Fimbulvet Interview

 

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

I have to digress a bit for that. FIMBULVET has not been able to play any concerts since the end of 2017 because two members left the band. However, I already had most of the material for the new album ready. After some changes in my private life, I made the decision at the end of 2020 to finally record the new album. Everything was recorded in mid-2021 and I held the Master in my hands. Happy, proud and satisfied, I didn't have the urge to hand it over to the public. I kept it to myself for about a year before I made the further decision to release it in 2023, the year of the band's 20th anniversary, in cooperation with EINHEIT PRODUKTIONEN and TROLLZORN. Until then it wasn't even clear to me to reactivate FIMBULVET for the stage at all. This thought only came up in autumn 2022. Steffen on bass is still on board. For the free guitarist position, I was able to enable Christian again, who had left in 2017. Max from SURTURS LOHE and VARUS supports me on the drums. From the rehearsals so far I can say that the live set has never been better than it is now.

2.You have a new album coming out towards the end of April, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It's decidedly darker. This is certainly due to the accompanying lyrics and the influence of bands whose music I've been listening to for about a decade. In addition, I played drums in a progressive metal band (THE UNCHALLENGED) from 2014 to 2018, which was certainly also formative for the new album.

3.This is also your first album of newer music since 2014, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during this time frame?

In fact, I already started composing the first riffs for "PORTALE" in 2014. However, shortly afterwards our debut album "EWIGER WINTER" was sold out and we released a double re-release together with our second album "DER RUF IN GOLDENE HALLEN". This compilation is called "HEIDENHERZ". On it you can find some re-recordings of songs from both albums. This interrupted the process at PORTALE. The compilation came out in 2016. At the end of 2017 my guitarist and drummer left the band. As I mentioned at the beginning, there were some upheavals in my private life that made it difficult for me to keep up FIMBULVET. Additionally, I'm also the frontman of SURTURS LOHE, which is where I've continued to put my energy. Those were the reasons why FIMBULVET didn't go on at first. Nevertheless, I kept working on the new album and beyond. In 2020 we recorded a new album with SURTURS LOHE. And as a result, I decided to record PORTALE as well. By then, however, the lyrics hadn't even been written. Nevertheless, I already recorded the songs there. The vocals I recorded about 2 months later after I finished the lyrics.

At this point I would also like to mention again that in autumn 2022 it turned out that the new album will not only be released by EINHEIT PRODUKTIONEN, but also by TROLLZORN. That was an extremely fortunate coincidence, for which I am very grateful.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Paganism and Heathenism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

I dealt with the subject of paganism and its customs very early on. The first thing that I liked was the idea of multiple gods. So everyone has the possibility to possibly identify with or believe in one or more gods. The humanity and fallibility in the deities appealed to me greatly. Furthermore, paganism is (at least to me) much more than believing in old gods, emulating them and living their traditions. It means to be free in spirit. And that is something that is not so easy in modern times. But I digress...

In the past I wrote a lot about these deities, their experiences, traditions and adventures. But sometime between 2014 and 2020 I realized that I have my own "adventure". It's called "life". And that's exactly the crux of the lyrics of the new album. It's not that I've lost interest in so-called paganism. No, just the opposite. It's just that it's much more important to me now to celebrate this paganism based on my thoughts and experiences. As I said, to be free in spirit. Nature still plays a very important role in this, which is again shown to advantage in the new song "PATRON DES LEBENS".

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

FIMBULVET is a term from Norse mythology and means ETERNAL/ HUGE WINTER. The Fimbulvet consists of three winters, each more severe than the previous one, and is one of the omens of the Twilight of the Gods, it‘s called Ragnarök.

When I was thinking about a name for the band back then, I wanted it to have something powerful in its meaning, but not be immediately obvious.

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

The cover shows a person walking towards a portal. A creature hovers above it. It looks like it wants something bad. But creature and person are one and the same being. Through the portal, the person can see another self, but does not recognize it as that at first.

The person as such is a human being adjusted to the system of society. Someone who does things as they are told. So the creature shows that person's alter ego. Strong, free, independent, impressive. If the person is brave enough to go through this portal and face their alter ego, they will be able to gain all that strength. He will realize that you don't have to be subordinate to any class and that you are ultimately responsible for your own happiness.

The burning forest, the dark branches and the night on the cover are meant to represent the difficulty of finding such a portal. It is one of the most difficult undertakings to go into yourself, to reflect and to make decisions that are drastic. Dealing with yourself, your past and present.

7.With this release you recorded everything by yourself but had a whole band on previous releases, are you open to working with other musicians again or do you prefer to work solo?

In fact, I've always mixed in with the other instruments on past albums. That's because I'm interested in all the instruments and have also played each of these instruments in different bands. That's why when I'm composing, I already have a relatively precise plan of how which instrument should be arranged. So now I determine the composition for each instrument myself. And since I've been able to develop my skills on every instrument over the past few years and I didn't have the right companions to record anyway, I made all the recordings myself.

However, I also like to accept input from other musicians. For example, it was very important to me that the producer "Markus Stock", who recorded, mixed and mastered PORTALE, always gave me his feedback. Not in the basic composition, but in certain parts it made the songs even more rounded. Also "Hannes", who was still on the drums until 2017, gave me valuable input and helped design 3 songs of PORTALE.

Basically I have to say, too many cooks spoil the broth. And PORTALE shows me that it's better if I basically take the compositions into my own hands. As I said, a certain input from the outside can also be refreshing – to a certain extent. As far as playing the instruments is concerned, I will act alone in the future as well. It just makes me more independent.

8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance/

The first thing that always comes to mind is the 2009 show in Glauchau with Turisas. Turisas were on tour and had a club gig in Glauchau. They were looking for a support act for this. Then we were allowed to do it. That was very special. Otherwise, the 2012 EU tour with MENHIR and THRUDVANGAR was very memorable, as was the 2013 EU tour with FINSTERFORST and ODROERIR. On this tour we also performed our song "Heidenherz" live for the first time together with "Natalie Nebel", who also sang the song in the recording studio. We were also allowed to headline the Barther Metal Open Air in 2013. That wasn't the plan at first. We were supposed to play there anyway, but when the then headliners MENHIR canceled at short notice, we got the slot. For us it was a great thing.

We've been told many times that we're a live band. Our concerts are always very energetic. We always give everything for a good show and of course we want to reach the audience with our music and our performance. That's why we think a lot about stage outfits and stage decorations. This also applies to our upcoming shows for 2023. Playing live is a lot of fun for us and I think it shows.

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

Pagan Black Metal is a subgenre. A “worldwide” response is difficult to trace. We already have listeners from all over the world, which also makes me very proud. But as a German-speaking band, most reactions focus on Central Europe. We come from the state of Thuringia and are therefore located in the sub-subgenre "Thuringian Pagan Metal". This division is a kind of brand name. Similar to bands from the "True Norwegian Black Metal". So it is already a term for many people when it is said that this band comes from Thuringia. Nevertheless, of course we do our very own music. Having a unique selling proposition is difficult in a time when there are more bands than fans. But I think we've been able to work that out over the years and I've often been very enthusiastic about the reactions. The current reactions to the upcoming album, which hasn't even been released yet, are already outstanding in my opinion.

10.What is going on with 'Surturs Lohe' these days?

Just as there was a time of upheaval for me, when one concentrated more on private life, there is also that at SURTURS LOHE. But that doesn't mean that work isn't going on in the background. There are concerts planned for 2023 and maybe one or the other new piece will already be composed. There are definitely plans and we are already working on the implementation.

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

I would like to play more abroad to increase the international awareness of the band. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with where I'm at right now. I've tried a lot in the last 15 years. So today I know what I want and where the journey should go. I am very happy with my two bands and would like to continue writing music for them.

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

As I mentioned above, I've been dealing with melodic death metal and also progressive metal for the last 10 years. However, from time to time I also make “excursions” back into pagan and black metal. Just the other day I was in the car listening to a couple of albums by the sadly defunct “MOURNING ENDS”. Still great. Otherwise, I'm currently listening to In Flames, Nevermore, Ne Obliviscaris, Septicflesh, Arch Enemy, The Spirit.

Due to my job, I also deal a lot with pop, RnB and rock music, as I am a music teacher. There are also some pearls to be found there, even for fans of the harder pace.

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

I am very happy that I was able to bring you closer to me, FIMBULVET and the new album PORTALE. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I'm waiting for things and I'm very excited about the further reactions to the new album, which will be released on April 28th, 2023. Also, I would like to thank all the fans and listeners of FIMBULVET for the support and also everyone who took the time to read this interview.

https://youtu.be/pOg6Ib7B_NE

WinterheartH/Rape Of Eden/2023 Full Length Review

 

  WinterheartH  are  a  band  from  St.  John's,  Newfoundland  and  Labrador,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Rape  Of  Eden"  which  will b e  released  on  March  21st.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  before  going  into  a  heavier direction.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  a  few  death  metal  growls.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  modern  and  old  school  influences  as  well a s  one  song  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  plants  and  how  they  will  destroy  the  human  body  and  soul.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  WinterheartH  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Scarlet  Love(&  A  Black  Heart)"  and  "Wormwood". 8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/LvSnnkeIOl4

www.facebook.com/winterhearthmetal

www.instagram.com/winterhearthmetal

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xvmOIV0pdkOTR9JgJIGcW

https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/winterhearth/1147404495

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo5LLm5MLipd5kGP7sEgBUA

https://winterhearthmetal.bandcamp.com/

Email: winterhearthband@gmail.com         

Nethermancy/Worship Evil Sacrifice/Helldprod Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Nethermancy  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  old  school, occult  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  o0f  their  2023  album  "Worship  Evil  Sacrifice"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Helldprod  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of  the  album  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  

  On  this  recording  Nethermancy  remains  true  to  the  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Satanism,  Mysticism,  Anti  Christianity  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nethermancy  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Fall  of  Man"  and  "Satanic  Black  Mass".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/Nethermancy

Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Youtube  

Obšar/R.U.N.E/Tryzna Production/2018 Full Length Review

 

  Obšar  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  folk  inspired  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "R.U.N.E"  which  was  released  by  Tryzna  Production

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  Keyboards  can  also  be  heard  in  certain sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  growls  and  high  pitched  screams  while  also  utilizing  a  semi  melodic  tone  at  times.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  some  pagan  choirs  and  chants  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts,  when  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Ruthenian  and  cover  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  album  from  Obšar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  influenced  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dračiny"  "Čorniny"  and  "Za  semero  horami".  8 out  of  10.

https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/r-u-n-e-full-length-2018    

Atanas/Enitharmon/Tyzna Production/2019 Full Length Review

 

  Atanas  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Enitharmon"  which  was  released  by  Tyzna  Production.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  vocals  also  have  their  deep  and  grim  moments  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  as  well  as  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  sorrow,  melancholy,  solitude  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Atanas  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veins  Of  The  Void"  and  "Crimson  Moonlight".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/enitharmon-full-length-2019    

  

Krajiny Hmly/Poza Čierne Hory/Tryzna Production/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Krajiny  Hmly  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Poza  Čierne  Hory"  which  was  released  by  Tryzna  Production.

  Thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  briefly.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  mid  90's  influences  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds,  throat  singing,  acoustic  guitars  and  ritualistic  percussion  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Slovak  and  cover  Paganism,  Spirituality,  Nature  and  Sadness  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Krajiny  Hmly  are  a  very  great  sounding  pagan  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vo  svetle  rannej  hviezdy"  "Mohyly"  and  "O  skalách,  búrke  a  večnom plameni".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/poza-ierne-hory-full-length-2021     

  

Cressert/Obscurantism/Tryzna Production/2021 Full Length Review

 

 

   Cressert  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  a  very  raw,  melodic,  old  school  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Obscurantism"  which  was  released  by  Tryzna  Production.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  growling  style  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  death  emtal.

  When  keyboards  are  utilized  they  also give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  high  pitched  screams  can  also b e  heard  at  times.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and fast  parts  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  remaining  true  to  an  old  school  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  having  their  melodic  moments,  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  medieval,  idolatry  and  fanatism  themes.         

  In  my  opinion  Cressert  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic,  old  school  and  raw  black  metal  band  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rapture"  and  "Nameless  Idolatry". 8  out  of  10.

  https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/obscurantism-full-length-2021

Dimonsium Chaotic/Nebulous And Vileness Stars/Tryzna Production/2021 Compilation Review

 

  Dimonsium  Chaotic  are  a  duo  from  Slovakia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  compilation  album  "Nebulous  And  Vileness  Stars"  which  was released  by  Tryzna  Production  and  consists  of  their  2008  demo  "Demoltia  Universa"  and  2012  album  "Labyrinthum  Nebulae".

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  compilation  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  ad d in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can be   heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  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  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  era  along  with  one  song  being  an  instrumental  and  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album.  Symphonic  touches  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  they  also  bring  in  some  Darkthrone  and  Impaled  Nazarene  covers.

 The  demo  songs  have  a  more  raw  approach  but  showing  what  was  going  to  evolve  on  later  releases.  Growls  can  also b e  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  demo  tracks  as  well  as  the  music  also  showing  more  of  a  Norwegian  influence  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  on  the  full length  and  more  old  school  on  the  demo  while  the  lyrics  cover  Cosmos,  Chaos,  Satanism  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dimonsium  Chaotic  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Abysmal  Dimension"  "Detrimentum  Hypocrita"  "Domoltia  Universa"  and  "Last  Groin  of  Jesus  Christ".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/nebulous-and-vileness-stars-compilation-2021            

Machina Baphometa/Shame Of The Proud Angel/Tryzna Production/2021 EP Review

 

  Machina  Baphometa  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Shame  Of  The  Proud  Angel"  which  was  released  by  Tryzna  Production.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clear  vocals  and  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumentals.   Ritualistic  bells,  percussion and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  as  the  ep  progresses  and  also  has  a  more  dominating  presence  taking  the  music  into  a  different  direction. 

  Machina  Baphometa  brings  in  3  aggressive  and  melodic  occult  black  metal  tracks  in  the  beginning  and  goes  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  and  acoustic  direction  on  later  songs  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Thelema,  Wotanism,  Darkness  and  Anti  Humanity  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Machina  Baphometa  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  occult  black  emtal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carpathian  Night"  and  "Ode  To  Crowley".  8/5  out  of  10.

 https://tryznaproduction.bandcamp.com/album/shame-of-the-proud-angel-ep-2021  

Jack Clubb/Promises Decay & Other Monstrosities/2023 Book Review

 

  Jack  Clubb  is  a  horror  author  and  black  metal  musician  that  has  had  a  book  reviewed  before  in this  zine  and  also  is  a  part  of  'Mortal  Vail'  a  musical  project  that  has  also  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  novel  "Promises  Decay  &  Other  Monstrosities"  which  consists  of  5  short  occult  horror  stories   which  will  be  released  on  February  25th  and  we  will  review  every  story.

  "Obsidian  Mirror"

  The  story  starts  out  with  a  quote  from  Friedrich  Nietzsche  before  going  into  the  story  which  also  starts  out  very  dark.  The  story  also  starts  out  with  two  passengers  in  the  car  looking  for  their  destination  which  also  shows  them  driving  during  nighttime  and  the  story  also  brings  in  a  very  occult  orientated  atmosphere.

  The  story  also  captures  the  suspense  of  a  classic  horror  novel  while  also  explaining  the  drams  of  one  of  the  main  characters  before  he  wakes  up  and  has  a  conversation  with  his  friend  the  other  main  character  in  the  story.  and  one  of  them  also  works  as  a  tattoo  artist  which  is  explained  more  when  he  talks  to  a  female  that  is  interested  in  his  artwork.

      A  levitating  man  or  ghost  is  also  mentioned  as  one  the  supernatural  elements  in  the  story while  the  people  in  the  town  also  give  you  the  vibe  of  an  unfriendly  small  town  which  also  gets  expanded  on  in  the  second  chapter.  The  small  town  where  the  story  takes  place  also  seems  to  be  behind  in  technology. 

  The  second  chapter  expands  on  the  female  character  that  also  becomes  a  very  huge  part  of  the  story  as  well  as  adding  in  a  more  romantic  dimension.  The  third  chapter  also  shows  the  story  going  more  of  a  dark  and  more  suspenseful  direction  while  also  adding  in  more  gore,  supernatural  and  horror  touches.

  In  later  chapters  the  story  starts  progressing  into  more  of  a  haunted  ghost  story  mixed  in  with  more  of  an  occult  twist.  After  awhile  the  writing  starts  adding  in  more  violence  while  also  adding  in  more  murders  along  with  the  mention  of  more  shamanistic  rituals  as  well  as  adding  in  some  goetic  demons  which  also  gives  the  story  more  left  hand  path  and  black  magick  touches.

  A  lot  of  the  story  writing  like  a  classic  horror  story  that  was  written  in  the  early  80's  along  with  the  murders  also  starting  to  go  into  more  of  a  violent  direction  One  of  the  main  serial  killers  is  also  a  female  and  the  story  also  has  a  very  dark  ending  to  it.

  "Drawn  &  Quartered"

  The  story  starts  out  with  a  quote  from  Lucius  Annaeus  before  going  into  a  radio  station  where  a  talk  radio  show  is  taking  place.  A  few  pages  into  the  first  chapter  the  writing  also  starts  adding  in  more  suspense  and  the  show  that  is  presented  on  the  radio  also  brings  in  more  of  a  creepy  vibe.

  Touches  of  Greek  Mythology  can  also  be  seen  in  some  of  the  writing  along  with  the  story  also  taking  place  in  other  areas  than  the  radio  station.  Most  of  the  setting  also  seems  to  take  place  in  Midwestern  United  States  while  the  main  character  also  has  some  very  violent  nightmares  involving  murder.

  The  story  also  makes  a  mention  of  a  virus  that  is  spreading  around  while  one  of  the  creatures  also  seems  to  be  human.  As  the  writing  progresses  the  story  also  adds  in  more  crime  before  adding  in  more  of  a  romantic  touch  from  more  of  a  teenagers  perspective  before  the  setting  changes  to  a  hospital.

  In  the  second  part  of  the  story  the  writing  also  starts  going  into  more  of  a  different  direction  while  still  remaining  very  violent  at  the  same  time.  There  is  also  a  good  amount  of  suspense  and  blood  that  also  leads  to  finding  a  dead  body  and  as  the  second  part  progresses  the  writing  goes  into  more  of  a  horror  orientated  direction.

  The  dead  body  found  in  the  first  part  of  the  story  returns  in  an  astral  body  as  a  ghost  before  more  deaths  start  to  happen.  A  lot  of  the  writing  also  changes  around  to  focus  on  different  characters  that  are  also  a  part  of  the  story  and  in  the  third  part  the  writing  starts  adding  more  of  an  occult  atmosphere.

  The  luciform  also  connects  this  story  with  the  previous  one  reviewed  as  will  as  seeming  to  be  influenced  by  both  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft  and  Occult  studies.  A  lot  of  the  writing  also  shows  some  touches  of  a  very  violent  horror  movie  that  was  released  in  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  and  the  story  has  a  very  unhappy  ending.

  "Pushing  Daisies"

  The  story  starts  out  with  a  quote  from  Emily  Dickinson  before  introducing  the  main  female  character  who  also  lives  in  a  trailer  court.  The  writing  also  describes  the  person  as  a  heavy  chain  smoker  that  also  has  a  lot  of  stress  and  anxiety  issues  and  after  awhile  a  serial  killer  also  starts  making  his  presence  more  known.

  As  the  story  progresses  the  writing  starts  adding  in  more  suspense  along  with  the  serial  killer  seeming  to  be  protected  by  the  police.  The  story  also  shows  a  change  of  pace  when  more  male  characters  are  introduced  into  the  setting  before  adding  in  more  of  a  horror  direction  and  the  serial  killer  turns  out  to  not  be  a  human.

  The  serial  killer  is also  a  Seraphim  that  also  has  a  chainsaw  with  him  as  well  as  the  female  character  also  turning  out  to  be  a  lesbian  that  works  in  Health  Care.  Hallucinations  are  also  very  common  in  this  story  and  a  dead  woman  with  a  bullet  in  her  head  also  shows  up  briefly  and  one  of  the  main  characters  also  goes  out  of  her  way  to  make  sure  no  children  are  harmed  before  dying  towards  the  end  and  being  picked  up  by  a  seraphim.

    "Promises  Decay".

  The  story  starts  out  with  a  quote  by  Edgar  Allan  Poe  before  describing  a  dream  where  one  of  the  characters  id  also  floating  around  before  adding  in  more  of  an  occult  horror  atmosphere.  A  lot  of  the  writing  also  shows  an  influence  of  H.P  Lovecraft  while  some  of  the  setting  is  also  added  in  a  graveyard  briefly.

  At  times  the  story  also  adds  in  a  realistic  approach  before  returning  back  to  a  horror  orientated  direction.  A  lot  of  the  story  captures  a  classic  atmosphere  mixed  in  with  more  modern  technology  before  the  story  goes  back  into  the  past  describing  a  college  setting  before  returning  back  to  the  modern  era  and  getting  more  violent.

 A  lot  of  the  setting  also  takes  place  in  a  dream  world  while  some  of  the  writing  takes  the  classic  style  of  Edgar  Allan  Poe  and  Marquis  De  Sade  and  takes  it  into  more  of  a  modern  direction.  The  main  creature  in  this  story  is  also  reptilian  in  appearance  and  the  modern  day  phone  scams  and  apps  are  also  taking  into  more  of  a  disturbing  horror  direction  mixed  in  with  more  occult  and  metaphysical  touches  as  well  as  retaining  the  funeral  home  atmosphere  that  is  a  very  huge  part  of  the  scenes  being  described  and  the  story  ends  with  a  very  unhappy  twist.

  "Last Rites" 

  The  story  starts  out  with  a  quote  from  Thomas  Harris  before  slowly  evolving  into  more  of  an  occult  horror  story.  A  lot  of  the  writing  also  brings  in  more  of  a  necromantic  setting  while  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  supernatural  creatures  and  the  gore  is  also  more  fast  paced  than  the  previous  stories  reviewed.

  After  awhile  the  writing  also  starts  adding  in  more  realistic  touches  while  one  of  the  female  characters  also  seems  to  be  possessed  by  Lilith.  A  lot  of  the  story  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  really  dark  horror  film  as  well  as  adding  in  some  ingenious  shamanistic  touches  as  the  story  progresses  and  the  last  rites  is  also  played  out  like  a  game  and  the  story  has  a  very  violent  and  gory  ending.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  collection  of  short  stories  from  Jack  Clubb  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of   gothic,  occult  and  horror  novels,  you  should  read  this  anthology.  8/5  out  of  10.

 

  

    

   

     

https://www.facebook.com/mortalvail/

    

    

    

Haissem/A.C.T-Ad CorTenebrarum/Tragedy Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Ukraine's  solo  project  Haissem  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "A.C.T-Ad  Cor  Tenebrarum"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Tragedy  Productions.  

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  synths  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling  when t hey  are utilized,  death  metal  growls  also  be  heard  at  times.

  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  Classical  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  one  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can be   heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  At  times  the album  also  gets  progressive  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Haissem  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  progressive  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Amalgam"  and  "Purgatoreal".  8 out  of  10.

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Haissem/A Sleep Of Primeval Ignorance/Satanath Records/Exhumed Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  album  from  Ukraine's  solo  project  Haissem  which  showed  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  meta  and  the  album  was  released  in  2022  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath  and  Exhumed  Records  and  called  "A  Sleep  of  Primeval  Ignorance"

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  faster  sections  of   the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  some  symphonic  touches  when  they  are  utilized,  orchestration,  Gregorian  chants  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Haissem  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shade  Upon  The  Forsaken  Grave"  and  "At  The  Trail  To  Devastated  Infinity".  8  out  of  10.

https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat338-haissem-a-sleep-of-primeval-ignorance-2022    

Uvod/Self Titled/Atra Anduin Records/2023 EP Review

 

  Uvod  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  and  2023  ep  which  was  released  by  Atra  Anduin  Records..

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  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  one  song  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording  and  the  songs  also add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.

  Uvod  plays  a style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  atmospheric  and  melodic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  darkness,  death  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Uvod  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Погибель  деревень  русских"  and  "Чаша".  8  out  of  10.

https://musicalligator.link/uvod2023

https://uvod.bandcamp.com/releases

Heretic Cult Redeemer/Flagellum Universalis/Ill Damnation/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Heretic  Cult  Redeemer  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Flagellum  Universalis"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Ill  Dmnation.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  riffing  also  going  more  of  a  dissonant  direction  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  tp  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also being  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  dissonant  style.

  Semi  melodic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well a s  the  vocals  also  going  more  of  an  angry  shouting  direction  at  times  and  the  music  also  has  its  technical  moments  and  orchestral  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Eosphoric  self-knowledge,  Luciferian  and  Promethean  teachings.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Heretic  Cult  Redeemer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lunar  Reign  -  Lunar  Apogee"  "The  Woven  Chords  of  Ecstasy"  and  "Eyes  of  The  Saturnian  Dawn".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://iii-damnation.bandcamp.com/album/curse-074-flagellum-universalis

www.facebook.com/Heretic-Cult-Redeemer-108482089276374

Sever/At Midnight, By Torch Light/Iron Bonehead Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Sever  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  synth  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "At  Midnight,  By  Torch  Light"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Iron  Bonehead  Productions.

  A  very  fast  and r aw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while t he  riffs  also  add  in  a great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in t h e 90's  era  while  the  vocals  also  have  their  deep  and  grim  moments.  Synths  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Sever  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  old  school  and  synth  orientated  in  the  mid  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  chaos  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sever  are  a  very  great  sounding  synth  orientated  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lunar  Sacrifice"  and  "Eastern  Boar".  8 out  of  10.

  http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/sever-abyssonaut      

Thysia Interview

 

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

Thysia have been living for at least two years but, of course, issues linked to this shallow age of pestilence have slowed down all our activities a lot. Nefasto first collected a few riffs along a style reminiscent of CRAFT, TANGORODRIM, early MAYHEM and so forth. At first Nefasto tried to play and sing over the songs but the vocals weren't sounding alright at all, so Mrak joined in on vocals and completed the line-up with Mistyr on drums and Nihil on bass.

2.You have a new album coming out in April, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

“Islands in Cosmic Darkness” is our very first offering. It's a step into the certainty of death as well as an affirmation of the power of darkness. Musically speaking, it's got many twists but also a big focus on the riffs. We aim at giving a clear, well-honed take of what and where we are on a sonic level at the moment.

3.Most of the band members also have experience playing in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Thysia' that you where not able to do with your previous groups?

Thysia is a vehicle to manipulate sounds we are all attracted by. Our precise intention is to craft something different than what you hear in our other projects of the present and the past, albeit there might be a bunch of subliminal connections here and there. It's not a problem, though. You are what you are and you can't escape your inner nature.

4.Some of the band members also have a background playing in death and doom metal bands. how would you compare the black metal style of this band to the other genres of metal that you have experience working with?

It's a matter of atmosphere. It's all there is, really, no matter the subgenre you're playing. Metal with no atmosphere is completely and utterly useless. You get profoundly dark vibrations off early CELTIC FROST, TROUBLE, NECROVORE, KVIST, DREAM DEATH or Obsessed by Cruelty-era SODOM, but they're all different, aren't they? In the end, it's got to evoke something from beyond. If it doesn't, it's a failure.

5.A lot of your lyrics cover Greek Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Nefasto is pretty much into that and has been digging it for years. He plays in Assumption, a band which featured some Aeschilus-influenced, Promethean-themed tunes in 2018 already (on the Absconditus album). He's from Sicily, a land where the Greek civilization first established itself as a major force in the VIII century b.C., and you can definitely feel the link with the greatness of this past if you travel across the region. Not a lot of the lyrics on the album deal with this subject but there definitely is an influence on three songs, i.e. Psallo, Phrenes and Scorched Bronze Earth. Sometimes the past is re-imagined and serves as a vehicle for pure elaboration, so you'll have to look deep inside to find out your own way through this imagery.

6.I know that the bands name means 'ritual sacrifice ' in Greek, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

It's pretty evident that our sound is, by all means, a ritual sacrifice. It's dark, sharp and violent.

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

Our bass player drew that one and took care of all the graphic work and layouts. It's a representation of our sound, in a way: snakes intertwining deep into the abyss. He has also elaborated a three-parts story in three images that will be unveiled in the future. They represent the quest for a place where man can meet the divinity, but ultimately the only god man finds is death itself.

8.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

Yes, Thysia will perform live on selected occasions.

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

We don't know, the album hasn't been released yet.

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

Messa and Assumption are the most active ones, both live and in the studio. Bottomless have a new album coming out later in 2023, same goes for Becerus. Mistyr is deeply involved in a heavy-duty live schedule with Messa and more is coming on the live front with Nefasto's Shrieking Demons, too.

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

We are not scared to use whatever it takes to make Thysia's music as threatening as ever. Still, it's a black metal band at its core and we will never take that element out.

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?

Some were listed above, but I'd surely add DARKTHRONE, BATHORY, early ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON, The Shining Pentagram-era NECRODEATH, PENTAGRAM (Chile), very early SATYRICON, HELLHAMMER.

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

Worship the void.

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