Antzaat/Ronarg/Madness/Morgen/2024 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a   self  released split  album  between  Belgium's  Antzaat  and  Ronarg  called  "Madness/Morgen"  which  will  be  released  in  may  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Antzaat  a  band  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  aggressive,  old  school  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  being  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  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of t he  tracks  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well a s  their  side  of  the  split  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Antzaat  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should c heck  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Shores  of  madness".

  Next  up  is  Ronarg  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  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 r aw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts. Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing   as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  old  school  influences,  spoken  word  parts  can  also b e  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belgian  and  cover  War  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ronarg  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Voorwaarts  Naar  morgen"  and  "Moord  Op  Duivelshoek".

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

  https://www.facebook.com/Antzaat/             

Luminous Veil/Oiketerion/2024 Full Length Review

 

  U.S.A's  duo  Luminous  Veil  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  atmospheric,  progressive  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album "Oiketerion"  which  will  be  released  in  May.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  faster  parts  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  At   time s the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  riffs  also  mixing  in  touches  of  brutal  death  metal  and  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  few  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  spoken  word  parts,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Science,  Occultism,  Folklore  and  Metaphysical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Luminous  Veil  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  progressive  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "One  Must  Learn  The  Names  To  Compel  The  Demon..."  "We  Break  The  Demon  Mirror"  and  "Our  Grateful  Flesh  Stretched  As  A  Repeating  Data  Structure".  8 out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/luminous.veil/

Hellpriests/Sermon/2024 EP Review

 

  Hellpriests  are  a  band  from  California  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Sermon"  which  will  be  released  in  May.

  A  very  dark, heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of t he  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  more  mid  tempo  direction .  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  ep  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track

  Hellpriests  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  old  school  and  mostly  mid  paced  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  history,  art  and  the  horrors  of  life.

  In  my  opinion  Hellpriests  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal b and  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE "Hell's  Gate"  and  "Bleed".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/thehellpriests,         

   

Wardra Interview

 

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

Wardra: 4 years have passed since our last release, it was a forced pause because a lot was spent on rethinking ideas and creative approach to writing material. This applies to both the topics covered in the lyrics and the musical component. There were a lot of search experiments and as a result a new album.

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

 Wardra: Musically, we have become more melodic, as we think, and moved away from long forms, although this was not an end in itself. We tried to break down what was written into наchapters, according to the concept of the album. The approach to writing and arranging was changed, and it was decided not to be tied to the physical number of band members. Previously, the approach was as follows: we write so that we can play live, without involving additional people. This approach had some limitations and it also explained the band's past sound.

3.This is also your first release in 4 years, musically hoe does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Our latestз release, “Aberration Of The Abyss”, was an experiment for us and was written spontaneously, when we were all on a covid lockdown, working remotely, and this approach gave us the opportunity to experiment more. And both with the method of writing music, and with the material itself. We would call this release a transitional release, a kind of bridge connecting the straightforward "primitivism" of the first album with what we have now.

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

Wardra: The lyrical component, like the music, has undergone a transformation. The lyrics became more gloomy, abstract and, if we may say so, philosophical. This reflects our sense of the surrounding darkness, into which humanity has been sinking ever deeper lately.

As we all say - WARDRA decided to move away from the primeval mysticism in the endless darkness.

This is a story about the destruction of worlds in the endless fields of nuclear harvest and a silent witness who will endlessly wander on a carpet of fragments of time, waiting for the beginning of a new world, which writhes in endless convulsions of sleep, with no hope of awakening.

Regarding progress, it is obvious to us.

We also decided to write lyrics in our native Russian language, giving up a kind of language cargo cult. We believe that such a direction of music as black metal is more sincere, and what can give more sincerity, if not the native language. This is more possible in terms of the depth of meaning and beauty of expression.

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

Wardra: For us personally, WARDRA is a derivative of “warden” - the guardian of some secret knowledge, the guardian of a dark mystery. This association becomes more pronounced and can be traced in the title of the new album - " Warden of Stellar Crypts”

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

Wardra:. This is another result of the creative union of the WARDRA group and the Rotten Fantom duo of artists. We have been traveling with them through the world of ideas and their embodiments since our first release, "Copper-Colored Sky". The work completely reflects the lyrics from the album - in the middle of the composition is the “Crypt Keeper " himself, he has a key on his neck from the shackles of the dead, which are located below, at the root. They represent the entire past of humanity, and the “Silent Witness " looks on nearby. A “heavenly sign”, a comet, cuts through the black canvas of the sky. It is like an omen of an impending cataclysm and the arrival of a new unprecedented era.

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

Wardra: We didn't have a lot of concerts, but the most significant one was with the Icelandic band Misthyrming. Some of our friends find echoes of their creativity in our new album, although we don't think so.

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

Wardra: As we said earlier, the release of "Aberration Of The Abyss" was done remotely and we realised that we were so comfortable and the band moved to the format of a studio project. Although nothing is excluded, everything will depend on our desire and mood to attract new people to work together. 

9.In 2020 you where a part of a split with 'Logos', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

Wardra: Split with Logos, this is a spontaneous release as a response to our need to be in a covid lockdown. In the tracks of Logos, we found echoes of melodies that was close to us, and when they approached us with a proposal to record a split and we decided that it would be great to present new ideas, as a result, the split turned out to be complete and harmonious. 

  

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

Wardra: It's still too early to talk about this - we are waiting for the official release. But the first reviews from specialized publications are positive. And so we are waiting.

11.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Wardra: Yes, we all also participate in other groups. W and B are members of the old school black band MAJESTAT, and K is the lead singer of the death metal band GROND.

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

Wardra: It's hard to say. We will continue to develop the direction that we set out in Warden of Stellar Crypts, deepening and improving our music. The main thing is not to slip into self-repetition. 

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

Wardra: If it's going to be a very long list of bands -) We are all fans of metal music in general. There may be a period when a certain genre gets into you more than others, but as a rule it is black metal in its various variations, especially now this genre is extremely dynamically developing. 

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

Wardra: Even if the world falls apart, we will always have music. This is one of the few things that allows people to move on.

https://www.facebook.com/wardrablack

Negative Or Nothing/Void/Tragedy Productions/2024 EP Review

 

  Negative  Or  Nothing  are  a  duo  from  Chile  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Void"  which  will  be  released  in  may  by  Tragedy  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  depressive  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  synths  also being  utilized  briefly  and  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  negative  or  Nothing  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anguish  and  introspective  visions  of  life  and  existence  itself.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Negative  Or  Nothing  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Devoid-Self".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/negativeornothing.non/  

    

Nihilo Machina/The Black River/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Nihilo  Machina  are  a  solo  project  from  New  Brunswick,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "The  Black  River"  which  will  be  released  on  April  30,  2024.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  symphonic  touches  also  being  utilized  at  times,  growls  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  the  closing  song  is  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Nihilo  Machina  brings  out  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  style  of  black  metal  with  some  symphonic  touches  and  thrash  metal  elements  which  are  different  from  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  human  language,  existence,  our  place  in t he  universe  and  how we  perceive  it.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nihilo  Machina  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aberration"  "Singularity"  and  "Entropic  Journey".  8  out  of  10.

  nihilomachina.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/nihilomachina

facebook.com/nihilomachina

nihilomachina.com        

Shroud Of Despondency/LanzerRath/Northern Spire Productions/2024 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Wisconsin's  Shroud  of  Despondency  and  Michigan's  LanzerRath  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Northern  Spire  Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Shroud  Of  Despondency  who  return  with  a  very  progressive  and  cosmic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  while  synths  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  progressive  sounding  at  times  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Both  of  their  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  extreme  old  school  metal  style  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  both  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  moments  of  despair,  reflections  on  death,  dying  and  living.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Shroud  of  Despondency  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  cosmic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Source  of  Multiversal  Degrada".

Facebook.com/shroudofdespondency  

  Next  up  is  LanzerRath  who  returns  with  a  very  raw,  atmospheric  and  cosmic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  heavy  riffing  while  their  track  is  almost  20  minutes  in  length.   Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  madness,  misery  and  mystery  with  some  inspirations  from  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  LanzerRath  and  if  you a re  a f an  of  raw,  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

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

  Spotify