Громгор Interview

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

Громгор is a one-man band project from Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia. The project was formed in August 2024 with the release of the first track, "Зверь".Everything is recorded using a regular Clevan CST 30 guitar. I ripped out all the electronics from it and directly soldered a single Seymour Duncan Black Winter humbucker.

2.A few months back you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

The album «Земля сделанная из льда» is recorded in the atmospheric, depressive raw black metal genre. The guitar parts consist of melodic tremolo. The speed is medium: the tempo (BPM) was chosen so that it would be comfortable to play tremolo with the right hand. This technical aspect is always my starting point.

3.Most of your lyrics cover winter themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

In fact, "winter themes" sounds too vague. The album tells a specific story that took place on «Земля сделанная из льда». According to the plot, a long time ago an army of chorts descended from the heavens and encased the sun in ice, causing a glacier to form in the middle of a massive body of water. There, the king of chorts built a fortress. He cut out his own heart, hid it in a chest inside the fortress, and fed the key to the chest to a monster that guards it.The winter atmosphere is revealed through the story: blizzards, ice giants, snow reindeer. Just look at the single line about how the main character, Громгор, walks through the snow: "What heavy snow, what heavy snow" — it simply sends chills down your spine.

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

«Громгор» simply stands for "гром гор" (the thunder of the mountains). At first, I wanted to name it "Гром с гор", but then I thought the letter "с" was redundant. It is already clear that we are talking about thunder that rumbles specifically in the mountains. Such thunder has no place in a city, in a cafe, or at work. Its place is in the forests and mountains, which is why I often go to the countryside to record tracks.In general, I love leaving the city and walking through the forest in silence. I would walk there all the time if it weren't for bears — I am afraid of them. In one track, I have a line: "A family of bears crawled into my boot to sleep" — it is an image showing that the hero's boot is so big and powerful that the bears decided to hibernate inside it. But the line itself appeared because of fear, after I actually encountered a bear in the forest.

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

The artwork for the releases is done strictly in a textured pixel art style.

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

In fact, I am not ready to collaborate. I write riffs only when I am in a specific mood. For instance, right after a walk in the forest, the music begins to pour out of the guitar like a wide river. Other people often disrupt this mindset, which is already hard to maintain. My task is to take the entire forest, squeeze it into a fist, bring it back, and unleash it into the riffs like a roaring river. Outside people would only get in the way.

7.According to the Metal Archives page you are signed to 'Depressive Illusions', how did you get in contact with this label?

No, that is not true. Громгор is not signed to any labels. I release everything on my own.

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

The reaction was good. Before that, a bunch of singles had been released, and listeners expected the album to consist of those exact same tracks. Instead, Громгор unleashed entirely fresh material. And people liked it.

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

No.

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

In the future, I see myself remaining within this or related genres.

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

I love doom metal, black. Over the past 10 years, I've also listened to a lot of thrash, death, and melodic death metal.When I used to play the old game Heroes of Might and Magic III, I always turned on Summoning in the background — it’s a magical combination. I’ll also separately note Dissection and Death. But overall, I was probably influenced by absolutely everything I've ever listened to.

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

My thoughts are these: black metal is a wonderful genre with a strong character, but it shouldn't be turned into a theater of corpse paint and masks. Black metal is an internal state of soul that no one can take away from you. Whether you are at work, in the subway, or in the city — you just turn on a track and you are alone in this world, this is a state of soul that you cannot share with anyone. Nowadays, within black metal you rarely come across a serious text. Even when it comes to satanism, pain, or nature, you can speak about them in different ways. What's the point of just screaming about it? Black metal is a very serious genre. It should be written in cellars, but it shouldn't be locked away there. It should be like a fresh, damp wind in the middle of a dry desert for you. That's all.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2P6QtVnvWORkN9hCwgaALT

Sysi/Self Titled/2026 EP Review

  Sysi  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  and  self  released  2026  ep.

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while the  ep    also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  clean  playing.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  songs  adding  a  more  modern  approach  to  the  genre  and  the  whole  ep  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  amount  of  90's  infleunces.

  Sysi  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  slow  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  mental  health  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sysi  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  black  metal   band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Minka  fahden".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.facebook.com/sysi.metal

https://www.instagram.com/sysi.metal/        

Громгор/Земля сделанная из льда/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Громгор  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  released  2026  album  "Земля  сделанная  из  льда".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  before  before  introducing  some  depressive  black  metal  screams which  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in a   decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Most  of  the  album  focuses  more  on  a  slower  and  mid  tempo  direction  with  some  faster  sections  while  a  great  portion  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  Громгор  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric,  depressive  and  mid  tempo  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  winter  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Громгор  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Земля  сделанная  из  льда" "Крепость  из  камня  и льда"  and  "Дубины  в  небеса".  8  out  of  10.

  

Yandex Music: https://music.yandex.ru/artist/22853232

VK: https://vk.ru/gromgorbm

      

  

  

Xasthur/Open To Misinterpretation/Prophecy Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  U.S.A's  solo  project  Xasthur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  American  style  of  acid  folk  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Open  To  Misinterpretation"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  add  in  elements  of  folk  music  with  some  psychedelic  touches.  Percussion's  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumental  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  sound  very  powerful.

  Most  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  most  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  Both  5  and  12  string  guitars  are  also  used  throughout  the  album  and  the  music  also  avoids  any  use  of  metal  elements  and  heavier  instruments.

  On  this  recording  Xasthur  focuses  more  on  his  current  acoustic  folk  music  style  without  adding  in  black  metal  elements  which  he  brought  back  briefly  on  previous  releases  as  well a s  keeping  everything  instrumental,  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  Albert  Camus.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Xasthur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  American  acid  folk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Running  From  Silence"  "Impersonating  The  Imposters"  "Prisoner  Of  Your  Past"  and  "Death  Can  heal".  8  out  of  10.

https://xasthurband.bandcamp.com  

   

In Luna Interview

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

Hey, this is Uruksoth. Well, since 2015, when our first album came out, as well as the split we released with Psychonaut 4, Vanhelga, and Offdrykja. In Luna had basically been on hold when it came to writing new music. It wasn’t until around 2020 that we started working on what would eventually become our new album, which is finally coming out now.

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

Musically, when it came to writing the album, both in terms of the music itself and the lyrics and vocals, there wasn’t really a huge difference. It was more of a natural continuation of what we had already recorded. The most noticeable difference in terms of the recording process is that, on our first two releases—the debut album and the split we put out—the drums were programmed by Auka. This time, however, we had the collaboration of Diego Mota from Gaerea, who joined us as a session musician to record the drums for the new album.

3.From 2015 to 2026 there was no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

To be honest, we didn’t really feel the need to record anything new in the years that followed, so we decided to let the band rest until we had a clear intention of recording something new. We didn’t want to record just for the sake of recording something. We wanted it to be something meaningful for us, something that we genuinely felt was important and could bring something to the project. We wanted to reach that point where we could say, “Now is the right time to record these new ideas we have.” On my side, I’ve also been focused on other bands I’m currently involved with or have been involved with, working on various recordings and albums. If I remember correctly, we started the recording process towards the end of 2020. Since then, we’ve been working on it without any kind of rush or pressure. We’ve taken as much time as we felt we needed, and now, finally, the new album will see the light of day very soon.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and  also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

The lyrics in Luna are one of the most important things for us, just as important as the composition of the music. They represent who we are and the message we want to convey. They follow the same path as our earliest recordings, talking about inner emptiness, the darkness that we carry within ourselves, which comes from deep inside us. On this new album, we explore themes such as depression, anxiety, loss, and grief. When it comes to writing the lyrics for In Luna has always been quite easy for me to talk about these subjects, since I put my own personal experiences down on paper, either in a more metaphorical way or in a more explicit manner.

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

All the graphic design for the new album was done by Fernando Navarro and his design company, Mutta. He’s a very good lifelong friend of mine, and we’ve played together in different extreme metal bands over the years. He was also responsible for the artwork and design of In Luna’s first album. He knows us really well, so he’s very easy to work with. He also knows exactly how I think and what kind of design I might like, so he can basically create something that I already know I’m going to love. It’s a perfect fit for us. As for the album cover, there’s a person on it, and the album is called “The Architecture of Negativity”. The idea is that the human being is the architect—the builder as well as the destroyer—of the negativity and pessimism in each person’s life, whether they experience more or less of it. So, considering the album title, it probably would have been easier to go with something like buildings or a modern cityscape, some urban landscape from any city in the world. But we liked Fernando’s concept much more. He came up with the idea for the album partly after seeing the lyrics I had written, and that’s how this whole concept came together. Then, as for the photographs, some of the photos we have inside the album were actually taken by me.

6.The band members live in Chile and Spain, what impact does the long distance between band members have on the musical style that you play?

Yes, Aukka is Chilean and I’m Spanish, although I’ve been living in Germany for about six years now. Actually, the distance between the two members of the band has never really been an obstacle for us, especially given the times we live in, and even back when we first started. You can easily record an idea at home, send it to me, and then we can go over it together. We can say, “Maybe we could change this part,” or “Let’s repeat this section,” or whatever else we feel needs changing. It’s actually a very easy way of working. And when it comes to recording the album, there’s no problem at all either, because we both have our own recording equipment and everything we need. So, honestly, it’s pretty straightforward. Even though we’re based so far apart, as I said, it’s relatively easy to put all our ideas together and turn them into a new piece of work.

7.So far the band has only done one live show which was in 2017, would the band be open to doing any live shows in the future?

The show we played was a one-off, and we presented it as Iluna’s first and last concert. The organizers of the Iberian Warriors Fest got in touch with us and told us they were interested in having Iluna play at the festival. I told them to give us a little time to think about it, because we had never really considered playing live. The distance between us makes that quite difficult. So we thought about it, and although Aukka unfortunately couldn’t make it to Spain for the show, we decided to go ahead with it as an exclusive date. I also thought it could be something really special for people who liked In Luna and had never had the chance to see us live—to give them that one opportunity to see us in an exclusive show. And regarding your next question, no, we’re not going to play any more concerts. It would feel like we were going back on our word after saying that it was going to be our first and last show. But it really was an unforgettable experience. The audience received us incredibly well, and there were so many people there who had never even heard of us before. Playing at a festival, in a completely packed venue, alongside such great bands, and having the audience respond to us the way they did was honestly amazing. But, as I said, we don’t have any plans to play live again.

8.On the new album toy also have a few quests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and their contributions to the recording?

Yes, for the new album we worked with two session musicians for the recording. As I mentioned in an earlier question, Diogo Mota from Gaerea played the drums. We met at a festival where I was playing with one of my other bands, and shortly afterwards I immediately thought of him for the drum recordings. We didn’t want to use programmed drums again. They had worked well for us in the past, but we wanted to take another step forward and achieve a more professional sound this time. Diogo is a session musician and that’s part of what he does professionally, so I asked him if he’d be interested in getting involved with the project. I sent him a few demos, he liked the style of music, and we hired him for the recording. Then, on bass, we have Deimos AF, who is a good friend of mine. We’ve also played together in a band in the past, and he joined us to record the bass tracks. He really brought a very intense sound to the album, as well as some great ideas during the recording process

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

Working with Talheim is actually very easy. I’ve known Mat, the owner, for many years. They co-released the “Urban Negativism” split with OP Records, and that was our first contact with the label. Over the years, Talheim has also released material by another one of my bands, a Post Back Metal band called Korzo. So we already had a good relationship with them, and they’re really easy to work with. They listen to your requests, they come up with their own ideas or suggestions on how to improve things, and there’s always been a very positive response. Both Mat and his whole team do honest, genuinely underground work, and they’re truly committed to the bands they release.

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

At the time I’m answering this interview, there hasn’t been any preview of the new album yet—not a song or even a snippet. The album is coming out in early October, so unfortunately I can’t really say anything about it just yet. What did come out a few weeks ago were two older tracks that we originally released on the “Urban Negativism” split. They’ve basically been reissued and are now available on all the major digital platforms, whereas they weren’t available there before. Talheim has made those two tracks available digitally, so people can finally listen to them online. As for those two songs, when they were originally released in 2015, along with our debut album—which was also released that year, although it had been recorded a little earlier—the response from the Black Metal and Depressive Black Metal scene was actually quite good. We were a completely new and unknown band at the time, so considering that we’ve always been part of the underground scene, we were really happy with the reception. 

Jose Lavin | In Luna: 

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

As for the future, we honestly don’t know ourselves. We’ve recorded this new album and we’re very happy with the result. Maybe this will be our last album, or maybe there’ll be another one. Maybe we’ve already said everything we wanted to say. We just don’t know yet.

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

We listen to all kinds of Extreme Metal and Metal in general. We just like music that’s well made. And by that, I don’t mean that it has to be ultra-complicated or incredibly technical or progressive or anything like that. We just want music that we enjoy and that makes us feel something.  We listen to all kinds of Black Metal, Death metal, Doom… Post Rock and Pos Metal, Soundtracks…And personally, I also listen to a lot of Neofolk and Dark folk and some Heavy Metal classics.  We just love music.

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

Thank you very much for the interview and for your support of the band."

https://tree.tal.hm/@inluna

 

Misery Spell/Wormhole/Naturmacht Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Misery  Spell  are  a  musical  project  from  Russia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Wormhole"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  recording  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard. 

  Melodies  are  also  added  into a   lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  tremolo  picking  in t he  fast  riffing  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  synths  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  closing  song  is  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Misery  Spell  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  feeling  that  haunts  throughout  life  and  and  slowly  eats  all  life  away  from  the  inside.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Misery  Spell  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Under  The  Pale  Light  Of  The  Stars"  and  "Bitter  Dream".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/YPbiQ5j3I-k?si=g0sRETgD3tT43jAG

In Luna/The Architecture Of Negativity/Talheim Records/2026 Full Length Review

  In  Luna  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Chile  and  Spain  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Architecture  Of  negativity"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Talheim  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats. When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  elements  of  shoegaze  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  clear  singing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.

  In  Luna  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  shoegaze  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  intimate,  pessimistic  and  deeply  personal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  In  Luna  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "See  Disappear"  and  "The  Empty  Smile".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tree.tal.hm/@inluna 

Marea/A Caress Of Autumn For All The Lost/Hypnotic Dirge Records/Masked Dead Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Marea  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "A  Caress  Of  Autumn  For  All  The  Lost"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Hypnotic  Dirge  and  Masked  Dead  Records.  

  Acoustic  guitars  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  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  whispered  vocals  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  a  touch  of  post  rock.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals  and  the  music  is  more  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  cover  isolation,  remorse,  regret,  broken  dreams  and  the  fragile  existence  of  broken  relationships.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Marea  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Beauty  Of  Broken  Things" and  "Absence  Of  Self".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/marea.rusted

https://www.instagram.com/marea.rusted/

https://www.youtube.com/@MareaRusted          

Dantalion/Self Titled/Base Record Production/2026 Full Length Review

  Spain's  Dantalion  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  melancholic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2026  album  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Base  Record  Promotion.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast beats.  Vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing  which  also  has  a  rough  edge  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of   atmospheric  touches.

  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  ports.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Dantalion  brings  out  a  very  modern,  melancholic,  melodic,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  human  decay,  emotional  emptiness  and  evil  as  n  inherit  part  of  human  nature.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dantalion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melancholic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Born  Of  My  Own  Damnation"  "The  Temple  of  Internal  Ruin"  and  "The  Inner  Void".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/share/1H8j42ktdq/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dantalion_official  

   

Tårfödd/En Känsla Av Hopplöshet/Purity Through Fire/2026 Full Length Review

  Sweden's  solo  project  Tårfödd  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  depressive  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "En  Känsla  Av  Hopplöshet"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Purity  Through  Fire.

  Acoustic  guitars  which  also  return  on  later  tracks  start  off  the  album  while  a  great  portion  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up a   great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  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  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple of  tracks  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  growls,  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed.  

  On  this  recording  Tårfödd  takes  his  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  into  more  of  a  rawer  and  aggressive  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Swedish  and  English  and  cover  melancholy,  depression  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tårfödd  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Dark  Cloudy  Dream"  and  "Never  Goes  Away".  8  out  of  10.

trfdd.bandcamp.com    

Nordicwinter/A Hopeless Dawn/Naturmacht Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Quebec,  Canada's  solo  project  Nordicwinter  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "A  Hopeless  Dawn"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

 Nature  sounds  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up    a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  ad  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  vast  solitude  of  forgotten  landscapes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nordicwinter  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depr4essive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Elegy  For  The  Sun"  and  "Bemeath  Frozen  Skies".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/JgKXt6OzYrE?si=7YFHIZAFFGywmmgL   

Unguilty Interview

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

- I started Unguilty between 2018 and 2019 as my first solo project. I was in love with a girl and had written a song for her. I ended up really liking that song and thought, “Why not release it?” And that’s how I created this project, which, over the years, has become very important to me and my main form of expression. It started as some sort of DSBM and has since evolved, incorporating influences from black metal and doom metal.

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

- With every new release, the quality of my production improves, and this upcoming album is no exception! Listeners can expect an atmospheric record with a DSBM background, but also some melodic black metal passages and doom-ish riffs. It is probably my most aggressive-sounding album so far.

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

- With this album, I decided to draw inspiration from some personal beliefs and experiences. I explore themes like isolation, despair, death, inner conflict, and the darker sides of the human mind in a very personal way, using references to nature such as fire, darkness, the sea, and ashes. The lyrics are, and have always been, the most difficult part of making music for me. I find it easier to express myself through the instruments.

4.On the new album you also have some lyrics inspired by Ernest Hemmingway, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work and also do any other authors have an influence on your songwriting?

- Yes, the seventh track, “Beneath the Abyss,” is inspired by Hemingway’s novel The Old Man and the Sea. I read this book in my teenage years, and it has become one of my favorite and most memorable stories I have ever read. It is a beautiful story about an old fisherman and his struggles, with some very precious and melancholic lessons to be learned. In the past, I have also made a song inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers, and the band logo contains a detail that references Albert Camus’s Le Mythe de Sisyphe. Literature plays an important role in my interests and inspirations.

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

- I painted this after an episode of cardiac arrhythmia. I have a heart condition that causes some complications when I engage in intense physical activity. That day, I was out on a bike trail and had to lie down under a tree to keep from fainting. So, the view I had of that tree was what inspired the artwork. I thought it was fitting because there’s a song—track 5—that refers to my condition.

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

-  “Unguilty” means “not guilty” or “innocent,” and I came up with that name because I find the idea of defining someone as guilty or not guilty to be intriguing, since everyone can be guilty of something, depending on the observer’s perspective. This leads one to reflect on whether anyone can truly be considered innocent in this world, and on everyone’s authority to judge others.

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 would very much like to work with other musicians, but I don’t think it can happen with Unguilty. This project has become something very personal to me, and I think it is meant to remain that way. Although, I would like to participate in another project with other musicians at some point.

8.The new album is going to be released while you have worked with labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future? 

- Sure, it’s always a possibility. It all depends on the offer. I’d really like, for example, to have some physical releases someday. But I’m also fine with releasing everything independently.

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

- It’s been truly fantastic! I make music because it is what I love to do, and I don’t expect anything in return. But even so, I receive so much support from all corners of the world, and it’s truly amazing to think that my music is reaching such distant places and that, in so many ways, it’s being appreciated by other metal fans. It will always be an honor.

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

- This project is one of the most important things in my life, and I hope to be able to dedicate more time to it. In a perfect world, I would be able to fully dedicate myself to music, painting, and every type of art. But, to stay grounded in reality, I intend to keep writing new songs, releasing new music with Unguilty, and being more present with my audience. And, who knows, maybe a new project with other musicians one day? It would be awesome to play live gigs.

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?

- In the beginning, I was most influenced by DSBM (Thy Light, Austere, Woods of Desolation), doom metal (Saturnus, Clouds, Paradise Lost), and some post-black metal (Harakiri for the Sky, Ellende). Nowadays, I mostly listen to black and doom metal. You will find bands like Warning, Rotting Christ, Sarcófago, Empyrium, Dissection, and many others in my playlists.

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

- I would like to thank Occult Black Metal Zine for the huge support with the review and this interview. You guys are doing a great job for the underground metal community! I’d also like to thank every listener who finds some kind of pleasure in my music and invite every fan of atmospheric black and doom metal to give the new album a listen. It will be released on October 30th, 2026. Some singles are already available!

Bandcamp: https://unguilty.bandcamp.com/music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unguilty.band/

Unguilty/The Space Between The Heartbeats/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Unguilty  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  20226  album  "The  Space  Between  The  Heartbeats"  which  will  be  released  in  october.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  depressive  black  metal  style  mixed  in  with  a  deeper  approach.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  blast beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording.

   Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  the  music  also  showing  some  influences  of  the  90's  era  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  style,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  existential  silence,  nostalgia,  the  absurd  and  the  quiet  violence  that  lives  inside  ordinary  days.

  In  my  opinion  Unguilty  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "We  Are  Not  Who  We  Are"  "Freezing  Heart"  and  "Fields  Of  Lost  Hope".  8  out  of  10.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unguilty.band      

Nüxia/Demo I-Thirst/2026 Demo Review

   Nüxia  are  a  solo  project  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  vampyric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of his  self  released  2026  demo  "Thirst".

  A  very  dark  and  lo-fi  sound  starts  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  aw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  mix  is  down  very  low  on  the  tracks  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  The  music  also  adds  in  some  90's  influences  while  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  the  early  2000's  dsbm  style.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  introduced  on  the  second  track.

   Nüxia  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  lo-fi,  vasmpyric  and  depressive  sounding. The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  with  a  different  type  of  production  that  is  very  rarely  heard  on  demos  while  the  lyric's  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion   Nüxia  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  lo-fi,  vampyric  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "II".  8  out  of  10.

https://nuxiaofficial.bandcamp.com/album/demo-i-thirst

       

Dymna Lotva/Vyraj/Prophecy Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Dymna  Lotva  are  a  band  from  Belarus  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  progressive  and  depressive  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Vyraj"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  progressive  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  clear  male  and  female  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  traditional  metal  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  electronic  sounds  and  gothic  influences  into  the  music,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Slavonic  Legends  and  Folklore.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dymna  Lotva  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  progressive  and  depressive  post  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veha"  "Niama  Darohi"  and  "Return  my  Coffin  Home".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music    

         

Nietzu/Primitive Incantation/Marwolaeth Records/2022 Full length Review

  Nietzu  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of    black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Primitive  Incantation"  which  was  released  by  Marwolaeth  Records.

  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  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  at  times.

   Touches  of  dsbm  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  post  metal  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals,  spoken  words  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  misanthropy  and  mythological themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Nietzu  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hood  &  Cloak"  "The  Wire  Is  Taut"  "The  Swift  Shadow  Of  The  Wyrm"  and  "Dawn's  Creeping  Mist".  8  out  of  10.

https://marwolaethrecords.bandcamp.com/album/primitive-incantation  

     

Dysthymia/The Morning Darkness/Hypnotic Dirge Records/Red Nebula/2026 Full Length Review

  Dysthymia  are  a  band  from  Boston,  Massachusetts  that  plays  a  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Morning  Darkness"  which  will  be  released  in  August  as  a  joint  effort  between  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records  and  Red Nebula.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  despondency,  isolation  and  hopelessness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dysthymia  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Life  With  What  You  Created"  and  "The  Morning  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-morning-darkness      

Wehmut/IV: Sommer/Naturmacht Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  solo  project  Wehmut  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "IV:  Sommer"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  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  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  when  they  are  utilized,  spoken  words,  clear  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Wehmut  takes  his  musical  style  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  struggles  and  emotions.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wehmut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Brennende  Brust"  and  "Losgelassen".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/NO3Hq1gplYU?si=B7nq5WfK3lINN1L7    

Grimveil/Beneath The Veil Of Silent Woods/Purity Through Fire/2026 Full Length Review

  Grimveil  are  an  international  duo with  embers  from  Germany  and  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Beneath  The  Veil  Of  Silent  Woods"  which  was  released  by  Purity  Through  Fire.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  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  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  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  acoustic  sections  also  taking  the  music  into  a  more  progressive  direction  when  they  are  utilized  and  ethereal  synths  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  the  closing  track  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  forests  and  the  atmosphere  of  the  woods.

  In  my  opinion  Grimveil  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  The  Path  Fades  To  Nothing"  "The  Distant  Murmur  Of  Trees"  and  "As  The  Fog  Devours  The  Tail".  8  out  of  10,    

purity-through-fire.com