Ashen Horde/The Harvest/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Los  Angeles,  California's  Ashen  Horde  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "The  Harvest"  which  will  be  released  in  May.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  start  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  alternative  rock  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  along  with  some  tracks  also  showing  the  music  going  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.

  On  this  recording  Ashen  Horde  introduce  elements  of  alternative  rock  into  their  progressive  and  technical  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  collapse,  decay  and  transformation.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ashen  Horde  and  if  you  are  a fan  of  progressive  and  technical  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Autumnal"  "Remnant"  and  "The  Harvest".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/AshenHorde/

​https://www.instagram.com/ashenhorde

Urluk/Memories In Fade/Pest Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Urluk  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  neo-folk,  ambient  and  90's  alternative  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Memories  In  Fade"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Pest  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  and  orchestration  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  guitar  riffing  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  Touches  of  ambient  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style  which  adds  in  a  touch  of  90's  alternative  rock.  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  are  utilized  they  also  mix  in  influences  form  neo-folk and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  fast  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  personal  introspection  and  the  uncertainties  of  contemporary  life.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Urluk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Angles  Of  Hauntology"  and  "The  Last  Watch".  8  out of  10.

  https://urluk.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/urluk_official/

https://www.facebook.com/urlukofficial  

    

Lantlos/Nowhere In Between Forever/Prophecy Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Lantlos  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  moving  even  more  far  away  from  the  black  metal  elements  of  earlier  releases  and  focusing  more  on  an  alternative  metal  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Nowhere  In  Between  Forever"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  mainstream  90's  to  early  2000's  style.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  alternative  rock  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  style  more  rooted  in  alternative  metal  and  post  rock.  Synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  a  lot  of  the  music  sounding  like  it  could  of  easily  fit  on  a  modern  rock  radio  station  25  to  30  years  ago.

  Clean  playing  is  also  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  electronic  music  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  also  avoids  any  extreme  or  black  metal  elements.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  modernity,  abstractness  and  surrealism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Lantlos  and  while  some  black  metal  fans  might  not  like  the  new  direction,  I  can  see  this  album  appealing  to  fans of  alternative  metal.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Daisies"  "Jeanet"  "Planets"  and  "Windhunter".  7  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/lantlos

https://www.instagram.com/lantlosofficial  

MØL/Dreamcrush/Nuclear Blast Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  MØL  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  alternative,  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Dreamcrush"  which  will b e  released  on  January  30th  by  Nuclear  Blast  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  brings  in  elements  of  alternative  rock  and  shoegaze  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  clear  singing  is  also  added  in  a  lot  of  tracks.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  some  of  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  growls.  The  cleaner  sections  of  the  album  sound  like  they  could  easily  be  played  on  a  modern  rock  station  if  thet  removed  the  harsh  vocals  and  one  of  the  tracks  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  are  also  introduced  briefly.

 

 On  this  recording  MØL  takes  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  shoegaze  and  laternative  rock  to  create  something  very  different.  The  prodcution  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in a  mixture  of  Daniash  and  English  and  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  Shoepenhaur  and  also  covers  existentialism,  pessimism  and  abstract  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  MØL  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of alternative  rock,  atmospheric  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "DREAM"  "Garland"  "A  Former  Blueprint"  ande  "CRUSH".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

“Garland” / “Young"  

Amenspear/All My Gods Are Dying/2025 Full length Review

 

  Amenspear  are  a  solo  project  from  New  York  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  album  "All  My  Gods  Are  Dying"  which  will  be  released  on  August  22nd.

  A  very  heavy  yet  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  When  clean  playing  and  synths  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  used  at  times.

  Some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  doom  metal  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  some  of  the  music  also  bringing  in  elements  of  groove  metal  and  alternative  rock,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  inner  struggles.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Amenspear  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "All  my  Gods  Are  Dying"  "Our  Leady  of  Sorrows"  and  "The  Letter".  8  out  of  10.

  https://amenspear.bandcamp. com/

https://www.instagram.com/ amenspearband

Svnth/Pink Noise Youth/These hands Melt/2025 Full length Review

 

  Italy's  Svnth  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  experimental  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Pink  Noise  Youth"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  These  Hands  Melt.

   Indian  style  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  clear  singing  adds  in  a  touch  of  alternative  rock.

  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  while  clean  playing  is  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  and  elements  of  shoegaze  are  also  used  on  a  lot  of  tracks.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can be  heard  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  sticking  to  more  of  a  slower  and  mid  tempo  direction  and  the  album  also  has  its  experimental  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existential  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Svnth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  o  experimental  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cinnamon  Moon"  "Exhale"  and  "Nairobi  library".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/svnthband

  

  

Still Wave/A Broken Heart Makes An Inner Constellation/These Hands Melt/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Still  Wave  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal,  alternative  and  doomgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "A  Broken  Heart  Makes  An  inner  Constellation"  which  will  be  released  on  June  28th  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  shoegaze,  alternative  and  post  rock.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  show an  influence  of  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

   High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  pac3end  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  words  into  the  music,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  anatomy  of  a  heartbreak  and  the  rebirth  through  a  new  illusion  of  love.

  In  my  opinion  Still  Wave  are  a  very  great  sounding mixture  of  post  black  metal,  alternative  and  doomgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spaceman  With  A  Gun"  "Near  Distant"  and  "The  Coldest  Home".  8  out  of  10.

Watch 'Spaceman (With a Gun)' video:

https://youtu.be/2DGwyFS12ls

Watch 'Near Distance' video:

https://youtu.be/uhd-0Q1bzp8

https://thesehandsmelt.bandcamp.com/album/a-broken-heart-makes-an-inner-constellation

https://www.facebook.com/StillWave
https://www.instagram.com/stillwave_music

--

  

Chrome Waves/Lost Horizon Live/Disorder Recordings/2024 Live Album Review

 

  Chicago,  Illinois's  Chrome  Waves  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  live  2024  album  "Lost  Horizon  Live"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Disorder  Recordings.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  shoegaze  elements  and  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Some  of  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  alternative  rock  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  into  the  music  as  well a s  one  track  also  being  a  cove r of  Slowdive's  "When  The  Sun  hits"  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Chrome  Waves  plays  a  few  songs  from  different  albums  with  the  musical  styles  bringing  in  elements  of  black  metal,  shoegaze  and  alternative  rock  to  create  a  very  diverse  set.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression,  loss  and  urban  life.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Chrome  Waves  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black  metal,  shoegaze  and  alternative  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Under  The  Weight  of  A  Billion  Souls"  and  "Past  The  lights".  7/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/chromewavesofficial

https://chromewaves.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/chromewavesofficial        

Reva Interview

 

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

1 Hi, here is Flv, I'm happy to present Reva, my new post-black metal one-man band.

The idea of Reva was in my mind for a lot of time, but I never realized it before due to a lack of time and the commitment to my other bands.

At the end of 2021, my main band went on stand-by so I started thinking about Reva again: so, at the end of the last summer, I had the inspiration to begin writing music in the way I needed what I see and feel about Reva: in three months I realized the ep "Far Away from all this" and the full length" Urban Madrigals" that I will release later this year.

2.So far you have released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

2 Reva is beyond pure music, it's a total artistic vision made of photos, images, and feelings.

The music style is post-black metal with progressive and post-rock influences, a violent overture that drowns in atmospheric, melancholic moments, something near an oniric and hallucinating vision like a David Lynch film.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

3 The lyrics talk about the sense of loneliness and vulnerability we live in modern times, where cities devour our existence lost in our daily routine. We are constantly immersed in thousands of people, their voices, their stories, in a perpetual river of souls. But there is a lot of loneliness and frustration, there is no time to understand the suffering of those who are near to us, and this is the great paradox of the modern community always connected by technology and on socials, but so far and alone in the cruel reality. The songs are fully immersed in the rain, the night light, the neon signs of the shops, and the constant noise of the cities

Reva tells the sense of being alone and at the border of this type of life.

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

4 I found inspiration from the 2018 Swedish film Gräns by Ali Abbasi, a beautiful story about who is different from others and who lives outside of what we identify as normality. The real name of Tina, the protagonist of the movie, the name she had from her breed is Reva. She is beyond humanity and the conventional limits, like the spirit of my music.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the ep cover?

5 The artwork is strongly connected with the mood of the music. The photos are shots I've done in the late afternoon of the last December: the colors, the melancholy of the sky, and the suspended atmosphere of the images represent perfectly the spirit of Reva.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

6 Yes, I'm open to every type of collaboration with people who have a similar vision about music like mine, but Reva will remain my personal project, where nobody can't interfere o slow down my urgency to create music and express myself.

In the past, I had a lot of difficulties in the management of my other bands,  sometimes the personal problems of other members made it impossible to organize activities making things frustrating and difficult in an unacceptable way.

I've understood that my need to make music can't be related to this, I want to be free to follow my passion, so Reva will be always my personal space for creativity and artistic expression.

7.On the ep you also done a cover from 'The Beloved', what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

7 Sweet Harmony is a very famous hit from 1993 and it's a song with a particular atmosphere that fascinated me since the first time I heard the song.

I have a clear memory of a specific moment in my past that I come back to every time I hear the song, so I tried to capture that instant, and the sense of nostalgia and melancholy for something that there is no more.

I rearranged the song,  drowning the music in reverbs, desperation, and oblivion.

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

8 Yes, Reva is unsigned and I'm working to find someone for the release of my first full-length. Things are moving fast, let's see what will happen.

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

9 The reaction is promising, the first single was well accepted and the first feedbacks for the Ep are good.

I know that for someone my music is a little far from the pure black metal paradigm, but that is part of the things and I don't care too much.

Reva has different influences but the fast rawness aggression and obscurity typic of black metal are strongly present in her music.

I recommend trying to listen and judging by your ears.

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

10 The first full-length "Urban Madrigals" is ready and it's another intense musical experience for those who don't fear contamination and surprises.

The music is quite more aggressive, mad, and obscure than in "Far Away..."

I plan to release it by the end of 2023.

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?

11 I listen to so much different music that influences me unconsciously. Many things come from the past but I don't have any kind of prejudice toward the new bands that are in today's metal underground.

I'm always looking for music that can excite me and stun me with crazy and unsettling contrasts, I'm hungry for intense and new things, ready to try what is recommended to me, this is fuel for my burning soul!

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

12 Thanks so much for the space,

Reva is a new creature who is growing up and who wants to tell her emotions to anyone who has the desire and the time to enter her kingdom.

To do this, just go to

https://realmofreva.bandcamp.com

put your headphones on, turn off the light, and get lost in the 28 minutes of "Far away from all this".

Take this trip, my friends, and enter the realm of Reva.

Reva/Part I: Far Away From All This/2023 EP Review

 

  Reva  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  post  black  metal  with  elements  of  alternative  and  progressive  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2023  ep  "Part  I:  Far  Away  From  All  This"  which  will  be  released  on  April  14th.

  Clean  playing  and  field  recordings  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a very  melodic  post  metal  style.  

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  word  parts  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the music  also  bringing  in  elements  of  alternative  rock,   most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  ep  also  has  its  progressive  moments.

  Reva  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  diverse  and  also  adds  in  influences  from  alternative  and  progressive  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  emotional  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Reva  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  solo  project  with  elements  of  alternative  and  progressive  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical   genres,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  " I've  never  Been  here"  and  "Sweet  harmony".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVhRZ6HU5Gg

https://realmofreva.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/reva.music.23

https://www.facebook.com/realmofreva

realmofreva@gmail.com          

Chrome Waves/Recursive : The Rain Will Cleanse Remixes/Disorder Recordings/2022 Compilation Album Review

 

  Chicago,  Illinois's  Chrome  Waves  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  consists  of  re-mixes  from t heir  20221  album  which  showed  the  music  moving  away  from  post  black  metal  and  going  into  more  of  shoegaze  influenced  art  rock  direction  with  elements  of  alternative  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  compilation  album  "Recursive  :  The  Rain  Will  Cleanse  Remixes"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Disorder  Recordings.

  

  Night  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  noise  orientated  soundscapes  and  clean  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.   programmed  beats  and  synths  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  electric  guitars  are  also  mixed  into  the  music  at  times  and  adds  in  more  metal  and  alternative  influences.

  Elements  of  shoegaze  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also   very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  some  industrial  style  beats  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album.

  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  also  brings  in  re-mixes  from  Lotus  Thrones,  Wrathchild,  Stanford  Parker,  Gridfailure,  Deeper  Graves  and  Statiqbloom.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  loss,  urban  life  and  depression  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Chrome  Waves  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  the  bands  last  album,  you  should  enjoy  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sometimes"  and  "Wind  Blown".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/chromewavesofficial

http://chromewaves.bandcamp.com

http://www.instagram.com/chromewavesofficial          

Nagaarum/Gleccserek/NGC Productions/2019 RFe-Issue Full length Review

 

  Hungary's  solo  project  Nagaarum  has  returned  with  an  older  recording  which  shows  the  music  moving  away  from  the ambient,  black  and  doom  metal  elements  of  his  previous  releases  and  goes  for  a  mixture  of  psychedelic  and  alternative  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2015 album  "Gleccserek"  which  was  re-issued  in  2019  by  NGC  Productions.

  Programmed  drumbeats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  psychedelic  soundscapes  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  clean  playing.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  alternative  and  post  rock  elements.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispers  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  being  done  in  a  clean   style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  influences  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  the  music  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  on  later  songs along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  geological  ages.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Nagaarum  and  while  some  black  metal  fans  might  not  like  the  direction  of  this  release,  I  can  see  this  recording  appealing  to  fans  of  alternative,  psychedelic  and  post  rock.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Szaporulat"  "Katasztrofa"  and  "Sailing  At  The  Chilled  Sea  -  III.  The  Melting".  7/5  out  of  10.

https://ngcprod.bandcamp.com/album/gleccserek-digital    

Lantlos/Wildhund/Prophecy Productions/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Lantlos  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  started  out  playing  more  of  a  depressive  style  of  post  black  metal  and  over  the  years  have  evolved  into a  mixture  of  alternative,  post  metal  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Wildhund"  which  will  be  released  on  July  30th  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  post  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  clean  alternative  rock  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  shoegaze  elements.  Some  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  the  more  popular  radio  rock  of  the  90's  era  along  with  one  of  the  later  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  mostly  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Lantlos  moves  even  further  away  from  their  black  metal  roots  with  this  release  creating  an  album  that  mixes  90's  alternative  rock  with  shoegaze  and  the  heaviness  of  modern  post  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  nostalgic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  decent  recording  from  Lantlos  and  while  black  metal  fans  might  not  like  the  new  direction,  I  can  see  this  album  appealing  to  fans  of  alternative  rock,  shoegaze  and  post  metal.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lake  Fantasy"  "Vertigo"  "Planetarium"  and  "Lic".  7/5  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/lantlos

www.instagram.com/lantlosofficial    

Stagwounder/Abhold/2020 EP Review

 

  Stagwounder  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  alternative  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of their  self  released  2020  ep  "Abhold"  which  will  be  released  on  December  4th.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction. Vocals  are  mostly  angry sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  some  death  metal  influences  also  being  utilized at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to them.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  music  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  utilizing  a  more  shouting  approach  at  times,  as  the  ep  progresses  clean  playing  and  touches  of  stoner  metal  can  also  be  heard. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  agony, hate  and  desperation  themes.  

   In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Stagwounder  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From  The  Ivory  Deathbed"  and  "Indra's  Wound".  8 out  of  10.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stagwounder/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/stagwounder/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67VFHp3M22yYW3PwCuizEp...

Bandcamp: https://stagwounder.bandcamp.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_dviRPD6h5SEtmt1HVos4w

Kall Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

We have gone back to regular rehearsals and have begun writing material for the next album.



2.You have a new album coming out in June, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I think this one offers a wider palette of sounds and styles. It’s more focused and better composed and also sounding much better, from a production stand-point. It’s still pretty dark and trippy though.



3.This is also your first release in over 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

 A lot of shit happened in that time. To cut it short we hired a new drummer and wrote material for this album. We also fell into some kind of hiatus for a while for different personal reasons. We finished the recordings about two years ago, and then went through a trial-and-error process of mixing and mastering but finally ending up with a result we are happy with. Since then we’ve been waiting for the right release window.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

It’s pretty varied, since several of us write lyrics. However, for me, this album has a lot to do with exploring the deep woods of the mind and facing old and new demons.


5.I know that the bands name means ;cold' in Swedish, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

 The word has a dual meaning in Swedish. It stands for both ‘cold’ and ‘calling’. I think this name describes us pretty good, interpret it as you will. Some say this album is a little bit warmer to the touch than the last one though, hah!



6.The music that was done under the name 'Lifelover' was very much ahead of its time, do you feel that you helped inspire a new wave of depressive black metal bands with the stuff you have released in the past?

 I think so, yes. What followed was however over all pretty boring and depressing, for the wrong reasons.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

 Some people seem to think that our style is hard to implement on stage. I think we all felt from the beginning that our style comes alive live while the recorded songs don’t necessarily do the songs justice. We try to make it as genuine and intense as we can and while we used to get pretty fucked up on stage earlier we’ve  grown up a little bit since then I hope (but probably not). One of our best gigs was probably at Garage in Bergen, Norway, for the Blastfest festival back in early 2015.



8.The new album is coming out on 'Prophecy Productions', how did you get in contact with this label?

 We had worked with them for the last Lifelover album and we had gotten along with Martin early on, so when we were actually looking for a record deal we reached out to them again.



9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black metal and other styles of underground and dark music?

 It seems positive thus far!



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

 No idea.



11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

 I expect us to further develop our sound and styles further. You might even hear some clean vocals eventually, who knows! I just know it’s going to be dark, weird and very intense.



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?

Anything and everything man. We compiled a list of songs that inspired us during the writing and recording process of the new album which you can check out here. You can either link the playlist on Spotify or use a shorter list we made for Youtube.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5V3V8frOsLH2hM8oQfCISY?fbclid=IwAR0SDO1FgFRh52B1_DUkwIfeU-FPsF_CvM4Jqia6lHnnBjyHjbSwG4tSskM



https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx4X_n2BcjGkkP-TRbEHL2YnYBWUquFnS&fbclid=IwAR2_e-9h1ZusCFvZi2tA7_ufzjP5XaH91m9A1cfeYceJcQlRIA0mG_89MiU



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

Thanks for the support, and a special thanks to everybody who has stayed with us and waited patiently for the new album. The wait has been rough on us also!

https://www.facebook.com/kallofficial/ / https://www.instagram.com/kallofficial/

Kall/Brand/Prophecy Productions/2020 Full Length Review

  Kall  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  progressive  black  metal,  depressive  rock,  alternative,  shoegaze  and  psychedelia  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Brand"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Prophecy  Productions.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Acoustic  guitars  and  psychedelic  elements  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album.

  Saxophones  are  also  brought  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  clean  playing  and  influences  of  alternative,  post  rock,  shoegaze  and  pop  music  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  touches  of  black'n'roll  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Swedish  and  English  and  cover  self-empowerment  and  rigorous  individualism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kall  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  progressive  black  metal,  depressive  rock,  alternative,  shoegaze  and  psychedelia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rise"  and  "Fukta  Din  Aska".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/Dul-wcerdk0

prophecy.lnk.to/kall-brand  

Charming Timur/There Is No Going Back/2018 Full Length Review

  Finland's  solo  project  Charming  Timur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  with  the  music  being  a  mixture  of  experimental,  industrial,  atmospheric  black,  post,  nu  and  alternative  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2018  album  "There  Is  No  Going  Back".

  Melodic  post  rock  leads  guitar  leads  along  with  some  nu  metal  style  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  very  distorted  and  mix  black  metal  and  industrial  together  as  well  as  some  clean  vocals  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  song  and  they  bring  in  elements  of  alternative.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while the  music  gets  very  progressive  and  experimental  at  times  along  with  some  elements  of  depressive  black  metal  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  one  track  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album.

  On  this  recording  Charming  Timur  takes  depressive  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  industrial,  experimental,  post  rock,  nu  and  alternative  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Charming  Timur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of   experimental,  industrial  atmospheric  black,  post,  nu  and  alternative  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "First  Instinct  Backstab"  "Suicide  By  Police"  "A  Thousand  Thousands"  and  "Diamorphine".  7/5  out  of  10.

 https://charmingtimur.bandcamp.com/album/there-is-no-going-back 

Charming Timur/Focused Rage/2017 Full Length Review

  Finland's  Charming  Timur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  that  continues the alternative,  nu  and  post  black  metal  mixtures  of  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2017  album  "Focused  Rage"  which  will  be  released  in  August.

  Melodic  post  rock  style  guitar  leads  along  with  some  drum b eats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  alternative  style  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  powerful  sound  to  them  and  after  awhile  whispers  also  start  making  their  presence  known briefly.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  in certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  elements  of  nu  metal  are  added  into  the  music  while  the  black  metal  screams  gives  the  songs  a  more  depressive  edge  and  when  slow  riffing  is  utilized  it  gives  the  songs  a  touch  of  funeral  doom.

  Ambient  style  synths  and  clean  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  experimental  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great amount  of diversity  along  with  most  of  the  songs  sounding  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction.

  Charming  Timur  plays  a  musical  style  on  this  recording  that takes  atmospheric  black metal,  post  rock  and  alternative  metal and  mixes them  together  to  create  something  different,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Charming  Timur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  alternative  and  post  black  metal,   you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rampage  Anthem"  "A  Bit  Clingy"  "Psychotic Depression"  and  "This  Morning  Meds".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Charming-Timur-577484229012169/