Stormkeep/The Nocturnes Of Iswyln/Vesperian/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Stormkeep  are  a  band  from  Denver,  Colorado  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Nocturnes  Of  Iswyln"  which  be  released  in  June  by  Vesperian.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  also  bringing  in  some  symphonic  and  dungeon  synth  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  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  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.

  Some  of  the  music  shows  an  influence  of  the  mid  90's  era  of  the  genre  with  a  more  modern  approach  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  medieval  touches  as  well  as  a  couple  of  later  tracks  also  adding  in a   brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  and  Medieval  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Stormkeep  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Taste  of  Immortal  Blood"  "Imperious  Sanguine  Eroticism"  and  "Ballad  Of  A  Fallen  Star".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/stormkeepofficial

https://stormkeep-odl.bandcamp.com/music  

Horn/Apokalyps 1618/Northern Silence Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Germany's    Horn  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  folk  influenced  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Apocalyps  1618"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  stringed  instruments  and  folk  music  elements  onto  the  recording.

 Pagan  style  shouts  are  utilized  at  times  along  with  some clear  singing  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  dissonant  touches,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German,  Swedish,  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  folklore  discovered  by  the  Grim  Brothers  and  historical  events  from  the  middle  ages.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  form  Horn  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  influenced  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDD  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Die  Ahren  gleich  als  mit  dem  Huf"  "Barhout"  and  "At  Our  Bleakest".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HornOfficial
Bandcamp: https://hornlichterlischt.bandcamp.com
Metal Archives: https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Horn/17452

  

Sutekh Hexen/Hissing/SH:HS/Cyclic Law/Phage Tapes/2026 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  U.S.A's  solo  project  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  which  shows  the  2  projects  mixing  their  2  different  styles  together  and  brings  out  an  experimental  mixture  of  black,  death  metal,  ambient  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "SH:HS"  which  will  be  released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  Cyclic  Law  and  Phage  Tapes.

  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  whole  recording  is  done  in  an  improvised  style..

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction while  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  along  with  the  drums  also  giving  the  recording  more  of  a  brutal  touch  when  they  are  introduced  and  both  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other,  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  take  black,  death  metal,  noise,  experimental,  ambient  and  original  and  mix  them  together  to  create  something  very  original.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Rituals.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Sutekh  Hexen  and  Hissing  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black, death  metal,  noise,  experimental,  ambient  and  ritual,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "SEA".  8  out  of  10.

  https://cycliclaw.bandcamp.com/album/sh-hs

  

  

  

Røkkr/Sindets Skygger Hvisker/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Røkkr  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Sindets  Skygger  Hvisker"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Nomad  Snakeoit  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a small  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths,  growls  are  also  introduced  on  a  later  track.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Danish  and  cover  Darkness  and  Coldness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Røkkr  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sindets  Skygger  Hviske"  and  "Siette  Lig  Marken  Goder".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Rokkrdk

   

Thanatomass/The Rabid Dead/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 EP Review

  Russia's  Thanatomass  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "The  Rabid  Dead"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Nomad  Snakepit  Productions.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  heavier  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking,  brutal  blast b eats  and  war  metal  elements  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  while  black  metal  screams  are  also  used  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  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  and  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Thanatomass  takes  the  most  aggressive  and  brutal  sides  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  heavy  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Thanatomass  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Rabid  Dead".  8 out  of  10.

 https://open.spotify.com/artist/2yKXwji8dngWD6AMq385xM 

  

Helheim/Yersinia Pestis/Nomad Snakepit Productions/2026 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Helheim  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2003  album  "Yersinia  Pestis"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  August,  2026  by  Nomad  Snakepit  Productions.

  The  sounds  of  the  Viking  era  of  Norway  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  before  adding  in  some  industrial  style  beats  before  going  into  a heavier  direction.  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.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  angry  black  metal  style  which  mixes  both  the  first  and  second  wave  eras  of  the  genre  together  mixed  in  with  some  screams  and  keyboards  are  also  used  at  times.

  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  add  in  touches  of  viking  and  pagan  metal  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  an  aggressive  metal  style  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in    a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  Norse  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hellheim  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Yersinia  Pestis"  "Elde"  "God  Of  Slander"  and  "Hjelmstorm".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/helheimnorway

    

  

Paterna Spiriitum Interview

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

Band: Well, imagine a nighttime stroll through an abandoned cemetery, bathed in moonlight, accompanied by heavy, fast riffs, a powerful bass, rhythmic drums, and somber wails echoing from the darkness, singing of forgotten times. On the one hand, you know it’s just a figment of your imagination, but on the other—what if there really is something waiting there? Maybe it’s worth taking a step in that direction? Maybe something will change, maybe some gates will open?

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

Band: The new line-up allows for a much broader range of influences and a more creative approach to writing their own parts. "Noc Grozy" was much rawer material, rooted in classic, vintage black metal - "Pieśni Pogardy" draws heavily on inspiration from the old days, but also features a more modern sound, far more dynamics and energy; more "disturbing elements" at the background, too. 

HellScythe: Seth still contributes his screams on some backing vocals but I took care of the vocals on the new album, being the newest addition. This allows him to play more difficult and complex pieces without worrying about how to play and sing at the same time. 

I tried to incorporate a wide range of vocal techniques myself, from classic harsh vocals, growls and clean vocals to harmonies and banshee-like screams.

Band: Each member was free to use their influences and write their own parts (taking into account the feedback from the other members, of course, which led to the emergence of guitar solos, more progressive parts, as well as technical and, at times, lead bass playing.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

Band: The album’s concept loosely explores the theme of the unpleasant people one encounters every day. People who are mean, nosy, envious, and fixated on the superficial aspects of life, who never look any deeper. Moreover, they are linked by the common thread of the goddess Nemiza.  

4.A lot of your lyrics are inspired by Paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

HellScythe: For my part, I’ve been interested in religion since I was a child; I loved finding out as much as possible about different beliefs, starting, of course, with Christianity, moving on to paganism, Slavic beliefs, the beliefs of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Norse religions and Buddhism, as well as African beliefs, sects and cults. 

Admittedly, these interests haven’t changed the fact that I don’t believe in any established faiths; at most, I might believe in some kind of cosmic energy. But not really. 

Paganism in the lyrics allows us to encapsulate a certain atmosphere, but also to give it a certain form, highlight certain aspects, or clothe it in a visual layer. 

On our “Pieśni Pogardy”, the lyrics coalesce into a pagan invocation of the goddess Nemiza – who, incidentally, is herself a deity created (is she not, like every deity?) at a later period than the Slavic beliefs themselves. I think this adds a certain layer of irony to the whole album. 

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

Seth: The project’s name (as well as the project itself) was conceived in 2012. I started the project after parting ways with Hegemoon and Tanathron, and it all began in the attic with my 2 sons (lineup: drums, guitar, and keyboard). We weren’t making music to release albums; we played, you could say, more for fun and just for the heck of it—there was no talk of playing concerts or releasing anything.

It wasn’t until 2018, under the influence of a certain group of people, that we decided to create some material and try to record this project, but…

The Sons went their separate ways to pursue non-musical interests, and a number of other people began to come and go through the band (and there were quite a few of them); we’d especially like to give a shout-out to:

Drummer Łukasz (2012-2019)

Keyboard player Bartek (2012-2015)

Vocalist Adam (2018-2022)

Bassist Andrzej (2019-2022)

Guitarist Tomek (2018-2023)

Guitarist Mirek (2020-2023)

and many others whom I haven't mentioned, but who have been with us since 2018.

Finally, in 2021, this project - born out of pure passion - came to fruition. With our current drummer “Jantar”, Mirek and Tomek we released the EP “Noc Grozy,” featuring five heavy tracks of dense black metal. 

We incorporate many elements characteristic of the Pagan style from three decades ago. The market is flooded with new releases, and we strive to blend the old school with the new in black metal. The material was recorded in our rehearsal space in Sosnowiec, and Dariusz (Młody) Płaszewski handled the rest - mixing and mastering at PANZER STUDIO 666.

In 2023, Kuba and Maciek joined our ranks, bringing significant changes to our music and enriching our exploration of this art form. In 2025, fresh blood joined our band—our vocalist HellScythe. That year also saw the release of new material titled “Songs of Contempt.” It is characterized by a blend of a new style with old-school black metal, and was recorded partly in Sosonowiec and partly in Częstochowa

Now we are trying to step out of the shadows to strike with renewed strength and hatred.

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

Band: The raven is very often a symbol of death and war, and is seen as a harbinger of misfortune. At the same time, they are incredibly intelligent creatures; in many cultures, they have served as messengers – just as we act as emissaries, producing sounds and shouting about times long past. In Slavic mythology, ravens also played a significant role in the process of childbirth, as the souls of the dead (wele) travelled from the Wyraj (slavic Underworld) to the earth.

HellScythe: Furthermore - a cemetery, a raven, an overturned crucifix in the background – for me, it’s like going back to a time when people didn’t bow their knees before a corpse on the cross. Isn’t that cool?

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Band: Our gigs are bursting with energy, set against a dark and heavy atmosphere. We all love playing live and we give it our all, whether we’re playing to a handful of people or several hundred.

Our upcoming gigs will feature a set comprising the entire new album, as well as a selection of ‘hits’ (laughs) from “Noc Grozy”. 

HellScythe: I have very fond memories of every gig I’ve played with the lads so far, though I’m sure everyone has their own way of looking back on them. The gigs in Częstochowa are certainly special, as they’re ‘home’ gigs – lots of familiar faces, a different vibe in a way.

Off the top of my head, I have very fond memories of Skarżysko-Kamienne, at the Semafor club, where we played with Wrath Opiate, Whore Mother, and the now defunct Dutch band Frontline Despair. Great organisation (greetings to Małgosia, the club’s owner), a crowd of young and brilliant people in front of the stage, some of whom we’re still in touch with. Our black hearts rejoice that young people are still listening to this kind of music. The kids are all right.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Band: A few concerts have already been announced; for Polish fans (or fans abroad who fancy a bit of Poland), we recommend following our social media. More is yet to come!

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Band: We haven’t ruled out working with record labels; we’ve received a few offers that we turned down, and it’s not as though we’re actively sending out demos ourselves in the hope that someone will sign us. Of course, we’ll consider any proposal, but we’re far from ‘selling out’ (laughs).

So far, we’ve still been operating on a DIY basis. We like the freedom and lack of constraints in what we do. However, it’s certainly problematic when it comes to promotion. 

HellScythe: At least no one’s forcing us to record ‘funny’ TikToks.

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

Band: We’re getting really good feedback from fans abroad, which surprises us a bit - given that we sing in Polish and our social media is in Polish. In a way, we’re also getting “praise” for this – on several occasions, both at gigs and in comments on the internet, fans from abroad have praised us for not having “given in” to “anglicisation”.

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

HellScythe: My ex-band Misanthur clearly had a prophetic album title, ‘Ephemeris’ - we released the album on Season of Mist, and after numerous personal and interpersonal problems, despite attempts to get back together, it all came to an end. 

At the moment, I’m also playing guitar in a band that plays old-school Polish rock.

There are also some plans for a new project with a musician I’m friends with from a band we’ve shared the stage with a few times, but it all depends on how the stars align (fingers crossed).

Seth: I don't feel like playing in other bands anymore. The last band I played in as a session musician was “Zmarłym”.

As for the future, I'll put it this way:

I want to devote all my energy and new ideas solely to this project. Time waits for no one, and we'll have to film something someday (laughs).

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

HellScythe: No one knows for sure. I’m a fan of creating without overthinking it, though it goes without saying that such discussions do sometimes crop up within the band – “which direction should we take?”, “more of this, less of that?” – but one thing is certain: Black Metal will always be the backbone of our music. Despite drawing inspiration from various sources, this is the genre that resonates deeply with each of us. 

We have the ‘rough outlines’ of two new tracks; both are faster than any of the songs on “Noc Grozy” and “Pieśni Pogardy”. For my part, I can reveal that there will be more going on vocally, and the compositions are shaping up to be heavier yet more nostalgic than before. 

As for the material – we were considering a split with one band, but we think we’ll go for another full-length album instead.

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

HellScythe: While replying to this interview, Current 93’s “Invocations of Almost” really set the mood for me. Lately, I’ve also been listening to a lot of noise rock (my beloved Tropical Fuck Storm), and as for black metal, Oranssi Pazuzu. 

Seth: I don't really listen to music, but when I do, the older the songs, the better (laughs). But seriously, generally speaking, anything good is good, regardless of the genre.

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

Band: Thanks so much for the interview and the interesting questions – and final words? Come to the gigs, support the scene and the REAL artists, ditch streaming services and their AI slop, and, well, just live your lives the way you want to – see you at the gigs.

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