Seeds Of Hate/Foreboding Of The Final Eradication/2026 EP Review

 

  Seeds  Of  Hate  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Foreboding  Of  The  Final  Eradication".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also h ear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  and  the  whole  ep  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Seeds  Of  Hades  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is very  fast  and  raw  in t he  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German  and  English  and  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Christianity  and  Hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Seeds  Of  Hate  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  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Summoning  The  Age  of  Intolerance".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/seedsofhateofficial      

Aliore/Oraison Funebre/Adipocere Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Aliore  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  esoteric  and  theatrical  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Oraison  Funebre"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Adpocere  Records.

  Clean  playing  and  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction while  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a small  amount  of  spoken  words.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  the  mid  90's  era  symphonic  style  along  wit h one  song  also  introducing  operatic  vocals  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  four  souls  torn  from  the  First  World  War  bound  together  by  tragedy  and  destiny.

  In  my  opinion  Aliore  are  a  very  great  sounding  theatrical  and  esoteric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Renaissance"  "Tumulte"  "Sous  la  LunePale"  and  Cendres  et  Lumiere".  8  out  of  10.

  Aliore - Entretien avec le Diable (Single)

Aliore - Cendres et lumière (Official Lyrics Video) - Oraison Funèbre

Aliore - Cendres et Lumiere - Piano Voix Live - YouTube      

The Diabolic Obsession/Tier Drama/2026 EP Review

  The  Diabolic  Obsession  are  a  solo  project  from Italy  that  plays  an  occult  and  horror  themed  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  "Tier  Drama".

  Horror  movie  style  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  thrash  and  heavy  metal  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  one  track  also  adds  in  some  session  work  from  Andy  LaRocque  the  former  guitarist  of  king  Diamond  and  Death.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style.  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction,  clean  playing  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  The  Diabolic  Obsession  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  thrash  and  traditional  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Horror  and  Occultism  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  The  Diabolic  Obsession  is  a  very  great  sounding  occult  and  horror  themed  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Red  House"  and  "Testament  In  Decay".  8  out  of  10.

https://thediabolicobsession.bandcamp.com/album/tier-drama  

DeathFuckingWound/Teratoma Haruspex/Ancient Temple Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  DeathFuckingWound  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  war,  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Teretoma  Haruspex"  which  will  be  released  on  October  30th  by  Ancient  Temple  Recordings.

  Apocalyptic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  adds  in a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  bestial  growls  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  the  brutality  of  grindcore.

  Elements  of  noise  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  a  brief  use  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  only  a  small  amount  of  mid  tempo  sections  being  used  with  most  of  the  music  focusing  on  more  of  a  fast  and  brutal  direction,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  DeathFuckingWound  takes  the  heaviest  and  most  brutal  forms  of  war,  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  harsh  and  aggressive  musical  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  violent  and  nihilistic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  DathFuckingWound  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war,  black,  death  metal,  grindcore  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Pounding  Ambush"  "Hematoma"  "Black  Vomit  Sermon"  and  "A  Nihil  ation".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olUR7RO0gKM

Rupture Of The Gastrointestinal Tract/Dolcett/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Rupture  Of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  rleeased  2026  album  "Dolcett".

  Clean  playing  and  rain  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  black  metal  screams  while  the  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  melodies  are  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Synths  can  also  he  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  most  of  the  recording  also  sticks  to  more  of  slower  direction.

  Rupture  of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  plays  a  style  of  black  emtal  that  is  very  slow,  atmospheric  and  depressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  gore  and  depression  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Rupture  Of  The  Gastrointestinal  Tract  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Smells  Like  Burning  Souls"  and  "Ture  Forced  Loneliness".  8  out  of  10.

  Listen on Spotify    

Canticum Diaboli/Compendium Horribilis/Ad Noctem Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Cancticum  Diaboli  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Compendium  Horribilis"  which  will b e  released  in  November by  Ad  Noctem  Records.

  Fire  burning,  acoustic  guitars,  stringed  instruments  and  organs  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.  At  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  technical  moments  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  guitar  solos  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  melodic  style  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  Italian  History,  Folklore  and  Superstitions  with  some  references  to the  burning  of  Giordano  Bruno,  The  Stack  Of  Rome  in  1527  and  the  Venetian  Vampire  Legend,.

  In  my  opinion  Cancticum  Diaboli  are  a  very  great  sounding  aggressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Arde  Pro  Nobis"  ""Venetica  Vampiria"  and  ":Ferro  Ignique  MDXXVII".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/canticumdiaboli_official/
https://www.facebook.com/CanticumDiaboli/

https://canticumdiaboli1.bandcamp.com/     

Ancestros/Blasfemia Austral/Cyclic law/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Ancestros  are  a  band  from  Spain t hat  plays  a  very  avant  garde  and  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Blasfemia  Austral"  which  will b e  released  in  November  by  Cyclic  Law.

  Avant  garde  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  chaotic  style  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths.

 Spoken  words  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  album  also  getting  more  ritualistic  on  later  tracks  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  the  cultural  heritage  of  Southern  Europe.

  In  my  opinion  Ancestros  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Orbitor"  and  "Black  Drone  Templexity".  8 out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/4bpJK_iIYoU?si=NSm9m0fO8MyahfEV

        

  

Horizon Ablaze/Livets høst/Leviatan/2026 Full Length Review

  Horizon  Ablaze  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Livets  høst'  which  was  released  by  Leviatan.

  Melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  When  the  recording  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

 Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  Throughout  the  recording  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,  spoken  words  can  also be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Horizon  Ablaze  takes  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  progressive  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  very  aggressive  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  violence  and  destruction  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Horizon  Ablaze  and  if  you  are  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  black  and  death  metal.  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Flammehav"  "Byrde"  and  "Evigheten".  8  out  of  10.

  https://ditto.fm/livets-host-horizon-ablaze    

     

Paara Interview

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

Waara: A lot has happened since we decided to start working on Laulut tulen ja jään. The past few months have been busy promoting the new album and putting together our upcoming shows. Rehearsals for the upcoming gigs are also underway, and we can’t wait to hit the stage with the new material and visual look.

So it feels good to be back after Riitti, which was quite a while ago now.

2.You have a new album coming out towards the end of October, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Helmouth: Musically we’ve taken a giant leap, in my opinion. Our music is now more layered. Even though there’s a lot happening in some of these songs, everything serves a purpose. I think we’ve matured musically. This development came naturally. We don’t feel the need to force our music in any specific direction. The only thing we knew pretty early on was that this was going to be a theme album. 

3.This is also going to be your first album in 8 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

Helmouth: The album has been in the making for six years. We started composing before the whole covid madness started. Those pandemic years really messed up our plans, but I also think that it gave us perspective and depth for our music. I was in a really dark place back then - depression and alcoholism. I had to deal with my demons before we could’ve continued with the composing. So we “lost” a few years dealing with personal matters. When we actually sat down and continued with the album, the process was fairly fast considering the outcome.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover nature and Finnish Folklore, which aspects of these topics do you cover with the new release?

Helmouth: The nature imagery is always present in a way or another. I feel the need to celebrate the grandeur of the Nordic landscapes. Wilderness is after all where I went by myself to tame my demons, to rediscover myself. This is a theme album. It deals with themes like depression, death, loss and disconsolation. The story runs through the whole album and it’s told using a mythological framework. Finnish folklore is present and I think has become a big part of our identity.

5.Most of the band members also have backgrounds working with other metal styles and the music also incorporates a lot of non metal influences, would you consider yourself as being very diverse when it comes to writing and creating new music?

Zvartus: As the primary songwriter, I can answer: yes. I listen to a wide range of music—including genres outside of metal. I have particularly listened to old Finnish schlager music, from which I also draw melodies for Paara’s material.

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

Helmouth: We’ve been fortunate to work with the very talented David Thiérrée - for quite some time now. He did the artwork for ‘Riitti’ and also the vinyl version of ‘Yön olevainen puoli’. This time around we gave David more freedom. We talked about what the album was about. He came up with this idea of a blacksmith, a forge and caverns of the underworld. The hero of our story is an Axebearer. In a way the artwork depicts an untold part of the story. The forging of the axe. David’s art is always incredible and full of details.

7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

Helmouth: There have been a lot of memorable shows. Years ago we played at a small festival in the UK - near the Scottish border, in the historic forest of Cumbria. They had bonfires outside the venue. We could see them from the stage because these massive sliding doors were left open. The place was packed. After the show we went straight to a nearby pond to participate in a traditional paganic rite. Festivals have been good for us.

Trangoth: In part of our first European tour, we were playing in a small cellar bar in Poland, and there were like 10 people watching. 

The owner of the bar lit a huge fire in the open fireplace as we started playing. It was a very atmospheric and intimate gig. It doesn’t have to be the biggest venue, or biggest crowd to outstand another gig, it’s more like an overall feeling about the gig. 

Also the Tuska-festival in 2017 was really special for me, since I've been going to that festival since I was a teenager. There have been many great places we’ve had the chance to play, and hopefully that trend continues!

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

Waara: We’ll be touring Finland in November, playing selected gigs in various towns and cities. We’ll carry on touring next year. Let’s hope we’ll also get to see the band at festivals and on tours abroad.

9.The new album is going to be released on 'Dusktone', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?

Waara: ​​We've been really pleased with Dusktone's contribution and the way they handle their work. They also have a truly customer-focused approach, and their communication is prompt and friendly.

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

Zvartus: The feedback we’ve received has been amazing. We’ve noticed that people have really been looking forward to our return. Our singles have clearly been well-received.

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Waara: Our band has brilliant musicians, which also means that they play in several other bands like Shape Of Despair, Where’s My Bible, The Man-Eating Tree, The Abbey etc. I see that as a positive thing. As far as I know, every band is touring, and some are preparing their upcoming releases.

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

Helmouth: We’ll keep on evolving. We haven’t carved an intentional path. Only time will tell where our music will take us. Only that is a constant is the influence of black metal and the deep melancholy of our melodies.

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

Waara: As I mentioned earlier, the members of Paara also play in many other bands. They don’t limit themselves to just metal. The same goes for what we listen to and what we like. Of course, I can’t speak for everyone, but I’d say we’re open to all kinds of music and draw inspiration from everywhere, even though our hearts lean toward heavier music.

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

 Waara: We hope to see you at our shows around the world. Don't forget to buy our new album and enjoy the music and the people around you!

https://paara.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/paaranmaa

https://www.instagram.com/paaraband/

Invultation/Inferno Descends/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2026 Full Length Review

  Ohio's  solo  project  Invultation  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  bestial  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Inferno  Descends"  which  will  be  released  on  October  30th  by  Sentient  Ruin  laboratories.

  Chaotic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  battle  sounds  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  brutal  war  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  bestial  growls  while  the  music  adds  in  a  lot  of  90's  infleunces.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  and  most  of  the  recording  focuses  on  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Invultation  continues  the  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal  style  that  he  has  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  cruelty  and  destruction  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Invultation  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  war  and  bestial  black/death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Molten  Aggression"  "Sacrificial  Incineration"  "Withered  Exiguity"  and  "Atrocity  Vehemence".   8  out  of  10.

  BANDCAMP RELEASE 

     

Xeropolis Interview

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

1. Well, over the last few years I have collected many ideas for several new music projects. I like experimenting with different styles of extreme metal and different songwriting approaches, while keeping them old-school oriented. Xeropolis is one of those projects I had been working on. Basically, it's my own take on a certain black metal sound, with clear punk influences. I composed our debut album in late 2025, then asked Kris, from the atmospheric black metal band Skialykon, to help me with the project, and he accepted. I think it's a fruitful collaboration, because he brought new perspectives and fresh ideas that will also be useful in the future.

2.You have your first full length is coming out in 2027, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you going for on the recording?

2. The album, titled "Scunfortu Mediterraneu" (meaning "Mediterranean Discomfort" in Sicilian language), has already been recorded. The three tracks included in the upcoming "Promo 2026" will also appear on the album, although with a different production. So you can expect straightforward black metal with punk elements and a scorching production.

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

3. The whole project is basically the opposite of a typical Norwegian black metal album. Instead of talking about Scandinavian winters and Nordic nature, our lyrical themes focus on Mediterranean drought and aridity. Normally, when you think of Southern Italy, particularly Sicily, you might picture green nature, warm weather and so on. Here, however, I wanted to show a more "tragic" aspect that is not always known. Besides the arid Mediterranean landscapes, our lyrics also show a clear interest in Sicily's ancient Greek heritage and a certain sense of disillusionment.

Last but not least, my parents are from Sicily, even though I was born and raised in the Rome area. That's why I decided to sing in Sicilian: it's a sort of tribute to my family roots, particularly to my grandfather, who died earlier this year.

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

4. The name works on two levels. First, its meaning emphasizes the arid and dry lyrical setting of the project. Second, the fact that I chose a Greek word underlines my interest in Sicily's ancient Greek heritage, as I mentioned in the previous answer.

5.The album cover is a still from the film 'Toto che visse due volte', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this film?

5. "Totò che visse due volte" is a 1998 movie by Sicilian directors Daniele Ciprì and Franco Maresco. The movie was censored when it came out, as it was considered degrading, offensive, blasphemous and sacrilegious. I'm passionate about Ciprì and Maresco's work in general, and in particular about "Cinico TV", a satirical TV program broadcast in the early/mid-1990s. The program consisted of clips featuring interviews conducted by the two directors with marginalized, mentally ill and disreputable characters, set against the backdrop of a desolate Sicily.

 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?

6. No, it will remain a duo. I don't think there is any need to change.

7.You also run 'Prehistoric Sounds', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

7. Prehistoric Sounds is, more than a label, a sort of "box" for my projects. I mostly use it to release secondary material such as demos, promos and limited cassette editions. Xeropolis's "Promo 2026" will be my eighth release. The only project not by me that I have published is Gadir, because I know the guy behind it and wanted to help him with a physical release. But it will remain the only exception

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

8. Xeropolis in particular is still basically unknown. This is my first interview for the project, and promotion for the first release has only just started. In general, I'm just a small fish in an ocean of bands, but that's fine: I never did this for fame. Still, I always find it funny when someone spends words of praise on me and my projects, or even asks me to send them a record they've bought from me with an autograph.

9.What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

9. I have several things going on at the moment. I'm currently looking for labels for a couple of records, and the new Clactonian demo is also currently being mixed. I also hope to find a label interested in releasing Xeropolis's debut album. In terms of recording, I recently recorded guest vocals for an Irish atmospheric black metal project.

All in all, there's always a lot going on, also because I tend to write whenever I get an idea. Sometimes these ideas materialize into something real, sometimes they don't, but that's part of the creative process.

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

10. I'll surely spend the next three or four years composing and releasing new stuff. After that, we'll see. But in general, I can't see myself not making music.

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. For Xeropolis, my clearest influences are Ildjarn, Darkthrone, Akitsa and Bone Awl. Anyway, even though I listen to a lot of black and death metal, I'm a pretty omnivorous listener. One of the most recent releases I enjoyed the most was the debut album by Mischievous Wraith: very cool witchcraft-inspired black metal.

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

12. Thanks for the interview. For those who are interested, Xeropolis's Promo 2026 is out on November 13th, and cassettes can be pre-ordered through Prehistoric Sounds' Bandcamp page. Until the light takes us...

 https://prehistoricsounds.bandcamp.com/album/promo-2026-2 

Alasthor/Flesh Apart, Mind Inside/Chapitre XIII/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Belgium's  Alasthor  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  occult  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Flesh  Apart,  Mid  Inside"  which  will  be  released  on  October  23rd  by  Chapitre  XIII.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  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  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  thrash  emtal  elements  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  meldoy.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  crust  punk  while  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  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  tthe  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  old  school  touches.

  On  this  recording  Alasthor  bring  out  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  style  of  occult  black  metal  as w ell  as  adding  in  some  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk  to  create  a  very  aggressive  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Left  Hand  Path, Occultism ,  Aghora  and  Draconic  Magick.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Alasthor  and  if  you  are  of  a  fan  atmospheric  occult  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wormhole"  and  "Divine  Limited  Flesh".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Alasthor.black.metal.Belgium/      

Herzog/Mugwort/Amor Fati Productions/2026 Full Length Review

   Herzog  are  a  band  from  Belgium t hat  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  aggressive  and  melancholic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Mugwort"  which  will  be  release d on  october  26th  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  yet  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams,  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spoken  words  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  some  atmospheric  touches.   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental. 

  On  this  recording  Herzog  brings  out  a  very  aggressive,  melancholic  and  traditional  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  shock,  pain  and  the  violence  of  losing  everything  you  held  true.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Herzog  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  aggressive  and  melancholic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dawn  Of  The  Prosper"  and  "Post-Truth".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/p/Herzog-61558581568781

  
 

  

Illusions Play/Cursed In Eternity/Doomed/2026 Collaboration EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  Turkey's  Illusions  Play  who  play  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  and    Cursed  In  Eternity  a  band  that  plays  a  depressive  form  of  black  metal,  the  ep  was  released  in  2016  and  called  "Doomed"  and  also  shows  both  of t he b ands  mixing  their  different  styles  together.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  the  them.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  depressive  black  metal s creams.

  Element s of  funeral  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   lot  of  melody,  clean  playing  and  female  vocals  are  added  on  the  second  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while the  lyrics  cover  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Illusions  Play  and  Cursed  In  Eternity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  doom/death  metal  and  dsbm,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  'Ashen  Sky".  8  out  of  10.

  linktr.ee/everythingdiesdsbm   

Xeropolis/Promo 2026/Prehistoric Sounds/2026 EP Review

  Xeropolis  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  promo  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Prehistoric  Sounds.

  A  very  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  starts  off  the  promo  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  Elements  of  punk  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  of  the  genre.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

 Xeropolis  takes  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  punk  tock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Sicilian  and  cover  Mediterranean  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Xeropolis  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  duo  with  elements  of  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  promo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Sutta  'na  luna  ardenti".  8  out  of  10.

  https://prehistoricsounds.bandcamp.com/album/promo-2026-2    

Trve Sagacity/Follow The Hearses/2026 Full length Review

  Trve  Sagacity  are  a  solo  project  from  Wales  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  old  school  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Follow  The  Hearses'  which  will  be  released  on  October  26th.

  Bass  guitar  leads  and  drum b eats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  thrash  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  and  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  classic  metal  style  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  some  back  up  shouts

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clean  playing  and  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  on t he  closing  song  the  vocals  add  in  more  of  a  first  wave  approach.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Welsh  Folklore,  History  and  Catastrophe.      

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Trve  Sagicity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black.  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Witch  Of  The  Mist  (Gwrach  Y  Rhibyn)"  "Darkness  And  The  Light"  and  "41  Acres".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK2pLKnkzPIo345WwsWTLOQ

     

Vermianaevus/Self Titled/Amor Fati Productions/2026 Full Length Review

  Vermianaevus  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2026  album  which  will  be  released  on  october  30th  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  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.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  atmospheric  soundscapes  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.   

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  a   mixture  of  bestial  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  the  brutality  of  war  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyric's  cover  cosmic  devastation,  lunar  caverns  and  deep  void  horrors.

  In  my  opinion  Vermianaevus  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  war,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nexus  Of  Inexorable  Darkness"  "Consumed  By  Gryation"  and  "Beneath  A  Vengeful  Lunar  Glaze" .   8  out  of  10.

https://vermianaevus.bandcamp.com/album/vermianaevus  

Noctule/Extinguish Thy Flame/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Noctule  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  post  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2026  album  "Extinguish  Thy  Flame".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into a   lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  At  time s the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  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  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  clear  vocals,  keyboards  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  one  of  the  later  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  Elden  Ring  saga.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Noctule  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  post  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Devour  The  Gods"  "Goddess  Of  Rot"  and  "Age  Of  The  Stars'.  8  out  of  10.

  SINGLE PROMO 

MUSIC VIDEO    

Hyver/La Fête de la Forêt Enchantée/Antiq/2026 Full Length Review

  France's  Hyver  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  raw  black  metal  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "La  Fête  de  la Forêt  Enchantée"  which  will  be  released  on  October  8th  by  Antiq.

  A  dungeon  synth  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  Vocals  are  also  bat  shrieks   while  the  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  drum  beats  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats.  The  recording  also  has  its  symphonic  moments  along  with  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  fast  riffing  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling,  medieval  sounds  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  some  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Hyver  takes  a  very  raw,  symphonic  and  medieval  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  dungeon  synth  and  bat  shriek  style  vocals  to  create  something  very  different  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark,  raw  and  lo-fi.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hyver  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  black  metal  and  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Un  Chemin  Mystérieux"  "La  Danse  de  la  Forêt  Enchantée"  and  " Arrivée de  l'Ambulance".  8  out  of  10.

  http://antiqofficial.bandcamp.com/album/la-f-te-de-la-for-t-enchant-e

     

Vinteraske/Nocturne/Naturmacht Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Vinteraske  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Nocturne"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Water  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  shoegaze  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  ad  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vinteraske  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mental  and  emotional  turmoil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vinteraske  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Schwerer  regen"  "Kein  ort  wird  mehr  fur  mich  sluhen"  and  "Enfroren//Verbrannt".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/xog8ElwUm0U?si=HPPobdSDi8tO-xxc 

Acédia/Égarement/Les Productions Hérétiques/2026 Full Length Review

     Acédia  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Égarement"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Les  Productions  Hérétiques.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  touches  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  sounding  while  the  guitar  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  post  metal  style.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Acédia  takes  their  progressive  and  avant  garde  style  of  black  metal  into  a  more  aggressive  and  darker  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  misanthropy,  suicide,  alienation  and  apathy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Acédia  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  progressive  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Sécheresse"  "Les  ruelles  murmurent"  and  "Nuit  sans retour".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Acediaqc/