Sunday, December 21, 2025

Reaping Flesh/Death Creeps/Reaping Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


   Reaping  Flesh  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  with  elements  of  hardcore  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Death  Creeps"  which  was  released  by  Reaping  Records.


  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  direction w which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.


  Elements  of  thrash  and  death  metal  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Influences  of  hardcore  are  also  added  into  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody,  clean  playing,  whispered  vocals  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.    


  Reaping  Flesh  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black, death,  thrash,  post  metal  and  hardcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Reaping  Flesh  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black, death, thrash,  post  metal  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nothing  Avails"  "Blood  Red  infernal"  and  "Serpents".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.instagram.com/reapingflesh/#

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Archville King/Aux heures désespérées/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Producitons/2026 Full Length Review

 


  France's  solo  project  Archville  King  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "Aux heures  désespérées"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.


  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  which  also  returns  on  later  tracks  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.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.


  Growls  are  also  used  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  a  few  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing,  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and is  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Worm  King. 


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Archville  King  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Riposte"  "Le  carnival  du  roi  des  veres"  and  "À  ces  batailles  abandonnées".  8  out  of  10.


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Sesquipedaliophobia Interview

 

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


The idea came in the summer of 2025. And although it started partly as a joke — or rather as a way to release tension, because the past few years were very hard (though I think millions of people feel the same) — I started writing songs to get that pressure out of myself.

At the same time, I wanted to talk about topics that concern me personally and that I feel are important to address, because either very little is said about them or they are considered taboo.


Then I called two of my friends, who are also fantastic musicians: Istar (guitar, bass) and Pseudonymum (drums). They listened to the still-forming songs, I explained the concept to them, and they immediately said yes.

It feels really good to do this together with great musicians and old, close friends.


I am the vocalist, so I handle the vocals and all the other instruments as well. And inspiration came in a way it hasn’t for years — it’s still “flowing” out of me.

All three of us come from different musical backgrounds within metal, but we all love quality extreme music, and as it turned out, it had been a long-time dream for all of us to express ourselves through the language of black metal.



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


The foundation is black metal, but obviously we don’t listen to just one style. I personally graduated in 'media-composer', and I’m very close to film scores, classical music, Celtic and other folk music, as well as other metal subgenres.

All of the band members also play in completely different formations that are not extreme like this.


Melody is very important to us. With this debut EP, I wanted to show my first ideas — what I think (and what we think) about black metal — because contrary to popular belief, it is capable of expressing a huge range of emotions.

That’s why alongside the rawness there is orchestration, choirs, epic elements, atmosphere, and of course the stories themselves.


In some places I’m singing on eight layers at once and also using my clean voice to achieve the sound I had in mind (as the choir).

And if people connect with it and we continue, there will be many more surprises, because I like to push boundaries.


Fortunately, we also received enormous help with the sound from a good friend of ours, Borisz Sarafutgyinov (aka Boris the Savage), who — besides being the frontman of the German band Fleshcrawl and the Hungarian band Deprived of Salvation — runs his own studio called The Savage Lair, where the songs were recorded.

He’s a good friend, a great professional, an excellent musician, and he’s open to every crazy idea we come up with. We owe the strong sound of the EP to him.



 

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


I think the Intro (Porta) is quite self-explanatory, although in the end sex is not portrayed as a sin, but rather as liberation and opening up.


In 'Reverse', similar motifs are hidden as well, but the main message is that in the 20th century many ancient symbols have been completely twisted and misinterpreted.


Anyone could look up the original meaning of the pentagram — it had several meanings over thousands of years — yet when people see, for example, the tattoo on my chest, even some of my friends immediately ask: “Are you a Satanist?”

And my answer is: “Dude, let’s start by clarifying what ‘Satanist’ even means, because there are just as many kinds of Satanist as there are kinds of Christians. And secondly, no — that’s not why I have this tattoo.”

Or take the inverted cross. Originally, it was the symbol of Saint Peter. That’s Reverse.


The 'Dead on the Throne (897)' is about an event in the year 897 AD, when the corpse of a pope was exhumed, dressed in papal garments, tied to a throne, and put on trial by a court because they believed he had been sinful in life.

This is incredibly absurd. Christians digging up Christians, desecrating a corpse, and then passing judgment.

When I listened to this sick historical story, I realized I had to write about it.


The closing track of the EP directly addresses what I mentioned earlier regarding violence versus sexuality.

All of the lyrics also contain ironic lines and even references to real experiences, and I don’t think we always have to take ourselves so seriously.


One of my core beliefs is:

“Take what you do seriously — but you don’t have to take yourself seriously.”



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


After a long and exhausting shift at our civilian workplace, my friend 'Fado' (who is also the drummer of Deprived of Salvation) and I were joking around about how many random and absurd phobias exist.

As a joke, we wondered whether something like “the fear of long words” could actually exist. I looked it up, and it really does.


Originally it’s called 'HIPPOPOTOMONSTROSESQUIPEDALIOPHOBIA', which literally means “the fear of monstrously long words.”

When I decided that this would be the band’s name, I didn’t want us to be associated with a fucking hippopotamus, so we went with SESQUIPEDALIOPHOBIA instead.


It’s extremely ironic that a phobia like this is expressed with such an insanely long word, which made it instantly appealing to me — even if it’s hard to pronounce at first.

It’s ironic, unique, and it fits our music perfectly.

If someone doesn’t get the joke in this — or in the lyrics — then there’s really no point in explaining it to them.



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


The cover artwork was created by another close friend of mine, the painter Tamás Jakab (Jaki). It’s an oil painting, and it’s actually hanging on the wall in my room right now.


I wanted something that truly reflects the lyrics. I wanted eroticism to be strongly present, but not in a direct or explicit way — rather in a unique, symbolic form. Jaki has this distinctive style that I really love.

He worked on the cover just as conscientiously as we worked on the songs.


There is an altar and a sexual act, symbolizing that sex is not a sin, but a form of connection.

There are also Palantírs (a reference to Istar, our guitarist, as well as to Tolkien’s mythology), along with several well-known symbols that are deliberately distorted.



6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?


We haven’t played live yet, and since all of us are involved in multiple bands, nothing is set in stone at the moment.

What is certain is that we want to continue this band, at least as a studio project, but we haven’t made a final decision yet about live performances.


A lot of things depend on this. The last thing we discussed was focusing on releasing our music and records, and occasionally playing live shows — but again, this depends on many factors.


The most important thing is that SESQUIPEDALIOPHOBIA will continue to exist and new songs will keep coming.

Live performances depend on the band itself, the audience, and of course the opportunities that come our way.


Because even as a studio band we aim to deliver the maximum — and if we do play live, we want to give the absolute best, not just something “average” that people walk away from saying: “Well, it was 'okay'.”



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


At the moment we don’t have a label. The EP was released independently in digital form, and if everything goes as planned, it will also come out on a proper CD in a limited edition early this year.

After that, we’ll see whether it catches the interest of any labels.


At the beginning, we wanted to prove that we are able to get this project off the ground on our own. That said, with some external support we would clearly be capable of doing much more.

New songs are already being written, we have a lot of (wild) merch ideas, and next time we want to push ourselves to deliver an even stronger release.



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


We are still very much at the early stage of promotion, so I can’t give a definitive answer yet.

However, based on statistics and numbers, for a debut release by an extreme metal band, we are moving forward steadily — slowly, but in a positive direction.


So far, people who have heard the EP — whether friends or complete strangers — have reacted with surprising enthusiasm, saying things like: “This is a fucking great record.”

I’ve also seen the material being shared further in other countries, and people starting to follow the band.


Some listeners even contacted us "randomly" to say how much they liked the EP and to ask when the next release is coming.

Moments like that really make me feel that all the money, energy, and long nights spent working on this were worth it.


We’ve already been asked about merch as well, but that will still have to wait a little.

Hopefully the music will spread further, and next time I’ll be able to answer this question with even more concrete feedback.



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


As I mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of creativity or inspiration — and now Istar and Pseudonymum also want to take part in the songwriting process.

I can already say that I personally have five or six new songs waiting to be finished, so I truly hope that around this time next year there will be a real chance for a full-length album. Of course, that doesn’t depend on me alone.


If it were up to me, I would walk into the studio on January 1st and not come out until the album was finished.

Right now I’m in a very strong creative phase, and ideas keep coming constantly.



10.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’ll speak in my own name first, but I know that all three of us love good, fast music.

Istar and I both mainly come from a power metal background, while Pseudonymum was already deeply into very extreme metal as a teenager.


Because of my family, I grew up listening to bands like Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. Later came the more melodic, newer-generation metal bands such as Nightwish, Rhapsody, Kamelot, Dragonforce and Therion.

I clearly remember that the first three defining bands that pushed me toward extreme metal were Behemoth, Emperor, and Dimmu Borgir.


An then...Without aiming for completeness: Amon Amarth, Burzum, Darkthrone, Satyricon, Mayhem, the first few albums of Sear Bliss, and the work of the Hungarian keyboardist Winter (Sear Bliss, Forest Silence, Nefarious) were also very influential to me. And I like seriously for example the Lorne Shore, Shadow of Intent,...


It’s harder to speak on behalf of the others, but Istar has long been a big fan of Yngwie Malmsteen and Rhapsody, and among heavier bands he really likes Belzebubs, Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir.


I first got to know Pseudonymum in high school, when he was already playing Slipknot, DragonForce, and especially deathcore on drums.

Bands like Nile (one of my personal favorites as well), Despised Icon, and Job for a Cowboy had a huge influence on him.

So both of them are absolute beasts — I honestly can’t come up with anything stupid enough that they wouldn’t be able to play.

That’s when I really feel safe about our music and know that I can let my imagination run completely free.



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


Our motto:

“Desire becomes pure where shame ends.”


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Friday, December 19, 2025

Mortem Solis Interview

 

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

Sure! Mortem Solis is a One Woman Band project from brazil, where I, Null, am the mastermind behind it.

The project started as Raw Black Metal, but nowadays I can no longer consider that label a better definition for my sound. Perhaps something more introspective, but still, straightforward black metal. So I basically channel exclusively through creativity, as a form of deeply personal and artistic expression.

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


The first EP was a turning point, when I broke the fourth wall and understood that I was also capable of making music. That sounds a bit silly, but when you have a somewhat sick mind, you believe a lot of the lies you tell yourself. So I consider that first EP as the rupture. As for the album, it was also something as significant as the first EP, because the development of the project was already noticeable, as was my personal evolution.

So the fact that I've invested more in equipment, the sound is clearly more polished than the first EP, where everything was very raw, all of this makes me believe that the difference is noticeable. Even in terms of studying instruments, improvement in vocal techniques, more breath control, more experience...

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


It all started when I made a watercolor painting. It was a freehand painting and it came out as a figure of a hermit, at least according to my interpretation. This painting is illustrated in one of the demos I also released, which is also called Hermetic. My creative process seems a bit messy when I try to explain it, but in my head it all makes perfect sense.

So, from that painting and the demo I released, I started writing more songs, more lyrics, all based on the feelings I was experiencing at that moment in my life. Although with time gaps that weren't too long, but also not too short, the tracks began to create a connection between them, as if it were a continuation of an untold story.

And that's how the album came about. Where isolation became the greatest inspiration for a tired mind. The use of metaphors and figures of speech effectively masks everyday life. Existential questions have always surrounded me over the years; I couldn't talk about any other subject than this. And I think black metal fulfills this role very well as the perfect sound for such a theme.







4.The album titled is 'Hermetic', do you have any interest in any Hermetic and Occult Philosophies or Practices?

I've already come across books that discuss this philosophy, which were even a gift from a friend, but the reason I used this name as a title, despite having some relation to it, is that I wanted it to have the literal meaning of the word, even with all the weight it can carry.

Although I am a spiritual person, I don't use magical practices or frequent temples, etc. For me, everything is knowledge where I can at least try to better understand the practices as a form of culture, in its expressions, etc.

I think I see myself more as a curious person who seeks to know what is different, something similar to an anthropologist.


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

The name Mortem Solis comes from Latin and means dead sun. I've always had something to do with the symbolic figure of the sun, whether in ancient cultures or the spiritual symbolism that the sun carries.

I also come from the state of Piauí, located in northeastern Brazil, where its anthem says that we are "children of the equatorial sun." All this combination of things made me want my project to have the sun as the main figure, but due to my lyrics and themes, the dead sun better represents what I wanted to convey all this time: the end, nothingness.


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

Sure. As I mentioned before, the first artwork I created alluded to this specter/hermit, but for an album I didn't think my art was sufficient, so I decided to call an artist to redesign it. I sent him the songs and told him he was free to draw in whatever way he felt best represented the album, as I already knew his work and trusted that it would turn out far beyond what I expected. Needless to say, it turned out better than I expected, and for me that cover faithfully represents the feeling I had when I was writing the songs.

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


Not only am I open to collaboration, but I've already invited and intend to invite more artists to participate. Music is something free that needs to be shared, and I hope that in future releases I can count on even more meticulous and talented people.





8.On the new album you also did an 'Empyrium' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?


Ah, definitely my passion for the band and how that particular track alludes to everything that was described in the previous tracks. It's like a conclusion to what was said.


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


I tend to be somewhat oblivious to the feedback, but I notice that it's been well-received by the public. Sometimes I receive unexpected messages, and most of them are very positive! I confess that I have difficulty processing this type of information, but I'm very happy that it's having some kind of impact.


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

Although I see myself in a position where I only want to create music to be enjoyed, I confess that in recent days I've been feeling a desire to perhaps start playing live... it would be quite challenging, but I think if my intuition speaks louder, it's for something beneficial.

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?

oh Noenum and Nahtrunar for sure, those two are the basis haha but also antimateria, craft, häive, ymir, drudkh


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


I want to thank you for the opportunity to give me space to talk a little about my work here on your blog.

I look forward to more reviews of my future work if you think it's best! And that's all folks!

Hails!


https://mortemsolis.bandcamp.com/


Ensanguinate Interview

 

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


A.C.: We recorded it back in spring, mixed it in early summer and the rest was spent on the visuals and working things out for the release, which is where we are now. On the live front, we played a good amount of club shows and festivals across Europe as well as Bogotá Subterranea in Colombia. We try and keep busy.


2.In 2026 you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


A.C.: We tried to broaden our approach and not just push the same vectors we did for the first LP, but harder. There was a lot of meditation on how the album should sound. In fact, that was probably more intense than the actual writing process. The idea was that the music should come spontaneously after the idea behind each song presented itself instead of just patterning the music after a specific influence or song archetype. Different instruments crept in, and the music ended up covering much more ground than the first album, sound-wise, let alone the demo.


3.In the beginning the band played more of a traditional death metal style while the newer music goes for a mixture of black and death metal, what was the decision behind going into this direction?


A.C.: No specific decision. We play the METAL OF DEATH; we never sit down and think what that means in terms of sticking to a certain musical style. As long as it fits that mantle, it’s appropriate for us, and that’s related to the way the music feels between the lines more so than any musical cues.


4.A lot of your lyrics cover Occultism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?


A.C.: The lyrics are an exploration. I write them with a certain impulse in mind – usually, it’s a small event, a very specific nook somewhere in nature, a personal experience, anything really. After they’re done, I observe what kind of effect they have on me when we play the song. From that point on, the reader or listener can just as well claim ownership of them. In that sense, it’s almost alchemical in nature, this change from impulse to performance.For this album, the lyrics all ended up revolving around the female form. Sometimes that meant something specific, like an amalgamation of Kali, Ereshkigal and Lilith for one song, at other times, it was broader or more personal. In the end though, the album is still about staring into death’s raging currents; we just decided to look at it through a different lens culturally.


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


A.C.: To imbue with blood; BLOOD, FIRE, DEATH not as stasis, but as chaos flowing through our veins.



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


A.C.: I feel would be disingenuous to put words into the artist’s mouth, so you’d have to ask Dávid Glomba about what he put into it personally. That said, he did an unbelievable job of capturing the title of the album. “Death Saturnalia” to us is ceremonial, and that feeling is certainly present. We invite everyone to dive into it, find the symbols they're looking for and what they mean to them personally.


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


A.C.: There’s been a lot of good ones. Colombia in August… Our last stop in Augsburg was absolutely savage. We got to play with Sabathan there, which was a great meeting of kindred spirits, as was playing with Hellbutcher in Basel at the amazing Rites of Destruction in November 2024. Sarajevo was a pleasant surprise, probably our wildest show next to the one we played with Sacrifizer and Heinous in Switzerland two years ago.We are chaos, incense and grave dust.


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


A.C.: Yes, there’s a tour being booked in support of the album, as well as a release show in the works. So far, the only thing we can reveal is Death and Damnation in September, in Germany.


9.The new album is going to be released on 'Soulseller Records', how would you compare working with them to your previous label 'Emanzipation Records'?


A.C.: So far, it’s been a smooth ride with Soulseller. Jorn, the label boss, immediately drew parallels between us and Repugnant and he’s invested in his bands, so that personal touch is indeed very welcome.


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


A.C.: It feels good when like-minded individuals reach out and offer their support. When I see that someone is on a similar wavelength and voices appreciation, I feel like there’s a strong connection there. Luckily, that has been happening quite a lot lately now that we’ve released the first single from the upcoming album.


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


A.C.: It’s too early to tell exactly but musically, there are no limitations, nor will there ever be any. We’ll go deeper and broader.


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


A.C.: I can only speak for myself. So far this week it’s been Dead Can Dance, Jex Thoth and Pentagram.


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


DEATH SATURNALIA – COME TO SPLENDOUR 



Summoning Hellgates Interview

 

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

 New Black/Death project coming from Madrid. We know what we want to do and how to execute it, we’re not new to this. Our debut EP, Spear of Conquest, was just released through Osmose last month. 


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? 

Trying to describe music with words and labels never does it justice. Everyone should listen and judge for themselves. What we aim to do with Summoning Hellgates is aggressive, violent, frantic black/death with no room to breathe, and with a real sense of structure and composition. I think we’ve already achieved that with our debut (which by the way is technically an EP), but of course there’s still a lot we want to improve and develop in the future. 


3.Both of the band members are also in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Summoning Hellgates', that you have not been able to do with your other groups? 

A. García comes from a purely death metal background. His previous band SOTA DE BASTOS only released one EP (recently reissued on vinyl by Ixiol Productions), but it’s absolutely crushing. As for me, I come from a predominantly black metal background. So we’re both bringing our experience and previous knowledge to the table while also learning from each other and letting both trajectories collide to create something that feels new for both of us. Personally, it’s my first time composing and playing black/death, so in that sense it’s been a challenge. In many aspects, A. García has set the direction for the band, but I’ve shaped his ideas and pushed Spear of Conquest down the right path to become a competent and worthy debut. Most of the songs start with my riffs, and then A. García throws in his bursts of chaos to push the songs into a more frenzied, unhinged place. It’s been an extremely collaborative process, which is also new for me, as I’m used to writing almost all the music in my other bands.


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

Most of the lyrics were written by A. García (except for Prisoner of Your Own Flesh, which we wrote together), so he’d be better suited to explain this, but since I’m answering the interview, I’ll try to give you a general overview. I’d say the lyrics are existential and introspective, written in a somewhat abstract, psychedelic and primitive tone, bordering on madness or hysteria. They mix raw and sometimes chaotic reflections about human existence, spiritual decay, identity, hatred and violence. I believe A. García wanted to maintain a certain level of mystery and abstraction, not spelling everything out too clearly, but instead planting the seed of certain ideas through specific phrases and words, leaving space for everyone to interpret. 


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

 The name is pretty self-explanatory, it’s a way of saying we’re invoking violence, destruction, the occult and the corrupt. 


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

 As you can see, the cover is a direct reference to the band name. A. García and I shaped the idea of the portal after doing several sketches, and we passed on a rough but detailed concept to our friend Carla from @cardaver.art, who has a lot of experience doing illustration and acrylic painting. She materialized our vision into a truly impressive painting with incredible detail, which I now have hanging in my studio. The combination of that artwork with the logo by Mika / Unholy Designs Art is absolutely brutal. 


7.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?

 We’ll probably continue as a duo. We work really well this way, and we’re not particularly interested in anyone else coming in with their ideas or tastes. SUMMONING HELLGATES is the two of us. When we bring the band to a live setting, we’ll work with competent session musicians. And who knows, maybe we’ll manage to assemble a stable live lineup at some point. That’s something we’d definitely like.


8.Can you tell us a little bit more about the masks the band members wear in the promo pics? 

Not much to say, they’re not masks, they’re balaclavas to cover the face. Just an aesthetic and artistic decision, nothing more.


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

 People around us have responded well, and I’ve seen quite a few positive reviews online. But you’d have to ask the label about sales, that’s the real indicator of how much interest a release is generating. It’s always nice to hear good words, it helps keep you motivated. But to be honest, I don’t really care too much. I’ve been making records with different bands for years and I know when I’ve done a good job, I don’t need anyone patting me on the back. If I put something out, it’s because I believe it’s worth it. And this is the case with Spear of Conquest. I know it’s a strong release, regardless of the reaction. 


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

 We still need to get our shit together and sit down seriously to start working on our next release. These things are done with the guitar in hand, spending many hours. But we’ve already talked about it and we have some ideas of what we want to change and what we want to keep. Overall, we’re pretty satisfied with the sound of Spear of Conquest and we don’t plan to change it too much, we just want to refine and sharpen it for a full-length. The project is still very new and we’ve got a long road ahead and a lot of ideas to explore. 


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

We’re both the kind of people who are constantly listening to new bands and new albums. We really don’t relate at all to those types who’ve been listening to the same ten records for decades. That’s just absurd to us. Personally, I could mention bands like Adversarial, Black Curse, Katharsis, Proscription, Of Feather and Bone, Azarath… In the last few days I’ve been listening to the new Perdition Temple and Abominator records. A few months back I liked the debut by Osgraef, etc. 


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

Thanks for your interest in SUMMONING HELLGATES. S. Augusto


https://bfan.link/SUMMONING-HELLGATES-Spear-of-Conquest


Fayenne/The Calling From The Depth/Void Wanderer Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 


  Fayenne  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic,  raw  and  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "The  Calling  From  The  Depth"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Void  Wanderer  Productions.


  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.


  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style  mixed  in  with  some  modern  modern  approaches  to  the  genre.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


   One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words,  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  experimental  approach  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  sea,  chaos,  alchemy  and  female  world  destruction.


  In  my  opinion Fayenne  are  a  very  raw  sounding  raw,  melodic,  atmospheric  and  experimental  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Calling  From  The  Depth"  "Waters  of  Ancient  Blood"  and  "Melas  Khole".  8  out  of  10.


  https://voidwanderer.com/product/fayenne-the-calling-from-the-depth-mc/  

Mutiilation/Pandemium Of Eregores/Osmose Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  France's  Mutiilation  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  raw  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  Pandemonium  of  Eregores"  which  will  be  released  on  2026  by  Osmose  Productions.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  along  with  the f aster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.


  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.


  On  this  recording  Mutiilation  take  their  style  of  black  metal  into  more  of  a  melodic  direction  without  losing  the  aggression  of  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  darkness  and  occultism  themes.    


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mutiilation  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shadows  Over  The  Valley"  and  "Haschischin  Cage".  8  out  of  10.


  Online release page: https://osmoseproductions-label.com/mutiilation-pandemonium-of-egregores/

Pre-Order/Order on: https://tinyurl.com/mutiilation-store
Bandcamp: https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/pandemonium-of-egregores
All Digital Links: https://bfan.link/MUTIILATION-Pandemonium-of-Egregores


  



Thursday, December 18, 2025

Sesquipedaliophobia/The Gospel Of Profanum/2025 EP Review

 


  Sesquipedaliophobia  are  a  band  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "The  Gospel  Of  Profanum".


  A  horror  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  symphonic  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Spoken  words  and  Gregorian  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording.


  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times,  operatic  vocals  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track  .


  Sesquipedaliophobia  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  symphonic  sounding.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  taboo,  erotic  tension,  inner  conflict  and  social  transgression.


  In  my  opinion  Sesquipedadaliophobia  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  symphonic  black  metal  and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Reverse".  8  out  of  10.


  Bandcamp (full EP):

Spotify:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/sesquipedaliophobia.official    

Langenneet/Kajastus/Old Forest Productions/Depressive Illusions Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Finland's  solo  project  Langenneet  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Kajastus"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Old  Forest  Productions  and  Depressive  Illusions  Records.


  Epic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  recording  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  raw  feeling. 


  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.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  ritualistic  moments.  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  showing  influences  of  death  and  thrash  metal.   


  On  this  recording  Langenneet  expands  on  the  occult  style  of  black  metal  that  he  has  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  the  3rd  sphere  of  fallen  angels:  Belphegor,  Nisroch,  Ananael,  Moloch,  Adramelech,  Astoreth,  Ramiel  and  Dagon.


  In  my  opinion this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Langenneet  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ikuisen  tulen  lumo"  "Kuoleman  siemen"  and  "Setri".  8  out  of  10.


  https://langenneet.bandcamp.com .  

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Mitternacht/Self Titled/2025 EP Review

 


  Mitternacht  are  a  solo  project  from  the  united  States  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  raw  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  and  self  titled  2025  ep  which  will  be  released  on  December  22nd.


  A  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  some  of t he  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.


  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  while  one  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  more  of  a  chaotic  style  along  with  one  track  also  being  a  synth  orientated  instrumental  before  closing  the  ep  with  a  heavier  track.


  On  this  recording  Mitternacht  expands  on  his  raw  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  blasphemy,  war  and  medieval  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mittenacht  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blasphemous  Warfare"  and  "torture".  8  out  of  10.


  https://mitternachtband.bandcamp.com/album/mitternacht     

Traktates/Koenig in Thule/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Traktates  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Koenig  in  Thule".


  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly  and  a  great  portion  of t he  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  Growls  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  i  a  very  melodic style.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Mythology,  Existential  Weariness,  Solitude  and  Romantic  Gloom.


  In  my  opinion  Traktales  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Rabennacht"  and  "As  We  Forgot  To  Live".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/1caD_2cxaVk

Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify    

Pits/Macabre Luxuria/2026 Full Length Review

 


  Pits  are  a  band  from  Latvia  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  album  "Macabre  Luxuria"  which  will  be  released  in  2026.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Elements  of  death  metal a re  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts .  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style


  Pits  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  thr  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Pits  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Premonition"  "Non  Licet  Bovi"  "Dead  man's  Letter"  and  "Macabre  Luxuria".  8  out  of  10.


  

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Fuath/III/Northern Silence Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Fuath  are  a  solo  project  from  Scotland  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "III"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.


  A  very  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  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  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments,  clean  playing  is  also  utilized  at  times,  nature  sounds  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Fuath  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  epic,  aggressive,  atmospheric  and  modern  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  winter's  bleak  beauty,  ancient  mysticism  and  folklore.


  In  my  opinion  Fuath  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t his  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Sluagh".  8  out  of  10.


  Bandcamp: https://fuath.bandcamp.com

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

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

Ensanguinate/Death Saturnalia/Soulseller Records/2026 Full Length Review

 


  Ensanguinate  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  an  occult  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Death  Saturnalia"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Soulseller  Records.


  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements.


 All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  70's  rock  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  singing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.  


  Ensanguinate  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  female  form  in  occultism.


  In  my  opinion  Ensanguinate  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Angel  Of  A  Thousand  Poisons"  "Savage  Hunter  Far  Beyond"  and  "Daughter  To  Cain".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/ensanguinate

https://www.instagram.com/ensanguinate

https://youtu.be/OSYEvdi8S6o



    

In Aeturnum/...Of Death And Fire/Soulseller Records/2026 Full Length Review

 


   In  Aeturnum  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  aggressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "...Of  Death  And  Fire"  which  will b e  released  in  2026  by  Soulseller  Records.


  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  songs  also  mix  in  elements  of  death  metal.


  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  brutal  moments.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  music  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  90;s  era  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  touch,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  One  track  being  is  also  an  instrumental  and  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  synths  and  ritualistic  soundscapes  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  some  acoustic  guitars  and  guest  vocals  from  Erik  Danielsson  of  Waitan.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness,  Death  and  Fire  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  In  Aeturnum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Danse  Macabre"  "Spirits  Of  The  Dead"  "Goddess  Of  Abominations"  and  "To  Those  Who  have  Rode  ON".  8  out  of  10.


   https://www.facebook.com/inaeternumofficial

https://youtu.be/Q49jw6GmftA