Obscura Domini/Sepulchral Echoes Beneath The Withered Sky/Vacula Productions/2025 Full Length Review

  Obscura  Domini  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  old  school,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Sepulchral  Echoes  Beneath  The  Withered  Sky"  which  was  released  by  Vacula  Productions.

  Rain  and  thunder  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  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  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  of  the  genre.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length ,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

   The  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  mixing  in  some  ritualistic  atmospheres,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Obscura  Domini  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  symphonic  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Forgotten  Talisman  Of  Corrupted  Shadows"  and  "Tomb  of  Ashes".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://obscuradomini.bandcamp.com/album/sepulchral-echoes-beneath-the-withered-sky  

Sisyphean/Divergence/Edged Circle Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Lithuania's  Sisyphean  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Divergence"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Edged  Circle  Productions.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  soundscapes  and  synths  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  dissonant  direction.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them and  the  vocals  are  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  death  metal.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  sticking  to  a  dissonant  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clear  singing  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  darkest  corners  of  the  human  mind.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sisyphean  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  dissonant  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Point  In  The  Abyss"  "Hunting  For  Answers"  and  "Sangfroid".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/sisyphean13

Hautaveri Interview

 

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

Hautaveri is black metal in appreciation of the old ways.

2.In November you released your first demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Cold and simple satanic black metal without any unnecessary bells and whistles. First it was supposed to be just straightforward blasting from start to end but I got a bit carried away.

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

Praising Satan, anti-christianity, fantasy, poetry, depression, suicide... The usual stuff.

4.I know that the bands name means 'graveblood' in Finnish, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Hail to the true intense vampires.

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

It is me carrying a torch in the forest. I am, in a way, the lightbringer.

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

I try to do as much as I can without any help from anyone else, but there is only so much I can do and never enough time. Thankfully there are many talented people in my close circles. Nobody knows what the future holds, there might be a time and a place for some more collaborative Hautaveri pieces.

7.The physical version of the demo was released on 'Underworld Echoes', how did you get in contact with this label?

They contacted me and soon we made a contract. There has also been a cassette release that came out through Elf Eggs in the US that happened similarly.

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

I have received positive feedback. I was really surprised, I thought only a few close friends would listen to it. But it seems people still crave this type of "regressive" black metal.

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

I am working on the next release, but everything is still pretty much in the air. I still play like shit but I am constantly improving.

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?

Darkthrone, Paysage d'Hiver and other classics play a big role of course. I also like the melody driven styles of Finland and Quebec. Lately though I have been listening to more raw and primitive black metal and some old school dungeon synth.

11.How would you describe your views on Satanism and Occultism?

Praise Him in any way you see fit.

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

World is shit. Have some beers and Hail Satan.

https://www.instagram.com/hautaveri/

Astral Spectre/Cosmic Mirage/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  solo  project  Astral  Spectre  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black.  heavy  metal  and  occult  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Cosmic  Mirage"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Psychedelic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  classic  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later.  Hammond  organ  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  80's  influences.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with a  great  portion  of  the  album  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  The  recording  also  mixes  in  elements  of  70's  rock  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs..  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Witchcraft  and  Egyptian  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Astral  Spectre  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black.  heavy  metal  and  occult  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chronomancer"  "Death  Of  Osiris"  and  "Cosmic  Mirage".  8  out  of  10.

   https://linktr.ee/astralspectre  .

Tombeaux de Fer/L'Acier Victorieux/Adipocere Records/2026 EP Review

  Tombeaux  de  Fer  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  plays  a  u-boat  themed  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  ep  "L'Acier  Victorieux"  which  was  released  by  Adipocere  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.

  Throughout  the  recording  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  dark  yet  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  some  u-boat  sounds,  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Tombeaux  de  Fer  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  fast  and  raw  in  the  old  school  tradition  of  the  mid  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  u-boat  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Tombeax  are  a  very  great  sounding  fast  and  raw  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "U-123"  and  "U-193".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/@-NarbarioN-     

Death Dies/Maledicti In Aeturnvm/My Kingdom Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Death  Dies  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  hardcore,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Maledicti  In  Aeturnvm"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  of  the  genre  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing ,  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  some  of  the  riffs  also incorporating  elements  of  hardcore  and  thrash  metal  

  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  they  also  bring  a  more  modern  aggression  to  an  old  school  style,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  demons,  darkness  and  blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Death  Dies  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Asmodevs"  "La  casa  del  Diaol"  "Patavinorvm  tyrannvs"  and  "Destroyer".  8  out  of  10.

   https://www.facebook.com/DeathDiesLegione  

Alkhemia/Häxen/Non Serviam Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Alkhemia  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  modern,  melodic,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Häxen"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  Rain  and  radio  sounds  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 b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre  while  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.   A  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  chants.

  On  this  recording  Alkhemia  brings  out  a  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Witchcraft  and  Gnosticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Alkhemia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  modern,  melodic,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Zeitgeist"  "Prekonition"  and  "Remnants".  8  out  of  10.

  Website: https://alkhemiaband.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alkhemia.bm
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alkhemia_official
Bandcamp: https://alkhemia.bandcamp.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Alkhemiaband

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1uTNWb4xo6NJ2r3BoMPV9k  

Cenotafio/La Escisión Acausal: Por La Vía Inversa Hacia La Descarnación/Demoniac Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Cenotafio  are  a  duo  from  Chile  that  plays  a  wrathful  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements of  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "La  Escisión  Acausal:  Por  La Vía  Inversa  Hacia  La  Descarnación"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Demoniac  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  while  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffing  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  direction.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  takes  an  old  school  aggression  into  a  more  modern  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Mysteries  and  Alchemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cenotafio  are  a  very  great  sounding  wrathful  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Atrabilis  Taenia  Solivum"  and  "Orbis  Coagula".  8 out  of  10.

  http://demoniacprod.bandcamp.com/album/la-escisi-n-acausal-por-la-v-a-inversa-hacia-la-descarnaci-n

facebook.com/CenotafioBanda
cenotafio1.bandcamp.com 

Osmium Gate/Cannibal Galaxy/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Osmium  Gate  are  a  band  from  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  that  plays  an  instrumental  and  cosmic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Cannibal  Galaxy"  which  will  be  released  in  March.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  all  of  the  songs  avoid  the  use  of  vocals  or  lyrics.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  a  more  modern  approach  to  the  genre  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Osmium  Gate  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive,  cosmic  and  technical  sounding  as  well  as  keeping  everything  in  an  instrumental  direction  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional. 

  In  my  opinion  Osminium  Gate  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  cosmic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Waters  Of  Natron"  "Whale  Fail"  and  "Lights  Over  Hessdalen".  8  out  of  10.

  ttps://osmiumgate.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/osmiumgate

https://www.instagram.com/osmiumgate 

Necrofier Interview

 

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

We have been working behind the scenes to get everything ready for the release and taking some much need rest in parts of it as well. 2024 was a crazy year for us and we need to recharge.

2.You have a new album coming out towards the end of February, musically what are some of the things you feel you have accomplished with this recording that you have not been able to do with your previous releases?

We really went all out on this album. We added a lot more synth than we have previously used, basically the whole album one concept and really laid into trying to capture how we sound like on the album. The combo of these 3 is why this album is a big step for us. I am very pleased with how everything turned out and wouldn't change anything on the album. 

3.Musically you are more close to the classic European style and a lot different from the more American post black metal style or blackgaze which a lot of modern American bands shoot for but you have also done a lot better then most modern American bands that are more old school influenced, do you feel you work a lot harder then a lot other bands that play in the similar style?

I don't compare us to other bands, but yes we are more rooted in the classic BM style than we are with some of the modern american style ones. We bleed, claw and sweat for everything we work on. Nothing is taken lightly. We put a lot into this latest record and you can tell when listening to it. 

4.The band members also have history playing other types of underground an d extreme metal along with some also having a background playing more of a power and traditional style of metal, do you feel the background working with other styles of metal has helped the musical style of 'Necrofier' to achieve the perfect balance between the more brutal and melodic aspects of the music?

I really do think it has. We have a ton of different influences and they show up in our music, while at the same time not making it too far off. We ride the edge of blending different styles into necrofier without losing what it is a the core, black metal!

5.Lyrically the new album also has a concept revolving around the number 3, do the band members have an interest in the more occult aspects of numerology?

Yes, The record is our 3 album, broken into 3 acts with 3 interludes. Nothing is a coincidence 

6.Lyrically you also cover the Luciferian Dark Night Of The Soul, how would you describe your views on Luciferianism?

Lucifer to me is cutting your own path, the light in the darkness that most society doesn't see because they are blind. Not accepting that my fate is in anyone's hands but my own. 

7.With the new album how would you describe the lyrical progress between the last 3 releases?

This one took a little longer because the songs are tied together in parts and had to be placed right. It also tied in personal experience to the album concept which is something I haven't done as much of in our past releases. Also I've never done anything in the 3 acts like we did on the album. I really love how it all turned out but a lot more work than previous ones. 

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

Jose Gabriel did the cover, it was an honor to have one of the greatest artists of our time to do it. I've been a big fan of his for a while and own several books and albums he's done. I gave him the concept of the album he created based on that. You gotta to see the other piece he did that comes inside the album too, its amazing

9.Out of all the tours and shows the band has done so far which one do you feel stands out the most?

Best tour we have done was with Hulder, Devilmaster and Worm. One of the longer ones but also playing with other black metal bands like Hulder made us really feel at home on the tour and when playing. Everything aligned and the shows were all magick.  

https://www.instagram.com/necrofier

https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier

https://www.youtube.com/@necrofier1818

https://necrofier.bandcamp.com/music

Mors.Void.Discipline/Txketh)eke/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Mors.Void.Discipline  are  a  band  from  Chile  that  plays  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  metal  and  goregrind  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Txketh)eke"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  A  very  dark  and  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  bestial  growls  mixed  in  with  a  few  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  bring  in  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  0f  90's  era  goregrind  touches.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  war  metal  elements  and  brutal  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  short  in  length.

  Mors.Void,Discipline  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  war,  bestial  black/death  metal  and  goregrind  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Solomon's  Demonology  and  multicultural  esoteric  warfare.

  In  my  opinion  Mors.Void,Discipline  are  a  very  great  sounding  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  metal  and  goregrind  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Morde  Faciem  Cherubi"  "Calix  Bilis  Benedictae"  and  "Cultis  Abominationum  Nigrarum".  8  out  of  10.

   BANDCAMP RELEASE  

Mißträu/Leidensgenossen/Bleeding Heart Nihilist/Cultkill Music/2026 EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Germany's  Mißträu  which  shows  the  music  moving  way  from  black  metal  and  going  for  a  mixture  of  post  punk  experimental,  industrial,  noise  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Leidensgenossen"  as  a  joint  effort  between  Bleeding  Heart  Nihilist  and  Cultkill  Music.

  Music  samples,  spoken  words  and  experimental  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  while  one  song  also  adds  in  some  powerful  sounding  bass  guitars.  Ambient  style  synths  and  industrial  style  voices  and  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  noise.

  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  moving  way  from  the  heavier  sound  of  the  previous  recording.  One  track  also  adds  in  some  heavier  distortion  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  metal,  clean  playing  and  clear  vocals  that  add  in  more  of  a  post  punk/goth  rock  style.

  On  this  recording  Mißträu  moves  away  from  the  harsher  black  metal  style  of  their  previous  release  and  focuses  more  on  the  post  punk,  experimental,  ambient  and  noise  elements  they  introduced  on  on  the  last  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  abrasive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mißträu  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  experimental,  industrial,  noise  and  post  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beleiding"  and  "Klammheilig".  8  out  of  10.

  Mißträu Instagram

Mißträu Bandcamp   

Mißträu/Gegendemonstration/Bleeding Heart Nihilist/Cultkill Music/2026 EP Review

 

  Mißträu  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal  and  post  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Gegendemonstration"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  March,  2026  as  a  joint  effort  between  Bleeding  Heart  Nihilist  and  Cultkill  Music.

  Soundscapes  and  post  punk  style  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  angry  yet  depressive  sounding  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  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Throughout  the  ep  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffing  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Spoken  words  and  clear  singing  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  noises  as  well  as  some  of  the  keyboards  and  programming  also  bringing  in  elements  of  ambient  and  industrial.

  Mißträu  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  takes  the  raw  and  side  of  the  genre  and  mixes  it  with  post  punk,  experimental,  ambient  and  noise  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  abrasive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mißträu  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal  and  post  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wer  Zu  Leben  Weisz"  and  "Seuchen  &  Wunden".  8  out  of  10.

  Mißträu Instagram

Mißträu Bandcamp  

          

Silaera Interview

 

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

Silaera mostly takes influence from various forms of black metal such as atmospheric and post black metal, as well as some other genres like extreme progressive metal and blackened death metal. The project also takes inspiration from science fiction and cosmic horror, which I’ve used as a basis for a lot of the lyrics and visual ideas.

 

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

The previous EPs were a little more tightly focused around one or two subgenre influences. Adrift is mostly atmospheric, while The Alien Face of Death is more influenced by post black metal and progressive metal.

The upcoming full length, An Aberration of the Void, takes all of these ideas, refines them, and adds more. There are long atmospheric sections, heavy riffs, progressively evolving song structures, choruses with harmonized melodic leads, chaotic breaks, and a few sections with clean guitar tones. Each of the five songs on the album has a different sound and feel to it, ranging from dark and heavy (like in the first single), to beautiful, depressive, or even a little uplifting.

 

3.The first release was all instrumental while later releases have included vocals, what was the decision behind going into this direction?

The decision to release the first EP Starless as an instrumental was simply because I wasn’t happy with my vocals at the time. I had attempted to record them but ultimately decided I needed more time to practice. So I released it as an instrumental with the intent of revisiting it later. That ended up becoming the EP Adrift.

 

4.A lot your lyrics cover cosmic horror and science fiction themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

I’ve always been fascinated with space, astronomy, engineering, and the universe. I’m also drawn to horror, mostly in the music I listen to, but also elsewhere. I think the universe has a certain horror to it, just in that it exists without explanation, and also its unimaginable size relative to ourselves. I also like to think about what long-distance space travel might be like and what could go wrong. The fusion of space and horror then seems to be the obvious choice of what to write about for my own black metal project.

 

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

There is no meaning behind the name Silaera. I wanted to find a unique word where the only meaning is the project itself, and nothing else. If you search for Silaera, you find the music.

 

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

The artwork is a painting by Adam Burke of Nightjar Illustration that I commissioned for the album. I had been following Nightjar Illustration for years and I thought his art style was perfect for the cosmic horror themes of the music. The idea behind the art came from some of the lyrics from the first song on the album, The Emergence of Suffering:

 

“A crack in the vacuum from which horror crawls out

 

An aberration of the void

Sparks the emergence of all life

And all that is terrible

And all that is wrong”

 

The idea was to paint an image of the universe springing into existence as the source of all suffering that came afterwards.

 

7.With the exception of a session drummer you record most of the music by yourself, are you open to working with a few band or do you prefer to work solo?

For this project at least, I prefer to keep it mostly solo. I like to sit down with a guitar and give a lot of careful thought into writing. I find I’ve written my best and most cohesive material this way. For the album, I finished composing all five songs including drum skeletons before handing it to Neil. He took the drum parts I had written and enhanced them with fills, cymbals, and extra details in his own style. It ended up much better than if I had done it on my own, so I am becoming more open to bringing in other musicians.

 

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

I’m open to signing to a label, but I haven’t received any interest so far.

 

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

Although the project is still relatively unknown, the feedback so far has been very positive!

 

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

There are a few directions I’m planning on heading in after this album. I’ve been experimenting with some side projects in other metal subgenres, one of which is a death metal band called Scornmonger which released its first demo a few months ago. Another that I just started writing material for is a faster kind of extreme metal. For Silaera, I want to write more complex and progressive compositions, experiment with 8-string guitars, try new vocal styles, and continue evolving the sound that I’ve created with An Aberration of the Void. Of course it will all still be heavily influenced by black metal.

 

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

There are a few bands that I still listen to regularly which are some of my biggest influences, like Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Ellende, Abigail Williams, Ne Obliviscaris, and Anaal Nathrakh. Some others I’ve listened to a lot recently are Blood Incantation, Eximperitus, and Blut Aus Nord.

 

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

Thank you for the support and the interview!

https://silaera.bandcamp.com/album/an-aberration-of-the-void

https://www.instagram.com/silaeramusic/

https://www.youtube.com/@silaera

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090052041751

Lömsk/Act II - Of Iron And Blood/Vendetta Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Lömsk  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Act  II  -  Of  Iron  And  Blood"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Vendetta  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre.  At  times  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  melodic  post  metal  style,  spoken  words  can  be  heard at  times  and  synths  are  also  added  on  a  few  songs.

  On  this  recording  Lömsk  brings  out  a  very  modern,  melodic,  aggressive  and  melodic  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Despair,  War  and  Melancholy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lömsk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fields  of  Elysium"  "Entropia"  ad  "Furia".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/lomskofficial/ 
https://www.facebook.com/LomskOfficial/ 
https://www.lomsk.se  

Melechesh/Sentinels Of Shamash/Reigning Phoenix Music/2026 EP Review

 

  International  band  Melechesh  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  Mesopotamian  themed  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Sentinels  Of  Shamash"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Reigning  Phoenix  Music.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  You  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  updating  the  bands  musical  style  for  the  modern  era.

  Ritualistic  percussion  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  as  well  as  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking..  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Mesopotamian  History,  Sumerian  Mythology  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Melechesh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Seventh  Verdict".

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melecheshofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melechesh_official
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Melechesh
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelecheshOfficial
• Bandcamp: https://melechesh.bandcamp.com
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xT4Y7Qz2nJ6TP2PzefRgS
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/melechesh/2912018
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/11971

  

      

Antrisch/Expedition III: Renitenzpfad/AOP Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Antrisch  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  djent,  doom  metal  and  dark  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Expedition  III:  Renitenzpfad"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  AOP  Records.

  Samples  and  spoken  words  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  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.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody. 

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  synths  also  have  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  add  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  also  adding  in   touches  of  djent.  Some  of  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  traces  of  dark  ambient,  spoken  words  and  clean  playing  also  return  on  later  tracks  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  the  conquistador  Lupe  de  Aguirre.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Antrisch  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Der  baskische  Wolf"  and  "Verschanzi  -  Pereneilandterror".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/antrisch      

Final Ritual Interview

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

Pneuma: Final Ritual born as a devoted entity in 2019, in Chile, SouthAmerica, by two spirits: “pneuma” (strings, synth & vox) & “Dementia” (Drums & vox), after the disolution of another band, in the old early years. Our homes are insert in the rural life, and that's relevant to our sound, far away of the filthy and corrupted cities.

 2.Towards the end of January you had released a demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording? 

Pneuma: We praise death and darkness in the only and real form that we know: Black and Death metal! So, the “Ulterior Spiritual Resonances” demo is a prove of catharsis as a inner-form. That's no need of other sound and style, only we must cave more, and more profound. Expect only chaos, madness and abysmal visions in our resonances. 

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

 Pneuma: Lyrics talk about the death as a natural process, terrible, unfair… and the obscurity and horror insert in every human mind. We praise the occult and darkness night, the moon, the Mountains, and the autonomy as a thinking human being. Further that, we reject the ambivalence, the false, the People insert in big fashions and other bullshit like that. 

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

 Pneuma: FINAL RITUAL" come to us like a death's representation. As simple like that. Our "final ritual" Will be our spirits passing away from this terrenal void. We're the distant voices rising above the abyss… 

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

 Pneuma: the cover art is the logo of the band. But inside the layout there's a skull/Face of an old man, that represent the life and death, consuming each other in a form of duality. We have another artwork ready, but there Will be used in a future release.

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

 Pneuma: yes! For this release we're only two spirits in all the instruments and vociferations. That has helped us a lot to create, rehearsal and determinate the vision of the band. Actually, with the release of the demo, we've a solid base of FR, and that allow us to integrate a new spirit in the four strings resonances. 

7.The demo was released on 'Oratorivm Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

 Dementia: We've a huge connections with underground local scene through the years. Back in the time, we contacted Oratorium recs. for their work of music and fanzine distribution, pure underground darkness! Pneuma: I contact Oratorium recs. and send him the entire Demo. Then, we pact the production of “Ulterior Spiritual Resonances” in the inmortal tape format in the middle of 2025. Finally, was released this year… a very professional work, in my opinion. 

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

 Dementia: At the recent times, the people has spoken formidable words, telling us that the work done in this demo had that old and primitive essence. We're very proud with this demo release, and the feedback from the masses. So we can certainly HAVE MORE UPCOMING..

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

Dementia Yeah, back in the time (2015-2019) we played in a fast and brutal Black/Thrash Metal band, some people remember that era, but now it's under 6 keys… We're hoping to release that evil era in a professional format, but that band is no longer now. However, FR has no connection with that old project, so is senseless mentioned it. 

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

 Pneuma: The true is, there is no plans for a Full length work... with FR we've take the things slowly... But! We've preparing our next black resonances, probably a new demo or an Ep. Dementia: Stay tuned. You can also expect more cenotaph mud, old tormented screams, more schizo, brutal and also putrid music upcoming near. 

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? 

Dementia: I listen to a lot of Extreme Metal, Classic Rock and other genres like Folk, HxC Punk, Punk Rock etc. But Certainly one of my favorite bands are Nifelheim, Sarcofago, Slayer, Bathory, Mayhem (obviously), Beherit, Blasphemy, Katharsis, Teitanblood, Ride for Revenge… Etc. Pneuma: The primal influences to me are Beherit, Von, Katharsis and Teitanblood. Also i had the obligation to name Necromantia and rotting Christ! The greek sound and that putrid bass are definitively an influence to me. Nowadays i'm very trapped with Ascendency, funereal presence and transilvania. But i can't forget to name our Chilean scene, with Wrathprayer, Oraculum, Invocation, Onslaught kommand & Cenotafio. 

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

Thanks for the support and the interview,  FINAL RITUAL are the ashes of an incinerated world. If you like our resonances, get in touch… 

 Thyfinalritual@gmail.com