Astarium/Fire Messiah/More Hate Productions/Snow Wolf Records/2022 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Russia's  Astarium  and  Fire  Messiah  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  More  Hate  Productions  and  Snow  Wolf  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  solo  project  Astarium  who  returns  with  an  atmospheric  and  old  school  form  of  symphonic  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  and  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astarium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Echo  Of  Niflheim".

  Next  up  is  Fire  Messiah  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  punk  influenced  form  of  raw  black  metal  with  some  symphonic  touches.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  his  side  of  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  also  being  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  touches  of  punk  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  and  the  lyrics  cover  the  inevitable  reckoning,  death  and  loss  of  humanity  in  this  world.

  In  my  opinion  Fire  messiah  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  symphonic  black  metal  solo  project  with  elements  of  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Flirting  With  the  End".

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

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Astarium/70423

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Fire_Messiah/3540496623

    

  

Astarium/Necropus/Frozen In Blood/NitroAtmosfericum Records/Wings Of Destruction/2021 Split EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep  between  Russia's  solo  projects  Astarium  and  Necropus  called  "Frozen  In  Blood"  which  was  released  in  2021  as  a  joint  effort  between  NitroAtmosfericum  Records  and  Wings  Of  Destruction  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Astarium  who  returns  with  an  epic  form  of  symphonic  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  along  with  some  war  and  battle  samples  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  and  the  lyrics  cover  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Astarium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Necropus  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  Nordic  inspired  form  of  old  school  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  dark  yet  heavy  riffing  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Necropus  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

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

https://astarium.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-in-blood

Astarium/Into The Dragon's Domain/Heimat Der Katastrophe/2021 Cassette Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Russia's  solo  project  Astarium  that  shows  him  moving  away  from  the  black  metal  style  of  previous  releases  and  goes  for  an  epic  mixture  of  dungeon  synth,  neo-classical  and  ambient  with  elements  of  darkwave  and  medieval  folk  music  and  the  album  was  released  on  cassette  in  2021  by  Heimat  Der  Katastrophe  and  called  "Into  The  Dungeon's  Domain".

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  elements  of  medieval  folk  music  elements  which  also  gives  the  songs  the  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  movie  soundtrack.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  some  of  the  songs  going  into  more  of  a  dungeon  style  direction.

  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  the  more  tragic  side  of  darkwave  while  all  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  more  epic  neo-classical  style.

  On  this  recording  Astarium  moves  away  from  the  black  metal  style  that  he  is  known  for  and  goes  more  for  a  mixture  of  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo-classical  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astarium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo-classical,  you  should  check  out  this  cassette.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Valley  of  Plenty,  Mountains  Of  Snow"  "Into  the  Dragon's  Domain"  "The  Wyvern's  Wings  beating"  and  "The  Champion  Who  Defeat  The  Dragon".  8  out  of  10.

https://astarium.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-dragons-domain

    

Astarium/Eternal Occultation/Moonworshipper Records/NitroAtmosfericum Records/2021 EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  recording  from  Russia's  solo  project  Astarium  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  the  ep  was  released  in  2021  as  a  joint  effort  between  Moonworshipper  and  NitroAtmosfericum  Records  and  called  "Eternal  Occultation".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  short  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  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  instrumentals.  as  well  as  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  closing  song.

  On  this  recording  Astarium  brings  in  more  of  a  raw  approach  to  symphonic  black  metal  with  shorter  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Cosmic  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astarium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eternal  Occultation"  and  "Miasma  II".  8  out  of  10.

https://astarium.bandcamp.com/album/eternal-occultation

Mordran Interview

 

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

Mordran is a musical act that blends a core of atmospheric black metal with dark ambient and folk. When I compose music for Mordran, my main goal is to create atmospheres and soundscapes, which means that melody and musicality are often sacrificed in favour of drawn-out, repetitive patterns that aim to put the listener in an evocative state of mind. Oftentimes, the melody has to be discovered in the wall of sound, rather than being upfront. As a result, the sound of Mordran is quite abstract and dreamy. The production aims to add to it, too, with a focus on texture and atmosphere instead of clarity. In general terms, I guess you could say that Mordran is what happens when you take the very dark, almost ugly, characteristics of raw black metal and try to craft something beautiful with them. It’s a powerful contrast.

2.So far you have released 2 ep,s, musically how do they both different from each other?

Forbidden Knowledge was more direct in the sense that the songs were shorter and a bit less atmospheric, and it featured a much more intertwined mix of black metal and folk. In Tellurian Sorrow, the dark ambient elements are a lot more present instead, to the point that the second half of the record consists of purely dark ambient.

3.Your lyrics cover Occultism,  Paganism,  Witchcraft,  Existentialism and Nature, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

While I’m an atheist, I believe that occultism and paganism are great thematic vehicles when you want to discuss subjects like existentialism. Gods, witches, ghosts, spirits… Our ancestors created them to explain a world that they didn’t have the tools to understand. They are direct representations of human emotions such as fear, uncertainty, and awe in the face of the unknown, so I think it makes perfect sense to use them as vessels to explore those emotions in music. When it comes to witchcraft in particular, I used it as the central theme for Forbidden Knowledge because it’s one of the forms of paganism that I’ve been in closest contact to. While I’m currently based in Sweden, I was born and raised in Galicia, in northwestern Spain, where many ‘meigas’ (witches) were burnt at the stake in the middle ages. Some of their rituals are still present in Galician culture, such as the traditions of drinking ‘queimada’ (an alcoholic beverage that is prepared while reciting a spell) and jumping over bonfires, both very common things to do on midsummer’s eve. Finally, nature, while it is more of a subtheme when it comes to the lyrics, is actually crucial for Mordran, since taking walks through the woods here in Sweden is my main source of inspiration for writing music.

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

Mordran is the name of a pagan goddess that tends to the bodies of people who get lost and meet their ends in the woods. She is worshipped by witches and travellers alike. The former seek power and secret knowledge, the latter seek guidance and protection.

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

So far, all the artwork for Mordran has been pictures taken in the Swedish woods. The cover for Tellurian Knowledge is closely related to the first track of the record, which is about the human longing to leave Earth and explore the universe beyond, but also about emotional evasion, depersonalisation, and derealisation. I think a tree reaching toward the sun with its branches is a good metaphor for all that.

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

While I have worked with other artists in the past and I’m open to the possibility of doing it again in the future, perhaps even for Mordran, I do generally prefer to work solo. I tend to come up with very specific and personal concepts and I find that the best, most direct way of turning them into music is to do it alone. I don’t mind the extra work as long as the end result is as close as possible to the ideas in my head.

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

I have talked with a couple of labels, but at the moment Mordran remains fully independent. If the opportunity arose to work with a label that fits Mordran, then I would definitely be open to it.

8.Do you also have any experience working with other bands or musical projects?

I've had a few other projects in the past, yeah. Some people might be familiar with Alor, which was one of my first musical acts and had its first (and only) album released by Northern Silence Productions in 2014. At the time, I also used to record black metal under a couple of different names. Nowadays, I hate most of the stuff I was making back then and I can barely listen to it, but I guess those projects taught me some important lessons about music and production. The only other musical act I currently maintain is Static Storm, which is mostly instrumental post-rock/electronic music.

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

Most of the feedback I've gotten has been positive, which is very encouraging. When I make music, I always have the hope that other people will be able to relate to it and to the feelings portrayed within it, so every comment and every email of support that Mordran is great to read.

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

Honestly, I don’t know because that isn’t really something that I think about when I’m working on a new album. I tend to make music in short bursts of inspiration, which often result in shorter records. Being a one-person project, that type of work is also easier to tackle within a reasonable timeframe without sacrificing any quality. That being said, I would consider Tellurian Sorrow a full-length record since it runs for a bit over 40 minutes, but I’m not really concerned with the terminology. I work on each album until it feels like a coherent unit that I’m satisfied with, and I don’t pay all that much attention to the length.

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 mostly listen to classical music, black metal, rock, and folk, and all of those have an influence on Mordran in one way or another. When it comes to bands, the biggest influences are probably stuff like Ulver, Burzum, Agalloch, Lantlôs, Xasthur, Coldworld, Musk Ox… I also greatly enjoy other artists like Chelsea Wolfe, Emma Ruth Rundle, Black Sabbath, or Radiohead.

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

I would like to make it clear that Mordran is vehemently against racism, transphobia, homophobia, sexism, and any sort of bigotry in the black metal scene (and anywhere else). Beyond that, I would like to thank you for the work you do and all the people who listen to Mordran for giving it a reason to exist. Feel free to follow the band on Bandcamp to stay updated. Thank you!

Facebook

Bandcamp

YouTube

Winds Of Tragedy Interview

 

Name: Sergio González Catalán

Band: Winds of Tragedy

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

Winds of Tragedy is a Black/Doom Metal project from a place that fells like the end of the world, Santiago, Chile. I created this project because I was looking to develop fast furious music to express all the anger with life that I had inside. Also, I had a lot of ideas and themes that did not quite fit into my other projects, so I needed to start fresh with this band.

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

I wanted to do an album that was fierce, aggressive, and filled of blast beats from beginning to end, because I’ve become sort of addicted to them. I contacted a drummer, Alex Ramios, to get the proper sound and aggressiveness I needed. After recording the drums, I worked an incredible amount of time with my producer, Filippos Koliopanos, on getting the right sound and mix for the blast beats. 

Regarding the songs, to be honest, I can’t work with dissonant compositions or progressive-styled melodies, because they give me a headache after a while, LOL, so you will hear melodic parts and delicate interludes throughout the album. I really like that contrast between the harshness of the vocals and the melodic parts of the lead guitar and synths, and you will notice that in the album.

3.You are also a part of 'Rise To the Sky', how does the music of 'Winds Of Tragedy' differ from the material you record with your other project?

Rise to the Sky is a slower type of music, very close to funeral doom metal, although again I cannot go full dissonant because I just dislike that type of sound. Also, thematically, Rise to the Sky is almost solely focused on sadness and grief, it´s much more of a melancholic and beauty focused type of project. Winds of Tragedy just reflects a different state of mind and atmosphere, it is completely honest music, much rawer, explosive, and angrier. 

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

When it comes to the lyrics, I did not hide anything, however personal or embarrassing it was, I just expressed what I was living at that moment. In my music, I always discuss themes related to depression, loss, and grief, which are topics that are so common to everyone. A lot of people, which have similar problems, reach out to me constantly, to tell me how much my music relates to them and helps them go through their own problems, depression, or grief. This is something that interest me more than anything else. To be able to have this sort of connection its really indescribable, and I feel that it gives my life and my music some sort of purpose. 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Winds Of Tragedy'?

It’s all about tragedy and ruin, it arrives in your life like the wind, suddenly and unexpectedly, and I truly believe that is inevitable. Most people will suffer from a loss of a loved one at some point in their lifetime, they will suffer from a breakup, they will lose a friend, etc. this is just part of life.  My music talks about this, because it is important to talk about that, we need to know how to live with this constant suffering. 

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

I am constantly looking for artwork online. Through my music, I’ve had the honor to work with such great talent from all over the world, people like Gogo Melone, Augusto Peixoto from Irondoom Design, or Lenore Ani from AniArtworks. When I saw the artwork of Sean Deloria Black Wolf, aka DaturaAD, I just feel in love with his work. This is an immensely gifted self-taught painter, which I can tell is obsessed with his craft, just like I am obsessed with music. I saw the painting and just fell in love with it. The color pallet is something I had never seen before, so bright, but at the same time it´s such a sad and dark figure, it just fitted perfectly with the style of music I was doing. Also, it doesn’t fit any metal mold, I refuse to follow any particular style or trend when it comes to making an album, I just go on whatever direction seems best for the project, not the style. 

7.With both of your projects you work mostly solo, are you open to working with a line up in the future?

I started solo; I work mostly solo when it comes to composing. But since the beginning I’ve had collaboration and feedback from my producer, Filippos Koliopanos, who is also a musician. Recently I worked with Alex Ramos, who has done an incredible work with the drums in Winds of Tragedy and Rise to the Sky. I have many collaborations that are coming up in the future, hopefully I can share those announcements soon.  

Working with a line up would be the natural flow of things in the future, but I am not rushing anything. So far, I have plenty of material and ideas and I feel glad about the collaborations I am already developing. 

8.The new album is going to be released on 'Belfry Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Belfry records is a new label from Terrassa, Spain. The label is focused on atmospheric metal, whether it be black, doom, or death metal. They made a big splash and are signing a bunch of awesome bands. I think most people know that the underground scene is going through tough times, and labels are struggling to survive. Having Belfry records come into the scene and start promoting a bunch of new underground bands is just something I respect, and I think that it will be valued by many listeners of the dark metal arts. 

For me, it’s an honor to be part of their roster of artists, and to have the first CD ever released by this label. I really look forward to developing great new music and ideas with them, so far, it’s been awesome.

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

It just keeps getting better with every release I have. I have listeners from all over the world and I am shipping CDs everywhere. It’s just fantastic to know that there is a large black/doom metal community out there which is still supporting the underground. I look forward to reaching out to new people, and I am always open to discuss about music and to dedicate some time to support the scene. Because of music, I’ve met great people who share my passion for this music, and I now have many friends to visit all over the world.

10.What is going on with 'Rise To The Sky' these days?

Rise to the Sky just released its fifth length album “Every Day, a Funeral” on May 6,2022 though Meuse Music Records. It’s a project which is very active and for which I keep writing music constantly. New stuff is coming up sooner than you think, and as always, I am looking to go one step further in quality and impact with this music.  

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

My constant effort goes to composing the best possible music I can. I want to develop much further as a composer and make raw honest atmospheric black and doom metal which creates an impact on people. I am constantly working and trying to learn and improve. It takes a lot of effort in every way though, emotionally, timewise, and financially too, but I don’t care, because I really believe that this is one of my main purposes in this world. Making this music is one of the most important things I’ve ever done.

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?

There are many bands and also musical styles, just to name a few black metal ones I currently listen to: Lascar, Grief and Bliss, Pure Wrath, Akhlys, White Ward, and Drudkh. Doom metal ones would be Shape of Despair, My Dying Bride, Celestial Season, Type o Negative and Before the Rain.

Also, I take a lot of ideas from classical music composers like Bach, Verdi, and Wagner, which I studied when I was a kid, or from operas I constantly watch. For instance, the Ring Cycle from Wagner is a monumental work of art, lot of my brass orchestral ideas and lyrical themes come from watching those operas.

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

I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to talk anout my music and for your interest in my music. I want to invite everyone to listen to “As Life Drifts Away” on June 17th when it comes out and please reach out to me through my socials if you want to talk about music or just say hi. I am always available to talk to anyone who shares this passion for atmo black/doom with me.

1. Facebook
2. Instagram

Warren Of Chaos/Agony Acoustice/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Warren  Of  Chaos  is  a  solo  project  from  British  Columbia,  Canada  that  plays  an  acoustic  form  of  depressive  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Agony  Acoustice".

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.  Synth  effects  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  avoiding  the  use  of  any  electric  or  traditional  metal  instruments.

  The  guitars  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  full  chords  and  finger  picking  while  also  serving  as  the  lead  instruments  on  this  recording  along  with  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  slower  direction.

  Warren  Of  Chaos  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  acoustic  guitar  format  and  mixes  it  with  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  depression,  death,  drugs  and  apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Warren  Of  Chaos  are  a  very  great  sounding  acoustic  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  that  is  very  different  sounding,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Withering  Bloom"  "Old  Snow"  and  "This  Is  The  End".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: https://warrenofchaos.bandcamp.com/album/agony-acoustice
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairlocklives/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfaImIoGohuCVHrMP3fblA
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/warrenofchaos
Lyrics: https://genius.com/artists/Warren-of-chaos

  

Vølus Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the solo project since the recording

of the new album?

A. Steadily working on Full Length #3 and working on my other band Psionic Madness's 2nd full length.

2.You have a new album coming out in June, musically how does it differ from the stuff you

have released in the past?

A. I feel like this new material is an evolution of my musical abilities. I couldn't be happier with the end result.

3.You also work with a variety of many other extreme metal genres with your other bands or

projects, do you feel this has made you a more well rounded musician?

A. Yes, I always loved Death Metal, Black Metal, Doom and Grind music.

4.On the new album you cover the Legacy Of Kain video games, can you tell us a little bit more

about your interest in video games?

A. The Legacy of Kain games were actually the first games I played as a kid and also Diablo 1 and 2. I have a huge interest in PC gaming particularly in Dark Fantasy/Horror. I play quite frequently during the week.

5.You also show some inspiration from the writings of H.P Lovecraft, what was it that drawn

you to his work?

A. The idea that too much knowledge is the death of humanity and sometimes ignorance is bliss. Also the grotesque aesthetics and atmosphere of his works, his mind is so demented and bizzare thats why I love it.

6.Other topics you cover include Occultism and Egyptian Esotericism, how long have you been

studying these paths?

A. I have been interested in the occult for 15 years give or take. 

7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Vølus?

A. Vølus, means eyes of truth. In the logo there are 3 eyes and is inspired by lovecraft and esoteric.

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

A. It means to be outcast, "Thrown to the Abyss"

9.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other

musicians, is this project more personal to you?

A. Yes it is my main focus and my longest running band (4 Years).

10.You also run Vargheist Records, what are some of the releases you have planned for later in

2022?

A. I have 3 bands not announced yet that I'm releasing music for. 

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black and

death metal?

A. Extremely positive and is constantly growing.

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

A. I see myself growing and constantly improving my craft.

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that you are listening to nowadays?

A. I listen to a lot of dissonant death metal and blackened death metal.

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

A. Stay tuned for more Vargheist Records music at vargheistrecords.com

Tableau Mort/Visio In Somniis/Cult Of Parthenope/2022 CD Review

 

  Tableau  Mort  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Visio  In  Somniis"  which  was  released  by  Cult  of  Parthenope.

  A  very  dark  yet  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  recording  that  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  structures  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  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  death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  technical  moments  as  well  as  the  blast  beats  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  brutal  edge,  Gregorian  chants  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  dark  side  of  Orthodox  Christianity.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tableau  Mort  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  dissonant  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Metmosphosis"  "Hope  Ablaze"  and  "Candle  in  The  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

  Website: https://www.tableaumort.com/

Bandcamp: https://tableaumort.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tableaumort/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONaPNYhNqBA&t=1226s
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ggrc1ffeQC5hQ4u4Pcnhv?si=kc2WnCPGQYqgQWL_eN41sw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tableaumortuk/    

Spear Of Teuta/Mother Illyria/Esfinge de la Calavera/Death Shadow Records/2022 Compilation Album Review

 

  Spear  Of  Teuta  are  a  solo  project  from  Croatia  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  ethereal  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  post  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  compilation  album  "Mother  Illyria"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Esfinge  de  la  Calavera  and  Death  Shadow  Records  and  consists  of  his  first  2  demo's  and  an  unreleased  track.

  A  very  heavy  post  punk  influenced  style  starts  off  the  compilation  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  tracks  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  and  80's  gothic  rock  touch  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  at  times  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.

  Spear  Of  Teuta  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  very  raw  and  ethereal  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  post  punk  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  heritage  of  the  ancient  land  of  Illyria.

  In  my  opinion  Spear  Of  Teuta  are  a  very  great  sounding  ethereal  mixture  of  raw  black  metal  and  post  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sunken  Ships  At  The  Port  of  Ardiaen  Kingdom"  and  "Fallen".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp      

Sicut Glacies/Eremitt - Vokter Av Tid/Wolfmond Production/2022 CD Review

 

  Sicut  Glacies  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Norway  and  Italy  that have  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Eremitt  -  Vokter  Av  Tid"  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production.

  Wind  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  synths  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  most of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences,  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Sicut  Glacies  remains  true  to  the  atmospheric  black  metal  style  that  they  had  establish  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Norwegian  and  English  and  cover  winter  and  coldness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Sicut  Glacies  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  Oss  Minnes  De  Tapre  Falne"  and  "Total  Winter".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr-3KKxEO5w

  

Swampborn/Beyond Ratio/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

    Swampborn  are  a  duo  from  Russia  that  plays  an  experimental  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Beyond  Ratio"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  synths  and  keyboards  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  very  melodic  post  metal  style  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding.  

  Post  industrial  style  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  cello's,  brass  and  violins  also  being  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  album,  operatic  female  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  song  also  introduces  clear  male  vocals  into  the  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  metaphysical  hints  and  allusions.  

  In  my  opinion  Swampborn  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Augoeides"  and  "Muscarum".  8  out  of  10.

  Aspiration a l'Absolu 

 Sleepingstatic   

    

Begrime Exemious/Rotting In The Aftermath/Dark Descent Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada's  Begrime  Exemious  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  blackened  style  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Rotting  In  The  Aftermath"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Dark  Descent  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  evil  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  van  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  old  school  death  metal  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  of  the  fast  riffs  also  utilizing  tremolo  picking  at  times  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  song.

  On  this  recording  Begrime  Exemious  keeps  the  black  metal  vocals  of  previous  releases  but  expands  more  on  a  90's  death  metal  style  as  well  as  adding  in  a  touch  of  thrash  metal  to  create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Nihilism,  War  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Begrime  Exemious  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cruel  Mistress"  "Infected  Mind"  "Regressive  Divisions"  and  "Diseased  Mankind".  8  out  of  10.

  begrimeexemious.com

facebook.com/begrimeexemious
begrimeexemious.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/begrimeexemious  

Liminal Shroud/All Virtues Ablaze/Willowtip Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Liminal  Shroud  are  a  band  from  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "All  Virtues  Ablaze"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Distorted  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  songs  on  the  album  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  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  great  amount  of  melody.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  piano's  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  hopelessness,  despair,  resolve  and  transformation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Liminal  Shroud  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hypoxic"  and  "Transmigration  II:  The  Cleansing  Ash".  8  out  of  10.

   https://liminalshroud.bandcamp.com/album/all-virtues-ablaze    

  

Stigmata Reign/Slowly The Spell Unfolds/At Hyborian Gates Records/2022 Single Review

 

  Stigmata  Reign  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal  and  harsh  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  single  "Slowly  The  Spell  Unfolds"  which  was  released  by  At  Hyborian  Gates  Records.

  Power  electronics  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  single  along  with  some  clean  yet  distorted  guitar  sounds  a  few  seconds  later.  The  track  is  also  over  6  minutes  in  length  while  grim  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  as  the  song  progresses  more  harsh  noises  are  also  utilized.

  Stigmata  Reign  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal  and  harsh  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  holy  terror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Stigmata  Reign  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal  and  harsh  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  8  out  of  10.

https://stigmatareign.bandcamp.com/releases        

Necrohunter/Litanies Of The Black Occvlt/Black Hearts Records/2022 EP Review

 

  Necrohunter  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Litanies  Of  The  Black  Occvlt"  which  was  released  by  Black  Hearts  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  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  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  song  is  also  an  instrumental,  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Necrohunter  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness,  Death  and  Suicide  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Necrohunter  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dei  Mortis"  and  "Regnum  Tenebrae".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzMjYQng3G0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qSYqADuUO4

  

    

Goatchrist/Odes To The Radiant One/Wicker Man Recordings/2022 CD Review

 

  Goatchrist  are  a  duo  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  the  recording  plays  a  progressive  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  the ir 2022  album  "Ode  to  The  Radiant  One"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Wicker  Man  Recordings.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  chants  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Hermeticism,  Pythagoreanism,  Kaballah,  Vaishnavism  and  Vajrayana  with  some  inspirations  from  the  writings  of  manly  P.  Hall  and  Aliester  Crowley.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  form  Goatchrist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I,  The  Lawgiver"  "Of  The  Sephirot  (Which  Art  the  Qlippoth)"  and  "Jacob,s  Ladder".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/goatchristband/

https://www.facebook.com/wickermanrec/

  

Vile Haint/Sacrificial Baptism In Murky Waters/Moonlight Cypress Archives/Folkvangr Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

   Vile  Haint  are  a  band  from  Nashville,  Tennessee  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  raw,  dissonant  and  avant  garde  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Sacrificial  Baptism  In  Murky  Waters"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Moonlight  Cypress  Archives  and  Folkvangr  Records.

  A  very  avant  garde  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a decent  amount  of  90's  era  second  wave  influences.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark,  raw  and  melodic  style  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  riffing  also  having  its  dissonant  moments.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  slide  guitars,  clean  playing  and  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Mythology,  Folklore  and  Southern  Gothic  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vile  Haint  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  dissonant  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cathartic  Sacrament  Of  The  Cattle  Goddess"  and  "Torches  Illuminate  The  Bleeding  Walls".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/vilehaint/

https://www.facebook.com/vilehaint