Thursday, June 27, 2024

Artach/Sgrios/2024 EP Review

 


  Canada's  duo  Artach  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  experimental  and  industrial  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Sgrios"  which  will  be  released  in  July.


  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  black  metal  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  more  of  a  first  wave  style  mixed  in  touches  of  the  second  wave  era.  Elements  of  industrial  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  The  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  are  also added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples.


  On  this  recording  Artach  goes  for  a  mixture  of  industrial,  experimental  and  black  metal  which  is  very  different  from  their  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  technology  and  apocalyptic  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Artach  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  and  industrial  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Frozen  Factory"  and  "Atomic  Cabaret".  8  out  of  10.


  Facebook.com/ArtachBlackMetal

Instagram.com/ArtachBlackMetal


Goat Semen/Fuck Christ/Hells Headbangers Records/2024 EP Review

 


  Goat  Semen  are  a  band  from  Peru  that  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Fuck  Christ"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Hells  Headbangers  Records.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  war  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  mixed  in  with  some  80's  influences  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  a  very  chaotic  yet  old  school  style.  Melodies  are  only  added  in  the  guitar  riffing  briefly  along  with  the  guitar  riffs  focusing  more  on  a  power  chord  driven  style  and  the  whole  ep  focuses  more  on a  fast  and  brutal  direction.


  Goat  Semen  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  heaviest  elements  of  early  90's  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness,  Blasphemy  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Goat  Semen  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  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  "Midnight  Worship"  and  "Prophets  of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.


  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item-group.asp?PgpID=37078 

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Erzsebet/Six Hundred & Fifty/Whispering Voice Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Erzsebet  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  raw  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Six  Hundred &  Fifty"  which  was  released  by  Whispering  Voice  Records.


    A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  symphonic  elements  onto  the  recording  which  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  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  tracks  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style. 


  Spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard on  a  few  tracks  and  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  life  of  Elizabeth  Bathory. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Erzsebet  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Chest  With  The  Thousand  Spikes"  "Daughters  Of  Zemens"  and  "Domina  Vestra".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/erzsebetofficial

https://www.instagram.com/erzsebet_music

https://www.whisperingvoicerecords.com/erzsebet/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4qPiUmkRDI 


  

The Depressik/Faded.exe/Tradegy Productions/End My Life Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  The  Depressik  are  a  band  from  Mexico  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Faded.exe"  which  will  be  released  in  July  as  a  joint  effort  between  Tragedy  Productions  and  End  my  Life  Records.

 

 A  very  fast  and r aw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a  lot  of  melody.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  add  in  a  touch  of  electronic  music  as  well  as  some  pianos  being  utilized  briefly  and  they  also  bring  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals.


  On  this  recording  The  Depressik  brings  out  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  negativity,  poverty.  misery,  sickness  and  filth  themes.   


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Depressik  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shattered  Heart"  and  "Indlandsis".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY9Rcf6JpNE

https://thedepressick.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheDepressick/

https://www.instagram.com/the_depressick/  

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Agon/Kronos/2024 EP Review

 


  Agon  are  a  solo  project  originally  from  the  United  States  but  now  resides  in  Germany  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  avant  garde,  progressive  and  technical  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  ep  "Kronos".


  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  The  riffs  also  get  very  technical  and  melodic  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  avant  garde  moments.


  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats.


  On  this  recording  Agon  takes  atmospheric  black,  doom  and  death  emtal  and  mixes  them  with  avant  garde,  progressive  and  technical  elements  to  create  something  very  different  from  the  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.


   In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Agon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  avant  garde,  progressive  and  technical  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Of  I".  8  out  of  10.


  


https://agonmusician.bandcamp.com/album/kronos

Ashen Horde/Decayed/2024 EP Review

 


  
   Los  Angeles,  California's  Ashen  Horde  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  technical  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Decayed"  which  consists  of  4  new  song  and  12  nonalbum  songs  that  where  released  in  the  years  2015-2021.

  
   Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier,  melodic  and  technical  direction  while  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  
   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.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  tracks  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  style  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  faster  riffing  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  plagues  and  ancestral  curses. 

 
   In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  from  Ashen  Horde  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  progressive  and  technical  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Portent  Among  The  Debris"  "Baited  Breath"  "The  Entity"  and  "Echthros".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/1c8dercF2yQ

https://www.instagram.com/ashenhorde/ (@ashenhorde)

https://www.facebook.com/AshenHorde/

https://ashenhorde.bandcamp.com/   

Tsatthoggua Interview

 


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


We took a short break because production had taken up a lot of work and energy. Afterwards we played some concerts and festivals like Steelfest, Odyssey to Blasphemy and Under the Black Sun. We also toured Mexico. So we used our time to rehearsal for the live performances.


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


The new album is more mature, more adult and, thanks to the new technology, more professional than the old ones. I wrote the songs in a relaxed manner at home in my small studio without any time pressure. This meant I could rework it again and again until I was ultimately satisfied. I then sent it to the others and everyone was able to engage with the song, interpret it for themselves and add their ideas. We put the finishing touches on the whole thing during rehearsals and in the studio. From a musical perspective, the album is still in the typical Tsatthoggua style but just not as chaotic as the old albums. This time we also decided on slower and mid-tempo songs because we just felt like it.


3.Back in the day you referred to your music as being 'hyperspeed metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?


*laugh* at this time we just wanted to be different to other bands and stand out. We played a really fast and chaotic music with crazy vocals. We called it just like that, to do something different than everyone else. 


4.The band was also broken up for more then 20 years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?


In fact, we never really officially broke up. But at the turn of the millennium we somehow lost our motivation. Our drummer and I started families, had children, everyone pursued our professions and so everyone slowly went their own way. In 2002 I moved to another city for professional reasons and as a result we completely lost touch with each other. So the end was virtually sealed. But under no circumstances did we part in a gruesome manner. In 2019, Northwind met our old manager at a concert and talked about meeting again in a cheerful atmosphere (they enjoyed a few beers together). A few weeks later, Northwind contacted all band members and arranged a meeting with the entire band. At the meeting it felt as if our paths had never parted and we had just seen each other yesterday. After many beers we came up with the idea of ​​giving a concert. At that point we weren't even thinking about making a new album. The audience's feedback from the concert was incredible and we really enjoyed it, so the next steps were clear: we wanted to continue as a band!






5.During the past 2 decades the black metal scene has changed since the band released the last full length, do you feel black metal in general is very tame back to the earlier days when more bands where willing to be more risky and creative?


There is still the mainstream and the underground. I think the new generation in the scene thinks that BM has to be either raw or atmospheric. In my opinion, there are hardly any really crazy things these days. When I think of the first Napalm Death, Carcass or Impaled Nazarene etc., that was definitely riskier and more experimental. There's nothing like that anymore these days and that's exactly what made these bands so special, because they did something different, something crazy. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the scene no longer allows as many experiments as before.


6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?


With 'We are God' we invoke our ancient virtues. It's a mixture of nihilism, sardoism, coupled with a touch of Lovecraftian myths. As far as songwriting goes, I think we've all evolved. We are no longer so chaotic and have become calmer as we get older. To do this, we use the new circumstances that technology offers us. This way you can work more professionally.



7.The bands name came from the 'Chthulu Mythos', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this particular diety?


What fascinates us to this day in Lovecraft's literary work is the dark magic of the "old ones". The Cthulhu mythos is bigger than Lovecraft and the cosmic horror described in it follows interesting philosophical paths such as existentialism or nihilism. The terror of the unknown is an archetypal fear and Cthulhu itself is based on old sailor's tales, i.e. weaving in folklore. You can see from the choice of protagonists: academics, journalists, bon vivants, artists, detectives, rarely children, in which elements the strange is sought. They were pulp stories that were partly reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe, but were also something completely new. That fascinates us!


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


We wanted to do something unusual again, based on our old recordings. We searched for a suitable cover in various forums that were common in the genre. This is where we came across Kay from MorphArts. An outstanding artist and photographer active in the bondage and latex scenes. Our current cover immediately caught our eye and we knew that it was what we wanted. For us it means that we do not bow to religion in general and only worship ourselves. We are our own gods – We Are God!




9.Out of all the tours and shows the band played back in the day, which one stands out the most?


I don't think you can really highlight any of them, as every concert itself was great and had a lot of energy. But what I remember well was the tour with Marduk of his time and, most recently, the concert at the Baroeg in Rottendam. The Dutch are really crazy people, they always give their all, party really well and go crazy. This went so far that a fan had to be picked up by an ambulance because he hit his head on a concrete pillar. That was crazy.


10.Do you have any touring or show plan for the new album?


Because our singer Northwind had to have surgery on his shoulder, we are forced to slow down a bit at the moment until he is fully recovered and ready to play again. From October we will play three concerts in Turkey. Concerts in Paris, Belgium, a tour through Colombia and a concert in Germany are also planned. We have also already been booked for festivals in Romania, the Czech Republic and Finland in 2025. There may also be an American tour and I think it won't be the only ones.


11.In the 90's the band was very heavily into bondage and sado masochusm, are these themes still very important with the band like they where back then?


For us they still play a role in our lives but we don't really want to shock people. I think that our text topics are quite interesting for some people who love sex. We don't even call it kinky sex. It's exactly what people want to do in their private lives, some people are even part of some kind of public scene, for example in underground clubs in capital cities. Usually the foundation of S/M sex is trust and love. These are values ​​that we use as inspiration for our art. And of course our Western society is not free and open to these values. Everyone knows this. Especially the old remnants of Catholicism and other religions still think that these open and free (and S/M) people are anti-Christian or anti-religious. We really like the idea, haha!


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


She was outstanding and more than we expected after all these years. On the one hand, we were able to convince the old fans of our new work and on the other hand, we gained more fans who didn't know us before. You can see this in all the worldwide orders and messages that have reached us.


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


We're not thinking about it at the moment, we're just living in the moment. What I can say is that we want to continue making extreme music for extreme people.


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


We like the same music as we did twenty years ago. Fast, raw, hard, angry metal or hardcore/punk, black metal, thrash, death metal... of course the good old bands, but we are open to new acts and always keep an eye on what's happening in the global scene, even if It's almost impossible to know all the good bands. Our bassist False Prophet is also in the techno-hardcore Gabba scene. The main thing is brutal and wild.


15.How would you describe your views on Satanism?


I wouldn't describe ourselves as satanists. We don't practice that either. We see ourselves more as atheists who support the rejection of belief in a God.


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


We are still amazed that there are people like you, the OSMOSE staff or our fans worldwide who still like or love what we do and support us. This is the greatest possible honor! Thank you very much! Stay bizarre, kick some ass and dominate! 


Nar Marratuk by TSATTHOGGUA



https://bfan.link/tsatthoggua-we-are-god

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Lustlcon Interview

 

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

LustIcon is a solo project of mine. I needed a project for the songs that didn't quite fit with my primary band "The Promise Of Plague". I think these songs are less experimental and more traditional 90's black metal. The Promise Of Plague blends death/doom/black/thrash and whatever the hell else I want to throw in there while these songs tend to remain more or less black metal. There are other influences in there of course, a few hard rock riffs, some hardcore bits popping in and out but all in all it's just black metal and they deserved their own album.


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

I never really consider how the songs are going to sound before I write them. I sit down, hit the record button and whatever comes out comes out. During these recording sessions I wrote a new album for The Promise Of Plague, I wrote this LustIcon release and a few grindcore songs materialized as well which will have their own release in the coming months.


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

Overall the lyrics are a stark exploration of anger, betrayal, lingering pain, disillusionment and the struggle to reconcile past trauma. They convey the complex and often contradictory emotions associated with life.


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

I wanted a word that conveyed the idea of a Lexicon "the complete set of meaningful units in a language" with something worldly. A complete set of meaningful units of all things worldly and Lust seemed to embody the concept of the Flesh quite well. LustIcon. The totality of all actions concerning the Flesh.


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

The artwork is based on the song They Fall. The idea of innocence and purity being tarnished by harsh experiences. The contrast between the delicate and the hostile. It's symbolic of the vulnerability and cruelty of life.


6.So far you have recorded most of the music by yourself, are you open to working with a full band or do you prefer to work solo?

I write everything solo. I've never been able to sit around with a group of musicians and jam and write a song as a collective. That's not really a skill that I've been able to develop. My mind goes blank in those environments and I end up contributing nothing to those sessions. All material that fits with The Promise of Plague will be reworked to fit the style of the musicians in the band, LustIcon will more than likely remain a black metal project. As mentioned earlier I did end up with a handful of grindcore songs during this writing session, maybe more along the lines of Asphyx mixed with Repulsion so not completely grindcore but I'll be working with a few other musicians recording those songs in the near future.


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

I like the idea of creating music just to create music. I never market or promote my material. I like sending the albums off for reviews but I'm not looking to gain any fans from it. I write music and that's really my only goal. As far as LustIcon is concerned you're one of the first people to hear it. I've not release any of the music yet and I'm only just now uploading it to streaming services. Again, just so whoever wants to hear it can hear it. I'm not really concerned with gaining fans or marketing.


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

No reactions yet. I sent this album to maybe 10 or so people for reviews, as of now those are the only people who have heard it.


9.Do you have any experience playing in other bands or musical projects?

I've been in everything from Death Metal bands to Electro bands. Assisting Sorrow (progressive death metal), Absence of Faith (goth/industrial), Empyrean Asunder (industrial metal), Fatal Step (technical death/heavy metal), Marcoda (electro), Alice In The Aftermath (electro-alternative), Coronach (death/black metal), LustIcon (black metal), The Promise Of Plague (death/doom/black/thrash), and the new grindcore-ish project which should be taking shape soon. I'll be working with a few legendary musicians for that release so I'm pretty excited about it.


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

I probably wont release a full length for LustIcon. I think I'll just release a handful of songs as I write them. 4-5 songs here and there.


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?

Mostly 90's era Death/Black/Doom Metal, 80's Oi, and 60's Motown. When it comes to modern music I'm really digging a lot of the Future-Pop and Synth-Pop acts coming out since the early 2000's.


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

Check out LustIcon, The Promise Of Plague and my new grindcore project. I have some pretty interesting musicians on board for that one. It should turn out well.


Still Wave/A Broken Heart Makes An Inner Constellation/These Hands Melt/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Still  Wave  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal,  alternative  and  doomgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "A  Broken  Heart  Makes  An  inner  Constellation"  which  will  be  released  on  June  28th  by  These  Hands  Melt.


  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  shoegaze,  alternative  and  post  rock.


  Clear  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  show an  influence  of  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


   High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  pac3end  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  words  into  the  music,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  anatomy  of  a  heartbreak  and  the  rebirth  through  a  new  illusion  of  love.


  In  my  opinion  Still  Wave  are  a  very  great  sounding mixture  of  post  black  metal,  alternative  and  doomgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spaceman  With  A  Gun"  "Near  Distant"  and  "The  Coldest  Home".  8  out  of  10.


Watch 'Spaceman (With a Gun)' video:

Watch 'Near Distance' video:

https://thesehandsmelt.bandcamp.com/album/a-broken-heart-makes-an-inner-constellation

  

Hvile I Kaos/Lower Guide Manifestations/Vitae Manifestatio/Eisenwald/House of Inkantation/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Los  Angeles,  California's  solo  project  Hvile  I  Kaos  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  occult  black  metal,  ritual  and  chamber  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Lower  Guide  Manifestations"  which  will  be  released  in  July  as  a  joint  effort  between  Vitae  Manifestatio,  Eisenwald  and  House  Of  Inkantation.


  Ritualistic  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  cellos  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  while  also  introducing  elements  of  chamber  music  onto  the  recording.  The  vocals  are  mostly  chants  that  also  capture  the  grim  atmosphere  of  black  metal.


  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  of  the  cellos  get  more  aggressive  they make  for  the  lack  of  traditional  metal  instruments  being  utilized.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments,  one  song  also  adds  in  some  spoken  voices  into  the  background,  some  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals.  as  the  album  progresses  the  sounds  of  torture  can  also  introduced  into  the  music.


  On  this  recording  Hvile  I  Kaos  takes  occult  black  metal,  ritual  and  chamber  music  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focused  on  a  practice  of  Sinsiter  Magick  known  as  Vendatic  Nihilism.


  In  mu  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hvile  I  Kaos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  ritual  and  chamber  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Hatred  Is  Just"  "Panic  Sun"  and  "Verify  Thy  Path".  8  out  of  10.


 https://hvileikaos.bandcamp.com/album/lower-order-manifestations  


   

Uprising/III/AOP Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Uprising  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "III"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  AOP  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  clean  sections  also  bring  in  elements  of  shoegaze.


  Spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  briefly  while  the  synths  also  add  in  an  atmospheric  touch  when  they  are  utilized.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  a  few  songs  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  social  and  political  criticism.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Uprising  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eternal  Mantra"  and  "Brace  Yourself".  8  out  of  10.


  www.facebook.com/uprisingblackmetal     

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Clactonian/Dea Madre/2024 Demo Review

 


  Clactonian  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Italy  and  Finland  and  plays  an  old  school  and  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  demo  "Dea  Madre"  which  will  be  released  in  July.


  A  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  sounds  starts  off  the  demo  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  as  well  as  the  demo  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of t he  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  the  whole  demo  also  sticks  to a  heavier  direction  and  the  closing  track  is  a  Von  cover.


  Clactonian  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  classic  era  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school while  the  lyrics  cover  the  ancient  Stone  Age  and  Paleolithic  era.  


  In  my  opinion  Clactonian  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  and  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  "Bone  Ritual"  and  "White  Thunder".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/clactonian.metal

Nocturnal Wanderer/The Evernight/Altare Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Nocturnal  Wanderer  are  a  solo  project  from  Portland,  Oregon  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  classic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Evernight"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Altare  Productions.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  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  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  some  of  the  riffing  adds  in  elements  of  90's  metal.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  second  wave  era  of  black  metal  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  as  the  album  progress  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals  are  also  utilized,  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  synths  and  night  sounds.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  untamable  power  of  darkness.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nocturnal  Wanderer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Waning  Crescent"  "Before  The  Dawn"  and  "Waut  For  The  Blackout".  8  out  of  10.


  https://nocturnalwanderer.bandcamp.com/album/gift-of-the-night  


 

Friday, June 21, 2024

Lustlcon/They Fall/2024 Demo Review

 


  Lustlcon  are  a  solo  project  from  Louisville,  Kentucky  that  plays  a  very atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  ep  "They  Fall".


  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  some  female  vocals also  being  utilized  on  a  few  songs  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.


    When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  one  of  the  tracks  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Lustlcon  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  atmospheric  and  melodic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Lustlcon  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beautiful  And  Obscene"  and  "The  Waiting  Blind".  8  out  of  10.  

The Shiva Hypothesis/Faustian Restlessness/2024 EP Review

 


  Netherlands's  The  Shiva  Hypothesis  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Faustian  Restlessness"  which  will b e  released  on  June  29th.


  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  avant  garde  structures.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  word  parts  and  clear  vocals  are  also  added  briefly  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  wind  instruments  are  also  added  towards  the  end.


  On  this  recording  The  Shiva  Hypothesis  takes  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  avant  garde  elements  to  create  a  very  diverse  ep.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  esotericism,  philosophy  and  mythology  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Shiva  Hypothesis  and  if  you  are  fan  of  avant  garde  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Perilous  Journey  Of  The  Soul"  and  "Faustian  Restlessness".  8  out  of  10.


  Website: http://www.theshivahypothesis.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshivahypothesis
Bandcamp: http://the-shiva-hypothesis.bandcamp.com

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

Kommandant/Exhibition Of Conquest/ATMF/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Chicago,  Illinois's  Kommandant  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  fast  and  aggressive  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Exhibition  Of  Conquest"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  ATMF.


  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  old  school  touches  as  well  as  remaining  modern  at  the  same  time,  clear  vocals  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard on  a  couple  of  tracks.


  On  this  recording  Kommandant  brings  out  a  very  fast,  aggressive  and  diverse  form  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Hateful  and  Historical  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kommandant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  fast  and  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Arsenal"  and  "Exhibition  of  Conquest".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/KommandantOfficial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QkU0NhItnE

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Blasfeme Interview

 


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


We have been preparing for some festival shows over the summer and compiling ideas for the next release


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


Our early work was very heavy, discordant, this is more along the lines of traditional sounding black metal, and in keeping with tradition, we go balls to the wall, man. The record was engineered and recorded by Timothy Vincent whom we worked with on the Fuck Your Starving Planet EP, and mixed and mastered by Ahzari (Beyond Man, Saligia)


3.Most of the band members also have experience playing other types of extreme metal, what impact does this have on the black metal style of 'Basfeme'?


Not a lot, as what we require is specific to our sound, so to play in any other style doesn't fit. Plus it has been a while since I seriously played any metal style other than our own. I doubt I could write a death metal song these days now that I think about it!


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?


The lyrical themes are great to get stuck into. This album deals with occultism/satanism, mythology, European medieval history, old gods.. "Czernobog" has lyrics taken from Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" novel, which he himself granted permission for me to use. "Cachtice 1611" and "Black Legion" are both rooted in factual history, and "Ritualistic Exsanguiation" is inspired by horrific folklore.

Over the years we have had to adapt and rewrite, playing as a 2, 3, 4 and 5 piece.. at this point Blasfeme songwriting is second nature, but by its very nature continues to make me push myself as a musician.


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


Do I really need to spell this one out? 


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


It is the coat of arms from the Hungarian Black Army, the largest mercenary force in Europe during the 1400s. The artist Maciej Kamuda recreated it beautifully.. see if you can spot the differences.. and of course added decapitated heads and burning buildings that adds great depth and story.


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


At Club Orthodox in Czech Republic was an amazing, fantastic evil atmosphere. Supporting MystifieR in our hometown was great, although the venue did fine us...

Our onstage presence is quite visceral. The early years were darkness and madness, these days we are a focused and devastating attack.


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


All in the works, but I can't confirm anything past our appearances at Funeral Fest 28 June and Beermageddon 24 Aug.


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


I can't really comment about it on a worldwide level.. I tend to only learn about things like that when others tell me! My mate David told me a Swedish kid came into his shop and went nuts over our t-shirts, saying he had made posters of our album covers.. but I still think he was winding me up!


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?


Dialgar also plays in Amputated, My Silent Wake and Guillotine Dream.

Striga drums for Nefarious Dusk and Parusight is always writing his own music. Personally my side project differs dramatically from the other guys in that I also write guitar based hip hop.. so our collective output is quite varied to say the least!


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


We'll keep giving you something a little different each time, with the same energy and savagery.


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?


It essentially boils down to the music Striga and I grew up on, classic heavy metal, early black metal, some progressive stuff and a love of all things dark and heavy.

I guess recently Finnish black metal has been on my turntable most, and I have been revisiting old Rush albums.


13.Does Occultism play any role in your music?


Absolutely. We are drawn to darkness, and feel comfortable there.


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


Thanks for taking the time to let me take the time to answer your questions! I hope you enjoy the album. It is dedicated to the memory of our brother Jake, Blasfeme's original vocalist and bassist, and my personal best friend, who passed unexpectedly in December 2022.

Keep flying the flag for Black Metal, and as the old saying goes, smoke weed and worship Satan.


https://www.facebook.com/blasfemeband
https://blasfemeuk.bandcamp.com/

Stormcrow 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) After the release of an album, and this new one isn’t an exception, we always try to organize as much as possible live shows to spread our music. Along with this we are already into the composition phase for the new album.


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


2) I think that “Path to Ascension” is more monolithic and coherent in itself; while we maintained our style of mixing speed, violence and harmonies, “Disposition to Tyranny” and “Face the Giant” suffer of less homogeneity as a whole even if some tracks of this albums remain jewels of our production.


3.The band has been around for more than 25 years but so far has only released 3 full length, a demo and an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the long gap in between releases?


3) Our slow pace in releasing albums are due both by the extreme care we put in composing, arranging and choosing the tracks and by delays caused by line-up changes and other accidents, personal and with labels and managements. Lately we set our determination to produce new stuff at a faster pace.




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


4) Mountains have always been the center of our philosophy intended both as physical and metaphorical: the pain and the effort to climb a peak are the same as to ascend in everyone personal and spiritual evolution. In DTT this concept was explained as the necessity to discover the personal attitude to guide himself through life remaining true to ourselves. FTG revolve around the concept of overcoming our personal demons. With PTA everything is summed into advancing to the peak.


5.The band has been around since the mid 90's, do you feel the older generation understood  black metal a lot better then the younger generation?


5) I don’t feel like I’m in a position to compare older generation to the new ones. Surely being young during the first wave of Black Metal give us a more direct point of view about it but as time passes everything changes and probably new generations see this with a more open minded setting. Truth is, for personal experience, that younger people are increasing at black metal shows during the last few years.


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


6) The name Stormcrow was born in the late 90’s and have no special meaning. It was taken from the book The Lord of The Rings: it is as Grima calls Gandalf to mean he is a bringer of grief and misfortune.


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


7) The cover of PTA represents the road everyone has to walk to reach the peak of his self evolution trough adversities and challenges.


8.Out of all the tours and shows the band has plated over the years, which one stands out the most?


8) Every big band we played with is unique in its own way. All of them showed why they are where they are for their professionality and attitude. If I have to name some of the their shows I enjoyed the most I’d say Grima, Rotting Christ, Taake and Belphegor.


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


9) Yes, we are in the middle of organizing an East European tour for the end of October. The next shows will be in Clagenfurth (Austria) in September and some more are about to be defined.


10.The new album is coming out on 'Time To Kill Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?


10) Working with Time to Kill was absolutely a change of pace in our way of working. The past labels we worked with were totally unprofessional and unsupportive. We are very excited to work with TTK and look forward to our future growth with them.


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


11) We get very positive responses everywhere we play but due to the past promotion work made we wasn’t able to spread our music as much as we wanted to. Lately, thanks to Time to Kill and Cerberus Booking, we started to get more and more positive responses worldwide.


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



12) No, we are all 100% devoted to Stormcrow and, at the moment, none of us have the time or the will to start and bring on any side-project or other band.



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


13) Always forward to another, higher, peak.



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


14) Other than black metal (there are many new good act nowadays), any band member has its own influences both in extreme metal and outside it.


15.Does Occultism play any role in your music?


15) We can’t say we are into Occultism of any kind.


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


16) Know yourself and your limits but always challenge them with the will to go always on and higher.