Showing posts with label Seltar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seltar. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Seltar/Autoscopia/Casus Belli Musica/Beverina/2021 CD Review

 


  Seltar  are  a  solo  project  from  New  Jersey  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Autoscopia"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Casus  Bella  Musica  and  Beverina.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized,  clean  playing  also  makes  a  return  on  later  songs.


  On  this  recording  Seltar  remains  true  to  the  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  that  he  had  established  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient,  cosmic  and  ancestral  realms  with  some  touches  of  Iberian  heritage.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Seltar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Aurora"  and  "Regressive".  8  out  of  10.


https://casusbellimusica.bandcamp.com/album/autoscopia-out-2021-10-01




      


    

Saturday, July 2, 2016

Seltar Interview


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


Seltar is currently a one-man project. I started the project in order to bring some dormant musical ideas and urges to life and give them a voice. My intent is to create music that is atmospheric and epic, yet raw. Falling under the veil of black metal, there is also a mystical darkness that I naturally strive for with Seltar. It is my escape from modern existence.



2. So far you have released 1 EP and 1 full length, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings?


The first release was intended to be a demo and the second an EP. The democratic powers of the Internet bumped the releases up to an EP and a full length. In the end, as long as the music is out that is all that matters. was recorded over a span of a few months; it was the first foray into this project, so I was writing as I was recording. In this process I was testing ideas and adjusting levels. was done in a shorter time frame. The priority with these recordings was to make the music atmospheric and ancient-sounding.


3.Your lyrics cover Iberian Heritage and Ancient Times, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?


The themes I gravitate toward are those concerning my blood. I am fascinated by the ancient world and how little we, as a modern society, understand it. This project is a minuscule reminder of a past life and an urge to be transported to another time. It interests me to know more about where my ancestors came from. I would say that I look within for my influence for this project or anything I have ever undertaken. Looking within leads me to a distant world and an understanding, albeit abstract, of my ancient origins.


There is little we know about the Iberians, their language and Atlantean civilization, which is why the subject beckons me. If I could, I would pen the lyrics in the ancient language! There is genetic (and to an extent, cultural) evidence that supports that Iberians were the indigenous people of Western Europe. Dr. Stephen Oppenheimer has pioneered this theory in regards to the origins of the British.



4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Seltar'?


In the little that is known about the ancient Iberians, Seltar is theorized to mean "tomb". I found that to be appealing as a name for this project and it stuck.


5. In what part of the United States is the musical project located at?


Seltar is based in the northeastern United States.



6. On the albums you have recorded everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians?


Recording alone has many positive aspects. This is especially true since this is such a personal project for me. It is a cathartic experience being able to build this in solitude. However, I am open to having real drums in the future as well as some folk instruments-of which I play neither.



7. Heathen Tribes put both releases on a single album, what are your thoughts on the final product?


Heathen Tribes are a pleasure to work with. They decided it was best to combine the two short releases into one, which was a great idea. The physical copies look and sound amazing. I am delighted with the outcome. I look forward to our alliance as we continue.



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


Considering that this is a small project the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It was interesting to find that folks took the liberty to spread the music throughout the Internet. However, I do not think many people have heard this yet.



9. Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?


This is currently a one-man project, but it would be interesting to take it live in the future. Right now that is not something I want to do because I still would like to explore within this solo framework.



10. 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?


Bathory, Burzum, Summoning, and Windir are big influences. Lately, I have been listening to Forteresse, Gris, Nokturnal Mortum, Volahn, Kroda, Hordak, and hell of a lot more. The latest Forteresse and Hordak releases, especially.



11. What are some of your non musical interests?


I enjoy history and reading about how life was once lived. However, a lot of that ends up relating to music anyway. Walking is a big interest; I enjoy wandering without a destination in mind. If it is in the forest or a hike, even better, but I do not mind the city.



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


Do not succumb to the trappings of the modern world.

Bandcamp

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Seltar/Are Teike + Declaration MMXV/Heathen Tribes 2016 Compilation Album Review


  Seltar  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  States  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016  compilation  album  which  includes  his  2015  full  length  "Are  Teike"  and  2015  ep  "Declaration  MMXV"  which  was  released  by  Heathen  Tribes  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  ep  songs and  after  awhile  epic and  atmospheric synths  are  added  into  the  music  and  they  also  mix  in  with  a  more  heavy  and  melodic  style  and  after  awhile  blast  beats  and  melodic  guitar leads  make  their  presence  known  along  with  the  riffs  also  using  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  have  a  raw  feeling  to  them  and  the  songs  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful  and  clean  playing  be  heard  at  times  while  the  music  on  the  full length  has  more  of  a  raw  style  than  the  ep  while  also  retaining  the  atmospheric  elements  and  the  music  brings  in  a  very  modern  approach  to  the  genre  while  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  pagan  atmosphere  along  with  some  elements  of  ambient.

  Seltar  plays  a  style  of  atmospheric  black  metal that  is  very  modern  and  melodic  while  also  having  a  very  raw  edge,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Iberian  Heritage,  and  Ancient  Times.

  In  my  opinion  Seltar  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Gloria  Antigua"  and  "II".  8  out  of 10.

https://seltar.bandcamp.com/album/declaraci-n-mmxv
https://seltar.bandcamp.com/album/a-e-teike
https://seltar.bandcamp.com/