Conjurist Interview

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

1. This is a project I started so I could do the things I wanted to do with metal and extreme music. Ive been in dozens of different types of bands in the Nashville area for many years and it was time to bring my ideas to life that were either not understood or didn’t fit in with what other people were trying to achieve musically and lyrically. I had built up an overflow of ideas and I needed a passion project to contain them and then decide if I needed to release them. Once I got about three songs in I knew it was something I was interested in pursuing. 

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

2. It started with tons of guitar riffs and as I put them together I realized it had its own style even though it was a mixture of several genres. The goal was clear to keep the project metal so I still needed to stay within the realm of it but I allowed myself to use any subgengre of metal to capture the feeling from song to song. I knew that I wanted the subject matter to be paranormal, otherworldly and tap into ideas of conspiracy theory. These types of ideas can be uncomfortable when working with other people so this was the perfect opportunity to do so. This gave the project a direction and purpose. Instead of just being a catch all for my creative ideas it became something with a clear vision at least for the debut album. There’s still room for growth and evolution but I plan to keep it musically metal and lyrically in the same area as what Ive done with I am the Earth. 

3.You also have a background playing other types of extreme  metal, do you feel this has helped you become a better musician?

3. Ive been in many different bands in the Nashville area for a long time as I mentioned before mainly as lead vocalist. I can list a couple of the metal bands. Animality- a tech death project I helped start and stayed with for a few years as lead vocalist. I wrote and recorded the lyrics and vocals for two albums with them. Three of the guys from that band are in the Conjurist music video for Solace for the Shaman. I plan on continuing to work with them and they have shown a lot of support and interest in Conjurist. CreekDevil- a southern metal and rock band I am currently in as lead singer. It was created by the guitarist and myself after I left the rhythm guitar/backing vocals position of a band we were in together called Of Serpents- a blackened melodic death and metalcore band I played in for a few years after leaving the band I created and started with S.O.M.A. sounds of mental anguish- a metalcore/nu-metal/post hardcore band I was the lead singer and main songwriter for. There’s a lot of people who I have been involved with in the Nashville metal scene who are either still active or have made a name for themselves in metal that have definitely helped me as an artist fine tune my craft. 

4.A lot of your lyrics cover mysticism, ancient history and conspiracy theories, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics and which aspects of these subjects do you bring out in your songwriting?

4. I’ve been interested in that stuff for a very long time. The fear of the unknown. I’ve had my own experiences with it and I’ve made sure to stay updated and aware of what’s going on in those areas. In my father’s free time he was a paranormal investigator and enthusiast of the subject. A lot of crazy stuff is going on right now regarding disclosure in America and whether it’s the full truth or just a distraction as some people think and it has now made everyone a conspiracy theorist. We just don’t know what the future holds and it’s scary but exciting. This is a perfect time for Conjurist. 

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

5. The name Conjurist is something I came up with years ago when I left Animality. I wanted to do another project with a few of the guys and it just didn’t happen. Whenever I started working on the material for I am the Earth I remembered that name and thought it would be perfect for the project. It sounds scary which is fitting for metal and the subject matter of the project but it also means something to me about manifesting my thoughts into reality. Bringing my ideas to life. It’s difficult to come up with a good one word band name nowadays. It seems like everything has been taken so when I came up with it I thought it would be best to come up with a word that doesn’t exist so I was happy to see that it was still available. 

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

6. The album artwork was done by my son when he was in 2nd grade art class. He was not very proud of it but I loved it as soon as I saw it. It fit for the album because it looks like it could be some ancient cave drawings. I thought this is perfect for I am the Earth. lol! 

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other musicians in previous bands, do you prefer to work solo?

7. Ive always loved producing myself and have recorded and produced some of the other bands I was in and even a couple of friends bands and music. Ive had terrible experiences with other people producing my work but there has been a few producers I worked with that made my job a lot easier and did a way better job than I could have for certain projects. I guess it just depends on who is doing it but if you don’t have the right person you end up wasting a lot of time and money. I don’t mind putting in the work because it can be very rewarding and sometimes fun. I always learn something new and I must spend my time and money wisely if I’m going to make the most of it. 

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

8. We’ll see what happens. If it makes sense and helps the project then I’d be interested. 

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

9. So far the reactions have been great. It’s still a new project so there’s a lot of people who have not had a chance to hear it. 

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

10. I plan on staying focused and getting more music done. I’m currently finishing the writing for the next album which will have at least another 10 songs and will be in production soon. I have several live musicians ready to get some shows done but all in due time. Promoting this album and getting it heard will determine what happens next. It takes a lot of planning and money to hit the road. The live production starting out will need to be as visually interesting as the music to give fans the full experience of what this project is and will become. 

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?

11. The bands who have influenced the sound of this project are what’s been listed before. Meshuggah, Alcest, Converge, Gojira, Mastadon, Pallbearer, Fallujah, Acid Bath. I’m a huge fan of Meshuggah and have been since 1998 when I was just a kid so there’s a few of the djent bands and definitely mathcore bands I like. The shoegaze type influences would be from bands like HUM and My Bloody Valentine. 90s bands were a big influence like NIN and Smashing Pumpkins. I’m a huge Mike Patton fan so blending genres and being experimental is nothing new to me. A band I’ve loved more recently is Imperial Triumphant. Another great album that was recently remastered is Nasum Inhale/Exhale. I find myself naturally gravitating towards Swedish metal bands. Meshuggah, At the Gates, In Flames, Nasum, Dissection, Vildhjarta, Opeth, Katatonia, Humanity’s Last Breath, Thrown. I don’t know what’s in the water over there but they’ve given the world a lot of great bands I absolutely love. 

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

12. I’m excited about the future of this project. There were a lot of things that happened in my life over the years that have given me my story, experience and opportunities to finally make something like this happen. I’m eager to share this music with the world and push the boundaries of extreme music in this form to merge chaos and dissonance with melody and emotion paired with experimental vocals and lyrics that question our origins, current narratives and bring light to the terrifying reality that there’s more to this world than what we’ve been allowed to see.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566891959330 

Funebre Devastation/The Verminous Spawn/Morbid Shrine Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Funebre  Devastation  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  old  school  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Verminous  Serpent"  which  was  released  in  June  by  Morbid  Shrine  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  war  metal  elements  and  brutal  blast b eats  can b e  heard  and  the  vocals  add  in a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  underground  metal  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.  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.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  thrash  metal  influences,  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  power  metal  style  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  occultism  and  blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Funebre  Devastation  and  if  are  a  fan  of  old  school  war,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mockery  of  The  Crucified"  "A  New  Age  of  Darkness"  "The  Heretic  Path"  and  "Metal  Mayhem".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyVLv7LBSMc  

  In  ,y  

Deathspiral Of Inherited Suffering/Elysian Blaze/Panegyrist/Maerund/Sunthema/Voidhanger Records/Rubeus Obex/2026 4 Way Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  4  wat  split  album  between  U.S.A's  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering,  Panegyrist/  Maerund  and  Australia's  Elysian  Blaze  called  "Sunthema"  which  will  be  released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  between  Voidhanger  Records  and  Rubeus  Obex  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  ritualistic  soundscapes  and  demonic  voices.  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  ambient  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  raw  tremolo  picking.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  synths  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the lyrics  cove r fury,  grief  and  sacrifice.

  In  my  opinion  Deathspiral  Of  Inherited  Suffering  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Houses  of  Abysmal  Masks.

  Next  up  is  Elysian  Blaze  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  nature  sounds  and  atmospheric  sounding  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  sonly  song  present  on  his  side  of  the  split  is  also  over  17  minutes  in  length  and  the  slower  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  which  are  mixed  down  low  in  the  mix,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  raw  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard.  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Elysian  Blaze  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.

  Next  up  is  Panegyrist  a  band  that  plays  a  very  avant  garde  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  dissonant  sound  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  symphonic  elements  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  and  both  of t heir  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  sounding  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  dissonant  style,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Luciferous  Christworship.

  In  my  opinion  Panegyrist  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  and  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Luciferous".

   Closing  the  split  is  Maerund  a  solo  project  that  plays  an  orthodox  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  The  clear  vocals  also  add  in  some  avant  garde  touches  mixed  in with  some  harsh  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  his  side  of  the  split  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  percussion  is  also  used  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Neoplatonic  Theurgy  and  Orthodox  Mysticism.

  In  my  opinion  Maerund  are  a  very  great  sounding  orthodox  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Red  Crystal  Lattive".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  modern  black  emtal.  8  out  of  10.

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sunthema    

        

     

Azels Mountain/Echa Krwi/Pagan Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Azels  Mountain  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Echa  Krwi"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Pagan  Records.\

  Keyboards  and  spoken  words  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  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Angry  shouts  are  also  utilized  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  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre.

   Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  and  the  album  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  Slavic  Heritage,  mysticism,  death  and  anti  religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Azels  Mountain  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wschod"  "Piesn  Wrony"  and  "Pustka".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063736590794#  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azelsmountain  
Bandcamp: https://azelsmountain.bandcamp.com/  
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MFJpYAEp8GXg7hO3DG6AZ?si=5TIhIYjKQ2ei_cnddneF7Q 

        

Callous Faulter/Self Titled/Gutter Prince Cabal/2026 EP Review

 

  Callous  Falter  are  a  solo  project  from  Australia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  which  will  be  released  oin  June  by  Gutter  Prince  Cabal.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling. 

  Callous  Falter  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  slow  suffocation  of  modern  existence.

  In  my  opinion  Callous  Falter  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ocean  Views".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.gutterprincecabal.com 

https://www.instagram.com/gutterprincecabal 
https://www.facebook.com/Gutterprincecabal

https://gutterprincecabal.bandcamp.com 

Inherits The Void/The Silent Abscission/Avantgarde Music/2026 Full Length Review

  Inherits  The  Void  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  modern  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "The  Silent  Abscission"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  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  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Spoken  words  are  also  used  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  at  times  the  music  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding.

  Some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  synths,  clear  singing  is  also  introduced  on  a  later  song  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  wind  instruments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  erasure,  cosmic  implosion  and  isolation.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Inherits  The  Void  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Sepulcher  Of  Time"  "Wrath  of  The  Endless  Seas"  and  "Inherits  The  Void".  8  out  of  10.

  https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-silent-abscission

https://www.facebook.com/inheritsthevoid

https://www.instagram.com/inheritsthevoid

https://inheritsthevoid.bandcamp.com    . 

Forsmán/Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur/Vesperian/Metal Blade Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

    Forsmán  are  a  band  from  Iceland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  modern,  melodic  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Rústir  &  Fuðrandi  Fjörur"  which  will  be released  in  June  as  a  joint  effort  between  Vesperian  and  Metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  recording  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  modern  era  of  the  genre  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

 The  solos  and  leads  also  stick  to  a  more  dissonant  direction  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  atmospheric  touches,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals .  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  cover  dark  and  melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Forsmán  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  Icelandic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Drottinn  fyrirgefur  allt"  "Kynjamyndir"  and  "Barmafylltar  fjöldagrafir".  8  OUT  OF  10.

   

https://www.facebook.com/forsmanband

https://www.instagram.com/forsmaniceland     

The Noctambulant/Revival/Terminus Hate City/2026 Full Length Review

  Florida's  The  Noctambulant  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  goth  rock,  rokabilly,  blues  and  American  country  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Revival"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Terminus  Hate  City.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  industrial  style  beats  and  spoken  word  samples.  before going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls. 

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  Scandinavian  influences.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffs  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  touches  blues,  rockabilly,  country  and  goth  rock  into  the  rhythm  sections  as  well  as  adding  a  more  distorted  approach  to  those  genres.  and  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  closing  track  is  a  Nick  Cave.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  supernatural  in  the  Appalachian  and  Southern  era  of  the  United  States.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  The  Noctamulant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bring  The  Sorrow"  "Macabre"  "Skeleton  Key"  and  "San  Martino''.  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-noctambulant/729352412

https://www.facebook.com/TheNoctambulant/?_rdr

https://www.instagram.com/thenoctambulant/?hl=en

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3rLKQxEiwaf12jJAyEgbsj?si=ivaOzG0yTqS1wJ6eT9gGWQ&nd=1&dlsi=54518398a9da40d4

  

      

Angest/Perpetual Anguish/Vendetta Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Angest  are  an  international b and  with  embers  from  Austria,  Belgium,  France  and  Canada  that  plays  a  very  modern  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Perpetual  Anguish"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Vendetta  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  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  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dissonant  style. 

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre.

  Angest  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  traditional  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fear,  emotional  collapse  and  psychological  paralysis.

  In  my  opinion  Angest  are  a  very  great  sounding  modern  and  aggressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crumbles,  It  Falls'  and  "Your  Sight  is  Blinded".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angest.void

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angest.band

Bandcamp: https://angest.bandcamp.com/    

Ill Tidings/Seeds Of True Rebirth/Vendetta Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

   Ill  Tidings  are  a  band  from  Austria  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  dissonant  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Seeds  Of  True  Rebirth"   which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Vendetta  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  dissonant  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  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. 

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Most  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes.

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Some  of  the  tracks  also  capture  the  raw  aggression  of  the  old  school  era  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  clear  singing  and  growls,  the  closing  track  also  adds  i  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in a   mixture  of  German  and  English  and  cover  the  apocalypse,  destruction,  transformation  and  the  darkest  corners  of  human  existence.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ill  Tidings  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  atmospheric  and  dissonant  black  metal,  yo  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Between  Cold  Stars  And  Mass  Graves"  "Worship  The  Temple  Of  Flesh"  and  "Abgesang".  8  out  of  10.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illtidingsband/
Bandcamp: https://illtidings.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTFEDNWoyx4

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuAP-ROinRQ 

Il Silenzio di Dio Interview

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

Il Silenzio di Dio was born in late 2023 from an idea by Francesco Traverso and Stefano Amendola, joined in the following weeks by Lorenzo Traverso. We are all music addicted as well as musicians with different tastes and previous experiences in the Italian underground.

The idea was to create an atmospheric black metal with a recognizable and original sound and style.

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?

Work on the album began immediately after the band was formed. We started with the De Andrè cover, which we'll discuss later, and then we began developing the ideas we'd all gathered over the previous months.

Initially, Francesco and Stefano handled vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, while Lorenzo handled the electronics and pre-production.

The album grew in the rehearsal room, but not only that. We often go to the mountains behind Genoa, where we live, spending nights in the woods, and even if we don't have our instruments in hand, it's as if we're writing new music. It's a process that's always ongoing in our heads.

The album was recorded in Sardinia, in November 2024, with the help of Mirko Ibba on drums. Sardinia is a very spiritual place; it was an intense week.

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

The lyrics are primarily written by Stefano. We don't follow a single theme: we can be inspired by dreams, by the nature that surrounds us during our nights in front of the fire in the woods, by humanity's insignificant position in the universe, by historical events that have affected us. If the theme is powerful, dark or disturbing, then it can be a good fit for our lyrics.

4.I know that the band's name means 'the Silence Of God' in Italian, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

We like to keep the meaning of the name a bit secret, but we can say it seems very evocative and powerful, just as we want our music to be.

Il Silenzio di Dio is a concept that can be interpreted in different ways and we like it that way.

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

The antennas photographed on the cover are on a mountain behind Genoa and are visible from any point in the city, even from dozens of kilometers away. It's a symbolic place where nature meets technology. A perennial reminder above our heads as well as a beautiful location overlooking the city.

The cover photo was taken by Francesco, while the rest of the artwork in the booklet is by Diletta Nicosia, a Genoese photographer, who has added her art to ours. The photos in the booklet were taken at the top of the mountain, beneath the antennas, at sunset. A true addition to the work.

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

When we recorded the album, we had a lineup that wouldn't have allowed us to play concerts, but as soon as we left the studio, we started looking for other musicians and that's how we landed on Mattia Merlo (bass) and Massimo Marandino (drums). Now we're ready to play our songs live and we can't wait to do it.

7.On the album you also did a 'Fabrizio De Andre' cover, what was the decision behind doing a cover of one of his songs?

Fabrizio De Andrè is one of the most important Italian singer-songwriters of all time and an artistic icon of our city. We all grew up with his melancholic songs and wonderful lyrics.

"Disamistade" is a Sardinian word meaning "enmity" or rather "feud" between two families, which can even lead to revenge. In short, they are De Andre's most black metal lyrics and the musical arrangement, fitting and appropriate for the album, seemed immediately clear to us. We're very pleased with the result, and we're curious to see the audience's reaction to such a unique choice.

8.The new album was released on 'Taxi Driver Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

Actually, Maso and Sara from Taxi Driver Records have been friends for many years. We're passionate about the same heavy alternative music, which comes in many forms, and we often meet at concerts and festivals.

The music scene in our city, Genoa, is packed with bands and one of the mainstays is Taxi Driver Records, along with the record store Flamingo Records.

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

The album just came out and we're building a following from scratch, but honestly, the initial response has been overwhelming and quite positive. I'd say it exceeded our expectations. We know the genre we do and the way we do it is a bit unconventional, but finding people who appreciate our approach is really inspiring.

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

We're already writing songs for the follow-up to "Antenne." Our style will evolve, but the roots will remain the same as those you heard on the first album. We'll try to write more beautiful, more evocative, and more powerful songs, but we've found our path, and I don't think we'll completely change it in the coming years.

We enjoy the emotional rollercoaster we can take the listener on.

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?

We're all big fans of black metal, from its most primordial forms (Mayhem, Dissection, Gorgoroth) to more recent bands (MGLA, White Ward, Wolves In The Throne Room), and even Italian bands like Spite Extreme Wing, Aborym and Adversam.

We also listen to other genres that we believe influence our music, artists like Hans Zimmer, Brutus, Green Lung, Neil Young. We could name hundreds of artists we love and listen to.

We think there's a lot of great music out there these days. Recently, we've been struck by Agriculture and two other Italian bands: Ponte del Diavolo and Messa.

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

We'd like to thank you for the space. We're happy to be on Occultblackmetalzine. Every fan, every enthusiast who finds refuge in our music will be a source of pride for us. We've embarked on a personal journey and want to share it with anyone who finds it interesting.

See you soon

https://www.instagram.com/isddbmofficial/

Theratos Interview

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

1. Theratos is a Black Metal band I started last year with the intention of creating a more focussed project than any of my previous bands. I spent many years as a drug addict/small-time dealer and that lifestyle was getting in the way of my real goals. Theratos is my final push to put a stop to all that nonsense.

2.So far you have released a demo and a full length with this project, musically how do they both differ from each other?

2. The demo was more experimental when it came to the ambience and more depressive on the whole. I intentionally recorded it at the worst point in my life while I was very sick so that it would naturally sound as awful as possible. The album, on the other hand, is more aggressive and has more death metal influences.

3.You have also been involved with a few other musical projects, how does the material of 'Theratos' differ from your previous work?

3. Like I said, Theratos is more focussed. My previous projects tended to be more slow and minimalistic because they were really a bi-product from the life I was living. Theratos is a melting pot of those projects but crafted with more care and more skill.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover the Order of The Nine Angles and The Sinister Tradition, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this path and do you also have any interest in other esoteric and occult paths?

4. I was pretty much born into The Order of Nine Angles as David Myatt met me for the first time when I was still a baby. He taught me about the Sinister Tradition when I was young and it always set me apart from the rest of my family. For most of my upbringing it fell into the background but it crept up again some years ago. All I can really say is it's an honor to be upholding my role in the order once again. As far as other occult paths go, there are practitioners of Thelema in my family, which on the one hand I love, but there are definitely points of contention. In the end, no matter what, I always return to The Sevenfold Way.

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

5. Other lyrical themes include vampirism, sadomasochism and death. It's all about nihilism.

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

6. The name comes from a concoction of two Greek concepts, those being Thanatos, which is the death drive, and Eros, which is the life drive. The combination of those two factors, life and death, creates an abomination.

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

7. The artwork is basically The Eye of Satan glaring out from The Depths of Hell.

8.With most of you projects toy recorded everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

8. In general I think working solo is the best way because it gives me absolute freedom. However, some guitar playing from my friend Demogorgon will be featured in upcoming releases and in the future I want to make Theratos a live band. But there is still a lot of work to be done.

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

9. I don't think it's reached that many people yet, but so far the reactions have been good.

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

10. Soon I'll start recording the next couple of releases as I have a lot of raw demos to work from. I'm just waiting for some new equipment so I can start recording the drums. From now on I don't want any more programmed drums, mostly because I hate the programming process.

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?

10. Soon I'll start recording the next couple of releases as I have a lot of raw demos to work from. I'm just waiting for some new equipment so I can start recording the drums. From now on I don't want any more programmed drums, mostly because I hate the programming process.

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

12. I'd just like to say thank you for your interest in the band and, for anyone new to Theratos, check it out. You're not going to be disappointed. Too many bands jump on the same trends these days and if I hear another cheap Ross Bay rip-off posing like Blasphemy I think I'm gonna fucking vomit. Other than that, stay true.

Agios O Azanigin.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579323628634 

Aspen Sanctum/To Withhold The Need To Conquer/Fiadh Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Aspen  Sanctum  are  a  band  from  Michigan  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  post  hardcore  and  Americana  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "To  Withhold  The  Need  To  Conquer"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  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.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  elements   of  post  hardcore  also  being  added  into  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  touches  of  Americiana,  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  nature  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  Midwestern  United  States  Region.

  In  my  opinion  Aspen  Sanctum  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  with  elements  of  post  hardcore  and  Americana  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Without  Illumination"  and  "Ancient  Sentience".  8  out  of  10.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspensanctum
Bandcamp: https://aspensanctum.bandcamp.com

Bockreiter/Spirits Of The Swamp/Abstruse Eerie Radiance/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Bockreiter  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Spirits  OF  The  Swamp"  which  was  released  by  Abstruse  Eerie  Radiance.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  guitar  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  an  atmospheric  touch  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  at  times.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  angry  shouts  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  regional  folklore  and  occult  legends.

  In  my  opinion  Bockreiter  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  The  Veil"  "Revenge"  and  "The  River".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Bockreiterdoommetal

https://www.instagram.com/bockreiter.doom/

https://bockreiter.bandcamp.com/    

Characith/Curse Of The Black Mist/2026 Demo Review

 

  Characith  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic,  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  ep  "Curse  Of  The  Black  Mist'.  

  Keyboards  start  off  the  demo  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  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  recording  also  adds  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  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  also  being  utilized  at  times  and all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  On  this  recording  Characith  remains  true  to  the  melodic,  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  style  of  black  metal  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Gnosticism,  Left  Hand  Path  and  Occult  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Characith  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  old  school,  occult  and  satanic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Pearly  Tears  Of  :Light".  8  out  of  10.

  https://open.spotify.com/album/709v10QI1XtSYi2OzlCCBZ?si=Z12YBFGSQeqe3TcXp_eYjw