Urna/The Great Jihad/ATMF/2026 Full Length Review

  Urna  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  an  esoteric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Great  Jihad"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  ATMF.

  

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  atmospheric  sounding  synths  are  also  used  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  and  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

 

  Urna  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  funeral  doom  metal  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Hermeticism  and  Esoteric  themes.

   In  my  opinion  Urna  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "First  Of  Three"  "Four  Levels  Of  Infinite  Splendour".  8  out  of  10.

  https://atmfsssdtp.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-jihad    

 

Deathspiral Of Inherited Suffering/Elysian Blaze/Panegyrist/Maerund/Sunthema/Voidhanger Records/Rubeus Obex/2026 4 Way Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  4  wat  split  album  between  U.S.A's  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering,  Panegyrist/  Maerund  and  Australia's  Elysian  Blaze  called  "Sunthema"  which  will  be  released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  between  Voidhanger  Records  and  Rubeus  Obex  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  ritualistic  soundscapes  and  demonic  voices.  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  ambient  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  raw  tremolo  picking.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  synths  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the lyrics  cove r fury,  grief  and  sacrifice.

  In  my  opinion  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Houses  of  Abysmal  Masks.

  Next  up  is  Elysian  Blaze  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  nature  sounds  and  atmospheric  sounding  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  sonly  song  present  on  his  side  of  the  split  is  also  over  17  minutes  in  length  and  the  slower  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  which  are  mixed  down  low  in  the  mix,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  raw  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard.  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Elysian  Blaze  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.

  Next  up  is  Panegyrist  a  band  that  plays  a  very  avant  garde  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  dissonant  sound  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  symphonic  elements  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  and  both  of t heir  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  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  dissonant  style,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Luciferous  Christworship.

  In  my  opinion  Panegyrist  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  and  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Luciferous".

   Closing  the  split  is  Maerund  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  orthodox  form  of  black  metal.

  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.  The  clear  vocals  also  add  in  some  avant  garde  touches  mixed  in with  some  harsh  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  his  side  of  the  split  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  percussion  is  also  used  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Neoplatonic  Theurgy  and  Orthodox  Mysticism.

  In  my  opinion  Maerund  are  a  very  great  sounding  orthodox  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  "Red  Crystal  Lattive".

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

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sunthema    

        

     

Python Interview

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

Yeah Python is a black metal/funeral doom whatever you want to call it one man band centered around a very non traditional banjo. But really i just call it hypnotic swamp shit.

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

I live out the woods literally back in the swamp and what came out on the record is so appropriate for the setting here. Very raw, creepy, and hypnotic. Originally i was going to just be making banjo songs and i ended up getting carried away adding bass and drums and rolled with it.

3.Instead of using regular guitar's you use a banjo as a lead instrument, can you tell us a little bit about the decision behind introducing this instrument to the genre of black metal?

My extended family has always been involved in bluegrass and my great uncle is the legend Dock Boggs. Honestly, i bought a banjo because of family and started learning traditional bluegrass and being who i am, i got really bored quickly and B lined into making this record.

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

Everything is about Florida nature and the spirits that inhabit this land.

5.How does the name 'Python' fit in with the musical style that you play?

The reason i wanted to use the name is because of the invasive Burmese Pythons in the Florida Everglades. It’s something i have studied heavily and am counting on hunting myself soon. This record feels like being on mushrooms alone in the glades so i felt it was appropriate.

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

I love Warhead art so much. It’s so raw and primitive. It’s a swamp spirit fuckin his skeletal corpse while hallucinating on shrooms in the bog DUH

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

I did record this with a friend who gave me inputs, helped me with things, mixed it, and added sample sounds and shit like that. I just wrote and recorded everything. But yes i am open to it. I have a split recorded already but i will be starting a new full length this year with another friend and i am very much looking forward to that.

8.The album was released on 'Jems Label', how did you get in contact with this label?

We just chatted on Instagram a bit and we are boys now. Jorge rules. I can’t thank him enough for helpin with the release.

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

Seems pretty good so far, i haven’t seen much negative or any really. Honestly i am glad people like it, but i really mostly made this record for myself. After being in a very large death metal band for years and stepping back from music for 5 years now i really needed to make something for myself like this.

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

I’m just going to keep evolving this project for now and trying to make it weirder and more mind bending. I have two - ten minute songs for a split with a friends swampy black metal project. Then i will do another full length probably all this year.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Ak’chamel, Craft, Leviathan, Esoctrilihum, and Xasthur are my top influences for this I’d say. And honestly i mostly listen to Ak’chamel right now and i keep putting on Invunche, Cuntroaches, and Kūka’ilimoku.

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

I just hope everyone enjoys the weird shit i have made and will make.

Stop moving to Florida, it’s full.

Skunk ape is real. He’s a spirit that takes physical form and he lives out here.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/python.swamphymns

 

Python/Delirium Palace/Jems Label/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Python  are  a  band  from  Florida  that  plays  a  banjo  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their   2026  album  "Delirium  Palace"  which  was  released  by  Jems  Label.

  Nature  sounds  and  dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  banjo's  and  bas  guitars  a  few  seconds  later.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  recording  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  banjo's  also  replace  the  electric  guitars  as  the  main  instrument  along  with  the  album  also  remaining  very  heavy  and  dark  without  the  use  of  traditional  metal  instruments   and  the  closing  track  takes  the  music  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  as  well  as  adding  in  some  spoken  words.

  Python  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  lo-fi  as  well  as  using  banjo's  to  create  something  different  for  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Python  are  a  very  great  sounding  banjo  orientated  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  original,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Half  Moon"  and  "Black  Stink".  8  out  of  10.

  

Listen: bandcamp - https://pythonswamphymps.bandcamp.com

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lYMFnf0qHb0cTPbJf9eij?si=XN3JyYr1SSKyCI_vEdNTAw

YouTube Music - https://music.youtube.com/channel/UChKXKMmL2N-cnl4MIWQpYHg?si=jzkbwxgc2l9MMjqM

Press materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wkHMewWcaw-E6OlvlMrOZl1Pd5mNFTG9

Instagram: https://instagram.com/python.swamphymns

  

Atlantic Ridge/Self Titled/Void Wanderer Productions/Dusktone/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Atlantic  Ridge  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2026  album  which  will  be  released  in  April  as  a  joint  effort  between  Void  Wanderer  Productions  and  Dusktone.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  funeral  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  incredible  places  and  an  utopian  journey  through  time  and  space. 

  In  my  opinion  Atlantic  Ridge  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  o0f  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Our  Faith  Is  Our  Strength(Tristan  da  Cunha)"  and  "Contemplating  The  Vastness  Of  the  universe(The  Gobi  Desert,  Mongolia)".  8  out  of  10.

  https://voidwanderer.com/product/atlantic-ridge-mc/

 https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/atlantic-ridge  

Worm/Necropalace/Century Media Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  U.S.A's  Worm  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  nekromantic  form  of  blackened  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Necropalace"  which  will b e  released  on  February  13th  by  Century  Media  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  symphonic sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  a  couple  of   songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  brings  back  the  symphonic  style  of  the  mid  90's  era,  clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  some  session  work  from  Marty  Friedman.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Necromancy,  Darkness  and  Death  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Worm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Necropalace"  and  "Blackheart".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/wormgloom/

  

Sakna/De Syv Dødssynder/Hypaethral Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sakna  are  a  solo  project  from  Canada  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  neo-folk,  dark  ambient  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "De  Syv  Dødssynder"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  Hypaethral  Records.

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  while  also  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  songs  also adding  in  a  small  amount  of  bells,  nature,  rain  and  thunder  sounds.

  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.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  singing,  one  song  also  introduces  folk  instruments  onto  the  album.  A  couple  of  the  later  songs  are  also   instrumentals  and  a  later  track  is  also  a  Windir  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Dante  Alighierl's  "The  Divine  Comedy".

  In  my  opinion  Sakna  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  with  elements  of  neo-folk, dark  ambient  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Begynneise  -  Sti"  "Del  II  -Skjaersliden"  and  "Berceuse  Astralw".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/saknaeternus/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5z35qFT4V7WEjQQSeBE5pP?si=8QdimxlYTgW5h0f22326oQ      

Witherer/Shadow Without A Horizon/Hypaethral Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Witherer  are  a  band  from  Canada  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Shadow  Without  A  Horizon"  which  will be  released  on  June  20th  by  Hypaethral  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  funeral  doom  metal  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  momenta.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  as  well  as  the  whispers  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  touch  when  they  are  utilized,  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album,  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  they  also  bring  in  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  furthest  subterranean  cornets  of  the  earth's  bloodless  veins.

  In  my  opinion  Witherer  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  RACKS  INCLUDE  "Fiat  Umbra  (Burial  Beneath  The  Stalactites)"  and  "Praises  (Guiding  Through  The  Lightless  Sea)".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/withererdeath

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570087235639

Nortt/Dødssang/Avantgarde Music/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nortt  are  a  solo  project  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  mixture  of  depressive  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  if  his  2025  album  "Dødssang"  which  will  be  released  on  march  28th  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  wile  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  depressive  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Nortt  remains  to  the  mixture  of  depressive  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  style  of  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Danish  and  cover  despair,  death  and  existentialism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nortt  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  depressive  black  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dodsengel"  and  "Bon  til  Doden".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/nortt_official

https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/d-dssang      

Fulaing/An End Held Dear/2025 EP Review

 

  Fulaing  are  a  band  from  Raleigh,  North  Carolina  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  folk,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "An  End  Held  Dear".

  Acoustic  guitars  and  stringed  instruments  start  off  the  ep  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  folk  music  while  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal.

  Fulaing  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  depressive  forms  of  black  metal  and  mixes  them  with  funeral  doom,  death  metal  and  folk  music  to  create  something  very  different. The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  suffering,  loss,  melancholy  and  longing  for  more.

  In  my  opinion  Fulaing  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  depressive  black  emtal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "An  End  Held  Dear".  8  out  of  10.

  https://fulaing.bandcamp.com/album/an-end-held-dear-cassingle

https://open.spotify.com/album/3nFCEdj4KfTq7h3wBnAIhw 

Malacath/Eternal Roar Of The Thunder And Rain/Eternal Death/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Malacath  are  a  duo  from  New  Hampshire  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Eternal  Roar  Of  the  Thunder  And  Rain"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Eternal  Death.

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

 Most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  classical  guitars  and  clean  playing.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism  and  Nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Malacath  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eternal  Roar  Of  The  Thunder  And  Rain"  and  "Blood  of  our  Fathers".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://eternaldeath.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-roar-of-the-thunder-and-rain

malacath.bandcamp.com       

Cursed Cemetery/Magma Transmigration/Dusktone/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Cursed  Cemetery  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  ritualistic  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Magma  Transmigration"  which  was  released  by  Dusktone.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  funeral  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clear  ritualistic  chants  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs along  with  most  of  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  has  its  repetitive  moments.  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  guitar  amp  effects  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  the  songs  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Cursed  Cemetery  takes  an  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  ritualistic  form  of  funeral  doom  metal  to  create  a  very  dark,  heavy  and  slow  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  suicide,  occultism,  physical  and  mental  torture.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Cemetery  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  ritualistic  black  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Magma  Transmigration"  and  "Udva".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067334137278

A Beautiful Day To Die Alone/Last Minte of Happiness/Syrup Moose Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  A  Beautiful  Day  To  Die  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Last  Minute  Of  Happiness"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Syrup  Moose  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  elements  of  funeral  doom  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  tracks.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  playing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  couple  of  songs are  also  instrumentals.

  A  Beautiful  Day  To  Die  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  depressive  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  A  Beautiful  Day  To  Die  is  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "You  Where  So  Beautiful"  "The  End"  and  "Dawn".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/aBeautifulDayToDie/about          

Siculicidium/Az elidegenedés melankóliája/Sun & Moon Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Romania's  Siculicidium  which  shows  hem  moving  away  from  the  black  metal  style  of  previous  releases  and  going  for  more  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  experimental  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  country  and  folk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Az  elidegenedés  melankóliája"  which  was  released  by  Sun  &  Moon  Records.

  Dark  ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  while  the  clean  guitars  also  add  in  elements  of  country  and  folk  music  when  they  are  introduced  onto  the  album.  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  wing  instruments,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  the  percussion  instruments  also  add  in  some  tribal  touches.  Some  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  electronica  sounds  onto  the  recording. 

   When  harsh  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  bring  back  some  of  the  black  metal  elements  of  previous  releases  along  with   some  heavy  and  melodic  funeral  doom  metal  guitar  riffs  also  being  introduced  as  the  recording  progress.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Romanian  and  cover  the  universe  with  some  occult  and  esoteric  touches.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Siculicidium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  dark  ambient,  country,  folk,  black  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  " Az  első"  "Áradás"  "Hasadás"  and  "Ima". 8  out  of  10.

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Iravu/Mumuksu/Sudra/Fiadh Productions/Vita Destablis Records/2024 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Malaysia's  Iravu  and  Mumuksu  called  "Sudra"  which  will  be  released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Destablis  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with Mumuksu  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  funeral  doom  and  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  bass  guitar  orientated  drones  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal.  The  track  is  also  over  17  minutes  in  length  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  riffing  as  well  as  the  vocals  being  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style  which  also  evolve  into  more  of  an  aggressive  screaming  direction,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  and  the  lyrics  cover  racial  injustice  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mumuksu  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  black  and  funeral doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.

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

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  atmospheric  sounding  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  The  track  is  also  over  13  minutes  in  length while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  song  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  track  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  when  clean  plying  is  utilzied  it  also  adds  in  some  progressive  touches  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  racial  injustice  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Iravu  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  progressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

  On  the  closing  track  Iravu  and  Mumuksu  team  up  and  mix  their  2  different  styles  together.

  The  song  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  drones  while  the  track  is  also  over  23  minutes  in  length.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in t he  slower  sections  of  the  song  along  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  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  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  clear  singing  style  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  also being  utilized  at  times,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  song  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  lowest  of  the  Hindu  caste  system.

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

  https://mumuksu.bandcamp.com/album/broken-homes-split-w-mokhir

https://iravu.bandcamp.com/album/sudra       

Dream Unending/Worm/Starpath/20 Buck SPin/2023 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  U.SA/Canada's  Dream  Unending  and  Worm  called  "Starpath"  which  was  released  in  2023  by  20  Buck  Spin  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Dream  Unending  a  band  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  doom  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  slow  doom  metal  riffing  and  death  metal  growls  while   clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  both  of  their  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

 When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  clean  vocals  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  all  of  their  music  also  sticking  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  introspection,  pain,  fear,  dreams,  and  grief  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dream  Unending  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "So  Many  Chances".

  Next  up  is  Worm  who  returns  with  more  of  a  symphonic  and  vampyric  style  of  black  metal  with  touches  of  funeral  doom/death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy,  atmospheric  and  melodic  sound  while  the synths  also  add  in  some  atmospheric  touches.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  and  all  of  their  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  clear  chants/singing,  whispers  and  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly   and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times,  death  metal  growls  and  funeral  doom  metal  elements  are  also  mixed  in  with  their  new  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Worm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  vampiric,  symphonic  black  metal  and  funeral  doom/death,  you  should  check  out  this  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Midwinter  Tears".

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

  https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dream_Unending/3540495124

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Worm/3540398560#    

      

Wives Tale Interview

 

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

We're a three piece blackened doom band from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  

2.So far you have released 2 demo's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

'Witch Tree' shows more of the black metal and funeral doom inspiration, complete with synth and lo-fi production.  'To Be Bathed In Red Light' shows more of our stoner/sludge influence, with some noise and hardcore as well. The sound isn't as lo-fi, more caustic and heavy. We tracked everything live in the same room, not to a click. We wanted it to have that organic feeling, and to be rough around the edges like a good demo should be.

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

'Witch Tree' is more fantasy oriented, about a coven of witches who live under a giant tree that lures in predatory men and kills them.  There's a tree where I grew up that's really gnarled and huge, this song is named after that.  Growing up, a couple of us called it 'the witch tree' because it looked like the type of place where a witch would live.  We knew we wanted to incorporate the witch tree into the band somehow.  'To Be Bathed In Red Light' was written by our frontman, Micah, when he was going through the end of a long term relationship. I have lyrics written for a number of songs we're working on, ranging from religion to depression to fantasy.

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

There isn't really a deep meaning behind it, to be honest.  The three of us were friends and coworkers before we started the band, and we keep a running list of imaginary band names--most of them dumb and goofy, but every once in a while we get one we genuinely like.  I'm big into herbal remedies and natural treatments, which I was trying to explain to the other guys.  I described them as old wives tales that have genuine merit. We thought 'Wives Tale' would make a cool funeral doom band.

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

The artwork is all done by myself and shot by my father, who's a photographer.  He's been great to work with.  I wanted each track to have a distinct visual identity, however both somewhat unintentionally deal with obscurity. I love digging through record stores, and I wanted 'Witch Tree' to be the kind of obscure black metal tape that would catch my eye--a grainy photo of a big harvest moon seen through clouds and trees ties (which nicely with the lyrics for the track).  The cover for 'To Be Bathed In Red Light' also works with obscurity, but in a completely different way. I was drawing inspiration from xeroxed images that come out really grainy and unidentifiable.  It's eerie because you can't quite make out what you're looking at. The window is kind of an anchor, but you can't really tell what is looking in or out.  Each track having that distinct feel helps reinforce that it's more of a compilation rather than an EP or album. The tapes actually have a reversible j-card, so you get both covers.  For the rest of the j-card, I was going for the look of a DIY poster or zine, where stuff has been cut or torn out and pasted together.

6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

We've done a few live shows, and have several booked for 2024.  Our original drummer moved out to the west coast in late summer of 2023 and it's just taken some time to find a new drummer and get going live again.  We love playing live, and have gotten really good reception so far, which came as a big surprise (and relief) to me.  I've spent a lot of time trying to craft an engaging and unique live show, with heavy focus on atmosphere.  The live setting is really where the entire vision comes together. I'd like to find a way to translate it better to our online presence in the future so it doesn't get entirely lost in translation--incense, candles, altars, creepy intro track, and exclusively red light, of course.

7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

Somewhat.  We're still working some of that stuff out.  I'm really drawn toward the dark and mysterious vibe, but overall we haven't had a lot of traction with that.  We've had more success embracing humor on social media. I think people generally relate more to that.  It's really just a matter of finding what works but still feels authentic to us.

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

Not a lot of reach worldwide yet, though we'd love for that to change! We get a few random streams from places like India every once in a while.  For now, we're just grateful for the incredible reception we've had here in Sioux Falls.  We only played three shows before our drummer moved, but from those shows we felt a lot of hype and support from our community, which I hope continues.  I hope to focus more outside of our hometown, too.  We're really appreciative of the chance to put the demos out on Fiadh Productions.  It's one of my favorite labels, and I couldn't be happier to have the opportunity to work with Bariann.

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

We have a number of tracks in the works right now.  Our next release will be a single, actually a cover song that we're really stoked about.  We have a full length nearing completion as well--a concept album about a priest who starts exploring the occult.  I'm really excited to finish that and release it.

10.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?

Bell Witch is the main band that made us want to start this band.  Turns out making music like them is really hard, haha.  Of course, other funeral doom bands like Atramentus, Thergothon, Mournful Congregation, Nortt, etc.  We're also heavily influenced by depressive suicidal black metal, bands like None and Begotten.  I listen to a lot of dungeon synth and epic black metal so I'm always trying to bring synths into whatever I can.  The other guys in the band really like noise and experimental stuff, so they bring that element.  Our first drummer, Charlie, was a classically trained percussionist--he went to college for it and played in the symphony here in Sioux Falls--so that brought a really interesting element to those songs. On a completely different note I've been listening to a bunch of hair metal lately, which I don't think will influence any of our stuff moving forward. At least I hope it won't.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

It does.  I've been into the occult for a couple of years now.  Before that, I was raised Christian and actually have a degree in theology, as does our singer.  I've been into metal for a long time, and despite liking a lot of satanic or anti-religious stuff, I thought a lot of it was fairly elementary.  It's fun in a rebellious kind of way, but not particularly thought provoking, especially for someone with a thorough understanding of religion.  I remember thinking that a theologian could probably make the best anti-Christian music, so here I am.  You might not get much yet with the songs we've released, but we have a number of tracks coming up that deal with my deconversion and religious trauma.  It's been cathartic to write about it, and my feelings definitely inspired the story behind the concept album I mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, there isn't really any community around here for people into occultism; however, this has allowed me the freedom to really make my practice my own.  I've found a lot of excitement and healing in piecing things together and trying to forge my own way with the limited resources I have.  Lately I've been very drawn toward serpent deities (for lack of a better term)--Agathos Daimon, Nehusthan, even Jesus' portrayal in the gospel of John, and groups like the Ophites and Naassenes.  On stage I wear a serpent rosary wrapped around my hand.  I'm also very drawn to feminine deities.  I have a lot of love for Inanna, Lilith, Hecate, and dark goddess/dark mother work.  This is reflected most clearly by the altar we set up on stage.  We actually use a lot of Christian inspiration on stage, and it might seem like we're trying to be blasphemous.  While there is a bit of that, it's far from my main interest.  I'm drawing heavily on Christian ritual and imagery but using them for my own purposes.  Less like a mockery and more like a repurposing.  Oh and lastly, even though it's very basic for a metal guy, Baphomet is huge for me. I love the focus on balance and harmony.

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

Thank you so much for the interest and opportunity! Thank you to anybody who took the time to read this.  I love that anybody would be interested in my thoughts on any of this.  Thank you to Bariann at Fiadh Productions, I can't say enough how excited I am to get to work with such a cool label.  I'm excited for everything that we're working on, and really look forward to playing more shows, making more music, doing more merch.  It's all going to be great.

https://wivestaledoom.bandcamp.com/