Selbst/Secular Compendium/Sun & Moon Records/2018 Compilation CD Review

  Selbst  are  a  duo  with  members  from  Venezuela  and  Chile  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  compilation  album  "Secular  Compendium"  which  was  released  by  Sun  &  Moon  Records.

  A  very  distorted  yet  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  speeding  up  and  adding  in  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  songs  a  more  raw  feeling  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  the  music  also  has  a  lot  of  90's  influences  but  also  sounding  very  modern  at  the  same  time  and  on  the  closing  track  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  compilation  Selbst  creates  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  melodic  and  traditional  sounding  while  also  mixing  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  together,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Individualism  and  Anti  Religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Selbst  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Slave  Cults  Of  Idolatry"  and  "Bringers  Of  Misery".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/selbstbm 
www.selbst.bandcamp.com 

Selbst Interview

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

Selbst is a black metal project from Venezuela. Has been gestating since 2010 approximately. Frozen, who lives in Spain, is the session vocal and has been a terrific support.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that was present on the demo and split?

I would describe it as atmospheric black metal enough "free" without fixed structures. All music that I listen to has some influence on my way of composing, I hear black metal and various styles of metal, apart from other things that do not necessarily have a direct relationship with this gender.

3.According  to the metal archive page, the lyrics cover Antidogmatism,  and Individualism,  can you tell us a little bit more about it?

My lyrics are a reflex of myself, my personal vision of everything around me, they express unconformity to all kind of dogmatism or divine devotions; they talk about how some people want to keep the others submissive under their control. Human kind is full of internal plagues that aren’t anything but our own instinct.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Selbst?

Selbst means "itself", is the ultimate realization of being. Individualization. So I thought it fit perfectly with what I wanted. I took this German word from Antichrist`s book (Nietzsche).

5.Currently there is mostly solo, do you have plans on expanding the line up in the future?

At the moment I don't have any plans but I would like to have available a full time drummer.

6.Recently Self Mutilation Services but out a 3 way split, can you tell us a little bit more about these bands, I know that they all share a mutual member?

Yes, both of them are Frozen`s projects. Aversio humanitatis have a full length from 2011 called "Abandonment Ritual", released by Self Mutilation Services too. And nihil has released a demo called "Cosmic Pessimism" In by the same label. Both bands are awesome.

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

Good, we are recent projects, but some people has shown us their support.

8.What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

I´m working right now on new material and I can say that this will sound more fast and intense!

9.What are some bands or musical style that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Principally black metal, but also some atmospheric music and other things that not have direct relation with extreme music.

10.Does Occultism or Satanism play any role in the music?

Not really.

11.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

...

12.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thanks to you for your interest and all people that support us!

https://selbst.bandcamp.com

Aversio Humanitatis/Selbst/Nihil/Three Ways of Consciousness/Self Mutilation Services 2013 Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  3  way  split  between  Spain  and  Venezuela's Aversio  Humanitatis,  Selbst,  and  Nihil,  3  bands  that  all  share  a  member  and  the  album  is  called  Three  Ways  Of  Consciousness"  and  was  released  by  Self  Mutilation  Services  during  the  year  of   2013  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Aversio  Humanitatis  a  band  that  plays  a  very  dark  and  grim  form  of  black  metal.

  "Spears  Of  Unlight"  which  is  the  first  song  on  the  split  opens  up  with  fast,  heavy  and  melodic  black  metal guitar  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  a  dark  atmosphere  and  a  few  seconds  later  high  pitched  and  grim  sounding  depressive  screams  start  to  kick  in  along  with  some  blast  beats  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  more  mid  paced  direction  while  keeping  the  faster  parts  around  in  certain  sections.

  "Psalm  Of  The  Wandering"  starts with  dark  and  heavy  sounding  guitar  riffs  and  drums  and  starts  getting  fast  a  few  seconds  later  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  hateful  sounding  black  metal  screams  but  mostly  sticks  to  a  mid  paced  direction   along  with  some  melodic  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  mixing  in  some  slower  sections  and  guitar  leads.

  "Shrine  Of  Involution"  which  is  also  their  last  song  begins  with  some  soft  and  clean  playing  and  a  minute  later  fast  black  metal  guitar  and  bass  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  screams  kick  in  as  well  as  adding  in  some  dark  sounding  melodies  to  the  guitar  riffing  and  after  a  couple  of  minutes  the  song  starts  to  go  into  a  more  slow  and  atmospheric  direction   but  does  return  to  both  the  clean  and  fast  elements  towards  the  end.

  Song  lyrics  cover  dark  and  metaphysical  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Aversio  Humanitatis  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark,  grim  and  melodic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Psalm  Of  The  Wandering".  RECOMMENDED.

  Next  up is  Selbst  a  duo  that  plays  an  dark,  heavy  and   melodic  form  of  black  metal.

  "Slaves  Cults Of  Idolatry"  opens  up  their  side  of  the  split  with  heavy,  dark  and  melodic  sounding  black  metal  guitar  riffs  before  adding  in  some  powerful  bass  guitars  and  drums  and  a  minute  later  the  dark  screams  start  to  kick  in  which  leads  to  the  song  going  into  a  faster  direction  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  after  awhile  the  music  slows  down  a  bit  and  a  brief  bass  lead  comes  into  the  song  for  a  few  seconds  which  also  leads  up  to  the  song  alternating  between  slow  and  fast  parts  and  towards  the end  there  is  a  brief  use  of  melodic  guitar  solos  being  utilized.

  "Ninguna  Devocion"  which  is  also  their  last  song  starts  up  with  fast  and  heavy  old  school  black  metal  and  guitar  riffs  along  with  some  drums  and  grim  screams  before  going  into  a  slower  direction  while  also  alternating  between  slow  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  mixing  in  some  blast  beats

  Song  lyrics  cover  Antidogmatism,  and  Individualism,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound  while  you  can  still  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  their  side  of  the  recording  and  after  awhile  the  music  starts  gettign  more  diverse  in  sound  and  the  song  closes  with  a  guitar  solo.

 In  my  opinion  Selbst  are  a  very  great  sounding dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sounding  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre  you  should  enjoy  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Slaves  Cults Of  Idolatry".  RECOMMENDED.

  Closing  the  split  is  Nihil  a  1  man  band  that  plays  a  Lovecraft  inspired  form  of  black  metal.

  "Monolithos  I"  opens  up  their  side  of  the  split  with  some  dark  and  heavy  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  leads  up  to  some  drums  and  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  some  melodic  riffing  and  after  a  couple  of  minutes  the  music  gets  faster  along  with  some  blast  beats  before  alternating  between  slow  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  adding  in  some  powerful  bass  guitars  and  towards  the  end  there  is  a  brief  use  of  melodic  guitar  leads.

  "Monolithos  II"  begins  with  some  dark  sounding  guitar  riffs  and  a  few  seconds  later  drums,  grim  black  metal  screams  and  clean  guitars  start  to  come  in  as  well  as  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  then  the  music  gets  a  litter  bit  faster  along  with  some  blast  beats  before  alternating  between  slow  and  fast  parts  and  halfway  through  the  song  the  music  starts  getting  a  lot  more  diverse  in  sound  and  towards  the  end  there  is  a  brief  use  of  melodic  clean  singing  vocals  being  utilized  along  with  more  guitar  solos.

  Song  lyrics  cover  H.P  Lovecraft  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  dark  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  their  side  of  the  recording  along  with  the  last  song  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Nihil  are  a  very  great  sounding  Lovecraft  inspired  melodic  black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  ""Monolithos  II".  RECOMMENDED.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  black  metal.  RECOMMENDED  BUY.      

https://selbst.bandcamp.com
https://selbstvft.tk
https://facebook.com/selbstbm