Drakon/Awakening/Soundage Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Drakon  are  a  band  form  Russia  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Awakening"  which  was  released  by  Soundage  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and r aw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals a re  mostyl  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  old  school  influences  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  song.

  Drakon  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  aggressive  and  melodic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  the  Spiritual  Revival  Of  Man  and  their  Motherland  through  the  prism  of  worship  of  the  Forces  of  Nature.

  In  my  opinion  Drakon  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  pagan  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.   RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  The  Gloomy  Feuding"  "Above  All"  and  "Embrace  of  Death".  8  out  of  10.

  VK - https://vk.com/drakonband

Bandcamp - https://drakonblackmetal.bandcamp.com/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1IlAjEukjBr-N4Z7sZuObA  

Iffernet/Silences/Vendetta Records/Rope Or Guillotine/Bad Moon Rising/Breathe Plastic Records/La Harelle/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Iffernet  are  a  duo  form  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Silences"  which  will b e  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  Vendetta,  Breathe  Plastic  Records,  Rope  Or  Guilotine,  Bad  Moon  Rising  and  La  Harelle.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  which  also  add  in  some  depressive  touches  at  times.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  in  the  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  showing  some  influences  of  the  mid  90's  and  2000's  era's  of  the  genre  and  clean  playing  can  be  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.

  In  this  recording  Ifferent  brings  in  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  that  also  add s in  some  depressive  touches  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  suicide,  suffering  and  emptiness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ifferent  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of raw  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Life  Is  A  Wound"  and  "Empty  Tomb".  8  out  of  10.

  https://iffernet.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/iffernetband/

Gallóglaigh/Luaith/2022 Full Length Review

 

   Gallóglaigh  are  a  band  from  Texas  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  with  some  modern  touches  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Luaith".

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  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.

  The  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences  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  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  more  modern  touches  along  with  a  couple  of    songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melodic  chants.  Synths  also  make  a  brief  return  as  well  as  some  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  but  keeping  the  focus  on  a  heavier  style.  

 Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  introduced  into  the  music  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as the  album  also  closing  with  a  cover  of  Behemoth's  "Blow  Your  Trumpets  Gabriel",  they  also  add  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  celestial  destruction  and  war  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Gallóglaigh  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  with  some  modern  touches  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "No  Crowns,  No  Gods"  "The  Towers  Of  Seven"  and  "Blow  Your  Trumpets  Gabriel".  8  out  of  10.

  Spotify  - YouTube

      

Darkthrone/Astral Fortress/Peaceville Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Norway's  Darkthrone  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Astral  Fortress"  which  was  released  by  Peaceville  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  a  black  metal  style  that  shows  influences  of  both  the  first  and  second  wave  era's  of  the  genre.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them   while t he  mid  tempo  sections  also  add  in  touches  of  thrash  metal.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark,  melodic  yet  old  school  style  and  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  mid  70's  to  early  80's  era  heavy  metal  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of t he  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Death  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Darkthrone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  their  newer  material,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Impeccable  Caverns  of  Satan"  and  "Kervokian  Times".  8  out  of  10.

  Caravan Of Broken Ghosts”

Facebook / Instagram    

Chaoist/Annul/WormHoleDeath Records/2022 EP Review

 

  Chaoist  are  a  solo  project  form  Serbia  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  ep  "Annul"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  synths  and  nature  sounds  while  percussion's  and  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  decent  amount  of  depressive  elements.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  melodies  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of t he  guitar  riffing  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

 The  music  also  mixes  in  a  good  amount  of  influences  from  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic style  when  they  are  utilized.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  metaphysical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Chaoist  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Maeditation  III".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/Chaoist

chaoist11.bandcamp.com

Nexwomb/Self Titled/Godz Ov War Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Nexwomb  are  a  duo  form  Portland,  Oregon  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2022  album  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Godz  Ov  War  Productions.

  A  very  dark  and  apocalyptic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  also  introducing  bestial  growls  onto  the  recording.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  and  when t he  music  speed s up  a lot  of  blast  beats  and  war  metal  elements  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  album  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  On  this  recording  Nexwomb  remain  true  to t he  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  war,  blasphemy,  quantum  physics,  left  hand  path, occultism  and  heretical  knowledge  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Nexwomb  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Quantum  Iniquity  of  Meta-Intelligences  (Aporchryphon  Equation  Testimony  Uploaded  For  Eschaton  Simulation  Analysis)"  "Upplicants  To  The  Sitra Achra Identified  By  Blood  Marker  RH-Negative  (Ascension  Protocols  To  The  Adversary  God-Head)"  "Homo- Sapien  Genomic  Cleansing  Actualized  Through  Reversed  Seraphic  Infection"  and  "Atomic  Qubit  Scripturient  For  Manifestation  Of  The  Profane  Holographic  Legions".  8  out  of  10.

  https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/nexwomb

       

Kamra/Cerebral Alchemy/Avantgarde Music/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Kamra  are  a  band  form  Slovenia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  experimental  style  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Cerebral  Alchemy"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  At  times  the  music  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  faster  riffing  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of b lack  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  balance  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Spoken  word  parts  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kamra  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  experimental  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  Eternal"  and  "Colossal  Blight".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/VoicesOfKamra

https://www.instagram.com/voices_of_kamra

https://voicesofkamra.bandcamp.com  

         

Blodskam Interview

 

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

We have mostly been dealing with interviews, selling merch and that kind of stuff. We also have been tossing some ideas around for the next album. 

 

2. In September you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It is maybe a little more dynamic and varied. The songwriting process was more consistent and concentrated this time. The sound is, well, the same but different. 

3. The lyrics on the new album cover a different take on the biblical story of Eve, can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting on the new release?

This time we wrote the lyrics together and wanted to tell a chronological story from the first song to the last. And we both came up with basically the same idea separate from each other! On Ave Eva we reinterpret the biblical story of Eve and make her the usurper and destroyer of the universe. After she encounters Satan in the form of a serpent she finds her black flame and heads out to kill Adam and all the world’s creatures. The final, epic, song 'Chaos Reigns' marks the end of the universe as it goes down in fire and blood. Infinite chaos is restored.

4. Your previous album was called 'Là-Bas', do you have an interest in the novel of the same name written by Joris-Karr Huysmans?

Yes, the title was in fact an homage to his novel. It is a hidden little gem in the literature dealing with occult themes from the 1800-hundreds.

 

5. According to the metal archives page the band has been around since  1998 but you waited until 2019 to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

We started the band, made some riffs and half finished songs, took some photos at a graveyard, in corpse paint, covered in blood. But then it never took off. We lived in different cities, had other band priorities and just laid Blodskam to rest. Then Aghora felt the need to do something about it and finished the songs that became Là-Bas in just a weekend’s time. We recorded it in 2014 and finally Suicide Records was able to release it in 2019.

 

6. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Blodskam'?

It is the word for incest in ancient swedish. The feel of the word felt very black metal and since we are brothers, it adds kind of a twisted aspect to that.

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

It was done by artist Jonas A Holmberg. We wanted something different from the debut album (which was also very good and made by Christoffer Engvall) and asked if he wanted to do it. He was given the lyrics and listened to the album and came up with an idea. After some discussions and revisions he ended up with the final artwork. It is great and captures the theme of the album perfectly.

 

8. Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

We will remain a duo, it is the best format for us. The brotherhood is the core of Blodskam.

 

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

Very good, actually. We are maybe not a big name, but we seem to find the right listeners and have received mainly good reviews in magazines and fanzines. 

 

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

The songwriting is not so much a conscious process. We will see what direction it might take! I have my own style in writing and playing the instruments, so it will definitely sound like ”Blodskam”.

 

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?

The band is rooted in 90s' black metal, but the music also is influenced by elements of other genres. We listen to a lot outside metal as well, most of it has some kind of darkness to it though.

 

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

Keep the black spirit alive and support the underground! 

Blodskam on Facebook – facebook.com/blodskamofficial
Instagram – instagram.com/blodskamofficial

Outward/Rays Of The Sun/2022 EP Review

 

  Outward  are  a  band  from  the  Czech  Republic  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Rays  Of  The  Sun".

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  which  also  brings  elements  of  post  rock  into  the  music.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clear  vocals  also  being  added  into  the  recording  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  showing  some  influences  of  post  punk  and  doom  metal.  the  second  track  was  recorded  live  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  On this  recording  Outward  expands  on  the  post  black  metal  style  that  they  introduced  on  the  previous  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  life,  death  and  beyond  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Outward  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Rays  of  The  Sun".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://outwardcz.bandcamp.com/album/mmxx-mmxxii

https://open.spotify.com/album/0MAv19vZmARlmbMmP7zlRH

 

  

Forgjord/Ruumissaarna Pt. 1/Werewolf Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Forgjord  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Ruumissaarna  Pt. 1"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Werewolf  Records.

  Keyboards  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Finnish  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

   Some  of  the  tracks  also  add   in a  small  amount  of  growls  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  introducing  angry  shouts  and  spoken  word  parts  into  the  music,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  the  darker  side  of  man's  nature.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Forgjord  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ihmismielli"  "Ruumis  Enkelton"  and  "Pedon  hetki".  8  out  of  10.

  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/forgjord-ruumissaarna-pt-1.asp  

Demogorgon Interview

 

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

Absolutely. Since the recording and release of the new album, YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD, I have been mostly busy with my regular day job while also planning what I will write for the next album in the DEMOGORGON discography. At the present time, I can't reveal what that will be as it's all just ideas and scraps of riffs that I have written when I pick up the guitar in my home studio. Besides that, I have also spent some time doing some soundtrack work for a project that an old friend of mine has been working on. It's very different to anything I do for DEMOGORGON and the challenge of writing in new styles has been excellent work for my mind.

2.In July you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

If I'm correct, the July release was going to be YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD and was going to be released via my own bandcamp as an independent release before the opportunity to have my music sent to labels arrived. When that chance came up, I removed the album from my bandcamp and waited to hear back from labels.

As for how it differs from what I have released in the past, YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD, is similar in style to three previous releases from DEMOGORGON. These releases are the two E.P's THE ANTI-HUMAN MANIFESTO and FUCK EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU as well as the full length album ANTI. These albums are written very much in the style of CARPATHIAN FOREST, as well as several influences from much of the heavy metal sphere, such as thrash metal, as well as some influences from crust punk music as well.

The first full length I released in DEMOGORGON which was titled THE BURNING LIGHT OF LUCIFER'S TRUTH, was very much inspired by late-era GORGOROTH as well as BEHEMOTH, particularly their album THE SATANIST.

The other two releases in my discography, those being HYMNS OF DAMNATION and FUTILE are both wildly different from any other recording I have done. HYMNS OF DAMNATION was heavily inspired by bands such as DARKTHRONE and BURZUM in terms of sound quality and writing. And the album FUTILE was inspired by various doom metal bands, especially funeral doom as well as some drone here and there.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover satanic topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the black arts?

My interest in the black arts remains purely academic. The idea of Satan in my music very much depends on the mood I am in when writing. It could be used in a more philosophical sense such as many lyrics that appear on THE BURNING LIGHT OF LUCIFERS TRUTH, as use of an aggresor against God and Christians, also from the same album as well as HYMNS OF DAMNATION, FUCK EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU, ANTI, and of course YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD, and also as a God to be truly worshipped, which can be heard on almost any of my releases, except for FUTILE, which remains my only album with no references to Satan in any way.

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

Other topics I have covered with my lyrics have been death, domination (sexual, physical, mental), anti-religion, suicide, depression, and nihilistic hate and blackened intent.

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

I wanted the cover to be pure black so that when someone looked hard enough into it, their reflection would be staring back at them. I wanted to make it clear that the title isn't simply for shock factor. I wanted it clear that whoever picks the album up and looks into it to see themselves truly understands the message and intent of this album and the music within. YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD!

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other musicians in the past, how would you compare the two?

There are pros and cons to both situations. When you work on music on your own, you are free to do whatever you like and without the need to consult or hold back or slow down and wait for others to catch up or understand your intent. This can backfire however if you are unable to know when to stop and simply say to yourself "that's enough, that's how this goes. No more". The downsides to doing everything yourself is that if you become stuck during the writing process, there is no one to bounce ideas off and possibly come up with something that may help the songwriting process move along.

The pros of working with others in a band is that collaboration efforts can produce truly brilliant art, and if you are lucky enough you become firm friends with everyone and it makes the work of writing music far more enjoyable. In even rarer cases, you may find someone who you can write endless music with and almost operate on the same wavelength in all thoughts and ideas. The last band I was in, I was lucky enough to have that connection with most of the members, but most especially the second guitarist.

7.In 20220 you also had released 3 full length's, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music?

In 2020, as we all know, everyone suddenly found themselves with alot of free time thanks to the COVID pandemic. The industry I work in as a day job was one of those industries that was forced to close down and reduce its workforce, so I found myself at home with a lot of free time on my hands. In order to keep myself from going mad, I decided to spend my days writing music of all kinds, and eventually when I picked up the guitar for the first time in a while, I was able to simply pump out one riff after another, one song after another, and after 6 weeks of solid writing, I had written enough material for 3 different albums. I then spent 4-6 weeks recording it all, mixing it, mastering it and then releasing it.

Most often, on my days off work, I will spend several hours in my home studio working on whatever project I happen to have at the time. If I have no real work to do in terms of a music project, I will use the time to simply fool around with my guitar and see if anything comes to me that I can use later down the line. At present I have roughly 2-3 hours of riff scraps and half finished songs in different styles for various projects that I have yet to sit down and attempt to turn into anything serious.

8.Recently you have signed to 'Sliptrick Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

I got in contact with this label through a PR firm who offered to present my latest work to various labels in the hopes of finding me a deal. After a few weeks of waiting anxiously, I was presented with my offers and Sliptrick Records had the most appealing of all the offers and so I did not hesitate to sign with them immediately.

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

It's still very early in all of this, but from the reviews I have read of YOU ARE WORTHLESS AND I WANT YOU DEAD, the reaction has been one that I have greatly appreciated. It is always gratifying to see people truly enjoy something you have worked so hard on. If you have enjoyed what you have heard, I strongly urge you to listen to the rest of my discography.

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

I truly hope that I am able to turn my passion into something that can financially support me so I can spend my days continuing to write and record music.

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

In my personal listening, I spend a lot of time listening to Black Metal, which shouldn't come as a surprise at all. The bands that get the most listening time these days are Mgla, Carpathian Forest, Mayhem and Bathory. I also have been listening to alot of Morbid Angel, SUNN 0))), 1914, Drudkh, Goatsnake, and Heilung.

For work purposes, in so far as doing soundtrack work for my friends project, I've been listening to alot of 80's goth rock, alt-rock, and shoegaze as that is the direction the music for that project is taking.

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

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your interest in my band. I would encourage your readers to follow me on my various social media platforms and to also listen to my discography if you have enjoyed my latest album. Thank you again for your interest in my band. HAIL!

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Wesenwille/III: The Great Light Above/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Ne5therlands's  Wesenwille  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  progressive  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "III:  The  Great  Light  Above"  which  was  released  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  dissonant  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  before  introducing  angry  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording.  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 r aw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  enhance  the  dissonant  side  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  give  the  album  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording,  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  development  of  technology  and  societal  structures,  and  their  continual  transformative  effect  on  human  social  interactions  and  values.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wesenwille  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Revelation  Of  The  Construct"  and  "The  Specular  Gaze".  8  out  of  10.

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Deliverance/Neon Chaos In A Junk-Sick Dawn/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Deliverance  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  psychedelic  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Neon  Chaos  In  A  Junk-Sick  Dawn"  which  will b e  released  in  November  by  les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  psychedelic  sounding  synths  can  also b e  heard  in  certain  parts  of  the  album  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts. Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they   are introduced  on  the  recording.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Electronic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  as  well  as  the  clean  playing  also  adding  in  touches  of  post  rock  when  they  are utilized,  clear  male  and  female  vocals  are  also  brought  into  the  music  briefly  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  personal  views  on  religion  and  life.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Deliverance  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black,  sludge,  death  metal  and  psychedelic  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Venereal"  and  "Fragments  Of  A  Diary  From  Hell".  8  out  of  10.

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Houle/Self Titled/Les Actuers de L'Ombre Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Moule  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a   very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  Nature  orientated  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  All  of  the  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  word  parts  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly 

  Moule  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  mankind's  struggle  with  the  transcendent  and  overwhelming  forces  of  nature.

  In  my  opinion  Moule  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Au  Loin  La  Tempte"  and  "Sous  L  Astre  Noir".  8  out  of  10.

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Acédia/Fracture/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Acédia  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Fracture"  which  was  released  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  vocals  also  being  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.  

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the songs  more  of  a r aw  feeling.  The  riffs  and  leads  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  avant  garde  and  progressive  structures  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  dissonant  moments  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  decent  amount  of  post  black  metal  elements  to  keep  the  recording  in  a  more  modern  direction  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  the  apathetic  nature  of  modern  life  and  the  general  acceleration  of  time.

  In  my  opinion  Acédia  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  and  progressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  fosse"  and  "L'inconnu".  8  out  of  10.

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Nazghor/Seventh Secular Crusade/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Nazghor  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  melodic  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Seventh  Secular  Crusade"  which  will  be  released  in  November.

 Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  vocals  can  also b e  heard  briefly  while  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  are  very  aggressive  sounding  black  metal  screams.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  

  On  this  recording  Nazghor  takes  their  music  into  more  of  a  melodic  and  atmospheric  style  of  satanic  black  metal  as  well  as  remaining  very  fast,  aggressive  and  true  to  the  Swedish  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness,  Death  and  Crusades.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nazghor  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive,  melodic  and  atmospheric  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Massive  Omen  Paradox"  "Beyond  The  Grave"  and  "Seventh  Secular  Crusade".  8  out  of  10.

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Hate Propaganda/World War 666/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2022 EP Re-Issue Review

 

  Hate  Propaganda  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  grindcore,  hardcore  punk  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  ep  "World  War  666"  which  was  re-issued  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.

  Bestial  growls  are  also  utilizes  quite  a  bit  throughout the  ep  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  ad d in  the  brutality  of  grindcore.  The  tracks  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  samples  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording, the  riffing  also  mixes  in  some  touches  of  hardcore  punk  and  thrash  metal  and  the  music  also  always  remains  very  raw,  heavy  and  brutal  sounding.

  Hate  Proipaganda  plays  a  style  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal  that  also  mixes  in  elements  of  grind,  hardcore  punk  and  thrash  metal  as  well  as  showing  you  can  also  be  very  brutal  sounding  without  the  use  of  blast  beats.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  war  and  apocalyptic  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Hate  Propaganda  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  mixture  of   war,  black,  and  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  grind,  hardcore  punk  and  thrash  metal  and  if   you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "World  war  666"  and  "Welcoming  The  Nuclear  War  With  Open  Arms".  8  out  of  10.

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