Rimruna/Werm droben nachts der Frostmond thront/Schattenkult Production/Blutmondspharen/Kombinant Metal/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Rimruna  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Werm  droben nachts  der  Frostmond  thront"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Schattenkult  Production,  Blutmondspharen  and  Komninant  Metal.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  add  in  some  atmospheric  touches  when  they  are  utilized.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing  and  the f aster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats

  

When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  the  magick  of  the  moon.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Rumruna  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Gefahrte  der  Nacht"  and  "Die  Sage  vom  Flunkenflug".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/rimruna.de

https://rimruna.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/rimruna.de        

Finsterforst/Still/AOP Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Finsterforst  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  goes  the  music  going  for  a  'black  forest  metal'  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Still"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  AOP  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  singing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  synths,  keyboards  and orchestral  arrangements  also  takes  the  music  into  a  more  atmospheric  direction  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  accordions  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Touches  of  folk  music  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  recording  is  more  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  the  closing  track  is  a  Pink  Floyd  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Germany  and  cover  Philosophy,  Nature  and  Humanity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Finsterforst  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  and  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Obduktion"  "Im  Wond"  "Fels"  and  "Another  Brick  On  The  Wall".  8  out  of  10.

  finsterforst.de      

Vafurlogi/Gneisti af eldi Guðs/NoEvDia/Oration/2026 Full Length Review

  Vafurlogi  are  a  band  from  Iceland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2026  album  "Gneisti  af  eldi  Guðs"  which  will  be  released  on  June  26th  as  a  joint  effort  between  NoEvDia  and  Oration.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  most  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  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  as  well  as  adding  in  a  more  modern  touch.

  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.  Keyboards  can  also  be  heard  briefly   and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  cover  man's  relationship with  the  sacred  in  an  existential  sense.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vafurlogi  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Af  heilagri  heift"  "Vitjun"  and  "Earthly  Vestiges".  8  out  of  10.

facebook.com/vafurlogiofficial

     

Divine Sovereign/Autuxia Chronicles: A House Divided/WormHoleDeath Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Divine  Sovereign  are  a  solo  project  from  Poland  that  plays  an  epic  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Autuxia  Chronicles:  A  House  Divided"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  parts  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams  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  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  faster  riffing  also  giving  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  they  are  utilized,  synths  and  clean  playing  are  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Autaxia,  a  planet  where  an  advanced  species  discovers  the  ruins  of  once-great  civilization.   

  In  my  opinion  Divine  Sovereign  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  epic  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  "Heresy"  and  "Words  Of  King".  8  out  of  10.

divinesovereign.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574488973047

Othalan Interview

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

1. As a band we’ve just been essentially rehearsing our setlist and getting everything as tight and intense as we aim for it to be for our live shows 

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

2. Musically It’s a jump from the early demos as this project began more as a relatively pagan black metal band. While the 80s and punk influence was always there, we just have fully embraced the sleaze now at this point and hate brought a significantly more energetic, intense, and riff filled record. 

3.The earlier music was more pagan black metal while the new album is more blackened thrash metal, what was the cause of the musical change and also do any of the band members still have any interest in Paganism?

2. Musically It’s a jump from the early demos as this project began more as a relatively pagan black metal band. While the 80s and punk influence was always there, we just have fully embraced the sleaze now at this point and hate brought a significantly more energetic, intense, and riff filled record. 

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release?

4. Lyrical topics for this album consist of some varying degree. Some that are personal songs themed as betrayal and shady indidivuals where some are just about eating pussy worshipping evil

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Othalan'?

5. Othalan itself just kinds naturally came from when the band began as pagan black metal, I wanted something where the name would be in reference to something from the religion to some degree without it being just a standard one so that’s where I’d found this spelling/annunciation of the Odal rune, odins rune and went with it as he is the one I primarily perform blots too 

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

6. So the artwork, we wanted to go to ballsy in the sense of not trying to hide at all who influenced us, anyone that sees this is going to immediately get the reference of Judas priests, painkiller. Combining that with the bathory goat gives listeners a pretty straight forward expectation of what they’re getting into and setting the tone before you even hear the first note. We wanted the first debut release with us doing black thrash to be a massive homage to some legends 

7.Originally the band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind expanding into a full line up?

7. So while I, (Tommy Tyrant) still do majority of all the song writing, I knew I always wanted to bring this band to the stage. After a few solo lives shows I knew I was doing the material a disservice by not having a full band energy there so that’s lead to where we are now.

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

8. We’ve done a lot of spectacular shows between some noteworthy local shows to opening for the legends in Venom Inc. Our live show is a high octane demonstration of blasphemy and intensity and speed, delivering  heavy beer chugging sin filled sleaze wherever we go always bringing out a mosh and have been begun seeing some maniacs out there crowd  surfing in trash cans which we love. 

9.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

9. We have a show booked later this year in November with one of our heroes, Midnight. Between everyone’s work schedule  we are amidst planning a tour going from Florida to to Texas and back along with next year going up into Ohio and into the northeast as well. But most definitely once everyone can get dates aligned we are touring out to Texas later this summer and back hitting New Orleans along the way! 

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

10. The reaction to this band has been my favorite as we are a very love or hate band. I love this, while we won’t turn away casual listeners, we don’t write this for the casual listener this music is about sleaze and blasphemy and worshipping the gods of the 1st wave and for those that take refuge in speed and sleaze, we are loved. 

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

11. While we have some plans for future records to mix in some elements of other genres such as doom and grindcore, the main focus going forward with the band is to continue making things more intense and hellish 

12.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?

12.  A lot of influences on this band is namely just about any 1st wave black metal band.  But to get more specific venom, bathory, hellhammer. A lot of that and glam believe it or not, we take all that and mix it in with elements of crust punk too as punk has played a massive role too. Most recently far as listening goes I’ve been finding myself in a strange binge between dungeon synth and crust punk/grindcore 

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

13. I just got three things to say to everyone as final word yes: Smoke beer, drink drugs, and eat pussy! 

https://www.facebook.com/othalankvlt 

The Killing Hand/Infernal Commands/EAL Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  The  Killing  Hand  are  a  duo  from  Poland  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Infernal  Commands"  which  was  released  by  EAL  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.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Melodies  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  of  the  genre  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Some  tracks  also  add in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  along  with  the  vocals  also  having  their  grim  moments  and  when  spoken  words  and  chants  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Demonology  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Killing  Hand  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "On  A  Silver  Globe"  "Enter,  Asmodeus"  and  "I  Am  Third  Revelation".  8  out  of  10.

noevdia.com 

    

Cvinger/Rites Ov Flesh/Void Wanderer Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Slovenia's  Cvinger  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  occult  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Rites  Ov  Flesh"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Void  Wanderer  Productions.

  A  very  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  which  also  adds  in  chants  and  synths  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing.

  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.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  On  this  recording  Cvinger  goes  for  more  of  an  occult  style  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  ;left  hand  path  traditions  of  Slavic  and  Indian  nomadic  tribes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cvinger  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Temple  Of  The  Nine  Gates"  "To  Call  Upon  the  Bog  Spirit"  and  "Abomination".  8  out  of  10.

  LP: https://voidwanderer.com/product/cvinger-rites-ov-flesh-lp-preorder/

CD: https://voidwanderer.com/product/cvinger-rites-ov-flesh/