Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Eonoe/Evigheden/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Eunone  are  a  band  from  Columbia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  crust,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Evigheden".


  The  sounds  of  fly's  and  spoken  words  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  feeling  and  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  growling  death  metal  style.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  few  tracks  also  adding  in  some  tribal,    ritualistic  and  percussion  sounds.


  Elements  of  thrash  metal  and  crust  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Chants  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well as  the  vocals  evolving  into  more  of  a  black  metal  screaming  style  of  later  tracks,  clean  playing  is  also  introduced  on  one  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophy,  psychology  and  history  with  some  inspirations  from the  writings  of  Heidegger,  Nietzsche  and  Dante's  "Divine  Comedy".


  In  my  opinion  Eunone  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  with  elements  of  crust,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Naus"  "Jerusalem"  "Kairos"  and  "Saudade".  8  out  of  10.


  https://open.spotify.com/album/4eL7KjQ2fm6PYA7E5QDEU4


https://eunoe2.bandcamp.com/album/evigheden  


  


    

Penthos/Erevos/Darkness Shall Rise/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Penthos  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Erevos"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Darkness  Shall  Rise.


  Clean  playing  which  returns  on  later  tracks  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  the  recording  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.


  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Scandinavian  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  


  Pentthos  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  atmospheric  in  the  classic  Scandinavian  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  dark  aspects  of  Greek  Mythology.


  In  my  opinion  Penthos  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nekyia"  "Bloodstained  Path"  "Charon"  and  "Forlorn  Voyage".  8  out  of  10.


  www.facebook.com/penthosband 

Pagan Ulver Interview

 

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


1. Since the release of our debut album Obsidian Flame of Thy Offering, we’ve been focusing on promoting it through live shows and spreading our music to new audiences. And this month (September 20th) we’re honored to open for Katatonia and Gorod — another step that gives us the chance to bring Moroccan black metal to a wider stage


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


2. Musically, this album represents our blend of symphonic and melodic black metal. We wanted to create something grand, theatrical, and emotional while keeping the raw spirit 

of black metal intact. The orchestration plays a key role in building the atmosphere. We also went flirting with many elements from various genres such as progressive, post-black metal, and even using acoustics and classical music.



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


3. Our lyrics dive into themes of fantasy, tragedy, misanthropy, and self-destruction, with Obsidian Flame of Thy Offering in particular telling the story of a historical vampire. We 

explore both historical and personal darkness through a dramatic lens.


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


. The name Pagan Ulver is directly tied to nature. “Pagan” reflects the untamed, outside-ofstructure essence we identify with, while “Ulver” — wolves in Norwegian — symbolizes the wilderness, solitude, and raw beauty of the natural world. Together, the name embodies our connection to nature’s darkness and mystery, which are central to our music.


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


The album artwork was created to mirror the music’s atmosphere — dark, tragic, and majestic, which was made by the talented artist & producer Hicham Hamzi 

(@hhich.design). It portrays the eternal struggle between light and shadow, humanity and monstrosity, which ties directly into the narrative of the vampire that I already mentioned in question 3.


6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?


6. The most important show we’ve played so far was Mosh’kill in February, where we appeared in our true identity for the first time, performing with black metal elements such 

as corpse paint. It was a turning point for us, which marks a new step in our journey. On stage, we aim to deliver a theatrical and intense performance that brings our music fully to life


7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?


7. We are currently planning more shows in Morocco to promote the album, and we are also exploring opportunities abroad. Touring is definitely one of our next objectives.



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


. As you said, we are currently unsigned, but we don’t see that as a limitation. Nowadays, many bands are able to successfully promote themselves without the backing of a label, 

and we take inspiration from that. Bands like Blackbraid have shown how far an independent path can go. For us, what matters most is staying true to our vision and finding 

the right opportunities, whether independently or eventually with a label that truly understands our music.



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


The reaction worldwide has been very encouraging since the beginning. We were humbled by the feature in Metal Hammer last year, and the support from international fans is 

continued since then. It shows us that black metal has no borders. With the release of our album, we expanded the borders to more far regions across the globe, which shows that we can raise our voices even from a small town we live in across the whole globe


10.How would you describe the extreme metal scene in your home country of Morocco?


The extreme metal scene in Morocco is still underground but growing stronger. There’s a dedicated community of musicians and fans who keep the flame alive despite the internal and external challenges. We’re proud to be part of this evolution, yet we are aiming for what’s more beyond the borders, and explore the unexplored.


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


 Musically, we see ourselves diving even deeper into the aspects of our sound while keeping the raw black metal energy intact. We want to push the contrast between grandeur and aggression even further, and show that there’s no limitations.


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


. Various, we listen to various musical genres, not necessarily just black metal. It could anything that fits the mood of each member, from black metal to classical, folk, indie and 

even ambient music. This diversity is the key that shapes the identity of the artist, it shapes also the sound and provide more various ideas.



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


Thank you once again for the interview and the support. To the readers — we invite you to listen to Obsidian Flame of Thy Offering and join us on this journey. The future of metal 

is rising in unexpected places, and we’re honored to be part of that story. May your hearts be free of sin


Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Sothoris/Domus Omnium Mortuorum/Fetzner Death Records/ADG Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Sothoris  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  has  had  music reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Domus  Omnium  Mortuorum"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fetzner  Death  and  AOG  Records.


  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  and  clear  singing.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffs  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  a  90's  extreme  metal  style,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.


  On  this  recording  Sothoris  goes  for  more  of  a  modern  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  human  wickedness  and  the  spirits  of  the  dead.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sothoris  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wieczornca"  "Bylem  Faustem'  and  "Pietno".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/e4th9CHosKA

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify


    

Fiat Noctum/Insinuant/2025 EP Review

 


  Fiat  Noctum  are  a  duo  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Insinuant".


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  guitar  riffing.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  era  of  the  genre.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along with  some  deeper  vocals  also  being  used  briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.


  On  this  recording  Fiat  Noctum  brings  out  more  of  a  raw  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  human  decomposition  and  the  slow  process  of  death.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fiat  Noctum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Insektsfauna"  and  "Manniskovalvets  Sekret".  8  out  of  10.


  https://fiatnoctum.bandcamp.com/album/insinuant


    

Monday, September 1, 2025

Hadopelagyal/Haematophoryktos/Amor Fati Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Hadopelaygal  are  a  band  form  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Haematophoryktos"  which  will  be  released  on  September  19th  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast  beats  and  war  metal  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixes  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  closing  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  synths.


  On  this  recording  Hadopelaygal  brings  out  a  very  fast  and  aggressive  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death  and  occultism  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hadopelatgal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Swarthseleniasmos"  "Amidst  Unending  Twilights  Unheeded,  Bearing  Neither  Lustre  nor  name"  and  "Halios  Enthroned  In  Hyperdiluvina  Kataklysmos".  8  out  of  10.


  hadopelagyal.bandcamp.com 


      

Hangatyr/Sumpf der Fäule/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Germany's  Hangatyr  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Sumpf  der Fäule"  which  will  be  released  in  October.


  Epic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffs  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a r aw  feeling  while  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  mid  90's  Nordic  era  of  the  genre,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  closing  track  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.


  On  this  recording  Hangatyr  brings  out   a  very  raw,  aggressive  and  melodic  style  of  pagan  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Norse  Mythology.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hangatyr  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sumpf  der  Fäule"  and  "Dämmerung".  8  out  of  10.


  YouTube

Raventale/CDXXII Thousand Years Of Crime And Murders/Ashen Dominion/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Ukraine's  solo  project  Raventale  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric,  old  school  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "CDXXII  Thousand  Years  Of  Crime  And  Murders"  which  was  released  by  Ashen  Dominion.


  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  The  recording  also  has  its  symphonic  moments  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.


 Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffs  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  A  lot  of  the  recording  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words,  classical  guitars  are  also added  on  the  closing  song  which  id  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  humanity's  destructive  legacy.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Raventale  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  old  school  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deathmarch"  and  "Kali  Yuga  Code".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/raventaleofficial

https://raventale.bandcamp.com/music

Temple of Katharsis/Worshippers Of The Ancient Necromancy/Theogonia Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Greece's  Temple  Of  Katharsis  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  satanic  and  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Worshippers  Of  The  Ancient  Necromancy"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Theogonia  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  demonic  voices  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  A  lot  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  Hellenic  and  Scandinavian  bands  of  the  classic  era  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  


  On  this  recording  Temple  of  Katharsis  brings  out  a  very  fast,  aggressive,  traditional,  occult  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Necromancy,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding album  from  Temple  of  Katharsis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Obscure  Black  Oath"  "Worshippers  Of  The  Ancient  Necromancy"  and  "Horned  Entity".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/templeofkatharsis   

Dunes Of Ash/The Fall Of The Seven Sisters/Signal Rex/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Dunes  Of  Ash  are  a  band  from  an  unknown  location  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  orthodox  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Fall  Of  The  Seven  Sisters"  which  will  be  released  on  September  26th  by  Signal  Rex.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  stars  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  add  in  a  ritualistic  vibe  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.


  Dunes  Of  Ash  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  old  school  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Devil  Worship  and  the  corruption  of  the  Seven  Sisters.


  In  my  opinion  Dunes  of  Ash  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  and  orthodox  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Eye  Of  The  Seraphic  Void"  and  "The  Mortal's  Shame".  8  out  of  10.


  signalrex.com // signalrex.bandcamp.com     

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Nathreism/Archaic Dreams/Ashen Dominion/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Nathreism  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  heathen  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Archaic  Dreams"  which  was  released  by  Ashen  Dominion.


  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  songs  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of war  samples  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words


  Nathreism  plays  a  style  of  pagan  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric,  melodic,  epic  and  mid  paced  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  loss,  fire,  sorrow  and  memory  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  Nathreism  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  heathen  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Those  Who  Left  Us"  and  "Sorrow  Of  The  Burning  Land".  8  out  of  10.


  https://instagram.com/nathreism_band/

https://nathreism.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/share/1LEqmV1C2m/?mibextid=wwXIfr


  


  

Antiversum/De Nemesis Omnes et Omnia/Amor Fati Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Antiversum  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "De  Nemesis  Omnes  et  Omnia"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.


  Apocalyptic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  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  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  power  electronics  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  synths.


  On  this  recording  Antiversum  takes  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  heavy  album.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  end  of  the  universe.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Antiversum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pulsar  Feralis"  and  "Vuoto".  8  out  of  10.


  


www.facebook.com/antiversum 


    

Lord Krehn/A Haunting At Dawn/2025 EP Review

 


  Lord  Krehn  is  a  solo  artist  from  Denver,  Colorado  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  industrial  and  death  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  ep  "A  Haunting  At  Dawn"  which  will  be  released  in  September.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Clean  playing,  synths  and  atmospheric  sounds  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  music  is  heavily  influenced  by  both  the  modern  and  old  school  era's  of  the  genre.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  melodies  at  times.


  Some  of  the  drum beats  also  add  in  a  touch  of  industrial  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them. When  guitar  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  wind  instruments.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  human  behavior  themes.   


  In  my  opinion  Lord  Krehn  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  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Embracing  The  Dark"  and  "The  Wretching  Hour".  8  out  of  10.


  

Maahes/Nechacha/Massacre Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Maahes  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  Egyptian  themed  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Nechacha"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Massacre  Records.


  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  orchestral  and  symphonic  sounds  are  also  utilized  at  times.  When  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  he  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  A  later  song  also  introduced  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  as  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing,  spoken  words  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Egyptian  Ritual,  Occultism,  Divine  Madness  and  the  Legacy  Of  Fallen  Empires.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Maahes  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  Egyptian  themed  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Magic  Slave"  "Morbid  Love"  "Keeper  Of  Secrets"  and  "Nephthys  Tears".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/MaahesOfficial 

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

Hexenshade/aTheRevelation Of Doom.../WolfKult Religion/2025 Full length Review

 


  Hexenshade  are  a  solo  project  from  Argentina  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "The  Revelation  Of  Doom..."  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion.


  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  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  80's  to  early  90's  era.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  vey  true  to  an  old  school  style  while  a  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  like  it  cold  of  easily  been  recorded  and  released  more  then  30  years  ago.  Demonic  sounding  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  riffing  also  being  done  in  power  chords  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  some  of  the  later  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  slow  or  mid  tempo  sections.


  Hexenshade  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  80's  to  early  90's  era  of  The  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Satanism,  Paganism,  Death  and  Misanthropy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Hexenshade  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tormentor"  "Pagan  Queen"  "Sorcery"  and  "Eternal  Damnation".  8/5  out  of  10.


https://youtu.be/dKcxc-OgOWQ        

Saturday, August 30, 2025

Pagan Ulver/Obsidian Flame Of Thy Offering/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Pagan  Ulver  are  a  band  from  Morocco  that  plays  a  very  raw,  melodic,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Obsidian  Flame  Of  Thy  Offering".


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  sounds  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  and  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.


  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  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  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy,  tragic  stories,  misanthropy  and  self  destruction  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  Pagan  Ulver  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  melodic,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ravenous  Flock"  and  "Coven  Of  The  Broken".  8  out  of  10.


  

Eisregen/Krebskoline/Massacre Records/2025 Album Re-Issue Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  an  earlier  album  from  Germany's  Eisregen  which  showed  their  early  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  the  album  was  originally  released  in  1998  and  called  "Krebskoline"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  September  by  massacre  Records  and  also  adds  in  live  songs  as  bonus  tracks.


  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  air  raid  sirens  on  clean  playing  which  also  returns  on  later  tracks.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording  bring  in  the  classic  dark  metal  style  and  both t he  keyboards  and  viola  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.


  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album.  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,  when  tremolo  picking  id  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  clean  singing  is  also  introduced  briefly  on  the  live  tracks  as  well  as  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.


  On  this  recording  Eisregen  took  black  and  dark  metal  and  mixed  them  together  as  well  as  adding  in  other  elements  which  also  made  their  music  sound  more  different  and  original  in  the  mid  90's.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  post  apocalyptic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  album  from  Eisregen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  mid  90's  German  black  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vorabend  der  Schlacht"  "Krebskoline"  "Abglanz  vom  Livht"  and  "Nachtgeburt".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/eisregen.official

https://www.instagram.com/eisregenoffiziell/


  


  

Synthre/Heterodoxa/2025 EP Review

 


  Synthre  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  dissonant  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Heterodoxa"  which  will  be  released  in  September.


  A  very  dark  and  heavy  Middle  Eastern  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Chants  and  clear  singing  are  also  utilized  at  times  which  also  adds  in a   ritualistic  touch  while  the  recording  also  has  its  dissonant  moments.  Folk  instruments  and  synth  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  some  tribal  style  beats  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Synthre  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  a  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  metal  and  Middle  Eastern  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  era  while  the  old  gods  of  Sumer  and  Mesopotamia  walked  alongside  early  Christianity  and  Gnosticism.


  In  my  opinion  Synthre  are  a  very  great  sounding  dissonant  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "He  Comes"  and  "The  Gaze  is  Fire".  8  out  of  10.


  https://synthre.bandcamp.com/album/heterodoxa         

Friday, August 29, 2025

Serpentum Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Judas: Songwriting is the main focus at this point in time, there are a lot of songs already written in the production stages and there's a hell of a lot more that are soon to emerge.  
Polar: Yes, preparing for our next album, which we are planning to release in January 2026, and soon I will record drums for 7 of those 8 songs (the last one will be acoustic), which has been our production tradition since 2022 -  to record the drum parts first and the vocal parts last. We have also recently selected something unique to do as a single release in October this year, much of that one is already completed.

2.In 2025 you have released 2 albums, musically how do they differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
Judas: There are a few songs from the most recent album (Scar the Abyss) that are re-recorded versions of songs from the first release (...In the Choke of Existence) and they still flow together with the more recently written songs well, essentially due to the core of them emerging from similar places, be it purely from pain or a certain state of mind. With Polar now contributing to the writing and recording processes we've been far less limited in our approach to songwriting and structures, it's good to finally have all the necessary elements to better express things in a more powerful way. The roots of DSBM are still there but we can now better convey the spirit of what we're doing through different mediums, it also gives us the opportunity at times to offer a subtle nod every now and then to the old gods that carved this crooked path before us as we let the music bleed out.
Polar: The first couple of releases in 2017 were done with drum machine, and basically produced by Judas, with contributions by Scourge. From 2022 onwards (after Judas recruited me as a drummer) I have handled the production side of things. The song writing is still primarily Judas and Scourge, with me just writing the drum parts and chucking in a couple of guitar ideas here and there. Draugr and Yrsa don't write, they have contributed more as "session" players for recording and shows.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters?
Judas: Suicide, Misanthropy, self-destruction and mental sickness have always been a good source of inspiration. The lyrics I write in Serpentum reflect the facing of shadows, decay of the mind, loss, hate and misery, which is also interwoven amongst anti-christian beliefs, Satanism and occult philosophies and practices. Over the years the songwriting has evolved for us individually as well as collectively, it never comes from a place of ego so we work well together and keep trying to delve deeper down into the depths of ourselves while learning and figuring out new ways to refine our sound whilst moving forward regardless of what trials stand between us and another step towards progression.
Polar: To put it simply; I'd say having a drummer write the drum parts from 2022 onwards has changed the feeling of the songs since the band started putting out material, but the inspiration and spirit has been consistent

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Serpentum'
Polar: "Serpentum" is a Latin word that translates to "of the serpent" or "of the snake" in English. The band already had that name when I was recruited as drummer.
Judas: The symbology of the snake has been something that has always intrigued me, many cultures have used it as either a symbol of fear or one of power, I prefer the latter.
Serpentum is the body and the music is the venom.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
Polar: "Anguish" is an 1878 oil painting by August Friedrich Schenck, depicting a mother sheep in grief over her dead lamb, surrounded by crows. The artwork is held at the national gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. It encapsulates both the inevitability of grief, and also the predatory nature of the world to capitalise on the suffering of others.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Polar: My favorite show was the last one we played at Nowhere Festival in Brisbane. It was such a powerful reaction from the audience. According to those who reviewed the festival - we wiped the floor with every other band that day. It was also the last show we will be playing in Australia for the immediate future, for reasons that will be explained below.
Judas: The last show was definitely my favourite so far, the energy was good and the crowd was very responsive, there were some special moments where it felt as though we shared and understood each other's pain, communing through old reopening wounds. We each put a great deal of effort into performing live to make sure everything is set to a certain standard, musically as well as in presence, corpse-paint and always try to remain true to the essence and raw destructive nature of black metal.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the remainder of 2025?
Polar: Serpentum is not performing in Australia right now. Our July gig booked at Crowbar in Brisbane was cancelled because the climate for extreme music has become politically strangled. The social media, virtue-signalling brigade have made it clear that aggressive, transgressive art is no longer welcome in this country unless it bows to feminist orthodoxy and PC purity tests. Our music is rooted in darkness, despair, and confrontation—not in apologising to cultural gatekeepers who seek to neuter the arts in the name of “safety.” Until that changes, I will not participate in the Australian live music scene. It is being cleansed by sanctimonious zealots on witch hunts. I will be focused on writing, recording and targeting listeners in overseas audiences. Hopefully in the future we'll be booking shows in other countries.

8.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
Polar: For the last couple of years our main audience for streaming has been Australian due to our regular live shows, however that has been gradually shifting towards both USA and Russia as the primary audience for our music and traffic to our website. And just recently, the USA audience has surpassed the Australian audience on streaming platforms. There is also growing interest in Germany, UK, Sweden, Canada, Poland and Turkey. No idea how this happens - people just seem to pick it up from youtube, spotify etc. I guess the countries with the biggest BM audience are going to find us.
Judas:  It's been interesting to see that the music we've made has resonated with people from the other ends of the earth, some have reached out directly too which has been a humbling experience.

9.What is going on with 'Kaerulean' these days, a band that shared a lot of the same members?
Polar: Kaerulean is only related to Serpentum in that Judas recruited members from the band after it split up four years ago, including me. We all live in the same suburb of Brisbane and are old friends. Kaerulean is dead, even though Encyclopedia Metallum lists it as active. None of the members are interested in continuing it. There was never an announcement about the Kaerulean breaking up because nobody was really bothered to do so. All of the music and lyric writing for Serpentum is basically Judas, Scourge and Bile (ex guitarist) who were never members of Kaerulean. So while some of the members are the same, both bands have completely different spirits.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Judas: In the future I think the songs will keep getting heavier, I want to dig deeper into the emotional and crushing elements we've started tapping into.
Polar: I'd like to focus on the DSBM themes but having more push towards blast beats, shredding guitars and heaviness than typically found in that sub-genre. In terms of production, I just try to get better with every release, and that seems to be working.

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?
Polar: For drumming; amongst many others, I've been inspired by Absu, Aeternus, Mgla, Satyricon, Abigor, Napalm Death, Dying Fetus, Dark Funeral, Suffocation, Nordjevel. Recently I've been enjoying Negator, the new Cradle of Filth album, Tryygon's new album "Dusk" which came out in August and Blackdeath from Peterberg
Judas: Influences for me have been Avslut, Shining, Gra, Advent sorrow, Leviathan, Satanic warmaster, Carpathian forest, Xasthur, Burzum, Exiled from light, Sargeist, Ungfell, Peste noire, Ferriterium, Watain, None, Coldworld, Mephorash, Savrttjern.
And some bands I've been listening to lately are Theotoxin, Yith, Darkened nocturne slaughtercult, Absent in body, Der weg einer freiheit, Naglfar, Afsky.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Polar: Australia’s stages have been seized by ideological tyrants, masquerading as moral crusaders, determined to sterilise the art. They call it “accountability,” but it’s censorship. They call it “safety,” but it’s control. And every band, promoter and venue that bends the knee only feeds their moral crusade. Serpentum was built on chaos, annihilation, and the raw essence of black metal. We will not neuter our art to satisfy the virtue cult or their PC inquisition. Let the weak choke on their own dogma. Black metal is war. Always has been. Always will be.
Judas: Hail Satan.