Popioły/Purposeless Through Meaning/Old Temple/2024 Album Re-issue Review

 

    Popioły  are  a  solo  project  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  modern  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  202o  album  "Purposeless  Through  Suffering"  which  was  re-issued  in  2024  by  Old  Temple.

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

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  rooted  in  the  modern  era mixed  in  with  some  of  the  old  school  aggression  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Popioły  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Polish  an d English  and  cover  Apathy,  Darkness  and  Nihilism  themes.

   In  my  opinion  Popioły  are  a  very  great  sounding  modern  and  aggressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Spark"  "Torn  From  Void"  and  "Illusion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/popio-y-purposeless-through-meaning

Hate Them All/III/Old Temple/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Poland's  Hate  Them  All  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "III"  which  was  released  by  Old  Temple.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  songs  mix  in  both  80's  and  90's  influences.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  touches  of  the  first  wave  era  and  all  of  the  tracks  also  avoid  the  use  of  any  solos  and  leads  and  focuses  more  on  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Hate  Them  All  brings  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  into  their  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Goat  Worship,  Blasphemy  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  hate  Them  All  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fall"  "Trample  To  Death"  "Way  To  Eternity"  and  "Screams  Of  Silence".  8  out  of  10.

  https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/hate-them-all-iii  

Morbosidad/Profana La Cruz Del Nazareno/Old temple/2024 Album Re-Issue Review

 

   This  is  a  review  of  an  older  recording  from  U.S.A's  Morbosidad  which  showed  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal  and  the  album  was  originally  released  in  2008  and  called  "Profana  La  Cruz  Del  Nazareno"  and  was  re-issued  in  2024  by  Old  temple.

 Synths  and  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes a   great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  bestial  growls  and  black  emtal  screams  while  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the 90's  era.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  riffing  is  done  on  power  chords  along  with  most  of  the  songs  having  an  average  song  length  of  two  and  a  half  minutes  with  some  a  little longer  or  shorter  and  they  also  bring  in  a  cover  of  Sarcofago's  "Deathrash".

  On  this  recording  Morrbosidad  remained  to  the  bestial  mixture  of  war  and  black/death  metal  that  they  had  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Satanism,  Luciferian,  Devil  Worship.  Blasphemy,  Darkness  and  Death  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Morbosidad  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sangrada  Cruz  Invertida"  "Templo  De  Lucifer"  "Consagracion  De  Sathanas"  and  "Morboso  Metal".  8  out  of  10.

  https://oldtemple.bandcamp.com/album/morbosidad-profana-la-cruz-del-nazareno       

Lostregos/Nai/Dusktone/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Lostregos  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Nai"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Dusktone.

  Stringed  instruments  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  All  of  the  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  both  old  school  and  modern  touches,  clean  playing,  acoustic  guitars  and  synths  are  also  added  in  some  parts  of  the  recording,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professions  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Galician  and  cover  the  paganism  and  folklore  of  their  own  heritage.

  In  my  opinion  Lostregos  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  melodic  pagan  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Auga  Ondas  Serpeantes"  and  "Terra  Proclama  Da  Nai".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/@LOSTREGOS  

Soaring/Self Titled/Stellar Frequencies/Araki Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Soaring  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2024  ep  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Stellar  Frequencies  and  Araki  Records.

  Synths  and  melodic  post  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  ep  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  shoegaze  elements.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  clear  singing  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody.

  Clean  playing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  is  more  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Soaring  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  shoegaze  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  universe  and  questioning  reality.

  In  my  opinion  Soaring  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Blurred  Contour  Of  Everything"  and  "Starflowers".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Nvm0RrCMI  

Lvctvs/La Incommensurable Desesperanza que Habita en Nuestra Existencia/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Venezuela's  solo  project  Lvctvs  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  depressive  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "La  Incommensurable  Desesperanza  que  Habita  en  Nuestra  Existencia".

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.

  On  this  recording  Lvctvs  expands  on  the  depressive  style  of  black  metal  that  he  had  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Death,  Depression  and  Existentialism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lvctvs  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Descuartizado  yace  mi  ser"  and  "Un  parpadeo  en  el  drama  del  tiempo  cósmico".  8  out  of  10.

  https://lvctvs-dsbm.bandcamp.com/album/la-inconmensurable-desesperanza-que-habita-en-nuestra-existencia 

      

Septuagint/Acosmic Conflagration/Underground Kvlt Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Septuagint  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Acosmic  Conflagration"  which  was  released  by  Underground  Kvlt  Records.

  

   A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  

   Atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  more  rooted  in  the  modern  era  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  singing  and  deeper  harsh  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in certain sections  of  the  recording  and  the  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

 

    Septuagint  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  raw,  modern  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Mysticism  and  the  Darker  Realms  of  Existence.    

  In  my  opinion  Septuagint  are  a  very  great  sounding raw  and  atmospheric  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spirituus  Luna  Nox"  and  "Into  The  Furnace  Of  Moloch".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/CrGorySO0Xk

https://www.facebook.com/Septuagint666

https://www.instagram.com/septuagint_official

      

Ottone Pesante/Scrolls Of War/Aural Music/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ottone  Pesante  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  brass  orientated  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Scrolls  Of  War"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Aural  Music.

  A  very  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  without  the  use  of  traditional  metal  instruments  while  drums  are  still  utilized.  Melodies  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  synths  also  being  added  into  the  music  briefly  and  a  lot  of  the  tracks  also  stick  to  more  of  an  instrumental.

  Blast  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  black  metal  direction  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  songs  also  incorporate  a  lot  of  jazz  and  avant  garde  elements  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  song  also  introduces  harsh  screams  onto  the  album.

  Ottone  Pesante  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  avant  garde,  mostly  instrumental  and  avoids  the  use  of  any  traditional metal  instruments.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  explore  history,  mythology  and  archeology  and  its  relation  to  brass  instruments  in  wars.

  In  my  opinion  Ottone  Pesante  are  a  very  great  sounding  brass  orientated  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  that  is  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Men  Kill,  Children  Die"  and  "Battle  of  Qadesh".  8  out  of  10.

  www.ottonepesante.it    

Beastcraft/Into Serpent Blood Invocation/Necroeucharist Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Beastcraft  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Into  Serpent  Blood  Invocation"  which  was  released  by  Necroeucharist  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in t he  90's  second  wave  era.

  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.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  a  couple  of  tracks  where  also  recorded  live.

  Beastcraft  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  satanic  in  the  90;s  Norwegian  second  wave  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Witchcraft,  Blasphemy,  Darkness  and  Death  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Beastcraft  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Witchcraft"  "Satanist"  and  "Blackwinged  Messiah  Of  Blasphemy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/XbT3xwH_IXs

https://www.facebook.com/BeastcraftOfficial

 https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/0AYCe7sARnk2vHKywRo4my

https://necroeucharistproductions.bandcamp.com/album/into-serpent-blood-invocation

Seid/Hymns To The Norse/De Tenebrarum Principio/ATMF/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Seid  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Hymns  To  The  Norse"  which  will  be  released  in  october  as  a  joint  effort  between  De  Tenebrarum  Principio  and  ATMF.

  Dark  soundscapes,  shamanistic  percussion  and  ritualistic  chants  start  off  the  album  which  also  evolve  into  more  clear  pagan  vocals  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction. A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  Organs  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are   a  concept  album  covering  Norse  Paganism,  Asatru  and  Rune  Magick.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Seid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RCOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  End  Of  Days"  "White  Beast  From  Hel"  and  "Hymns  To  The  North".  8  out  of  10.

  http://atmfsssdtp.bandcamp.com/album/hymns-to-the-norse    

Dismalimerence/Tome: II/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Dismalimerence  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Tome:  II"  which  will  be  released  in  October.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  which  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  more  progressive  direction  when  it  is  utilized.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  heavier  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.

  On  this  recording  Dismalimerence  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression,  isolation  and  romanticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Dismalimerence  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Grand  Narrative"  "Reticent  Waters"  and  "Drowning  Silence".  8  out  of  10.

  

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Dismalimerence

Waldruine/Nachtmeerfahrten/Hammerhead/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Waldruine  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  satanic  an d occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Nachtmeerfahrten"  which  was  released  by  Hammerhead.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Synths  can  also  be  heard on  most  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

   Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clean  playing  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Waldruine  are  a  very  great  sounding  satanic  and  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Totenkopf-Matrix"  "Septem  Passus  Draconic  Magi  V.I.T.R.I.O.L"  and  "Daimon  Vortex".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/WzOxZkwJTOo?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/Yn9SBTvNTmQ?feature=shared  

Endloser Abgrund Interview

 

Band: Endloser Abgrund 

Members: Der Abt (everything)

 In this Interview: Der Abt (himself) 

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

 Endloser Abgrund is a London-based black metal project that emerged in late 2024, dedicated to honouring the raw, unfiltered sound that defined the origins of black metal. We identify our music as "abysmal black metal," a style that stays true to old-school roots while incorporating a touch of aggressive sensibility.

 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?

 Simply put, the musical style is raw black metal. Inspired by the 1st wave, it’s aggressive, unholy, and uncompromisingly evil. 

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

 Lyrically, the EP “Kein Vergeben, Keine Gnade” focuses on themes of hate, anger, vengeance, and pain. The vocal screams reflect these emotions, delivering lines like "No forgiveness, no mercy," and "Your screams will be the anthem of my revenge." The lyrics paint a clear picture of the message being communicated. 

4.The project is from the United Kingdom but you write your lyrics in German, what was the decision behind using this language in your songwriting?

 I feel like the unfiltered sound of black metal is best represented in an intense language like German. Beyond that, music knows no borders; it can touch anyone regardless of language. 

5.I know that the bands name means 'eternal abyss' in German, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

 It fits in two ways. First, I’m trying to capture an abyssal vibe in my music, and the name represents that ambition perfectly. Secondly, as the production is raw and sounds like it’s coming from the abyss, it seems like a perfect match. 

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

 It’s nothing more than myself (Der Abt) standing outside an abandoned cabin in the woods. 

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

 I’m definitely open to working with other like-minded musicians on this project, but I won’t limit myself until that happens. It may never happen. As for live shows, there’s no definitive answer at this point. 

8.You also release your own music through your own label, is this label going to work with other projects?

 Correct. I have three more projects in the works. However, the label isn’t limited to my projects alone—that’s something we’ll need to explore in the future.

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

 Considering that the project was launched only a week ago, it’s tough to make a definitive statement at this point. The few people who have listened to the EP seem pretty excited about it, so I’m positive that the black metal world will warmly welcome it. 

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

 Great question! I’m currently working on the full-length album, which follows the same path the EP set, perhaps a little rawer, maybe a bit more evil. I’m aiming for early 2025, likely in the first quarter, for the release. 

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’ve never been able to properly answer that question! The one and only musical style that influenced me for this particular project was the first wave of black metal, maybe a bit of the second wave as well. I stayed away from listening to any similar bands, especially during the composing period, to remain as unbiased as possible. 

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

Thank you for having me and for supporting Endloser Abgrund

https://bit.ly/3X6QU7l

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565568540629

Aera/Phantast/Vendetta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Aera  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  ambient  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Phantast"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Vendetta  Records.

  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  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  as  well  as  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  songs  also  mix  both  the  old  school  and  modern  era's  of  the  genre  together  while  the  track also  bring  in  elements  of  ambient  when  they  are  utilized.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Aera  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  atmospheric  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  elements  of  ambient  to  create  a  sound  of  their own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  inner,  outer  universes,  distorted  perspectives,  and  a  world  outside  of  society  constraints.  

  In  my  opinion  Aera  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  atmospheric, ambient,  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kosmos"  and  "Fleisch  und  Knochen".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/aeeraband

www.instagram.com/ae_era_official 

www.aeera.bandcamp.com

     

Cloven/Twilight's Heart/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Cloven  are  a  solo  project  from  Ontario,  Canada  with  session  members  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  metal,  darkwave,  gothic  rock  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Twilight's  Heart"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  WornHoleDeath  Records.

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing   and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  gothic  rock  and  ambient  elements.

  A  lot  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  the  music  captures  the  dark  atmosphere  without  the  heaviness  of  previous  releases  as  well  as  avoiding  the  harsh  vocal  aspect  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Cloven  moves  way  from  the  heavier  style  of  black  metal  and  harsh  vocals  of  his  previous  release  and  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  gothic  rock,  darkwave  and  ambient.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  human  condition,  the  divine  and  the  eternal  themes  of  love  and  separation.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Cloven  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  darkwave,  gothic  rock  and  ambient,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  The  House  Of  Silence'  and  'Twilight's  Heart".  8  out  of  10.

  cloven137.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Cloven137  

        

Snares Of Impurity/Eliterian Tyranny/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Snares  Of  Impurity  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "Eliterian  Tyranny".

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  album  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  melodic  chants  and  whispers  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  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.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  90's  style  along with  the  songs  also  adding  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  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  ritualistic  interludes  as  well  as  one  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  synths  are  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Misanthropy  and  Apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Snares  Of  Impurity  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eliterian  Tyranny"  "The  Bell  Witch"  and  "The  Eternal  Holocaust".  8  out  of  10.

  https://snaresofimpurity.bandcamp.com/album/eliterian-tyranny  

  

Notturno/Our/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Notturno  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  classical  music  and this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Our"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Stringed  instruments  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  spoken  word  parts.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  explore  the  human  psyche.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Notturno  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inside"  and  "Doors".  8 out  of  10.

   Spotify-Link

YouTube

Isleptonthemoon/Only The Stars Know Of My Misfortune/Bindrune Recordings/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Isleptonthemoon  are  a  solo  project  from  Atlanta,  Georgia  that h as  had  music reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  post  rock  and  breakcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Only  The  Stars  Of  My  Misfortune"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Bindrune  Recordings.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  post  rock  style  clean  playing  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Keyboards  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  heavier  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.    

  On  this  recording  Iseleptonthemoon  takes  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  breakcore  and  post  rock  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Isleptonthemoon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dimming  Light"  and  "Like  Dying".  8  out  of  10.

  isleptonthemoon.bandcamp.com  

Liljevars Brann Interview

 

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

Actually it's been a long journey from the first Liljevars Brann recordings to the final release of the album and we could not be happier that HELJA KOR is now unleashed to the world. We recorded this album in early 2021 so it's been a while. In the meantime we already worked on the second Liljevars Brann album and gathering ideas for a third one. 

2. Recently you have released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording? 

For HELJA KOR , we wanted to blend sparks of traditional black metal with more atmospheric and mystical elements. Our goal was to create a sound that feels immersive, dark, and spiritual at the same time. We leaned heavily into melancholic riffing and harmonies while balancing it with melodic acoustic folk passages. 

3. You refer to your music as being 'mystical black metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term? 

‘Mystical black metal’ for us is about infusing the music with a sense of mystery and spirituality. It’s not just about raw aggression or darkness, but more about exploring the unknown, the hidden forces of nature, and the deeper side of existence. We aim to create a soundscape that feels otherworldly, something that transports the listener beyond the material realm. 

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

The lyrics are written in a fancy language. They are important to intensify the mystical atmosphere of the songs. But we have also written a background story about Liljevars Brann. Maybe we can release it one day as a book. It's story about two spiritual brothers unknown to each other, thrown into a magical world where they discover the reason of their existence. 

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

 The artwork is based on the background story I just told you and the strange creature is Halvor, one of the main characters of the Liljevars Brann world. He's kind of a keeper.

 

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

At the moment, we enjoy the dynamic of being a duo. It gives us complete creative control and allows us to work more intimately on our ideas. 

7. The new album was released on 'Octopus Rising', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

 Octopus Rising is new and fresh underground label. They have been incredibly supportive of our vision, giving us the freedom to maintain our creative direction. They understand the deeper, spiritual nature of our music and have been a perfect partner in bringing this album to life.

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

 The reaction has been very positive, especially from fans who appreciate the more atmospheric and mystical side of black metal. We’ve received a lot of support from listeners who connect with the themes and appreciate the depth of the sound. It’s been humbling to see our music resonate with people from different parts of the world. 

9. Do any of the band members also have experience playing in other bands or musical projects?

 Yes, both of us have been involved in other projects in the past decades. With these experiences in mind we have started Liljevars Brann with a strong vision and a conceptional idea. 

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

In the future, we plan to further explore the mystical and atmospheric elements of our sound. There will definitely be an evolution, but we want to keep the essence of what makes our sound unique—dark, spiritual, and immersive. 

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?

 Early Ulver definitely were so important to understand how black metal can be blended with dark folk. Also early The 3rd and the Mortal or Landberk. Nowadays we are more interested in music far away from metal sources. Songwriters, movie scores… 

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

We’d just like to thank everyone who has supported us so far. Creating this music is a deeply personal journey for us, and seeing it resonate with others is incredibly rewarding. We hope to continue bringing this mystical experience to listeners and look forward to sharing more in the future. Stay connected, and keep exploring

https://www.facebook.com/ liljevarsbrannofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/ liljevarsbrann/

Sordide/Ainsi finit le jour/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  France's  Sordide  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  modern  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Ainsi  finit  le  jour"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into a   very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  crust  punk,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  acoustic  instruments  are  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Sordide  goes  for  more  of  a  modern  and  aggressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  Death  and  Decay  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Sordide  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  modern  and  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deus  feux  plus  forts"  "Sous  vivre"  "Ainsi  finit  le  jour"  and  "Tour  est  a  la  mort".  8  out  of  10.

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Death Like Mass/The Lord Of Flies/Terratur Possessions/2024 Full Length Review

 

    Death  Like  Mass  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "The  Lord  Of  Flies"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Terratur  Possessions.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  more  of  a  chaotic  style.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Death  Like  Mass  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Polish  and  cover  Occultism,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Death  Like  mass  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sorcery  Unbridled"  and  "The  Killing  Of  Abel".  8  out  of  10.

  https://deathlikemass.bandcamp.com

Mardom Interview

 

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

Mardom was formed in 2019. It was initially my solo project up to the recording of “Longing for a New Dawn”. The actual line up is rather simple, that is myself, Morgomir and there is Kres taking charge of vocals. 

2.In October you have your first full length coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

In terms of musicianship, I feel the song compositions and structure have grown more mature and refined. The production is improved too compared to previous releases, but it still remains raw and not too polished, like we intended.

Likewise, the sound and atmosphere has become even more intense and darker, delivering a greater sense of melancholy than previous albums.

3.A lot of the music also goes back to the earlier days of depressive black metal, what are your thoughts on how that genre has evolved over the years, some fans have seemed to lose interest in the modern stuff the genre produces

 

I never felt that is where Mardom belongs, although I can understand why people might sense connection to those earlier days of the genre with our latest release. In my eyes black metal should be as cold and depressive as possible, and there is no need for a separate subgenre to express it.  

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

Everything and nothing. They are mostly inspired by dreams and some personal obscure visions as well. On the debut EP we explored themes of natural decay, hatred and the inherent human vanity, while also venturing into imaginary realms, places and unknown ancient times. Lyricwise the “Dead Soul Age” shares a similar essence, but thematically is more consistent. One might sense a strong feeling of omnipresent vision of destruction and inevitable doom throughout the lyrics of the new album.

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

In my belief Mardom is a realm, or domain of wraith-like entities (Mares) from Slavic and Germanic folklore. That name was inspired by Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult album and the song title, which came out roughly the same time Mardom was founded, in 2019. I consider them as our influence music-wise as well.

Some years ago I learned that the word Mardom means “people” in Persian. 

 

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

The album cover is a photo we captured somewhere in a forest near my home. I had envisioned the overall idea and initially we made several concept arts, with Kres doing some drawings. But then we thought we could as well take a photograph, as more realism would enhance the vision better. We think it fits the concept of the album well, and it's worth noting that it has almost become a tradition for all our album covers to be photos.

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

The atmosphere among the audience was very good at most of our concerts and in my eyes each is worthy of remembrance. We received some complimentary feedback every time we performed, which is of course very rewarding. Seeing people going wild to your own songs is a truly incredible feeling. Nevertheless we have not always been satisfied with our stage performance, sometimes caused by technical issues we could not prevent... although it seems most of that isn’t even noticed by the crowd. 

8.Do you have any touring and show plans for the new album?

No. We have no plans for touring and sadly there won’t be any shows as long as our line-up remains incomplete. 

9.The new album is coming out on 'Personal Records', how would you compare working with this label to 'Via Nocturna'?

Both labels provided us support in releasing our music and growing more visibility, each in their own way and I guess what they could at the moment, so for that we are grateful to both. 

Personal Records reached us a long time ago, probably shortly after release of debut EP. Since then they have been on our radar and they were really into in our new material and offered us a fair deal, so that made it an easy choice. We also feel that this label is where we fit better than we have with Via Nocturna, which seemed to be invested in more pathetic and not related to extreme metal activities, rather than promoting our music.

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

Well, we don’t pay much attention to that. When we get feedback we usually don’t know if they are fans of this or that. "Average" black metal fans seem to appreciate it.

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

We only intend to create more music we like and don't have any specific plans. One certain thing is that we won't stray any far from the path we are already on.

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?

There are too many to name them all, and it’s probably to be expected that most of the bands and musical styles that have had a significant influence on my part are the forefathers of black metal of early nineties. There is a lot of more modern BM inspirations to Mardom’s music as well, such as Windir, Djevel, Dumal or even some more recent albums of Horna, Enslaved or Darkthrone etc. I am personally influenced by European classical and folk music too.

I often stick to the albums I like and don’t often venture into discovering new music nowadays, whether it be a bad or good thing. Sometimes being more narrow minded can actually prevent some complications and dilemmas caused by having too many influences

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

Thank you for your attention. To all darkness enthusiasts, consider checking out new Mardom album on October 4th. 

www.facebook.com/mardomband