True Love/To Pray For Perpetual Violence/Appalachian Noise Records/2016 Demo Review

  True  Love  are  a  solo  project  from  Reno,  Nevada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016 demo  "To  Pray  For  Perpetual  Violence"  which  was  released  by  Appalachian  Noise  Records.

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  introduces  grim  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording  while  clean  yet  distorted  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  raw  and  melodic  style.

  At  times  the  screams  bring  in  more  of  a  depressive  edge  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  whispered  vocals  also  being  used  briefly.

  True  Love  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  raw  style  of  black  metal  that  was  established  in  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  left  hand  path,  self  reliance  and  hatred  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  True  Love  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crawl  Across"  and  "Mourn  The  Wicked".  8  out  of  10.

 truelovebm.bandcamp.com

True Love/Meditating Through Illusion/2016 Demo Review

  True  Love  are  a  solo  project  from  Reno,  Nevada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2016  demo  "Meditating  Through  Illusion".

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  demo  and  they  also  use  a  good  mixture  of  both  finger  picking  and  full  chords  and  after  awhile  whispers  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  after  the  intro  the  music  starts  to  get  a  lot  more  heavier  along  with  some  melodic  riffing  and  high  pitched  black  metal s creams  also  start  making  their  presence  known.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  it  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  feeling  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  you  can  also  hear  a  touch  of  doom  in  some  of  the  slower  riffing  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  Classical  guitars  also  make  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  second  wave  influences  while  also  sounding  very  modern  at  the  same  times  along  with  some  of  the  screams  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  depressive  elements  and  the  last  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  True  Love  creates  a  style  of  black  metal  on  this  recording  that  is  very  raw  and  harsh  sounding  in  the  true  tradition  of  the  genre,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  left  hand  path,  self  reliance,  and  hatred  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  True  Love  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sovereign  Warrior"  and  "Evasion".  8  out  of  10.

https://truelovebm.bandcamp.com/album/meditating-through-illusion

True Love Interview

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

-  True Love is a black metal "band" from North America. I am the only member. I try to keep True Love's focus musically on a bit of a creepier and darker path,. Im using True Love as a vehicle of exploring and expressing, celebrating and strengthening my love and I guess obsession i've had all my life for things that haunt and scare me.

2.Recently you have released a demo, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

 I guess id say its haunting. I usually recommend listening to True Love alone in complete darkness with headphones at full volume to get the experience that im personally after when making the sounds themselves. The recording itself is raw. Its all recorded by my self and played by myself in a very non-studio environment/condition.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

So far being  that "25 years of Isolation" is my first set of songs the lyrics are dealing with my hatred and confusion with other humans... mostly those without any personal ambition or independent thought... my spiritual belief that the soul will transcend this mortal plane when death occurs and the realization that the idea we know as "time" is an illusion and that this "Human" life is nothing without that knowledge and gaining that knowledge by treading the left hand path!....all of which organized religion has mastered making seem absurd and idiotic. Also my firm belief that in order to grow, a person must suffer and not only suffer but focus that pain and hate that undoubtedly will develop; into a burning personal drive and power to control your own destiny. Man is capable of supernatural power and is apart of the earth itself and I find that writing lyrics about that strengthens my mind to rehearse and build that privileged power.


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

-It goes back to my frustration with the people I am forced to share this earth with, and the hollow, half hearted stares in there eyes. Very few people I have personally met live with passion. This "Society" we dance around is meant to keep it that way. I want to live every part of my life in the extreme. With true devoted love to the black path. Theres a very popular black metal band that war cries about this same frustration; people not being really into the craft they represent... I saw this band live recently and they aren't fucking around. They took what they did that night extremely seriously and it was hypnotic! There was nothing about it that seemed like a gimmick or not thought through and practiced and studied. It was real. And that's what the words True Love mean to me. Be fucking real.

5.While it does say your a United States band, none of the websites mention where you are actually from, what part of the U.S is the band based out of?

True Love is currently writing and recording music in Reno, Nevada.

6.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

-Ive only recorded True Love songs no plans to play them live.

7.On the demo you had done a cover of Darkthrone's "Quintessance", what was the decision behind doing your own version of this track?

-Dark Throne was the band that I locked onto when I was a kid and first heard about black metal, which in turn changed my life. I will forever respect Dark Throne. I identify with the general idea of the lyrics in the song, its a song of confidence inherited and recognized by putting you life on the blackened path. Celebrating the light from the black flame. Not to mention the pure unfiltered groove. That fucking song is all attitude.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

-I will be releasing music independently unless an opportunity presents itself with someone I respect, than things may change.

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

- Too early to tell.

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

-Summer 2015. I want to create sounds that communicate with the dead.

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?


- Im a fan of many types of music and sounds and ideas, as far as True Love songs go I want to make my instruments sound like warfare at times and like pure sorrow other times.. with my body I try to sound as non human as I am capable of a lot of the time...bands and artists that influence a lot of what I try to do would be stuff like Gorgoroth's "Under The Sign of Hell" album. Pest's vocals are fucking lethal. Acherontas has been playing in my headphones alot lately Sargeist and Behexen too....I found a demo soaking in piss outside a show I went to in San Francisco this last weekend that im glad I picked up...it's been playing on my way to and from work and its been blowing my mind...bands called negative something??...been getting into Revenge...a friend turned me onto Saturnalia Temple recently...

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

-Horror movies, boxing, art work, any kind of book, movie, podcast that can scare me...

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

- I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss True Love. The "25 Years Of Isolation" demo Is available for free download at www.soundcloud.com/truelovemetal and if anyone wants a tape copy or to keep up with True Love contact truelovemetal@yahoo.com Thank you.

True Love/25 Years Of Isolation/2015 Demo Review

  True  Love  are  a  band  from  North  America  that  plays  a  very  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2015  demo  "25  Years  Of  Isolation".

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  demo  along  with  some  spoken  word  and  laughter  samples  which  also  have  a  demonic  atmosphere  to  them  at  times  as  well  as  being  used  later  on  during the  recording  on  some  songs  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  direction   which  also  shows  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grim  yet  high  pitched  screams  and  a  good  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  You  can  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  melodies  that  gives  the  music  more  of  a  modern  and  American  black  metal  feeling  while  the  whispers  when  they  are  utilized  gives  the  music  more  of  an  evil  atmosphere  and  they  also  do  a  cover  of  Darkthrone's  "Quintessence"  before  closing  the  demo  with  one  of  their  original  tracks.

  True  Love  plays  a  style  of black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  heavy  sounding  and  also  brings  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  second  and  third  wave  influences  to  create  their  own  style,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  violent  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  True  Love  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Final  Drought"  and  "Evasion".  8  out  of  10.

www.soundcloud.com/truelovemetal