Saturday, December 31, 2022

Phantom Spire/Our Heaven Amongst The Stars/Obscurant Visions/2021 Full Length Review

 


  Phantom  Spire  are  a  solo  project  from  Albany,  new  York  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  ambient  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Our  Heaven  Amongst  the  Stars"  which  was  released  by  Obscurant  Visions.


  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  drum beats  are  programmed  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.


  At  times  the  music  also gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  some  suicidal  touches  at  times.  The  drum  beats  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  militant  feeling  along  with  the  guitar  riffing  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  raw  aggression  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Phantom  Spire  plays  a  style  of  ambient  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  mid  tempo  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark, r aw  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Phantom  Spire  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  ambient  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Throne  Of  Silver"  and  "Crystal  Fortress  Of  The  Frozen  Moon".  8 out  of  10.


https://obscurantvisions.bandcamp.com/album/phantom-spire-our-heaven-amongst-the-stars  

Esoteric Ritual/Possessed/Worm Moon Records/Banner Of Blood/2022 Full Length Review

 


  This  is  the  final  review  of  a  recording  from  Sweden's  solo  project  Esoteric  Ritual  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  raw  and  melodic  style  of  occult  black  metal  and  the  album  was  released  in  2022  as  a  joint  effort  between  Worm  Moon  Records  and  Banner  Of  Blood  and  called  "Possessed".


  Ritualistic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  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.


  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  having  their  grim  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Esotericism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Esoteric  Ritual  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  raw  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Black  Storms  + Fairies  In  The  Fog"  and  "Where  The  Unholy  One  Will  Burn  +  The  Truth  Lies  Buried  In  The  Soil".  8/5  out  of  10.


  https://esotericritual.bandcamp.com/album/possessed    

Esoteric Ritual/Hymns Of Death/Narbentage Produktionen/2020 Demo Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Sweden's  solo  project  Esoteric  Ritual  which  continues  the  occult  black  metal  style  from  his  previous  releases  and  the  demo  was  released  in  2020  by  Narbentage  Produktionen  and  called  "Hymns  Of  Death".


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  ritualistic  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.  and  clean  playing  also  returns  on  the  second  track    


  On  this  recording  Esoteric  Ritual  takes  his  occult  metal  black  metal  into  more  of  an  aggressive,  atmospheric  and  melodic  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Esotericism  and  Death  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Esoteric  Ritual  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Pale  Woman  Dressed  In  Blood".  8/2  out  of  10.


https://esotericritual.bandcamp.com/album/hymns-of-death    


  

Esoteric Ritual/Journey Through The Chasm Below/Narbentage Produktionen/Wulfhere Productions/2020 Demo Review

 


  Esoteric  Ritual  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  demo  "Journey  Through  The  Chasm  Below"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Narbentage  Produktionen  and  Wulfhere  Productions.


  Ritualistic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  only  song  that  is  presented  on  the  recording  is  over  15  minutes  in  length  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


  When  the  music  speeds   up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  and  tremolo  picking  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  song  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  spoken  word  parts  also  enhancing  the  ritualistic  aspect  of  the  music  when  they  are  utilized.


  Esoteric  Ritual  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  ritualistic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Esotericism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Esoteric  Ritual  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  8/2  out  of  10.


  https://esotericritual.bandcamp.com/album/journey-through-the-chasm-between-oblivion-and-enlightenment    .  

Kelvikus/I/2022 Demo Review

 


  Kelvikus  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  demo  "I".


  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  th e music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.


  The  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  along  with  one  track  also  being  an  instrumental  and  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  ambient  style  synths  before  closing  the  demo  with  a  heavier  track.  The  production  sounds  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Chaosophy,  Magick,  Occultism  and  Left  hand  Path  themes.


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


https://kelvikus.bandcamp.com/album/i-demo     

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Calnek/Blood Of The Wild/2022 Full Length Review

 


  Calnek  are  a  solo  project  from  Nova  Scotia,  Canada  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Blood  of  The  Wild".


 Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  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.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  that  also  have  their  deeper  moments  while  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  at  times.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Calnek  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Shadows  of  Dusk".  8  out  of  10.


https://calnek.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-the-wild        

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Høstsol/L​ä​nge leve dö​den/Avantgarde Music/The Sinister Initiative/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Høstsol  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Norway,  Finland  and  Sweden  that  are  also  known  for  their  other  bands  Ajattara,  Manes  and  Shining  and  plays  a  very  old  school  and  Nordic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "L​ä​nge  leve  dö​den"  which  will  be  released  in  2023  as  a  joint  effort  between  Avantgarde  Music  and  The  Sinister  Initiative.


  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  operatic  female  vocals  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.


  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  90's  influences  without  sounding  out  dated. 


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  Gregorian  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Swedish  and  cover  dark  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  Høstsol  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Seen  Through  the  Eyes  Of  The  Prophet"  and  "Parellellt  dubbeliv".  8  out  of  10.


  Find digital preorders at Bandcamp HERE.

ttps://www.instagram.com/hostsolofficial  

Enki Interview

 


1.For those that have neve heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?


Enki: well first thing , enki I started  because of a person, and that person will forever be important.

In botkyrka(sweden)also some personal issues, I decided  to do Enki because i had no one, it was my only  friend .sad story. I wont go into details.


2.Since 20220 you have released a great amount of material, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you have went for on those recordings so far?

I was just putting ideas i had into reality, if life is pain, then you might as well make the most of the pain before all light  goes out.


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

Dreams. Only dreams mostly due to social phobia, night terrors and Love.


4.On one of the albums you also went for more of an instrumental style, can you tell us a little bit more about the decision behind going into this musical direction?

I don't do much vocals because  i have a injury in my throat. Therefor music is more  important.


5.I know that the name 'Enki' comes from Sumerian Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

Yes correct, well, when i wad 12I saw in my grandfathers book, it was an old book, and one character was Enki. And it became my nickname along with Varjo. which means shadow in finish.


6.You record most of the music by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

Alone, but i aim to get someone who is more known in the dsbm scene too start something, maybe someday.

7.In the last couple of years you also have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?

All time basically, I suffer from social phobia and  wont go out Unless i have my bloody shades on my eyes. otherwise I freeze and panic. so I spend  all time on it.


8.You also have done some 'Sterbend' and 'Trist' covers, what was the decision behind doing your own version of their songs?

Sterbend was the first  band within  the genre i heard, and personally that  track  means a lot to me, and I always wanted  to do it. Even if vocals was pure pain to Do . I remember my vein almost popped and bursted during Sterbend  cover.


9.You also have been a part of a few splits, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands or musical projects that you have shared these recordings with?

Yes correct, well all bands i split with are friends, and they are all amazing individual's ,one guy i truly respect  is the guy behind drowning deeper, amazing guy and music, and franz  from dismal suffering. Truly amazing. ofc there are others, many others  and all are incredible .many asked me for splits and I also asked them.


10.You have some material coming out with members from 'Happy Days' and 'Dismal Suffering' doing session work, can you tell us a little bit more about their contributions to the recordings?

Yes , dismal suffering  vocalist  is currently recording vocals for 2 or 3 Enki  tracks that will be shown i Think  i one week or so. about Happy Days  A.Morbid  will be guest  vocalist  on one of Enki's tracks, will be out on my channel  in January.


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

I actually  got way to much wonderful words, and its strange, because i am not used to it, but they keep me alive, like always too deep  wounds, and its done.


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

I aim to do better full lengths with  something  unique  and something  people  will have in their  hearts until death,  i also want to do merch.

I also have a dream to join  a big label.


13.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?

First of all, there are many that  influenced me, but I would say Nyktalgia, Malfeitor  even sent me a signed tape with some Flyers  last years so he knows i am a big fan. Happy Days, Wehmut, Naeblis and Lustre.

Nowadays its relaxing piano music, i call it music for the weak. And Alice Cooper.


14.before we wrap up this interview,

Do you  have any final words of thoughts?


I would like to say thank  you

You can also expect  a split with ANTI  very very soon..


Until then

"Im Heading for the razor "

/Enki


https://youtube.com/channel/UCyGKPqy1fFCOPlrpL1Fp56Q

Altar Of Gore/Infinite Visions Of Violence & 2018 Demo/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2023 Compilation Album Review

 


  Altar  Of  Gore  are  a  solo  project  from  new  Jersey  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  compilation  album  "Infinite  Visions  Of  Violence  &  2018  Demo"  which  will  be  released  in  2023  by  Sentient  Ruin  laboratories  and  consists  of  his  2018  and  2022  demo's.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  war  metal  elements.  tremolo  picking  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls.


  Black  metal  screams  can  also b e  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  death  metal  style  when  they  are  utilized.


  The  closing  track  on  the  2022  demo  is  also  a  cover  of  Hellhammer's  "Aggressor"  along  with  the  opening  song  on  the  2018  being  over  7  minutes  in  length  and  also  capturing  a  very  apocalyptic  atmosphere  as  well  as  the  older  tracks  showing  more  of  a  rawer  style  than  the  newer  material.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  violence,  death  and  gore  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Altar  of  Gore  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  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Infinite  Visions  Of  Violence"  "Foul  Dwellers  In  The  Sacrificial  Pit"  and  "The  Vision  of  Blood".  8  out  of  10.


BANDCAMP RELEASE


  

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Enki/Say Goodbye To Life/2022 Full Length Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Sweden's  solo  project  Enki  which  continues  the  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  instrumental  depressive  rock  style  with  some  touches  of  dsbm from  his  previous  release  and  the  album  was  self  released  in  2022  and  called  "Say  Goodbye  To  Life".


  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  starts  off  the  album  while  the  first  song  is  also  an  instrumental  before  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  heavier  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  drum b eats  also  being  programmed  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  that  focus  mostly  on  clean  sections  which  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  depressive  rock.  On  the  later  tracks  the  music  also  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  a  slower  direction  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.


  On  this  recording  Enki  focuses  more  an  a  depressive  rock  style  as  well  as  keeping  some  of  the  dsbm  elements  that  where  presented  on  the  previous  release  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw.


  In  my  opinion t his  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Enki  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  depressive  rock  and  depressive  suicidal  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "On  A  Razorbed  So  Sweet"  "Just  Shoot  me"  and  "Everything  Is  Tearing  me  Apart".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/oL3l8m02vw4

Enki/I Tried But Failed In Life/Depressive Illusions Records/2022 Full Length Review

 


  Enki  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  depressive  and  suicidal  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his   2022  album  "I  Tried  But  Failed  In  Life"  which  was  released  by  Depressive  Illusions  Records.


  Melodic  guitar  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melancholic  sounding  melodies.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  some  Sterbend  and  Trist  covers  and  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  one  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard on  a  couple  of  songs  along  with  the  album  also  capturing  a  very  suicidal  orientated  atmosphere  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Enki  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  depressive  and  suicidal  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression,  suicide,  loneliness  and  alcohol  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Enki  are  a  very  great  sounding  depressive  suicidal  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lonely"  and  "The  Colors  I  Dont  Rember".  8  out  of  10.


 https://youtu.be/KH45lS0tE60    


  

Dragojiniak Interview

 


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


1.Dragojiniak it's a black metal one man project focused on discussing topics beyond occultism and religion. My goal with this project it's to produce music that tackles subjects of my own personal struggles and topics about life, war, love, frustration and of course envy.


2.In December you had released both a full length and an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on those recordings?


2. For both releases I've tried to sound close to 90's norwegian and finnish Black Metal, with influences of War Metal, Ambient music and Dungeon Synth. However I think there is still a lot to improve as I am looking forward into producing a more polished and better produced sound.


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


3. As I've mentioned before, I like writing about War, Life and maybe philosophy (Even though I am a complete zero when it comes to philosphy). Many lyrics are deeply personal and I write according to the emotions I am feeling at the time, and while not great they are certainly written with passion.


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


4.Sounds crazy, but I have no idea how this name came to mind. One day I woke up and the words just came to my mind.


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


5.The ideia of the cover in Dragojiniak (the album) was to represent the world I have envision while writing the lyrics for the band. The ideia for Dragojiniak it's to be set in a medieval world. However instead of only singing about glorious battles and conquerors I want to sing about everyday life of peasents and farmers as well, so that is the reason why I chose to depict a peasent looking down to the river.


The cover art for Ascend is a painting made by russian artist Stepan Kolesnikoff, where a wolf in the snow looks at a warm hut. I simply chose this art because I think it looks good.


6.On the Instagram page you also had an occult symbol with a third eye in the middle, do you have any interest in Occultism?


6. This is a symbol I created specifically for the band, the ideia is to represent virtues and flaws found in both heroes and villains. Personally I have no interest in occultism and the symbol will make more sense later, as the ideia of Dragojiniak is to tell a story through music and the symbol will come in hand for the next Full-length.




7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to keep a lower profile?


7. I am thinking about working with others since I am not exaclty a good drummer or "producer".  While I am open for working with musicians, I would only do it with those who I personally know and trust.


8.On both the metal archives page you are listed as being from an unknown area, do you prefer to keep your location secret?


8. Yes, for the moment I have no interst in sharing personal details. Maybe in the future? Who knows...

Also the name used in my email (Gerald Sanders) is merely a pseudonymous I came up with and not my real name.


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


9. I am interested, but I think my chances of getting signed are very low. I have been reached out by some P.R. agencies but I have no interest in it. But I am 100% open to negotiate with small labels, specially involving physical releases.


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



10. I would say the debut album had some mixed reactions. Some liked it while others think it was not good, which is fine to me. Yesterday I was surprised to receive an email of a ""fan""" reaching out to me saying they liked the band, which is always something pleasent to hear.




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


11. I don't know, probably with some better skills and more knowledge in music production.


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


12.My main influences in Dragojiniak are Bathory (Blood fire Death era), early-Burzum, Absurd, Beherit and Mystifier. I would say that Bathory is the main influence, as I am looking to bring a more melodic and epic sound to Dragojiniak.


Lately I have been listening to a lot of Goatmoon, Absurd, Goatpenis, Goatkraft, Witchcraft (Finland), Deathgod Luciferi, Revenge, Blasphemy, Abnue, Wolftower (Finland), Burzum and Bathory.


(I am not a neonazi btw, I just enjoy music.)


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


13. I want to thank the 'Occult Black Metal' zine for this interview. If you (the reader) have any interest in contacting me send me an email at " geraldsanders442@gmail.com" or DM me on instagram, I will gladly answer any questions or doubts.

Nimetön Hauta Interview

 

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


Nimetön Hauta is my solo project and the only project I currently have. It's mostly classified as atmospheric black metal which is fairly accurate. The earliest guitar riffs are probably from 2020 or even earlier but I really got the project going in 2021. It had many names that somehow didn't feel right in the end. Nimetön Hauta was the name that finally felt right.



2.In October you had released and ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?


It was pretty clear early on that I wanted to make something that is equally harsh and atmospheric. I didn't want to blur everything with waves of reverb but I wanted the soundscape to be somewhat airy. I pursued the feeling you get when you're standing somewhere staring at a beautiful landscape but it's too windy and cold to really appreciate it all. But you just decide to stand there, witnessing the moment.



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


Most songs deal with death and nature in one way or another. Inspired by the struggles of yesteryears. The main subject of the song "Metsänreuna" is war trauma and suicide. "Kun saapuu marras" is about poverty. All the lyrics will be included in the upcoming CD edition of the album for those interested in translating them.



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


It translates to "nameless tomb" or "anonymous tomb". It kind of combines some of my favorite things: solitude, silence and death.


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


It's a nearby lake in my hometown. The photo is estimated to be from 1890's. I think it captures the atmosphere I wanted to convey with the record. Or maybe my music tries to capture the atmosphere of the photo. Pictures and photos generally help me when I'm working with sound. I think they are two sides of the same coin.


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


Well, it's hard to schedule anything in this hectic world we live in. So many bands never get anything done because of this. By doing everything solo I can work whenever I have the time and motivation. I'm also highly introverted so working alone to me has been a natural choice. That also means performing live is out of the question. Of course I sometimes feel like I could use an extra pair of hands but this is the path I chose and wouldn't change a thing.


7.So far very little is known about the project except for the bandcamp and spotify pages, are you planning on expanding your presence in the future or do you prefer to keep a lower profile?


My personality is not really compatible with social media. I read a lot online and even like to read everyday stuff from people I know but I don't like to interact. I could have an account or profile somewhere for my music related stuff but I guess I'd rather stay in the shadows. I wouldn't have that much to update anyway. Bandcamp will probably stay as my only presence online.


8.The ep was released on 'Canti Eretici', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?


Max from Canti Eretici reached out right after I had released the EP on Bandcamp. It's a new Italian label with lots of good stuff already out and more coming. It's only cassettes for now. And nice looking ones may I add. 


The EP will also be released on CD in February or March 2023 by Adirondack Black Mass from New York. I'm really looking forward to that as well.


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


I've received many nice words and many people have understood where I'm coming from with my music. All in all, the reception has been positive.


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


I'm constantly working on new songs right now, whether it's writing lyrics or whistling melodies at work and the next release will indeed be a full-length album. I can't yet say when it will be finished since I have just started but it will happen.


As a musician I will try and improve my skill set and continue my journey in the darker side of things. Instruments to me are like extensions to express deeper emotions, not tools to display technical prowess. That's a pretty way to say my skills are adequate and that's enough to do what I want to do.


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?


I've had different phases in the past twenty years that all probably left a mark in me. First was 90's death metal, then funeral doom and post-rock. I was also into DSBM quite heavily. The only "phase" that never ended was second wave black metal. It all started when I first heard the album "Pentagram" by Gorgoroth.


I listen to a lot of different music from different genres to be honest, from late 60's Bob Dylan to contemporary electronic music. Most of it doesn't necessarily affect what I want to do with my music though. Bolt Thrower's "Those once loyal" is eternally in my playlist. About upcoming stuff, I'm eager to hear what the new Austere sounds like after the surprising comeback announcement. I was a huge fan back in the day. Also can't wait to hear the new Dødheimsgard. Their last album was fucking amazing beyond words.


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


It's been a rough couple of years. Hang in there. Thank you for the interview and thanks to all the supporters out there. I sincerely appreciate it.


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Sorry... Interview

 

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


1.Sorry... is a depressive suicidal black metal band, with hypnotic mid-tempo riffs and melodic lead guitars, haunted screams of pain and isolation that sounds directly from the basement where i keep locked The Void. 

I am joking!

Well in case you are not into DSBM, I dont reccomend you to listen to Sorry...


2.So far you have released 3 ep's and 2 full length's, musically how do you feel they differ from each other?


2.First ep "Failure years of neglect apathy", had been written by Deplorable (aka Extictionist records), except of the 1st song and some parts of the rest of the album, that been written by me. After its creation i felt a huge satisfaction of what we had made and instanly i felt the need to make the 2d ep "Bereavement of Existence", where i tried to be as close as possible to the 1st ep. 

Both 2 ep's had programming drums, the 1st by Deplorable and the 2d by Irritum. 

When in the 3d ep "Saudade" we had real drums and that is what made the difference.

But the philosophy remain the same to be under the 1st ep's influence.


It follows the full length "All that died was my innocence", that i gave more effort on song writting, specialy with the lead guitars plus the fact that the drums was real, made the album very lovely to the DSBM community.

Last album Innocence.Love.Sadness has a completely different sound, since is the 1st album that been mixed/mastered by Troll (aka Daniel Collabolletta), but also the melodies and the song writting are completely different, they are more "happy", plus the vocalist now is Irritum.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?


3.I will start with the second part of this question, "the progress of song writting over the years". I believe that the more you play the better you become, like everything in life, although there are moments that i dislike everything and i am trapped in a no way out.


About the lyrics of the 1st, 2d and 3d ep, i have no clue since they been written by Void and he dont share them. But i wrote the lyrics for the song "Claudia" of the second ep and i speak about my wife Claudia and how much i love her.

In the 4th full length release all lyrics are written by me, speaking about bullying, self isolation, self harm etc. 

Finally in the last album, half of the lyrics are made by me and rest half by Irritum, speaking about broken relationships, desapointment, sadness etc.


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


4.While i was in Discord talking to Deplorable, i dont remember the topic, he respond to me and said "Sorry...". After a while he said f*k lets make a band under this name, so he search on metal archives to see if the name was taken, but it wasnt, so yeah we grab the guitars and wrote the 1st ep in the very moment.



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


5. She is my friend Alexya, same person that is on "All that died was my innocence" cover art, i think i gave her all the credits.


6.The band members live in both Greece and Canada, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?


6.Deplorable was the Canadian, I am Greek same as Void, Apathy L. is Italian and Troll and Irritum are from the US. Since Deplorable stopped writting music after the 1st ep, there was not really any impact, because i basicly made all the song writting, except the 2 songs "Broken" and "Happiness". The only thing that makes me little tired is that i try to cordinate all members, and send files to write the bass then the drums and last the vocals and that proccess takes time and requires a lot of patience.


7.Earlier in 2022 you also done a 'Lifelover' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?



7.I am not very good guitarist and the song was too easy so i went for it. 


8.So far the band has worked with 'Share Your Pain Records' and 'War Against Yourself' on the physical versions of the albums, how would you describe the support they have given you so far?


8.I truly love my labels because they are kids just like me, with the same vision and passion about DSBM scene.


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


9. Black metalers but specialy the DSBM community has very loyal fans, that they are available to give until their last drop of their blood for this music and thats fantastic and is what it makes this genre so special and unique.


10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that the band members are a part of?


10.You mean other DSBM bands? Cause is the only music i follow. They do really well.

I listen to people saying, that dsbm died around 2010, but i see many great bands still poping up, from Asia (Japan, China), America Latina (México, Brazil, Colombia), USA and Canada ofcaurse and Europe, the scene still holds for good and grows.


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


11.Obviously what i listen to, is my influence. Mainly when i am alone i listen to DSBM, but when i am with my wife i listen to post punk, darkwave, dungeon synth, Industrial Goth and some Méxican music like Mariachi, Cumbia, Chico Che and more.


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


12.The project Sorry... as my 3 other projects "Emptylife, After Death Alone (*disbanded) and Vomité, they are my fantasy world, that i create in order to live there inside, even for a while and this trip is amazing, so i really want to thank everyone who colaborate, to make this happen, 

to the Void who gives soul and character to the songs with his crucial voice/screams, to Troll and Apathy L. for their patience and time and their infinity music skills.

To Deplorable that together we made this band, so sad we lost contact and to Irritum that i want to ask him Sorry... for letting him down.

Also thanks to Alexia for her pictures and to Kneel Schneider for his mastering in some of the realeases.

Last i want to thank my wife who inspire me to write music and motivate me to keep on with this life.

And also to thank you for making this interview and to all the fans who support and love what i love.


 

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Monday, December 26, 2022

Wraithlord Interview

 

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


1. Wraithlord is my solo project for all things atmospheric and all things black metal. It has existed since 2019 and is still going strong.



2.Since 2019 you have released a great amount of full lengths,  ep's, a demo and a split, how would you describe your musical progress over the last 3 years from the first demo to the new full length?


2. I would describe my musical progress as exponential. While I’m still proud of the NIMH demo and Kingdom of the Spiders, I can’t deny that they are very derivative of bands I was listening to at the time, such as Leviathan or Mayhem. It was during the time I was making KotS that I met and became friends with Declan and Nlorgpipe of Baazlvaat fame. Being around more extreme musicians and writing more and more music has resulted in my music becoming more and more mature over time. I am very proud of how far it’s come along since the NIMH days, and there is quite a contrast when comparing that demo to my most recent release, Dawn of Sorrow.



3.You also have released a lot of music over the last few years, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music and also do you see yourself still releasing a great amount of material with the pandemic calming down and life returning back to normal?


3. Outside of school and work (for those who don’t know, I’m an engineering student and a math/physics tutor), music is all I do. I don’t watch movies, I don’t play sports, and I don’t hang out with friends because my only friends are the guys from Baazlvaat. Be it listening to it, practicing with one of my bands, or writing/creating it, I am always interacting with music in some way. Even when studying, or sometimes even working, I always have something playing. I also read the occasional book, and I always choose a good soundtrack for every one. As for writing and creating music, I spend a lot less time doing that than one would think. Most of the album making process is spent in the production phase, getting every recording to sound exactly how I want it to and to create the exact atmosphere that I want. All of my best songs/riffs/melodies, such as Castles in Flame, the Crucifixion Fields, or Acheron, were written very quickly. I rarely actually sit down with the intent to write a song. Most of the time, ideas for riffs or melodies or song elements just come to me while I’m doing something else. For example, the main melody from Castles in Flame came to me almost spontaneously after I was listening to Vehemence for hours while working. Other ideas, such as song structures, I sometimes take from existing songs. For example, Watchers of the Chasm from Dawn of Sorrow. I took the basic song structure (long ambient intro, then heavy crushing riff, then bridge, back to riff) from listening to the Ruins of Beverast, one of the best black metal bands of all time in my opinion. Oftentimes I’ll have structure or song element (such as “I want an acoustic and

electric playing a certain type of riff at the same time”) ideas for months before I actually write a song in which it makes sense to apply those elements. The pandemic has definitely given me much more time to work on music. Even as life goes back to normal, though, I’ve still been lucky enough to find the time to make new music. Hopefully this will continue. Regardless, I will not stop working on music until I drop dead, so there will always be new releases from me, even if just once a year or once a decade.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored over the years and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter?


4. I would compare my approach to lyrics to the impressionism movement in art. In impressionism the individual lines and colors and shapes don’t matter, just the overall

impression that they give. Likewise, the phrases and words I’m saying don’t matter to me, just the impression they cause for the listener. To me, the atmosphere that a piece of music creates is far more important that the individual notes or riffs, and this extends to the lyrics. That being said, I do sometimes have specific topics I want to talk about. For example, the song 1242 is about the famous Battle on the Ice. Usually, however, I just want to use lyrics to create an atmosphere to go along with the music. Over the years I have become much better at doing this.


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


5. I chose the Wraith part because I wanted a name that was haunted or ethereal, and Wraith is an aesthetically and sonically pleasing word that fits both of those themes. I added the Lord part to be more unique and to add an element of grandeur. At the time I was not aware of the Warhammer 40k creature called a wraithlord, as it wasn’t until recently that I’ve gotten more into the Warhammer lore. I will absolutely not be changing my name though.



6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that was presented on the last few length?


6. Album artwork is very important to me. It is the first part of an album with which most listeners will interact, especially now in the age of listening on Bandcamp, Spotify, or Youtube. Therefore I use album art to lay the base for the atmosphere that I intend to create with the music. On the majority of my releases I have used old paintings because those tend to create an atmosphere the most masterfully. For example, Obscurity is an illustration from the first edition of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and A Dance in the Ghostlight is a painting entitled Dancing Fairies by August Malmstrom. On other releases I have used modern works as covers. NIMH was a photograph I

took myself, Summer Graves is a photograph taken by my friend Harmony Kline, and Earth and Stone is a work by Thaumaturge Artworks. I also intend to use a work by Rotting Reign for my next release, and a work by Cosmic Serpent for a future release. I urge the reader to check all of these people out online, as they are all very talented.


7.With this project you record most of the music by yourself along with some occasional session members but also have experience playing as a live musician for 'Baazlvaat', how would you compare the two?


7. Playing with Baazlvaat is an entirely different experience. This is for two reasons I believe. One, Wraithlord songs are never played live, at least as of now. Two, Declan’s songwriting is completely different than mine. This is obvious when you compare the average Baazlvaat song length to the average Wraithlord song length. We also each have a different ethos when it comes to songwriting, in my opinion. When you hear a Beatles song, for example, it exists to me as a song, even outside of the specific recording that you listen to. Whether you listen to an album version, live version, or demo, it’s the same song. I feel the same way about songs that Declan writes, both for Baazlvaat and for our jazz fusion band, Slippy Cat. They exist as songs outside of our recordings. Wraithlord songs, however, exist as recordings. If I were to play any of my songs live, it would feel like a completely different song to me. This is because the production is such an integral part of the song. If I were to take the heavily edited and effected

percussion samples out of the breakdown from Rain on the Megalith it would be completely different, for example. I feel the same way about Nlorgpipe songs, although he might disagree with me. We have covered his song A Line of Portals live with Baazlvaat and it feels like a different song to me than the album version, mostly because of Nlorgpipe’s unique production style that is so integral to the experience. None of this is to say that either method is better or worse, though, just different.


8.A few months back you also put out an ep with all cover songs, can you tell us a little bit more about the songs and artists you picked for this release?


8. I chose those songs to cover mainly because I like playing them and because I feel like I could do something interesting with them. Nackskott I just enjoy playing and MS Salmonella has a heavy use of samples that I felt I could do something interesting with. It’s the same story with the song Summer Graves, originally by the great and unique band Circle of Ouroboros. I was interested in doing a mostly acoustic arrangement of that song. Pray I chose because it is a great song and because I like to experiment with layering different keyboards and effects. Romeo’s Distress is just all around an amazing song, and the melodic guitar during the chorus is iconic to me. I’m not sure why I originally chose to cover Heir to the Noose of Ghoul rather than any other Leviathan song, but I chose to include it on the EP for old time’s sake.



9.On some albums you also go for more of a dungeon synth style instead of black metal, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this genre and also are you also planning on working on future releases with this musical style?


9. As I stated earlier, my favorite aspect of music is the atmosphere that it creates. Black metal, jazz, or folk, it can all create a unique atmosphere around the listener. When I first found dungeon synth in around early 2021 I fell in love with it for this reason. There are no riffs, no hooks, sometimes there are barely even any melodies, just atmosphere. This led me to try it out myself with the Seven Towers release. With Earth and Stone I had been listening to a lot of kosmische musik and dark ambient, and I wanted to try something in that style of keyboard heavy ambience. Dungeon synth is one of my favorite genres and I plan on making even more in the future


10.A year ago you where also a apart of a split with 'Levitation Ritual', can you tell us a little bit more about the other project that had participated on the recording?


10. Levitation RItual is actually me. It is the name under which I release funeral doom. I am inspired by the incredibly niche torture doom scene, exemplified by bands such as

Wormphplegm, Senthil, and Mikko Aspa’s Stabbat Mater. It’s basically extremely raw funeral doom, with maniac vocals and a focus on torture and pain instead of depression. That’s why I chose to use a sample from an extreme BDSM video in the Levitation Ritual song on that release. I am going to return to the project hopefully very soon, and in an even more raw and deranged form. I also release noise/power electronics under the name Tamerlan Thorell. I have two new releases under that name almost finished. I have been very influenced by the power electronics scene both aesthetically and in my live performances, so stay tuned to hear my take on the genre.


11.In November 'Rabauw' released one of your albums on cassette, how would you describe the working relationship you have had with this label so far?


11. I have nothing but good things to say about the people at Rabauw. They answered my messages quickly and let me design the album art. What more could you want?


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


12. I have been very surprised that my music has reached so many people worldwide. All of the physical releases not made by me have been released by European labels and I have shipped my DIY releases to places as far away as Japan and Israel. Many people know my music due to the Youtube channels Mao de Gloria, Transmissions from the Dark, and Atmospheric Black Metal, who have uploaded most of my discography, and who allow it to reach a very wide audience. When I started this project I never expected to reach anyone outside of my immediate (and very small) friend group, so I am eternally grateful for anyone who partakes in and experiences my music the world over.



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


13. I don’t really know where I’ll go as a musician, and I like it that way. It keeps things exciting. I can say for sure, though, that I will never stop recording and releasing music til the day I die, whether as Wraithlord, Levitation Ritual, Tamerlan Thorell, or some new project I haven’t even conceived yet.


14.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?


14. My initial influences were basically just the classic black metal and one man bands such as Leviathan, Burzum, and Xasthur. On recent releases my biggest influences have been Agalloch and the Ruins of Beverast, two of my favorite bands of all time, and of course I listen to many other black metal bands as well. I think anything I listen to will influence what I create, whether I realize it or not, and I’m always listening to a wide variety of artists so I have many different things influencing me whenever I create music. Some that I consistently enjoy are neofolk artists such as Death in June, Current 93, and :Of Wand and the Moon:, and power electronics artists such as Whitehouse, Genocide Organ, and the Grey Wolves. I also listen to a lot of jazz, and my favorite jazz release is Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. I listen to whatever random shit I can find

online as well.


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


15. I appreciate the opportunity that Occult Black Metal Zine has given me to ramble on about these prompts. I would like to shout out Baazlvaat, Nlorgpipe, Tamerlan Thorell, and Levitation Ritual of course. Be sure to keep up with new music from all of these projects. I also send my regards to Alastor. Finally, to quote Douglas Pearce in his 2001 interview with Spectrum magazine, ‘Never forgive, never forget, and never surrender’ 


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Dragojiniak/Ascend/2022 EP Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  solo  project  Dragojiniak  which  continues  the  raw  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal  from  his  previous  release  with  elements  of  ambient  and  the  ep  was  self  released  in  2022  and  called  "Ascend".


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  of  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  old  school  influences  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at  times.


  Water  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  one  of  the  songs  is  also  an  acoustic  guitar  instrumental.  The  heavier  tracks  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  closing  track  being  an  ambient  orientated  instrumental  which  also  adds  in  some  keyboards  and  each  sound  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.    


  On  this  recording  Dragojiniak  expands  on  his  raw  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal  by  adding  in  some  different  sounds  that  where  not  presented  on  the  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  anger  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dragojiniak  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  with  elements  of  ambient,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Envy"  and  "Ascend".  8 out  of  10.


https://dragojiniak.bandcamp.com/

Dragojiniak/Self Titled/2022 Full Length Review

 


  Dragojiniak  are  a  solo  project  from  an  unknown  area  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  titled  and  self  released  2022  album.


  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Most  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  to  early  200's  era  along  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  one  of  the  tracks  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  as  well  as  the  keyboards  also  bringing  in  elements  of  ambient  when  they are  utilized  on  a  couple  of  instrumentals  and  as  the  recording  progresses  the  album  also  starts  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  Dragonjiniak  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  tradition  as  well  as  adding  in  touches  of  ambient  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  hate  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Dragonjiniak  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  with  touches  of  ambient,  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Melancholic  Guilt"  and  "Dold  Revenge".  8  out  of  10.


  https://dragojiniak.bandcamp.com/


  In  


  . 

Pain Descendant/Solemn Tortured Apostle/2022 EP Review

 


  Pain  Descendant  are  a  solo  project  from  Portland,  Main  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  ep  "Solemn  Tortured  Apostle".


  Wind  sounds  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  on  the  second  song.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  riffs  also  have  their  repetitive  moments.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  closing  song  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Pain  Descendant  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  and  slow  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression  and  despair  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Pain  Descendant  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Apostle".  8  out  of  10.


  https://paindescendant.bandcamp.com/album/solemn-tortured-apostle


https://www.facebook.com/paindescendant/
https://www.instagram.com/paindescendant/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6gJOVIyWDQVLAfrGAhereb
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pain-descendant/1645108405

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3On8UFXuO6-tfxLf6Ih9Q