Scheusal are a solo project from Germany that plays an old school form of black metal and this is a review of his 2025 album "Urwahn" which will be released in March by Purity Through Fire.
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Scheusal/Urwahn/Purity Through Fire/2025 Full Length Review
Scheusal are a solo project from Germany that plays an old school form of black metal and this is a review of his 2025 album "Urwahn" which will be released in March by Purity Through Fire.
Vintras Interview
1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
_Vintras is a musical conduit for my misery and depression. An outlet where I can process it, focus it into music and put it to one side for a short while. The devil makes work for idle hands so I make work for myself. _
2.You have your first full length coming out in March, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
_It is best described as Black Metal but my intention was to also cultivate the atmosphere of dark 80s New Wave bands - hence the Ultravox cover - which I find have a uniquely cold and bleak atmosphere without being overtly 'heavy' musically. I happened to be listening to a lot of it as I worked on this project. Much of the melody and chord progressions found within that genre lend themselves to Black Metal so it seemed to cross-pollinate. It was never the goal with Vintras to create traditional raw or primal BM but to use the palette that Black Metal affords in terms of tempos, drum beats and vocals as a language and foundation to build upon. We both have considerable experience in creating music through other projects so we wanted the album to sound huge and create a sense of atmosphere and cold distance without losing clarity. _
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
_The lyrics on 'Timescarred' are an exploration of passing time, physical decay, and spiritual decline in the shadow of wavered belief and broken hope. A yearning for elemental truth and the rhythm of a natural tradition and a mourning for the passing of lost power; ancient and profound. Each song is a contemplation of fate and future and a lament of failure and weakness, seen through various masks and reflected upon various selves. Time may heal but it leaves its scars._
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Vintras'?
It is taken from Eugène Vintras; a 19th Century petty criminal turned 'messiah' who said he was visited by angels and claimed to be the reincarnation of Prophet Elijah. He was a con man who founded two cults and adopted the inverted cross as his symbol, dabbling in the occult before being jailed for fraud. To be named for such a man seemed fitting given our worldview and serves as a reminder of the futility of our achievements in life. Supposedly great men are often nothing more than an illusion in the eye of the beholder while the lowest and most base amongst us can be hailed as prophets by the gullible and delusional if the circumstances are right. Ultimately, the search for meaning, power and riches ends in the same grave whether you are a beggar or a messiah.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
_It is a piece called 'The Study of the Pain' by Devinez. It was A.A.L that drew my attention to her work and as soon as I saw it I knew it was an ideal companion piece to the music._
6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?
Timescarred, and by extension Vintras, was just the music I wrote over the course of two years that happened to be the darkest of my life. As I decided to take it forward and record it properly I asked A.A.L to be a part of it as he is an exceptional vocalist and lyricist that I trusted could bring something to the music and vision that I simply couldn't do alone. The same goes for the drums; I used a renonwned session musician as I wanted the performance to be at a higher level than I was ever going to be capable of. I'm also not a fan of using programmed drums!_I don't intend for Vintras to be a 'band' per se as the music is a reflection of my own mindset and therefore cannot be written by committee. If we ever perform live I will look into assembling a full lineup but there are no plans for that at the moment._
7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?
_Yes. Despite the music being deeply personal, I don't feel there is anything to be gained from having our 'personality' attached to it. You can only ever be disappointed when you learn more about the artist themselves._
8.The new album is going to be released through both 'War and Void Wanderer Productions', how did you get on contact with these labels?
_I was looking for a specialist BM label to handle the release as it is hard to get a foothold self-releasing with an anonymous project that doesn't play live! Thankfully Void Wanderer liked the music and were happy to work with us, and invited War Productions to be a part of it._
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
_So far not too many have heard of us! But I have been very happy with the positive response to the first preview track 'In Death's Dream' that we released in January._
10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
_I am in the process of writing a second Vintras album and it is a refinement of, and hopefully improvement on, what can be heard on 'Timescarred'. I only write for Vintras when I am in the right (wrong?) mindset and this seems to be the sound that comes out. If it doesn't sound like Vintras then it simply won't be considered for this project._
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?
_As mentioned previously, the 80s new wave bands are a massive influence (I once jokingly described Vintras as Big Country with blast beats), as well as gothic/doom metal such as early Katatonia/Anathema/My Dying Bride and a range of Black Metal bands. I listen to all of this stuff regularly, plus a tonne of Heavy/Death/Thrash metal and all sorts of old rock & pop from day to day. _
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts
I hope you enjoy the album. If so then please spread the misery!
vintras1.bandcamp.com/album/timescarred-2
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Mortui Vultus Interview
1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1. Our music is a blend of post-black metal with elements of post-rock, post-metal, screamo, and shoegaze. Overall, it can be categorized as blackgaze, although we don’t limit ourselves to any specific genre. We strive to create an atmospheric and emotionally rich sound that balances between dark aggression and melancholic contemplation.
2.In January the band released their first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?
2. The process of finding someone to mix our music turned out to be quite long. We tried working with different options, but often the result was either overloaded with compression or simply didn’t match our sound.
Eventually, a friend of ours offered to help – initially, we planned to mix only a single, but we liked the result so much that we decided to continue working together and entrusted him with mixing the entire album. That’s how our creative collaboration began.
In terms of sound, we were inspired by bands that influenced us at the time, including Deafheaven, Nothing, Asunojokei, Oathbreaker, and Alcest.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
3. The album’s lyrics reflect the state of a person affected by war. Most of the texts are fragments of an internal dialogue, where thoughts, emotions, and attempts to make sense of what is happening intertwine.
One of the key themes is hope—it constantly emerges in this dialogue, like a glimmer of light amidst darkness. Hope that all this will end one day, that the world will regain its former shape. But with each passing day, it seems to slip away, slowly dissolving in a reality filled with anxiety and despair.
At the same time, the lyrics convey a struggle for inner resilience—attempts to find something positive, to grasp onto meaning, to keep the motivation to continue living and moving forward despite the surrounding chaos.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Mortui Vultus'?
4. The name Mortui Vultus translates from Latin as “Dead Face.” It symbolizes the state of a person constantly troubled by internal struggles. This face appears lifeless, detached, artificial—like a mask hiding deep exhaustion, emptiness, and loss of meaning.
The name reflects not only personal feelings but also the condition of many people around the world who have lost their bearings and cannot find their way.
5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
5. The album cover is a photograph taken by our friend from Dnipro, who also works for one of Ukraine’s major media outlets. She visited us in Odesa, and during a walk along the seashore, she captured a moment: our guitarist Sasha was standing by the water with our mutual friend, looking at the sea.
This photograph seemed like the perfect visual representation of the album’s atmosphere. Symbolically, the sea represents the unknown, an uncertain path stretching before a person. The figures in the image embody people standing in front of this vast uncertainty, while the horizon fading into the distance symbolizes hope—distant and elusive, yet something we continue to strive for.
6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?
6. Since the band’s inception, we have been actively performing in our city and across Ukraine. Now, we are organizing a tour across the country, with all proceeds going to support our friends on the front lines—whether through humanitarian aid or financial assistance.
7.Currently the band is unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
7. At the moment, we are not signed to a label, though initially, we wanted to release our album under one. We reached out to several labels, but the terms of cooperation didn’t suit us, so we decided to promote our music independently.
However, we are open to collaboration. We would be interested in working with a label that could help with merchandise production, concert organization, and, of course, financial support for recording our next album. By the way, we are already working on new material and plan to release our second album soon.
8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of post black metal?
8. This question is a bit unusual because audience reaction is not our main priority. However, on the other hand, we do care about how people perceive our music.
Right now, we are not well-known in Western media or Europe in general, but in Ukraine, we have received positive feedback. People praise the atmosphere of our music, our live performances, and note that the band has potential and a drive for growth.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
9. We definitely hope to continue evolving—both in terms of the quality of our music and expanding our audience. We would love not only to perform in Ukraine but also to play shows in Europe and even America.
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?
10. Various genres have certainly influenced our music, especially blackgaze. Each of us listens to different styles, which helps us take an unconventional approach to songwriting—both in terms of arrangements and tonality.
Some of the bands that have inspired us the most include Deafheaven, Alcest, Albrave, Asunojokei, Oathbreaker, and Whirr.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
11. Besides music, each of us has our own interests. For example, I (Lev, the vocalist) am into visual arts and drawing.
Our guitarist Sasha works in SEO—he’s an SEO specialist and really enjoys it. Another guitarist, Ilya, works in game development—he’s a game designer and has even created a horror game.
Our bassist Tolik, however, doesn’t seem to have any particular hobbies aside from music—just like our drummer, Semyon.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
12. Thank you so much for your questions and for helping us promote our music. This really means a lot to us. We hope to see you at festivals or concerts in different countries someday.
Our main message is to remind people that war is still ongoing in Ukraine. Even while answering these questions, several rockets hit my city. And I want people outside of Ukraine to remember this. We are losing an entire generation, and that is terrifying.
Right now, it is crucial for us as musicians to have our voices heard not only in Ukraine but also across Europe. Thank you for your support.
Necrochakal/Golgothian Orgies Of Bestial Lust/Floga Records/2025 Full Length Review
Necrochakal are a band from Greece that plays an old school mixture of war, black, death and thrash metal and this is a review of their 2025 album "Golgothian Orgies Of Bestial Lust" which will be released in march by Floga Records.
A very dark yet heavy sound starts off the album while all of the musical instruments also have a very powerful sound to them. Elements of thrash metal are also utilized quite a bit throughout the recording and the faster sections of the songs also add in a lot of blast beats and the brutality of war metal.
Vocals are mostly black metal screams which mix both the first and second wave era's together while the songs also add in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts. A small amount of melody can also be heard in some of the guitar riffing along with the album also adding in touches of early 90's death metal at times.
When guitar solos and leads are utilized they are also done in a very chaotic style along with all of the musical instruments on the recording also having a very powerful sound to them, raw tremolo picking can also be heard in some of the faster riffing and growls are also added into certain sections of the album as well as one song also being an acoustic instrumental. The production sounds very raw and old school while the lyrics cover desecration, sacrilege and violent rituals.
In my opinion Necrochakal are a very great sounding old school mixture of war, black, death and thrash metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Satanas Rebirth" "Golgotha Necromancer" and "Son of Loss...Judas Goat". 8 out of 10.
Nyktmyst/Self Titled/Irone Bonehead Productions/2025 EP Review
Nyktmyst are a solo project from the Netherlands that plays a very misanthropic form of black metal and this is a review of his self titled 2025 ep which will be released in march by iron Bonehead Productions.
Tragic sounding keyboards start off the ep before going into a heavier direction while the faster sections of the songs also add in a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats which also gives the recording more of a r aw feeling. Vocals are mostly angry sounding black metal screams and the music is very heavily rooted in the 90's era.
Acoustic guitars and clean playing can also be heard at times while the songs also add in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts. Melodies are also added into some of the guitar riffing along with the solos and leads also being done in a very melodic yet old school style along with some clear vocals also being utilized on one of the tracks and a couple of the songs are instrumentals, spoken words are also added towards the end.
Nyktmyst plays a style of black metal that is very raw, misanthropic and old school sounding as well as being more diverse then many bands or projects in this genre. The production sounds very dark and raw while the lyrics cover devilry, death and mysticism themes.
In my opinion Nyktmyst are a very great sounding misanthropic black metal solo project and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this ep. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Viandante" and "Portal Tomb". 8 out of 10.
http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/nyktmyst-portal-tomb
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Grima/Nightside/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review
Russia's Grima have returned with a new recording which shows the music going for an atmospheric form of black metal and this is a review of their 2025 album "Nightside" which will be released on February 28th by Napalm Records.
Clean playing starts off the album along with some folk instruments a few seconds later before going into a heavier direction. At times the music also gets very atmospheric sounding along while synths can also be heard at times and the vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with a few death metal growls.
Melodies are also added into a lot of the guitar riffing while the solos and leads are also done in a very melodic style. When the music speeds up a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats can be heard which also gives the songs more of a raw feeling and some of the tracks are also very long and epic in length.
All of the musical instruments on the recording also have a very powerful sound to them along with the songs also adding in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts, clean playing and folk instruments also return in certain sections of the album as well as some clear singing and acoustic guitars also being introduced on later tracks. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Paganism and Nature themes.
In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Grima and if you are a fan of atmospheric black metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Beyond The Dark Horizon" "Impending Death Premonition" and "Mist And Fog". 8 out of 10.
NAPALM RECORDS
Manifestum Darkness/Desecration Rotten Corpse/Death To Pieces Records/2025 Full Length Review
Manifestum Darkness are a band from Mexico that plays a bestial mixture of war, black and death metal and this is a review of their 2025 album "Desecration Rotten Corpse" which was released by Death To Pieces Records.
A very dark yet heavy sound starts off the album along with some bestial death metal growls a few seconds later. When the music speeds up a great amount of brutal blast beats, raw tremolo picking and blast beats can be heard while the music is also very heavily rooted in the early to mid 90's era.
Black metal screams can also be heard at times while the songs also add in a good mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts. All of the musical instruments on the recording also have a very powerful sound to them along with all of the tracks also avoiding the use of any solos and leads and the whole album also sticks to a heavier direction.
Manifestum Darkness plays a musical style that goes back to the 90's era of war, black and death metal and mixes them together to create a sound of their own. The production sounds very raw and old school while the lyrics cover blasphemy, perversion, evil and darkness themes.
In my opinion Manifestum Darkness are a very great sounding bestial mixture of war, black and death metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Baptized" "Evil Domain" and "Segregation Of The Morbid Cross". 8 out of 10.
https://www.facebook.com/people/Manifestum-darkness/100064140368032/