Spectral Dance/Crusaders Of The Void/Helldprod Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Spectral  Dance  are  a  solo  project  from  Ottawa,  Ontario,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "Crusaders  Of  The  Void"  which  will  be  released  in  2022  by  Helldprod  Records.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  have  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  along  with  the  tracks  also  capturing  a  very  raw  and  epic  atmosphere  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Spectral  Dance  goes  for  more  of  a  mid  tempo,  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  style  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  depression,  necromancy  and  black  metal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Spectral  Dance  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw,  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Necromancer  In  Flight"  and "Lost  in  AN  Everlasting  Mace".  8  out  of  10.

www.spectraldance.bandcamp.com

www.instagram.com/spectraldance

https://youtu.be/gMdRYTCjtIo        

Spectral Dance/Standing Bloodied And Victorious/Wolfmond Production/2020 CD Review

 

  Spectral  Dance  are  a  solo  project  from  Canada  that  has  bene  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  depressive  and  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "Standing  Bloodied  And  Victorious"  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding.

  Most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized.  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  briefly  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  grim  and  semi  melodic  tone  on  one  of  the  tracks  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  and  some of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  chants  are  also  utilized  briefly  on  the  closing  song.

  On  this  recording  Spectral  Dance  goes  for  more  of  a  slow  and  mid  tempo  style  of  depressive  black  metal  as  well  as  having  its  raw  and  atmospheric   moments.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  depression  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Spectral  Dance  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  depressive  and  raw  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Standing  Bloodied  And  Victorious"  and  "Cries  From  The  Dungeon".  8  out  of  10.

https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-dance-standing-bloodied-and-victorious-pre-order 

  

Spectral Dance Interview

 

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

Jo: Spectral Dance is an outlet for all my slow, dark, depressive black metal song ideas. I started it in November 2020 as a one man band in true black metal tradition.

2.In 2020 you had released 2 demo's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

Jo: in December 2020 there will be 4 Spectral Releases on different formats. They all have different songs and where recorded all within the same week.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on both of the releases?

Jo: The songs mostly deal with personal issues and real life struggles using an allegorical way of writing. The lyrics are very unstructured and so far I haven't even written them down as they represent the emotions felt during the recording.

4.With your other musical projects you have also played heavy, speed, thrash and death metal, do you feel playing a variety of many different metal styles has made you a better musician?

Jo: I always like to keep an open mind with music. I even have played in some punk, oi, industrial, synth, hardcore bands as well. I don't want to limit myself or waste any good song ideas. Playing different styles of music helps push my creativity and improve technique.

5.In your other black metal solo project 'Dexezon' you have explored some occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Jo: The music in Dexezon is improvised and chaotic. The themes are very obscure and a secret. The music speaks for itself.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Spectral Dance'?

Jo: Sometimes I feel like i am nothing but a ghost dancing around other people; invisible to an uncaring person.

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the newer demo cover?

Jo: "Like an Avenging Spectre" tape has a simple cartoonesque ghost that i stole from a kids book from the 1970's about ghosts. Its like Spectral Dance's "Eddie" mascott. 

8.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with other musicians, how would you you compare the two?

Jo: I like working alone because i can work at my own pace which is usually extremely fast. I have recorded five releases in the space of one week, where as with a full band it takes one year to make an album. I always thought that bands with a singular vision sounded more eclectic yet focused.

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

Jo: So far the only people that have heard Spectral Dance are labels and the reaction has been mixed. Sometimes its negative, claiming that the music is too minimalist or simple or sometimes its positive with people saying it reminds them of the black metal golden age.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?

Jo: Alot of stuff as usual here at the music factory. Yesterday I released three LP's for three different bands of mine.

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

Jo: There will be a full length at the end of 2020. Being in a one man band means that I can change  or evolve as i please but for now the style will remain the same. Its highly unlikely that I'm going to start playing jazz or nu-metal!

12.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?

Jo: Right now I'm listening to Iron Maiden's "soundhouse tape" ep. its so raw and catchy. As for influences in Spectral Dance I would just name drop obvious ones like 1994-Darkthrone, Hades, first few Gorgoroth LP's, late 90's Judas Iscariot, early works by Deathspell Omega, Moonblood, Satyricon, Armagedda or more contemporary bands like Hulder or Pagan Hellfire. Also a lot of the rhythms are taken from Viking era Bathory and Manowar. 

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

always looking for labels to work with. contact me 🙂

Bandcamp

Spectral Dance/Like An Avenging Spectre/Snow Wolf Records/2020 Demo Review

 

  Spectral  Dance  are  a  solo  project  from  Canada  that  plays  a  very  mid  tempo  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  demo  "Like  An  Avenging  Spectre"  which  will  be  released  on  December  11th  by  Snow  Wolf  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  demo  while  synths  can  also be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  guitar  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  both  of  his  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length .  All  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  with  no  fast  parts  or  blast  beats  ever  being  utilized  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing,  clean  singing  can  aslo  be  heard  briefly.

  Spectral  Dance  plays  a  style of  black  metal  that  sticks  to  mostly  a  mid  tempo  direction  as  well  as  keeping  everything  heavy.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Spectral  Dance  are  a  very  great  sounding  mid  tempo  black  metal  solo  project  and  if   you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Haunting  Deep  Blue  Nights".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Spectral_Dance/3540476845