Celtefog/Dizziness/Hope Behind The Hills/Moonthoth/The Void Communion/4 Way Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  self  released  4  way  split  album  between  Poland's  Celtefog,  Dizziness,  Hope  Behind  The  Hills  and  Poland's  Moonthoth  called  "The  Void  Communion"  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Celtefog  who  returns  with  an  atmospheric  form  of  pagan  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  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  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  shouts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  

Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  also  adds  in  some  synths  and  folk  instruments  along  with  a  brief  use  of  whispers  and  spoken  words,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  clear  singing  is  also  added on  the  second  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  paganism  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Celtefog  and  if  you a re  a  fan  of  atmospheric  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Ivy  Path".   

  Next  up  is  Dizziness  who  return  with  an  aggressive  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem a nd  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  their  side  of  the  split  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  ocean  sounds  are  also  used  briefly,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  second  track.  The  Production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dizziness  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Etherist".

  Next  up  is  Hope  Behind  The  Hills  a  solo  project t hat  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  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  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  used  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  nihilism,  existentialism  and  philosohpy  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Hope  Behind  The  Hills  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Few  See  The  end".

  Closing  the  split  is  Moonthoth  who  returns  with  an  atmospheric  style  of  pagan  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  atmospheric  soundscapes  and  clean  playing  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Synths  are  also  used  at  times  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  his  side  of  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly.  Both  of  his  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Slavic  Paganism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Moonthoth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  his  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Waves  Of  The  Unseen".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  European  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

https://dizziness.bandcamp.com/album/the-void-communion-2026

          

Beenkerver/Doodlot/Vendetta Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Netherlands'  solo  project  Beenkerver  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Doodlot"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Vendetta  Records.

 A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilized  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing  along  with  a  later  song  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  keyboards  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Dutch  and  cover  local  folklore  legends,  inner  demons,  melancholy  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Beenkerver  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Creatuur"  and  "Doodlot'".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beenkerver

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beenkerver/
Bandcamp: https://beenkerver.bandcamp.com/

     

Sigilo/Gloria ad Inferno/Alma Mater Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Sigilo  are  a  solo  project  from  Portugal  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Gloria  ad  Inferno"  which  will  be  released  on  October  23rd  by  Alma  Mater  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  a  couple  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  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

    Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  synths  along  with  one  track  also  being  an  instrumental  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  old  school  touches.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sigilo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Spell  Of  Death,  Chaos  And  Destruction"   "Universal  Gathering  Chantic"  "Everything  Satan"  and  "Engodo".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/sigiloblackmetal
https://www.facebook.com/sigiloblackmetal

https://www.sigiloblackmetal.bandcamp.com  

  .     

Vinteraske Interview

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

1.: Vinteraske has been active since 2022 and serves as an outlet for my mental well-being. I always wanted to transform my thoughts into art and the music which is the closest to my heart proved to be the perfect medium for doing so.

2.You have your first full length coming out in November, musically how does it differ from your previous singles?

2.: When I launched the project, I didn't really had a clear idea of ​​exactly what I wanted to do, because at the time I was still teaching myself how to play guitar and write songs, I just knew it had to be black metal. And from that point on, I experimented and learned.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

3.: In principle, my songs are always about things that weigh on me, whether it’s depression, heartbreak, self-hatred, or other issues, but the music has always served as an outlet for me to express myself in ways I can't in everyday life.

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

4.: That’s a funny little story, I have to give a bit of background here, because my entry into black metal was very atypical. I didn’t actually get into the scene through bands like Mayhem, Darkthrone, Mgła, or other legends, but rather through the band Karg and ever since I discovered them, I’ve wanted to make music that sounds exactly like that. I started consuming everything released by the person behind Karg, including his book „Die Asche vergangener Winter“. And since the words "Asche" (ash) and "Winter" always resonated deeply with me, I combined the two. However, "Winterash" didn't feel evocative enough, so I translated the name into Norwegian and Vinteraske was born.

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

5.: I have always been a great admirer of all the spectacles nature has to offer, especially the Northern Lights, mountains, and oceans. And I felt that these three elements harmonize exceptionally well with the music I write, both visually and aurally.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but have worked with other musicians in other bands or projects, do you prefer to work solo?

6.: It depends. To catch and express my emotions, definitely solo, but if i want to turn down the noise in my head, i would prefer writing with others.

7.The album is going to be released on 'Naturmacht Productions', how did you get in contact with this label?

7.: As soon as i released „Agonie im Abgesang“ a lot of friends told me, that i should ask out some labels for a collab. At first, i was like „Naahhh, better not“, but i let those thoughts sink into my head and decided to pock 3 labels which i would like to work with, based on the bands which i listen to the most. So i send some mails with a link to „Agonie im Abgesang“ and Naturmacht was the first one which replied, so i decided to consider it as first come, first serve and we started a collab! And to be honest, it couldn‘t had come any better, because everything was so carefree from the start and i‘m glad and honored that we are here at this point!

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

8.: That’s a difficult question, because I don‘t think that my music did really go worldwide until the collab with Naturmacht, so there wasn‘t a big feedback which i received. But all in all I would say, that there are a lot of persons out there which gonna like the music I do!

9.Are you currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

9.: Yes, i‘m also a Vocalist in a Metalcore Band called In Ruins Forgiven, Guitarist, Backing Vocalist and Songwriter in a Slamming Downtempo Band called Agonised and I got also second solo project in the deathcore scene which is called Dying In Ashes.

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

10.: Hopefully still continuing with the stuff my heart belongs to.

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?

11.: Like I said a few questions above is Karg my main-influence, but also a lot of other Bands I appreciate, like Alcest, Groza, Panzerfaust, Naxen, Wehmut and many more! And to set the things straight: My main influence in my style how i write riffs and melodies combined with the effects i use, does all come from Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit, this man is the best and most inspiring guitarist in the world for me!

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

12.: Stay healthy, enjoy your time, share joy, be kind to one another, and live your music.

https://youtu.be/xog8ElwUm0U?si=3m6MevzHLna_g9M2 

Eye Of Moth/Endless Life Manta/2026 EP Review

  Eye  Of  Moth  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  "Endless  Life  Mantra".

  Synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  elements  of  shoegaze  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  ep  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  being instrumentals.

  Eye  of  Moth  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Occultism  and  Seasons.

  In  my  opinion  Eye  Of  Moth  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eye  of  Moth(Spring)'  and  "Snowfall  Spirit(Winter)'.  8  out  of  10.

  https://open.spotify.com/album/4vQbZfd0p3IcB3E7rzdlxT

   

Somn/Consecration/AOP Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Somn  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Consecration"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  AOP  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  pic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  clear  vocals  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Somn  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  modern  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  man  cast  into  the  grinding  gears  of  other's  ambitions.

  in  y  opinion  Somn  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tower  Of  Flesh"  and  "Consecration".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/somnband

somnband.bandcamp.com    

Fir Bolg/Triskelion/Schwarzdom Production/2026 Full Length Review

  Fir  Bolg  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Triskelion"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Schwarzdom  Production.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  also  adds  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  chants  and  clear  pagan  metal  singing

  A  couple  of  songs  are  also  brief  instrumentals  along  with  some    death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  some  ritualistic  and  tribal  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album,  throat  singing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  used  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Celtic  Paganism,  Mythology  and  Ancestral  Tales.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fir  Bolg  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Underground  Chthonian  Sacrifice"  "Famine  536"  "Druid"  and  "Queen  mother  Celtic  Land".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063756091637
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fir_bolg_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/firbolgtruepagan
"Drunemeton" video: https://youtu.be/qG_Khbj7GJU

  

  .