OccultBlackMetalZine: September 2017

This is a zine dedicated to black metal written by a practitioner of the black arts , This zine has been around in a different format for a while and I have decided to make an edition for www.blogger.com, for more information email occultblackmetalzine@yahoo.com, IF YOU ASK FOR AN ALBUM REVIEW OR INTERVIEW, DO NOT ASK FOR ME TO TAKE IT DOWN ONCE IT IS POSTED, ASKING WILL BE A WASTE OF TIME, https://www.patreon.com/OccultBlackMetalZIne no more facebook due to excessive bans so contact email

Friday, September 29, 2017

Golgota/Tralen/2017 Full Length Review

Golgota are a band from Sweden that plays a very raw and melodic form of black metal and this is a review of their self released 2017 album "Tralen".

Bell sounds start off the album along with some epic sounding synths along with some drum beats a few seconds later which also leads up to a heavier direction while the riffs also bring in a great amount of melody as well as adding in a great amount of grim black metal screams.

Clean playing along with some acoustic guitars can also be heard in certain sections of the recording while nature sounds are also used briefly and when the music speeds up a great amount of blast beats and tremolo picking can be heard which also gives the songs a more raw feeling, melodic vocals can also be heard briefly.

Golgota creates another recording t hat is in the raw and melodic style of black metal while also adding in new elements to their music which also shows progress from their previous recording, the production sounds very powerful for being a self released recording while the lyrics are written in Swedish and cover dark themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Golgota and if you are a fan of raw and melodic black metal, you should check out this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Nar Livet TvekerStar Doden Stilla" and "Tralen". 8 out of 10.

https://soundcloud.com/golgata-1/sets/golgata-tralen

Stahlsarg/Mechanisms Of Misanthropy/Non Serviam Records/2017 CD Review

Stahlsarg are a band from the United Kingdom that plays raw and melodic form of black metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Mechanisms Of Misanthropy" which will be released on Halloween by Non Serviam Records.

Atmospheric soundscapes start off the album along with some heavy riffing that also uses a great amount of tremolo picking to give the music more of a raw feeling along with some blast beats while the vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams and spoken word parts are also utilized at times.

All of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them while the solos and leads are done in a very dark yet melodic fashion along with the songs also bringing in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and acoustic guitars are also added on some of the tracks.

Some of the songs are very long and epic in length while the riffs also use a great amount of melody and also adds in some goth, death and thrash metal elements along with a later track being a brief ambient instrumental before returning back to a heavier direction and the music also mixes the old school style with a more modern take on the genre.

Stahlsarg plays a style of black metal that is very raw, melodic and traditional sounding, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover oppression, survival death themes with some references to Norwegian resistance hero Jan Baalsrud, Sophie Scholl & the White Rose Movement.

In my opinion Stahlsarg are a very great sounding raw and melodic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Raise The Dead" "Far Beyond the Dragons Teeth" "Hope Lies Frozen" and "In The Lungs Of the Earth". 8 out of 10.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Nemere/Vermezo/Neverheard Distro/2017 Cassette Review

Nemere are a band from Hungary that plays a very raw form of black metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Vermezo" which was released on cassette by Neverheard Distro.

Nature sounds start off the album along with some whispers and heavy riffing a few seconds later which also leads to a very fast and raw musical direction which also uses a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats as well as introducing high pitched black metal screams onto the recording.

All of the musical instruments on the recording have a very powerful sound to them while the music is very heavily rooted in the 90's second wave tradition as well as sounding very modern at the same time along with a small amount of growls and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts, a brief use of semi melodic singing can also be heard and as the album progresses acoustic guitars can be heard on a couple of the tracks and a later song also adds in a bass guitar lead for a few seconds.

Nemere plays a style of black metal that is very raw, traditional and old school sounding, the production sounds very raw and heavy while the lyrics are written in Hungarian and cover Anti Christian, Nature and Ancient Hungarian Life themes.

In my opinion Nemere are a very great sounding raw black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this cassette. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Harci Dal" "Vermezi" and "Utolso Utam". 8 out of 10.

Belus/Apophenia/Vendetta/2017 Full Length Review

Belus are a band from Brooklyn, New York that plays a raw mixture of black and doom metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Apophenia" which will be released in October by Vendetta.

Dark yet melodic riffing starts off the album along with all of the musical instruments having a very powerful sound to them and when the music speeds up a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats can be heard which gives the music more of a raw feeling along with the vocals being high pitched black metal screams.

A great amount of sludge and doom metal elements can be heard in the slower riffing of the song while some of the tracks are very long and epic in length along with some deep growls also being utilized at times and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts, spoken word parts can also be heard briefly and clean playing and synths are also added on some of the tracks.

Belus plays a musical style that takes a very raw and modern form of black metal and mixes it with doom metal to create a sound of their own, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover dark themes.

In my opinion Belus are a very great sounding raw mixture of black and doom metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Chasm" "Illusions" and "Equilibrium". 8 out of 10.

https://youtu.be/LH0-YdX48cA

Sarke/Viige Urh/Indie Recordings/2017 CD Review

Sarke are a band from Norway that has been featured before in this zine and plays a very raw and atmospheric mixture of black and thrash metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Viige Urh" which will be released in October by Indie Recordings.

A very heavy punk influenced sound starts off the album along with some angry vocals that gives the music more of a first wave black metal vibe while the music is more rooted in the early 90's Norwegian second wave style as well as adding synths in certain sections of the recording.

A decent amount of melody can be heard in the guitar riffing while the solos and leads are done in more of an old school metal/punk style and as the album progresses a small amount of acoustic guitars can be heard, a couple of tracks also brings in a brief use of psychedelic elements and female vocals and all of the music sticks to a mid tempo direction.

Sarke creates another recording that remains true to the raw and atmospheric mixture of black and thrash metal that was established on their previous release, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics are written in a mixture of Norwegian and English and cover evil, darkness, and occultism themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Sarke and if you are a fan of thrash influenced Norwegian black metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Dagger Entombed" "Jutul" and "Evolution And Fate". 8 out of 10.

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Lycanthropy Interview

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

Gunner: Currently I’m working on 2 new songs. When the main patterns gonna be ready I’ll
work with Oleg I. on the additional arrangements. It’s gonna be a new experience.

2.In August you had released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Gunner: It has a very clear sound, a little too clean, but I like it. There's a living feel.

Furious: We tried to do our best. And our sound engineer, who is actually a good friend of mine, put his every effort during mixing and mastering as well. It gave us an ability to reach higher level of sound compared to our past releases.

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the topics you have covered in the lyrics on the new recording?

Gunner: lyrically it’s a total madness.

Furious: There is nothing to hide. You can hear everything by yourself. One interesting point – lyrics on track # 2. In fact these lyrics were taken from real life. Thanks to Mr. Zhukov -you crazy bastard!

4.I know that the bands name is related to shapeshifting into a werewolf, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Gunner: it reflects inner power of a human being.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Gunner: Currently we don’t play live. Back in 2008-2009 we did some really good shows with the old lineup.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Gunner: Maybe in the future, but not in 2017.

Furious: We think about it. But the members of our band are divided by borders, countries, lands and seas - thousands of km. So it is possible but for now it is hard to organize everything on a good level.

7.The new album was released on 'Lower Silesian Stronghold', are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?

Gunner: There is a lot of work to be done.

Furious: Not all that much. Some of our past releases were promoted better.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?

Gunner: it’s quite positive in Europe, but not so good in Russia or Ukraine. But it is how it is. It doesn’t really matter for me.

9.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?

Furious: I participated in a few projects in the past, but I do not keep in touch with their members at the moment. I mean, I see them from time to time but that is not about the music.

Gunner: I think Oleg has something to say on this one...

Oleg I.: I have a solo bm project called Khôra where a new album is coming soon and will include some interesting guests.

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

Gunner: time will show. Can’t answer at the moment. Maybe a bit more atmospheric...

Oleg I.: I hope we will incorporate some more variety of genres into the bm we currently play.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Gunner: I keep on listening the same bands: Mayhem, Dark Funeral, Enthroned, Marduk, Dissection, Lucifugum, Rotting Christ, Belenos, Morbid Angel, Obituary, Terrorizer, Carcass, Legion of the Damned, Hypocrisy, Impaled Nazarene, My Dying Bride, Emperor, Setherial. Plus a lot of more underground stuff, such bands as Grift, Forndom, Twilight’s Embrace.

Furious: I am inspired by the new wave of BM from USA – Nightbringer, for example.

12.How would you describe your satanic and anti christian views?

Gunner: undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit.

Oleg I.: I don't care about any religion, only about how are the individuals who practice it.

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

Gunner: Stay Strong & Keep on Fighting!

Furious: Keep listening to dark music.

Wrapped In Pale Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
1. Wrapped In Pale is an atmospheric black metal band from Florida. We started in late 2014 and played some shows around Central Florida before stripping down to a one-man project in mid-2017.

2.So far you have released a demo and an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?
2. I think that the demo and the EP both have similar musical themes and ideas, but that the EP is a more fully realized version of the ideas presented in the demo. To me, the demo is simpler and more purely depressive, due to the vocal style. Because of a change of vocalists in between the two releases and some more complicated songwriting, the EP has more going on musically, and to me, is more interesting from a songwriting standpoint.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
3. The themes that come up the most in Wrapped in Pale's lyrics are revenge and depression. The two intertwine a fair bit - revenge because of depression.

4.One of your tracks deals with the 'Kabbalah', do you have an interest in Occultism?

4. I definitely have an interest in occultism. That song uses the idea of an eternal, unseen mysticism dashing away the dregs of the human race, especially those have committed the worst kinds of atrocities.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Wrapped In Pale'?
. The name Wrapped in Pale has kind of a two-fold meaning, both having to do with death. It refers to the fact that once people die, their blood often leaves their faces and they are left looking pale. It also has to do with the practice of wrapping bodies in funeral shrouds after death. So, one could think of it as being "wrapped in the paleness of death" both literally through the shroud and figuratively through the paleness one's body achieves shortly after death.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

6. Wrapped in Pale has been a one-man project for a short while; however I have always been the one that has written all of the music. For this EP I did have friends working sort of as "session musicians" for drums and vocals, mostly due to the unexpected way that we were kind of forced into being a one-man project. Being a one-man project certainly has its benefits in that you don't have to wait for anyone else to get anything done, but I would always be open to working with other musicians, especially drummers. For now though, the core of Wrapped in Pale remains only me

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
7. Actually, Depressive Illusions Records from Ukraine is doing a small release of the EP on tape and CD-R. We are currently working with them - they have been super cool and great to work with, and the tapes and CD-Rs they've made look great

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

8. I think that we are still a relatively unknown band, but even so I've received great feedback from all over the world. We've been shared and reviewed on sites from Europe to South America, so I am very happy with the reception that the record has gotten. This feedback from far away has been very important considering that we are not in a position to play live right now, so this is the only way that I know that people appreciate the music.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
9. I'd like to continue along the musical direction that Wrapped in Pale has been heading in. I think that we can keep our atmospheric sound while also adding interesting parts that one might not expect in a black metal band. I have songs written that I believe explore these ideas - I just have to find a drummer to play them with.

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. The bands that have had the most influence on Wrapped in Pale are definitely Ukrainian bands like Hate Forest, Drudkh, and Astrofaes. Those bands changed my entire perspective on black metal when I first heard them years ago. I don't think that anything can top that Ukrainian style of black metal. Besides them, DSBM bands like Totalselfhatred and Make a Change... Kill Yourself have also had a huge influence on Wrapped in Pale. Lately, I have been listening to a lot of Black Twilight Circle bands like Kallathon, Volahn, and Blue Hummingbird on the Left. I think that those bands are doing great things with black metal right now. Outside of black metal, I've also been listening to a lot of Combat Wounded Veteran, and have been on a Godflesh kick as well. Always one of my favorite bands.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

11. Outside of music, I am extremely interested in history, literature, and poetry. I spend most of my time reading books, and was a student of history at university. There are a couple of my published poems floating around out there as well. I'm also very into video games.

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

12. I'd just like to thank you for expressing interest in the record and doing this interview. I'd also like to thank Depressive Illusions Records for working with me and doing tapes and CD-Rs of the EP.

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The Wakedead Gathering/Ecferus/I, Voidhanger Records/2017 Split CD Review

This is a review of a split album between Ohio's The Wakedead Gathering and Indiana's Ecferus which will be released in November by I, Voidhanger Records and we will start off the review with The Wakedead Gathering a solo project that plays a mixture of doom and death metal with a touch of black metal.

His side of the split starts out with some dark sounding doom metal riffing while the solos and leads are done in a melodic fashion which also leads to a heavier direction along with the riffs also using a great amount of dark sounding melodies as well as all of the musical instruments having a very powerful sound to them.

Vocals are mostly deep death metal growls while the music is very heavily rooted in the early 90's along with the songs being 11 minutes in length, clean guitars can also be heard briefly as well as a brief use of grim black metal screams and when the music speeds up a small amount of blast beats can be heard, the production sounds very dark and heavy while the lyrics are based upon the writings of H.P Lovecraft.

In my opinion this is another great sounding track from The Wakedead Gathering and if you are a fan of doom/death metal with a touch of black metal, you should check out his side of the split.

Next up is Ecferus a solo project that has been featured before in this zine and plays more of a raw form of black metal on this recording.

His side of the split starts out with a very raw sound along with some grim black metal screams and drum beats a few seconds later while the sounds of battle can also be heard briefly along with the solos and leads being done in a very melodic fashion and all of the musical instruments sound very powerful.

When the music speeds up a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats can be heard while the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts along with a good mixture of both old school and modern influences, melodic chants can also be heard briefly in the background, the production sounds very raw and heavy while the lyrics cover evolutionary anthropology, mythology and science themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Ecferus and if you are a fan of raw black metal, you should check out his side of the split. RECOMMENDED TRACK "Author of Destruction".

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

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/The_Wakedead_Gathering/3540270605
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Ecferus/3540392312

Dreamshift Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
1) Hi there! Dreamshift is a Black Metal Project that arose in my homestudio in Bavaria, Germany. I started it in April/May this year and wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered the first album „Seconds“ within 2 Month. It’s a very experimental project and I’m trying to combine many different influences.

2.You have an album coming out in October, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
2) It’s not this common black metal thing because there is much Dur-chords going on guitarwise. So, many friendly melodies are mixed up with hard blast beats and sorrowful screamed vocals. There are some aggressiv parts too of curse, otherwise it wouldn’t be black metal at all. I‘m trying to build up big atmospheric ambiences through much reverb and delay on the lead guitars. And I hope it kind of worked out!

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
3) Thematically I tried to cover topics like the problems of getting older and not being able to fit this society, social criticism and some pretty personal themes. All in all it was all inspired by everyday life and my thoughts about it. What will be left when I‘m dead is the topic of the song „Remember“, the problem of always moving in a constant circle and not being able to go further is the topic of „Cricles“ and „Just Like Rain“ is about not wanting to be a party of this robotic life we live in sometimes just to show you some examples. I try to give the listener some space for own interpretation.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dreamshift'?
4) I came up with the name right after recording „Seconds“. It covered up the main topic of the album pretty good because many of the lyrics are written in the perspective human being that’s dreaming and some are like normal thoughts. So it’s a combination and sometimes you can’t decide what’s real and what’s not. So here you go. Sounds weird. It is.

5.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?
5) I prefer to work solo I guess, so I can just do what ever I want. No one complains, no one wants to change something. And it’s a pretty cool feeling to finish an album you did all the way on your self. The only thing I would like to do is working together with a producer, so I could have some experiences from someone else helping me for the recording and mixing itself. That would be awesome. But it’s pretty expensive...

6.The album is coming out on 'STF Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

6) STF is a label from Thüringen in Germany and it’s pretty close by where I live. We had a meeting and it was great, so I decided to work together with them. They aren’t a label that does provide metal only. And I think I am one of their most „underground genre“ client. But so far it’s pretty cool! They have a great Studio as well! Gary, the owner, is a great guy and a great musician! They all have so much experience in terms of music.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and post metal?
7) So far I only had great feedback and even better reviews for the album. Everything works out way better then I thought! People are messaging me on Facebook just to tell me how great my music is and that’s a huge honor! I‘m really glad people like it.

8.Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects?
8) Yeah for sure! I’ve played drums in many deathcore- and deathmetalbands. I left those because of the lack of time I’m having. At this moment I have my second one man project running called „Nemus“ which sticks to a way more traditional style of atmospheric black metal. And as well I‘m starting a black metal project with some friends of mine in Bamberg in which I play guitar and sing. So always busy!

9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
9) Music is my biggest love but always will stay a hobby I guess. I love black metal. And I don’t want to do more commercial music, so I won’t be able to live from it. But that’s ok! I have a normal daytime job and use all the time that is left to make music. For me I think that’s the best way to do it. But for sure there will be many many more albums I will record or be involved in!

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) I listen to every genre. Wait, no Volksmusic. I don’t really like that shit.
I like to listen to every style of metal, but most of the time Black Metal. I like techno, deephouse, EDM, classic music, some jazz and funk, indie, alternative and of curse German Battlerap, that stuff is just hilarious! But at least 70% of the music that comes out of my speakers is Black Metal.
For my own music for Dreamshift especially I’ve even been influenced by Minimal Techno a little bit! There are these long lasting guitarparts and some Synthesizers that really remind of minimal leads. Some classic influences, as you can hear on the piano based speech called „everything“. By the way the piano which I recorded was the one in my wintergarden. It is totally out of tune. I learned playing on this thing 17 years ago. But I think it has a cool vibe going on!

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
11) I love to cook. Good food and health is important to me. I do some Fitnessstuff and hit the gym at least 4 times a week. I like to travel and to get god damn wasted in clubs, bars and on festivals. Could not live without that!

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
12) I would like to thank you for the questions of curse! And to those guys spending some time to read this: thanks for your time, I hope it wasn’t wasted, support your underground and your local scene! It depends on you if there will be more great music or not!

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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Bloodway/A Fragile Riddle Crypting Clues/I, Voidhanger Records/2017 CD Review

Romania's Bloodway have returned with a new recording that is more in a progressive and avant garde style of black metal and this is a review of their 2017 "A Fragile Riddle Crypting Clues" which will be released in November by I, Voidhanger Records.

Avant garde elements and clean guitars start off the album while spoken word parts are also utilized briefly before going into more of a heavier direction along with the riffs also bringing in a decent amount of melody and when the music speeds up a great amount of blast beats can be heard.

During the faster sections of the songs a great amount of tremolo picking can be heard which also gives the music more of a raw feeling while the vocals are mostly angry black metal screams along with some clean singing and you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on the recording.

When guitar solos and leads are done in a very melodic fashion while the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts as well as the riffs also bringing in a decent amount of melody and progressive elements and some of the tracks are very long and epic in length, as the album progresses clean playing can be heard on some of the tracks and psychedelic influences can also be heard at times and spoken word parts are added onto the closing track.

Bloodway creates another recording that remains true to the progressive and avant garde style of black metal from previous releases, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics are a concept album and cover disenchantment and melancholy with a philosophical touch.

In my opinion this is another great sounding album from Bloodway and if you are a fan of progressive and avant garde black metal, you should check out this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Startling Grotesque" "Prison Paradise" and "A Fragile Riddle Crypting Clues". 8 out of 10.

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Inconcessus Lux Lucis/The Crowning Quietus/I, Voidhanger Records/2017 CD Review

United Kingdom's Inconcessus Lux Lucis have returned with a new recording that continues the occult black metal style of previous releases and this is a review of their 2017 album "The Crowning Quietus" which will be released on Halloween by I, Voidhanger Records.

Distorted amp sounds along with some grim black metal screams, tortured and drum beats starts off the album as well as adding in a very ritualistic feeling before going into a very fast and raw musical direction which also uses a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats while the solos and leads are both chaotic and melodic at the same time.

All of the musical instruments on the recording have a very powerful sound to them while the riffing also uses a great amount of melody, talent and skill along with the songs also bringing in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and on some of the tracks the riffs also mix in elements of traditional metal and some of the tracks are very long and epic in length and at times the music also brings in a black'n'roll vibe, spoken word parts can also be heard briefly on the closing track.

On this recording Inconcessus Lux Lucis remains true to the occult style of previous releases while also adding in more traditional metal influences and catchy riffs, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Occultism, Left Hand Path and Saturnian Black Magick themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Inconcessus Lux Lucis and if you are a fan of occult black metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Armour Rides Upon Midnight" and "Fever Upon The Firmament". 8 out of 10.

Imperialist Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Imperialist is a melodic black metal band from Los Angeles, California (Monrovia to be exact) formed in 2013. We initially started this band because we wanted to create Black metal that we would want to listen to; riff-driven with the ability to tell a story and maintain a dark, desolate atmosphere. Aesthetically, I have always been drawn to science fiction and outer space, so it was the perfect recipe to blend my love of black metal with the cold darkness of space.

2.You have an album coming out in November, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
It’s easy to compare our previous release with the new material. Cipher is presenting a much more serious approach and, by our standards, an evolved level of song writing and structuring. In addition to that, the production quality is far more improved in comparison.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?
It varies in terms of underlying subjects, but generally the outer shell of my lyrics are sci-fi stories inspired by events and natural phenomena happening here on earth. I also lyrically explore the darkness and desolation of space like black holes, galactic collisions, etc.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Imperialist'?
The name was actually found in a videogame called Metroid Prime Hunters. There is a weapon in said game that is named Imperialist, and I thought it was perfect. I wanted the band to be one strong, impactful word. It was a no-brainer to go with Imperialist after seeing it displayed as a powerful weapon in the game.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Mostly local shows in which we have played for some great crowds. Our stage performance is intended to draw the viewer and demand their undivided attention. we are by no means a high-action, high-energy band that is running around and jumping on stage - we just prefer to let the music do the work. We maintain presence by letting our energy flow through us with the intensity that our music demands.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Not immediately, we hope to showcase our record locally and in surrounding areas. Id say a tour may or may not be in the near future, when the time is right.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
Yes, we are. The focus is on generating awareness and we fully intend on having a larger following once the word spreads about Cipher.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
It has been surprisingly positive. Initially, I did not think our EP would be well-received, but we are very humbled that people enjoy it. We hope to earn more followers with our debut.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Theres really no telling besides the fact that we want to keep pushing ourselves as musicians. We intend to keep playing our very own brand of black metal and push it as best as we can while staying true to our vision.

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?
The biggest influence on us is Emperor, Their compositions and approach to creating an atmosphere with their music is very inspirational to us. We are also heavily influenced by Dissection, Immortal, Windir, Moonsorrow and Necrophobic just to name a few. As well as the influence from legends like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Mercyful Fate/King Diamond.

Lately I have been listening to the New Wintersun album "the forest seasons" as well as new offerings from Belphegor, Leprous, and Limbonic art.

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?
No.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
It varies really; video games, movies, reading books, among many things.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I just want to thank you for your support and interest in Imperialist. We truly are humbled at the fact that you're interested in our upcoming debut and we really hope you enjoy it. Thank you!

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Howling In The Fog/Evolve/Vacula Productions/2016 Full Length Review

Howling In The Fog are a solo project from Italy that has been featured before in this zine and on this recording plays a depressive form of post black metal and this is a review of his 2016 album "Evolve" which was released by Vacula Productions.

Ambient style soundscapes along with some elements of post rock and shoegaze start off the album while the vocals bring in a great mixture of both clean singing and grim yet depressive black metal screams and when guitar leads and solos are utilized they are done in a very melodic fashion.

On the second track the music gets heavier while also mixing it in with the keyboards along with a great portion of the tracks being very long and epic in length as well as all of the musical instruments sounding very powerful, acoustic guitars can also be heard in certain sections of the recording.

As the album progresses whispers can also be heard briefly and when the music finally speeds up a small amount of tremolo picking and blast beats can also be heard and they give the songs a more raw feeling and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and growls are also used on some of the tracks.

On this recording Howling In The Fog move away from the raw depressive side of black metal from previous releases and goes into more of an atmospheric post black metal direction, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Life themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Howling In The Fog and if you are a fan of post black metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Evolve" "Goodbye" "Rainbow" and "Eternal". 8 out of 10.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Vehement/Ashes/Infernum Records/2017 CD Review

Vehement are a band from the United Kingdom that plays a very extreme form of black metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Ashes" which will be released in Octboer by Infernum Records.

Field recordings start off the album before going into a very fast and raw musical direction which also uses a great amount of tremolo picking and blast beats while the vocals are mostly grim black metal screams along with the riffing also bringing in a decent amount of melody and most of the tracks are very long and epic in length.

Clean playing can also be heard in certain sections of the recording while the solos and leads are also done in a very dark yet melodic fashion along with a brief use of clean vocals on some tracks and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts as well as all of the musical instruments having a very powerful sound to them, as the album progresses acoustic guitars are also added into the music and growls are also utilized at times..

Vehement plays a style of black metal that is very raw, melodic and traditional sounding but with a more modern take on the genre, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover dark and philosophical themes.

In my opinion Vehement are a very great sounding extreme black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Far Below Us" "Burden's Root" and "Tidal Verse". 8 out of 10.

https://www.facebook.com/officialvehement/
https://twitter.com/vehement_uk

Parodos Interview

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

The band started three years ago when Giovanni Costabile (keyboards), Gianpiero Sica (bass) and Daniele Ippolito (drums), who had already played together in another band, followed Giovanni's idea to write new material that could express our musical interests. Soon after Francesco Del Vecchio (guitars) joined the band and became an integral part of our soundwriting process. When Marco Alfieri (vocals) who was a long time friend of ours joined the band, the line up was complete and we started writing our debut album "Catharsis". Last year in July we recorded a three-song live session cd at Sonic Temple Studio in Salerno (Italy) that served as a forerunner of our upcoming album. A few months before entering the studio Daniele was forced to leave the band, due to personal problems. So we entered the studio with session drummer Alfonso Mocerino who did a great job recording drum tracks. The whole album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono at Kick Recording studio in Rome between December 2016 and February 2017. Then Alessandro Martellone joined the family and became our new drummer.

2.You have an album coming out in October, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

Well, it's always difficult for an artist or a band to describe its own music. We generally use definitions such as Avantgard-progressive black metal in order to give the listener some suggestions about our music, but there's much more. We are not the black metal band a typical fan would expect. Our music is not just about fast guitar riffs, blast-beat and screaming vocals. There are some songs where these elements are present obviously, but "Catharsis" is a really complex work. Generally our songs are quiet long and a mixture of delicate atmospheres and harder parts are presented in a logical sequence in order to convey a large spectrum of human emotions: from angst, despair and bitterness, to hope and even some kind of resignation.

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

The lyrical themes and the songs in general deal with the concept of rebirth. The album should be experienced as a process of purification, a journey which takes the listener through different aspects of human feelings. From the worst moments of life one should find the inner energy to overcome difficulties and let his soul fly free. To do this a person must transform himself and become someone else, not completely different from the past, but with a deeper level of self awareness. Moreover we have to say this album is dedicated to the memory of Luigi, a band's close friend and Giovanni's cousin who passed away two years ago and whose suffering and struggle to survive deeply moved us and influenced the whole concept of the album.

4.I know that the bands name comes from a term used in the theater of Ancient Greece, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Ancient greek theater refers to Parodos as the first song sung by the chorus after its entrance from the side wings. It generally follows the prologue and precedes the dramatic representation that is about to take place on stage and serves as an introduction to the themes of the play. Likewise our music acts as an intoduction for the listener to the drama that life is, with all its implications and controversial aspects. Moreover we all live in Southern Italy, a place where Ancient Greeks settled their colonies 28 centuries ago. The roots of our culture lie in ancient greek art, architecture and philosophy and, in some ways, it still permeates our deep struciture as human beings.

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

One of the best show we've had so far was the first we played in our hometown. Even if it was a small venue a lot of people came to see us. We really felt their warm support. It was important for us to test the audience reaction to our tunes played live.
Inspired by the greek theater, the beginning of our shows has a sort of dramatic impact. We usually wear masks when we approach the stage just like the actors of the classical greek tragedy, which we take off right after the prologue ends and eventually our setlist begins.

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

The day after "Catharsis" is released, we will play our relese party, when the record will be performed in its entirety. On the 4th of November we will perform at Cult Of Parthenope black metal fest in Naples at its second edition; then from the 10th to the 19th of November we will be on our first european tour supporting italian black metal act SCUORN, crossing Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and more. You can find all infos about the venues on our Facebook page.

7.The new album is coming out on 'Inverse Records', can you tell us how you got in contact with this label?

In the most simple way. We sent our promo album to the label and they replied soon after. We found a very special person in Joni and everybody at Inverse Records who immediately let us know they truly appreciated our work and started promoting our album.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music fans of avant garde and black metal?

Up to now, judging from the first international reviews, the feedback appears to be good. Of course, we expect some people may not like our music, especially because it does not follow the rules of traditional black metal. But we are confident that people can let the music reach their deepest emotions, regardless of genres and tags.

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

It's quiet difficult to answer this question, especially at the point we are now. As a band we do not plan what kind of mood our next album will have. Soundwriting is a spontaneous flow that's really unpredictable.

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?

Among our main influences and source of inspiration there are Katatonia, Enslaved, Fen and the dreamy and ethereal sound of French bands such as Alcest and Les Discrets, just to name the most known ones. Every member of the band has different musical backgrounds but everyone tries to bring his own taste to our music so that it does not resemble anything in particular. We simply try to blend our influences in order to create something that would sound fresh and new in a certain way.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Our singer Marco is also a professional photographer and he dedicates himself to his art with passion. We all share common interests in theater, mithology and litterature. Every aspect of our personal interests takes part in the creative process. No matter what form of expression is suitable to you as long as it keeps an open door to real feelings.

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

First of all we would like to thank you for the opportunity to talk about us and our project. For those of who may be interested in our music, follow us on our social pages (Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp). Again, thank you and join the Catharsis.

Dun Interview

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

DUN is a one-man project that took shape during 2013 in France. Although it's often considered as a Melodic Black Metal project, I don't see myself linked to this particular style. I personally call it Black Art.

2.So far you have released 2 albums how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

This is quite a raw production on both albums, made with what was at hand at the time, without any knowledge of music recording, mixing, etc... It was something that needed to come out quick and raw, emotions that just can't stay within I guess. I think that both albums are really close to each other in terms of sound, maybe the second one is a bit clearer, I don't know, I don't really care.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?

The first album is talking about personal visions of the world I'm living in, and the dark feelings related to it. These feelings were expressed though metaphorical poems, maybe because of a shame I felt by exposing myself to others.
The second album is dealing with personal childhood difficulties such as suicide experimentations, hatred, despair, and most importantly how I escaped all of this.
Broadly speaking, DUN is meant to express my personal experience of life.

4.I know that the bands name means 'fortress in ancient Celtic civilizations, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

The fortress is a metaphorical concept for resistance. There's something that recursively comes out of the lyrics : "les murailles du cœur", which means "fortress of the heart". In fact, I have to protect myself against a world I'm afraid of, I set a mental bulwark between me and the others. This is my only way to face life. This is what saved me from death, mostly. This is what DUN is all about.

5.On the albums you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

DUN is a truly, deeply personal project. There's no way I can share it with other musicians.

6.On the first album you had done a 'Renaud' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

This song is touching me straight to the heart. In my opinion it totally fits the album's concept, but in its very own way...

7.So far you have worked with 'Wolfspell Records' and 'Heathen Tribes', are you happy with the support both labels have given you so far?

I am thankful to these labels for having physically released my music, but otherwise, I don't care about how it's being sold, nor how it's being received by the Black Metal "scene". This is absolutely not the point of this project.-

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

Some people liked it, some people didn't. Once again that's not the point, I don't care about it.

9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

Writing music is a process I don't plan to do. It comes whenever life decides to. There's something I'm sure of : I don't want to make money with my music. I guess I will continue to do music the same way I do it today, with the heart.

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?

I'm open to a large range of music styles, but Black Metal is obviously the one that is always on top among everything. I'm not even sure where the influences are coming from, I can't tell a specific name. However, some bands have had a strong impact on me these last years, such as SALE FREUX, early NARGAROTH, SADNESS, etc...

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

I like to drink alcohol.

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

None.

Bandcamp