Feminizer/Mascara And Mythril/Fiadh Productions/Vita Detestablis Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Seattle,  Washington's  Feminizer  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  moving  away  from t he  raw  and  depressive  style  of  black  emtal  from  previous  releases  and  going  for  more  of  a  dungeon  synth and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2024  ep  "Mascara  And  Mythril"  which  will  be  released  in  February  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Detestablis  Records.

  Dungeon  synth  style  synths  start  off  the  ep  while  also  utilizing  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  each  song  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Feminizer  focuses  more  on  a  dungeon  synth  style  which  is  a  lot  different  from  her  more  raw  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  on  previous  releases  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Feminizer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Sapphic  Tomb".  8  out  of  10.

Feminizer

Feminizer/Beneath The Harm/Fiadh Productions/Vita Detestabilis Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Feminizer  are  a  solo  project  from  Seattle,  Washington  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2023  album  "Beneath  The  Harm"  which  will  be  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Destestabilis  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  of  the  album  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  Programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  synths  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Feminizer  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  synth  orientated  form  of  depressive  black  metal,  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  gender  dysphoria  and  depression  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Feminizer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ethereal  Noose"  "Licking  Wounds"  and  "Painspells".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: feminizer.bandcamp.com

Instagram: instagram.com/feminizer_dsbm    

Feminizer Interview

 

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

This project is both an outlet to release all the negativity still spiraling around my head and a tool to find some self empowerment. I started working on the full length after coming to terms with who I really am. I was in a pretty grim headspace initially and it began as a manifesto to leave behind but as hRT started to work its magick I started to understand what its like to live without drowning in self loathing so plans changed. I wish it fixed everything but I still struggle with crippling depression and anxiety. If the dystopian hellscape we are left to suffer in doesn’t make you want to die a little bit I think there’s probably something wrong with you.

2.So far you have released one full length and have a split coming out, musically how do they both differ from each other?

The track "Argri Konu" on the split has a higher pissed to sad ratio, but overall both releases are pretty much in the same vein sonically. The next two releases I have in the works I am definitely branching out a bit more.

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

Depression. Attempted suicide. Transphobia. Dysphoria. Abandonment. Self medication and recovery. Survival in a brutally discompassionate fearful and hateful world. I don't print lyrics, maybe I will one day. These things are all so personal. With how tied into my trans identity this project is in name and how little trans representation there is in black metal I fear my words may be read as some kind of “The Trans Experience™” when I'm just trying to play some sad riffs and cope.

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

Get cute or die trying.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on last year's full length cover?

The photo was taken while I was still fully in the closet. I’m still pretty uncomfortable with photos but it took me a while to shake off the bullshit internalized shame that was literally beaten into me as a kid hence the ski mask. I felt like it encapsulated both the fears and beauty that accompanied the start of my transition.  I wanted to have the background be like a Carcass - Symphonies of Sickness collage only with girlie stuff instead of gore. I collaborated with Reece Thomas who took the idea and crushed it.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo? 

I’m open to collaborating with others and there’s currently some talk about it. 

7.You have a split coming out with 'Bury Them And Keep Quiet', what are your thoughts on the other solo project that had participated on the recording?

BTAKQ and her other project Ocean of Ghosts are both fucking phenomenal and I feel so honored to be able to collaborate with her. 

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

It's been mixed but surprisingly mostly positive as far as I've seen. The RABM circle has been so supportive. Seeing other trans girls psyched on my music keeps me going because being out in the underground is extremely isolating. Neckbeards are going to neckbeard. It will never cease to baffle me how a subgenre forged in Satanism draws in so many bigoted conformists that have more in common with christians than anything else.

9.Do you have any experience playing in other bands or musical projects?

The last DSBM project I did was Death Mantra which followed my depression and spiritual tourism through Buddhism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism. I was searching for answers that I couldn’t find in Luciferianism. It turned out desperately trying to eradicate the self was the opposite of what I needed to do to feel okay. The last live thing I was in was a 2 piece corny af war metal band called Befoulment from 2017-2020. The drummer and I had a falling out so RIP. I created dungeon synth under the name Nocht from 2014-2019.   I’ve released around 40 demos between different bands and solo projects that I feel no reason or excitement to share.

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

I want to stop. Music has always felt like an abusive relationship that I give everything into while it gives nothing back. I can’t imagine creating art that's not either directly venting about my discontent or trying to escape from it which requires copious amounts of turmoil in my life to burn as fuel. 

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?

I’ve always appreciated (nearly) all forms of extreme music but my main loves are black metal and crust punk. Honestly though this last year I've mostly been listening to cheesy goth bands.

Bandcamp

Instagram

Spotify

Bury Them And Keep Quiet/Feminizer/Fiadh Productions/Vita Detestabilis Records/2023 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  New  York's  Bury  Them  And  Keep  Quiet  and  Washington's  Feminizer  which  will  be  released  in  May  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Detestabilis  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Bury  them  And  Keep  Quiet  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal.

  Her  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads,  fast  playing,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  synths  into  the  music  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  death,  misanthropy  and  anti  fascism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Bury  Them  And  Keep  Quiet  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  her  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Food  For  Worms".

  next  up  is  Feminizer  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  depressive  form  of  black  metal.

  Her  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  her  side  of  the  split  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  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.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing,  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  gender  dysphoria  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Feminizer  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  her  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Argri  Konu".

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

   Bury Them And Keep Quiet / Feminizer