Nordicwinter/Solitude/Naturmacht Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Quebec,  Canada's  solo  project  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Solitude"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Winter  orientated  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  the  album  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  the  closing  track  is  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Nordicwinter  goes  for  a  very  slow,  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Coldness,  Emptiness,  Darkness  and  Agony  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nordicwinter  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Whispers  Of  Frozen  Abyss"  and  "Eternal  Night's  Embrace".  8 out  of  10.

  https://naturmacht.com/nordicwinter/

Azzaya/Infernal Blasphemia/Maledict Records/War Productions/2025 EP Review

 

  Portugal's  Azzaya  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  raw  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Infernal  Blasphemia"  which  will  be  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  Maledict  Records  and  War  Productions.

  Spoken  words  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  brutal  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along with  one  track  also  being  a  brief  instrumental,  some  tracks  also  add  in  some  angry  shouting  vocals  which  also  have  a  touch  of  the  first  wave  era  to  them.

  On  this  recording  Azzaya  goes  for  a  very  raw,  old  school  and  satanic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Azzaya  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  old  school,  satanic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Death  Assault"  and  "Of  Blood,  Gold  And  Eternal  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

https://linktr.ee/azzaya_bm  

Natas/Mara/Dusktone/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Natas  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Mara"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Dusktone.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  clear  singing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  era  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  angry  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  a  melodic  style,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Norwegian  and  cover  Luciferianism  and  Misanthropy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Natas  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Book  Of  Destruction"  "Dying  Sun"  and  "Death  Beyond  Death".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/officialnatas  

Myrkkyharakka Interview

 

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

Ia-Omnissiah came up with the name in 2023 and I made the first logo and then we decided we'll form a band. I happened to have a manic episode right after so I made songs all day and night for a month or so, so I would say that was the start. From the beginning it was very clear that we make music without any genre/ideologial/whatever boundaries. Then my roommate at the time joined and we found a bass player/vocalist. Those guys left in beginning of 2025 which truly was a blessing in disguise as Invoker of the Shadows and Rutto Von Der Issen joined the band right after which lifted the band to a whole new level.

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

I have listened black metal for like 25 years but when I compose I don't think I'm making black metal. That would be very restricting for me. But as I have listened the finished album it came out pretty black metal haha. Some riffs on the album are decade old or even older so it's no wonder you can hear the black metal influences as I was playing in many black metal bands at the time. Music on the album came very naturally and we think good riff is good riff no matter what genre it is. I would say it's a mixature of both old school and modern black metal, 80's heavy metal, drill rap (melody wise) with rock'n'roll/punk attitude in general.

3.All of the band members have experience playing in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Myrkkyharakka', that you wherenbot able to do with your recent or past groups?

For me Myrkkyharakka opened total new portal of creativity as in past I have never had this kind of freedom to do whatever I want musically. I have made all kinds of riffs and no one has said that we can't use that or so. Most of the time I make demo versions of the songs on my own (Maa-Äidin Verestä was co-written by Invoker of the Shadows and Daturagnosis by Nekrokunt) and then every member has right to arrange their instrument in their own way.  Also the structure of the songs take final form when we rehearse them. You could say it's pretty chaotic that everyone does whatever he or she wants but in Myrkkyharakka it works. I guess it's that freedom and free flowing energy which binds us to create Myrkkyharakka.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Occultism and Left Hand Path themes, which aspects of the dark arts do you bring out with your songwriting?

My writing process come always with music first and then lyrics are made to fit the song. Everyone in band has interest in occultism/horror/spirituality etc. I guess it comes from from our sub-conscious and bleeds to the art. It also should be noted that I, Rutto Von Der Issen, and Ia-Omnissiah all made lyrics so you can see different approaches in albums texts. Maybe someday we'll translate those Finnish texts but the problem is that there is always some meaning lost in doing that. My approach is kinda straightforward because I don't like lyrics to be too cryptic or have some "too hidden" messages.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Myrkkyharakka

Myrkkyharakka literal translation would be poison (myrkky) and magpie (harakka) but it cannot be translated directly because it has different meaning in Finnish tradition both as single words and together. Only thing I can say about the inspiration is every member of this band is Myrkkyharakka in one way or the other.

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

Album cover is most likely temporary, we'll see what we come up with to the physical release. Sigil on the cover is our bands logo.

7.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

We have played 2 times with the old line up and are looking forward to get on stage now that we have new strong line-up. We just have to find a bassist for the job. Of course we can do it with session bassist but we'd rather find same kind of fuck-up as the rest of band as a permanent member.

8.So far very little is known about the band even with all of the band members being veterans, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

We aren't trying to keep low profile on purpose. We are promoting the album as we speak and we are on social media and whatever. I think the growth will come naturally by making more music and playing more gigs and become better in that.

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

Yes we are indeed looking for a label! For me I would prefer to make deal with underground label as I have had bad experience with big labels. I don't want to give anyone rights to my music I just want like 500 vinyls made and if it sells out we make a new deal.

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

We haven't seen much reviews or comments and such yet so I really can't answer that in this point of time. The people we know have appreciated it very much. But I'm definitely interested about the reception when we release it.

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

It's impossible to say what we'll do in future cause we like to push our own limits but I'm pretty sure it will have drums, electric guitars etc if I have to say something haha. There are bunch of songs written in time we made Mystichrist but we'll see if we ever use them. Next planned release is a split and those songs definately differ from the album songs.

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?

Musical influences come from wide range from classical to rap to heavy metal to black metal to glam rock to progressive rock. Those are the main genres I have listened in my youth and on these days as well.

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

I'm honored that you asked for a interview after the album review!

ANANTA-ABRASAX-SHESHA! HAMA KARE RAHE HAIM GNOSTIKOI HA-SHAITAN!

Yours truly

Seven Kadoshwinds

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579265175924

Dimholt/MetaForm/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Bulgaria's  Dimholt  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  modern  and  aggressive   form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "MetaForm"  which  will  be  released  in  December.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Clear  singing  is  also  introduced  on  one  track  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being added  on  the  closing  track. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  life  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Dimholt  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  modern  and  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "MetaForm"  "Reality  In  Timeless  Comatose"  and  "Tapestry  of  Shameless  Eternity".  8  out  of  10.

dimholtofficial@gmail.com

http://facebook.com/dimholt.official
https://www.instagram.com/dimholtofficial/

http://dimholt.bandcamp.com

http://dimholt.org

Nemorous/What Remains When Hope Is Lost/Bindrune Recordings/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nemorous  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "What  Remains  When  Hope  Is  Lost"  which  will b e  released  in  November  by  Bindrune  Recordings.

  Clean  playing  which  returns  on  later  tracks  starts  off  the  album  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a progressive  feeling.  When  keyboards  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  touch  and  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast  beats  are  utilized.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nemorous  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "This  Rotten  Bough"  and  "What  Remains  When  Hope  Ha s Failed".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/NemorousUK/

https://www.instagram.com/nemorousuk/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ZxHBnGUlRuUU87UTO8Tqw

Satanicristo Interview

 

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: First of all, thank you for your interest and attention. I'd like to say that SATANICRISTO isn't a project, as we're established as a two-member band and will continue to do so, focusing on this extreme music, with a sound geared towards that transition period of the true underground, of bands from our city that we passed through, as well as others from abroad, from the period from 1986 until the beginning of the 90s.

2.So far you have released an ep and been a part of a split, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recordings?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: I could be describing this song as what SARCÓFAGO described when they made their first sound recordings: a total Satanic Fucking Metal, considering that the drummer passed through that band and brought with him the influence from that time, so I don't know a better definition for our sound.

3.The project has been around since 2017 but you waited until 2024 to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: Exactly. I started the band in 2017, initially looking to be a one-man band. After that period, when the first record was made, recording a cover for a tribute compilation to IMPURITY, I was involved with other bands, but creating new music, until the drummer offered to join me and we could record a debut EP. I agreed to the proposal, and so we did.

4.Both of the band members are  also involved with other bands and projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Satanicristo', that you have not been able to do with your other groups?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: The sound we make in SATANICRISTO is another type of sound that, despite some differences, follows a more extreme and raw line in relation to the other bands we play in, although the other bands we are part of also influence us a lot, for sure.

5.A lot of your lyrics cover Satanism and Blasphemy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the black arts?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: If you refer to the black arts, associating them with the occult, this theme has fascinated me since the 80s, even before my connection with Metal music, because I already had a fascination and interest in literature about the occult and magic, but the themes addressed by SATANICRIST are different, as they are restricted to the violation of moral codes and biblical principles, that is, pure hatred for the Christian gospel.

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: There's no specific meaning, per se. I created this name and realized it has a blasphemous connotation, which is what the band aims to do.

7.Currently there are only 2 members in this project, do you feel you are able to accomplish more with your musical style with less members?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: Exactly, the band's proposal is to move forward with just two members, and always distilling that same sound, without changes.

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: So far, our 7th debut EP, in addition to the song I recorded for the Tribute to IMPURITY, has been well received by the underground audience that appreciates this genre. I've seen and heard many supportive and encouraging comments.

9.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?

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: IMPURITY recently completed a 40-day European tour, and recently we played here in Brazil, one of which was in Brasília, the federal capital. We continue rehearsing for future performances with IMPURITY and other bands we're part of.

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: We're organizing and preparing for both our first full-length album and future tours in Brazil and abroad. Stay tuned for updates soon.

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: As I said, bands we were part of and some that even say they were influenced by us. The veterans from here like SARCÓFAGO, HOLOCAUSTO, MUTILATOR and others that came later like BLASPHEMY, BEHERIT, SAMAEL, and some current ones like TORMENTADOR, BLOODY VENGEANCE, CONQUEROR, BLACK WITCHERY, and others…

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

Morbid Lord Ron Seth: I conclude this interview by thanking you for your strong support and interest, and also to all the underground maniacs who took the time to read this interview. Long live Occult Black Metal Zine and may you always continue in complete blasphemy, in nomini Satanas. Hail!

https://www.youtube.com/@Satanicristo-666

Goat Semen Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

** Hi from the depths of hell, we just confirmed our participation in the Colombian Black Death Festival for November this year and we are finishing the compositions for the second album.

2.In the last year the band has been a part of a couple of splits and also released an ep, musically how does your newer music differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

** Not much, pure barbaric Black chaos from the depths of South America!

3.Over the years the band has written of satanic and blasphemous lyrics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the black arts and your hatred for Christianity?

** We have long history and many ancient civilizations and gods that ruled these lands since long before the Christians arrived, a lot of ancient knowledge, wisdom, and respect for our ancestral culture was destroyed by them, only for the greed and to impose a whore religion! Fuck it!

4.In one interview you mentioned an interest in the writings of Eliphas Levi, do you also have an interest in other occult authors or practitioners?

** A. Crowley!

5.A lot of the South American bands have a more raw and brutal approach to black and death metal compared to a lot of North American and European bands, do you feel the harsh climate and living conditions out there have an effect on the more aggressive style?

** It is possible, but I think it is also the aim to keep it brutal, extreme and untrendy! 

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

** Many, it’s hard to say, we appreciate very much the UG atmosphere… in this tour 2025 we did in Europe was an outstanding experience the House of the Holy Fest in Austria, and the gigs in Glasgow/Scotland, Goppingen/Germany small but hell of infernal gig!, Metal Magic in DK, I remember the dates we did in Helsinki and Lahti in Finland, and here in South America, the gigs in Bogota, Pasto, Brasilian Ritual Fest in Brasil! And of course on the early years in Lima at the Salon Imperial! Many great experiences! 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

** Already booked next gig in Colombia and started to work for the next year tours in Europe, and hopefully US! 

8.The band has worked with plenty of labels over the years, which one do you feel did the most to get your music out there heard?

** eternally thankful with Hells Headbangers, the do a great work and keep it UG! And supported us since the beginning! Osmose was very important also for spreading the pest in the old continent, our first release in NWN was unleashed this year, and we hope to work more stuff with them in the future.

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

** I think there is a large legion of mutant bangers who like Goat Semen, we have received messages from many different countries from around the globe, including countries like New Zealand, Egypt and China.

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?

**Goathammer is preparing stuff for the third Maze of Terror album, HellThrasher band Epilepsia has finished third album and I am rehearsing new tracks to be recorded soon with Evil Damn, watch out for those brutal attacks.

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

**More bestial and brutal direction!!

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

**pure traditional Black, Death, Thrash, Heavy Metal.. I also listen to some classical music frequently.

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

** Stay Die Hard, brutal and obscure.. rise the flag of bestial Metal high! And keep the flame alive!

https://www.facebook.com/goatsemen

Outlaw/Opus Mortis/AOP Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Outlaw  are  an  international  duo  with  members  from  Germany  and  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Opus  Mortis"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  AOP  Records,

  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  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  a  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  the  Swedish  style  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  as  well  as  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments

  Outlaw  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  fast,  aggressive  and  melodic  in  the  classic  Swedish  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti-Cosmic  Luciferianism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Outlaw  are  a  very  great  sounding  fast,  aggressive  and  melodic  occult  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  The  Infinite  Darkness"  "Those  Who  Breathe  Fire"  and  "Ruins  Of  Existence".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music    

Urachel/In the Name Of God/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Urachel  are  a  solo  project  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  album  "In  The  Name  Of  God".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  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.  Throughout  the  album  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  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  one  track  is  also  a  P.  Mobil  cover.

  Urachel  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  traditional  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Hungarian  and  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Paganism,  Witchcraft  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Urachel  is  a  very  great  sounding  fast,  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  The  Name  of  God"  "Lilith"  Crown  Of  Madness"  and  "Pagany  Krisztus".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/oF1qO4umecQ?si=BYZnAp0fzszwB79q

https://urachel.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Urachelband/

  

Saturnian Current/Illuminatio Doctrinae Mysterii/Sinistrari Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Saturnian  Current  are  a  solo  project  from  Atlanta,  Georgia  that  plays  an  avant  garde  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Illuminatio  Doctrinae  mysterii"  which  was  released  by  Sinistrari  Records.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  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.  The  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  avant  garde  touches  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  getting  very  deep  sounding  at  times.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  acoustic  guitars  and  clear  singing,  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Hermeticism,  Alchemy  and  Ancient  Esoteric  Philosophy.   

  In  my  opinion  Saturnian  Current  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Elysium  In  Exilio  (Doctrina  Mysterii  I:  Explicatio)"  "In  Transcendent  Rupture  (Cultus  Caerimonia  II:  Sacramentum  Claudit)"  and  "Monarch  Of  The Saturnian  Realms  (Doctrina  Mysterii  II:  Oratio  Finalis)".  8/5  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/SaturnianCurrent

https://saturniancurrent.bandcamp.com/album/illuminatio-doctrinae-mysterii     

Kravt durch Krebs/Schmerzlernen/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Kravt  durch  Krebs  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  and  dissonant  form  of  ambient  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  album  "Schmerzlemen"  

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Elements  of  ambient  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  field  recordings.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  some  dissonant  touches  along  with  the  black  metal  vocals  being  added  into  the  background  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  lo-fi  atmosphere  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  suffering  and  survival  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Kravt  durch  Krebs  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde,  dissonant  and  ambient  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Raureif"  "Portal"  and  "Eiskristall".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/vALFO9F3R9M

https://www.instagram.com/kravtdurchkrebs

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554504009365  

    

Astarte/Blackdemonium/Sleaszy Rider Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

     Greece's  Astarte  have  returned  with  a  recording  with  material  that  was  recorded  before  2015  and  went  for  a  melodic  and  aggressive mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Blackdemonium"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

    A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  death  metal  growls ,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly ,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  album  a  raw  feeling.

  On  this  recording  Astartte  went  for  more  of  an  aggressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  which  was  very  different  from  their  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Mythology,  War  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astarte  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blackdemonium"  "Godkill"  and  "Amon  Ra".  8  out  of  10.

  https://astarteband.bandcamp.com/album/blackdemonium 

Godskill/Unterm scharlachroten Mond/Gottesrache Records/2025 EP Review

 

  Godskill  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  fast  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Unterm  scharlachroten  Mond"  which  was  released  by  Gottesrache  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  tracks  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  as  the  interlude  also  adding  in  some  clean  chants  and  synths  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction,  whispered  vocals  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Religion  and  Political  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Godskill  are  a  very  great  sounding  fast  and  aggressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seraphim's  Burning  Hymn"  and  "Unterm  scharlachroten  Mond".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/GodSkill/#

     

Teufelsdom/Self Titled/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Russia's  Teufelsdom  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  and  self  titled  2025  film.

  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  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  era  of  the  genre.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  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  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  piano  and  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Teufelsdom  goes  for  a  very  satanic  and  occult  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Necromancy,  Darkness  and  Evil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Teufelsdom  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Тень  предвечного  зла"  "Некромантия"  and  "Плетущая  тенёта  сновидений".  8  out  of  10.

  https://teufelsdom.bandcamp.com/album/teufelsdom-album-2025 

Latanu/Acweald/Sacrilegious Profanity/Kruk/Verwustung/Pestilentia/Sixfold Kryvian Blasphemy/Handful Of Hate/6 Way Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  5  wat  split  between  Belarus's  Latanu,  Acweald,  Sacrilegious  Profanity,  Kruk,  Verwustung  and  Pestilentia  called  "Sixfold  Kryvian  Blasphemy"  which  was  released  by  Handful  Of  Hate  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Latanu  a  band  that  plays  a  very  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Throughout  their  side  of  the  split  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  dark  yet  melodic  style .  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belarusian  and  cover  death,  destruction  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Latanu  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw,  melodic  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Zmrok  (Darkness)".

  Next  up  is  Acweald  a  band  that  plays  a  punk  influenced  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  punk,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Spoken  words,  back  up  shouts  and  clean  playing  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length  and  both  of  their  sticks  to  stick  to  either  a  fast  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belarusian  and  cover  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Acweald  are  a  very  great  sounding  punk  influenced  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMM$ENDED  TRACK  "Pad  Kapyty".

  Next  up  is  Sacrilegious  Profanity  a  band  that  plays  a  very  satanic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  nature  orientated  soundscapes  and  clean  playing  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.  Throughout  their  side  of  the  split  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sacrilegious  Profanity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Eternal  Thirst  Of  The  Old  Ones".

  Next  up  is  Kruk  a  band  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  distorted  sound  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast beats.

   When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  and  they  also  bring  in  an  Immortal  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belarusian  and  cover  Paganism,  hated,  Kryvian  Legends  and  Nature.

  In  my  opinion  Kruk  are  a  very  great  sounding  pagan  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Smiertakryl".

  Next  up  is  Verwustung  a  band  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  growls  and  angry  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times,  elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  they  also  bring  in  a  Legion  Of  The  Damned  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belarusian  and  cover  angry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Verwustung  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  thrash  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Barani  Boza".

  Next  up  is  Pestilentia  a  band  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  their  side  of  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  first  wave  touch  and  their  side  of  the  split  closes  with  a  Bathory  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Belarusian  and  cover  Death  and  Blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Pestilentia  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Crushing  The  Saint".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  compilation  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  Belarusian  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/handfulofhaterecords

            

  Next  up  is  Kruk  a  band  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  black  metal.

              

Außerwelt 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?

As we recorded “Breath” in a diy-manner over many months part by part at home and in the studio of our drummer Kris, we mainly concentrated on the whole process around the album in the last few years. Since 2022 we’re playing as a four-piece and had the opportunity to gain some live experience, too. 

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

It’s more versatile and progressive over all. “Breath” is the first release in which our guitar player Manuel also takes on the role of the lead-singer. In the course of this, the whole vocal-arrangement has become different and open to more various singing-techniques. 

3.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?

For our bass player Steffen and me it was the first time of writing song-lyrics. It was a challenging experience, but also very exciting and relieving. The topics vary depending on the song. The opening track “Old dreams of the west” deals with deadlocked life situations and about overthinking your own attitudes to get out of that. ”The long goodbye” is a story about progressing dementia. As a third example I take “Embers touching blackest soil”, that is a confrontation with abstract fears. It’s always worth to look behind your own inner walls, but to keep in mind, that some demons can’t be imprisoned. We all have to find a way of dealing with them.

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

From the beginning we wanted to have a bandname, that somehow fits the floating and not clearly tangible character of the music. Besides that, the eponymous album from the french band Year of no light was an inspiration. That album has a wall of sound, that is massive and fragile at the same time. 

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

It is an acrylic painting by Carmen Alba and then layoutet by Dana Wolter for the complete artwork-design. We are very fortunate to have highly creative and talented individuals close to us, so we don’t need and want to hire external artists until today. Carmen has drawn or painted all artworks since “Transitions” in 2017. You can find her works over here: https://www.instagram.com/luna_art_design/. Dana is a professional graphic designer and prefers to work more behind the scenes. In our opinion, the overall result is fantastic!

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

The lineup has changed several times in the past and since three and a half years, we’re a four piece, that matches very well. In 2022 we played two shows, together with Wiegedood - both of them were a perfect opportunity to get used to those changes. One year after, we got the opportunity to play at “Dong Open Air”-Festival. A big festival-stage with more than thousand people in front - Until now, it has been a unique experience. Our stage performance is quite natural. We try to concentrate on our songs without only shoegazing all the time, haha! Between some songs the talk to the audience, but on the stage the music always comes first.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

We are playing a few shows around Germany these weeks and are planning to do more next year. We are a small band and everyone of us has different obligations in all daily life, so touring is difficult to arrange.

8.Currently the band is signed to 'Moment Of Collapse Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

The initial contact came through some members of Red Apollo (a Post Metal Band from Dortmund, that has split up a few years ago). We are very happy with the support from Basti and Jens, that mainly run Moment Of Collapse Records. The label is mostly oriented towards post rock, screamo and other atmospheric, heavy music, that is often connected with the hardcore-scene. It’s great to be in company of those open minded music-enthusiasts.

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

It’s hard to say, what happens on a world wide level in this case. Definitely there are some people outside of Europe, that listen to our music, but we don’t know very much about it in detail.

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

The musical fundament of “Breath” is our starting point for future plans. We want to play atmospheric metal with just the right amount of progressiveness and lyrics around topics that move ourselves and the society around us. On the one hand there is always the opportunity, it gets a bit more complex or that we will expand the role of clear singing. On the other hand, we won’t abandon the heavy and dark side of our music - so it always will be a question of inspiration and balance.

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?

It would take a long time to write about this, when you ask all the four of us, haha! When it comes to metal, we all tend to like more modern directions of the different subgenres - bands that have a broad musical horizon and don’t try to put artificial boundaries into music. But like always, there can be some exciting traditional bands, too - regardless of music genre. For my part in the early days I was more inspired by typical post black metal-bands like Alcest, Agrypnie or Lantlôs (The latter have also developed musically in a very free-spirited and different way). Concrete inspirations for “Breath” are difficult to summarize. In my opinion you can find elements of Opeth, Heretoir, Earth, Constellatia or Panopticon - and a wide range of bands, that you find around progressive metal, post metal- and hardcore. As we are listening to a lot of other music beyond metal too, the influences are many, even if they aren’t obvious.

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

Thank you for the interview and taking your time for listening to “Breath”!

https://www.facebook.com/Ausserwelt 
https://www.instagram.com/ausserwelt_official/ 
https://ausserwelt.bandcamp.com/