Blazemth/Gehenna/Negra Nit Distro/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Blazemth  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  primordial  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Gehenna"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Negra  Nit  Distro.

  An  orchestra  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  ads  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  as  well  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  time.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clean  playing  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  songs.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  bringing  in  elements  of  thrash  metal,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  pagan  vocals  Death  metal  growls  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Mythology,  Occultism,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Blazemth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  The  Valley'  "Into  The  Crypt  Of  Iggdrasyl"  and  Nifelheim".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568738550586

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

Blazemth Interview

 

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

Yes of course: in the recording the group was formed by Volkhaar (guitar/vocals), Shunh (guitar), Kerberos (bass) and Croma Lan Ro (drums). Two weeks after the recording, the bassist and the drummer decided to leave the band due to lack of motivation (the thing I will never understand). Then I found myself in the same situation again, struggling to find the musicians. Thanks to a friend of mine, he put me in contact with Frank, ex-bassist of Ktulu, and since Frank knew the great Riky Mena, former drummer of Avulsed and Wormed, we met a few times and played the new stuff. They both liked the project and decided to stay in the band.

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

Well, in maturity a lot, although 4 songs that are part of the new album are songs that I already made in 1997 but were never released. That means that we were maybe musically mature enough but the band wasn't ready for the new album.There is much more melody on this album.

3.When I listened to the new album it seemed to be a lot different from the material you have released in the 90's, do you feel it is necessary to move with the times and get more diverse and talented with each recording?

Yes, obviously, but improving musically (at least in my opinion) does not mean losing that beautiful essence of the 90's, and we will always strive to stay in the atmosphere of that time.

4.The band was broken up for 20 years, what was the cause of the split and decision to reform?

Honestly, I don't remember why it was, although there were certain differences in the band, but that's left behind. The cause of the band's return was due to the 20th anniversary reissue proposed by Abstract Emotions, since we were the first Black Metal band to be released on CD in Spain.

5.A lot of the lyrics on the new album cover Luciferian and Occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

For me it is the search for the truth, where the perception does not reach, come the dark arts with dragons in the sky, witches and eternal chaos. Space and time are for me like a prison that do npt let you be creative.

6.A lot of your lyrics in the 90's were more battle and war orientated, can you tell us a little bit more about what these topics once meant to you and also do you still have interest in those themes.

Yes, of course, before almost all the lyrics were written by Lord Erlick, but now it is me who writes them. I like more the search for truth through the Chaos, Lucifer - the light bringer and the dark arts that make us strong.

7.The band was originally called 'Daemonum', what was the cause of the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Blazemth'?

I had a lot of problems right from the start with Decomposed, my first band, because the name was already taken. Then the same happened when we changed to Rotten Flesh even when we changed to Undivine and then when I formed Daemonium - the same, the name already existed. So I made up a name Blazemth: BLAZE as a bonfire and the MTH symbols are the ones that the Sumerians were putting on the graves. Sure, no one had that name and today if you put Blazemth in google search you find only us hehehehe

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

In the times that we live by the norms of a powerful church that hides the truth from us, Lucifer feels the need to come out. On the album cover is shown the breaking of Lucifer's chains where he comes back from the underworld to show us all the truth which was hidden for millennia. The art is inspired by the work of Gustave Doré and was made by  the Serbian illustrator Dejan Mandić.

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

The best was in Benidorm with Grimuack (greetings to Vincent Beherit) because there was a great empathy with the public, it was really impressive, the band really connected with the people, they didn't want us to finish the concert, they wanted us to play on and on and on .... Good memories :)

10.The band has a history going back to the 90's and was one of the first Spanish black metal bands, do you feel you have been a huge influence on the later black metal bands that later came out of your home country?

Well, I don't know really because I disconnected from the music in 1997 and I was practically out of everything until 2017. I have heard that some bands were inspired by Blazemth, yes, but I don't really feel like we were some kind of influencers.

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

Well it is true that many people write to me from all over the planet saying they like Blazemth but in Brazil and Colombia I heard that we are an iconic band from the 90's.

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

Musically we will try to keep the same recognizable sound of Blaizemth and melodic Black Metal. I hope that one day they will talk about us in a good way musically and as a band that makes good concerts.

13.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?

My musical influences are: Immortal, Dissection, Burzum, Emperor, Celtic Frost etc. Nowadays I listen Kriegsmaschine.

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

Very nice interview :) Thank you so much for dedicating your time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBTey05dN0Q&feature=youtu.be

Blazemth/The Return Of Lucifer/Xtreem Music/2022 CD Review

 

  Blazemth  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "The  Return  Of  Lucifer"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Xtreem  Music.

  A  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  epic  sounding  synths  and  spoken  word  parts  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can   be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  direction  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  death  metal  growls,  didgeridoo's  are  also  used  as  an  instrument  on  the  recording  and  also  gives  the  album  more  of  an  occult  atmosphere  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  more  modern,  diverse  and  aggressive  sound  then  what  was  released  in  the  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Mysticism,  Luciferian,  Darkness  and  War  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Blazemth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  old  school  and  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Return  Of  Lucifer"  "Hecate"  and  "The  Grummer".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBTey05dN0Q  

  

Blazemth/For Centuries Left Behind/Abstract Emotions/1995 CD Review

Blazemth where a band from Spain that played a very atmospheric and primitive form of black metal and this is a review of their 1995 album "For Centuries Left Behind" which was released by Abstract Emotion.

Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with some occasional fast playing and not much in the way of blast beats, while the keyboards have a very epic and atmospheric feel to them, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times you can hear the musical instrument.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast raw black metal riffs and there are little to no guitar solos or leads present on this recording.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some occasional spoken word passages, while the lyrics cover Mysticism, darkness, warriors and battle honour, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and primitive feel to it.

In my opinion Blazemth where a very good primitive atmospheric black metal band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "It;s Suffering Age" and "Majesties Of War". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Blazemth/2751