Thursday, August 14, 2025

Echoes Of Gloom/The Mind's Eternal Storm/ATMF/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Echoes  Of  Gloom  are  a  solo  project  from  Australia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "The  Mind's  Eternal  Storm"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  ATMF.


  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a raw  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.  At  times  the  album  also  goes  into  a  symphonic  direction  along with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  post  metal  style.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  The  clean  sections  also  add  in  touches  of  shoegaze  and  also  takes  the  album  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  arcane  and  eternal.


  In  my  opinion  Echoes  Of  Gloom  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Immortality  Manifested"  and  "Wanderer  Of  The  Mind's  Eternal  Storm".  8  out  of  10.


  https://echoesofgloom.bandcamp.com/album/the-minds-eternal-storm


https://metalodyssey.8merch.com/product/echoes-of-gloom-the-minds-eternal-storm-cd-pre-order/

       

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Serpentum/Scar The Abyss/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Serpentum  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  very  misanthropic  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Scar  The  Abyss".


  Spoken  words  starts  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  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are utilized.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  has  the  aggression  of  the  old  school  era  mixed  in  with  the  more  modern  era  of  the  genre,  spoken  words  also  return  in  later  tracks  and  the  closing  songs  also  add  in  some  synths  and  clean  playing


  Serpentum  plays  a  style  of  depressive  black  metal  that  is  very  misanthropic  and  more  aggressive  then  most  bands  of  this  genre,  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  blasphemy  and  misanthropy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Serpentum  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  and  misanthropic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stigmata"  "Cradled  By  Oblivion"  and  "Gheist".  8  out  of  10.


  Bandcamp: https://serpentum.bandcamp.com/album/scar-the-abyss


YouTube (full album stream): https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k7NbFwpEgXq0ChNEo6mbRJka90N1pGqHs&si=vcssnMHfNcN9frTz

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/43sB8JDAqVmPHTL6QDjR3a?si=WRXs937qTWOMLtRvAdcVog


  

Autrest/Burning Embers, ForgottenWolves/Northern Silence Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Autrest  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Burning  Embers,  Forgotten  Wolves"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.


  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a very  melodic  style  while  the f aster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  On  this  recording  Autrest  remains  true  to  the  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  that  he  established  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  loneliness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Autrest  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ashes  From  The  Burning  Embers"  and  "Chasm  Of  Time".  8  out  of  10.


  https://autrest.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/autrest
https://www.instagram.com/autrestofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/@Autrest

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/4asOKGNbKF6RzVgxKkBNUk?si=rkhhicHOSimyo5oje919uw  


  

Krvnik/Initiation Into The Great Art Of Suffering/Depressive Illusions Records/2024 Album Re-Issue Review

 


  Krvnik  where  a  band  from  Slovenia  that  played  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2010  album  "Initiation  Into  The  Great  Art  of  Suffering"  which  was re-issued  in  2024  by  Depressive  Illusions  Records.


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  tradition  of  the  genre.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  few  songs  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  at  times  the  vocals  also  go  into  a  deeper  direction,  choirs  are  also  added  towards  the  end.


  Krvnik  played  a  style  of  black  metal  that  was  very  raw  and  aggressive  in  the  classic  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy,  anti  religion  and  negativity  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Krvnik  where  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Damnatio  Memoriae"  "Echoes"  and  "Into  The  Shades  of  Oblivion".  8  out  of  10.


  https://krvnik.bandcamp.com/album/initiation-into-the-great-art-of-suffering

 https://depressiveillusions.com/items/cd-r/black-metal-pagan-metal-blackgaze/krvnik-initiation-great-art-suffering  


  

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Tetragrammacide/Cyber-Tantric Paradigm Of Radical Sri-Vidya/Iron Bonehead Productions/2025 EP Review

 


  Tetragrammacide  are  a  band  from  India  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Cyber-Tantric  Paradigm  Of  Radical  Sri-Vidya"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.


  Distorted  soundscapes,  harsh  noises  and  chants  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Elements  of  grindcore  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  as  well a s  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  influences.


  On  this  recording  Tetragrammicide  takes  war,  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  harsh  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  brutal  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Tantra,  Left  Hand  Path,  Eastern  Occultism,  Theosophy,  Chaos  and  Apocalyptic  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tetragrammacide  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black, death  metal,  grindcore  and  harsh  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Multi-Armed  Bellicosity  of Babalon-Durga Riding  on  the  Xeno-Beast  of  Grand  Apocalypse  to  Trigger  the  Outbreak  of  a  Pan-Dimensional  Holy  Pogrom".  8  out  of  10.


  www.facebook.com/tetragrammacide 

tetragrammacide.bandcamp.com  

Cruentation/Damned Fallen Angels/Iron Bonehead Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 
    

   Cruentation  are  a  band  from  Massachusetts  that  plays  a  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Damned  Fallen  Angels"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  a  few  seconds  later.   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  war  metal  element,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a r aw  feeling  and  the  recording  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Influences  of  black  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording,  grim  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  a  more  chaotic  style  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  heavier  direction.


  Cruentation  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  early  90's  era  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness  and  Blasphemy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Cruentation  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Horrible  Manuscript"  "Snake  Of  Knowledge"  "Chaos  And  Old  Might"  and  "Dagger  In  My  Heart".  8  out  of  10.


  cruentation1.bandcamp.com   


     

Monday, August 11, 2025

Thorondir/Wächter des Waldes/Trollzorn Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Thorondir  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Wächter  des  Waldes"  which  will  be  released  in  october b y  Trollzorn  Records.


  Keyboards  and  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.


  .


  Thorondir  plays  a  style  of  pagan  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  epic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Germanic  Mythology  and  Heathen  Beliefs.


  In  my  opinion  Thorondir  are  a  very  great  sounding  pagan  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Drudenfluch"  "Der  wilde  Jager"  "Morast"  and  "Perchas  Schatten".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/THORONDIRofficial

https://www.instagram.com/thorondir.official

https://youtu.be/eZjRyram1Nc


   


  

Moribund Oblivion/Intertemporal/Theogonia Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Moribund  Oblivion  are  a  band  from  Turkey  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Intertemporal"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Theogonia  Records.


  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  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  touch.


  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  clear  singing  is  also  added  on  a  few  tracks.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a    couple  of  songs  also  introduces  synths  onto  the  album  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  fluid  nature  of  time  and  existence.


  In  my  opinion  Moribund  Oblivion  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Piece  Of  Infinity"  "In  The  Middle  Of  The  Dark  Chaos"  and  "Time  is  An  Illusion".  8  out  of  10.


  FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM
YOUTUBE

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Æl-Fierlen/All Is Far Away/2025 Full Length Review

 


      Æl-Fierlen are  a  band  from  England  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal,  blackgaze  and  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "All  Is  Far  Away"  which  will  be  released  in  September.


  A  very  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  clear  singing  also  adding  in  touches  of  shoegaze  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  more  of  a  melodic  post  rock  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


    One  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals  along  with  a  decent  amount  of melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  death  metal  growls.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Æl-Fierlen  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black  metal,  blackgaze  and  folk  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Sleep  Eternal  and  "Eðe".  8  out  of  10.


  


Henere/The Chosen Path/Void Wanderer Productions/War Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Henere  are  a  band  from  New  Jersey  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Chosen  Path"  which  will  be  released  in  September  as  a  joint  effort  between  Void  Wanderer  and  War  Productions.


  Battle  horns  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drum  beats  and  epic  sounding  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at times.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  Henere  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  aggressive  in  the  classic  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Winter,  Nature  and  Norse  Mythology  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Henere  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  aggressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winds  Of  Eldritch  North"  and  "Heart  Of  The  Maelstrom".  8  our  of  10.  


  https://www.instagram.com/henere_usbm/

Friday, August 8, 2025

Heathe/Control Your Soul's Desire For Freedom/Empty Tape/Virkelighedsfjern/2025 Double Review

 


  Denmark's   Heathe  havw  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  metal,  post  hardcore,  experimental  and  noise  and  this  is  a review  of  his  2025  double  album  "Control  Your  Soul's  Desire  For  Freedom'  which  will  be  released  in  october  as  a  joint  effort  between  Empty  Tape  and  Virkelighedsfjern.


  Angry  screams  which  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  programmed  beats  and  synths  a  few  seconds  later.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  noises  and  chants  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  a  lot  of  the  recording  goes  for  more  of  an  experimental  direction.


  Clear  vocals  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  techno  beats.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  of  the  heavier  parts  adding  in  a  touch  of  noise  rock  and  one  song  also  introduces  some  deep  aggressive  vocals  into  the  music.


  Some  of  the  heavier  riffing  also  adds  in  elements  of  nu  metal  and  post  hardcore  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  few  seconds  of  silence  as  well  as  adding  some  quiet  drones  into  the  background  after  awhile  before  evolving  into  more  of  an  avant  garde  direction,  a  later  track  shows  the  music  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  free  jazz  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  end  of  the  world. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Heathe  and  while  it  is  not  as  black  metal  influenced  as  previous  releases,  I  can  see  this  album  appealing  to  fans  of  more  experimental  musical  genres.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Gods  Destroy"  and  "Uproar  Taking  Shape".  8  out  of  10.


  https://hethe.bandcamp.com/album/control-your-souls-desire-for-freedom

https://www.facebook.com/heathedeath

https://www.instagram.com/heatheheathe/   

Bergsvriden/I Haggons Atton/Dusktone/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Bergsvriden  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  folk  influenced  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "I  Haggond  Atton"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Dusktone.


  A  nature  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  melodic style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  clean  playing.


  On  this  recording  Bergsvriden  expand  on  the  folk  influenced  black  metal  style  from t heir  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Dark  Folklore  and  Heathenism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bergsvriden  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  influenced  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Helvetesritten"  "De  Skugglika"  and  "Krakens  doman".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/Bergsvriden/


    


  

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Winternius/Underwater Darkness/Dusktone/2025 Full length Review

 


  Winternius  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Underwater  Darkness"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Dusktone.


  Water  sounds  and  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  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  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Winternius  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism,  darkness,  evil  and  metaphysical  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Winternius  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  aggressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  Mirage"  "Black  Evil  Cormorants"  and  "Global  Alien  War"  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/Winternius/


Amenspear/All My Gods Are Dying/2025 Full length Review

 


  Amenspear  are  a  solo  project  from  New  York  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  album  "All  My  Gods  Are  Dying"  which  will  be  released  on  August  22nd.


  A  very  heavy  yet  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  clean  playing  and  synths  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  used  at  times.


  Some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  doom  metal  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  some  of  the  music  also  bringing  in  elements  of  groove  metal  and  alternative  rock,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  inner  struggles.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Amenspear  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "All  my  Gods  Are  Dying"  "Our  Leady  of  Sorrows"  and  "The  Letter".  8  out  of  10.


  https://amenspear.bandcamp. com/

https://www.instagram.com/ amenspearband

Execrari/Desolation Manifest/Hessian Firm/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Execrari  are  a  duo  from  the  midwestern  region  of  the  united  States  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Desolation  Manifest"  which  was  released  by  Hessian  Firm.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  an  angry  and  shouting  style  which  also  evolves  into  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the tracks  also  having  their  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  clean  sections,  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  oneironautics  and  multiversal  desolation.


  In  my  opinion  Execrari  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  progressive  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crippled  Bones  Almighty"  and  "Eternal  Conflagration".  8  out  of  10.


  https://execrari.bandcamp.com/album/desolation-manifest    

Veil Lifter Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?


Hail, A. C. (NecroDD) here, thank you for this interview. At the moment the project is gathering all the feedbacks coming from listeners and press as well. New songs are ready and they will be recorded in the future sooner or later. There's a lot in the works even for other discographic projects regarding VL. 


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


Of course. The aim of Veil Lifter was, is and forever will be to create darkness through music and to do that the inspiration comes from different life experience as well as from bands such as Denial of God, old Necromass, Mortuary Drape and many more. 


3.A lot of the music is very heavily rooted in the early 90's era, do you prefer the classic black metal style over the modern era?


Totally into Old School feeling. "It still rules" as Pentacle say. 


4.You also have experience playing in other bands over the years, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Veil Lifter', that you where not able to do with your previous groups?


Well, regarding my experience I played in previous acts all involved in Black Metal (Black/Death the first experiences with Gor Dur, Black/Speed Metal later in Antikrist Kommand). We released some demos. Following other projects without actual releases, I wanted to play this specific way to approach Black Metal. G.C. is the voice and guitar of Necroprofanator, a killer Black/Death Metal monster from our town, recommended to Archgoat fans and Incantation/Grave Miasma too. We have always had a common passion for italian darkest bands and for DoG or the Black Metal scene from Greece in the 90's, and that's the result. 


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


I have always been into these topics (as a researcher, if we want to say so, and as a proper academic scholar too) since my early age. Regarding Horror, I am a massive maniac and collector of old tapes and it's still one of the biggest inspirations for a band like this. 


6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Veil Lifter'?


The idea of lifting a veil is a common symbol in pretty much every spiritual path. You can think of the veil of Isis for instance. 


7.I know the artwork on the ep cover was inspired by the work of Bram Stoker, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his writings?


It was the very first book I ever read on my own. Of course it is one of the pillar of the horror and the gothic still today. 


8.Originally the band was a duo but has recently become a solo project, what was the decision behind going into this direction?


Nothing regarding musical or personal different point of views. Just everyday life commitments and work related things. 


9.The ep was released on 'Kold Cave Promotion', how did you get in contact with this label?


I follow KCP since the beginning and I find it as one of the best italian BM label around at the moment. Vesanus, the mastermind of Kold Cave (and a friend of mine since almost twenty years), is a real Metal maniac, always in search of new bands, of new guys involved into this genre. I can only say all the best for him and KC, great works behind and great output quality in the end. I recommend Incanto Lunare, just to mention one of many, from his roster. 

 

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


There are few new songs already so yes, something's brewing and everything leads to a full lenght (or maybe something else before). The (mourn) path is this one. 


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


The same of always. Extreme and Traditional Metal, full speed ahead!

Aside from the usual classics Metal gods spins, lately I was very much into the latest opus of Negative Plane, Vultur (ITA), Hellbutcher (holy shit!!!!), Spite, Mayhemic, and Spirit Possession. 


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


I thank you once again for your interest and I invite all the readers to stay tuned for the future. 

Metal 'til Death

A.C.



Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Gjallarhorn's Wrath Interview

 

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


Back in 2001, we founded a black metal band called Oblivion — the original lineup included Javi Arash and Lord Ashler. We recorded a demo and even had the chance to share the stage with Ancient. Although that project eventually faded without a clear reason, we always felt the need to fulfill what we started. Gjallarhorn’s Wrath was born from that desire — to finally record a full album and bring our vision to life.

When we decided to revive the project, we met Alex Caron, and we instantly knew he had to be the new voice of Gjallarhorn’s Wrath. His vocal range and presence perfectly matched the intensity we were looking for.

Now that the debut album is out, we want to keep moving forward — creating new music, exploring new ideas, and continuing the journey of Gjallarhorn’s Wrath.


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2. In September you have a full-length coming out. Can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you have gone for on the recording?


Most of the songs begin with initial compositions by Javi Iron, who lays the foundation and structure. After that, each of us brings in our own parts — whether it's guitar lines, orchestration, lyrics, or atmospheric elements — making the final result a true blend of all our contributions.

When we first met Javi, he was very into bands like Satyricon, Limbonic Art, and Emperor, and those influences helped shape the early sound and direction of the project. The album itself is rooted in black metal, enriched with death metal elements and symphonic textures that give it a powerful yet immersive atmosphere.



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3. A lot of your lyrics cover occult themes. Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?


Our fascination with the occult comes from a deep love for horror — especially classic horror films and the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. We’re drawn to that sense of mystery, dread, and the unknown. Through our music and lyrics, we aim to transport the listener to a mystical realm beyond this reality — a world shaped by ancient forces, forgotten rites, and cosmic darkness.



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


While occult themes are a strong part of our identity, we believe it's also important to explore topics that go beyond the typical black metal framework. For example, our song A Silent Scream reflects the despair and emotional decay caused by abandonment. We delve into themes like sadness, unrequited love, inner torment, and the grotesque nature of the human psyche. These moments of misery and emotional ruin carry a raw, haunting beauty — and they fit naturally within the dark atmosphere we aim to create.



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5. I know that the band name comes from Norse mythology. Can you tell us a little bit more about the research you have put into this subject?


The name Gjallarhorn’s Wrath is a direct reference to the mythical horn of Heimdallr, the guardian of the gods, which will sound at the beginning of Ragnarök. We were drawn to the powerful symbolism — a call to the end, to chaos, to transformation. While we don’t follow Norse mythology in a dogmatic or historical way, we’ve spent time exploring its stories, archetypes, and esoteric meanings. The myths are filled with raw violence, fate, and cosmic cycles — themes that resonate deeply with our music.



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


The album cover was deliberately designed to be open-ended — like an unfinished canvas. Instead of revealing everything, it leaves space for the listener’s imagination, inviting them to step into the limbo we’ve created through our music. It visually connects with the world we created in the Wiccan Wyrd video clip: a kind of limbo, a place suspended between realities. At the center of this visual and lyrical concept is the Silver Key, which appears throughout the album. It’s a direct reference to one of Lovecraft’s tales — a symbol of transcendence, forbidden knowledge, and the door to other dimensions. Just like the music, the artwork invites the audience to step beyond the veil.



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



Right now, the members of Gjallarhorn’s Wrath are spread across different countries — I (Arash) live in Barcelona, Lord Ashler is based in London, Javi Iron is in Poland, and Alex Caron lives in Canada — so getting together isn’t easy.

That said, we’d absolutely love to bring this project to the stage. Maybe not a full tour, but we’re definitely open to doing a few special concerts — something meaningful, where the atmosphere and demand make it worth the effort. If people want to see us live, we’ll do everything we can to make it happen.



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8. The album is coming out on 'Non Serviam Records'. How did you get in contact with this label?


Once we had the album fully recorded, we started searching for a label that truly understood our vision — one that supports extreme music with authenticity and passion. Non Serviam Records was at the top of our list. We sent them our work, and their response was immediate and enthusiastic. From the beginning, they’ve been incredibly supportive, and it’s clear they care deeply about the bands they work with. It’s an honor to release our debut album with a label that truly believes in what we’re creating.



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


Considering we’ve only released two singles so far and there’s a huge amount of competition within the metal scene, we’re really pleased with the response. Both video clips have received a solid number of views on YouTube, and it means a lot to see people discovering and connecting with our music so early on.

What’s truly exciting is reading the comments — people pointing out specific parts of the songs that moved them, or even saying we’ve become their new favorite band. That kind of feedback is incredibly motivating. Of course, we know this is just the beginning — and we hope that with the release of the full album, we’ll be able to reach even more listeners around the world who are drawn to this kind of dark, immersive sound.



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


We don’t want to be tied to any strict formula. While black metal is our foundation, we’re always drawn to new atmospheres, textures, and emotional extremes — whether it’s through orchestral layers, ambient darkness, or even heavier and more chaotic passages.

That said, for this debut album we consciously imposed some limitations to make sure it felt coherent — not just a collection of disconnected songs. In some cases, we removed guitar licks or entire sections for the greater good of the track or the flow of the album. It was all about serving the vision as a whole.

For the next release, we want to give ourselves more freedom to experiment — to explore other flavors and dynamics without fear. Each album should feel like a different portal into the world of Gjallarhorn’s Wrath, constantly evolving without losing our essence.



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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?


Each member of Gjallarhorn’s Wrath has their own musical background and personal taste — and to be honest, I can’t speak for everyone. For example, I know Alex Caron besides Black Metal, he also enjoys listening to and singing deathcore, which adds a different edge to his vocal delivery.

As for me, I'm listening to a wide variety of styles. I love this is no Fairy Tale by Carach Angren, Wintersun album The Forest Seasons...and I also enjoy the Death metal bands coming out of Finland or Sweden. I guess we all bring a bit of that diversity into the band — even if our core sound is rooted in darkness.




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


We want to thank everyone who has taken the time to listen, share, and support Gjallarhorn’s Wrath. This project is a labor of passion and darkness — a journey into mysticism, despair, and the unknown. We hope our music resonates with those who seek something beyond the ordinary, who want to dive deep into a world of shadows and forgotten secrets.

The full album is just the beginning. For those who feel the call of the darkness, stay close — much more awaits in the shadows.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Veil Lifter/Night Grotesqueries/Kold Cave Production/2025 EP Review

 


  Veil  Lifter  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  horror  themed  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  if  his  2025  ep  "Night  Grotesqueries"  which  was  released  by  Kold  Cave  Production.


  A  piano  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  dark  soundscapes  and  field  recordings  being  used  briefly  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  horror  movie  style  synths  also  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Veil  Lifter  plays  a  horror  themed  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Horror,  Occultism,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Veil  Lifter  are  a  very  great  sounding  horror  themed  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Votive  Candles"  and  Nocturnal  Wrewolf  Mysticism".  8/5  out  of  10.


  https://veillifter.bandcamp.com/album/night-grotesqueries    

Monday, August 4, 2025

Starer/Ancient Monuments & Ancient Sadness/Fiadh Productions/Adironack Black Mass/Snow Wolf Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


   Kentucky's  solo  project  Starer  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  symphonic  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Ancient  Monuments  &  Ancient  Sadness"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions,  Adironack  Black  Mass  and  Snow  Wolf  Records.


  A  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Symphonic  sounds  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs.  Elements  of  post  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  one  song  also  introduces  clear  chants  and  singing  onto  the  album  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly.


  On  this  recording  Starer  continues  the  expand  on  the  atmospheric  and  symphonic  black  metal  style  of  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophy,  history  and  introspection  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Starer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  symphonic  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Cry  Your  Mother's  Blood"  "Immortality  Of  Writers"  and  "Lie  Around  My  Neck".  8  out  of  10.


  

StumpTail/Sonder Down Yonder/Moonlight Cypress Archetypes/2025 Full Length Review

 




  StumpTail  are  a  band  from  Nashville,  Tennessee  that  plays  an  experimental  mixture  of  black  metal,  drone,  country  and  southern  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Sonder  Down  Yonder"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Moonlight  Cypress  Archetypes.


  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  a  more  southern  rock  with  more  of  a  heavier  approach.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  classic  rock style.  Blast beats  and  tremolo  picking  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  drones  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.


  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  along  with  the  clean  sections  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  country,  samples  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  mythical  Florida  Man  who  turns  out  to  be  Poseidon  


  In  my  opinion  StumpTail  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  mixture  of  black  metal,  drone,  southern  rock  and  country  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this b and.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  INCLUDE  "Scripture  In  The  Scales".  8  out  of  10.


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