Thorondir Interview

 

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

THORONDIR: For the first time ever, we recorded a full-length entirely on our own, in our drummer Alexander Göhl’s studio, Eyelita Records. At the same time, we’re working on new ways to draw both old and new fans deeper into our world.

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

THORONDIR: It’s much more refined. We really poured our hearts into it, and it shows in the many different layers—mystical, dark, but also epic and dreamlike. This time we blended several genres and lyrically returned to our roots: the sagas and legends of our homeland, mixed at times with Norse mythology.

3.This is also going to be your fist album since 2019 and the one before was released in 2011, can you tell us a little bit more about the long gaps in between releases?

THORONDIR: We all have jobs and families, so naturally, we can’t dedicate 100% of our time to THORONDIR. The band is our passion, and passion takes time if you want to create something truly worthwhile. We don’t want to release music just because “it’s time again”—we want to release material that we believe in and that listeners can connect with as much as we do.

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

THORONDIR: Norse mythology has always fascinated us—the deep bond with animals and nature. But with Wächter des Waldes we deliberately focused more on the myths and legends of our own homeland, which are equally full of mystery. Our local nature itself has something very magical about it.

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

THORONDIR: A lot of people think the name comes from Thor, the Norse god of thunder, but that’s not the case. “THORONDIR” is Elvish from The Lord of the Rings, and it translates as “The Man of the Eagle.” That’s why our logo features eagle wings and a head—it reflects our connection to nature.

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

THORONDIR: The artwork was once again created by Jan Yrlund, who also designed the cover for Des Wandrers Mär. He’s well known in the scene, having done covers for Korpiklaani and many other bands. Lyrically, much of the new album takes place in dark forests inhabited by legendary figures who serve as guardians of the woods. The cover reflects this: it shows the entrance to a shadowy forest, with the tree in the foreground symbolizing such a guardian or protector.

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

THORONDIR: It’s hard to single out one show—each one has its own magic, no matter the size of the crowd. We’ve never relied on costumes or stage props, but our energetic and powerful performances have always carried the audience along. Interaction with the crowd and sharing our passion is really important to us. With the new album, though, things will change—we’re working on a more elaborate live concept that will take the audience on a journey through our homeland and its legends.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

THORONDIR: Absolutely. We’re planning several gigs and even a small tour to bring the new album to the fans. Announcements will follow soon on our website and social media.

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

THORONDIR: After 18 years and three worldwide releases, we’ve built a solid reputation in the pagan metal scene—we’re certainly no longer an unknown name.

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

THORONDIR: We have lots of ideas for future material, and we’re already looking forward to writing new songs and albums so we can keep telling our stories.

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

THORONDIR: Pretty much everything! Our tastes are too broad to pin down to a few bands—the list would be endless.

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

THORONDIR: Thanks a lot for the interview! We hope our loyal fans will embrace Wächter des Waldes, that we’ll gain some new ones, and that many promoters will take notice of us. We want to take everyone along on our journey through the myths and legends of our homeland.

https://youtu.be/eZjRyram1Nc

Myrkkyharakka/Mystichrist/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Myrkkyharakka  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Mystichrist"  

  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  heavy  riffing  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.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Finnish  tradition.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  style.  One  of  the  tracks  is  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  directio0n  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  album.

  Myrkkyharakka  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  fast,  raw  and  traditional  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Finnish  and  English  and  cover  Occultism,  Thelema,  and  Left  Hand  Path  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Myrrkyharakka  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Darkness  And  Moon"  "Blood  Temple"  and  "Arcanexion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IccwAZnBXw  

Manegarm/Edsvuren/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Manegarm  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  expanding  on  the  viking  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Edsvuren"  which  will  be  released  on  August  29th  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  folk  instruments  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Clear  viking  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts. 

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  One  song  also introduces  female  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Viking  History  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Manegarm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Skogsfruns  Famn"  "Till  Gudars  Folje"  "Skild  Fran  Hugen"  and  "Edsvuren".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Manegarmsweden/    

Def/Light/Stygian Conclave/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Ukraine/Israel's  duo  Def/Light  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  melodic  and  aggressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Stygian  Conclave"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Def/Light  brings  out  more  of  a  modern,  aggressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti-Religion,  Anti-Totalitarianism  and  Self  Development  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Def/Light  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  aggressive  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Book  V:  The  Crown  Of  Quilt"   "Book  VIII:  Horned  In  Their  Image"  "Book  XI  :  The  Abyss  Stares  Back"  and  "Book  XIII:  The  Resurrection  Of  Self".  8  out  of  10.

  https://deflight.com.ua

https://deflightmetal. bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/ deflightmetal
https://www.threads.net/@ deflightmetal
https://x.com/deflightmetal
https://www.youtube.com/@ deflightmetal

Moribund Oblivion Interview

 

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

The recording of INTERTEMPORAL took us approximately two years to complete. Even though the album wasn't released, we were very active in Europe during this time. We toured constantly. We also recorded a new 4-song EP. So, I can say we're experiencing our fastest, most active, and most productive times.

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

Our new album, in our opinion, represents the peak musically for Moribund Oblivion. We're now approaching 27 ages for the band, and based on the experience we've gained over the last 30 years, we've strived to create our most mature and best sound. We believe we've created a truly metal album that breaks the rigid mold of black metal.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release and also how would you describe your progress  as  songwriters over the years?

Development is constant, and if you take this work seriously and dedicate your soul, you'll notice your growth over the years. Those who follow you can see this too. Moribund Oblivion's music is quite expansive and refuses to be bound by convention. While we've been known as a black metal band from the very beginning, and we love it, we've never stopped experimenting with different styles in our music. Being an artist means seeing beyond boundaries and wanting to go there. In other words, you can't stay where you are. Songwriting is also a part of this. Since 1999, Moribund Oblivion's song themes and the messages they want to convey have certainly changed. We've established a new theme that began with the album Endless, and you can see its continuation on Intertemporal. As the themes change, so do our narratives and messages. This, in turn, allows our songwriting skills to evolve.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name MORIBUND OBLIVION?

Memories and longing for the past played a significant role selected in the band's name. We chose this name to keep alive in our memory everything we've lost, everything we miss, every memory lost in the past. Moribund Oblivion is an expression of everything we've lost in the past.

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

The cover of our previous album, Endless, featured a winged man figure searching for infinity. In Intertemporal album, we see this figure's arrived final point. He realizes that what he thought was infinity was an illusion of time. We wanted to show his disillusionment as he realizes he's a lost soul, adrift between parallel universes like everyone else.

6. The band has a history going back as far as '1999', what is it that motivates you to keep going after more then 20 years and what changes have you seen in underground metal during that time frame?

First and foremost, our biggest and most important motivation is our love of music. I can say that I'm personally dedicated to this work. Moribund Oblivion is 26 years old, which is a very long time for black metal. Many band members have changed, of course, but Moribund Oblivion has always remained strong and represented Türkiye. Music is a passion, and heavy metal, in general, is a way of life. Being part of such an important culture has always made us proud. Few bands from Türkiye have successfully expanded internationally, and we're very proud to have pioneered this.

7. Out of all the tours and shows the band has done over the years, which one stands out the most?

That's a tough question, because we was have been touring constantly for at least 20 of our 26 years. Of course, there are plenty of memories, both good and bad. The 2023-2024 INTERTEMPORAL European Tour, which spanned two years, was, in my opinion, the best. Band conditions were also better and less tiring than before. Also our Scandinavian tour (with Negura Bunget) in 2016 was also quite successful.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Of course. We played promotional concerts non-stop for two years before the album was released, and we'll continue to do so without slowing down after it's released. Our 2026 European tour schedule will be quite busy. Moribund Oblivion is a festival band. We play festivals frequently, and you'll see again us perform in many European countries. Also we may also travel to other continents.

9. The new album is going to be released on 'Theogonia Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?

In our opinion, Theogonia Records is a label that takes its work seriously and produces excellent work. Musicians always want to be valued first and foremost. We've found this with Theogonia and established a harmonious working spirit. Our goals and the things our previous labels lacked led us to cross paths with Theogonia Records.

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

We've released three songs and a music video from our new album so far. The overall response has been quite positive. Our goal is to reach a much larger audience and arrived as far and wide as we can. Furthermore, as representatives of the Turkish metal scene, we believe we have an important mission. Therefore, every project we undertake has strategic significance.

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

As I mentioned earlier, Moribund Oblivion is a band with big plans. Extreme metal music has a tough road to grow rapidly and become mainstream, but there are many bands worldwide who have managed to do so. That's our goal, too. We are as  musicians are approaching 50. We might not have much time left, but who cares? As long as our health allows, we'll be on stage, works, and moving forward, sticking to our plan.

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

Each member is interested in different genres of music. I think I'm the only dinosaur in the band. I'm still in love with '80s and '90s metal. Our drummer, İlkay, enjoys more modern-sounding bands. Our bassist, Emir, is open to all kinds of world music.

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

If anyone still doesn't know Moribund Oblivion or hasn't seen any of our concerts, I recommend checking out our new album. It'll be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8rfIi6kA4k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb59m0KK8g0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57i9LD_wNeI

Argesk/Moonlight Pyromancy/Matriarch Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Argesk  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic,  aggressive  and  synth  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Moonlight  Pyromancy"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Matriarch  Records.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffing  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  mandolin's  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  gothic  magick,  bloodlust,  damnation  and  their  own  self  created  mythology.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Argesk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodc,  aggressive  and  synth  orientated  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Servant  Of  Fire"  "Wreathing  Serpent"  and  "Moonlight  pyromancy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/argeskuk/

https://youtu.be/gsNbjd95OFc  

Impurity/Satanicristo/Rites Of Desecration/WolfKult Religion/2025 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Brazil's  Impurity  and  Satanicristo  called  "Rites  Of  Desecration"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Impurity  who  returns  with  their  satanic  and  occult  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  track  more  of  a  raw  Feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  evil  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  with  a  few  bestial  growls  along  with  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  war  metal,  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  and  towards  the  end  the  music  slows  down  and  adds  in  ritualistic  touches.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw and  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Impurity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  and  satanic  black/war  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Satanicristo  who  return  with  their  satanic  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  ritualistic  soundscapes  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast beats  and  war  metal  elements  can  be  heard.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  the  riffing  also  has  its  mid  tempo  moments,  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  more  of  a  chaotic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  and  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Satanicristo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  satanic  war,  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  Brazilian  satanic  and  occult  black/war  metal.  8  out  of  10.   

youtu.be/lo4jIIKAAoE?si=DoF-0Ou-pt6TtIHN   

Arzhaabat/The Glory Of Wogastisburg/WitchKult religion/2025 EP Review

 

  Arzhaabat  are  a  solo  project  from  Czechia  that  plays  a  very  raw  from  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  punk,  dungeon  synth  and  dark  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  ep  "The  Glory  Of  Wogastisburg"  which  was  released  by  WitchKult  Religion.

  Dungeon  synth  style  synths  start  off  the  ep  while  also  adding  in  touches  of  dark  ambient  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  along with  some  clean  playing  being  used  on  a  couple  of  tracks,  the  ep  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  guitar  leads  adding  in  more  of  a  darker  style  and a   couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Arzhaabat  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  aggressive  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  some  elements  of  punk,  dungeon  synth  and  dark  ambient  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  historical  events  from  Moravia.

  In  my  opinion  Arzhaabat  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Venedian  Iron  Moon"  and  "Tribal  Union".  8  out  of  10.

  youtu.be/kgdk2_HWPAE  

Witchcraft/Shaitan/WolfKult Religion/2025 EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Finland's  Witchcraft  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  satanic  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Shaitan"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion.

  Demonic  voices  and  ritualistic  percussion  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast b eats  and  war  metal  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls  mixed  in  with  a  few  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  Throughout  the  recording  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  chaotic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound to  them  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  melody  and  they  also b ring  in  some  Blasphemous  Evil  and  Blasphemy  covers.

  On  this  recording  Witchcraft  goes  for  a  very  satanic  and  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Demonology  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Witchcraft  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  satanic,  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mouth  Of  Hell"  and  "Demoniac".  8  out  of  10.

   youtu.be/7KxwPk51BUs    

Sex Messiah/Sexus-Mortem, Ouroboros/WolfKult Religion/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sex  Messiah  are  a  duo  from  Japan  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  raw  and  satanic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Sexus-Mortem,  Ouroboros"  which  was  released  by  WolkKult  Religion.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  South  American  tradition.

 When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  death  metal.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  operatic  female  vocals,  synths  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Sex  Messiah  goes  for  more  of  a  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Blasphemy  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sex  Messiah  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  old  school,  satanic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blasphemando  al  espiritu  santo"  "Descenso  al  infierno"  and  "Comando  Satan".  8  out  of  10.

  youtu.be/9l0hzT-nyqs

  

Witchcraft/Belphegor/WolfKult Religion/2025 EP Review

 

  Witchcraft  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  satanic  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Belphegor"  which  was  released b y  WolkKult  Religion.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  era  of  the  genre.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast b eats  and  war  metal  elements  can  be  heard  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  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Witchcraft  focuses  more  on  an  old  school,  satanic  and  occult  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Witchcraft,  Demonology  and  Evil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Witchcraft  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  satanic  and  occult  war,  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Morbid  Dawn  Of  Black  Funeral"  "Taghomet"  and  "Tumult  Of  Evil".  8  out  of  10.

  youtu.be/V5NHJUMwIe4    

Satanicristo/Bastardizing The Holiness/WolfKult Religion/2025 EP Review

 

  Satanicristo  are  a  duo  form  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  satanic,  blasphemous  and  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Bastardizing  The  Holiness"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion.

  Dark  soundscapes  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  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  tooted  in t he  early  90's  era.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  and  the  second  track  also  adds  in a   brief  use  of  synths  and  war  sounds  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Satanicristo  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  war  and  bestial  black/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  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Satanicristo  are  a  very  great  sounding  satanic  and  blasphemous  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Bastardizing  The  Holiness".  8  out  of  10.

  youtu.be/2YhqTQUFrGg

Starcave Nebula/Asterism/WolfKult Religion/2025 EP Review

 

  Starcave  Nebula  are  a  duo  form  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  plats  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Asterism"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  drum beats  a  few  seconds  later  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  more  of  a  chaotic  style  along  with  the  second  track  bringing  in  more  of  a  slower  and  repetitive  guitar  drone  direction. 

  Starcave  Nebula  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  lo-fi  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  space,  hallucinations  and  futuristic  concepts.

  In  my  opinion  Starcave  Nebula  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out t his  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Asterism  in  Phlogopite...".  8  out  of  10.

  youtu.be/SW4QwGDr_gg 

Impurity/Goat Semen/Unpure Rituals/WolfKult Religion/2025 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Brazil's  Impurity  and  Peru's  Goat  Semen  called  'Unpure  Rituals"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Impurity  a  band  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  old  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  dark  soundscapes  and  synths  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  The  track  is  also  over  7  minutes  in  length  as well  as  adding  in  some  dark  sounding  melodies.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  along with the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats,  the  track  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  the  solos  and  leads  adding  in  more  of  a  mid  80's  style  and  the  song  is  a  Sarcofago  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover War  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Impurity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  satanic  and  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Goat  Semen  a  band  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  blast  beats  before  adding  in  some  faster  riffing  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  The  music  also  mixes  in  elements  of  war  and  death  metal  while  also  being  heavily  rooted  in t he  90's  era,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  along  with  the  fast  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized  and  both  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Goat  Semen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Fuck  Christ".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  South  American  war,  black  and  death  metal.  8  out  of  10.

   youtu.be/P9u2YR8vjRs    

Execrari Interview

 

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

-Execrari are a black metal band from the midwest United States. We play a form of black metal that is both orthodox and progressive. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

-We take influence from different black metal bands for different reasons. Root and Inquisition influence our slower moments and our occasionally unique clean vocal approaches. Bands like Dawn, early Borknagar(although I do like all Borknagar), and Ungfell influence our melodic sensibilities and bands like Marduk and Absu influence our speed and precision.  

3.Your lyrics cover oneironautics and multiversal desolation, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

-Our lyric themes are best described as a brand of existential science fiction. One must first understand that, as it relates to this album, dreams are seen as what connects particular entities to each other throughout a 'multiverse' of existence. Each song represents one of these special oneironautic entities connecting to the center of all existence in an attempt to create a force strong enough to destroy all existence. 

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

-We had all the music recorded and written before we decided on the name. Execrari translates basically to 'to curse', but also has implications related to destruction. DFK presented the name early on in the recording process, and by the end of the process we had agreed that it fit both the concept and the music perfectly. The reason I came to realize it fit perfectly is because each song represents a different entity in a different universe coming into contact with the nexus of all existence and, because of a multitude of reasons(sadness, boredom, contempt, etc), attempting to redirect all energy back into the nexus with the purpose of destroying all existence. So, each entity is essentially cursing existence and seeking to end it. 

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

-The artwork was masterfully created at Vhan Artworks and Printing. My initial idea was to have the creature at the center(the nexus) be more 'devilish' in look, but we quickly realized we didn't want that look and edited it down to what is currently there. The six circles on the side represent the six songs/six entities on the album. Initially they were something more related to the human body(a brain, eyes, etc). However, in pursuing Vhan's premade artwork I realized he had some pieces for sale that really fit the album's concept a lot more than my initial idea, so I had him combine his efforts with my idea. The whole thing worked out better than I had initially hoped and the whole process was very professional, so I anticipate working with him again in the future. 

6.The project is based in the Midwest region of the United States, in which state is the project based?

-I(Voice of the Nexus) live in Wisconsin, DFK lives in Illinois. We were never in the same room while making this album. I meticulously demoed and recorded everything in my home studio and then he played the drums, reamped, mixed, mastered, etc

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

-I absolutely prefer to remain a duo. I have no interest in live performances and want total creative control of and freedom with this project. The drummer and producer I have chosen to further bring this vision to life is DFK. However, I do not view him as a hired hand. His input and creativity was very integral to the process and the satisfying nature of the final product. He was not just a 'yes man' throughout the process, bringing valuable insight to the artwork process. Not to mention, his studio skills at Iron Hand Audio are top notch and his drumming can't be fucked with. 

8.How did you get in contact with 'Hessian Firm'?

-We sent the album to countless labels. They were the first to take it seriously and to see it as a unique album. That was the most important thing to me. 

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

-It has been hard getting zines to agree to review the album, as(for whatever inconceivable reason) nobody wants to review something, no matter how good, that has already been released. However, there has been considerable praise from fans and that means more. 

10.Where do you see the project heading into musically during the future?

-I have several songs demoed for a second album, but will be very picky with song selection and demand from DFK and myself a second album that lives up to what we feel is a killer debut. Musically, I do not see any change of direction. I suppose I would like to focus on the natural addition of more 'weird' parts inspired by Root and Inquisition, but, overall, the desire is to make black metal for true black metal fans. 

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?

-Most of my personal listening habits do not involve new bands, although I do have a soft spot for Horn(Germany), not that I'd call them 'new', and the bands associated with Junger Tumilon(Ungfell, Kvelgeyst, Ateiggar, etc). I also like a lot of 'newer' Greek bands, Acherontas, Macabre Omen, etc. As I type this interview I'm listening to the Sigh demos. 

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

-Thank you for the review and interview.  

https://www.facebook.com/people/Execrari/61576964005515/

Wehmut/III: Frühling/Naturmacht Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Wehmut  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "III:  Frühling"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  soundscapes  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.

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

  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  clear  chants  and stringed  instruments  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  small  amount  of  nature  sounds  and  clean  playing. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  the  season  of  spring.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wehmut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Geburt"  and  "Alles  wird  enden,  auch  der  Schmerz".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/3jJ8fSsfkCQ?si=eiDR8QTo9bAJghuB  

Panopticon/Songs Of Hireath/Nordvis Produktion/2025 Compilation Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  compilation  from  Minnesota's  Panopticon  which  shows  the  music  being  in  more  of  an atmospheric  black  metal  and  the  album  was  released  in  2025  by  Nordvis  Produktion  and  called  "Songs  of  Hireath"  which  consists  of  unreleased  songs  recorded  between  2009  and  2011.

  A  very  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  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  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic post  metal  style  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Whispered  vocals  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  compilation  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  A  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  some  folk  instruments  also  being  utilized briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in  t  ouch  of  blackgaze,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  indigenous  history,  green  anarchism  and  the  consequences  of  industrialization. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Panopticon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Road  To  Bergen"  "Haunted  America  II"  and  "The  Eulogy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/ie/artist/panopticon/381121839

https://www.facebook.com/TheTruePanopticon

https://www.instagram.com/thetruepanopticon/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Mz5qpR3WxbcBwZBsmraWE?si=SBGty_m2TGGRWJDPSXjX1w&nd=1&dlsi=f9dc763bc4834583

         

    

Panopticon/Laurentian Blue/Nordvis Produktion/2025 Full Length Review

 

 Minnesota's  Panopticon  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  moving  away  from  the  black  metal  elements  of  previous  releases  and  going  for  more  of  an  acoustic  direction  which  they  describe  as  being  'Northwoods  Americana'  or  outdooe  country'  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Laurentian  Blue"  which  was  released  by  Nordvis  Prodktion.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk,  country  and  Americana  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clean  style.  Violins  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  guitars  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  both  full  chords  and  finger  picking  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  different  from  each  other.

  Mandolins  and  banjo's  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  a  later  track  also  introduces  drum  beats  and  spoken  words  onto  the  album,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Panopticon  move  away  from  the  black  metal  elements  and  electronic  instruments  of  previous  releases  and  focuses  more  on  an  acoustic  direction  which  also  mixes  country,  folk  music  and  Americana  together. The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  burden  of  regret,  the  passion  of  time  and  the  quiet  act  of  holding  on.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Panopticon  and  while  some  black  metal  fans  might  not  like  the  new  direction,  I  can  see  this  appealing  to  fans  of  folk,  country  and  Americana.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Liberation  Song"  "I  Want  To  Be  Alone"  "Down  Along  The  Border"  and  "Broken  Bars".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/ie/artist/panopticon/381121839

https://www.facebook.com/TheTruePanopticon

https://www.instagram.com/thetruepanopticon/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Mz5qpR3WxbcBwZBsmraWE?si=SBGty_m2TGGRWJDPSXjX1w&nd=1&dlsi=f9dc763bc4834583

Nattfly/Flocken/Kvlt und Kaos Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nattfly  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  violin  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Flocken"  which  was  released  by  Kvlt  und  Kaos  Productions,

  Distorted  sounding  electric  violins  start  of  the  album  while  also  capturing  the  heaviness  of  an  electric  guitar.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  blast b eats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  Scandinavian  tradition  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Electric  violin  leads  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  a  more  classical  music  orientated  violin  style. The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  animistic  beliefs  and  spiritual  struggles.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Nattfly  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  violin  orientated  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dansa  med  flocken"  "Vaknatt"  "Perspectiv"  and  "For  mian  demoner".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImQEe8gHh50&t=7s  

Sundrowned/Higanbana/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sundrowned  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  dreamy  form  of  post  black  metal  with  elements  of  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Higanbana"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  brings  in  elements  of  shoegaze  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  post  metal  style,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Sundrowned  goes  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  human  condition  through  lens  of  classical  alchemy.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Sundrowned  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Barren"  "Ilex"  and  "Jacob's  Ladder".  7/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/sundrownedband

https://www.facebook.com/SundrownedBand