Monday, December 23, 2024

Cursed Cemetery/Magma Transmigration/Dusktone/2024 Full Length Review

 


   Cursed  Cemetery  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  ritualistic  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Magma  Transmigration"  which  was  released  by  Dusktone.


  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  funeral  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clear  ritualistic  chants  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs along  with  most  of  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  has  its  repetitive  moments.  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  guitar  amp  effects  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  the  songs  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  towards  the  end.


  On  this  recording  Cursed  Cemetery  takes  an  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  ritualistic  form  of  funeral  doom  metal  to  create  a  very  dark,  heavy  and  slow  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  suicide,  occultism,  physical  and  mental  torture.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cursed  Cemetery  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  ritualistic  black  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Magma  Transmigration"  and  "Udva".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067334137278

Goatflesh/Self Titled/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Goatflesh  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  and  self  titled  2024  album.


  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  bestial  growls  and  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast, raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  lot  of  the  music  shows  an  influence  of  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.  Most  of  the  riffing  is  also  done  on  power  chords  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  angry  shouts  and  synths  and  all  of  the  songs  also  avoid  the  use  of  any  solos  or  leads.


  Goatflesh  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  classic  era  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti  Christianity,  Blasphemy,  Occultism,  War,  Death  and  hatred  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Goatflesh  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Primal  Sanctify"  "Goatlord  Revelation"  "Nuclear  Aftermath  Morbid  Chant"  and  "God  of  Pyre".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/r1hewu00UFA?si=g8WbR-MFoeJ7XI1A&t=1148

https://www.facebook.com/goatflesh/

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Asacris interview

 


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


The project was born in my mind back in 2014. At that time, I had already started to think about it and to compose something, but I didn't think about it seriously. And only a couple of years later, when I had grown up musically and was ready to move from thoughts to actions, I realized that I could try to publish some tracks. And in 2020, I recorded an EP called «Tabula Rasa». And at that time, the project was called "Night By Day Light". You can check it out on my Bandcamp!

The lyrics in «Tabula Rasa» were in English because at that time I was trying to focus on Western and European artists. Even now I prefer foreign music more than music in my native language. Because I grew up and was brought up as a musician, listening to foreign performers. But years later I realized that it is much easier for me to write lyrics and convey ideas to the listener in my native language.

Now «Asacris» is a melodic black metal project that combines melody and aggressive sound, which in my opinion allows for more accurate expression of deep emotions and experiences in their radical form.


2.Recently you have released a new full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?


Well, as I said above, the lyrics became in Russian. In addition to the language, the content of the lyrics also changed as a result of changes in the concept and creativity. A rethinking and musical approach brought changes in general, so the changes also affected the lyrics. As for the musical part, I think it has become more melodic and technical.


3.The project has been around since 2014 but so far there has only been an ep an one full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the long delay in between releases?


Probably the key thing is some life circumstances. Also, at some point I had financial difficulties, and the realization of quality music in our country takes a lot of money. But from now on I hope that, when possible, I will please my listeners more often and there will be no more such long pauses.


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


Previously, the lyrics were typical black metal lyrics, with some occult touches and reflections on chaosophy, the left-hand path and the like.

At the moment, the lyrics represent something more in my understanding, because they are deeper and touch upon personal experiences. It also touches on broader psychological and personal aspects. Biblical motifs and even ancient Greek myths have become part of the current lyrics. Some lyrics are a kind of narrative, for example the track «Гибельная Грань» is a tale of Cain and his betrayal. And such a track as the «Мёртвое Царство» tells the story of a man who left this world, he goes along the Styx River flowing in the underground kingdom of Hades. Where he is ferried by Erebus, which is the personification of eternal darkness, and Nyx - the goddess of the night. And then, waking up, he realizes that he is among the living and it was all just illusion.


5.Origianlly the project was known as 'Night By Daylight', what was the cause of the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Asacris'?


The reason for changing the name was that I myself have undergone significant changes on a personal level. I changed my approach, changed my view and rethought everything. That is why the title "Tabula Rasa" in the EP 2020 has now sparkled with new colors. The debut work of 2020 was a blank slate, which was reflected in the title "Tabula Rasa". Our human individual is born without innate or built-in mental content, that is, a blank slate. His knowledge resource is entirely built from experience and sensory perception. For example, for the ancient Romans, "tabula rasa" meant an empty space. "To make tabula rasa out of something" is equivalent to reducing something to nothing. Literally - a clean, scraped board, that is, an empty board. Accordingly - in fact, I have not said or done anything until today! I just opened an empty board!

Asacris means "rejected" (from the shrine) in Latin. I realized that this name resonates in my heart, my character, my personality and in my mind. It's a reflection of my experience and thoughts.


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


The cover is the personification of the fact that even if you were pierced three times through, but there is still light in you that you are able to bring to this world. And even death that raised its scythe over you, and the snake and original sin tempt you, you still don't need to give up...


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


I compose music and lyrics by myself, and of course record vocals. For the rest I resort to the help of session musicians.


8.The new album was released through 'Atra Anduin Records', how di you get on contact with this label?


I got to know «Atra Anduin Records» through mutual friends and acquaintances. And I want to express special gratitude to the leader of "Atra Haeresis" Alexander Dorokhin, who helped me with this release.

But I was released there only in digital format. I have a plan to be released on CD in the spring 2025. Negotiations are already underway with another label for these purposes.


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


It is difficult to answer this question at this moment because too little time has passed to collect any statistics. I would give a more specific answer to this question some time later. And if we take the reaction that I have already heard from listeners, then in general this reaction is positive.


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


The future is something you create with your own hands. If you give up, you give in to fate. Believe in yourself and you can build the future you want. The future must be laid in the present. It's called a plan. Without it, nothing in the world can be good. Therefore, I see only growth, progress and a plan to move forward!


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?


Oddly enough, this is the most difficult question and it’s very difficult to give a specific answer to it, because there are a huge number of bands and styles that influenced me. Starting from the second wave of Norwegian black metal, ending with popular alternative music.

Despite my strict adherence to black metal as a musician, as a listener I can listen to anything and be inspired by it. In any musical style you can find inspiration and learn something!

If I were to single out something from black metal that I really liked in recent years, I would highlight: "Watain - The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain", "A.M.S.G. - Hostis Universi Generis", "Paragon Impure - Sade", "Regarde Les Hommes Tomber - Ascension" and "Behemoth - Opvs Contra Natvram" - interesting work. And finally, I will probably add to the list what I listened to most recently, "Nocturnal Depression - Perpétuelle éclipse Nocturnal Depression", especially the track "Waltzing Among Graves", this is truly something incredible! The list could go on for a very long time, but I'll stop here.

1

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


Music is the language of the soul. It reveals the secret of life, bringing peace and eliminating discords. Music expresses what cannot be expressed in words and what cannot be kept silent about.

It is a way of life, a way of thinking, it is a tool for expressing life and everything that matters! I wish freedom and love to everyone, especially to those who have not yet found themselves - do it! Do your will, do not listen to anyone, do not look for authorities, obey only the inner voice, go forward at all costs and you will reach your goals! Let this be the law, and love under your will is the key to open all doors!

https://nightbydaylight.bandcamp.com/album/-

Naked Whipper Interview

 

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


1.Nothing new happened since the recordings for the album which is done during second half of 2024,I think everyone who was involved to that did a great job.


2.You have a new album coming out early in 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


2.Musically I have not changed that much, it's natural when having a new line up that sounds a bit different to the releases from first NW aeon but you simply find out it's the typical NW style nowadays.


3.The band also took a long break for almost 30 years, what was the decision behind ending the hiatus and coming out with newer music?


3.I got a long time of abstinence and was not possible for me due to special reasons continuing the band, so the the idea to restart came much more earlier and now we have exactly 3 decades of nothingness since the release of Painstreaks.


4.In the early 90's you where playing a musical style that was very different and also more aggressive and underground then what most bands where playing at the time, do you feel you had an influence on some of the more extreme bands that came out years later?


4.May be you're right with that, but in the past NW was not this much popular than several other bands getting bigger to the years which was more focused to them for extreme influences to younger bands.


5.Some of your lyrics cover Satanic, Occult and Anti Christianity themes, how would you describe your interest in the dark arts?


5.The main thing, especially for the new album, is an antichristian concept, but of course other topics known as disgust, abomination, war, destruction, torture, sadomasochism...will find their way filling the whole construct.


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


6.Basically let's say to select as much topics you can get out the norm, some even intentional for provocation and shock factor.


7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Naked Whipper'?


7.There are different opinions about this. One side is focused to the goat, the  whipper, wearing a laincloath and not be naked, got some critics about this, it's simply narrow minded. Imagine the sounds of NW, compared to the rawness and brutality, this is rather the band name for what it stands, the audio is much more important than any kind of pictures and illustrations.


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


8.I was looking for a follower to the Painstreaks cover, a new scene for the whipper, quickly associating having a new album for NW, luckily Chris Moyen did it again after so many years, awesome work.


9.Out of all the shows the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?



9.No doubt it was the Never Surrender Festival we played last year in Berlin.


10.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?



10.We hope find together for having some more shows, let's see what happens.


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


11.I think we had some good reactions, especially from several parts of USA and South America besides here in Europe and Germany.


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


12.For writing new song material it's important having a time distance between the releases, so you'll have a best result for that. It's a mistake to handle quick for releasing something every year, may be you risk to get boring during the years, have a look to the mainstream bands signed to fancy labels,who needs 15 by 20 albums filling up their discography, it's a job and no more passion as it's ought to be.


13.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?


13.For myself I listen to several genres of extreme ,brutal ,weird, avantgarde music, guess the other members having interests in different styles besides the metal thing as well.


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


14.Thanx for your support and interest to NW, best regards and respect.

Further I would like to thank Sonic Incinerator, Sulphur Irae, Cryptic Tormentor and everyone else involved in the work for "Chapel Defilement" to make this album happen.


https://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/naked-whipper-the-swinepriest-bedlam

www.instagram.com/naked_whipper_ 

Friday, December 20, 2024

Noctambulist/Noctambulist II: De Droom/These Hands Melt/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Noctambulist  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Noctambulist  II:  De  Droom"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  These  Hands  Melt.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  shoegaze  and  post  punk.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  more  melodic  post  metal  style.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  Clean  singing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Dutch  and  cover  failure,  hope  and  heartbreak  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Noctambulist  are  a  very  decent  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  "Petrichor"  "Lichteter"  and  "Lang  leve  de  droom'.  7/5  out  of  10.


  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Noctambulistband

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

Bandcamp: https://noctambulistofficial.bandcamp.com/ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1k7JWDTAwZRGoGg9rCxU2o?si=OOXFdQs2SP-w1u4S4l2duA 


    

Blood Cult/We're Gonna Take Your Soul/Witches Brew/Illinoisan Thunder/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Blood  Cult  are  a  band  from  Illinois  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  started  out  with  a  musical  style  they  used  to  describe  as  redneck  black  metal  and  over  the  years  have  evolved  into  more  of  a  mixture  of  southern  rock  and  traditional  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "We're  Gonna  Take  Your  Soul"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  as  a  joint  effort  between  Witches  Brew  and  Illinoisan  Thunder.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  psychedelic  sounding  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  and  clear  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  southern  rock  along  with  some  touches  of  classic  70's  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  true  to  a  more  retro  style.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  blues  rock.  At  times  the   album  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  capturing  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.


  On  this  recording  Blood  Cult  moves  way  from  the  more  black  metal  side  of  their  previous  releases  and  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  traditional  70's  metal  and  southern  rock.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Satanic  Panic  era  of  the  80's  and  early  90's.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Blood  Cult  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  classic  metal  and  70's  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Demon  Seed"  "I  Never  Go  Away"  "The  Devil's  Child"  and  "Love".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blood-cult/356149507

https://www.illinoisanthunder.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bloodcult/

https://www.instagram.com/j.r.preston/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1dw5Didi5MMkiOHS5VmYMI

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blood-cult/356149507


  

An-Xul/Self Titled/Chaos Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  An-Xul  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very   occult  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2024  album  which  was  released  by  Chaos  Records.


  A  very  dark  sounding  ritual  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  vocals  are  done  in  a  deep  growling  style.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  take  on  the  genre  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks. 


  High  pitched  screams  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  The  Destruction  Of  Humanity.  


  In  my  opinion  An-Xul  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  and  satanic  black  metal  band,  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Descent  Through  A  Ghostly  Maelstrom"  "Follow  The  Left  Hand  Path"  and  :Eternal  Flame". 8  out  of  10.


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz-UglVm9sE


https://open.spotify.com/album/4CPbyu9LVlubWtuXcM5cnO  

Morbus Dei Interview

 

Interview – Morbus Dei – Zorn (vocals)


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


Hey there. First of all thank you for your interest in our music. Much appreciated! So, actually I have been in another black metal band years ago. I read a post in social media from a guy that he is searching for some musicians. Short story – he is not part of the band anymore but I met all the other guys and here we are. We started to jam and cover some songs to find out if this works. And it worked. Now we are releasing our 2nd album. Lets see what future will bring.


2.You have a new album coming out later in December, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


Hm, not that much I guess. It is normal for a band to evolve but we all have our vision of what we wanna do. We tried to be as brutal and angry as ever. 


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?


On the new album we have a section with 3 songs in which we deal with war in general - especially the Second World War. You could say from the point of view of someone who looks at the events surrounding the German soldiers. But we also deal with the dangers of blind allegiance to authorities, dictatorships and religious beliefs. There is also some criticism of the spiritual leaders of this world and their abuse of their subordinates. And this time we have made a song in which we go back to the roots. Call it punk or call it whatever you want. See for yourself - this time the lyrics can be found in the booklet. The songwriting is much easier now. Mannaz (drums) which is a great guitar player as well, comes up with some riffs. Then him and me are doing some brainstorm. After that we all meet in the rehearsal room and there it is. You can say everyone knows what to do.


4.I know that the bands name means 'the sickness of believe', how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

So here I only can talk for myself – I’m listening to black metal since about 1993.  I’m not talking much about it, because I do not care what other people think about or feel with black metal. So for  me I want to do a statement with my art. I’m not into that satan here, satan there thing. I want to punch in face with my music, my lyrics and I want to encourage people to use their fucking brains. So I don’t give a fuck if someone is believing in a god – call it Jesus, Allah, Thor or whatever. But in my opinion it is the most important thing to believe in yourself and never let a religion rule your life.





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


I have a few persons around me, who are great in creating art, like digital drawings, pictures, photos etc. I’m not much in the medieval demonic painting thing so we decided to show what the album is titled.Imagine you are in your beloved hometown. A bomb is crushing everything around you. You are laying on the ground, opening your eyes and you look to the sky. This is what „The World Left Behind“ is all about. 


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


We have been in some really cool places and cities like munich, darmstadt, rosenheim etc, Hm, i guess our show is angry, pissed of, brutal and bloody…. Here we are!


7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

We will do a release show on 21st of december in the near of munich. We have some gigs planned in 2025 but nothing to confirm right now. So we would love to play in other countries especially austria, czech republic or poland would be great. We are ready – contact us!!



8.The new album is coming out on 'Ketzer Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

I know him for many years. He is a really cool and hard working guy. And he is genius in connecting bands and musicians together with promoters. So I asked him, send him the songs – and the unholy alliance was born! 



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

First of all I have to say that support is always much apreciated but I’m not fishing for compliments, The reaction so far is great. We have incoming mails and pre-order from all over the world. Even from Tazmania. That is awesome. Great reactions from scandinava, usa, ireland as well. 



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?

Arbor is playing in „UNRIVALED“ where he does some bavarian clean vocals as well. Mannaz is also the drummer in „VRDRBR“. Guess you can call it depressive black metal. Pain is a great piano player and does music all the time you can say. I am not part of any other projects at the moment. But maybe something is lurking in the dark….


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

We do not want to re-invent black metal or doing some post-whatever stuff. MORBUS DEI is what it is. I want to see people with wide open eyes saying „What the fuck was this?“ after the show. No compromise at all!





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?

I am personally listening to bands like Mayhem, Primordial, Watain, Dread Sovereign, Urgehal but also to many other music, like punk rock, irish folk , Johnny Cash and many others. When I do songwriting I try to not listening to music before. Only me , my mind and the song you can say.


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

Please support bands you like! Go to their shows, buy some merch. Give them a drink! You know – no one can buy his next amp with spotify or other crap. Give them a chance to play at your festival, at your club or wherever.


Thank you for this interview!

https://linktr.ee/morbusdei
https://www.morbus-dei.de
https://www.facebook.com/MorbusDei666
https://www.instagram.com/morbusdei
http://morbusdei.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@morbusdei_blackmetal
https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/3Y3BVrAxVsLaXLsuq7Pc7J

Thursday, December 19, 2024

Shining/The Helsinki Tapes/The Sinister Initiative/2024 Compilation Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  compilation  from  Sweden's  Shining  which  consists  of  unreleased demo material  which  was  recorded  more  then  20  years  ago which  showed  the  music  going  for  a  raw,  experimental  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  and  the  album  is  called  "The  Helsinki  Tapes"  and  was  released  by  The  Sinister  Initiative.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  angry  shouts  and  grim  depressive  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.


  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  as  well  as  some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal,  female  vocals,  spoken  words,  stringed  instruments  and  keyboards  are  also  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Swedish  and  cover  Suicide,  Depression  and  Negativity  themes.   


  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Shining  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Ghastly  Silence"  and  "For  The  God  Below".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/w0rekc1SrU8

https://www.shininglegions.com/


https://tsiofficial.bandcamp.com   


  

Salacious Gods/A Chrestomathy Of Blasphemous Supremacy/WolfKult Religion/2024 Compilation Album Review

 


  Salacious  Gods  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  compilation  album  "A  Chrestmathy  Of   Blasphemous  Supremacy"  which  was  released  by  WolfKult  Religion.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats  and  tremolo  picking.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  era.


  Throughout  the  compilation  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  lot  of  the  tracks  where  also  recorded  live.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  more  recent  material  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  modern  style.


  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  some  of  the  older material  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  symphonic  touches.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Dutch  and  English  and  cover  Occultism,  Philosophy,  Anti  Religion  and  Darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Salacious  Gods  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sulphur,  Mingled  With  Poison"  "Morbid  Revelations  In  Blood  And  Semen"  "Firestorm"  and  "Hexencult".  8/5  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/7rwypvf2_qM

Fragmentary Solid Abyss Interview

 

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


1. The project began under the name Ancient of Days, which comes from Aramaic and is pronounced Atik Yomin. It's a concept in Kabbalah that has its source in the Book of Daniel and is elaborated on in the Zohar. There's also a William Blake painting of the same title that I felt resonated with the project. However, upon realizing that the name was actually not that unique and there were other artists using it, I changed it to Fragmentary Solid Abyss. Originally the music was more like Black Sabbath and I set out to really record and release whatever kind of music I felt like playing at the time. This could range from electronic or Industrial music to more coldwave type songs, to slow doom blues riffs, to straight up Black Metal. Eventually I accumulated enough original material that I started compiling it into albums. Over time my output was overwhelming Black Metal, and that's essentially how I came to find myself here today. 




2.Recently you have released a new full length, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


2. This new full length album was already in its seed level when the solo project began. The title was conceived before the music, and I had written it by hand with a quill and ink in blackletter, having in mind it would be a serious album. The music was then eventually sketched out over time and I pieced it together as you hear it now, but that's not the whole of its essence. The pattern I followed for its spiritual narrative was deeply influenced by Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon as well as Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral. It essentially is meant to guide the listener through a coherent story that follows a path of no return. The album however is cyclical in its structure and is meant to be listened to over and over again, like a ritual, and each time the listener passes through it there's always something new to discover.


3.You have released music in both the electronic and black metal genres, how would you compare the 2 different musical styles?


3. I'm a firm believer that synthesizers belong in music, and I use them in all genres I work in. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, video game music became an ingrained part of my musical influence. I feel a lot of freedom with a purely electronic composition. I approach it as if I were playing a pipe organ, or writing for an orchestra. The downside is that it's really a more cerebral artform and lacks the brutality and animalistic satisfaction that I love and enjoy in more rock based genres. The imperfections that arise in Black Metal in particular are in my opinion beautiful and are a trademark of what cannot be achieved in electronic music.


4.You also cover a lot of spirituality and mysticism themes with your lyrics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?


4. In my early 20s I was a student of Buddhism, and I practiced meditation and Yoga. However, I became much more interested in the spiritual teachings of Judaism during my mid 20s, and have been practicing Kabbalah and learning diligently ever since. I spent time in a Yeshivah run by the Lubavitcher Hasidic movement, studied scriptures and texts in their original languages and even considered becoming a Rabbi, and living a very strict life. But as my journey continued I found my grievances with organized religions, and trusted more in my artistic pursuits. 


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Fragmentary Solid Abyss'?


5. Fragmentary Solid Abyss was originally the title for one of my songs, and then it became the band title. I wanted to highlight the fact that we live in a fragmented reality in which we see ourselves as separate from one another and from things. However, it was also important to try and create a sentence that cannot possibly exist in the imagination by any standard methods. The audience is meant to grapple with it. The intention is to basically shock the mind into contemplation of that which cannot be expressed. 


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


6. The artwork for the new album stands on its own and can be interpreted any way the viewer wishes. Like a Rorschach test.


7.Since 2022 you have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music?


7. I'm a huge fan of the artist Kim Jung Gi. He was particularly known for his ability to sketch amazing masterpieces on the spot. He would constantly sketch and draw all the time and his skills were unmatched. I find that lifestyle where your practice becomes your work to be deeply spiritual and ritualistic. To be constantly doing is to be constantly improving. Simply doing the best that I can in the moment is all that I can ask from myself, and then it's time to move on, and create more work.


8.With this project you work solo but have worked with other musicians in the past, do you prefer working by yourself?


8. Yes I have worked with other musicians in the past. I was deeply involved with a Black Metal band here in New York and I was playing second guitar. The fellow who started the band became a good friend of mine and we were looking forward to our success. Over time though we butted heads and had creative differences, and after rejecting potential singers, he made it clear to the rest of the band that the singer of the band must be white. I find that to be unacceptable, so I left that project. I have since tried to find people to collaborate with but have yet to find a good fit. 


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


9. Surprisingly I have received a lot more positive feedback than I ever thought I would get for this music. My intention was in no way shape or form to get attention. I simply create what I want to hear. Often it's challenging and difficult for most people. It seems though that a lot of people in the Black Metal community are telling me they like it, which makes me feel like I'm contributing to people's lives in some way, and that's important.


10.What is going on with 'Incineration in The Infinite' these days?


10. As for Incineration in the Infinite, there's an EP called Serpent's Tongue that is set to be released by WormHoleDeath Records in March of 2025. 


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


11. I feel like I want to make more Black Metal albums, but I'm also considering some other avenues, so let's see what happens.


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


12. Bands that are my main influences are Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tool and Nine Inch Nails.  I listen to a lot of classical Turkish music these days, mostly taksims, which are solo improvisations. Great performers that I like are Kutsal Sütoğlu and Zeynel Demirtaş.


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


13. In conclusion, I feel honored and humbled that people are interested in my music at all. I sincerely thank everyone who has shared inspiring words to me and I look forward to sharing more moments in the future with the Black Metal community.

fragmentarysolidabyss.net
fragmentarysolidabyss.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/@fragmentarysolidabyss7838
www.instagram.com/fragmentary_solid_abyss/

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Khors/Letters To The Future Self/Darakkar Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Ukraine's  Khors  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  style  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Letters  To  The  Future  Self"  which  was  released  by  Drakkar  Productions.


  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  angry  black  metal  style.


  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  the  recording  is  more  rooted  in  the  modern  era.  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  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  or  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism  and  Nature  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Khors  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "On  The  Wings  Of  Destiny  And  Burning  Enmity"  "Another  Year"  and  "Gods  Are  Waiting".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/Khorsband/

http://www.khors.info/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OBmfGF2n90

Nachash/Eschaton Magicks/Signal Rex/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Nachash  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Eschaton  Magicks'  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Signal  Rex.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  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  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  old  school  touches  as  well  as  remaining  very  modern  at  the  same  time.


  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  On  this  recording  Nachash  brings  in  more  of  a  traditional  style  of  occult  black  metal  as  well  as  adding  some  of  the  heavier  side  of  death  metal  to  create  a  very  dark  and  aggressive  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  darkness,  necromancy  and  occult  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nachash  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stygian  Nightmare"  "Eschaton  Magicks"  and  "Wherein  The  Devil  Dwell".  8  out  of  10.


  facebook.com/nachashnorway  

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Necromaniac/Sciomancy, Malediction & Rites Abominable/Invictus Productions/The Ajna Offensive/2025 Full Length Review

 


  United  Kingdom's  Necromaniac  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  old  school  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Sciomancy,  Malediction  &  Rites  Abominable"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  as  a  joint  effort  between  Invictus  Productions  and  The  Ajna  Offensive.


  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  in  a  heavier  direction  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  choirs  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.


  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 r aw  feeling.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  to  early  90's  era.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  some  ritualistic  spoken  words.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  witchcraft,  necromancy  and  occultism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Necromaniac  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Daemonomantia"  "Great  Is  The  Thirst  of  The  Restless  Dead"  and  "Necromancess/Claudia  Draconis".  8/5  out  of  10.


  http://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/sciomancy-malediction-rites-abominable

http://soundcloud.com/invictusproductions/swedenborgs-skull

http://necromaniacmorbidmetal.bandcamp.com/album/sciomancy-malediction-rites-abominable

www.facebook.com/necromaniacUK  

Ruttokosmos/Apoteoosi/Werewolf Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Ruttokosmos  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  depressive  and  suicidal  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Apoteoosi"  which  will  be  released  on  December  20th  by  Werewolf  Records.


  Psychedelic  soundscapes  and  clear  singing  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast  beats  can be  heard  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  to  mid  2000's  style.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melancholic  melodies.


  Some  of  the  songs  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  lot  of  the  music  bringing  in  the  classic  Finnish  style  as  well  as  a  good  amount  of  tracks  also  sticking  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  raw  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  death,  misery  and  suffering  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ruttokosmos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  suicidal  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Thanatos"  and  "Kuoleman  Rakkikoira".  8  out  of  10.


  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item.asp?pid=124287        

Monday, December 16, 2024

Ardeat Interview

 

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

Hi, thank you for the opportunity!

The band was formed in 2021 in Brescia from the ashes of other black metal projects from northern Italy. Our style tries to blend the atmosphere of black metal with the aggression of old-school death metal and the melodic approach of the NWOBHM, especially Iron Maiden.

We released an EP called "Exitivm" in 2021 and our full-length debut "Apotheosis "will be released on December 20th 2024.


2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of December, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

Some songs on this album were conceived even before the Ep. "Exitivm" at first was meant to be included on this record but it expanded in a 20-minute monolith and we decided to release it separately.

Musically we would say "Apotheosis" is an expansion of the sound of the EP, it's both faster and more aggressive yet more melodic and atmospheric as well.


3.The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you have covered with this release?

The concept behind "Apotheosis" essentially deals with the transience and immanence of man, compared to the supernatural forces that determine his destiny in the face of which man is powerless, by taking as reference the mythology and tragedy of the Archaic and Classical Greek Ages, through the portrait of some divine figures or war episodes. In this vision, the Apotheosis represents a desperate attempt to escape man's chains, in order to rise to a higher plane of existence and broaden his knowledge of the universe. But in the end, mortals remain mortals, and the realm gods is still unreachable.


4.The band has also been inspired by the myths, legends and tragedies of the classical Greek and Archaic eras, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

The inspiration breeding the lyrics of the album was mostly provided by our singer Enrico, who's deeply interested in classical history, philosophy and literature ever since he was a student. Years later he continued his studies on his own. The fascination with the whole matter also comes from an attempt to "escape" nowadays materialistic and collapsing age to find an ideal shelter in ancient times when the life of individuals was oriented to something "higher" and sacred, may it be a cult or an ideal.


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

"Ardeat" is a subjunctive verb in Latin meaning "(may it) burn", referring to the fire. It was chosen to underline our determined attitude towards life, which we try to represent through our music.


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

When we conceived the artwork, we decided to represent metaphorically the concept of the Apotheosis. At the forefront a warrior is fighting with an army of statues, which represents the divinity and what goes beyond the passage of time. At the same time we see that the warrior, after committing the deicide, is becoming a statue himself, because his act of hybris can't remain unpunished. In the back we can also see references to the lyrics of the album, such as the tower of Danae and the eagle of Prometheus.

We worked in strict contact with the artist, the talented Samuele Cittadini, discussing the concept with him but also providing visual references and ideas, resulting in something we are really proud of.


7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Well, we started playing shows under the name "Ardeat" in late 2023, but we already had the pleasure to share the stage with some really important bands from the Italian extreme metal scene, such as Mortuary Drape, Opera IX and Darkend.

We try to be as "real" and genuine as possible on stage, we don't use any click track or pre- recorded base, we just try to express raw emotions and aggression.


8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

We have a show planned on the 25th of January, alongside our friends Ulvedharr, where we will be finally able to perform the new songs.


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

So far the reaction has been pretty positive, we've received really nice reviews from various webzines and good feedback from fellow musicians. We can't wait for everyone to hear the whole album!


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

Musically we will always try to evolve and never stick to a pre-determined formula, also adding more elements from genres outside of black metal, such as death metal or even post-rock.


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?

Some of the projects that mostly influence us are Dissection, Mgla and Spite Extreme Wing, but the personal taste of the single members of the band varies a lot, and we don't shy away from music outside of metal, such as Pink Floyd and The Cure.


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

We hope everyone's going to enjoy "Apotheosis" and come to our live shows in the future. Your feedback means a lot to us, so thank you for your support and time!

Thank you for the opportunity!

linktr.ee/Ardeat
www.youtube.com/@ardeatofficial
www.facebook.com/Ardeatbandofficial
www.instagram.com/ardeatbandofficial