Sunday, August 30, 2026

Kafir Interview

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




The creative process never ends. While working on my second album, I was already working on the music videos. My third album is already in the works. I have more than enough ideas, but it all takes a lot of time and energy.




2.You have a new album coming out in September, musically how does it differ from your previous full length?




In terms of content, the new album follows on from the first one. It continues to focus on criticism and contempt for religion—especially Islam—but also, once again, on myself, my personal experiences, thoughts, and view of life.

Musically, I’ve developed further. the entire sound and my guitar playing have improved. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the album.




3.A lot of your lyrics cover Anti Islam themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your hatred in the religion?


I have always rejected religion, and Islam is currently the greatest threat to Western values. If we continue to tolerate it, it will spread like a cancer. The more I research the subject and read the Quran, the greater my contempt becomes. When you look at the countries that have already been taken over by Islam, you see clear parallels to other forms of dictatorship. Most people don’t realize that it’s more than just a religion. It’s a political system, and its representatives make no secret of that. Unfortunately, the Western world’s tolerance and stupidity are too great for it to consistently oppose this movement. When you study the history of other countries and talk to people from there, you quickly realize the direction we’re heading in here.




4.In black metal a lot of bands have covered their hatred from Christianity but receive a huge backlash for attacking Islam and also get cancelled on social media platforms and have their shows cancelled, has this project received the same backlash despite being based in the Middle East?




First of all, I’m not from the Middle East, and I’ve never even been there. When I started this project, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into, but I won’t let anything stop me. You must never let fear keep you from speaking the truth and let this religion win! The problems online haven’t been that big so far; the criticism, of course, comes mainly from some stupid Muslims, but you can’t take that seriously. It’s clear that you can’t put on concerts with music like this. No promoter would take the risk of an attack or having to deal with some Antifa idiots. But since I’m a one-man band anyway, I can’t play concerts.




5.I know that the bands name means 'infidel', how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?




There’s probably no better name to convey my message. It not only reflects my own rejection of Islam, but also defines me as the enemy in the eyes of the faithful. And if you’re familiar with the Quran, you know exactly what’s supposed to happen to the kuffar.




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




The photo for the new cover was taken at an abandoned coal mine, where I also filmed footage for the fifth music video. It was a very hot and exhausting day, as my cameraman and I had to carry kilos of internal organs and equipment to the location. The cover shows me praying on a prayer rug, surrounded by pages from the Quran, blood, tar, and organs.

The Quranic verses on the wall were added during post-production. The cover is symbolic of the album title, which represents impurity.




7.With this project you record everything by yourself, would you be open to working with musicians depending on the circumstances or do you prefer to work solo?




I do prefer working alone, since that way I can bring my own ideas to life without having to compromise. In general, I’d be open to collaborating on tracks if the opportunity is right.

There’s a bonus track on the new album that I made with Manāt. She’s a very good singer, so I played the music, wrote the lyrics, and she recorded her vocals and sent them to me. I really like the track, and I could imagine doing similar collaborations in the future.

But I find it hard to imagine playing in a band on a permanent basis, since I’d have to rely on others.




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




I make all the masks in the pictures and videos, as well as the props, myself. My main costume, which appears repeatedly, is based on Muslim clothing with a kind of mummy bandage as a mask. I welded my pendant myself. In “I Hate,” I wear a splatter mask like the ones used in World War I. In “Burn the Pages of the Quran,” I wear clothing inspired by Hezbollah. In “Fitna,” I wear a devil mask; the woman in the video wears a Muslim wedding dress with a hijab until she switches to the devil mask in the second half.

I share the scarecrow mask in “An Act of Defiance Against That Which Is Pure” with one of my friends, who tortures and stones me in the video.

There will also be new outfits in the upcoming videos.






9.The new album is going to be released on 'Satanath Records', how would you compare working with this label to your previous label 'Trench Warfare Productions'?




I like the guy behind Trench Warfare Productions because he’s very motivated and does it all out of conviction and passion. Satanath Records, of course, has the advantage of being a large label with a strong international network and an international merch shop—I keep getting messages from fans all over the world asking where they can buy CDs and T-shirts. Since I don’t want to deal with that kind of thing, it’s better to have people with experience handle it. I’m also glad that Satanath Records doesn’t try to dictate anything to me and that I can continue doing my own thing the way I want.




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




The response has been surprisingly positive. When I started the project, I didn’t expect this much support. At first, I thought I was making music for people like me—people who see Western values as threatened by Islam and are tired of seeing this religion spread even further. But I get the most messages from fans in predominantly Muslim countries. Young fans who suffer under the social and family constraints of religion and see me as a voice for their own thoughts. They ask me for advice and are grateful for what I say. People from Iran who have suffered their entire lives under Islam’s dictatorial regime of terror. People who are brave enough to take to the streets, fight for their freedom, and risk being shot by a cowardly government! When I receive messages from Iranians who can no longer reach their loved ones and send me photos showing bullet holes in buildings and blood on the streets, let someone try to tell me that my criticism isn’t justified in any way!




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




I’m going to keep doing exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ll keep getting better, producing music and videos—the third album is already in the works. I think that in the future I’ll be able to connect more deeply with people who think similarly. Maybe I’ll find a way to involve the Black Metal scene from the Middle East more closely with the West, so that people realize that Islam is rejected everywhere and must be fought against.




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




Oh, there are so many bands that I really like. It all started for me with Gorgoroth. My absolute favorite band is still Mgla—they play to perfection.

I really enjoy listening to Nornir, Windswept, Batushka, Patriarkh, Lömsk, Vspolokh, Lebenssucht, Doodswens, Theotoxin, Houle, Akhlys, Animal Man Machine... and of course the classics like Mayhem, Burzum, Marduk, Nargaroth, Darkenend, Nocturn Slaughtercult... and I love going to concerts. My last concert was Kokeshi in Tokyo.




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




Thanks to all my kuffar for the support. Get ready for some new stuff. Stay strong, think for yourselves, and keep questioning morality and the system.  


https://www.facebook.com/kafirblackmetal 

Saturday, August 29, 2026

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    

Mistago Varggoth Darkestra/Shattered Gates Of Apocalypse/Oriana Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Mistago  Varggoth  Darkestra  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  dark  ambient  and  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Shattered  Gates  of  Apocalypse"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Oriana  Music.


  Dark  ambient  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Electronic  and  industrial  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  A  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling


   Spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  chants  and  throat  singing  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  solitude  and  apocalyptic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Mistago  Varggoth  Darkestra  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  dark  ambient  and  industrial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hybrid  Life  Syndrome"  "Universal  Whiplash  Doctrine"  and  "Fanged  Skies".  8 out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/mistigovarggothdarkestra

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


   

Friday, August 28, 2026

Asgrauw/Solips/Void Wanderer Productions/Zwaertgevegt/Hidden Marly Production/Jems Label/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Netherlands'  Asgrauw  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  old  school  style  of  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Solips"  which  will  be  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  Void  Wanderer  Productions,  Zwaertgevegt,  Hidden  Marly  Production  and  Jems  Label.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  angry  shouts  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  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  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music.


  On  this  recording  Asgrauw  takes  their  old  school  style  of  black  metal  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mythology,  apocalyptic  themes,  the  origins  of  humanity  and  cosmic  narratives.    


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Asgrauw  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Verblind"  "Schaduwganger"  and  "Nadirflux".  8  out  of  10.


LP: https://www.zwaertgevegt.nl/product/asgrauw-solips-12-black-vinyl/

Color-LP: https://www.zwaertgevegt.nl/product/asgrauw-solips-12-red-blue-swirl/
CD:
https://zerodimensionalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/hmpcd
MC:
https://www.zwaertgevegt.nl/product/asgrauw-solips/
US-MC:
https://www.jemslabel.com/asgrauw-solips-cassette-preorder
Merch:
https://voidwanderer.com/product/asgrauw-solips-merch-preorder
Digital:
https://asgrauw.bandcamp.com/


    

Hail Conjuror/Abyss & Ekstasis/Into Endless Chaos Records/Crypt of the Wizard/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Hail  Conjuror  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  crude  and  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Abyss  &  Ekstasis"  which  will  be  released  in  September  as  a  joint  effort  between  Into  Endless  Chaos  Records  and  Crypt  of  the  Wizard.


  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Vocals  are  a  mixture  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  deeper  growls   which  add  in  a touch  of  the  first  wave  era  while  clear  singing  and  spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  darker  style  when  they  are  utilized,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existentials  of  flesh,  abyssal being,  unknown, nocturnal  rapture  and  lust,  illusions  and  myths  of  sin  and  the  profane.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hail  Conjuror  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ecstasy  Of  Flesh"  and  "Golden  Pages  Of  Contempt".  8  out  of  10.


  https://hailconjurer.bandcamp.com/


           

Thursday, August 27, 2026

Uburen/Dødsdans I Aske/Dusktone/2026 Full Length Review


  Norway's  Uburen  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  viking  style  of  black  emtal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Dødsdans  I  Aske"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Dusktone.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  old  school  era  of  the  genre.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in a   brief  use  of  clear  pagan  vocals  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to a   heavier  direction, chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  On  this  recording  Uburen  brings  out  a  very  raw  and  aggressive  style  of  viking black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in a  mixture  of  English  and  Norwegian  and  cover  Norse  Mythology  and  Vikings.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  from  Uburen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  viking  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Seek  Death"  "Formed  By  Time"  and  "Light  my  pyre".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/uburen/


  


  


   

Nokturnal Mortum/Hurt/Oriana Music/2026 EP Review

 

  Nokturnal  Mortum  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  folk  influenced  style  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  ep  "Hurt"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Oriana  Music.


  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  war  samples.  Keyboards  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  and  symphonic  sounding  while  the  vocals  start  out  with  more  of  an  angry  shouting  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Electronic  music  sounds  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  one of  the  tracks  also  being. an instrumental.  On  later  tracks  the  vocals  add  in  more  of  a  black  metal  screaming  approach  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  the  closing  track  was  also  recorded  life  and  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  human  bravery.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nokturnal  Mortum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his  band,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eight  Days  To  Spring"  and  "The  Forgotten  Ages  of  Victories".  8/5  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/nokturnalmortumofficial

https://www.instagram.com/nokturnalmortumofficial/