Death Embrace/Unholy Trinity II/2022 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  solo  project  Death  Embrace  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  occult  and  vampyric  style  of  black  metal  from  his  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Unholy  Trinity  II".

  Ritualistic  sounding  bells  and  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  drum b eats  give  the  music  more  of  a  militant  style. Melodic  chants  can  also b e  heard  briefly  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.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  suicidal  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  spoken  word  parts  also  enhancing  the  occult  vibe  of  the  album  when  they  are  utilized. 

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  influences  from  the  90's  and  2000's  era  at  times,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  possession,  necromancy  and  vampirism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording f rom  Death  Embrace  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  occult  and  vampyric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Eternal  Silence"  and  "The  gates  of  Death  Open".  8  out  of  10.

Deathembrace.bandcamp.com   

Death Embrace/Dark Reflections Of A Tortured Souil/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Death  Embrace  are  a  solo  project from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  occult  and  vampyric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Dark  Reflections  Of  A  Tortured  Soul".

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  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.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  vocals are mostly  tortured  black  metal  screams.

  The  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences  while  still  also  being  very  modern  sounding  at  the  same  time.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts.  

 

  One  song  also  introduces  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording along  with  the  ritualistic  elements  also  making  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  songs  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vampirism,  Necromancy,  Exile  From  Eden,  Hell,  Black  Magick  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  form  Death  Embrace  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  and  vampyric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Burning  Souls"  "Eden  To  Sin"  and  "Angel  Death  Altar".  8  out  of  10.

Dark Reflections Of A Tortured Soul | Death Embrace (bandcamp.com)    

  

  

Death Embrace Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project? For me it is a means to direct my energy, a process that just happens, I enter a trance like state & connect with a dark place, I become the gateway that manifests the sounds, the flow from the other place guides my hands, & really conducts what you hear. That is the simplest way to explain what Death Embrace is really.

 

2.A few months back you also had released a demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording? I have always been drawn to heavy music, pounding beats, tribal & ritualistic sounds, so those are aspects that naturally are part of the outcome.

I also think depth & space play a huge part in adding to the sound, like standing at the edge of the world, looking into the abyss & the sheer vastness.

 

3.The lyrics on the demo cover vampirism and left hand path themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the black arts/ The darker aspects of the world have always drawn my attention, at a young age I was able to enter into a deep state of disconnect & explore visions I had, it was like leaving my body & travelling, it always fascinated me how much “other” things are out there that everyday life does not pay attention to. This lead me to discover books on horror, magic, rituals etc as the minds that create those things are also channelling energy form the dark place.

Sound is vibration, words are sound, intention behind the manifestation of the sound is magic, so by creating sounds, chants, beats etc we can create a reaction in those that listen, as I said before I become the gateway – so by joining the flow & rhythm you get a glimpse into the other world this music comes from.

 

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Death Embrace'? It has a few meanings, On a physical level we will all enter into Deaths Embrace, on a spiritual level we can die each day & rebirth as a new person if we so choose.

From when we are born we are always in the Embrace of Death until we close our eyes at the end of our time, it is natural, it can be a cold thing or comforting.

 

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the demo cover? I think the art work plays an important part of the vibe of an album, as it is the visual representation of the work, it should show what is contained within, it should be almost like the sigil of the sound manifestation, I can meditate on the image of an album & get the connection, it can be a portal to that place, that world, dimension.

 

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to remain solo? I have played Guitars in various bands from a young age, but never found musicians that had the same drive as I do, never willing to devote the time & energy, sacrifice or give their blood to the process.

I always had material written & knew how things should be, but again the connection on the vision was never really in sync, so I got pissed off & impatient, then decided to learn all the instruments myself so I could create the music I was hearing in my being.

I did have two very good experiences of working with others, a Black Metal band & a Horrorpunk Band, a great creative time but the course of life takes people away & different directions change things.

 

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for label or have received any interest? I have no interest to sign over any of my creations to anyone else or give up creative control, I will not be dictated to or have someone else urge the creative process from me, it would not be genuine.

I do not understand the whole thing of getting “signed” a record deal etc, to me that is someone playing rock star, once that happens they become a parody of what they were.

Death Embrace is me, it is my energy, my beliefs, my visions, my creations.

 

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal? Those that understand have received it very well, ofcourse everyone has differing tastes, so it will not be to everyones liking, that is fine, If it reaches just one person & inspires them to pick up a guitar, instrument or tool of their creative aspect then it has served its purpose, If someone can lose themselves in the record for a time, explore their mind, develop their connection with the spirit realm, meditate on the atmosphere of it then it is a success.

 

9.Do you also have any experience working with any other bands or musical projects? I have created artwork for the legendary US Black Metal band Ritual, the Epic Sagas album (Vinyl version) & also contributed a piece of art to Abamath (US Black Metal band) which I think he will use on an upcoming release, I enjoy the creative process, working with the artist to give them a piece that they feel they want to represent their work.

 

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future? Unholy Trinity II is complete, it goes deeper into the darkness, I am excited to let people hear it. I am unsure when I will release this, Halloween seems like a suitable date.

I am always working on something, be that musical, art, writing or most recently I started work on a low budget Horror movie – Gothic, Hammer Horror, Amicus, Tigon inspired.

I am in the process of re-recording the 1st Death Embrace album – it was originally in a more Dark Punk style & with a drum machine, it never sat right with me, so I learned drums & decided to drape the songs in Black Robes & pour more darkness into them, the updating is working very well because the core essence has always been dark.

 

11.What are some of the bands or musical projects that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays? Influence definitely comes from Danzig, Samhain, Misfits, Mayhem, Burzum, Black Funeral, Demoncy, early Immortal, Deathspell Omega, Dark Throne, Dissection, Marduk, The Revenants, Wrath Of Killenstein, Thuringwethill, Vampyric Blood, far too many to list.

Most recently I am listening to a lot of Immortal (Battles In The North & Pure Holocaust), Ignis, Judas Iscariot, Varcolacai, Watain, Dark Funeral.

 

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

Be true to yourself, to your belief, embrace the dark aspects.

The songs of Death Embrace are spells, magic, gateways, sigils – venture thru & I will see you on the other side.

Blessed Be Thy Blackness

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Death Embrace/Unholy Trinity/2021 Demo Review

 

  Death  Embrace  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  vampyric  form  of  occult  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  demo  "Unholy  Trinity".

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  demo  which  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  tortured  black  metal  screams  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences.'

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  and  demonic  sounding  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style  when  they  are  utilized.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vampiris,  Occultism  and  Left  Hand  Path  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Death  Embrace  are  a  very  great  sounding  vampyric  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical g enre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Heretic...Act  Of  Faith"  and  "Summer  Ashes".  8  out  of  10.

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