Astarte/The Cross/Sleaszy Rider Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Greece's  Astarte  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  aggressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "The  Cross"  which  was  released  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  the  fast  tremolo  picking  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  first  track  also  adds  in  some  session  work  from  Morfeus  of  Limbonic  Art.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them a long  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  closing  track  is  also  a  cover  of  Celtic  Frost's  "The  Sorrows  Of  The  Moon"  which  also  adds  in  some  clean  playing.

  On  this  recording  Astarte  adds  in  one  song  which  mixes  black  and  death  metal  together  and  a  Celtic  Frost  cover  which  also  makes  the  2  tracks  very  diverse.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astarte  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Cross".  8 out  of  10.

  https://astarteband.bandcamp.com/album/the-cross-feat-morfeus-of-limbonic-art    

Astarte/Doomed Dark Years/Sleaszy Rider Records/2017 CD Re-Issue Review

  Astarte  where  a  band  from  Greece  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  played  a  melodic  form  of  Greek  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  1998  album  "Doomed  Dark  Years"  which  was  re-issued  by  2017  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

  Water  sounds  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  after  the  intro  goes  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  direction  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grim  screams  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long   and  epic  in  length.

  Keyboards  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  which  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  clean  guitars  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album.  long

   Acoustic  guitars  can   be  hear briefly  as  the  album  progresses  while  one  track  also  bings  in  a  brief  use  of  whispers  and  on  the  bonus  tracks  they  bring  in  a  rehearsal  version  of  Mayhem's  "Deathcrush"  along  with  a  couple  of  unreeased  instrumentals.

  On  this  recording  Astarte  had  a  more  raw  style  of  black  metal  than  later  releases  while  still  utizing  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  atmospheric  keyboars,  the  production  soounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,   Greek  Mythology  and  Fantasy  themes.

 In  my  opinion  this  was  a  very  great  sounding recording  from  Astarte  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  90's  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Voyage  Of  Eternal  Life"  "Doomed  Dark  Years"  and  "The  Rise  Of  Metropolis".  8/5  out  of  10.

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Astarte Interview

1.Can you update us on what is going on with Astarte these days?


This period, I can say is the most precious and creative. I have to take care my son because I became a mother and at the same time to continue with Astarte action. We have new songs that wait to finish them. So we are about this year and 2011 to finish the 6th album.



2.What can we expect from the new material?
It will be a total new idea of what you have heard from Astarte. I can not enter in details cos the songs are not completed and the atmosphere of the album is not yet defined. The sure is that you will meet much aggression and speed. Straight riffs with energy and passion.

I would say it has an “attack” character, violent lyrics which will describe todays humanity.





3.I have heard that the band has not ever done any gigs, are there any plans in the future for any live shows or tours.

Now I have a family to take care and do not forget that I do not make money from the band, so I work. The band and music is in my everyday life so the studio work and the composing stuff is already enough to fulfil my passion. I know that lives are very important for a band to survive and for fans to have a contact but also music itself can be enough to unite that bond.



4.How would you describe your aproach to paganism and occultism?


Paganism is the natural view if dark side .is based on natures elements and it has been established from nation to nations and from fathers to sun. Occultism out of my interests. I think it is more theoretical and has no history. it is based mostly on symbols and less in mental and real/ natural concepts. I can only believe in things that I can see and feel. I have no god and no symbols to obey.



5.Are there any current side projects going on?


Right now I haven’t.



6.How would you describe your musical progress over the years and what direction do you see the music heading into on future releases?


The decade I started with Astarte back in 1995, the real black Metal came up. The raw/ cold black Metal. This is how we started too. Then we enrich our music elements, we add new instruments, different tempos, we were always a black metal band which follows the sound evolution, we emphasize in emotion and nostalgic melodies. I think we used many techniques and new concepts in every album to be interested and to share new things. I would not change anything from the pat because every album had a reason.



7.How would you describe the lyrical content of the new music?


Mythical, modern and straight.



8.What are you listening to nowadays?


On the one hand I listen to old school Metal(back to the roots), and on the other I love the latest Slayer albums, Prodigy, Behemoth, Rotting Christ and many other stuff.



9.What are some of your interests outside of music?


Right now the most precious interest is my son and my husband. It is the most creative and powerful period of my life.



10.Any final words or thoughts?


I want to thank you very much for your friendship and for the invitation. I want also to thank all those who support us so far and to let you know that music is passion and energy. Astarte will come make music as long as they can cos we want to share and to communicate with all of you.

We shall mesmerise your souls…



ASTARTE LINE UP:
TRISTESSA: vocals/ music
DERKETA: synths
LYCON: guitar/bass
ICE : drums
HYBRIS: lyrics
Official Discography (incl. Demos):
1stDemo LLOTH Dancing in the Dark Lakes of Evil
Debut album ASTARTE- Doomed dark Years
2nd album ASTARTE-Rise From Within
3rd album ASTARTE-Quod Superius Sicut Inferius
4th album ASTARTE- Sirens
5th album ASTARTE-DEMONIZED

Myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/astartetristessa
LLOTH band site: www.lloth.th
INSECTED site: www.insected.tk