LeMarchand/Kari Mara/Acta Non Verba Rex/2021 CD Review

 

  LeMarchand  are  a  duo  from  brazil  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Kari  Mara"  which  was  released  by  Acta  Non  Verba  Rex.

  A  nature  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  and  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  bring  in  more  of  an  epic  atmosphere  as  well as  only  being  utilized  on  the  intros  and  outro.  Vocals  are mostly  tortured  sounding  black  metal  screams  which  also  get  very  deep  sounding  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  old  school  influences  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  acoustic  guitars  and  elements  of  folk  music.

  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  the  black  metal  screams  also  going  in  more  of  a  high  pitched  direction  on  later  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  90's  style  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  which  also  gives  the  album  more  diversity.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Portuguese  and  English  and  cover  Paganism,  South  American  Mythology,   Occultism,  Satanism  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  LeMarchand  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  pagan  and  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Saci  -  O  Sádico"  "Guará  -  O  Clado"  and  "Floresta  de  Carne,  Sangue  & Ossos".  8/5  out  of  10.

 

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ΑΧΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ/The Seven Tongues Of ΔΑΗΜΩΝ/Zazen Sounds/2022 Full Length Review

 

  ΑΧΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ  formerly  known  as  'Acherontas'  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  ALBUM  "The  Seven  Tongues  Of   ΔΑΗΜΩΝ"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Zazen  Sounds.

  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  recording  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  chaotic  style  while  angry  shouts  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  spoken  word  parts  are  utilized  they  also  enhance  the  ritualistic  atmosphere  of  the  recording  as  well as  one  of  the  songs  also  introducing  melodic  chants  and  vocals  onto  the  album,  some  of  the  tracks  also  show  an  influence  of  70's  rock  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Seven  Gods,  Seven  Hells  and  Destinations  from  a  Left  Hand  Path  and  Occult  perspective.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  ΑΧΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ(Acherontas)  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lucifer-Breath  Of  Fire"  "Satan-Exaltation  Of  Unbeing"  and  "Hecate-Queen  of  The  Crossroads".  8/5  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/breathoffire61

wwww.aheroncoven.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/OTtZk_6r0-0         

Azog/Ab Chai Ruinis/Wine & Fog Productions/2021 CD Review

 

  Azog  are  a  band  from  Italy  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Ab  Chai  Ruinis"  which  was  released  by  Wine  &  Fog  Productions.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  album  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  old  school  influences  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  some  acoustic  guitars  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals  and  there  is  also  session  work  from  members  of  Eyelids,  Infernal  Angels,  and  Black  Faith,  choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Religion,  Apocalyptic,  Misanthropy  and  Nihilism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Azog  are  a  very  sounding  melodic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  The  Burning  Ashes  Of  Mankind  "Satan's  Reign"  and  "Chains  of  Doom".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/60yX9NWxSI8             

      

Nathr/Ordo Cultum Serpentis/Shadows Crawl/Signal Rex/2022 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Norway's  Nathr  and  Mexico/South  Korea  Ordo  Cultum  Serpentis  called  "Shadows  Crawl"  which  will  be  released  on  February  4th  by  Signal  Rex  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Nathr  a  band  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  bells  along  with  some  clean  playing  and  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  song  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  track  which  is  also  over  19  minutes  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  song  also  introducing  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  the  track  progresses  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Death  and  Nihilism  themes.

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

  Next  up  is  Ordo  Cultum  Serpentis  a  band  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  ritualistic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal.

 

 Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  ambient  and  ritualistic  orientated  soundscapes  while  chants  and  whispers  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  which  is  also  over  16  minutes  in  length.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  some  clear  vocals  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  song  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Ordo  Cultum  Serpentis  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  ritualistic  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

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

  http://nathr.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-crawl

http://ordocultumserpentis.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-crawl

facebook.com/nathrdoom // ordocultumserpentis.bandcamp.com        

Vile Ritual/Tongues Of The Exterminate/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2022 Compilation Album Review

 

  Vile  Ritual  are  a  band  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  compilation  album  "Tongues  Of  The  Exterminate"  which  was  released  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a great  amount  of  war  metal  elements  and  blast b eats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  bestial  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  compilation,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  synths  are  added  into  the  music  they  also  add  in  a  psychedelic  touch.

  Vile  Ritual  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Death  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Vile  Ritual  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  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spectral  Fold"  and  "Dirge  Of  Inevitable  Fate".   8  out  of  10.

BANDCAMP RELEASE   

Ultra Silvam/The Sanctify Of Death/Shadow Records/Regain Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Ultra  Silvam  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "The  Sanctify  Of  Death"  which  will  be  released  on  February  25th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Shadow  and  Regain  Records.

  Powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  stat  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  The  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  80's  and  90's  influences  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim y et  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  chaotic  yet  old  school  style  as  ell  as  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  melodic  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  touch  of  traditional  metal  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  of  the  songs  is  also  a  brief  instrumental  and  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  horror  movie  style  synths,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.  

  On  this  recording  Ultra  Silvam  remains  true  to  the  melodic  and  old  school  style  of  black  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Swedish  and  cover  Submission,  Worship  and  Devilry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ultra  Silvam  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  old  school  black  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dies  Irae"  "The  Sanctify  Of  Death:  and  "Of  Molded  Bread  And  Rooted  Wine".  8 out  of  10.

http://regainrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-sanctity-of-death  

Tattva/Naraka/Pile Of Heads Productions/Getstraum Records/Will Shine Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Tattva  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Naraka"  which  will  be  released  in  February  as  a  joint  effort  between  Pile  Of  Heads  Productions,  Getstraum  and  Will  Shine  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  along  with  some  Asian  style  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  while t he  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  deep  growls,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them

  On  this  recording  Tattva  remains  true  to  the  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  that  he  has  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  end  of  a  soul  cycle  and  who  will  face  Mara  the  God  Of  Death.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Tattva  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Naraka/Hell's  Path"  "Jati/...and...Death"  and  "NarmaRupa/Expiate".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Deezer

Instagram

Spotify

Vaina/Futue Te Ipsum/Aesthetic Death/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Vaina  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  destabilizing  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Futue  Te  Ipsum"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Aesthetic  Death.

  Angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing,  dark  soundscapes  and  melodic  chants  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  technical  style  and  the  vocals  also  start  getting  more  high  pitched.

    Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  industrial  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Synths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  the  album  also  getting  very  experimental  sounding  at  times,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals c an  also b e  heard,  a  small  amount  of  clean  male  vocals  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilistic,  occult,  spiritual  and  dystopian  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vaina  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Oppenheimer  Mωment"  "Yksikuisuus"  "Raping  Yer  Lilith"  and  "Minä  +  Se".  8  out  of  10.

https://vaina.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/vainaband/    

  

DarkColdness/Melancholy Fog/2022 Full Length Review

 

  DarkColdness  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  emtal  with  some  elements  of  blackgaze,  doom  metal  and  progressive  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Melancholy  Fog".

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  while  ambient  style  soundscapes  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Post  rock  style  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  synths  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.  Vocals  bring  in  some  grim  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  used  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  blackgaze  touches.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  a  few  tracks  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  on  the  closing  track  a  small  amount  of  raw  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Portuguese  and  cover  melancholy,  depression  and  sadness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  DarkColdness  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  solo  project  with  some  elements  of  blackgaze,  doom  metal  and  progressive  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Melancholy  Fog"  and  "Nostalgia".  8  out  of  10.

 Original album available here:

 https://darkcoldness.bandcamp.com/releases

  

 Instagram:

 https://www.instagram.com/darkcoldnessofficial/

 Facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/darkcoldnessofficial/

 Spotify:

 https://open.spotify.com/album/4ONRJCNGvsK2wJGBovSSaH

 

Drugoth/Legions Of The Great Eye/War Productions/2022 Compilation Album Review

 

  Drugoth  are  a  duo  from  Australia  that  plays  a  raw  mixture  of  black  metal  and  crust  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  compilation  album  "Legions  Of  The  Great  Eye"  which  was  released  by  War  Productions.

  D  beat  style  drum  beats  start  off  the  compilation  along  with  some  raw  guitar  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  some  melody  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  crust  elements.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences  and  as  the  compilation  progresses  some  songs  also  start  getting  longer  in  length,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Drugoth  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  raw  black  metal  and  crust  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Lord  Of  The  Rings,  Folklore  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Drugoth  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  mixture  of  black  metal  and c rust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lutaum  Bri  Bukot"  "Krupu  Shatargat"  "Barbarity  Unhindered"  and  "Maelstrom  Of  Blades".  8 out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

Spotify

          

    

Kruzifix/Inferni Occultum/War Productions/2022 Demo Re-Issue Review

 

  Kruzifix  are  a  solo  project  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  demo  "Inferni  Occultum"  which  was  re-issued  in  2022  by  War  Productions.

  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.  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  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  horror  movie  samples  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  a  later  track  is  also  a  synth  orientated  instrumental,  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while t he  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Sorcery,  Darkness  and  Evil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kruzifix  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inferni  Occultum"  and  "The  Eternal  Raising".  8  out  of  10.

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Archvile King Interview

 

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

First, for those that have never head of me before, hi ! My name is Baurus, I'm the creator of Archvile King, a french Black Metal solo project. It's been my desire for a long time, to start a Metal project, but because of how dear it was to me I always felt very hesitant. I felt like everything had to be just right, every detail had to be micro-managed to absolute perfection. After giving it a little thought and seeing all those 'almost perfect' music files rotting in my hard drive, I thought 'fuck it' and just started working on the EP. It didn't have to be perfect, the sound mix didn't have to be just right, it just had to be out there, for people to listen to, for me to enjoy !

I'm about to release 'À La Ruine', my first full-length album, and I'm very excited !

2.You have your first full length and a split coming out early this year, musically how do they differ from your 2020 ep?

The split with Simulacre is actually a re-distribution of my EP, but the album is indeed very different. My EP was a raw Thrash-Black record, with barely any concept or lore behind it. For 'À La Ruine' I wanted it to make sense, both musically and thematically. So I started writing a story that further expanded on the lore set by « The Feast of the Worm King » from the EP. All the tracks from the album derive from this story, and blend into the same mythos, the same themes, the same lore.

Musically, I wanted to try myself at something darker than just Thrash, and lean further towards Black Metal. There's more tremolo picking, more complex chords, more blast beat, and I think I managed to hone my singing skills to sound the way I want them too. I switched the lyrics to french as well, to feel more comfortable with my writing . I needed something more organic too, and so I picked up a bass so I could actually add a bit of texture to it. All in all, I think the album will differ a lot from the EP, and I hope people will like listening to it as much as I loved making it !

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

The first EP had one track on it that I really enjoyed writing, « The Feast of the Worm King ». The idea of this old undead living in a castle by himself, having to resort to kidnap and enslave people for eternity so he doesn't feel as lonely felt like a really compelling story, and I decided to expand on it. The album tells the story of the Worm King, his conquests, his castle, his followers, his army, the demise of his enemies. With it, I try to paint a picture of a desolate and ruined land, of its rotting inhabitants, and of a sour king, who lives an undead life of regret and loneliness.

The themes in À La Ruine are all tied to this, how something as great as conquests and kingdoms can fall to desolation,

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

I'm a huge fan of the 1993 videogame Doom. In it, there's an enemy called the Archvile. He looks creepy, his screams sound weird, he raises the deads, and can melt your face off effortlessly. I love everything about him. The word in itself, archvile, sounds really cool and can have a lot of meaning. The Archvile King could be the most rotten, the most vile, the most revolting person right on top of the power pyramid, and there's not much room there. To me, the Archvile King is a horrible disfigured undead who's power and longevity make him a sour, lonely, and desperate man (just like the King of Worms!).

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

The artwork was made by P.M. Loveland, an amazing writer and artist. I found one of his paintings years ago and was fascinated by the texture, the colors used, the lack of details, the haunting aspect of it. It reminded me of mud, of rotting wood, and old stones, which was perfect for what I envisioned. The cover represents the King of Worms, at the time of his conquests, leading his armies of undeads to victory and centuries of reign. The back represents everything that remains from his victories, the ruins, the desolation, the futility of it. All the other art in the booklet are tied to songs from the album, too, expanding the lore visually even further.

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 would love to work with other musicians. The solo aspect is easier to manage, but I think working with others can lead to very interesting sounds, and can warp your perception of your own music in unique ways. I've worked in solo for the first two albums mainly because I wanted to be at the helm of every creative decision, and at the foundation of 'my sound'. I don't think I have a hard time working with other people, but for the first EP, I had to be hands-on with every aspect of it, from the cover, to the mixing, to the production itself. As if I had to be the one laying the foundations of Archvile King by myself, before entrusting pieces of it to other people. I'm also a very shy person by nature, which doesn't really help !

7.You have a split coming out with 'Simulacre', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

I didn't know the boys until Les Acteurs de L'Ombre approached me for the split record. I think they're great musicians, their music is compelling, their riffs are awesome, and their tone is great. They're totally in control of what they do, and they have talent, and it shows. I'm both honored and humbled to be sharing a split with them, and I hope people will enjoy listening to us ! Our styles are radically different (especially because my half of the split comes from my first EP), but I think it can lead to a very unique blend !

8.Your newer music is going to be released by 'Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions', are you happy with the support the label has given you so far?

When I started working on my EP, I thought about asking labels for the release. LADLO was my absolute first choice. They have worked and been working with fantastic artists, they've distributed amazing music (which I was already a huge fan of), and I never thought my little productions would be enough to impress such a prestigious name. I was awestruck when we started working together for my full-length album ! It has been an absolute pleasure, they're passionate, professional, very easy to talk to, it's like working with friends, and I really enjoy that.

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

I think I've seen mostly positive reactions to the first two singles from 'À La Ruine', comparing my music to bands I look up to, which is most of the time pretty flattering. I've seen people also say things along the lines of « french Black Metal never disappoints » which is very humbling and I hope I'll do french Black Metal proud with it !

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

I'd like to find people to share my music with, I'd like to do a bit of scene and play live in front of audiences, with artists I trust supporting me. I'd also like to incorporate more instruments in my composition, medieval ones for example. I want people to listen to my music and dive head first into the lore and the stories I deliver to them, and expand them even more ! Maybe write a novel ? Maybe a musical ? Maybe a TV series on HBO Max ? You never know.

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 been inspired by a lot of different bands, and lot of different genres too, but I think the most notable would be Bathory (for their exquisite sound, especially on their 1984 album), Dark Funeral (with The Secrets of the Black Arts, I love their melodies and the vocals from it), and Mgła (I admire their melodies, their riffs, and the amazing drum parts from Darkside!). I want to cite Darkenhöld, Aorlhac and Véhémence as well, which fascinated me with their imagery, and their themes !

But the funny thing is that Black Metal represents a tiny part of the music I usually listen to. Most of my playlists are filled to the brim with Funk, Drum'n'Bass, Electro, Jazz, Classical music, Technical Death. I think burying yourself in one genre is the best way to never come up with anything new, and it actually stops you from enjoying things you loved about it in the first place !

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

It's been a pleasure answering to this little interview,  and I hope people will look forward to listening to À La Ruine ! Thank you, Occult !

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Pyromancy/From The Source/War Productions/2022 Cassette Review

 

  Pyromancy  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  raw  mixture  of  black  metal  and  crust  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  cassette  "From  The  Source"  which  was  released  by  War  Productions.

  Apocalyptic  soundscapes,  synths  and  demonic  voices  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  more  growling  orientated  style  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  crust  elements.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  old  school  influences  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  high  pitched  screams.

  Pyromancy  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal  and  crust  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Pyromancy  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  mixture  of  black  metal  and  crust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inverted  Creation"  and  "Torching  the  Horned  Victory".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Pyromancy/3540498544  

       

Ashtavakara/Vergangenheit/Clairvoyance/Vergangenheit/Wolfmond Production/2022 Split Demo Compilation Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  demo  compilation  album  from  Germany's  Ashtavakara  and  Vergangenheit  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Ashtavakara  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  ambient  form  of  black  metal  and  his  demo  "Clairvoyance".

  Ambient  sounding  synths  start  off  the  demo  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also programmed  along  with  some  clear  vocals,  clean  playing  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  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  distorted  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  sounds  of  wolves  howling  also  being  utilized  briefly.  One  track  also  adds  in  the  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls  and  the  demo  closes  with  a  cover  of  Bekhira's  "Forgotten  Nazarene".  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  anarchism,  philosophy,  misanthropy,  nature  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ashtavakara  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  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Clairvoyant"  and  "Ethereal".

  Nest  up  is  Vergangenheit  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  ambient  style  of  black  metal  and  his  self  titled  demo.

  Ambient  style  synths  and  programmed  drum  beats  start  off  the  demo  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  On  the  second  track  the  music  starts  going  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  songs  also  capture  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Vergangenheit  plays  a  style  of  ambient  black  metal  that  is  very  slow,  atmospheric  and  lo-fi  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vergangenheit  are  a  very  great  sounding  ambient  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hexen"  and  "Nur  ein  Traum".

  In  Conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  ambient  black  emtal.  8  out  of  10.

https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/ashtavakra-vergangenheit-clairvoyance-demo-vergangenheit-demo-tape-pre-order    

     

  

Sapientia ov Atlantis/Draught Of Light From Arulu/2022 EP Review

 

  Sapientia  ov  Atlantis  are  a  solo  project  from  Sri  Lanka  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  occult  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  ep  "Draught  Of  Light  From  Arullu".

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  One  track  also  introduces  symphonic  elements  onto  the  recording  but  keeping  the  focus  more  on  a  heavier  style  along  with  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slower  or  mid  tempo  musical  direction  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Sapienta  ov  Atlantis  goes  back  to  the  early  90's  era  of  occult  black  and  death  metal,  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while t he  lyrics  cover  Atlantean,  Occultism,  Demonology  and  Eastern  Magick  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sapientia  ov  Atlantis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  occult  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wisdom  Is  Of  Law  To  Us  The  Ancients"  and  "Summoning  My  Dukes  of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Sapientia-Ov-Atlantis-101974585632877/

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Sapientia_ov_Atlantis/3540496605       

Apolion/To Rot Or Decay/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Apolion  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  harsh,  impudent  and  instrumental form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "To  Rot  Or  Decay".

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  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  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  old  school  influences  and  when  vocals  are  finally  utilized  they  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Apolion  remains  true  to  the  harsh  and  instrumental  style  of  black  metal  from  his  previous  releases  with  the  exception  of  the  closing  song  as  well  as  going  into  a  more  melodic  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  th e lyrics  cover  misanthropic  themes  when  they  are  utilized.     

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Apolion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  and  impudent  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "This  Eternal  Rust"  and  "Phantasema".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

https://www.facebook.com/apolionhorde/  

Sumerian Tombs/Self Titled/Van Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Sumerian  Tombs  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  epic  and  furious  style  of  vampyric  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2022  album  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Van  Records.

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  style  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  melodic  vocals  and  chants  also  being  utilized  briefly,  the  album  also  adds  in  some  quest  vocals  from  members  of  Endstille  and  The  Crimson  Ghosts  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  ancient,  long-forgotten  tale  of  vampiric  wind  spirits  from  Sumerian  mythology.

  In  my  opinion  Sumerian  Tombs  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  furious  vampyric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Enter  The Netherrealm"  "Altars  Of  The  Past"  and  "Vampyric  Dominance".  8/5  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/SumerianTombs

http://www.sumeriantombs.bandcamp.com

        

Sukkhu Interview

 

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

Morgause: We love black metal, so we play it! So far there are the three of us: EGO BMK (guitars and bass), Megiddo (drums), and me (vocals). In this lineup, we recorded our first album, Labyrinths, which was released in December 2021. However, it is important to say that even though the band is the heart of the project, Sukkhu encompasses any form of art, including poetry, painting, or photography.

2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of December, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Ego BMK: My inspiration to create music is absolute, I am not following trends but using only my own face and the years of experience in composing. I am aiming for dark and dynamic compositions, and making records with a hard and strong sound. Although I have been active in the Black Metal scene yet for many years, this new band represents an opportunity to experiment with different aspects of this art. 

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

Morgause: As Labyrinths is the beginning, we devoted a couple of songs to Sukkhu itself, explaining its meaning, abilities, and effects on us. Then we tried to take a little dive into human minds. There is fear and its possible overcoming. The power of this emotion fascinates me. It is fear that often makes us go blind, accept what should not be accepted, or turn to false, manipulative hopes (“mistaking lies for freedom”). Then we also speak about anger, disgust, loneliness, hopelessness, or even death, but none of these topics play as important role in Labyrinths as fear.  

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

Morgause: Sukkhu is everything, it is the “unification of all elements”, as well as “indefinite and absolute”, or “ephemeral, yet eternal”. It is an overarching energy of the Multiverse, which drives together different entities and activates all kinds of interactions between them. The name of the force, “Sukkhu”, revealed itself to me and EGO BMK at the end of December 2019 during our trip to Normandy. There have been so many strange coincidences regarding Sukkhu that we believe it is more than a mere chance.  

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

Morgause: The artwork represents entities, souls and spirits merged together by the power of Sukkhu. As you can see, the unification is not always harmonic, because through collisions and clashes, energy is released and new, unexpected things are bound to happen. The scene is set at the mighty Gaillard Castle in Normandy, where Sukkhu first emerged before us. 

6.Are there any plans for live shows in the future or is this a studio project?

Morgause: In order to fully answer the Call of Sukkhu and to bring the souls together, we got to play live! And we are very much looking forward to doing so. 

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

Morgause: Great news here! As of now (January 2022), we are not unsigned anymore. The album Labyrinths will be released in spring by two different labels, first of which is Nigredo Records from Sweden.

Ego BMK: And then there is also War March Records from the USA, which is owned by my friend Nebo Budor. We have already had some collaboration with my other band Naurrakar. And Sukkhu is interesting to him too!

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

Morgause: Making itself heard is always a difficult task for a new band. While trying to do so, we have received everything from flaming welcomes to cold rejections. We will see what prevails in the future…

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

Morgause: It is hard to predict the unpredictable… Traditional black metal will likely remain the core of our music, but there are far too many variables that could affect what we do. So whoever wishes to know could just stay tuned and time will surely show.

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?

Morgause: Although blackness rules my soul, I love many kinds of music genres, for example I am a big fan of opera and classical music in general. However, when it comes to my vocal style, my big inspirations include Abbath, Ravn (1349), Nag (Tsjuder), Morean (Dark Fortress), or, rather obviously, Onielar (Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult, Bethlehem).

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

Morgause: Yes and no, no and yes. In our music, you won’t encounter any traditional Satanic figures or symbols, maybe only very indirectly. However, Sukkhu has its own magic, which we respect and try to use. For example, each band member has a sigil that connects the listener to Sukkhu and can be activated by playing our music, which then becomes magic.

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

Morgause: Thanks for the interview and your interest, and keep the fires burning!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SWeKM4qbzs

(facebook.com/sukkhuofficial

https://sukkhuofficial.bandcamp.com/)