Moon Of The Wind/No Point In Living/CHILD : OF : ILLNESS/2025 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  self  released  split  album  between  Ukraine's  Moon  Of  The  Wind  and  Japan's  No  Point  In  Living  called  "CHILD : OF : ILLNESS"  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Moon  Of  The  Wind  a  solo  project  that h as  been  featured  before  in t his  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  along  with  some  ambient  style  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Most  of  his  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  spoken  words  and  whispers  also  being  utilized  briefly,  melodies  can  also  be  heard  at  times,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  acoustic  guitars  being  used  at  times  and  female  vocal samples  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  suicide,  depression,  nature  and  isolation.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Moon  Of  The  Wind  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Anesthesia  & Nameless".

  Next  up  is  No  Point  In  Living  a  solo  project  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  progressive  form  of  depressive  black  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  raw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  the  clean  playing  also  adds  in  a  progressive  touch  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  sticking  to  mostly  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  as  well as  the  synths  also  adding  in  elements  of  ambient  when  they  are  utilized.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilism,  self-hatred,  depression  and  life  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  No  Point  In  Living  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Echoes  Of  The  Sun"  and  "Haunted".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  atmospheric,  progressive  and  depressive  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/Lij_wae0hMw?si=QJpZKVmtH9qQdabF  

        

No Point In Living Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?
I'm always recording new songs for a new full-length album, EP and split album. Creating music is important in my life. I can express my feeling through music.

2. So far this year you have released one full length and an ep, musically how do they differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
New album "Last Hopes" is a little bit different from my past works. It's a more experimental style. I tried to mix with DSBM and modern metal. I used 8 string guitar and 6 string bass on this album. I think most of all DSBM fans will not like this album but it's ok. I made songs for myself. I want to make a unique song. DSBM is a favorite genre, but there are many similar style bands now. So, I don't want to do a copy band. I want to be "Only One". New EP "Last Moments" is like normal DSBM style. I have nothing to say.

3. Since 2017 you have released a good amount of music almost putting out an album every month, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music?
Yeah, I released albums every month because I had enough time. I recorded one album for about 3 weeks. I can make up guitar riff easily. Music is one of my hobbies. I just enjoy my music.

4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored with your music so far?
Depression, seasons, self-hatred, life and etc. It's based on my life experience. I live with negative feelings every day. I'm tired to live. However, I have no important message in my songs. Most of my lyrics are similar concepts. I think lyrics are not important for my music. I'm not a native English speaker, I will not publish lyrics. In addition, some of the lyrics are improvisation. Guitar riff is the most important part of my song.

5. You are also involved with a couple of other musical projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'No Point In Living' that you are not able to do with your other musical projects?
My sub-projects are not important now. I have no future plan. When I started sub-projects, I wanted to play with different musical style. However, these days, NPiL has a lot of elements of many metal genre. It's very fun to play. So, I felt bored to play sub-projects. I can do what I want to do on NPiL. So I don't need current subprojects.

6. I know the project was named after a 'Happy Days' song, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?
Project name 'No Point in Living' is like a just my thought. I am a worthless and useless man, I don't have a dream and hope. I think there is no point in living. I don't know the name fits my musical style. My songs are more progressive than Happy Days.

7. You have also written and published a book on the depressive black metal genre, can you tell us a little bit more about it?
DSBM Guidebook is like a disc review book. It's including over 800 disc review (depressive black metal, depressive post-black metal, and related projects), bands and labels interviews, columns and some my original guitar riffs TAB. I think this is the first DSBM book in the world. If you like DSBM, you will enjoy it.

8. So far you have worked with 'Pest Records' and ''Heathen Tribes' on the physical versions of your albums, do you feel both of these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?
Yes, both are good labels! Especially, my main label Pest Productions has big power in black metal scene. They released 4 CDs last year.

9. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of depressive black metal?
I got some positive reviews from around the world. Some people said, "It's hard to believe NPiL is a Japanese band!". I'm very happy.

10. What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?
I stopped my sub-projects now. I'm focusing on NPiL. However, I had some new tracks for a new solo project. I haven't decided the band name, album title, and song names. Maybe, I'll upload songs somewhere. I have a lot of idea for this new solo project.

11. Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I don't know.

12. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I was influenced by a lot of bands. Lifelover, Forgotten Tomb, Apati, Happy Days are very important bands for me. My recent albums included many musical styles. It's hard to decide.
 These days, I listen to Adagio, Archspire, Vardan, Svart, Apathia, Apati, Symphony X and etc. I usually play technical death metal on the guitar and bass. DSBM is too easy to play.

13. What are some of your non-musical interests?
I really like horror movies since I was a junior high school student. I wanted to be a horror movie director. My other hobby is playing video games. I like Xbox One X, FPS and TPS games.

14. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for the interview!! If you interested in my band, check Facebook and Bandcamp.

Bandcamp

Facebook

SoundCloud

Spotify

No Point In Living/The Cold Night/Heathen Tribes/2018 CD Re-Issue Review

  No  Point  In  Living  are  a  solo  project  from  Japan  that  plays  a  very  progressive  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2017  album  "The  Cold  Night"  which  was  re-issued  on  physical  format  in  2018  by  Heathen  Tribes.

  A  very  nature  orientated  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  ambient  style  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  A  great  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  riffs  use  tremolo  picking  it  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  progressive  sounding  and  as  the  album  progresses  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  seasons,  depression,  agony  and  solitude  themes.

  In  my  opinion  No  Point  In  Living  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  and  depressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Impatience"  and  "The  Path  To  The  End".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/nopointjp/
https://npiljp.bandcamp.com/