Aliore Interview

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

Aeter : Hey Occult Black Metal Zine! This is Aeter (guitarist/composer), and it's an honor to answer these questions for your webzine. Since the recording of our first album, things have been really overwhelming, as we've had the chance to reach a mostly very receptive audience from all over the world. We receive feedback on our YouTube channel, Instagram, and also from the professional press, which is very important to us. We also had the chance to catch the eye of the mighty cult French metal label Adipocere, and get signed by them. They have helped promote and discover huge metal bands such as Sacramentum, Moonspell, and Diabolical Masquerade. We feel very fortunate, and we are confident that the record will get all the attention it deserves. Another dream come true (at least for me) was when the French guitar brand Flamel Guitars endorsed me. I am thrilled to have gained the confidence of such an amazing manufacturer, and I feel very lucky and ready to hit stages everywhere with those beautiful axes.

2. You have a new album coming out in November. Musically, how does it differ from the material you released in the past?

Aeter : In the past, I was the sole member aboard Aliore, and back then it was an atmospheric, instrumental blackgaze and black metal project. Since I decided to form a real band with dedicated members, everyone involved has infused Aliore's musical framework with their own vision. We now have French lyrics, a whole lore surrounding the characters we portray, and most importantly, the music has become more aggressive while keeping that dreamy quality, as if you were stuck between two worlds—like a parallel universe hovering between life and death. Murmur, our lead singer, comes from a black metal and classical background. She brings that extra layer of interpretation and life, while Dolor, our bass player, has become our main orchestration composer, which is a massive part of Aliore's sound today. Last but not least, Abaddon, our drummer, writes all his parts with his own unique vision, which is also crucial to me. In 2026, Aliore is fully realized, and we are working very hard on our sound, our lore, and the emotions we want to share with people.

3. The band started out with instrumental music while the newer music has vocals and lyrics. What was the decision behind going in this direction?

Aeter : When I founded Aliore, it was during dark times worldwide due to the pandemic. I was alone at home, driven by an urge to compose something intense yet epic and dark. When humanity slowly regained some form of freedom back in 2023, I decided to resurrect the project, but this time with real band members. The goal for me was to share that music live and try to live the best possible experiences through it. As I mentioned above, every soul in Aliore is now fully integrated, bringing their own energy and vision.

4. The lyrics on the new album have a concept to them. Can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting on the current release?

Aeter : As we started to rehearse and get to know each other, we realized we shared a deep passion for esoteric subjects, history and black metal. Oraison Funèbre can be considered a concept album, featuring a continuous story running from the first track to the last. "Renaissance," which means "rebirth" in French, marks a turning point: Murmur is murdered by her husband—a World War I army general who completely lost his mind due to mental illness, compounded by heavy drug abuse, and returned home entirely dysfunctional, to the point of murdering his own wife and burying her in the fireplace. Marianne dies, but Murmur is born: an entity stranded in an in-between world, struggling to understand what happened to her. She goes from experiencing apprehension, to seeking answers from the Prince of Darkness (Entretien avec le diable / Interview with the Devil), to fully embracing what befell her, ultimately taking her revenge and—most importantly, by the end of the record—accepting the catalyst that turned her into Murmur. Dolor, Abaddon, and myself are directly connected to Murmur, as we were all killed by her husband during the war. Dolor was the medic who took his own life after witnessing too many horrors, driven to despair after Murmur's husband led thousands of men to their certain deaths. Abaddon was the apothecary who supplied the general with drugs and tried to poison him before getting caught in his own trap. As for myself, Aeter, I was the soldier who lost his life in an already lost battle.

5. Lyrically you have also covered esoteric themes. Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Aeter : When I was a teenager, I was really into playing with the Ouija board, chasing ghosts, and reading dark authors like Lovecraft, Poe, and Baudelaire. These subjects deeply fascinate me and have helped shape my imagination. Beyond ghosts, it's more about trying to find the magic hidden in everyday life—unexplainable things, the energies you can feel when entering certain rooms or places, remaining deeply instinctive, and listening to your inner voice. I even visited Père Lachaise Cemetery to pay my respects to Allan Kardec, a Frenchman who pioneered early experiments with table-turning, Ouija, and esotericism in the 19th century. His grave is truly outstanding: a monument shaped like a rustic stone dolmen (a prehistoric megalithic structure) topped with a bronze bust of himself. Fascinating stuff.

6. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Aliore'?

Aeter : Aliore comes from Latin and means "Elsewhere" (Ailleurs in French). The inspiration stems directly from that craving to chase—and perhaps find—that "elsewhere" hiding somewhere out there, just waiting to be discovered.

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

Aeter : We are lucky to have Murmur in the band, and not just for her vocal talents—she is also a professional designer, and we are very fortunate that her skills match Aliore's visual universe. She painted the album cover entirely from scratch. The great thing is that we had full creative control, and she completely understood what we needed. I think she presented us with what would become the final version of the cover on her very first try, and we only had a few minor tweaks to make! You can see Murmur transitioning from human to entity, following all the adventures that await her on this musical journey—from misunderstanding to acceptance, and finally, escape.

8. Out of all the tours and shows the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

Aeter : So far, Aliore has only been around for a year and a half. In such a short lifespan, we've been very fortunate to play amazing shows, like opening at the Opéra de Nice for Septicflesh, or sharing the stage with Houle, another thematic French black metal band. I think we love what we do so much that every single moment we spend on stage stands out for us. Playing live is a double-edged sword: it can be deeply rewarding, but it can also leave you with the greatest doubts and questions about yourself as an artist. We live for that!

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

Aeter : We definitely have plans. As I mentioned, we are now signed with Adipocere, and they are actively helping us spread the word. We will be playing on various stages in the near future.

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

Aeter : So far, we are very satisfied with the feedback we've received. Lots of positive comments and support. People seem very curious about the band, and that's great. More than anything, we want to meet our audience—the people we can share stories and emotions with, and live a wonderful musical journey together.

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

Aeter : All I can say is that we are a hard-working band. Our second album is already being written, and it is taking a really interesting musical turn that we can't wait to share! Get ready for even more aggression and darkness as we head into even deeper, darker territories...

https://www.facebook.com/alioremetalnoir/

 

Aliore/Oraison Funebre/Adipocere Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Aliore  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  esoteric  and  theatrical  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Oraison  Funebre"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Adpocere  Records.

  Clean  playing  and  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction while  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  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  recording  more  of  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a small  amount  of  spoken  words.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  the  mid  90's  era  symphonic  style  along  wit h one  song  also  introducing  operatic  vocals  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  four  souls  torn  from  the  First  World  War  bound  together  by  tragedy  and  destiny.

  In  my  opinion  Aliore  are  a  very  great  sounding  theatrical  and  esoteric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Renaissance"  "Tumulte"  "Sous  la  LunePale"  and  Cendres  et  Lumiere".  8  out  of  10.

  Aliore - Entretien avec le Diable (Single)

Aliore - Cendres et lumière (Official Lyrics Video) - Oraison Funèbre

Aliore - Cendres et Lumiere - Piano Voix Live - YouTube      

Rupture Of The Gastrointestinal Tract/Dolcett/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Rupture  Of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  rleeased  2026  album  "Dolcett".

  Clean  playing  and  rain  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  black  metal  screams  while  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  melodies  are  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Synths  can  also  he  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  most  of  the  recording  also  sticks  to  more  of  slower  direction.

  Rupture  of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  plays  a  style  of  black  emtal  that  is  very  slow,  atmospheric  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  gore  and  depression  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Rupture  Of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Smells  Like  Burning  Souls"  and  "Ture  Forced  Loneliness".  8  out  of  10.

  Listen on Spotify    

Horizon Ablaze/Livets høst/Leviatan/2026 Full Length Review

  Horizon  Ablaze  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Livets  høst'  which  was  released  by  Leviatan.

  Melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  When  the  recording  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

 Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  words  can  also be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Horizon  Ablaze  takes  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  progressive  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  very  aggressive  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  violence  and  destruction  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Horizon  Ablaze  and  if  you  are  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  black  and  death  metal.  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Flammehav"  "Byrde"  and  "Evigheten".  8  out  of  10.

  https://ditto.fm/livets-host-horizon-ablaze    

     

Paara Interview

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

Waara: A lot has happened since we decided to start working on Laulut tulen ja jään. The past few months have been busy promoting the new album and putting together our upcoming shows. Rehearsals for the upcoming gigs are also underway, and we can’t wait to hit the stage with the new material and visual look.

So it feels good to be back after Riitti, which was quite a while ago now.

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

Helmouth: Musically we’ve taken a giant leap, in my opinion. Our music is now more layered. Even though there’s a lot happening in some of these songs, everything serves a purpose. I think we’ve matured musically. This development came naturally. We don’t feel the need to force our music in any specific direction. The only thing we knew pretty early on was that this was going to be a theme album. 

3.This is also going to be your first album in 8 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

Helmouth: The album has been in the making for six years. We started composing before the whole covid madness started. Those pandemic years really messed up our plans, but I also think that it gave us perspective and depth for our music. I was in a really dark place back then - depression and alcoholism. I had to deal with my demons before we could’ve continued with the composing. So we “lost” a few years dealing with personal matters. When we actually sat down and continued with the album, the process was fairly fast considering the outcome.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover nature and Finnish Folklore, which aspects of these topics do you cover with the new release?

Helmouth: The nature imagery is always present in a way or another. I feel the need to celebrate the grandeur of the Nordic landscapes. Wilderness is after all where I went by myself to tame my demons, to rediscover myself. This is a theme album. It deals with themes like depression, death, loss and disconsolation. The story runs through the whole album and it’s told using a mythological framework. Finnish folklore is present and I think has become a big part of our identity.

5.Most of the band members also have backgrounds working with other metal styles and the music also incorporates a lot of non metal influences, would you consider yourself as being very diverse when it comes to writing and creating new music?

Zvartus: As the primary songwriter, I can answer: yes. I listen to a wide range of music—including genres outside of metal. I have particularly listened to old Finnish schlager music, from which I also draw melodies for Paara’s material.

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

Helmouth: We’ve been fortunate to work with the very talented David Thiérrée - for quite some time now. He did the artwork for ‘Riitti’ and also the vinyl version of ‘Yön olevainen puoli’. This time around we gave David more freedom. We talked about what the album was about. He came up with this idea of a blacksmith, a forge and caverns of the underworld. The hero of our story is an Axebearer. In a way the artwork depicts an untold part of the story. The forging of the axe. David’s art is always incredible and full of details.

7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

Helmouth: There have been a lot of memorable shows. Years ago we played at a small festival in the UK - near the Scottish border, in the historic forest of Cumbria. They had bonfires outside the venue. We could see them from the stage because these massive sliding doors were left open. The place was packed. After the show we went straight to a nearby pond to participate in a traditional paganic rite. Festivals have been good for us.

Trangoth: In part of our first European tour, we were playing in a small cellar bar in Poland, and there were like 10 people watching. 

The owner of the bar lit a huge fire in the open fireplace as we started playing. It was a very atmospheric and intimate gig. It doesn’t have to be the biggest venue, or biggest crowd to outstand another gig, it’s more like an overall feeling about the gig. 

Also the Tuska-festival in 2017 was really special for me, since I've been going to that festival since I was a teenager. There have been many great places we’ve had the chance to play, and hopefully that trend continues!

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

Waara: We’ll be touring Finland in November, playing selected gigs in various towns and cities. We’ll carry on touring next year. Let’s hope we’ll also get to see the band at festivals and on tours abroad.

9.The new album is going to be released on 'Dusktone', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?

Waara: ​​We've been really pleased with Dusktone's contribution and the way they handle their work. They also have a truly customer-focused approach, and their communication is prompt and friendly.

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

Zvartus: The feedback we’ve received has been amazing. We’ve noticed that people have really been looking forward to our return. Our singles have clearly been well-received.

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Waara: Our band has brilliant musicians, which also means that they play in several other bands like Shape Of Despair, Where’s My Bible, The Man-Eating Tree, The Abbey etc. I see that as a positive thing. As far as I know, every band is touring, and some are preparing their upcoming releases.

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

Helmouth: We’ll keep on evolving. We haven’t carved an intentional path. Only time will tell where our music will take us. Only that is a constant is the influence of black metal and the deep melancholy of our melodies.

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

Waara: As I mentioned earlier, the members of Paara also play in many other bands. They don’t limit themselves to just metal. The same goes for what we listen to and what we like. Of course, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d say we’re open to all kinds of music and draw inspiration from everywhere, even though our hearts lean toward heavier music.

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

 Waara: We hope to see you at our shows around the world. Don't forget to buy our new album and enjoy the music and the people around you!

https://paara.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/paaranmaa

https://www.instagram.com/paaraband/

Alasthor/Flesh Apart, Mind Inside/Chapitre XIII/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Belgium's  Alasthor  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  occult  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Flesh  Apart,  Mid  Inside"  which  will  be  released  on  October  23rd  by  Chapitre  XIII.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album 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  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  thrash  emtal  elements  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  meldoy.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  crust  punk  while  the  album  also  adds  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  tthe  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  old  school  touches.

  On  this  recording  Alasthor  bring  out  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  style  of  occult  black  metal  as w ell  as  adding  in  some  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk  to  create  a  very  aggressive  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Left  Hand  Path, Occultism ,  Aghora  and  Draconic  Magick.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Alasthor  and  if  you  are  of  a  fan  atmospheric  occult  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wormhole"  and  "Divine  Limited  Flesh".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Alasthor.black.metal.Belgium/      

Herzog/Mugwort/Amor Fati Productions/2026 Full Length Review

   Herzog  are  a  band  from  Belgium t hat  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  aggressive  and  melancholic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Mugwort"  which  will  be  release d on  october  26th  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  yet  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams,  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spoken  words  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  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  of  the  tracks  also  adding  some  atmospheric  touches.   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental. 

  On  this  recording  Herzog  brings  out  a  very  aggressive,  melancholic  and  traditional  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  shock,  pain  and  the  violence  of  losing  everything  you  held  true.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Herzog  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  and  melancholic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dawn  Of  The  Prosper"  and  "Post-Truth".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/p/Herzog-61558581568781

  
 

  

Illusions Play/Cursed In Eternity/Doomed/2026 Collaboration EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  Turkey's  Illusions  Play  who  play  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  and    Cursed  In  Eternity  a  band  that  plays  a  depressive  form  of  black  metal,  the  ep  was  released  in  2016  and  called  "Doomed"  and  also  shows  both  of t he b ands  mixing  their  different  styles  together.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  the  them.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  depressive  black  metal s creams.

  Element s of  funeral  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   lot  of  melody,  clean  playing  and  female  vocals  are  added  on  the  second  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while the  lyrics  cover  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Illusions  Play  and  Cursed  In  Eternity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  doom/death  metal  and  dsbm,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  'Ashen  Sky".  8  out  of  10.

  linktr.ee/everythingdiesdsbm   

Vermianaevus/Self Titled/Amor Fati Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Vermianaevus  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2026  album  which  will  be  released  on  october  30th  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  Spoken  words  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  atmospheric  soundscapes  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.   

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  a   mixture  of  bestial  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  the  brutality  of  war  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyric's  cover  cosmic  devastation,  lunar  caverns  and  deep  void  horrors.

  In  my  opinion  Vermianaevus  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nexus  Of  Inexorable  Darkness"  "Consumed  By  Gryation"  and  "Beneath  A  Vengeful  Lunar  Glaze" .   8  out  of  10.

https://vermianaevus.bandcamp.com/album/vermianaevus  

Noctule/Extinguish Thy Flame/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Noctule  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  post  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2026  album  "Extinguish  Thy  Flame".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into a   lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  At  time s the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  clear  vocals,  keyboards  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  one  of  the  later  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  Elden  Ring  saga.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Noctule  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  post  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Devour  The  Gods"  "Goddess  Of  Rot"  and  "Age  Of  The  Stars'.  8  out  of  10.

  SINGLE PROMO 

MUSIC VIDEO    

Vinteraske/Nocturne/Naturmacht Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Vinteraske  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Nocturne"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Water  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  shoegaze  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  ad  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vinteraske  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mental  and  emotional  turmoil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vinteraske  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Schwerer  regen"  "Kein  ort  wird  mehr  fur  mich  sluhen"  and  "Enfroren//Verbrannt".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/xog8ElwUm0U?si=HPPobdSDi8tO-xxc 

Détresse/Misères/Vendetta Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Détresse  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Austria  and  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on this  recording  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album "Misères"  which  will be  released  in  October  9th  by  Vendetta  Records.

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  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  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  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and clear  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  keyboards  and  clean  playing  are  also  added  towards  the  end

  On  this  recording  Détresse  takes  their  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  into a   more  aggressive  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  human  misery  and  hardship.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Détresse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Verrottet"  and  "So  Bitter,  So  Kalt".  8 out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/detresse 

https://www.facebook.com/detresse.official/ 
https://www.instagram.com/detresseofficial 

https://detresse.bandcamp.com/    

Liminalanimal/Seanchas/2026 Full Length Review

  Liminalanimal  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Seanchas"  which  will  be  released  on  October  23rd.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  doom  metal are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Liminalanimal  brings  out  a  very  modern,  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  existence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Liminalanimal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I"  and  "VI".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.instagram.com/liminalanimal69

https://liminalanimal.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CAdF66DcQ

https://x.com/liminalanimal69   

Frostland Interview

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

1: The recording process itself spanned quite a long period. We actually started recording the guitars back in October 2024, while the bass, drums, and vocals were tracked in August 2025. We wrapped up the mixing and mastering early this year. 

So we deliberately took more time with this project to avoid mistakes we had made on previous recordings. We constantly tweaked things and experimented. 

To get back to your actual question: since finishing the recordings, we’ve used the time to manufacture physical CDs and produce new T-shirts and merchandise. After all, we have a brand-new logo and hadn't released anything in a long while. A release show has been scheduled for October 29, and in the meantime, we’ve already written new songs that sound somewhat different from the previous ones.

 

2.In October you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2: First of all, I’d like to say that we try to ensure no new album or EP sounds exactly like the previous one. We want to evolve and feel like we’ve reached a new level or created something new. Of course, it still needs to sound like Frostland; our style should remain recognizable.

At its core, I’d say we tried to introduce more variety into the songwriting. We examined every section and considered what different things each instrument could do at that point. The drums, in particular, have a huge impact on how a section sounds; we constantly looked at how a guitar riff’s effect changed when the drum patterns shifted or varied. On top of that, many guitar parts have become more complex, and we’ve incorporated more dissonant guitar riffs.

 

3.This is going to be your first album in 6 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

3: Strictly speaking, it is our first album in eight years. Our last release, "Winterkult," came out in 2018. It wasn't exactly planned that way. At the time, we assumed we’d have a new album out within three years at most, but life doesn't always go according to plan. Some of us had children, others moved further away, and then there was the coronavirus pandemic. We never stopped making music together, though it has to be said that progress was very slow for a few years. However, we never doubted that a new album would happen. There was never any question of there not being another one. 

Things have moved very quickly over the last two years, I’d say. We’re currently very well synchronized which is why we already have more material ready.

 

4.The lyrics on the new album are inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?

4: Since I write the lyrics for Frostland, I’m well-suited to this. I’m a huge H.P. Lovecraft fan and have read almost everything he’s written. Over time, I adopted his writing style because I found his vocabulary so aesthetic. I also felt his themes were a perfect fit for black metal. Consequently, his vocabulary permeates all our lyrics.

However, I should point out that only one song on our new album refers directly to a specific H.P. Lovecraft short story: "Hypnos.". It’s a classic Lovecraftian dream story in which the protagonist transcends nightmarish boundaries within his dreams. Incidentally, our previous album also featured a Lovecraftian dream story. The song "Jenseits der Mauer des Schlafes" ("Beyond the Wall of Sleep"). I try to keep this tradition alive, though there is never more than one song per album based on a Lovecraft short story. The remaining lyrics on the new album deal with the cosmos in all its madness and depth. A subject that, fittingly, aligns perfectly with Lovecraft’s work.

 

5.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

5: The central theme of our last album (*Winterkult*) was winter in all its facets and splendor. Our EP *Visionenfluch*, on the other hand, was dedicated more to philosophical and moral themes. However, those lyrics were written by our former vocalist. At the time, I was just the guitarist.

It is important to us to keep exploring new themes without losing our essence. Besides, I would get bored writing about the same topics all the time.

 

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Frostland'?

6: From the very beginning, we focused on winter themes and nature; there was a certain appeal to that. However, when we chose the name in 2006, we were influenced by a 1999 bootleg album by the band Emperor titled *Live in Frostland*. Personally, I really liked the artwork on that bootleg, and the word "Frostland" embodied much of what we wanted our music to represent.

 

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

7: We wanted artwork that precisely reflects the themes of our lyrics. Something that captures the depth, chaos, and madness of the cosmos and fits the title *Im Zentrum der Leere* (At the Center of the Void), while also looking graceful.

Incidentally, the artwork is by the brilliant Mexican artist Pall Maldavian, who also created the cover art for our previous album, *Winterkult*. We love her style, and she has a real knack for understanding our vision.

 

8.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

8: Between 2015 and 2018, we played a relatively high number of shows by our standards. All in all, it was an intense and interesting period. Naturally, every show was special and interesting in its own way, but if I had to single a few out, I’d mention our performance at "Rhein in Blood." That was a legendary concert series in Cologne running for over a decade that showcased black, death, thrash, and grindcore metal. It took place every two months and was always well-attended, featuring a mix of regional acts and bands from around the world. 

We also played the Frostfeuernächte Festival near Berlin, which was pretty great, too. Another very special gig took place in a somewhat large rehearsal space in Bochum; there were maybe only 12 people there, but the atmosphere was incredible. 

Finally, the Rotten Stones Festival in Luxembourg held in an amphitheater right in the middle of the woods offered a truly impressive setting for a live performance.

 

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

9: For now, the only confirmed date is the release show on October 29th at Valhalla in Cologne a venue we have a deep connection to, by the way. We’ve played there a few times, and my drummer and I practically spent our youth there listening to metal.

Nothing else is firmly planned at the moment, but there will certainly be more shows for the album. We’ll see what comes up. So, if anyone is interested in booking us, feel free to get in touch.

 

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

10: We aren’t exactly a huge band, even though we’ve been making music for 20 years. Yet. Over the years, people from all over the world have taken an interest in our music. Some more than others. We’ve had some wonderful encounters and conversations with fans. For instance, we once played a show at the Helvete in Oberhausen. Before the gig, we were standing outside the venue having a beer when two guys walked up to us and said, "You’re the Frostland guys, aren't you? We traveled a long way just to see you." It turned out they were train drivers who used to talk about our music while at work. It was really special for us that people would travel such a distance to see us, especially since we view ourselves as a relatively small band.

 

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

11: As we’ve said before, we’ll always sound a little different without losing our core identity. Our latest ideas are a bit more complex, but also darker. We’ll let you be surprised. In any case, it definitely won’t take eight years until the next album.

 

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?

12: That’s actually a tricky question. Let me put it this way. Our drummer and I have known each other since we were very young and listened to metal together from an early age. 

So our tastes in black metal are quite similar. Our guitarist, who joined later, listened to or preferred some completely different bands. Of course, we ended up influencing each other, but there were definitely differences. I believe it was precisely those differences that helped us grow. Our bassist and vocalist, on the other hand, comes more from a melodic death metal background and preferred a whole different set of bands. We’ve always discussed the styles or elements of various bands to see what we liked and what we could incorporate. So, I don’t want to single out just one or two bands; that would give a distorted picture. We’ve been influenced by countless bands and still are today.

 

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

13: I’d like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. It’s really interesting to consciously reflect on these questions myself.

Thanks, too, for your passion for this music. Something we share with you and your readers.

If you’re interested, please feel free to check out our album *Im Zentrum der Leere* starting October 30th. We always really appreciate feedback.

https://www.facebook.com/frostlandblackmetal

https://frostland.bandcamp.com/album/winterkult

https://frostland-official.de/releases.html

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Frostland/3540273705

Kalt Vindur/The Void Of Time/The Circle Music/2026 Full Length Review

  Poland's  Kult  Vindur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  'subcarpatian'  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Void  Of  Time"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  The  Circle  Music.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  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  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording.  Synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental

  On  this  recording  Kult  Vindur  goes  for  more  of  an  aggressive,  modern  and  melodic  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  war,  death  and  pain  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kult  Vindur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Suspended  In  Emptiness"  "Lost  Infinity"  and  "Jesien".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Spotify

https://youtu.be/aTwAGxe8eOc     

Nyrak/Empires Of Ash/Void Wanderer Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 Italy's  Nyrak  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheri  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Empires  Of  Ash"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Void  Wanderer  Productions.

  Synths  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of   the  songs  at  times  adding  in  more  of  a  symphonic  approach.   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  being  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Nyrak  brings  out  a  very  progressive,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mythology,  decay,  human  hubris,  power  and  authority  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nyrak  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  progressive  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'The  Saturnalia  Prophecy"  and  "Oztmandias".  8 out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/NyrakOfficial/

  

    

Sysi Interview

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

The band started to take shape around 2025. At the time, I was playing in a rock band where the songwriting duties were shared, but I wanted to write music entirely of my own and move in a more metal-oriented direction. I’ve always been interested in black metal and the underground scene, so I started looking for the right vocalist for the project, as my own vocal skills are rather limited.

I’m not a particularly technical guitarist either, but I trusted my ability to write strong, emotionally affecting melodies and concise, coherent songs. I found our vocalist Arttu through social media and listened to his solo project. What immediately caught my attention was his extremely clear articulation, which is surprisingly rare. Even when people sing in their native Finnish, it can sometimes be difficult to understand a single word without reading the lyrics. With Arttu, I could understand everything without them.

More importantly, the emotions in his voice genuinely affected me. There is a tendency in extreme metal to simply try to sound as monstrous, frightening or aggressive as possible, and to me that can easily come across as artificial or even naive. Arttu sounded believable. I contacted him, and we began working together remotely. I would create the instrumental foundations, Arttu would comment on them, and once we felt the music was strong enough, he would start fitting lyrics and vocals to the songs.

We worked this way for at least a year, possibly closer to two, before we even met in person. In fact, SYSI initially existed almost entirely remotely. The record was made in much the same way, and all the musicians actually met each other for the first time at the promotional photo shoot.

The idea from the beginning was to first find out whether we could actually make good songs together. If we could do that, playing them live would not be a major problem, because everyone already had live experience. I had previously played with Sami and Heikki in another band, and Arttu had performed live as well. For us, it was much more important to find out whether the songwriting collaboration worked and whether we could create something worthwhile than simply getting together to hang out at rehearsals.

2. So far you have released an EP, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

We deliberately didn’t want to define the genre beforehand, because we didn’t want people to dismiss the music based on preconceived ideas about a particular label. Now that the EP has been released, though, it seems to be consistently described as depressive black metal.

Our intention was never to make depressive, dark music that pushes people further down. Quite the opposite. Arttu and I wanted the music to validate those emotions—to make people feel that they are not alone with them and perhaps give them some strength to keep moving forward. So “depressive black metal” may describe the phenotype, in the sense that the music can sound depressive, but we feel that “melancholic black metal” is perhaps more accurate. There are melodies of sorrow, longing and nostalgia. Someone even described some of the melodies as having an Eastern quality. For us, melody and emotion are really the key elements.

You can call it DSBM, but not in the sense that SYSI encourages or glorifies self-destructiveness. We do deal with self-destructive thoughts and behaviour, because those are also part of the human experience. Hiding or being ashamed of such feelings does not help anyone move forward. We would rather acknowledge that they exist and convey the idea that it is possible to live through them and to get help.

Musically, we also wanted to leave space. The songs are relatively slow rather than being a constant barrage that eventually numbs your ears. We wanted room for the melodies, rhythms and groove.

Another important part of the sound was that we specifically wanted the record to feel live. We weren’t aiming for a flawless recording. We recorded complete takes: the drums from beginning to end, the vocals from beginning to end, and so on. Almost everything was done this way. The exception was the lead guitars, where we allowed ourselves to obsess over the details and record them in sections so that certain elements would be exactly where we wanted them.

That organic, natural quality can be heard on the record. It was a great idea from Arttu that we really wanted to follow through with, and judging by the feedback we have received, it has become one of the things that distinguishes SYSI from a lot of modern music that is heavily processed and corrected.

3. Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

The EP was intended as a complete work, including thematically. We spent quite a long time considering whether to call it a demo or an EP, but it is definitely an EP. Even though it is short, it forms a coherent whole rather than being just a random collection of three different demo songs.

There is an arc running through the record. It begins in hopelessness and ends with rediscovering the beauty of life and finding a way to keep moving forward, even though the burden still rests on your shoulders from time to time.

The lyrics deal with waiting for your own death, self-destructive feelings, experiencing yourself as something bad or dark, and letting go of relationships and addictions. Ultimately, though, it is up to the listener to interpret the songs. I believe they can resonate with people from very different perspectives.

These experiences are part of being human, and we wanted the themes to be accessible beyond Finnish-speaking listeners. That is why we carefully made English translations for the YouTube lyric videos. The original Finnish lyrics are presented line by line alongside the English translation, so non-Finnish speakers can follow in real time what Arttu is singing.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name ‘Sysi’?

SYSI comes from a Finnish word with two related meanings. Sysimusta means “pitch-black,” while sysi itself means coal. So the name refers to something pitch-black or coal-black. It reflects both the sound of the band and our roots in black metal.

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

It was important to us not to use AI for the artwork. We wanted everything to be made by hand, and the cover painting is something I made myself. I, Lauri, originally painted it in 2019, in the middle of a major upheaval in my life.

I found a piece of spruce plank on my property and painted directly onto it. I didn’t use brushes at all, only my fingers and painting knives. The original painting was predominantly red, with a kind of red mass raining down over what appears to be a group of people. For the aesthetics of this EP, however, it worked better to photograph the painting and convert it into black and white.

Apart from that and cropping the image to emphasize the human-like figure in the lower left corner, there was no other processing. Interestingly, there were never actually supposed to be any people in the painting. It is an abstract work. Many people see a face in the lower left, but in reality it is simply the imprint of my thumb creating a three-dimensional effect.

People are free to make their own interpretations of it. I remember that when Arttu first saw the painting, his impression was that one person had somehow been left outside everything else, while the others were passing by through some kind of rain.

6. Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

We haven’t played a single live show yet, and in fact we haven’t even had a single band rehearsal. We are still focusing on songwriting, and at the moment we are working on our next EP, which will probably consist of around four songs.

Once we have roughly ten songs, we will start playing live. That will probably happen within the next year. Until then, our focus is on writing music and finding a record deal. Our thinking remains the same: there is no point in rehearsing if you don’t have good songs to rehearse. We want to establish the concept and build a strong body of material first. The actual playing will come naturally, as everyone already has the necessary experience. We already developed good chemistry during the recording process.

SYSI will absolutely become a live band. Performing in front of an audience is enormously rewarding and important to us. The feedback we have received from the EP has already been extremely moving and rewarding, particularly when people have described their own emotions while listening and told us how the music affected them.

We definitely need to get on stage, but first we want to take our time and create an excellent set of songs. In the end, even a year is quite a short time to take a completely new band from its beginnings to the stage. We just have to be patient, even though we are already very eager to play live.

7. What are some of the band’s plans for the future?

At the moment, the EP is completely self-released, and we have applied for a grant to help cover some of the costs. Our goal for the next release would be to have either a co-financing agreement with a label or to have the release fully funded.

Our intention is not to make money for ourselves through this music. We all have our own day jobs, but at the same time, SYSI is more than a hobby to us. Our goal is to eventually work with a larger record label that could help us bring this music to a wider audience. As a completely independent band, it is extremely difficult to become visible without the promotional power that a label can provide.

We hope our music reaches the right people and that a record label might hear something in SYSI that makes them want to contact us and start a conversation. We fully understand that taking on a marginal band like ours is a financial risk, and we would deeply appreciate a label placing that kind of trust in us and giving us the opportunity to release music under their name.

Our next concrete goal is to begin recording the new EP in January, here in my home studio where we recorded the first EP. We also intend to continue working with Hiili Hiilesmaa for mixing and mastering. He did an excellent job of preserving the organic, 1990s atmosphere we wanted, and he has also been a major personal influence on me in metal music. Many of the Finnish metal records that have meant the most to me were mixed by Hiili.

Making records at this level is quite expensive, though, so having a label or financing agreement behind the next release would be very valuable to us.

8. What has the response been to your music so far?

I have personally been surprised by how much contact and feedback we have received from outside Finland. I originally thought that our music would mainly appeal to Finnish-speaking listeners, but it actually seems that there is at least as much interest abroad as there is in Finland. We have received messages from Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Latvia, the United States and Israel, just to name a few.

Finnish is quite a percussive language, which I think makes it particularly well suited to metal. It can sound rough and aggressive even when the actual words being sung are not angry at all. In that sense, Finnish feels almost made for metal music.

People have particularly appreciated the fresh, natural sound of the EP compared with a lot of modern production where everything can feel overproduced. We have also received positive feedback about the songwriting being coherent and the atmosphere coming through strongly.

Some of the most meaningful comments have come from listeners who have recognized their own emotions in Arttu’s voice—people saying that they have felt exactly what they hear being expressed in the vocals. That kind of response means a lot to us.

Within the first two weeks of the release, we have also already been added to several playlists and online radio stations.

9. When can we expect a full-length and where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

At the moment, it looks like we will make three EPs first. We have now released the first three-song EP, and the plan is to make two more EPs of three or four songs each. After that, we intend to start playing live, and hopefully by then we will have a proper record deal that allows us to make a full-length album.

We want each EP to be a coherent work with its own thematic identity. The theme for the next EP has already been decided, and songwriting began this week. The idea is to write a lot of material and then select the strongest songs. We did the same with the first EP: we wrote more than twice as many songs as eventually appeared on it, and then chose the compositions that we felt were both the strongest and worked best together.

I tend to write what you could call “mini-songs,” where the main musical themes are already there. If they don’t speak to Arttu, I don’t continue developing them. It is important that the music creates a strong emotional response in him. Only then do I finish writing the song.

So, realistically, we will make a full-length album once we have a record deal. Before that, we also hope to find some form of co-financing for the upcoming EPs. We may still be able to continue releasing the EPs independently if necessary, although outside support would obviously make things considerably easier.

A full-length album is a different matter financially. In practice, producing one song costs us around 700 euros when marketing and the costs of producing physical media are included, so funding an entire album ourselves may not be realistic. To make a full-length at the level we want, we will need the support of a record label.

10. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music?

As a composer, I have been particularly influenced by bands such as Sentenced, Thy Serpent and Paradise Lost. What has influenced me most is their sense of melody, but also their minimalism and sincerity.

Arttu’s vocal style, on the other hand, has been influenced by La Dispute and hardcore punk.

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

We all share a love for dogs. I also work as a psychiatrist, so both in my work and through music I deal a lot with themes related to mental health and questions about human existence.

Ever since I was a young man, I have been interested in psychology, philosophy and theology, and music is simply one way for me to explore these subjects.

Arttu is studying to become a firefighter, and helping other people is also something that is meaningful to him.

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

One of my dreams in life was to make a record of music I had composed myself, with a great vocalist and a rhythm section that really grooves. That dream has already come true.

It feels incredible to me that I am now answering questions for an interview coming from outside Finland, and I am deeply touched by that. I’m looking forward to what happens next with some uncertainty, but also with a lot of excitement. Will people find us? Will we find the support we need to make the next EP and eventually a full-length album?

I believe that art can help people in situations where, for example, medicine cannot always reach them. Art can create profound changes within a person and even provide something to hold on to in the middle of great confusion and hopelessness.

But none of that can happen if the music never finds its listener. I hope this interview reaches the eyes of someone for whom it was meant.

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