 Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  instrumentals  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  dark,  philosophical  and  poetic  themes  that  show  some  inspiration  from t he  writings  of  Henry  David  Thoreau.


  In  my  opinion  Hellige  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  avant  garde  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those   musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Las  urnas  basálticas  and  "Hueste".  8  out  of  10.


https://dyingsunrecords.bandcamp.com/album/camino-de-agua              

Order Of Nosferat/Nachtmusik/Purity Through Fire/2022 CD Review

 


  Germany/Finland's  Order  Of  Nosferat  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  raw,  old  school  and  vampyric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "NachtMusic"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Purity  Through  Fire.


  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.  There  are  also  a  few  dungeon  synth  orientated  instrumentals  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  


  On  this  recording  Order  Of  Nosferat  continue  the  mixture  of  raw,  old  school,  vampyric  black  metal  and  dungeon  synth  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vampirism  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Order  of  Nosferat  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school,  raw  and  vampyric  black  metal  with  elements  of  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tunes  Of  Nocturnal  Tragedies"  "As  The  Eternal  Night  Fell  Upon  Us"  and  "The  Cruel  Awakening".  8  out  of  10.


www.facebook.com/Order-of-Nosferat-101630385169968


https://youtu.be/31Lfixi_3sg 


  

Monday, February 21, 2022

Schauer interview

 

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

Kilian: Sure, we are a two-piece atmospheric Black Metal Band from Austria formed in the winter of 2020. We met at a party of a friend and after some beers we had the idea of starting a band together. Now 15 months later here we are with our first record and a label contract with Kvlt und Kaos Productions. We both enjoy the music of Drudkh, Summonning and Wolves in the throne room and more other bands that would take too much time to list them all.


2.Earlier this year you put out your first release, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Kilian: We wanted to create a dark and melancholic atmosphere with it. For the quality we went into a rawer direction then some other Bands that sound too clean and overproduced. We wanted to keep the spirit of traditional Black Metal with an obscure atmosphere which can't be obtained with an overproduced sound.


3.A lot of your lyrics cover metaphysical and nature themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Kilian: We wanted to create a dark and melancholic atmosphere with it. For the quality we went into a rawer direction then some other Bands that sound too clean and overproduced. We wanted to keep the spirit of traditional Black Metal with an obscure atmosphere which can't be obtained with an overproduced sound.


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

Kilian: The band name comes from two German words. Schauer which means like a shiver down your spine and the word Regenschauer which means a heavy type of rainfall. From those words came our inspiration for the band name where we knew it has to be with some kind of a natural aspect to it.


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

Kilian: The band name comes from two German words. Schauer which means like a shiver down your spine and the word Regenschauer which means a heavy type of rainfall. From those words came our inspiration for the band name where we knew it has to be with some kind of a natural aspect to it.


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?

Kilian: As the core of the band, we want to continue as a two-piece for writing but we are open for session members to play live someday. But it is easier for us as it is at the moment because we share the same interests and work really great together without any major problems.


7.The release came out on 'Kult und Khaos Productions, are you happy with the support the label has given you so far?

Kilian: Totally, we never expected to score a record label contract within our first year as a band. With Kvlt und Kaos we have everything we wanted and dreamt of, an Austrian label which shares our interests and has our back like a family member. Through Christoph and the label, we could release our music physically and also release awesome merchandise. We are really happy about it and hope we can stay a permanent member of the Artist roster.


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

Kilian: The reaction was way better then we could have imagined. Our music reached 12 countries so far and that’s fucking awesome. It's really awesome to see that our record is well received in very different parts of the world through different communities. It’s a way better feedback then we could have ever dreamed off.


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

Kilian: We are already working on the next record and hope to play some shows in the near future. We will definitely stay true to the spirit of Schauer and keep our interests in nature strong in our upcoming music. Maybe with some kind of historic approach to and a bit off Austrian folklore.

Michael: I would also add, that we had gear changes and gathered a lot of experience since the first record, when it comes to mixing and mastering, but also composing. But don’t worry, we don’t want to make our music “cleaner” or more polished, rather take things to the next level.


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?

ilian: For myself it’s a mix off bands like Taake, Dissection, Harakiri for the sky but also Marduk and a lot off smaller Bands like Avertia, Perchta, Atramentus, Windir and Carpathian Forest. There are way too many to count. Nowadays it hasn’t changed for me. I listen to Black and Doom Metal most of the times maybe some Death Metal or Punk but still more of the obscure stuff that’s out there.

Michael: I really listen to music from all over the place. Besides metal and rock there’s also blues, jazz and classical music. Even some electronic music, which serves as the main inspiration for the synth parts in Schauer. When it comes to metal, the only subgenres I could never quite get into are Core and nu-metal. I’m a huge fan of Tech and Prog death, and also planning on producing stuff like that with my other band Rosc. My contribution to Schauer is probably mainly influenced by artists such as Burzum, Drudkh, Mgla, Bathory, Primordial, Lustre, etc. 


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Kilian: I love everything that has to do with space exploration as I work as an Engineer in a Space propulsion company. I go hiking and climbing a lot and do some strengthening yoga in my free time. Lovecraft inspires me a lot too and I love animals, especially my dogs.

Michael: As an Austrian of course, I’m obliged to love skiing haha. But my biggest non-musical interest lies in reading, I think. I’m basically devouring every single work of world literature I can get my hands on. Some of my favourites are Wilde, Hesse, Dostoyevsky, Hemingway, Camus, and so on. Especially 19th century gothic fiction is a great source of inspiration for metal. I don’t read any modern books though; I prefer the old style of writing. 


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

Thanks a lot for the opportunity for the interview, stay true support the underground and check out our record and merch available through Kvlt und Kaos Productions

Blazemth Interview

 

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


Yes of course: in the recording the group was formed by Volkhaar (guitar/vocals), Shunh (guitar), Kerberos (bass) and Croma Lan Ro (drums). Two weeks after the recording, the bassist and the drummer decided to leave the band due to lack of motivation (the thing I will never understand). Then I found myself in the same situation again, struggling to find the musicians. Thanks to a friend of mine, he put me in contact with Frank, ex-bassist of Ktulu, and since Frank knew the great Riky Mena, former drummer of Avulsed and Wormed, we met a few times and played the new stuff. They both liked the project and decided to stay in the band.


2.You have a new album coming out in March, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


Well, in maturity a lot, although 4 songs that are part of the new album are songs that I already made in 1997 but were never released. That means that we were maybe musically mature enough but the band wasn't ready for the new album.There is much more melody on this album.


3.When I listened to the new album it seemed to be a lot different from the material you have released in the 90's, do you feel it is necessary to move with the times and get more diverse and talented with each recording?


Yes, obviously, but improving musically (at least in my opinion) does not mean losing that beautiful essence of the 90's, and we will always strive to stay in the atmosphere of that time.


4.The band was broken up for 20 years, what was the cause of the split and decision to reform?


Honestly, I don't remember why it was, although there were certain differences in the band, but that's left behind. The cause of the band's return was due to the 20th anniversary reissue proposed by Abstract Emotions, since we were the first Black Metal band to be released on CD in Spain.


5.A lot of the lyrics on the new album cover Luciferian and Occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?


For me it is the search for the truth, where the perception does not reach, come the dark arts with dragons in the sky, witches and eternal chaos. Space and time are for me like a prison that do npt let you be creative.


6.A lot of your lyrics in the 90's were more battle and war orientated, can you tell us a little bit more about what these topics once meant to you and also do you still have interest in those themes.


Yes, of course, before almost all the lyrics were written by Lord Erlick, but now it is me who writes them. I like more the search for truth through the Chaos, Lucifer - the light bringer and the dark arts that make us strong.


7.The band was originally called 'Daemonum', what was the cause of the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Blazemth'?


I had a lot of problems right from the start with Decomposed, my first band, because the name was already taken. Then the same happened when we changed to Rotten Flesh even when we changed to Undivine and then when I formed Daemonium - the same, the name already existed. So I made up a name Blazemth: BLAZE as a bonfire and the MTH symbols are the ones that the Sumerians were putting on the graves. Sure, no one had that name and today if you put Blazemth in google search you find only us hehehehe


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


In the times that we live by the norms of a powerful church that hides the truth from us, Lucifer feels the need to come out. On the album cover is shown the breaking of Lucifer's chains where he comes back from the underworld to show us all the truth which was hidden for millennia. The art is inspired by the work of Gustave Doré and was made by  the Serbian illustrator Dejan Mandić.


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


The best was in Benidorm with Grimuack (greetings to Vincent Beherit) because there was a great empathy with the public, it was really impressive, the band really connected with the people, they didn't want us to finish the concert, they wanted us to play on and on and on .... Good memories :)


10.The band has a history going back to the 90's and was one of the first Spanish black metal bands, do you feel you have been a huge influence on the later black metal bands that later came out of your home country?


Well, I don't know really because I disconnected from the music in 1997 and I was practically out of everything until 2017. I have heard that some bands were inspired by Blazemth, yes, but I don't really feel like we were some kind of influencers.


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


Well it is true that many people write to me from all over the planet saying they like Blazemth but in Brazil and Colombia I heard that we are an iconic band from the 90's.


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


Musically we will try to keep the same recognizable sound of Blaizemth and melodic Black Metal. I hope that one day they will talk about us in a good way musically and as a band that makes good concerts.


13.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: Immortal, Dissection, Burzum, Emperor, Celtic Frost etc. Nowadays I listen Kriegsmaschine.


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


Very nice interview :) Thank you so much for dedicating your time


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBTey05dN0Q&feature=youtu.be