Stormkeep/The Nocturnes Of Iswyln/Vesperian/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Stormkeep  are  a  band  from  Denver,  Colorado  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Nocturnes  Of  Iswyln"  which  be  released  in  June  by  Vesperian.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  also  bringing  in  some  symphonic  and  dungeon  synth  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.

  Some  of  the  music  shows  an  influence  of  the  mid  90's  era  of  the  genre  with  a  more  modern  approach  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  medieval  touches  as  well  as  a  couple  of  later  tracks  also  adding  in a   brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  and  Medieval  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Stormkeep  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Taste  of  Immortal  Blood"  "Imperious  Sanguine  Eroticism"  and  "Ballad  Of  A  Fallen  Star".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/stormkeepofficial

https://stormkeep-odl.bandcamp.com/music  

Horn/Apokalyps 1618/Northern Silence Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Germany's    Horn  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  folk  influenced  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Apocalyps  1618"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  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  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  stringed  instruments  and  folk  music  elements  onto  the  recording.

 Pagan  style  shouts  are  utilized  at  times  along  with  some clear  singing  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  dissonant  touches,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German,  Swedish,  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  folklore  discovered  by  the  Grim  Brothers  and  historical  events  from  the  middle  ages.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  form  Horn  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  influenced  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDD  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Die  Ahren  gleich  als  mit  dem  Huf"  "Barhout"  and  "At  Our  Bleakest".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HornOfficial
Bandcamp: https://hornlichterlischt.bandcamp.com
Metal Archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Horn/17452

  

Sutekh Hexen/Hissing/SH:HS/Cyclic Law/Phage Tapes/2026 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  U.S.A's  solo  project  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  which  shows  the  2  projects  mixing  their  2  different  styles  together  and  brings  out  an  experimental  mixture  of  black,  death  metal,  ambient  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "SH:HS"  which  will  be  released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  Cyclic  Law  and  Phage  Tapes.

  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  whole  recording  is  done  in  an  improvised  style..

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction while  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  along  with  the  drums  also  giving  the  recording  more  of  a  brutal  touch  when  they  are  introduced  and  both  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other,  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  take  black,  death  metal,  noise,  experimental,  ambient  and  original  and  mix  them  together  to  create  something  very  original.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Rituals.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black, death  metal,  noise,  experimental,  ambient  and  ritual,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "SEA".  8  out  of  10.

  https://cycliclaw.bandcamp.com/album/sh-hs

  

  

  

Røkkr/Sindets Skygger Hvisker/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Røkkr  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Sindets  Skygger  Hvisker"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Nomad  Snakeoit  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a small  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths,  growls  are  also  introduced  on  a  later  track.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Danish  and  cover  Darkness  and  Coldness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Røkkr  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  "Sindets  Skygger  Hviske"  and  "Siette  Lig  Marken  Goder".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Rokkrdk

   

Thanatomass/The Rabid Dead/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 EP Review

  Russia's  Thanatomass  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "The  Rabid  Dead"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Nomad  Snakepit  Productions.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  heavier  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking,  brutal  blast b eats  and  war  metal  elements  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  while  black  metal  screams  are  also  used  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Thanatomass  takes  the  most  aggressive  and  brutal  sides  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  heavy  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Thanatomass  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Rabid  Dead".  8 out  of  10.

 https://open.spotify.com/artist/2yKXwji8dngWD6AMq385xM 

  

Helheim/Yersinia Pestis/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Helheim  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2003  album  "Yersinia  Pestis"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  August,  2026  by  Nomad  Snakepit  Productions.

  The  sounds  of  the  Viking  era  of  Norway  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  before  adding  in  some  industrial  style  beats  before  going  into  a heavier  direction.  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.

  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.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  angry  black  metal  style  which  mixes  both  the  first  and  second  wave  eras  of  the  genre  together  mixed  in  with  some  screams  and  keyboards  are  also  used  at  times.

  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  add  in  touches  of  viking  and  pagan  metal  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  an  aggressive  metal  style  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in    a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  Norse  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hellheim  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Yersinia  Pestis"  "Elde"  "God  Of  Slander"  and  "Hjelmstorm".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway

    

  

Paterna Spiriitum Interview

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

Band: Well, imagine a nighttime stroll through an abandoned cemetery, bathed in moonlight, accompanied by heavy, fast riffs, a powerful bass, rhythmic drums, and somber wails echoing from the darkness, singing of forgotten times. On the one hand, you know it’s just a figment of your imagination, but on the other—what if there really is something waiting there? Maybe it’s worth taking a step in that direction? Maybe something will change, maybe some gates will open?

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

Band: The new line-up allows for a much broader range of influences and a more creative approach to writing their own parts. "Noc Grozy" was much rawer material, rooted in classic, vintage black metal - "Pieśni Pogardy" draws heavily on inspiration from the old days, but also features a more modern sound, far more dynamics and energy; more "disturbing elements" at the background, too. 

HellScythe: Seth still contributes his screams on some backing vocals but I took care of the vocals on the new album, being the newest addition. This allows him to play more difficult and complex pieces without worrying about how to play and sing at the same time. 

I tried to incorporate a wide range of vocal techniques myself, from classic harsh vocals, growls and clean vocals to harmonies and banshee-like screams.

Band: Each member was free to use their influences and write their own parts (taking into account the feedback from the other members, of course, which led to the emergence of guitar solos, more progressive parts, as well as technical and, at times, lead bass playing.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

Band: The album’s concept loosely explores the theme of the unpleasant people one encounters every day. People who are mean, nosy, envious, and fixated on the superficial aspects of life, who never look any deeper. Moreover, they are linked by the common thread of the goddess Nemiza.  

4.A lot of your lyrics are inspired by Paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

HellScythe: For my part, I’ve been interested in religion since I was a child; I loved finding out as much as possible about different beliefs, starting, of course, with Christianity, moving on to paganism, Slavic beliefs, the beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Norse religions and Buddhism, as well as African beliefs, sects and cults. 

Admittedly, these interests haven’t changed the fact that I don’t believe in any established faiths; at most, I might believe in some kind of cosmic energy. But not really. 

Paganism in the lyrics allows us to encapsulate a certain atmosphere, but also to give it a certain form, highlight certain aspects, or clothe it in a visual layer. 

On our “Pieśni Pogardy”, the lyrics coalesce into a pagan invocation of the goddess Nemiza – who, incidentally, is herself a deity created (is she not, like every deity?) at a later period than the Slavic beliefs themselves. I think this adds a certain layer of irony to the whole album. 

5.I know that the bands name means 'father of spirits' in Latin, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Seth: The project’s name (as well as the project itself) was conceived in 2012. I started the project after parting ways with Hegemoon and Tanathron, and it all began in the attic with my 2 sons (lineup: drums, guitar, and keyboard). We weren’t making music to release albums; we played, you could say, more for fun and just for the heck of it—there was no talk of playing concerts or releasing anything.

It wasn’t until 2018, under the influence of a certain group of people, that we decided to create some material and try to record this project, but…

The Sons went their separate ways to pursue non-musical interests, and a number of other people began to come and go through the band (and there were quite a few of them); we’d especially like to give a shout-out to:

Drummer Łukasz (2012-2019)

Keyboard player Bartek (2012-2015)

Vocalist Adam (2018-2022)

Bassist Andrzej (2019-2022)

Guitarist Tomek (2018-2023)

Guitarist Mirek (2020-2023)

and many others whom I haven't mentioned, but who have been with us since 2018.

Finally, in 2021, this project - born out of pure passion - came to fruition. With our current drummer “Jantar”, Mirek and Tomek we released the EP “Noc Grozy,” featuring five heavy tracks of dense black metal. 

We incorporate many elements characteristic of the Pagan style from three decades ago. The market is flooded with new releases, and we strive to blend the old school with the new in black metal. The material was recorded in our rehearsal space in Sosnowiec, and Dariusz (Młody) Płaszewski handled the rest - mixing and mastering at PANZER STUDIO 666.

In 2023, Kuba and Maciek joined our ranks, bringing significant changes to our music and enriching our exploration of this art form. In 2025, fresh blood joined our band—our vocalist HellScythe. That year also saw the release of new material titled “Songs of Contempt.” It is characterized by a blend of a new style with old-school black metal, and was recorded partly in Sosonowiec and partly in Częstochowa

Now we are trying to step out of the shadows to strike with renewed strength and hatred.

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

Band: The raven is very often a symbol of death and war, and is seen as a harbinger of misfortune. At the same time, they are incredibly intelligent creatures; in many cultures, they have served as messengers – just as we act as emissaries, producing sounds and shouting about times long past. In Slavic mythology, ravens also played a significant role in the process of childbirth, as the souls of the dead (wele) travelled from the Wyraj (slavic Underworld) to the earth.

HellScythe: Furthermore - a cemetery, a raven, an overturned crucifix in the background – for me, it’s like going back to a time when people didn’t bow their knees before a corpse on the cross. Isn’t that cool?

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

Band: Our gigs are bursting with energy, set against a dark and heavy atmosphere. We all love playing live and we give it our all, whether we’re playing to a handful of people or several hundred.

Our upcoming gigs will feature a set comprising the entire new album, as well as a selection of ‘hits’ (laughs) from “Noc Grozy”. 

HellScythe: I have very fond memories of every gig I’ve played with the lads so far, though I’m sure everyone has their own way of looking back on them. The gigs in Częstochowa are certainly special, as they’re ‘home’ gigs – lots of familiar faces, a different vibe in a way.

Off the top of my head, I have very fond memories of Skarżysko-Kamienne, at the Semafor club, where we played with Wrath Opiate, Whore Mother, and the now defunct Dutch band Frontline Despair. Great organisation (greetings to Małgosia, the club’s owner), a crowd of young and brilliant people in front of the stage, some of whom we’re still in touch with. Our black hearts rejoice that young people are still listening to this kind of music. The kids are all right.

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

Band: A few concerts have already been announced; for Polish fans (or fans abroad who fancy a bit of Poland), we recommend following our social media. More is yet to come!

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

Band: We haven’t ruled out working with record labels; we’ve received a few offers that we turned down, and it’s not as though we’re actively sending out demos ourselves in the hope that someone will sign us. Of course, we’ll consider any proposal, but we’re far from ‘selling out’ (laughs).

So far, we’ve still been operating on a DIY basis. We like the freedom and lack of constraints in what we do. However, it’s certainly problematic when it comes to promotion. 

HellScythe: At least no one’s forcing us to record ‘funny’ TikToks.

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

Band: We’re getting really good feedback from fans abroad, which surprises us a bit - given that we sing in Polish and our social media is in Polish. In a way, we’re also getting “praise” for this – on several occasions, both at gigs and in comments on the internet, fans from abroad have praised us for not having “given in” to “anglicisation”.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

HellScythe: My ex-band Misanthur clearly had a prophetic album title, ‘Ephemeris’ - we released the album on Season of Mist, and after numerous personal and interpersonal problems, despite attempts to get back together, it all came to an end. 

At the moment, I’m also playing guitar in a band that plays old-school Polish rock.

There are also some plans for a new project with a musician I’m friends with from a band we’ve shared the stage with a few times, but it all depends on how the stars align (fingers crossed).

Seth: I don't feel like playing in other bands anymore. The last band I played in as a session musician was “Zmarłym”.

As for the future, I'll put it this way:

I want to devote all my energy and new ideas solely to this project. Time waits for no one, and we'll have to film something someday (laughs).

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

HellScythe: No one knows for sure. I’m a fan of creating without overthinking it, though it goes without saying that such discussions do sometimes crop up within the band – “which direction should we take?”, “more of this, less of that?” – but one thing is certain: Black Metal will always be the backbone of our music. Despite drawing inspiration from various sources, this is the genre that resonates deeply with each of us. 

We have the ‘rough outlines’ of two new tracks; both are faster than any of the songs on “Noc Grozy” and “Pieśni Pogardy”. For my part, I can reveal that there will be more going on vocally, and the compositions are shaping up to be heavier yet more nostalgic than before. 

As for the material – we were considering a split with one band, but we think we’ll go for another full-length album instead.

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

HellScythe: While replying to this interview, Current 93’s “Invocations of Almost” really set the mood for me. Lately, I’ve also been listening to a lot of noise rock (my beloved Tropical Fuck Storm), and as for black metal, Oranssi Pazuzu. 

Seth: I don't really listen to music, but when I do, the older the songs, the better (laughs). But seriously, generally speaking, anything good is good, regardless of the genre.

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

Band: Thanks so much for the interview and the interesting questions – and final words? Come to the gigs, support the scene and the REAL artists, ditch streaming services and their AI slop, and, well, just live your lives the way you want to – see you at the gigs.

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram 

Véhémence/Assiégé pour l'Eternité/Antiq/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Véhémence  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  very  epic,  melodic  and  epic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Assiégé  pour  l'Eternité"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Antiq.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody   as  well  as  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  add  in  a  medieval  touch  when  they  are  utilized.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  shouting  approach  at  times  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  

  Véhémence  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  epic,  melodic  and  medieval  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  Celestial  Chivalry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Véhémence  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic,  melodic  and  medieval  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Assiégé  pour  l'Eternité"  and  "Chant  d'Honneur".  8  out  of  10.

vehemencebm.bandcamp.com 

https://youtu.be/ud62u1GmH2k?si=vvhhMqP9-BFvtzpq

Lord Of Horns/Beneath A Broken Cross/2026 Demo Review

  New  Jersey's  solo  project  Lord  Of  Horns  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  demo  "Beneath  A  Broken  Cross".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  evil  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  old  school  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  

  On  this  recording  Lord  of  Horns  expands  on  the  old  school  style  of  black  metal  that  he  has  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lord  Of  Horns  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "I  Conjured  The  Devil".  8  out  of  10.

  https://lordofhorns.bandcamp.com/album/beneath-a-broken-cross-3       

Arcano/Part II: Occulta/2026 EP Review

 

  Arcano  are  a  band  from  Argentina  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  2026  ep  "Part  II:  Occulta".

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  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.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Arcano  goes  for  a  more  modern,  melodic,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophy,  mysticism,  existentialism  and  nihilism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Arcano  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Dark  Night  of  The  Soul".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://arcanobm.bandcamp.com/album/part-ii-oculta-2

  

The Circle Of The Elect/Kaoskarma/Archaic Sound/2026 Full Length Review

 

  The  Circle  Of  The  Elect  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  :Kaoskarma"  which  will  be  released  on  May  22nd  by  Archaic  Sound.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  touches  when  they  are  utilized  and  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  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  and when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  The  Circle  of  The  Elect  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  isolation,  conflict  and  internal  strain.

  In  my  opinion  The  Circle  Of  The  Elect  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "1"  and  "5".  8  out  of  10.

  https://archaic-sound.com/

https://www.instagram.com/archaicsound/

https://www.facebook.com/archaicsound  

Paterna Spiriituum/Pieśni Pogardy/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Paterna  Spiriitum  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Pieśni Pogardy".

  Distorted  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  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.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly,  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  clean  playing  and  clear  vocals. The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  focus  on  Nemiza,  a  pagan  inspired  deity  of  death  and  fate.  

  In  my  opinion  Paterna  Spiriitum  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pieśń  wzgardzonych"  and  "Pieśń  parszywego  losu".  8  out  of  10.

  

Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

Flowers Of Rust/Crude Exhibitions Of The Soul/Apocalyptic Witchcraft/2026 Full Length Review

  Flowers  Of  Rust  are  a  band  from  Cleveland,  Ohio  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Crude  Exhibitions  Of  the  Soul"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Apocalyptic  Witchcraft.

  Clean  playing  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  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  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  melodic  style.  Synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental.

  Flowers  Of  Rust  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  atmospheric  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  journey  into  the  forgotten  and  forsaken.

  In  my  opinion  Flowers  Of  Rust  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crude  Exhibitions  Of  The  Soul"  and  "Mother  Atrophy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Flowersofrustofficial

https://youtu.be/kgR4G7pRyDk?si=VsF1mCNelbXOvv6g

           

Lumen ad Mortem/A Grave Ascent/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Lumen  ad  Mortem  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "A  Grave  Ascent"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Symphonic  sounding  orchestration  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  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  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Lumen  as  Mortem  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  loss, death  and  the  undying  spirit  who  refuses  to  accept  defeat.  

  In  my  opinion  Lumen  ad  Mortem  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Departed"  and  "A  Stone  Shall  Come  To  Rest".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-grave-ascent  

 

Misère/Bēacn/Cultkill Music/2026 EP Review

    Misère  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Bēacn"  which  will  be  released  on  May  29th  by  Cultkill  Music.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  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  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Growls  can  also be  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard briefly  along  with  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  one  track  is  an  acoustic  instrumental  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Misère  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Shiver".  8  out  of  10.

  Misère Bandcamp

Misère Instagram    

Tenebris/Hyver/Tanzelcore/Techno/Antiq/2026 Split album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  France's  solo  projects  Tenebris  and  Hyver  called  Tanzelcore/Techno"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Antiq  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Tenebris  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dungeon  synth  and  hard  techno.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  techno  style  beats  and  dungeon  synth  style  synths  while  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction.  Elements  of  minimalism  and  gabber  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  blast  beats  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  seeing  the  music  going  into  a  slower  direction.

  Tenebris  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dungeon  synth,  gabber  and  techno  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  every5thing  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  lo-fi.

  In  my  opinion  Tenebris  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dungeon  synth  and  hard  techno  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Incantation  For  The  Withering"  and  :Purple  lantern".

  Next  up  is  Hyver  a  solo  project  who  returns  with  a  mixture medieval  style  of  black  metal  and  dungeon  synths.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  dungeon  synth  style  synths  which  uses  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  also  adds  in  more  of  a  medieval  touch.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams,  spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly  and  the  songs  also  avoid  the  use  of  traditional  metal  instruments.

  On  this  recording  Hyver  focuses  more  an  a  tanzelcore  and  dungeon  synth  style  as  will  as  keeping  some  elements  of  black  metal.  The  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hyver  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  medieval  black  metal  and  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reanimation"  and  "Party  In  Memories".

  In  conclusion I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  dungeon  synth  and  medieval  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

  antiqrecords.com 

facebook.com/antiq.label 

antiqofficial.bandcamp.com   

Temple Ov Ahriman Interview

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

Well, the album was finished about a year ago. I spent a long while quietly shopping the album around to record labels. Around this time I was also actively gigging with another group, but I'm 110% focused on Temple ov Ahriman now.

2.In June you have your first full length coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

I would say while I draw inspiration from all sorts of bands the music is heavily rooted in the Finnish black metal sound; groups like Satanic Warmaster, Horna and Sargeist just to name a few. This is the foundation or the primer so to speak, but I was also very intentional not to put too many limitations on myself or restrict myself to a very narrow style or category. That works for some bands, but not for TAO. I need that freedom of expression in order to be prolific.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new release?

The overarching theme is one of magick and occult spirituality. This sometimes expresses itself in various ways. For instance, the song "War in Heaven" is a very Milton-esque re-telling of Lucifer's fall from Heaven, while "Wrath of Iblis" or "Beyond the Veils of Maya" touch on the subject of occultism and the Left Hand Path through their respective cultural lenses. There's also a few songs that are a departure lyrically. SPQB, for example, is about the Roman emperor Nero while "White Death" is a song about enduring a particularly harsh winter.

4.I know that the bands name comes form the writings of Michael W, Ford, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the left hand path and occultism?

I'd say around my early 20's I was exploring a lot spiritually. At the time I was desperately seeking for a singular term that could summarize my beliefs and it wasn't until I discovered Luciferianism in 2014 that I felt that I had finally found that term. For a while I was involved in a couple of organizations that furthered the advancement of those beliefs. Eventually life caught up with me and I sort of lost interest and outgrew that label. It wasn't until 2019 when I started writing lyrics for black metal bands that I became reacquainted with that side of myself again. However, nowadays I identify more simply as just an "occultist" or "dark pagan". For lack of a better word this is my "worship music".

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

Well, as you're probably aware by now, the album is called 'Heretics of Consensual Reality'. This is a term I coined to refer to the black magickian: someone who refuses to be limited by the rules of this causal world that we all generally agree to be true. In the art you can see the black adept, front and center, stoking the Black Flame of Illumination. Around him you see spectres and phantoms of various shapes and sizes manifesting to visible form. I knew I wanted a striking image for the front cover and I was throughly impressed with the art Mitchell Nolte had previously done for some modern grimoires so I reached out.

6.On the album you recorded everything by yourself but have recorded music with other musicians in the studio with your previous bands, do you prefer to work solo?

Yes, absolutely. There can be benefits to working on a collaborative project with a group; you can get a wider range of ideas, you can split expenses evenly, etc. But those working relationships can also sour and become dysfunctional. With TAO that's not a concern. I can work at my own pace and I don't have to compromise with anyone about anything. If something's holding back the project I usually only have me, myself and I to blame.

7.With the live line up what are some of the best shows that you have played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

There used to be local annual festival around here called A Night of Texas Hell. We had a good time playing there the two years that we did. We also opened for Profanatica once. There's not too much fanfare to our live show. We just go out there and play the songs the best that we can. If it's a higher production show we'll sometime incorporate fog machines and ambient interludes between songs, but those added effects aren't practical at every venue we've performed at.

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

Well, right now we have our CD release show on the same day that the album comes out. This will be our first show in two years as well as the first gig with a new drummer so it'll be interesting to see how everything comes together. A lot has changed in everyone's lives since we last played out. I'd like to hit up some of the surrounding major cities, but there's no concrete plans for that yet.

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

We were in negotiations with a couple of different labels, but ultimately those fell through so the decision was made to go independent. It's difficult nowadays with how expensive international shipping is. It doesn't make fiscal sense for a European label to sign a North American band when it would cost them a small fortune to mail physical copies overseas.

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

Hmm, I would say it's too soon to say. In some ways we're really just getting started so I can't think of too many people outside of our milieu that have commented on the material, but the response so far has been generally positive.

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Well, besides this album that's coming out I have a lot more material to share with the world. It's just a matter of having the time and money to record and release these projects properly, but I really don't think my spirit will be able to rest until I finally do so!

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

Well, first and foremost I want to say that listening to black metal has almost never inspired me to make... more black metal! So when I'm trying to enter a creative headspace I listen to a lot of different genres for inspiration mainly synthwave, post-punk, harsh-electro/aggrotech, etc. There's also an Oregon-based record label called Cryo Chamber that produces some top notch dark ambient music. If I had to pick one black metal band that's really blown me away recently I would probably have to go with Sarkrista from Germany.

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

Yes. This album was a labor of love. To say there were some roadblocks along the way would be an understatement. At multiple times throughout the process I became increasingly discouraged and wanted to give up altogether, but that was never an option for me. I sacrificed a lot to make this album come to fruition so if you enjoy the music your support would truly mean the world to me. Buy the album, share it with your friends, etc. All of that helps stoke the fire and ambition to break ground on the next opus. Ave Lucifer, hail thyself!

facebook.com/templeovahriman
templeovahriman.bandcamp.com 

Vyr Muk/Mens Devastata/2026 EP Review

  Ukraine's  solo  project  Vyr  Muk  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  fast  and  brutal mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  "Mens  Devastata".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffing  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feleing.

  Throughout  the  ep  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  closing  track  and  dark  soundscapes  are  also  added  on  the  outro.

  On  this  recording  Vyr  Muk  brings  out  more  of  a  blackened  death  metal  style  and  moves  away  from  the  symphonic  and  ambient  touches  of  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  PTSD  and  Mental  Illness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vyr  Muk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Voices  Of  The  Void".  8  out  of  10.

  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/vyrmuk/mens-devastata