There Is No Light Here/Tachanka/Stigmergy/Syrup Moose Records/2024 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  U.S.A's  There  Is  No  Light  here  and  Tachanka  called  "Stigmergy"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Syrup  moose  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  There  Is  No  Light  Here  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  depressive  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  tragic  sounding  keyboards  before  going  into  a  heavier  and  atmospheric  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams,  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  90's  influences  into  the  more  modern  era.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anti-suicide  and  anti-fascism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  There  Is  No  Light  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "There  Is  No  Light  Here".

  Next  up  is  Tachanka  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  very  progressive  and  ambient  form  of  black  metal.

  Her  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  synths  also  bringing  in  elements  of  ambient  when  they  are  utilized  and  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  time.  

Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  clean  singing  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  both  of  her  tracks  also  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction,  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anarchy  and  feminism  themes.

\

  In  my  opinion  Tachanka  is  a  very  great  sounding  ambient  and  progressive  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  "Rosebud".

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

https://thereisnolighthere.bandcamp.com/album/not-your-political-weapon

https://tachanka1.bandcamp.com/album/desert-weapons   

Wolven Daughter/Gospel of The Claw/Fiadh Productions/WereGnome Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Wolven  Daughter  are  a  solo  project  from  Lexington,  Kentucky  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  anarchist  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Gospel  Of  The  Claw"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and   WereGnome  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  samples.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  the  album  closes  with  a  cover  of  Darkthrone's  "Too  Old  Too  Cold".

  Wolven  Daughter  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  recorded  with  the  worst  equipment  possible.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anarchy  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Wolven  Daughter  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  anarchist  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chosen  of  God"  "Gospel  Of  The  Claw"  and  "March  Of  the  Armies  Of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.

  Wolven Daughter     

Tumultuous Ruin/An Abscess On The Heart Of The State/Fiadh Productions/Vita Detestabilis Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Tumultuous  Ruin  are  a  solo  project  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  red  &  anarchist  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "An  Abscess  on  The  Heart  Of  The  State"  which  will b e  released  in  September  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Detestabilis  Records.

  A  very  fast,  raw  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  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  along  with  a  couple  of   tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  samples,  clean  playing  can  also b e  heard  briefly.  

  Tumultuous  Ruin  plays  a  style  of  red  &  anarchist  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  diverse  sounding  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  inspired  by  the  books  "Against  His-Tory,  Against  Leviathan",  "Ishamel",  "Desert",  "How  To  Blow  Up  A  Pipeline"  "The  Dispossessed"  the  1991  film  "Clear  Cut"  and  a  general  desire  to  destroy  all  systems  of  oppression.

  In  my  opinion  Tumultuous  Ruin  are   a  very  great  sounding  raw,  red  &  anarchist  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Destroy  What  Destroys  Us"  "Revel  in  Downfall"  and  "Last  Rites  Of  The  Dying  World".  8  out  of  10.

   Tumultuous Ruin    

     

A Plague Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has  been going on with the musical project since the recording and release of the new ep?

Al: A///Plague has been active since 2018. I released some Eps, single and one full album on CD named "Xawara" in 2021 on a collab among several independent  labels from Brazil. I try to be always active and producing some art, playing some gigs and writing new songs. I have two new songs almost ready to record the end of this year.

2.Recently you have released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Al: I think I' m writing better songs nowadays and I also play better.I found my way to play black metal mixing some elements from another music styles I love.

3.So far all of your releases been demo's and ep's, are there any plans for a full length in the future?

Al: I put out one full album in 2021. "Xawara" was a compilation of older songs released only digitally and two new ones. I have plans to release another full next year on the same way, I mean, mixing old songs and new ones.

People has no much time to stop and listen to the music today. It' s pretty difficult somebody who listen tp a whole album. So, that's one of the reasons I prefer to release EPs. And I'm too slow to write songs.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you explore with the newer music and also how would you describer your progress as as songwriter over the years?  

Al: Like I said before I think I found my way to write BM and I' m a best musician and songwriter today.

The lyrics are the way I use to express my feelings, my ideals. I try to talk about anything I guess important such as : environmental struggle, against prejudices, antifascism and anticapitalism but sometimes I like to write about personal experiences, about solitude or even something more spiritual.

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

Al: I 'm a big fan of Chelsea Wolfe . She is an inspiration for me and I took the name A Plague from the chorus of one of her song, " Carrion Flowers".

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

Al: I love art in general and especially photographs. Aling these years I've always tried to use some different languages to release the artwork and this time I decided to be the model and presented my idea for the producer of the EP, João Gilberto and we make the photo.

7.The band started out as a solo project but has recently expanded  into a duo, what was the decision behind bringing in another member?

Al: In deed A///Plague still is a one man band.

I don't play drums so I use to invite some close friends to record what I write. And for the next one I'll invite one great friend of mine to play bass.

A///Plague is about me and my ideals, my passion and my demons. There's no sense in becoming a band, in my point of view.

8.The band is heavily associated with antifa a movement that some black metal fans that are not really into nsbm trust, due to shows being cancelled and getting blamed for being nazi's when they consider themselves apolitical, how strong is this movement in black metal these days and what separates antifa black metal from rabm?

Al: I came from punk DIY scene. I played on one od the first grindcore bands in Brazil in the early 90's. I pretty evolved into political and social movements, anarchist ones especially. I always love the obscurity and spiritual art that came from BLack Metal but not the prejudices and far- right ideas the mainstream bands propage. There are tons of people like me all around the world. When I discovered RABM I got so f**** happy because it's an alternative.

There are many great artists and people who have evolved into RABM community. This is a safe place for everyone, for minorities, etc.

To be antifa is an attitude and RABM is a community. An alternative against all the prejudice some nazi scum minds are preaching.

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

Al: I have friends everywhere around the world and I am glad about it. My art has been well received along these years. 

10.What is going on with the other musical projects these days that you are a part of?

Al: I also play guitars and vocals on Void Me, another RABM band. It's a duo where Darlene is my bandmate. We're finish our new record to release one more split album.

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

Al: I really don't know . I want to keep on writing my songs without managers, big record labels, you know. I want to keep on making friends instead of fans and keep on spreading my art and my ideals.

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

Al: I listen to so many different music styles : from neo soul, 80s pop until grindcore.I love music. Everything has some kind of impact on me when I'll write.

But I' m happy to say there are so many awesome bands in the RABM community. 

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

Al: I'd like to thank you for your support and everyone who took the time to read my words.

Get in contact and let's spread the Plague .

We are not alone. We are everywhere.

Antifa!

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A Plague/Long Dark Veins/Vita Detastabilis Records/Fiadh Productions/2023 EP Review

 

  A  Plague  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  an  anarchist  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  ep  "Long  Dark  Veins"  which  was  rleeased  as  a  joint  effort  between  Vita  Detastabilis  and  Fiadh  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  tribal  style  chants  and  percussion's  are  also  added  on  one  song.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  some  influences  of  crust  punk  and  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes. 

  A  Plague  plays  a  style  of  anarchist  that  is  very  raw  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while t he  lyrics  cover  Anti  Fascism  and  Suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  A  Plague  are  a  very  great  sounding  anarchist  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Long  Dark  Veins"  and  "Entombed".  8  out  of  10.

   A///Plague       

Skarntyde/Da jeg gr​å​t ved jordens ruiner/Trollmusic/2022 EP Review

 

  Germany's  Skarntyde  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  raw  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  ep  "Da  jeg  gr​å​t  ved  jordens  ruiner"  which  was  released  by  Trollmusic.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and   raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a   very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  to  mid  2000's  Norwegian  style  along  with  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of t he  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Skarntyde  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  more  influenced  by  the  2000's  era  of  Norwegian  black  metal  instead  of t he  90's  style  that  most  bands  go  for.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  eco  anarchism  themes.

   In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording f rom  Skarntyde  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  Nordic  influenced  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Midt  i  ruinene".  8  out  of  10.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXx4J2jOrMQ

 https://www.schattenpfade.de/store/schattenpfade-releases/skarntyde-da-jeggrat-ved-jordens-ruiner-cd/

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Skarntyde/3540460776      

Taltos/Erezd hogy elsz/2022 EP Review

 

  Taltos  are  a  band  from Hungary  that  plays  a  very  anarchistic,  experimental  and  folk  influenced  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Erezd  hogy  elsz".

  Didgeridoo's  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  tribal  drumming  and  ritualistic  chants  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Elements  of  ethnic  folk  music  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  and  the  vocals  ar e mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  at  times  throat  singing  and  influences  of  doom  metal  and  punk  can  also be  heard,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.

  Taltos  plays  a  style  of  pagan  black  metal  that  is  very  experimental  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  elements  of  folk  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyric's  are  written  in  Hungarian  and  cover  Hungarian  Paganism,  Shamanism  and  challenging  the  semi-doctoral  régime  of  Hungary.  

  In  my  opinion  Taltos  are  a  very  great  sounding  anarchistic,  experimental  and  folk  influenced  pagan  black  metal b and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cannibal  Waltz"  and  "Feel  Alive".     

Bandcamp https://taltos.bandcamp.com/music

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/66QqxG0dQKgmVAn3y3ZaXh     

Fiume Nero Interview

 

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

Hello everyone, first of all we thank the readers and the editorial staff for this interview we are very pleased to be on Occultblack. In November 2021 we completed the graphics and recordings of the album, then the Ukrainian label Vacula Productions sent all the material to print. In the meantime, something was happening in Ukraine that slowed down the whole process until January, just when everything had to be ready and war broke out, and Molchan (the owner of the Vacula) he went to Portugal where he is now reopening the business. Molchan managed to deliver the CDs before January, but unfortunately the graphic material remained in Ukraine in the print shops, which still cannot be recovered for us. Meanwhile in March the album won the X-Poze-Ing Music Awards of America as best metal album of the year in the underground section, but it was still in digital form, so we decided to find a label that could produce the physical version, and we turned to Broken Bones Records & Promotion where we signed a collaboration agreement, they took care of printing the graphic parts that were missing, and then they took care of promoting and advertising the album.

2. Recently you have released a new album, musically how does it differ form the stuff you have released in the past?

To answer this question we must first specify that this album is part of a trilogy, this album is the second chapter of the Lovecraft trilogy, which should have ended this year with the last chapter, but for the reasons I explained in the first question we had to postpone. This trilogy represents our passion for literature, while Mors Liberat represents our anger and our rebellion. We have always been fascinated by Lovecraft, he created a new concept of horror that has inevitably influenced cinema, in videogames, comics, literature, drawings and music. To make quotes we take the film The Evil Dead by Sam Raimi, and a film inspired by the Necronomicon, where his invocations open a portal between the world of the living and that of the dead, with the succession of horrible and bloody tragedies. The Necronomicon is a book created by Lovecraft to give more realism to their stories, also creating a well-made story around them, which gives the impression that it really exists.

3. You refer to your music as being 'anarchic black metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?

I answer by quoting what I said earlier; The Lovecraft trilogy represents our passion for literature, while Mors Liberat represents our anger and our rebellion. With the term anarchist we do not mean the political orientation but our personal side, which is like a wild animal, you can't keep him in a cage and impose rules on him. We do not follow a pattern if we do not feel like doing it, we do not remain fixed on a theme or on themes that fall within a similar context, we are rebellious, musically rebellious, we do what we can think of, what we feel like doing right now.

4. The new album is the second part of a trilogy based upon the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this author?

Everything started by reading one of his stories: Winged Death, a title that intrigued me and I liked his style very much. So I deepened the topic looking for other stories to read, since this author has also greatly influenced the horror cinema we follow, and from here the passion for Lovecraft started. In immersing ourselves more and more in his reading, some stories in particular have inspired us from a musical point of view, and from here we decided to make this trilogy dedicated to Lovecraft.

5. What where some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on previous releases?

The previous themes to Lovecraft were misanthropy and hatred for society. A rebellion against their canons and customs.

6. Originally the band was known as 'Luciferian Torment'., what was the cause of the name change?

That name didn't reflect us much in the themes even if we meant Lucifer as the rebel not as the bad guy.

It was difficult to specify what we meant, we wanted to represent the human soul, rebellious, curious and destructive, but it also had to be in the form of a metaphor, which we like being passionate about literature. So we put two things together, we took the River (Fiume in italian language) to represent a water stream, the element that gives life and the succession of life itself, and then the black color (Nero in italian language) to represent evil, the soul of the human being. So we combined the two words and we liked them, so we decided to change the name to Black River (Fiume Nero).

7. I know that the bands name means 'black river' in Italian, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

When we play, there is a strong rebellion against all sorts of canons. The first Mors Liberat album is a perfect representation of our ideas, while the concept about Lovecraft is a perfect representation of our passions, which however go against the pre-set canons that usually invest metal bands.

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

The album cover was made in 3D graphics and represents this book, we were inspired by the movie The Evil Dead, and the first song is dedicated to this book and its horrible secrets. This album is the Necronomicon, and the booklet is its pages, which accompany the lyrics with strange writings and nefarious drawings. The songs tell follies and tragedies related to this cursed book where, at the end of the album, at its final act, we come to the realm of the dead where we are trapped forever.

9. What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We did many shows and we all liked them, we always had fun even in bad conditions. When we are on stage we express what comes from inside by being carried away by the music. Of live shows in particular, we never forget the first one we did, exactly in our favorite venue, the Olden Live Club, where we supported the Bleeding Fist. Then we remember, in particular, shows with Urnaa's friend Pest in 2016 and 2017, the two dates with Necromass, with Deletere, the last show with Marduk and the dates in Croatia and Hungary, where they were all very involved and available.

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

When we played in Europe the audience got involved, bought a lot of merchandise and enjoyed it. In the rest of the world we rely on seeing the statistics of streaming platforms, and we have seen that we are followed almost everywhere, and we have also noticed that in America they like us a lot, in fact from there comes the greatest influence of ratings.

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

I see Fiume Nero performs more often outside our country, even in other states far from us such as America and Asia.

12. 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?

There are no bands we are particularly inspired by, we listen to all metal from classic to extreme and not just metal. Bands like Gorgoroth Mayhem and Marduk have influenced us, and when we compose the most important thing for us is to recreate the atmosphere of the lyrics, regardless if we are influenced by styles and other bands, because when you have to express the atmosphere with music there must be no rules.

13. How would you describe your views on Occultism?

We don't believe in the occult as a religious form, we admire its fascinating mystery influence, which has been an inspiration in the fields of cinema, music, art and literature. If humanity hadn't invented the occult, Lovecraft wouldn't have invented the Necronomicon, and there wouldn't even be the concept of magic with everything behind it. Finally, man has an innate instinct towards mystery, about what he cannot explain, this fascination ignites his curiosity, which leads him to label it up to making it even more curious when it is hidden. It does not matter that there is a logical explanation, it is precisely what we cannot explain that fascinates us more and more.

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

We thank the readers and the editorial staff for this interview and all those who follow us and believe in us. Stay black!

Sito: https://sites.google.com/view/fiumenero

Blog: https://fiumenero.blogspot.com/

Bandcamp: https://fiumenero1.bandcamp.com/

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/it/artist/5565673-Fiume-Nero

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiumeneroblackmetal

Fiume Nero/Lovecraft Cap. 2/Broken Bones Records & Promotion/Vacula Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Fiume  Nero  are  a  duo  from  italy  that  plays  a  Lovecraft  themed   and  anarchic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Lovecraft  Cap.  2"  which  will  be  released  in  August  as  a  joint  effort  between  Broken  Bones  Records  &  Promotion  and  Vacula  Productions.

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  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  grim y et  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  as  the  album  progresses  keyboards  also  make  a  brief  return.

  Fiume  Nero  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  goers  back  to  the  90's  second  wave  era  of  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.

  In  my  opinion  Fiume  Nero  are  a  very  great  sounding  Lovecraft  themed  and  anarchic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Necronomicon"  "Memento  Mori"  "Abel  Foster"  and  "Mors  ominia  vincit".  8  out  of  10,.

  Sito: https://sites.google.com/view/fiumenero

Blog: https://fiumenero.blogspot.com/

Bandcamp: https://fiumenero1.bandcamp.com/

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/it/artist/5565673-Fiume-Nero

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiumeneroblackmetal

     

Ashtavakara/Vergangenheit/Clairvoyance/Vergangenheit/Wolfmond Production/2022 Split Demo Compilation Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  demo  compilation  album  from  Germany's  Ashtavakara  and  Vergangenheit  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Ashtavakara  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  ambient  form  of  black  metal  and  his  demo  "Clairvoyance".

  Ambient  sounding  synths  start  off  the  demo  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  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.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also programmed  along  with  some  clear  vocals,  clean  playing  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  distorted  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  sounds  of  wolves  howling  also  being  utilized  briefly.  One  track  also  adds  in  the  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls  and  the  demo  closes  with  a  cover  of  Bekhira's  "Forgotten  Nazarene".  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anarchism,  philosophy,  misanthropy,  nature  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ashtavakara  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  ambient  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  "Clairvoyant"  and  "Ethereal".

  Nest  up  is  Vergangenheit  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  ambient  style  of  black  metal  and  his  self  titled  demo.

  Ambient  style  synths  and  programmed  drum  beats  start  off  the  demo  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  On  the  second  track  the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  songs  also  capture  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Vergangenheit  plays  a  style  of  ambient  black  metal  that  is  very  slow,  atmospheric  and  lo-fi  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vergangenheit  are  a  very  great  sounding  ambient  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hexen"  and  "Nur  ein  Traum".

  In  Conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  ambient  black  emtal.  8  out  of  10.

https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/ashtavakra-vergangenheit-clairvoyance-demo-vergangenheit-demo-tape-pre-order    

     

  

Non Serviam/Gallkrist/Trepanation Recordings/bad Moon Rising/2022 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  France's  Non  Serviam  and  Norway's  Gallkrist  which  will  be  released  in  February  as  a  joint  effort  between  Trepanation  Recordings  and  Bad  Moon  Rising  and  we  will  start  of  the  review  with  Non  Serviam  a  solo  project  who  returns  with  an  experimental  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom metal,  grindcore,  crust,  darkwave  and  industrial.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  and  female  vocals  that  also  add  in  touches  of  darkwave.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  at  times  along  with  the  heavier  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  songs.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.  Industrial  and  breakcore  style  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.

  Both  of  his  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  growls  and  spoken  word  parts  also being  utilized  briefly  and  the  songs  also  adds  in  some  influences  of  crust  and  grindcore,  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard..  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vampirism  and  Church  Burning  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Non  Serviam  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  experimental, black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  crust,  grindcore,  darkwave  and  industrial,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Church  Burnings".

  Next  up  is  Gallkrist  a  solo  artist  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental  black  metal  and  noise.

  Her  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  avant  garde  style  instruments  and  synths  before  adding  in  some  noisy  distortion  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  gives  her  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  all  of  the  drum b eats  are  programmed.

  The  second  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  all  3  of  her  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  her  side  of  the  split  always  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  distorted  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  winter  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Gallkrist  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  noisy  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Black  Cold  Lake".

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

https://non-serviam.bandcamp.com/album/non-serviam-gallkrist-split-ep

https://badmoonrising.bandcamp.com/album/non-serviam-gallkrist-split-ep

 

          

Order Of The Wolf/Pessimista/Trepanation Recordings/2021 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Scotland's  Order  Of  The  Wolf  and  Brazil's  Pessimista  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Trepanation  Recordings  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Order  Of  The  Wolf  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal  and  punk.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  elements  of  punk  along  with  most  of  the  music  sticking  to  a  faster  direction  with  only  a  small  amount  of  mid  tempo  sections,  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti-Fascism  and  Political  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Order  Of  The  Wolf  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  mixture  of  black  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Moving  Ever  Closer  Towards  The  Light".

  Next  up  is  Pessimista  a  solo  project  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  his  side  of  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  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  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  his  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  all  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  alcoholism,  drugs,  loneliness,  despair  and  suicide  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Pessimista  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "N.M.A.D".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  the  atmospheric,  raw  and  punk  influenced  styles  of  black  metal.

  https://trepanationrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/split-6  

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  

         

Rampancy/Coming Insurrection/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Rampancy  are  a  solo  project  from  London,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  anarchist  mixture  of  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  harsh  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Coming  Insurrection".

  A  very  fast,  raw  and  lo-fi  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostyl  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  also  being  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  riffing.

  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed.  Some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  mixes  in  elements  of  grindcore  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  an  influence  of  death  metal,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anarchism  and  Anti  Fascism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Rampancy  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  anarchist  mixture  of  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  harsh  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "King  Of  The  Locusts"  "Perpetual  Revolution"  "Left  For  Dead"  and  "Wheel  of  Time".  8  out  of  10.  

https://rampancy519.bandcamp.com/

      

Fratura Interview

 

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

First of all I wanted to thank Occult Black Metal Zine for this huge opportunity. It is very important to me, to Fratura! Well, Fratura is a project that brings together all the musical influences that I have been absorbing for years. It's a one man band, whose work has so far been done in a very rustic and homely way, a characteristic that I always wanted to give to a project. This fact adds a lot to the sound that I wanted. It's part of the concept.

2.Recently you have released an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that is presented on the recording?

Yes, the debut "Corposeco" was released in the middle of the year. Some songs from my first demo called "Necroambulist" are also in this record. The sound is based on extreme metal, evil as fuck ... with a lot of d-beat, crust influences, what is sometimes referred to as punk metal.

3.You refer to your music as being 'black beat' can you tell us a little bit more about this term?

Black-Beat was a term I found to define the type of music of Fratura, it's the mix of Black Metal and D-Beat, speaking in general. I couldn't find a better name, I think. And actually, somehow I wanted to bring something new, you know? A new definition that could serve as a parameter to the future work of some bands, that identified themselves and that could develop this "style". So Fratura defines itself as a Black-Beat band.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Satanic themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Satanism?

I have Lucifer as the first rebel, the first revolutionary, the one who had the attitude of questioning and confronting authority. I think he represents that to many people out there. I really like the contemporary philosophy of Satanism, like Anton Lavey's Satanism which, in my view, is something totally practical and rational. It's nothing more than declaring yourself your own master. These archetypes and symbologies are perfect. The real free-will, the mental emacipation of dogmas imposed by religions, all of them.

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

I address some issues related to human nature. The morbidity that we all have, however well hidden among our guts, psychiatric disorders, limits and wills and desires suppressed by the joke of morality. I also try to explore a bit of folklore and ancient Brazilian cultural histories, which have scary and disturbing themes that many people don't know. I like to relate real cases like that Ricky Kasso, that boy who killed his friend in the name of Satan, very crazy on acid, in America. Or disasters committed by humanity like the case of Chernobyl, which I narrate in the song "Unseen Death".

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about your anarchist views?

From a very early age I was involved with the punk movement, I think a lot of the metal guys started listening to punk music. More than music, punk brought me an interest in anarchism and putting it into practice on a daily basis. Whether sewing your own clothes, making your own sound, DIY. So, this thought was fundamental in the design of Fratura. Although I value the culture of my country, which I think is beautiful, the only flag that exists for me is the black one, you know?

7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Fratura'?

Long before I started working, I already had that name in mind. Somehow I always saw power in it and a great sound. But some other facts influenced me to give the project its name. I always liked the British band Broken Bones and their name, I wanted something that had to do with bones. And also another fundamental detail: I am a medical radiology technician, I'm the x-ray guy haha .. So, a name more than familiar. The term 'Fratura' has a sound similar to the name 'Sepultura'. I thought that the association of names could be easier to remember. But I can be wrong haha.

8.The name of the album is 'Corposeco' which is also an entity in Brazilian folklore, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Body in literal translation means dry body. It's an entity that wanders for eternity on earth with a body without a soul, decomposed flesh and dry, condemned to oblivion. Legend has it that he was such a terrible man in life that neither God nor the devil wanted him after death. Not even the cemetery land, which literally spit it out of the grave. It's the kind of atmosphere I like: scary and bizarre. I later adopted the name Corposeco as a "war name".

9.How would you describe the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

I was researching inspirations for the cover, until I found this art. I looked for its author, but I couldn't find it. I spent several days contemplating this picture and decided to use it for the cover after all. I see death hovering beside their enslaved souls, ready for a spectacular harvest! That's what I feel every time I look at this art. It fit perfectly into the concept.

10.Can you tell us a little bit more about the mask you wear in the promo pics?

It is a kind of bag that I put. I was inspired by the black metal look, like a doom head. Some bands in the scene today perform like that. As if they were just evil entities playing. You know that version of Jason with the bag over his head? When I was imagining the look, I thought about putting it together, and I drilled a hole in the mask. The result was this. Corposeco was born there. I believe that this also draws a lot of attention to the sound.

11.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 about to experience that. My initial idea was just the one man band format, because I wanted to put my ideas into practice without interventions or other things. And so I went on. But recently I have received a lot of support from musicians who would like to join Fratura to perform in gigs, lives .. I didn't expect that! This was a great satisfaction for me, which started to change my vision in a way. So it may be that Fratura will soon become a complete band. Or not, let's see what happens.

12.The new album was released on 'Electric Funeral Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

After recording the demo and debut, I started looking for labels for promotion. To my surprise, Electric Funeral Records was one of the first labels I sent the job to. It's a very eclectic label. They liked it right away! So we started this partnership that is being crucial for the project. I didn't know where to start and how to develop an effective disclosure and they guided me in that direction.

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

We started international promotion a short time ago, so we are watching, but I have already received good reviews of the scene in Sweden, Russia, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, where the crust scene is very heavy. My intention is to please both punk and headbangers, hopefully we will be successful in that.

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

I don't know, I hope, really that in the near future Fratura may be sharing the sound on a larger scale, inspiring other bands and projects and being born out of nowhere. So I expect a lot from Fratura, I have a lot of things in mind, a lot of material, a lot of experiences to put into practice. All the life I have left will be little for so much of the plans I have with the project .. haha

15.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?

It's a huge list, but I can sum it up with a few names. Dude, to start with: Discharge! Man, I believe that without bands like Discharge, Anti-Cimex, without D-beat, Hardcore, the future of punk and metal would be very different. I really like that Scandinavian scene of bands like Rattus, Riistetyt, Totalitar. Brazilian punk bands like Ratos de Porão, Besthöven.. Countless bands have learned from this school. Inside the metal I really like the traditional Thrash of classic bands like Slayer, Sepultura .. going to the first wave of Black Metal with Bathory, Hellhammer / Celtic Frost, the first seeds! And undoubtedly, bands like Sarcofago, Mutiilation, Mayhem and especially Darkthrone that also explores punk a lot, especially on the most recent albums. I've been listening to a lot of new and independent bands here in Brazil and there's a lot of good and original stuff! Brazil has always had a great contribution to worldwide metal.

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

Yes, once again I would like to thank Occult Black Metal for this interview, thank the folks at Electric Funeral Records, Collapse Agency for their excellent work and support. To supporters and friends! My sincere thanks! And leave DIY's message. If you want something, do it yourself! Burn the flags! No gods, no masters!

Thank you!

Hail Satan! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0u7O0qBjbCUCmKPtSjZnzY

Fratura/Corposeco/Electric Funeral Records/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Fratura  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  anarchist  form  of  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  crust  punk,  d-beat,  power  violence  and  doom  metal  which  he  refers  to  as  'black  beat'  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "Corposeco"  which  was  released  by  Electric  Funeral  Records.

  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  horror  move  samples  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  short  in  length.

  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  second  wave  era  influences  while  also  mixing  it  with  the  raw  aggression  of  crust  punk,  d  beat  and  power  violence.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  touch  of  the  first  wave  style  can  also  be  heard   as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  briefly  there  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Dogma,  Self  Knowledge,  Evolution,  Human  Crisis  And  Its  Darkest  Desires.

  In  my  opinion  Fratura  are  a  very great  sounding  black  beat  solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  that  is  very  raw  and  aggressive  yet  different  at  the  same  time,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ave  Satani"  "Hail  To The  Black  Goat"  and  Ricky  666".  8 out  of  10.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0u7O0qBjbCUCmKPtSjZnzY#_=_