Lust Hag/Self Titled/Fiadh Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Montana's  Lust  Hag  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  raw  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  titled  2024  album  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  Raw  tremolo  picking  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  good  amount  of  death  metal  influences.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  growls  onto  the  album,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  co0uple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Lust  Hag  introduces  elements  of  death  metal  into  her  raw  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Nameless  Hag  on  her  perilous  journey.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lust  Hag  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pursuit  Of  The  Nameless  Hag"  and  "A  Narrow  Escape".  8  out  of  10.

  Lust Hag    

Crown of Asteria/Cypher/Fiadh Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Michigan's  Crown  Of  Asteria  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  folk  inspired  form  of  atmospheric  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2024  album  "Cypher"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  stringed  instruments  are  utilzied  they  also  bring  in  touches  of  folk  music  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments  with  touches  of  ambient,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  folklore,  animism  and  mysticism  themes.     

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Crown  of  Asteria  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  influenced  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Far  Shooter  Of  The  Moon"  and  " Wild  Rue,  Resin  And  Vows".  8  out  of  10.

  https://crownofasteria.bandcamp.com/album/far-shooter-of-the-moon-2

Mordran/The Midnight Woods/Fiadh Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Mordran  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Midnight  Woods"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  which  also  add  in  elements  of  ambient.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length   and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  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  a  lot  of  the  songs  also  being  instrumentals  as  well  as  some  nature  sounds  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  existentialism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mordran  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  ambient  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Into  The  Midnight  Woods"  and  "Lethe".  8  out  of  10.

  https://mordran.bandcamp.com/album/the-midnight-woods    

    

New Angel/Earthly Wisdoms/Fiadh Productions/2024 EP Review

 

  New  Angel  is  a  solo  project  from  Pennsylvania  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  lo-fi  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2024  ep  "Earthly  Wisdoms"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  A  very  raw  and  lo-fi  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Synths  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  an  atmospheric  touch  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  ambient/dungeon  synth  orientated  instrumentals.  Some  of  the  riffing  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  crust  punk  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  bringing  in  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  video  game  with  more  distortion,  melodic  gutiar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  New  Angel  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  lo-fi  as  well  as  adding  in  touches  of  dungeon  synth  and  ambient  to  create  a  sound  of  her  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  alchemy  and  wizardly  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  New  Angel  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  lo-fi  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Want  To  Be  like  Esther"  and  "Revelation  of  Mycorrhizal  Connection".  8  out  of  10.

   New Angel

Deathlike Dawn/Among The Graves Of The Archetypes/Putrid Cult/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Deathlike  Dawn  are  a  duo  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Among  The  Graves  Of  The  Archetypes"  which  was  released  by  Putrid  Cult.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  songs  as  well  as  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in    good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Deathlike  Dawn  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  melodic,  modern  and  traditional  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mythology  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Deathlike  Dawn  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  and  melodic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Plutonic  Ether"  and  "Dew  And  Blood".  8  out  of  10.

  ttps://youtu.be/0utcOuEJemE

https://deathlikedawn.bandcamp.com/album/among-the-graves-of-the-archetypes

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Aristarchos/Martyr Of Fire And Star/Vendetta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Aristarchos  are  a  band  from  Scotland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Martyr  Of  Fire  And  Star"  which  will  be  released  in  April b y  Vendetta  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  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  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  cosmic  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

 The  music  also  has  its  dissonant  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  at  times  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  most  of  the  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existential  philosophy,  cosmos  and  metaphysic  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Aristarchos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Atrium  -  Martyr  Of  Star  And  Fire"  and  "Endless  Syzygies  Of  The  Constant  Immaterial".  8  out  of  10.

  https://aristarchos.bandcamp.com/album/aristarchos  

      

Paragon Zero/Hexikon/Neverheard Distro/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Paragon  Zero  are  a  band  from  Hungary  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Hexikon"  which  was  released  by  Neverheard  Distro.

  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  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  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  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.

  Ambient  style  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  songs  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  they  close  the  album  with  a  Hobo  Blues  Band  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Paragon  Zero  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Less  Than  Once"  "Orion's  Ride"  and  "Blightcaller".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgd89sbYemE        

Acathexis/Immerse/Amor Fati Productions/Extraconsciouss/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Acathexis  are  an  international b and  with  members  from  Argentina,  Belgium  and  the  United  States  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Immerse"  which  will  be  released  in  March  as  a  joint  effort  between  Amor  Fati  Productions  and  Extraconsciouss.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  album  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  eta,  at  times  the  vocals  also  get  deep  sounding  as  well  as  clean  playing  also  making  a  brief  return  on  a  later  song.

  On  this  recording  Acathexis  goes  for  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  pain,  depression,  sadness  and  darkness.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Acathexis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dreams  of  Scorched  Mirrors"  and  "A  Slow,  Weary  Wind".  8  out  of  10.

  www.acathexis.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/acathexisband 

  

Blestemat/Poisonous Metal/Silent Future Recordings/2024 EP Review

 

  Blestemat  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  an  orthodox  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Poisonous  Metal"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Silent  Future  Recordings.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  raw  tremolo  picking  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  2000's  Swedish  era  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Blestemat  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive  and  orthodox  in  the  2000's  Swedish  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  existentialism,  nihilism  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Blestemat  are  a  very  great  sounding  orthodox  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Curses'  Salvation"  and  "I  Am  His  Light".  8  out  of  10.

  https://silentfuture.lnk.to/blestemat        

Deliria Interview

 

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

Sure, Deliria is a post black metal band with death doom influences. Primarily simple guitar parts with arpeggiated cleans over top. Metal with influences in the vein of Blue Oyster Cult, Fields of the Nephilim, and Sisters of Mercy. 

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

Phantasm is a lot heavier and darker. We like to balance the morbid atmospheres with our dreamy clean parts. But it's a lot darker this time. We made a focused effort to keep the songs accessible, and the response has been great for that. 

3.This is also your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Longer actually, since Nausea in 2017. We did do a livestream show 4 years ago, but it didn't get a proper release. We've all had other bands to focus on, and we were able to record the album during the pandemic. There's been a lot of work to get this ready, and produce something we are all proud of. 

4.All of the band members play in other bands or projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Deliria' that you have not been able to do with your other groups?

In Deliria we want to do something unique. We're not trying to sound like anyone else. So it's a much more genuine expression where we can take our influences and do our own thing. Since our theme is everyday life, it's hard to avoid that. 

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

Everyday experiences of life. We have a couple songs with over-the-top themes, but mostly like to explore the ordinary. 

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

It fits the band musically, where we combine heaviness and dreamy atmospheric parts, and thematically where we detail the experience of emotionally instability. Never knowing what to expect. 

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

The artwork was titled "Lost Knowledges" from the artist Pierre-Alain D of 3MMI Design. A figure appears in front of a series of alchemic symbols and sigils. A lot of people ask what it means. It can mean anything, including your world and the world you create by bringing those forth. The things currently around you, elements, emotions, and experiences. The darkness is there, and it's no different than the light. 

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

My favorite show was in 2019, when we opened for Tyr at the Oakland Metro. We all had an amazing night. For our stage show, we don't have samples, we're not wearing costumes or painting our faces. We're playing the songs with as good of sound as possible. Most of the time I prefer hearing a band's live sound, and I want our recordings to remain performance based.

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

We are working on that now. Hope we have some news to share on that soon. West coast USA dates are being worked on. If you want to see us in your hometown, send us an email. 

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

We have talked to several about it. If a deal makes sense for us, we would do it. But so far it hasn't.

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

Actually great. We get international plays and orders consistently. 

12.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?

Dawn of Ouroboros is finishing up the recording of the third album, and will continue to tour this year. Jade is tracking new material with Embrium, Brent with The Undying, and with Adam in Kill the Messenger. Adam is working on some vocals for some other new projects, and Billy is always working on new stuff with the Symbolik guys. 

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

Right now we have been expanding on the darkness that we've found on the Phantasm album. It fits.  

14.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?

For me, Katatonia, Forgotten Woods, Fields of the Nephilim, Candlemass. Deliria takes a lot of influence from these bands. But lately not as much metal. I've been listening to Twin Tribes, She Past Away, Molchat Doma, stuff like that.

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

Appreciate the interview, thanks for having me. Stay tuned for the Phantasm release on May 3, and give us a follow on our official pages

 https://deliria.com/

Svart Lotus Interview

 

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

S: Since the album was recorded we have been hard at work, promoting, putting finishing touches on designs and releases, as well as rehearsing the material so we can present it in the best possible way live.

Lately my mind has been giving me ideas about the next album so we will see what happens

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

S: The new album is a shorter, more focused effort than our previous offerings. Despite dealing with dark, heavy themes it is still a more extroverted album than "Stemmer fra Dypet" that mostly dealt with the voices in my head thematically and lyrically.

As with all Svart Lotus releases this album is also a journey from start to finish and is best enjoyed sequentially and in full.

3.This is also your first album since 2018, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on with the band during that time frame?

S: Covid killed a lot of things. And during covid I wrote and rewrote and reworked and recorded and re-recorded the album so much that my bandmates probably hated me. But the end results are undeniable. We still released a couple of singles during this period to show that we are still alive and kicking. But all in all during covid everything went very silent for a long time. And that was needed to really appreciate what was missing. Svart Lotus did some shows during covid but playing for a sitting audience of few people is not what gets our blood boiling.

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

S: This album deals a lot with alienation, the feeling of being an outsider in this world and reality. But specifically there is also a lot of bitterness and reproach of humanity, the way we fuck up the planet and each other for profit.

With age also comes the ability to reflect, to look inwards and explore things that are deeper. Breath, silence and nature as well as our inward journey is explored in new ways.

Songwriting-wise we grow as musicians and know and trust each other much more now, so there is more room for everybody’s vision.

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

S: The cover is a still photo from an old movie called "Dr Mabuse, der spieler (the gambler). It has a weirdness and an occult mood that i felt needed to be explored musically. As the album found its form it became clear that this had to be the cover.

6.Originally the band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind expanding into a full line up?

S: As the music evolved it was clear it needed to be played live, thus members accumulated, and each brought their own vision into the band. The end result was so much stronger because of it.

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

            S: Svart Lotus on stage is more direct and brutal than on album, we pride ourselves on delivering flawless and powerful live shows.

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

S: As of right now, no, I’m horribly busy with 1349 for a while, but I’m working hard on squeezing in some shows with Svart Lotus in there.

 9.The new album is coming out on 'Hellstain Productions', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?

S: The physical CD is coming out on "Hellstain Productions", the digital is handled by ourselves as always. Svart Lotus has been independent always, so it speaks to the quality of Hellstain that we decided to work with them.

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

S: The singles from the new album has been favorably received by everyone that has heard it. On the 1st of March we will unleash the album upon the world and let people decide for themselves.

Reactions are generally positive, and I’m happy to say that the identity of Svart Lotus is a strong one with a particular sound that people recognize as such. - Nobody says that this sounds like anything else, it only sounds like.... Svart Lotus.

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

            S: We go wherever we want to go, judging from the stuff coming out of my guitar these days we will continue down this path of blackdeathdoom with proggy touches.

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

S: Many of us play in other bands and spend a lot of time rehearsing and learning material and thus don’t have so much time to listen for pleasure.

During the last couple of years new music from Dødheimsgard, Fortid and SIGH has been on my ipod a lot. I also fell back in love with classical music again.

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

S: Som et vondt år is out on Friday 1st of march. Stream it, buy it from Hellstain on CD or cassette from Snake Oil, but listen to it and tell your friends!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029115116147
https://www.instagram.com/svartlotus_official/
https://svartlotusband.wixsite.com/svartlotus

Mórnu Interview

 

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

K.: Greetings, first of all it’s important to mention that we’re not a solo project, the band consists of 2 members. K. is responsible for vocals, lyrics and conceptual ideas, while V. is responsible for composing and recording the music. There were also several people involved in the recording process, but the band mainly consists of the two of us.

2.So far you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

V.: Musically speaking we play black metal with atmospheric, post, death and doom influences. I try to use a lot of dissonance in my music while still keeping it melodic. So in overall we can call it dissonant atmo/post black but the most important thing for me is not genre tags but creating a specific mood or atmosphere with my music

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Occultism themes, which aspects of this path do you bring into your songwriting?

K.: That’s right that the lyrics are mainly occult themed. The concept of the EP revolves around a disciple engaging with a dark spiritual substance/entity and going through ordeals on this path. Concerning various occult schools or teachings, it’s mainly influenced by Gnosticism and incorporates some elements of Lovecraftianism and a bit of Hinduism as well.

In our following release I plan to dwell more into Hermeticism/Western Alchemy lyrics-wise.

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

K.: The word is completely created by us and is a name of this spiritual entity/substance which is discovered by the disciple.

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

V.: The man on the cover art is the lyrical hero of the album, he is depicted in a state of agony, which corresponds to some point of the EP. I’ve created the cover art myself, basically it’s a collage of several paintings

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

V.: Concerning this release all the music was recorded and mixed by myself, but we had a sound engineer who helped us with mastering. In the next recording we plan to elevate the quality of music by recording on studio with a drummer (this time the drums were programmed) and having a sound engineer both for mixing and mastering

7.So far very little is known about the project, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

K.: We prefer to stay anonymous as we want our music to exist separately and have its own pure being apart from us as individuals

8.So far you have worked with 'Ground Media Group' and 'Frosty Rowan' on the physical versions of your ep, can you tell us a little bit more about these labels?

K.: Frosty Rowan is a Russian tape/cassette label which focuses on various styles of black metal as well some electronic music, such as dark ambient, noise and industrial. Mostly it’s pagan or occult themed

Ground Media Group is a Finnish label that found us on Bandcamp and offered to cooperate and release us on CDs, which we accepted gladly.

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

K.: As we’ve only released our first EP, we just gaining awareness and recognition on the BM stage. The reception on Bandcamp and other platforms was positive and we’ve received an offer to cooperate from Ground Media Group as well as letters from some metal zines. With our future releases we plan to continue gathering our audience, although the most important thing is, of course, the act of creation itself.

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

V.: We plan to release a full-length by the end of this year. For now Mórnu is the most important project for me as a musician

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?

V.: My main influences include Aosoth, Zhrine, VRTRA, Thaw, The Great Old Ones. But at the moment I mainly interest to non-metal music such as ambient, industrial, experimental, noise

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

K.: This was just the first encounter with Mórnu in this realm as soon it’s going to return but in new forms and unknown shapes

https://mrnu.bandcamp.com/
https://vk.com/mornu1

Sispersion Interview

 

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

Dispersion was born more than 10 yaers ago already. We started with the idea of playing black metal inspired by the bands like Altar of Plagues and Wolves in the Throne Room but since then we've taken insipiration from several genres and our sound is still evolving. We had several gigs during the first years of activity but basically now we are a duo dedicated only to studio albums.

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

Every album of ours is quite different from the others. We have also released an entirely acoustic album that has very little do to with metal in general. With Monochrome we had quite different inspirations from the previous albums and tried to explore different sounds then in the past. it is for sure our most "experimental" and in some way ambient album, although these may be a bit abused words nowdays. All in all it's a reflection of different genres we listen to.

3.This is also your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

Actually the first songs for Monochrome were written shortly after the release of Ore, our previuos release. Since then there were several personal commitments and we were also involved in other musical projects so the time flew by.

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

I guess the older we get the wiser we are! Jokes aside, in the past we used to do concept albums so the lyrics were driven by the topic of the album. In the last albums we are not doing this anymore, we simple try to talk about the thoughts and the feelings of that moment. I personally think our songwriting skills have improved but that's something the listeners have to say.

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

Immagine a person standing in a middle of nowhere, at sunset, with a thick fog all around. You can see that someone is there but that's all you can tell, he is dispersing in what surrounds him. When we started the band we knew it should be basically black metal but we didn't know how the music would evolve. And that's where it came from.

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

The whole artwork is based on some photos Mattia took visting the Scottish hinterland. They just felt right for the music we were working on.

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band but you have had a drummer in the past, are you open to expanding the line up again in the future?

We are not planning to expand the line up for the moment.

8. The band is also a part of the 'Venetian Black Metal Front, can you tell us a little bit more about this movement?

VBMF is a group of people and bands dedicated to promote undeground music in North-East area of Italy, mainly through live shows and lately also album releases.

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

We had a pretty good response so far.

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

We have nothing planned at the moment but we love to make music so when the time comes we'll get back to work. I do not know in which direction we will go but for sure we'll try to expand the sound of the last album.

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

I already mentioned Altar of Plagues and Wolves in the Throne Room, that were huge influences for us at the very begining. Nowdays there is a lot that shapes Dispersion's sound like Oranssi Pazuzu, White Ward, A Forest of Stars and Mesarthim just to name a few.

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

Thanks to Occult Black Metal Zine for promoting undeground music!

https://dispersion1.bandcamp.com/album/monochrome
https://www.facebook.com/Dispersionband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/79Dnk9f41PXHiX8daLItZa?si=JqzmoLAQQl2uQuHZadgzpQ

Beenkerver Interview

 

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

Since I have finished De Rode Weduwe last summer, I have been mostly preparing for the release by getting new merch ready, and of course just writing music and figuring out what I want to do next with Beenkerver. But the focus is definitely on this release of course. I've been trying several new ways to promote it, like having Instagram livestreams with musical friends as guests, which is a great way to also support other artists.

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

I think the new album (De Rode Weduwe) is a progression in almost every sense; the songwriting, the recording, the drums, the mix, the artwork; it is all a more coherent story. And while my first album 'Ontaard' consisted of several separate musical stories, 'De Rode Weduwe' is a concept album so all the songs form one tragic tale.

3.A lot of the lyrics on the new album are inspired by Dutch Folklore, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

There are many legends surrounding the area I live in, dating back to deep in the middle ages. The relation of man and nature is always prevalent in those folkloric legends and I found that very fascinating. I also really enjoy telling old stories with parallels to current-day issues. It shows us how much society changes and in a lot of cases, sometimes unfortunately, also stays the same.

4.On an earlier recording you also covered Native American lore, how would you compare the lore of these people to the lore of your native country and other European countries?

Yes, the 'Twee Wolven' EP was in part based on a Native American story. And while I took inspiration from it, the context of my lyrics was a bit broader; it dealt with mental health, and how we human beings handle our 'light' and 'dark' sides. I see a lot of similarities between lore of all countries in the world, the theme of good versus evil reappears in all of them. I found it fascinating how the two wolves story focused more on acceptance of having good ánd evil inside all of us, where most European lore accounts evil to an external factor (the devil, for example).

5.You also have mentioned being an animal rights supporter and oppose racism, fascism and discrimination, can you tell us a little bit more about these views?

I don't think it needs much clarification, honestly. Unfortunately there is a lot of misogyny and discrimination in the world in general, and also in black metal. I am not a political musician in any way, though some of the themes of my lyrics do touch upon world issues that I find important. This new album for example, has a basis in the Heroine's Journey (as developed by Maureen Murdock) instead of the typical Hero's Journey, so it focusses more on the feminine perspective and the major prejudice and shaming that women still have to deal with.

And while I understand that extreme music can attract extreme views, I am not one to judge, but I do find it fair to be up front and honest about where I stand. Regarding animal rights, I often donate money I make with Beenkerver to several animal charities. It is a cause I feel very strongly about, so here as well, I want to be transparent about it to people who listen to/buy my music.

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

It was my old nickname when I played in my first band Heidevolk, haha. We all had nicknames that had a character defining trait in them. I just got a leg tattoo the day before our very first live show, so Beenkerver (literal translation is 'bone carver' but could also be 'leg carver') was appropriate. This was ages ago though, and when I started my solo project, the name just popped into my mind again.

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

Of course! The cover art as well as 7 illustrations (one per song) were all done by the amazing Belgian artist Bram Bruyneel. He was incredible to work with and really understood what I was trying to tell with De Rode Weduwe. The cover shows the ghost of Sophia, the titular red widow, roaming through the forest of De Veluwe (a nature area where I live). It contains several hints to events that occur during the songs, and in general Bram went for a medieval wood carving style that I in turn put in a layout.

8.With the exception of as couple of session musicians you record most of the music by yourself, do you prefer to work solo?

When the story I want to tell is something personal, I do prefer writing music solo, yes. I can definitely also get inspired by others, but the whole 'six men in a rehearsal room' vibe is just not for me. I can't force creativity. Working alone gives me the freedom to work at my own pace, and I don't have to discuss every detail with someone else.

9.You also have experience playing in bands that are very different from what you are currently doing musically, do you consider yourself a very diverse musician?

Yeah, my 'roots' are mostly in the folk metal scene, which gave me a good base of melody and song structuring. I don't know if I am very diverse though, haha. That is for others to decide. I do try to keep things fresh when I write music/albums. I don't want to create the same album over and over again. So regarding 'De Rode Weduwe', you won't see me writing a story just like that again! A future album will have a very different theme, for sure.

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

I have been really surprised by the positive feedback I have gotten on 'Ontaard' and 'Twee Wolven', and I am very curious how 'De Rode Weduwe' will be received.  One of the first decisions I made when I started writing for Beenkerver was that I wanted my lyrics to be in Dutch, to really stay in touch with the most genuine emotions and being able to voice those as best I could. So it is interesting and flattering how my music has resonated with, for example, the United States. I do hear often that my music is very 'European', which I understand, haha. I think black metal listeners can spot insincerity quite easily. And while I am not the stereotypical corpse paint, spikes-on-my-arms wearing musician, I believe the genre evolved far beyond those clichés.

11.Are you currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

I also play in Plaagdrager, a black metal band I do with my friend CW. We recorded one full length album so far, and we might write another in the future. I did have some other projects here and there, but my primary focus for the moment is 100% on Beenkerver.

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

As I said earlier, I don't like repeating myself as a musician. So I hope to branch out and try different things, while remaining true to the spirit of Beenkerver. In a broader sense, I would really like to give writing songs in an 80's dark wave style a try. That genre is a major influence on me as a musician, it is tempting to give it a go one of these days. As far as specifics; I doubt I'll ever be a fantastic solo-guitarist, and also playing live isn't in the card right now due to my health issues.

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

I'm very into 80's music, bands like Joy Division, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, and artists not from that era but who carry the same melancholy in them like Lana del Rey. But I also really enjoy contemporary black metal bands that do something different. Bands like Fluisteraars, Hellevaerder, or Iskandr (who moved more towards the atmospheric), and outside of The Netherlands I'm definitely digging bands like Kold, Ildskær, Excommunicatio, Panopticon. So many bands I enjoy, too many to name.

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

Thank you so much for your questions, I hope you will enjoy the story of Sophia, the red widow, once 'De Rode Weduwe' is released on March 1st!

http://www.beenkerver.nl
https://beenkerver.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/beenkerver
https://www.facebook.com/Beenkerver

Terror Machine/A Mountain of Death/Stench From Below Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Terror  Machine  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  an  extreme  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "A  Mountain  Of  Death"  which  was  released  by  Stench  From  Below  Records..

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  Brutal  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  elements  of  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  as  well  as  some  deep  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also adding  in  influences  of  both  the  old  school  and  modern  era's  of  extreme  metal.  

When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  clean  plying  is  added  on  the  closing  track  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  more  of  a  90's  old  school  extreme  metal  style   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  war,  death  and  negativity  themes.

  

  In  my  opinion  Terror  Machine  are  a  very  great  sounding  extreme  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Shed  The  Blood".  8  out  of  10.

  Terror Machine - a Mountain of Death - full ep - YouTube      

Herxheim/Contrapasso/I, Voidhanger Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Herxhiem  are  a  solo  project  from  Texas  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  old  school  and  technical  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  ep  "Contrapasso"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  Spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  music.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at times  as  well a s  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  showing  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  direction.

  On  this  recording  Herxheim  goes  for  an  old  school  and   technical  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  which  is  very  different  from  his  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  cautionary  tales.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from Herxheim  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  and  technical  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Surrogate"  and  "And  Their  Pyrrhic  Victories".  8 out  of  10.

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/contrapasso

Venomous Echoes/Split Formations And Infinite Mania/I, Voidhanger Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Venomous  Echoes  are  a  solo  project  from  Kettering,  Ohio  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  technical  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Split  Formations  And  Infinite  Mania"  which  will  be  released  in  April b y  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  Water  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  adds  in  raw  tremolo  picking,  blast  beats  and  touches  of  war  metal  while t he  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  deep  death  metal  growls.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  and  dissonant  sounding  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  yet  old  school  death  metal  style.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Throughout  the recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  dark  soundscapes  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  the  tracks.  Spoken  words  and  whispers can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  one  song  also  introduces  harsh  noises  into  the  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  cosmic  horror  themes  with  some  inspirations  from  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft  and  the  films  of  David  Croneberg.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Venomous  Echoes  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  dissonant  and  technical  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Miscreated  Pustules"  "The  Millions  of  Eyes  Transformed"  and  "Split  Formations  And  Infinite  mania".  8  out  of  10.

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-formations-and-infinite-mania

    

Cemetery Moon/Inside The Dark Kingdom Volume 2/2024 EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Connecticut's  Cemetery  Moon  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  the  ep  was  released  in  2024  and  called  "Inside  The  Dark  Kingdom  Volume  2".

  Blast  beats  and  fast  drumming  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  fast  and  melodic  guitar  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  uses  a  lot  of  raw  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  tracks  being  a  little  bit  more  then  the  previous  release  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard on  a  couple  of  songs.    

  On  this  recording  Cemetery  Moon  goes  for  more  of  a  diverse  and  melodic  old  school  black  metal  style  then  the  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and raw  while t he  lyrics  cover  occultism,  anti  religion  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cemetery  Moon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eyes  Of  the  False  God"  and  "The  Black  Keep".  8  out  of  10.

  LinkTree 

Cemetery Moon/Inside The Dark Kingdom Volume One/2024 EP Review

 

  Cemetery  Moon  are  a  band  from  Connecticut  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Inside  The  Dark  Kingdom  Volume  One".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  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  feeing  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times   along  with  a  lot  of  the  tracks  being  very  short  in  length  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Cemetery  Moon  goes  for  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  more  raw  then  the  music  presented  on  the  previous  full length.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cemetery  Moon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Only  Demons"  and  "Temporary  Bloodletting".  8  out  of  10.

  LinkTree