T.O.M.E/I-III/Spread Evil/2021 CD Review

 

  T.O.M.E  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  mid  tempo  form  of  depressive  black  metal of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "I-III"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Spread  Evil.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  All  of  the  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  distorted  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized.

  Most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  along  with  some  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly, synths  also  return  on  the  later  tracks  and  melodic  chants  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Scandinavian  Nature,  Life  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  T.O.M.E  are  a  very  great  sounding  mid  tempo  depressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "II".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/MeWMbCC_nB8

Aeon Of Eternal/The Wanderer/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Aeon  Of  Eternal  are  a  solo  project  from  Poland  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  blac,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "The  Wanderer".

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  female  vocals  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

    Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

   Influences  of  goth  metal  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Synths  and  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  as  well  as  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed,  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,   mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  choirs, male  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  emotional  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Aeon  Of  Eternal  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Niwl"  "Daruuraha"  and  "Torden".  8  out  of  10.

https://aeonofeternal.bandcamp.com

https://twitter.com/eternal_aeon

https://www.instagram.com/aeonofeternal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2j8BrvNMo02EG9anxFbc68?si=4Sl3s4cqTZS0n1S6zBOVXQ  

    

Crimson Dimension/Self Titled/Spread Evil/2021 CD Review

 

  Crimson  Dimension  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  progressive  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2021  album  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Spread  Evil.

  Melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Synths  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  yet  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  clean  playing  and  growls  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized.  The  black  metal  screams  also  have  their  high  pitched  moments  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard,  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Finnish  and  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Crimson  Dimension  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  progressive  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Mass"  and  "Age  Of  Awakening".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/crimsondimensionofficial
www.crimsondimension.bandcamp.com 

https://youtu.be/C3rrcWT7B-4

Necralant/Temples Of Ruin/Upside Underground Productions/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Necralant  are  a  duo  from  Worcester,  Massachusetts  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  occult  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Temples  Of  Ruin"  which  was  released  by  Upside  Underground  Productions.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  old  school  death  metal  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  second  wave  era

Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  also be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  later  songs  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Satanism,  Left  Hand  Path  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Necralant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cursed  Visions"  "Diabolic  Conception"  and  "Temples  Of  Ruin".  8  out  of  10.

https://necralant.bandcamp.com/album/temples-of-ruin

https://www.instagram.com/necralant_official/

https://www.facebook.com/upsideunderground

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDW05z2CrNur2RLYrMWN_KA

  

    

Luring/Inimicitias Veteres Vulneribus Desparatione/Inferna Profundus Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Luring  are  a  solo  project  from  Pennsylvania  that  plays  a  very  raw,  lo-fi,  dark  and  melancholic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Inimicitias  Veteres  Vulneribus  Desparatione"  which  will  be  released  in  the  summer  time  by  Inferna  Profundus  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  demonic  voices  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed   while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams..  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  depressive  and  melancholic  moments  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  songs  also  capturing  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere,  spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  humanity,  religion,  cosmic  filth,  Satanism  and  blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Luring  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  lo-fi,  dark  and  melancholic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deep  Festering  Wounds"  and  "Slit  the  Throat  Of  Every  Angel".  8/2  out  of  10.

https://luring.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/LGrwLw_iQ9c

    

Holdlajtorja Interview

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

Greetings to all, Inmar here from Hungary. Some of your readers may know me from Vorkuta. After several years of ‘silence’, I started to write music in late 2018 again. One day I decided to grab my guitar, and astonishingly, themes just started to flow out…

2.So far you have released one demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

Concerning our musical style, the feedback we have received so far were rather diverse, with very different opinions and multifarious associations. This might be traced back to my approach of writing music; instead of conforming to the criteria of certain predefined genres, I simply let music come out of me. This is my sound, without any compromises. And then it’s up to the critics to ponder on what sort of music it is. Quite obviously, various genres of broadly understood metal music can be identified in our songs, since I clearly have these influences, too – even if these are not necessarily coming from the sources the audience might have assumed after listening to our demo. To put it bluntly, I only had one clear aim from the very beginning; to create magical metal music. Apart from that, we really don’t care about genres and their boundaries. We play what we feel like, and simply don’t deal with the (supposed) ‘rules’ of this or that style. Just imagine what if Pink Floyd cared about genres…

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores on the demo?

The first song is an eschatology based on Spengler, with Borghes-inspired literary insights. The most profound things are inexpressible. The lyrics of the short interlude, a curse, came from Kryptagonist. This is the only one in Hungarian, whereas all the other lyrics are in English. ‘Vox In Rama’ is a papal decree issued in 1233, dealing with the heresy of Luciferianism. The lyrics are about bloodshed that floods the globe from time to time.

4.The name translates to Moon Ladder in Hungarian after a Lovecraft story, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his works?

Yes, this term appears at the end of Lovecraft’s short story entitled ‘At the Mountains of Madness’. Moreover, the really apt and ingenious Hungarian translation uses an archaic form of the word ‘ladder’ (‘lajtorja’), which makes the entire expression even quainter. I do highly appreciate the oeuvre of H. P. Lovecraft, but I am also fully aware of his contested role in international literature; nonetheless, there aren’t any explicit relations between his works and our music. We simply needed a short and catchy name, which I think is harder and harder to come up with nowadays. In my youth I used to read him quite often, although recently I rarely have the time to do so, unfortunately.

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

It’s my work, I was trying to adapt the cover to the theme and the mood of our songs. Concerning the logo, I did not only want the composition of the letters to stand on its own visually, but also aimed at combining Western (medieval) typography and Eastern calligraphy. The aim was to create a particular kind of mystical, oriental atmosphere. It is a sort of Orientalism (without any social sciences connotations) that permeated the public sphere of the Romantic era. A naïve wondering at the unknown East and indulging into the charming influence of the Exotic.

6.Are any of the band members open to doing live shows once the pandemic ends?

It’s not completely impossible, albeit we haven’t really thought about it yet. Either way, this seems to be a long way off, since the most important thing for now is to finish the album. Nevertheless, even if circumstances turn out to be more fortunate, I’m still not sure whether we’d play live. As opposed to Richter’s view, I’m on Gould’s side on this one, and not because I’m disgusted by the audience. Quite simply, our music isn’t for skull-crushing headbanging, but more for listening to it at home, in a properly darkened room.

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

Yes, we aren’t signed to any labels yet, but we are actively working on finding an appropriate one. In a world of digital downloads, those who still insist on releasing physical formats deserve the utmost respect. Of course, we are also aware that everything is uncertain these days. What is more, there are myriads of bands, there’s a massive competition, and everyone is striving for attention. Hence, we have no other goal than to make sure that our music will find its audience.

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

Well, since the demo is relatively new, we haven’t received too much feedback or bumped into heaps of reviews yet. In fact, this is our very first interview – therefore, currently we’re keen to see how people will react to our music.

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?

Vorkuta recently released a 7” EP entitled ‘Wandering Alone in the Forest of Transcendence’, which will be followed by a split material.

Vorgrov: Following the latest Marblebog album ‘Aeon’, which is a dark ambient record, I am planning to finish the sixth Marblebog full-length in 2021. It’s going to be a black metal album again this time, but much more aggressive and faster than my last black metal album ‘Kietlen’. Several Marblebog 12" vinyl reissues are planned for 2021 as well, but I cannot reveal more details just now. My ambient/drone project Asattarn will do a split release in 2021 with Odvas, a Hungarian black ambient artist, the format is not decided yet.

Kryptagonist: An EP will be the next step in 2021 with both SIR and Leiru.

10.When can we expect the full length and also what can we expect musically once it is released?

We’d like to finish the recordings of the full-length album in 2021. Its title will be the same as that of the demo (‘Ab Orinte Ad Occidente’), with similar music, too.

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?

All of us are shaped by different musical influences. There might be several shared ones for sure, however, these aren’t fully explored to date either. Lots of great music was made from the ‘60s to the ‘90s that I regularly listen to. My influences are also among these, pretty much irrespective of genre. There must be valuable pieces released after the 2000s as well, but to be honest, I don’t have a comprehensive overview of any scenes following the turn of the millennia. In this regard, the others are perhaps more up to date than me. As for me, there are not too many acts that I listen to on a daily basis.

12.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

Occultism does not play any role in our music at all. Thus, there is no consciously concealed symbolism or numerology in our song structures, nor is there an intentionally controlled blend of musical notes that could give rise to such assumptions.

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

Thank you very much for your support, it is truly highly appreciated.

Bandcamp

Ene Interview

 

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

After the recording of "Lang Kald Natt" things have been quiet for some months. It is natural to let the instruments rest for a while after the recording and release of an album. Then after a while the needs start stirring again. So, right now I am in the early stages of preparing new songs. 

2.Recently you have released a new album, can you tell us a little bit  more about the musical style that you have went for on the recording?

"Lang Kald Natt" is a metal album in my mind, and if you need to sharpen the genre definition any further, then I guess it is natural to tag it as Black Metal. It was important for me to get a really cold and harsh sound on the recording, and I believe I managed to get that. The original sound actually had to be smoothed out in  the mastering process, so it was probably a bit too cold and harsh, to be perfectly honest.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover dark forests, old folklore, destruction and spirituality themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interests in these topics?

These topics have always defined me and inspired me. The folklore and superstitions from old can be very descriptive of both human mentality and the elements that surround us. Both the darkness and the vast beauty of nature have always been a massive inspiration to me. With all this follow the philosophical issues concerning our place in nature and the world as such. I feel that the music and the lyrics on "Lang Kald Natt" work very well together, and for me it is extremely important to bring forth a dark and lonely atmosphere, both musically and lyrically.

4.The solo project is from Norway a country that has had some very well known black metal bands over the last 3 past decades, musically how do you feel you stand out from the other bands or musical projects of your home country?

Well, time will tell if, or in what way, ENE will stand out from all the rest. That is not the motivation behind it, anyway. I just do what i like to do.

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

I wanted the artwork to be simple and classic, and that it should visually describe the music as clearly as possible. There is nothing fancy going on here, just a logo on top of a photo. I am pleased with it, I think it works well will both the music an the lyrics. There is the same solitary, dark and cold essence in that image, as is found in the recording itself.

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

I am used to doing recordings on my own, and  I am comfortable working like this. There is no other philosophy or necessity behind this choice, only the satisfaction of having everything done my way. Still, I will always  be open to working with others.

7.The new album was released on 'Hellstain Productions', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Hellstain Productions is a newly started record label, established in 2020 by Paul,  an old friend of mine. The dedication from this label is admirable, and Hellstain is in my opinion a label that deserves to grow to be a recognized name in time.

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

The reactions so far has been good, both from reviewers and from people just picking up the music from somewhere. The challenge is getting a new name like ENE to make an impression in an already vast and overfilled market. We'll just have to see what happens. Ultimately I do this for my own pleasure, after all, but it is still motivating to know that other people also enjoy the music I make.

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

In the future I see myself doing more of the same, in the same way I am doing things now. The ambition is solely to be able to work with  music in peace and quiet, and to get some good albums released.

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?

As with most other people,  I have a quite diverse taste in music. It's hard to pin down which bands have  influneced the music I make, but I have grown up with bands like Iron Maiden, Slayer, Metallica and all that. Later came Bathory, Darkthrone and Burzum, and many more of course. I guess the influences come from all over the place. These days I am listening to a lot of the old Norwegian Black Metal classics from the 90's, as well as a fair amount of conventional classical music.

11.Does Satanism play any role in your music?

There is no defined Satanism in my music, although there is the deep fascination with the dark aspects of life, death and everything in  between. 

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

Thanks for the interview and thanks for the support. Hope to hear from you again.

 https://www.facebook.com/ene.band.official/

https://www.instagram.com/ene.band.official/

Eclipser/Pages/2021 EP Review

 

  Eclipser  are  a  band  from  Ottawa,  Ontario,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  ep  "Pages"  which  will  be  released  in  May.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  fast  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  dissonant  structures.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  very  aggressive  style  that  mixes  black  and  death  metal  together  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also h ear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  grindcore  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction,  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Eclipser  takes  dissonant  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  takes  their  style  to  another  level.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  one's  existence  when  it  is  reduced  to  meaningless  suffering.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eclipser  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  dissonant  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pages"  and  "Fathomless".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook.com/eclipserofficial
Twitter.com/Eclipseroffici1

Instagram.com/band_eclipser 

Sylvan/Nott/2021 EP Review

 

  Sylvan  are  a  band  from  New York  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  ambient  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  ep  "Nott".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  lo-fi  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  both  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  music  also h as  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  getting  deep  sounding  at  times  as  well  as  the  first  song  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  second  track  is  also  a  dark  ambient  instrumental.

  Sylvan  plays  out  2  different  musical  styles  with  their  songs  with  the  first  one  going  for  more  of  a  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal  direction  and  the  second  track  going  into  a  dark  ambient  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark,  raw  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sylvan  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Abysm".  8  out  of  10.

https://sylvanian.bandcamp.com/album/n-tt    

Vile Haint/Of Hatchie Haint/Moonlight Cypress Archives/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Vile  Haint  are  a  band  from  Tennessee  that  plays  a  very  raw,  dissonant  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Of  Hatchie  Haint"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Moonlight  Cypress  Archives.

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  alone  with  some  ritualistic  sounding  synths  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling. 

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  which  are  also  mixed  down  low  in  the  mix  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  avant  garde  sections.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  some  dissonant  style  melodies.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  synths  also  returning  on  later  songs  and  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  raw  yet  melodic  style.  They  also bring  in  an  couple  of  instrumental  which  also  adds  touches  of  harsh  noise  onto  the  recording  and  acoustic  guitars  are  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vile  Haint  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  dissonant  and  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Giving  Wings  To  Puritanical  Satan"  and  "Rural  Sorcery  in  Early  America".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/vilehaint  

Martwi/Dangoswch Eich Darnau Gwyn i Mi/Inferna Profundus Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Martwi  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Poland  and  the  United  Kingdom  with  some  embers  of  Revenant  Marquis,  Vermisst  and  Capel  Beulah  that  plays  a  very  raw,  lo-fi  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Dangoswch  Eich  Darnau  Gwyn  i  Mi"  which  will  be  released  in  the  summer  by  Inferna  Profundus  Records.

  Grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  start  off  the  album before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and lo-fi  musical  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  The  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  old  school  influences  while  the  vocals  also  have  their  depressive  moments.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording  and  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  haunting  atmosphere  when  they  are  utilized  and  they  also  add  in  touches  of  ambient.

  Martwi  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  lo-fi  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Polish  and  English  and  cover darkness,  death,  graves  and  ghost  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Martwi  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  lo-fi  and  depressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hunleff"  "House  By  The  Cemetery"  "Around  This  Grave"  and  "Tenebre".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/hKPjxA6F6wc    

Bihargam/Blood In The Temple/Undead Serpent/2021 Live Album Review

 

  Kentucky's  Bihargam  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  raw  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  live  album  "Blood  In  The  Temple"  which  was  released  by  Undead  Serpent.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.  The  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Clean  playing  is  also  introduced  on  one  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  an  influence  of  early  90's  era  death  metal,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Metabarons  and  Space  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bihargam  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  melodic  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Father-Mother"  "The  Inanimate  Son"  and  "Melmoth".  8  out  of  10.

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Dordeduh/Har/Prophecy Productions/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Dordeduh  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Har"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  clean  vocals  also  giving  the  album  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.

  At  times the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  the  more  aggressive  vocals  being  mostly  rooted  in  black  metal  with  some  touches  of  death  metal.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in  folk  and  ethnic  style  instruments.  Some  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  prog,  electronic,  pop,  gothic  rock  and  psychedelia  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Romanian  and  cover  occultism,  esoteric  and  spirituality  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dordeduh  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Timpul  intilor"  "Vraci  de  nord"  and  "De  neam  vergur".  8  out  of  10.

www.dordeduh.ro
www.facebook.com/dordeduh

www.instagram.com/dordeduhband   

  

Dyrnwyn/II Culto Del Fuoco/Cult Of Parthenope/2021 CD Review

 

 Dyrnwyn  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  started  out  with  a  more  melodic  folk  metal  style  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "II  Culto  Del  Fuoco"  which  will  be  released  in  April  30th  by  Cult  Of  Parthenope.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  epic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  into  the  music.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  folk  instruments  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  tracks  at  times.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feleing.

  One  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  melodic  pagan chants  onto  the  album  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in some  symphonic  elements  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  a  later  track  also  adds  clean  playing  into  the  album  and  as  the  recording  progresses  a  brief  use  of  choirs  can  also  be  heard  and  an  instrumental  can  also b e  heard  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Ancient  Roman  History  and  Paganism  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dyrnwyn  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  pagan  black  metal  with  elements  of  folk  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "II  Culto  Del  Fuoco"  "Le  Forche  Caudine"  and  "Armilustrium".  8  out  of  10.

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Sombre Interview

 

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

 Sombre is my solo post-black metal project, I, like many others, had a lot of time on my hands during the lockdown and wanted to see if I was capable of writing music I don't normally write. I'm a fan of shoegaze, black metal and post-black metal so I mashed them together and Sombre is what came out!

2.Recently you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

I wanted the EP to have blast beats, tremolo picking and black metal style vocals but combine with some acoustic interludes and more laid-back sections. I was really inspired by the band Dawn Ray'd and how they mixed some great riffs with some beautiful acoustic sections, and I wanted to do something similar.

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

The EP's lyrics capture some of my thoughts and feelings about living with depression and the conflict of feelings that can come along with it. It's a horrible illness that often leaves me confused and miserable but it's cathartic to turn some of those thoughts into music that I and other people can enjoy. The second track reflects more of a view of optimism compared to the others, I felt like it was important to include that as a reminder that things are often more complicated than they appear.

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

I wanted something bleak sounding to reflect the music but I didn't want it to be a grim dark edgy generic black metal name (despite the logo!). I thought Sombre sounded pretty cool, it was either that or 'Solo Project #162315'.

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

The cover is a photo from Solbjerg cemetery taken by Eve in Denmark (@sombreshots). I just thought it looked cool to be honest, I like how old statues have a kind of decrepit look to them, it makes for good album art in my opinion. I found her photos through Instagram and she was kind enough to let me use this one for the cover! I felt like it perfectly suited the aesthetic, it was already in black and white and the fact her handle is the same as the name I chose for this project seemed like a perfect coincidence. Also, that horn the angel is holding was giving me some Filosofem vibes.

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

Yes definitely! I'd love to perform Sombre as a live band but trying to find a drummer is a nightmare. I also have a hard time convincing other people to play music that's already written, I often feel they'd rather be playing something that they helped create rather than just what I've written previously. Regardless I'd totally be up for turning Sombre into a full band

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

Realistically there's an endless supply of super high-quality bands and musicians who are far more talented than myself, so I don't see Sombre getting signed anytime soon. I wouldn't say no though!

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

I'm not sure in regards specifically to fans of post-black metal, it's a bit of a niche genre to begin with and I'm mostly relying on self-promotion at the moment, so reaching out to those fans is a challenge. But I got the seal of approval from my buddies Tom and James who like the same genre and bands I do and are far more talented musicians than I so that's good enough for me!

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

It depends if I feel inspired to write more, I have sludge band, Dreadbeggar, that performs live which is a much bigger motivation for me., playing on stage is my jam, especially once we're allowed to perform again. I suppose it depends if I manage to find anyone who wants to turn Sombre into a live act with me, that would probably give me motivation to do a full-length release. Otherwise, I'm sure I'll carry on writing and releasing stuff for Sombre as and when I feel the inspiration.

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?

Deafheaven are one of my favourites and a big inspiration for Sombre. I was blown away listening to Sunbather for the first time and I loved how the album art and the interludes and the quieter sections all contrast with the blast beats and black metal vocals. I wanted to make something like that, I enjoy black metal but I tend to steer clear of the 'True Kvlt' elitism that surrounds the genre, because I just don't care. I enjoy bands like Mayhem and Burzum, but I also enjoy bands whose members are massive hipsters who want to talk to you about their poetry over a spiced latte at Starbucks, but with blast beats, ya know? Alcest were another big influence, I wrote The Plight of Life about a year or two ago after listening to a lot of Alcest, the rest of the tracks came recently after I decided I wanted it to be a full EP.

11.What are your non musical interests?

I'm a bit of a video game/tech nerd, here's a cheeky shout-out to my Twitch channel where I live stream! Twitch.tv/trace6x. I love movies as well, especially horror movies, go figure!

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

Thanks for taking the time to listen to my music, there's so much of it out there so it means a lot. I'll throw in my other sludge band Dreadbeggar whilst I'm here, and I play bass in Praetorian (sludge) and live bass in Lowen (doom), great bands check them out if you fancy!

Sombre2.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/sombre2

Lord Of Pagathorn/Age of Curse/Woodcut Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Finland's  Lord  Of  Pagathorn  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Age  of  Curse"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Woodcut  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  along  with  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  and  synths  start  off  the  album  while  satanic  chants  and  whispers  are  also  used  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  Finnish  style.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  direction  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  touches  of  80's  metal  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album  as  well  as  synths  also  returning  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Left  Han  Path,  Anti  Christianity  and  Revenge  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Lord  of  Pagathorn  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Baneful  Curse  to  Destroy  Them  All!!"  "Over  Throned"  and  "Dragging  Into  The  Dust".  8  out  of  10.

  lordofpagathorn@gmail.com

www.lordofpagathorn.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkcisFtjNzk

  

One With The Riverbed/Absence/Snow Wave Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  One  With  The  Riverbed  are  a  band  from  Kalamazoo,  Michigan  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  dissonant  form  of  post  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  doom  metal  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Snow  Wave  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  stringed  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  clean  playing  also  brings  in  elements  of  post  rock.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  post  hardcore  style  shouting  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast parts.

  Influences  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  structures,  when  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  ambient.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  loss  themes.

  In  my  opinion  One  With  the  Riverbed  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  dissonant  mixture  of  post  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carcas"  and  ""Sanctuary".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/3sBUye6zovw

Hore/Siostry Wiedzmy/Witching Hour Productions/2021 CD Review

 

  Hore  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  emtal  with  some  elements  of  post  black  metal  and  avant  garde  jazz  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Siostry  Wiedzmy"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Witching  Hour  Productions.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  deep  yet  angry  black  metal  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  true  Polish  tradition.

  When  saxophones  are  utilized  they  also  introduce  elements  of  jazz  and  avant  garde  music  onto  the  recording.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  as  well  as  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized  and  at  times  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  the  modern  post  black  metal  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  the  writings  and  folklore  of  Goethe,  Slowacki,  Mickiewicz  and  Broniewski.

  In  my  opinion  Hore  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  Polish  black  metal  band  with  some  elements  of  post  black  metal  and  avant  garde  jazz  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bije  raz,  dwa,  trzy.."  "W  crustach"  and  "Biesy".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/vTSc07l0m4U

https://www.facebook.com/horeofficial