Decayed/Caixão/Cemetery Lights/Heralds Of The Duat/Down With The Most High Productions/2024 3 Way Slit Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  3  way  split  album  between  Portugal's  Decayed,  Caixão  and  U.S.A's  Cemetery  Lights  called  "Heralds  Of  The  Duat"  which  was  released  by  Down  With  The  Most  High  Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Decayed  who  return  with  their  old  school  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  medieval  war  orientated  intro  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  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Synths  also  can  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  mid  80's  to  early  90's  style,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Decayed  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Gates  Of  The  Dead".

  Next  up  is  Caixão  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  minimalistic  form  of  black/death  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  ritualistic  synth  orientated  intro  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  givers  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  whispered  black/.death  metal  style  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  sticking  to  more  of  an  old  school  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  era,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.  

  In  my  opinion   Caixão  is  a  very  great  sounding  minimalistic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Serapeum".

  Next  up  is  Cemetery  Lights  a  solo  project  that  returns  with  his  old  school  style  of  occult  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  heavy  early  90's  influenced  style  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  style  that  mixes  black  metal  screams  and  deep  growls  together.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  rooted  in  the  classic  Hellenic  style  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  clean  playing,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover   the  underworld  and  the  reign  of  the  dead  (Duat)  in  Ancient  Egypt.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cemetery  Lights  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Conspiracy  With  The  Gods".

 In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  i  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  old  school  occult  black  metal,  8  out  of  10.

  BANDCAMP: https://downwiththemosthigh1.bandcamp.com/album/heralds-of-the-duat              

      

Cemetery Lights/The Underworld/Nuclear War Now! Productions/2019 CD Review

  Cemetery  Lights  are  a  solo  project  from  Rhode  Island  that  has  been  featured  before  in t his  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  old  school  and  Mediterranean  influenced  from  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "The  Underworld"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Nuclear  War  Now!  Productions.

  A  very  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  starts  off  the  album  which  is  also  used  as  a  lead  instrument  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  Greek  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  raw  moments  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  tremolo  picking,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style.  and spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly

  On  this  recording  Cemetery  Lights  takes  hid  musical  style  into  more  of  Greek  influenced  black  metal  style.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek  Literature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cemetery  Lights  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  and  Greek  influenced  black  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Erebos"  "Isles  of  the  Blessed"  and  "Fields  Of  Asphodel".  8  out  of  10.

http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-underworld 



    

Cemetery Lights Interview

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

Cemetery Lights is a one-man occult black metal band It draws from the traditions of the 80’s and early 90’s for musical inspiration, navigating the narrow line between black, death, thrash, and doom metal to create an immersive listening experience.

2.So far this year you have released 2 ep's, how do they both differ from each other musically?

Lemuralia, although thoughtfully constructed, was created with the intention of finally delivering the music to the public after much procrastination. As a consequence of that, four straightforward tracks were selected to record. Interludes or experimental tracks were not utilized. It is important to be succinct when competing for the attention of a new listener. The result was four songs which showcase the atmosphere and power which can be demonstrated with purely metal compositions. Though strongest as a whole, each song could nevertheless stand proud on its own as a representation of Cemetery Lights.

The Church on the Island was crafted with more emphasis on the entire duration of the release instead of individual songs. The music and lyrics were arranged to deliver a story with an exposition (“The Church on the Island”), rising action (“Cemetery Lights”, “Resurrection”, “Necrocacophony”), climax (“Rapture”), and falling action / denouement (“The Bell”). “Resurrection” and “Necrocacophony” are prime examples of tracks which are intended to serve as assets to a plot arc rather than standalone tracks off of a black metal release. Nevertheless, the songs on the album were not composed with this goal in mind (with the exception of “Rapture”, composed as an expansion on the bridge riff from “Necrocacophony”). So, the straightforward compositions on The Church on the Island can stand on their own as well, but are best experienced alongside one-another.

3.The musical project has been around since 2011 but waited until 2018 to release any music, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?

Cemetery Lights was formed as a means of reviving the spirit of the Mediterranean black metal bands (in addition to a few select acts from other regions, such as Samael, Treblinka / Tiamat, Root, Barathrum, etc). The aforementioned acts may vary in execution, but compliment one-another well in essence. 2011 and 2012 were spent with a lot of leisure time to compose, so most of the material dates from those years. Special care was taken to preserve riffs and song ideas in case they were needed in the future.

Practices were held with Zealot (drummer of Witch King, ex-Enucleator) during that period. Other interests took precedent towards the end of 2012, so the project was indefinitely put on hold. In 2013 I began learning how to play drums, largely eschewing guitar until 2017. During autumn of 2017 it was decided that Cemetery Lights needed to happen, so guitar began to factor more into my practice regimen. I was presented with a lot of leisure time in April of this year, so I resolved to discipline myself to record the material which had accumulated.

4.Your lyrics cover Occultism, Necromancy and Horror, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts and horror?

My favorite tales are those which deal with apparitions (formerly human and otherwise), taboo spirituality, and the clash of those things with everyday life. The elusiveness of the unknown is probably the source of my fascination. However, my approach towards those topics is more that of an academic rather than a practitioner. Lemuralia revolved around ancient Roman ghost stories and folklore, so it ended up being a historical endeavor. The Church on the Island explored the wayward faithful embracing a left-hand path to enact their nihilistic revenge upon their surroundings, so it was a philosophical / theological drama.

No lyrics are penned without an accompanying vision, and presently I have no interest in writing lyrics which serve as snapshots of the macabre just for the sake of giving me something to vocalize. Perhaps that day will come, but presently I resonate much more with a purpose behind the lyrics.

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

The name is extracted from “Freezing Moon” by Mayhem: “the cemetery lights up again, as in ancient times”! Beyond that, the idea of hovering, ghostly flames in a cemetery is very striking. It conjures a simple, yet effective, image for the mind’s eye.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience playing with whole line ups, how would you compare the two?

Presently I have no experience recording as a member of a whole line-up. My experience as a live member playing songs which have already been finalized has been extremely positive. The members of Martyrvore were very supportive while I learned the songs and, most importantly, learned how to function alongside other musicians.  It can be difficult to schedule rehearsals with other members. That can be a stumbling block to keeping a band active. I have yet to see how composing new songs in that situation will play out.

It seems to be a lot easier for me to be the sole creative force behind a band. I write when inspiration strikes, record at my leisure, and release on my schedule. The burden of being responsible for everything is a small price to pay for autonomy. The only problem is getting a live line-up up to speed with material. Still, that would have to be done at some point with a whole band. Still, I much prefer a solo project with live session members rather than a group project.

7.On the releases you have worked with 'Necrologue' and 'Nuclear War! Now Productions, do you feel both of these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?

Working with Nuclear War Now! Productions has been an extremely rewarding experience. Yosuke and his team are professional, respectful, and very easy to interact with. Even before the release of The Church on the Island, having the DIY copies of Lemuralia in the NWN! Shop was a huge promotional boost. How much more is having both releases under NWN!’s banner! Actual press release-level promotion did not start until the reissue of Lemuralia was sent to press, so it is a little early to see how that will turn out. Overall, I am eternally grateful for the resources Yosuke has invested in Cemetery Lights.

“Necrologue Productions” is simply my own DIY label. I designed the layouts, printed the materials, and dubbed the tapes using the tools at my disposal. It has been a positive learning experience so far. Putting the extra effort into manufacturing one’s creation makes for a more satisfactory outcome, both artistically as well as financially. By the time I sold / gave away all of the cassettes I had dubbed, I had more or less broken even with some materials left over as well. I intend to use Necrologue Productions for small projects which may or may not take off. Some Martyrvore rehearsal demos may be dubbed for distribution under it. The internet made spreading the word a lot less challenging than it would have been decades ago. Still, over-saturation of bands means that grabbing someone’s attention is limited. I am quite positive that, had NWN! not taken an interest in Cemetery Lights, I would have many years of tedious promotion to do on my own before reaching the level of people I have by now.

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

The reception seems positive so far. Lemuralia was uploaded to a Russian forum early on, so that drew in a decent amount of traffic from the relevant regions in Europe. I have spoken with a few fans from Spain, Sweden, Greece, Poland, and Finland. I have not asked for specifics from Yosuke on where he has sent copies of The Church on the Island, but he has stated that the release is nearly sold out.

9.What is going on with 'Martyrvore' these days?

Martyrvore thrives! The unmistakable riffcraft and holocaust terror of Necrochrist (rhythm guitars, founding member) cannot be stopped!!

Following the untimely passing of Reaper (vocals) in early 2016 (“The memory of your name will be carved in the minds of the shadows!”), Terrorizer (lead guitars) chose to leave and focus on Come to Grief. Gemini (drums) was forcefully ejected for failure to conquer his demons. I was recruited to replace Gemini. Charybdis (Angel Morgue, Hiss), a long-time friend of Martyrvore, was recruited for lead guitars but switched to vocals.

Since then, Martyrvore has played a handful of shows in 2017 in support of Psycho, Kill, Nyogthaeblisz, and Malacath, and one show in 2018 in support of Crucifier and Headrot. With our return to the live stage firmly established, focus has been set on recording a new album. Live performances may or may not accompany in the meantime, depending on the opportunity.

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

The full-length is presently being worked on. Rhythm guitar and bass tracks have already been recorded. A lyrical concept has yet to be decided.
The majority of the material recorded was written before 2013. The intention is to continue the path established during the initial years of the band, all while being mindful not to repeat what has already been done. New challenges wait ahead, and will be eagerly confronted and vanquished!


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?

Ah, the hardest question to keep brief! My songwriting influences include the bands from question #3, as well as Spear of Longinus, Akercocke, The Ruins of Beverast, Reverend Bizarre, and Fields of the Nephilim. This ranges from instrumentation (drums, bass, leads) to compositional structure and production.

I consistently have a long list of music that I listen to at once, but here are the highlights:

The Inheritors of Pain by Obsecration (criminally underrated Greek death / black, mandatory for fans of Varathron and Septic Flesh!)

Voice of the Ossuary by Witch King (warring death / black, debut album)

Celaenus Fragments by Fungoid Stream (ethereal yet primordial funeral doom, like cold water on your fingertips)

From the Shadows and The Second Ring of Power by Unholy (off-kilter occult black / doom, the deranged funeral doom doppelganger of Necromantia)

Honar i kroŭ by Krumkač (nationalistic black metal, Romantic and powerful debut album)

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

Thank you very much for the interview. Nuclear War Now! Productions just released the reissue of Lemuralia on gold shell cassette. A t-shirt featuring the aforementioned cover art and a back print is available alongside it, printed gold on black fabric. Everything looks fantastic! The Church on the Island is still available from myself, as well as Hells Headbangers.

Social Media:

necrophilosoph.bandcamp.com
instagram.com/necrophilosoph
facebook.com/necrophilosoph

Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!

Cemetery Lights/Lemuralia/Nuclear War Now! Productions/2018 EP Review

  Cemetery  Lights  are  a  solo  project  from  Rhode  Island  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  ep  "Lemuralia"  which  will  be  released  on  cassette  on  September  21st  by  Nuclear  War  Now!  Productions.

  Drums  along  with  some  clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  riffing  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  first  wave  influences  and  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  in  the  riffs  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  tremolo  picking  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  style  and  when  the  music  slows  down  elements  of  doom  metal  are  brought  into  the  music  as  well  as  the  songs  also  bringing  in a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Cemetery  Lights  plays  a  style  of occult  black  metal  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  the  mid  80's  to  early  90's  days  of  the  genre  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  doom  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Necromancy  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cemetery  Lights  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Charlie's  Funeral"   and  "Accursed  Funeral".  8/5  out  of  10.

http://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/lemuralia