Sunday, September 30, 2018

Entropia/Vacuum/Arachnophobia Records/2018 CD Review


  Entropia  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  had  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  into  more  of  a  psychedelic  post  black  metal  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Vacuum"  which  was  released  by  Arachnophobia  Records.

  Clean  yet  distorted  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  psychedelic  elements  which  also  mixes  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  krautrock  influences  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  go  for  more  of  an  aggressive  post  metal  style  and  they  also  bring  in  an  instrumental  and  the  black  metal  elements  are  mostly  saved  for  the  faster  sections  of  the  music.

  On  this  recording  Entropia  takes  black,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  mixes  it  with  psychedelic and  krautrock  to  take  their  sound  to  another  level,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression,  pain  and  life  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Entropia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  psychedelic  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Poison"  and "Endure".  8  out  of 10.

Facebook
Bandcamp

Hissing/Permanent Destitution/Profound Lore Records/2018 CD Review


  Seattle,  Washington's  Hissing  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  their  mixture  of  black,  death  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Permanent  Destitution"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  Avant  garde  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  brutal  and  dissonant  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Half  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  harsh  noises  can  also  be  heard  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.

  On  this  recording  Hissing  takes  their  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  into  more  of  a  dissonant  direction  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  harsh  noise,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  abstract,  suffering  and  existentialism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hissing  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dissonant  black/death  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Backwards  Descent"  and  "Perdurance".  8  out  of  10.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Oscuro Mito/Mientras las nubes ciengan la luna/Catafila Producciones/2015 EP Review


  Oscuro  Mito  are  a  band  from  Bolivia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  ep  "Mientras  las  nubes  ciengan  la  luna"  which  was  released  by  Catafila  Producciones.

  Acoustic  guitars  and  pre-Hispanic  folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few seconds  later  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  after  awhile  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  but  also  keeping  the  folk  elements.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  tribal  chants  and  clean  vocals  also  being  used  briefly.

  Oscuro  Mito  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  pre-Hispanic  folk  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Ancestral  Legends,  Inca  And  Aymara  Culture  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Oscuro  Mito  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Danza  en  trance".  8  out  of  10.

https://oscuromito.bandcamp.com/releases 

Kommandant/Blood Eel/Krucyator Productions/2018 Cassette Review


  Kommandant  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of   black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Blood  Eel"  which  will  be  released  on  cassette  on  October  30th  by  Krucyator  Productions.

  Epic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier musical  direction  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  utilize  a  lot  of  dark  sounding  melodies  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  dissonant  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  elements  of  war,  death  and  thrash  metal,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  synths  also  making  a  brief  return  as  the  album  progresses  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  psychedelic  elements  are  also  added  onto  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Kommandant  show  a  great  amount  of  progresses  as  musicians  and  also  mix  in  more  dissonant  structures  into  their  chaotic  style  of  black/death  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  war  and  hatred  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kommandant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  chaotic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  cassette.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blood  Eel"  "Ice  Giant"  and  "Moon...The  Last  Man".  8  out  of  10.

https://krucyator.bandcamp.com/album/blood-eel? 

Eisregen/Fegefeur/Massacre Records/2018 CD Review


  Germany's  Eisregen  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  their  dark  mixture  of  goth,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Fegefeur"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Massacre  Records.

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  capturing  an  epic  atmosphere  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  being  added  onto  the  recording  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  clean  vocals  add  in  touches  of  goth  rock  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  keyboards  also  bring  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  also  being utilized  at  times  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  and  they  close  the  album  with  Beherit,  Mysticum,  and  Bethlehem  covers.

  Eisregen  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  their  dark  mixture  of  goth,  black  and  death  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  death,  gore,  cannibalism,  necrophilia  and  murder.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eisregen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vorholle"  "Oben  auf  dem  Leichenburg"  "Opher"  and  Black  Magic  Mushrooms".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/nrPLMXzy65M

Sex Messiah/Eastern Cult Of Sodomy/Nuclear War Now! Productions/2018 CD Review


  Sex  Messiah  are  a  band  from  Japan  that  plays  a  raw  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  crossover  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Eastern  Cult  Of  Sodomy"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Nuclear  War  Now!  Productions.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  old  school  style  while  elements  of  war  and  death  metal  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  one  track  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  utilizing  some  thrash,  punk  and  crossover  influences  at  times  and  on  some  tracks  the  music  gets  very  experimental.

  Sex  Messiah  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death,  thrash  metal,  punk  and  crossover  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Suicide  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sex  Messiah  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal,  punk  and  crossover  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Holy  Death"  "Killed  By  Judas"  and "Nuclear  Armageddon".  8  out  of  10.

http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/eastern-cult-of-sodomy   

Friday, September 28, 2018

Qayin Regis/Blackthorm/BlackSeed Productions/2018 EP Review


  Qayin  Regis  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  ep  "Blackthorn"  which  was  released  by  BlackSeed  Productions.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  briefly  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals are  mostly  grim  black  metal screams  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  death  and  thrash  metal  elements  also  being  used  at  times  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style, the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  ritualistic  yet  melodic  chanting  is  also  used  at  times  and  acoustic  guitars  are  added  onto  the  closing  track.

  Qayin  Regis  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  while  also  adding  in  some  elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Left  Hand  Path,  Occultism,  Death  Cult  and  Sincretism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Qayin  Regis  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Niantiel".  8/5  out  of  10.

http://www.blackseedprod.com
https://blackseedprod.bandcamp.com

Marrasmieli Interview


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

Marrasmieli was formed in early 2018 with the aim to create metal music inspired by nature, mythology and days of old. There’s three individuals in our band: Nattvind on vocals and drums, Zannibal on guitars and Maelgor on bass. Our music is atmospheric and epic and we also utilize instruments outside of the metal genre in our music such as flutes and acoustic guitars. We don’t preferably want to lock ourselves into any metal genre but one could describe our music as folk/black metal.

2.You have an ep coming out during the end of September, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on this recording?

When we started working on the songs the only thing we had planned was that it would be "something like black/folk metal". Zannibal wrote both of the songs for the EP, and when he started (with "What Nature Fears") his idea was trying to mix Burzum-like ambient black metal with folk. However, as the song progressed it became more melodic and catchy. It was soon obvious that it's not going to be anything like Burzum (altho you can still hear the Burzum influence in the monotonous intro of What Nature Fears). "Marrasmieli" was the second song we did and it was a more straightforward process. Zannibal was just jamming on acoustic guitar when he came up with the chord main progression and after that everything just came along naturally.

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

We don't have any strict rules for the lyrics, as long as they they somewhat fit the aforementioned themes. "Marrasmieli" was such a melodic and catchy song that it felt like a perfect song to be our band's title track. "What Nature Fears" was a bit more difficult to write. It's a long song but you can fit surprisingly little text there. At the time Zannibal was reading a Lovecraft collection and so he decided to try if he could make a little Lovecraftian story that fits the folk theme.

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

It’s a combination of two Finnish words. Marras is an old word for the word ”death” but Finns associate it with marraskuu which is November in Finnish and therefore wakes feelings of coldness and winter. Mieli means spirit, mood or mind. There’s not any special meaning behind the name. It’s just a name that represents the feelings that we want to invoke with our music.

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

It's simply a photo from a small local nature reserve taken by Zannibal.

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

We haven’t played any shows yet. We have just been concentrating on creating music and getting our EP out. But we guess that our live shows would offer something more than your average metal shows.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the ep is released?

Not at the moment but who knows what the future will bring. We would need more people in our band at least for live shows.

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

Well our EP isn’t out yet so we don’t know the full reaction yet. But our EP has been getting really good reviews and what music people have heard from it they have been very pleased.

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

The new material that we have written pretty much continues in the same vein as the EP but there are new elements in it as well. We want to keep our music evolving and getting better all the time even if the main inspiration behind it remains the same. But the main musical direction with this band will always be metal even though we are influenced by music outside of metal too.

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?

Mainly folk metal and black metal. Moonsorrow is one of our all-time favorites. Some other bands that have influenced us during our lives are for example Darkthrone, Agalloch, Burzum, Turisas, Wintersun, Panopticon, Summoning….. The list could go on forever. We’re all open-minded when it comes to music but metal still gets consumed the most in our band. You can find something good in all genres though. Except Finnish reggae.

11.How would you describe your views on Paganism?

To us paganism means respecting nature and the place we live in. Embracing ourselves us as part of a bigger entity.

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

Thanks a lot for the interview and for reading it! Make sure to check out our debut EP Marrasmieli which is coming out on the 29th of September through Naturmacht Productions. If you want to support us you can go check us out on Facebook and give us a like. The future of Marrasmieli seems very bright and productive so stay tuned for our future music. Cheers and kippis!

Bandcamp
Facebook
Spotify

Deschain 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? We have mostly been concentrating on getting the word out on Drift. Possibly getting some things together to release hard copies. But other than that, in one way or the other we are always in a writing process. Nothing is set in stone as of now, but new material is always in the works for us. So each member is polishing up and practicing for the next album. That is usually how it works for us. We put out new material and almost immediately start hashing out new ideas for the next album.

2.In July you had released a new album, what are some of the things you feel you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous releases? This album was pretty special for us. With Vigilance, we had the concept in our heads and tried to write something to reflect that concept. In some ways it was quite ambitious, and in others it seemed to be a logical evolution of what we were already doing. Especially when you look back to stuff from the first album. By the time we got to Drift we had more clarity on the direction we wanted to take our story, and the type of sound we wanted to accompany it. We tried more genre bending with this one. I would say this is most obvious in the title track. This trilogy is meant to have a specific sound associated with each character. Vigilance had the whistle. drift has the harmonica. We did a much better job of incorporating different vocal styling and instruments in this album, which is actually quite important to the aesthetic of the Grit trilogy .Also, just as a general note, we are better players. We are more capable at putting out music that really reflects our vision of what Deschain should sound like.

3.This is your first album to be released in 3 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame? We recorded the album about 3 years ago, and then ended up sitting on it for a while. This was primarily due to members of the band relocating. We were all at a point in out lives where we needed to concentrate on other things. So we took a bit of a break. It was nice, because it took a bit of pressure off. We took our time with the post production, and were able to get Subterranean Watchtowers to do the final mixing for us. With this album especially we wanted to take that extra time to make sure the final product was worth the wait for all of us in the band and for those who followed us.

4.The new album is a second part of a 3 album trilogy, can you tell us a little bit more about the concept and lyrics? The concept behind the Grit trilogy is that every person must choose to be the sum of their actions, or their ideals. To achieve peace are you peaceful, or do you get rid of anything that disturbs peace through violence? Through these struggles random aspects of life make things more complex, leaving vulnerability and destruction.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Deschain'?

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover? The album cover is an abstract view of a canyon, with a silhouette of a man walking into the sunrise. The shadow he casts into the canyon behind him is sprouted with slowly rising demons and regrets of his past.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance? We always wanted to give a little extra with out performances. Some sort of visual element to compliment the audible. We started very simple. All black no lights except for small purple LEDs attached to our instruments. As we started to develop as a band, and as we began to move toward the Grit trilogy out stage set up got more elaborate We set up candles. Put out animal bones we found in the woods, and used incense. We try to go creating a picture. But the music is always very intense we feel, and once we started playing we would not stop until the end. No banter, no bullshit. Some of our best shows were definitely the really early ones. We did a few basement performances that were really fun. Anything with a more intimate setting ended up being the best for us. One good experience was probably our first show ever. We weren't even a full band yet and we played over drum tracks, in a room that was much too big. It was some local "festival" which had a couple punk bands and a stand-up comedian. The whole awkwardness of that show was just very memorable and king of hilarious.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future? We don't have any plans for touring or performing right now. We haven't performed in quite some time, mostly due to the fact that out band members live in different parts of the country. Perhaps one day we will reunite for a show or two, but for now we are very focused on creating our music.

9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest? We are still looking. Although a few labels have reached out we feel none of them have fit our sound and vision as band.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal? It seems like the majority of our fan base is outside of the U.S., which is sort of strange. We have gotten some good reception from South American and Ukraine. Overall, the consensus seems to be that people think we are interesting. We go for concepts that are unique to the genre, and we are commended for putting our own spin on Black Metal. It is a genre that values heritage and individualism. I think that the people who listen to our music recognize this and appreciate that we are not trying to be another band wondering around in the forest wearing corpse paint. Especially because we are American.

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? We want to complete the Grit trilogy, and are very excited about the direction the next album is going. In a nutshell, the next album we will take the more sporadic elements of our music and expand on that. In some ways, it is almost Schizophrenic in a sense. As far as what is coming after that, we have toyed with a few ideas. Perhaps something more ethereal and sci-fi based is one of them. Nothing is set in stone for that yet.

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? One good thing about Deschain is that all of it's members have different musical backgrounds and musical tastes, We have blues, punk, industrial, classic heavy metal and death metal backgrounds. For Drift, we took from some of our more indie rock influences, such as Fleet Foxes and The Bravery, and Tom Waits. Some of the metal that influenced this album would be Black Sabbath, Wolves In The Throne Room, Krallice, Taake, Rwake, Between The Buried and Me, and as always ENSLAVED!

13.What are some of your non musical interests? We are all pretty big music nerds, Bryce and Dean both enjoy record and CD collecting. But outside of that, Dean is also and Archaeologist and puts a lot of his non musical focus into history and ethnography. Patrick and Bryce have a new musical project in the works as well currently working under the name Maybe You Should Drive.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts? Just that we are very proud of this new album, and have been happy with the positive response we have gotten thus far. We hope that this will help fuel our next record.

Bandcamp
Facebook

Cemetery Lights Interview

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

Cemetery Lights is a one-man occult black metal band It draws from the traditions of the 80’s and early 90’s for musical inspiration, navigating the narrow line between black, death, thrash, and doom metal to create an immersive listening experience.

2.So far this year you have released 2 ep's, how do they both differ from each other musically?

Lemuralia, although thoughtfully constructed, was created with the intention of finally delivering the music to the public after much procrastination. As a consequence of that, four straightforward tracks were selected to record. Interludes or experimental tracks were not utilized. It is important to be succinct when competing for the attention of a new listener. The result was four songs which showcase the atmosphere and power which can be demonstrated with purely metal compositions. Though strongest as a whole, each song could nevertheless stand proud on its own as a representation of Cemetery Lights.

The Church on the Island was crafted with more emphasis on the entire duration of the release instead of individual songs. The music and lyrics were arranged to deliver a story with an exposition (“The Church on the Island”), rising action (“Cemetery Lights”, “Resurrection”, “Necrocacophony”), climax (“Rapture”), and falling action / denouement (“The Bell”). “Resurrection” and “Necrocacophony” are prime examples of tracks which are intended to serve as assets to a plot arc rather than standalone tracks off of a black metal release. Nevertheless, the songs on the album were not composed with this goal in mind (with the exception of “Rapture”, composed as an expansion on the bridge riff from “Necrocacophony”). So, the straightforward compositions on The Church on the Island can stand on their own as well, but are best experienced alongside one-another.

3.The musical project has been around since 2011 but waited until 2018 to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?

Cemetery Lights was formed as a means of reviving the spirit of the Mediterranean black metal bands (in addition to a few select acts from other regions, such as Samael, Treblinka / Tiamat, Root, Barathrum, etc). The aforementioned acts may vary in execution, but compliment one-another well in essence. 2011 and 2012 were spent with a lot of leisure time to compose, so most of the material dates from those years. Special care was taken to preserve riffs and song ideas in case they were needed in the future.

Practices were held with Zealot (drummer of Witch King, ex-Enucleator) during that period. Other interests took precedent towards the end of 2012, so the project was indefinitely put on hold. In 2013 I began learning how to play drums, largely eschewing guitar until 2017. During autumn of 2017 it was decided that Cemetery Lights needed to happen, so guitar began to factor more into my practice regimen. I was presented with a lot of leisure time in April of this year, so I resolved to discipline myself to record the material which had accumulated.

4.Your lyrics cover Occultism, Necromancy and Horror, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts and horror?

My favorite tales are those which deal with apparitions (formerly human and otherwise), taboo spirituality, and the clash of those things with everyday life. The elusiveness of the unknown is probably the source of my fascination. However, my approach towards those topics is more that of an academic rather than a practitioner. Lemuralia revolved around ancient Roman ghost stories and folklore, so it ended up being a historical endeavor. The Church on the Island explored the wayward faithful embracing a left-hand path to enact their nihilistic revenge upon their surroundings, so it was a philosophical / theological drama.

No lyrics are penned without an accompanying vision, and presently I have no interest in writing lyrics which serve as snapshots of the macabre just for the sake of giving me something to vocalize. Perhaps that day will come, but presently I resonate much more with a purpose behind the lyrics.

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

The name is extracted from “Freezing Moon” by Mayhem: “the cemetery lights up again, as in ancient times”! Beyond that, the idea of hovering, ghostly flames in a cemetery is very striking. It conjures a simple, yet effective, image for the mind’s eye.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience playing with whole line ups, how would you compare the two?

Presently I have no experience recording as a member of a whole line-up. My experience as a live member playing songs which have already been finalized has been extremely positive. The members of Martyrvore were very supportive while I learned the songs and, most importantly, learned how to function alongside other musicians.  It can be difficult to schedule rehearsals with other members. That can be a stumbling block to keeping a band active. I have yet to see how composing new songs in that situation will play out.

It seems to be a lot easier for me to be the sole creative force behind a band. I write when inspiration strikes, record at my leisure, and release on my schedule. The burden of being responsible for everything is a small price to pay for autonomy. The only problem is getting a live line-up up to speed with material. Still, that would have to be done at some point with a whole band. Still, I much prefer a solo project with live session members rather than a group project.

7.On the releases you have worked with 'Necrologue' and 'Nuclear War! Now Productions, do you feel both of these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?

Working with Nuclear War Now! Productions has been an extremely rewarding experience. Yosuke and his team are professional, respectful, and very easy to interact with. Even before the release of The Church on the Island, having the DIY copies of Lemuralia in the NWN! Shop was a huge promotional boost. How much more is having both releases under NWN!’s banner! Actual press release-level promotion did not start until the reissue of Lemuralia was sent to press, so it is a little early to see how that will turn out. Overall, I am eternally grateful for the resources Yosuke has invested in Cemetery Lights.

“Necrologue Productions” is simply my own DIY label. I designed the layouts, printed the materials, and dubbed the tapes using the tools at my disposal. It has been a positive learning experience so far. Putting the extra effort into manufacturing one’s creation makes for a more satisfactory outcome, both artistically as well as financially. By the time I sold / gave away all of the cassettes I had dubbed, I had more or less broken even with some materials left over as well. I intend to use Necrologue Productions for small projects which may or may not take off. Some Martyrvore rehearsal demos may be dubbed for distribution under it. The internet made spreading the word a lot less challenging than it would have been decades ago. Still, over-saturation of bands means that grabbing someone’s attention is limited. I am quite positive that, had NWN! not taken an interest in Cemetery Lights, I would have many years of tedious promotion to do on my own before reaching the level of people I have by now.

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

The reception seems positive so far. Lemuralia was uploaded to a Russian forum early on, so that drew in a decent amount of traffic from the relevant regions in Europe. I have spoken with a few fans from Spain, Sweden, Greece, Poland, and Finland. I have not asked for specifics from Yosuke on where he has sent copies of The Church on the Island, but he has stated that the release is nearly sold out.

9.What is going on with 'Martyrvore' these days?

Martyrvore thrives! The unmistakable riffcraft and holocaust terror of Necrochrist (rhythm guitars, founding member) cannot be stopped!!

Following the untimely passing of Reaper (vocals) in early 2016 (“The memory of your name will be carved in the minds of the shadows!”), Terrorizer (lead guitars) chose to leave and focus on Come to Grief. Gemini (drums) was forcefully ejected for failure to conquer his demons. I was recruited to replace Gemini. Charybdis (Angel Morgue, Hiss), a long-time friend of Martyrvore, was recruited for lead guitars but switched to vocals.

Since then, Martyrvore has played a handful of shows in 2017 in support of Psycho, Kill, Nyogthaeblisz, and Malacath, and one show in 2018 in support of Crucifier and Headrot. With our return to the live stage firmly established, focus has been set on recording a new album. Live performances may or may not accompany in the meantime, depending on the opportunity.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

The full-length is presently being worked on. Rhythm guitar and bass tracks have already been recorded. A lyrical concept has yet to be decided.
The majority of the material recorded was written before 2013. The intention is to continue the path established during the initial years of the band, all while being mindful not to repeat what has already been done. New challenges wait ahead, and will be eagerly confronted and vanquished!


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?

Ah, the hardest question to keep brief! My songwriting influences include the bands from question #3, as well as Spear of Longinus, Akercocke, The Ruins of Beverast, Reverend Bizarre, and Fields of the Nephilim. This ranges from instrumentation (drums, bass, leads) to compositional structure and production.

I consistently have a long list of music that I listen to at once, but here are the highlights:

The Inheritors of Pain by Obsecration (criminally underrated Greek death / black, mandatory for fans of Varathron and Septic Flesh!)

Voice of the Ossuary by Witch King (warring death / black, debut album)

Celaenus Fragments by Fungoid Stream (ethereal yet primordial funeral doom, like cold water on your fingertips)

From the Shadows and The Second Ring of Power by Unholy (off-kilter occult black / doom, the deranged funeral doom doppelganger of Necromantia)

Honar i kroŭ by Krumkač (nationalistic black metal, Romantic and powerful debut album)

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

Thank you very much for the interview. Nuclear War Now! Productions just released the reissue of Lemuralia on gold shell cassette. A t-shirt featuring the aforementioned cover art and a back print is available alongside it, printed gold on black fabric. Everything looks fantastic! The Church on the Island is still available from myself, as well as Hells Headbangers.

Social Media:

necrophilosoph.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/necrophilosoph
facebook.com/necrophilosoph

Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!

Black Mold/Atavism/Helldprod Records/2018 Demo Review


  Black  Mold  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  demo  "Atavism"  which  will  be  released  in October  on  cassette  by  Helldprod  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  demo  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  all  of t he  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  short  in  length  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  the  raw  energy  of  punk  at  times,  all  of  the  riffs a re  done  with  power  chords  with  no  solos,  leads  or  melodies  ever  being  utilized  as  well  as  always  remaining  heavy.

  Black  Mold  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  fast,  raw  and  old  school  sounding  in  the  90's  tradition,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Black  Mold  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Let  It  Burn"  and  "Shroud  Of  Bodies".  8  out  of  10.

Soundcloud 

  

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Karg/Dornerivogel/AOP Records/2018 CD Review


  Karg  are  a  band  from  Austria  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  post  black metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Dornerivogel"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  AOP  Records.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  which  is  also  mixed  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  along  with  some  post  rock  and  shoegaze  elements  also  being  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to them  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts as  well  as  the  riffs  also  utilizing  a  lot  of  melody,  clean  playing  and  ambient  elements  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  one  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Karg  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  along  with  a  great  amount  of  shoegaze  elements,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  ans  cover  aspiration,  depression  and  self  destruction  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Karg  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Drangsal"  "L'appel  du  vide"  and  "Advent".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/kargband/ 

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Abysmal Lord/Crurifragium/Hells Headbangers/2018 Split EP Review


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Louisiana's  Abysmal  Lord  and  Washington's  Crurifragium  which  will  be  released  on  September  28th  by  Hells  Headbangers  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Abysmal  lord  a  band  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  ritualistic  sounding  synths  and  demonic  voices  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  direction  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  songs  also  bringing  in a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Abysmal  Lord  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out t his  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Burning  Flesh  Oblivion".

  Next  up  is  Crurifragium  who  return  with  their  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  ritualistic  sounding  synths  while  their  track  is  9   minutes  in  length  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along with  some  bestial  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  as  well  as  the  song  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  disease  and  dread  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Crurifragium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

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

http://abysmal-lord.bandcamp.com/album/split

Trollheims Grott/Aligned With The True Death/W.T.C Productions/2018 CD Review


  Trollheims  Grott  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  an  industrial  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Aligned  With  The  True  Death"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  W.T.C  Productions.

  Industrial  sounds  start  off  the  album and  also  mix  in with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  while  the  faster  sections  of t he  songs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Trollheims  Grot  expands  on  the  industrial  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  release  while  also  going  into  more  of  a  modern  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Luciferian,  Misanthropy  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Trollheims  Grott  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  industrial  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aligned  With  The  True  Death"  "Holy  Black  Sun"  and  "Earth's  Last  Stand".  8  out  of  10.

Trollheims Grott @ Facebook 

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Mystagos/Ho Anthropos Tes Anomias/BlackSeed Productions/2018 CD Review


  Mystagos  are  a  solo  project  from  Spain  that  plays  a  raw  and  orthodox  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2018  album  "Ho  Anthropos  Tes  Anomias"  which  will  be  released  by  BlackSeed  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  modern  black  metal  elements  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  melodic  yet  ritualistic  chants  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly  and  some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  some  dissonant  structures  and  the  music  always  remains  heavy.

  Mystagos  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  orthodox  and  modern  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  that  narrates  the  parable  of  the  Worldbearer  as  he  attempts  to  elevate  the  spirits  of  his  disciples  and  guide  them  towards  the  Black  Flame.

  In  my  opinion  Mystagos  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  orthodox  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Mystagogue"  "We  Are  The  Theotokos"  "March Of  Mesu  Betesh"  and  "Rise  Of  The  Hierophant".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Mystagosofficial

 

  

Monday, September 24, 2018

Totenmesse/To/Pagan Records/2018 CD Review


  Totenmesse  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  modern  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "To"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Pagan  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  vocals  being  a  mixture of  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  clean  vocals  are  also  used  briefly.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  tremolo  picking  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  as  the  album  progresses  they  also  bring  in  a cover  of  King  Crimson's  "20th  Century  Schizoid  Man"  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Totenmesse  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern  while  still  having  a  great  amount of  raw  aggression  and  heaviness,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  death,  fantasy  and  socio-political  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Toyenmesse  are  a  very  great  sounding  modern  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pusty  dzwon"  "21st  Century  Schizoid  Man"  and  "To". 8  out  of  10.

Facebook

  

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Dewfall/Hermeticus/Naturmacht Productions/2018 CD Review


  Dewfall  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  epic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Hermeticus"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Nature  sounds,  folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  will  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  using  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  to  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clean  vocals  also  being  used on  some  of  the  songs  and  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  traditional  metal  influence  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

 The  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  elements  of  death  metal,  spoken  word  parts  and  atmospheric  synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  also  return  briefly  on  some  of  the  later  tracks.

  Dewfall plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  epic,  raw  and  melodic  sounding  with  some  elements  of  death  and  traditional  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  esoteric  myth  of  the  Emperor  Frederick  II,  the  medieval  Suevian  sovereign  better  known  as  "Stupor  Mundi"  along  with  some  ancient  hermetic  and  traditional  atavistic  heathendom  references.

  In  my  opinion  Dewfall  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Abomination  Throne"  "The  Eternal  Flame  Of  Athanor"  and  "Apostasy  Of  Hopes".  8/5  out  of  10.   

https://www.facebook.com/DewFallOfficial/
https://www.instagram.com/dewfallofficial/?hl=it
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Dewfall/30475   

  

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Death Worship/Extermination Mass/Nuclear War Now! Productions/2018 Demo Review


  Death  Worship  are  a  band  from  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  demo  "Extermination  Mass"  which  will  be  released  on  cassette  on  September  28th  by  Nuclear  War  Now!  Productions.

  A  very  fast  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  sound  starts  off  the  demo  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  and  the  music  also  has  a  lot  of  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  influences.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  touch  of  grindcore  can  also  be  heard  in  the  fast  and  brutal  sections  of  the  music  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  ritualistic  sounds  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier direction.

  Death  Worship  continues  the  war  metal  tradition  that  was  established  in  the  members  previous  bands  Revenge,  Conqueror  and  Blasphemy  but  also sounding but  taking  into  into  more  of  a  rawer  and  darker  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilism  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Death  Worship  are  a  very  great  sounding  war  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  cassette.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Evocation  Chamber"  and  "The  Chaos  Trance".  8  out  of  10.

http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/extermination-mass-demo


    

Akasha/Unrest/Vibrations Of Blood And Hate/Grey Matter Productions/2018 Split Album Review


  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  California's  Akasha  and  Pennsylvania's  Unrest  called  "Vibrations  Of  Blood  And  Hate"  which  was  released  by  Grey  Matter Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Akasha  a  solo  project  that  has  recently  had  music  reviewed  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  vampyric  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  shows  an  influence  of  the  first  wave  era  while  the  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  raw,  chaotic  and  melodic  style  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  they  close  their  side  of  the  split  with  a  cover  of  Motorhead's  "Ace  Of  Spades",  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Death  Worship,  Spiritual/Mental  Vampirism,  Nihilism  and  Hate  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Akasha  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  vampyric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Life  Force  Control".

  Next  up  is  Unrest  another  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  hateful  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  ritualistic  sounding  synths  before  going  into  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  which  also  introduces  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording  while  the  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  during  the f aster  sections  of  the  music  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Throughout  their  side  of  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  dark  soundscapes  also  being  used  briefly  on  one  of  the  later  tracks,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  hateful  and  misanthropic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Unrest  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  hateful  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Eternity".

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

https://greymatternoise.bandcamp.com/track/life-force-control

https://greymatternoise.bandcamp.com/track/fornlorn