Funeral/Self Titled/Caligari Records/Black Legion Records/2025 EP Review

  Funeral  are  a  band  from  Peru  that  plays  a  raw  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  metal,  hardcore,  punk  and  deathrock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2026  ep  which  will  be  released  on  September  25th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Caligari  and  Black  legion  Records.

  A  very  powerful  bass  guitar  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of a  punk  and  deathrock  influenced  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Elements  of  hardcore  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Shouts  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  ep  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody,  clean  playing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Funeral  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  emtal,  punk,  hardcore  and  deathrock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  rage,  misery  and  inevitable  decay.

  In  my  opinion  Funeral  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  metal,  punk,  hardcore  and  deathrock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Averno"  and  "El  Enteirro".  8  out  of  10.

  http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-ep-7    

Soulgrind/Ad Pulchram Mortem/Inverse Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Soulgrind  are  a  band  from  Finland  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Ad  Pulcharm  Mortem"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Inverse  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  while  the  female  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  gothic  metal.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  recording  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  dark  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  slow  riffs  also  showing  an  influence  of  doom  metal.

 The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard,  clear  male  vocals  are  also  used  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  darker  aspects  of  Finnish  History  and  the  psyche. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Soulgrind  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black, d ark,  doom  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Origin  Of  The  White  Serpent"  "In  The  Circus  of  Tuonela"  "Tears  Of  The  Earth"  and  "Into  The  Shadows  of  Devotion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/SoulgrindFinland 

https://soulgrind.bandcamp.com 

https://youtu.be/aoBIyV44VOY?si=B2Re1BOzSpLleeK0

https://youtu.be/TfVEp2ia900?si=TNqPJ1NU6av3M2lI

https://youtu.be/rgogd6hifI8?si=exYzAwbBD8PnnCvh   

    

The Noctambulant/Revival/Terminus Hate City/2026 Full Length Review

  Florida's  The  Noctambulant  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  goth  rock,  rokabilly,  blues  and  American  country  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Revival"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Terminus  Hate  City.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  industrial  style  beats  and  spoken  word  samples.  before going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  growls. 

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  Scandinavian  influences.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  when  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffs  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  touches  blues,  rockabilly,  country  and  goth  rock  into  the  rhythm  sections  as  well  as  adding  a  more  distorted  approach  to  those  genres.  and  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  closing  track  is  a  Nick  Cave.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  supernatural  in  the  Appalachian  and  Southern  era  of  the  United  States.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  The  Noctamulant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bring  The  Sorrow"  "Macabre"  "Skeleton  Key"  and  "San  Martino''.  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-noctambulant/729352412

https://www.facebook.com/TheNoctambulant/?_rdr

https://www.instagram.com/thenoctambulant/?hl=en

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3rLKQxEiwaf12jJAyEgbsj?si=ivaOzG0yTqS1wJ6eT9gGWQ&nd=1&dlsi=54518398a9da40d4

  

      

Non Serviam/La Lune Dont Mon Ame Est Pleine/Lay Bare Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

  France's  Non  Serviam  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  and  experimental  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  crust,  grindcore,  industrial  and  garkwave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "La  Lune  Dont  Mon  Ame  Esr  Pleine"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Lay  Bare  Recordings.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  whispers  and  noise  before  adding  in  synths  and  industrial  beats.  Spoken  words  can  also be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly high  pitched  black  metal  screams and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Experimental,  darkwave  and  avant  garde  elements  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  clear  singing.  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  crust,  grindcore  elements  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.   The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  myth  of  Diana  and  Actaeon.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Non  Serviam  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  experimental  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  crust,  grindcore,  industrial  and  darkwave,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deesse  Morte"  "La  Valse  des  Enfants  Morts"  and  "La  Lune  Dont  Mon  Ame  Esr  Pleine  - Part  III'.  8  out  of  10.

  https://non-serviam.bandcamp.com 

https://www.instagram.com/nonserviamcircle
https://www.facebook.com/NonServiamCircle

Sicarius/Nex/Adirondack Black Mass/2026 Full Length Review

 

  California's  Sicarius  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death,  thrash  metal,  goth  and  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Nex"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Adirondack  Black  Mass.

  Spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  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  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  death  metal  growls  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  old  school  era  of  the  genre  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal.  Angry  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  of  the  clean  sections  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  goth  and  some  of  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  classic  rock  mixed  in  with  a  more  heavy  and  brutal  approach.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  loss,  death,  retribution  and  fury.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sicarius  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cold  Death"  "Crashing  Into  The  Abyss"  "Daggers  Down"  and  "Nex".  8  out  of  10.

  sicariusblackmetal.bandcamp.com   

      

Mortem Solis Interview

 

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

Sure! Mortem Solis is a One Woman Band project from brazil, where I, Null, am the mastermind behind it.

The project started as Raw Black Metal, but nowadays I can no longer consider that label a better definition for my sound. Perhaps something more introspective, but still, straightforward black metal. So I basically channel exclusively through creativity, as a form of deeply personal and artistic expression.

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

The first EP was a turning point, when I broke the fourth wall and understood that I was also capable of making music. That sounds a bit silly, but when you have a somewhat sick mind, you believe a lot of the lies you tell yourself. So I consider that first EP as the rupture. As for the album, it was also something as significant as the first EP, because the development of the project was already noticeable, as was my personal evolution.

So the fact that I've invested more in equipment, the sound is clearly more polished than the first EP, where everything was very raw, all of this makes me believe that the difference is noticeable. Even in terms of studying instruments, improvement in vocal techniques, more breath control, more experience...

3.The lyrics on the new recording are a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you covered with this release?

It all started when I made a watercolor painting. It was a freehand painting and it came out as a figure of a hermit, at least according to my interpretation. This painting is illustrated in one of the demos I also released, which is also called Hermetic. My creative process seems a bit messy when I try to explain it, but in my head it all makes perfect sense.

So, from that painting and the demo I released, I started writing more songs, more lyrics, all based on the feelings I was experiencing at that moment in my life. Although with time gaps that weren't too long, but also not too short, the tracks began to create a connection between them, as if it were a continuation of an untold story.

And that's how the album came about. Where isolation became the greatest inspiration for a tired mind. The use of metaphors and figures of speech effectively masks everyday life. Existential questions have always surrounded me over the years; I couldn't talk about any other subject than this. And I think black metal fulfills this role very well as the perfect sound for such a theme.

4.The album titled is 'Hermetic', do you have any interest in any Hermetic and Occult Philosophies or Practices?

I've already come across books that discuss this philosophy, which were even a gift from a friend, but the reason I used this name as a title, despite having some relation to it, is that I wanted it to have the literal meaning of the word, even with all the weight it can carry.

Although I am a spiritual person, I don't use magical practices or frequent temples, etc. For me, everything is knowledge where I can at least try to better understand the practices as a form of culture, in its expressions, etc.

I think I see myself more as a curious person who seeks to know what is different, something similar to an anthropologist.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Mortem Solis'?

The name Mortem Solis comes from Latin and means dead sun. I've always had something to do with the symbolic figure of the sun, whether in ancient cultures or the spiritual symbolism that the sun carries.

I also come from the state of Piauí, located in northeastern Brazil, where its anthem says that we are "children of the equatorial sun." All this combination of things made me want my project to have the sun as the main figure, but due to my lyrics and themes, the dead sun better represents what I wanted to convey all this time: the end, nothingness.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Sure. As I mentioned before, the first artwork I created alluded to this specter/hermit, but for an album I didn't think my art was sufficient, so I decided to call an artist to redesign it. I sent him the songs and told him he was free to draw in whatever way he felt best represented the album, as I already knew his work and trusted that it would turn out far beyond what I expected. Needless to say, it turned out better than I expected, and for me that cover faithfully represents the feeling I had when I was writing the songs.

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

Not only am I open to collaboration, but I've already invited and intend to invite more artists to participate. Music is something free that needs to be shared, and I hope that in future releases I can count on even more meticulous and talented people.

8.On the new album you also did an 'Empyrium' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

Ah, definitely my passion for the band and how that particular track alludes to everything that was described in the previous tracks. It's like a conclusion to what was said.

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

I tend to be somewhat oblivious to the feedback, but I notice that it's been well-received by the public. Sometimes I receive unexpected messages, and most of them are very positive! I confess that I have difficulty processing this type of information, but I'm very happy that it's having some kind of impact.

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Although I see myself in a position where I only want to create music to be enjoyed, I confess that in recent days I've been feeling a desire to perhaps start playing live... it would be quite challenging, but I think if my intuition speaks louder, it's for something beneficial.

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?

oh Noenum and Nahtrunar for sure, those two are the basis haha but also antimateria, craft, häive, ymir, drudkh

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

I want to thank you for the opportunity to give me space to talk a little about my work here on your blog.

I look forward to more reviews of my future work if you think it's best! And that's all folks!

Hails!

https://mortemsolis.bandcamp.com/

Fanatisme/Tro, håp og kjærlighet/Fysisk Format Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Fanatisme  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  very r aw  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  post-punk  and  goth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Tro,  håp  og  kjærlighet"  which  will  be  released  on  December  12th  by  Fysisk  Format  Records.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  the  aggression  of  post  punk  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  album  also  mixing  in  elements  of  goth  at  times,  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Fanatisme  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  raw  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  post-punk  and  goth  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  humanity,  the  beauty  of  life  and  the  inevitability  of  death.

  In  my  opinion  Fanatisme  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of b lack  metal,  post-punk  and  goth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMEDNED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sannhetens  slor"  "Manestroket"  and  "Livet  er  en  Dans  p  Rosesns  Torner".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/denektefanatisme

Nel Buio/Self Titled/Avantgarde Music/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nel  Buio  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a mixture  of  black  metal  and  darkwave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2025  album  which  will  be  released  on  December  5th  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  darkwave.  Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Growls  are  also  used  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Neil  Buio  continue  to  expand  on  the  mixture  of  black  metal  and  darkwave  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  tragic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nel  Buio  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal  and  darkwave,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Splendeva  di  vita,"  "Col  cuore  puro"  and  "Eppur  perdona.".  8  out  of  10.

  https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/nel-buio-ii

https://www.instagram.com/nel_buio_blackwave

https://nel-buio.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/UqsNZXKHwe0

    

Azketem/Amid/Darkness Shall Rise/2025 Full length Review

 

  Germany's  solo  project  Azketem  has  returned  with  a    new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Amid"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Darkness  Shall  Rise/

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  gothic  metal  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  most  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  The  recording  also  adds  in  a  mixture  of  both  modern  and  old  school  touches  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  melancholic  moments  and  all  of  the  tracks  also  avoid  the  use  of  blast  beats  or  fast  riffing,  clean   playing  is  also  introduced  on  a  later  song.   

  On  this  recording  Azketem  takes  a  very  modern  form  of  atmospheric  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with 90's  style  gothic  metal  to  create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Azketem  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "End  it  All  "  and  "River  Astray'.  8 out  of  10.

azketem.bandcamp.com 

  

Mortem Solis/Hermetic/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Mortem  Solis  are  a  solo  project  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  raw  and  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2025  album  "Hermetic".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  along  with  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in the  90's  era  of  the  genre.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  gothic  and  pagan  metal  elements  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  A  couple  of   songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  introduced  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  an  Empyrium  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Portuguese  and  English  and  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  Hermeticism,  Existentialism,  Nihilism  and  Poetic  Melancholy.  

  In  my  opinion  Mortem  Solis  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  old  school  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "O  Eterno  Se  Esvai..." and  "Ode  To  melancholy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://mortemsolis.bandcamp.com/album/hermetic-2  

Lamp Of Murmuur/The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy/Wolves of Hades/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Los  Angeles,  California's  solo  project  Lamp  Of  Murmuur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  modern  and  aggressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "The  Dreaming  Prince  In  Ecstasy"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Wolves  Of  Hades.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  synths  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  mid  90's  touches  into  the  modern  era.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  symphonic  and  gothic  touches.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  both  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album and  one  song  is  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness,  Death  and  Dreams.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lamp  Of  Murmuur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  modern  and  aggressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Forests  Of  Hallicinations"  "Reincarnation  Of  A  Witch"  and  "The  Dreaming  Prince  In  Ecstasy  Part  III  -  The  Fall".  8 out  of  10.

  lampofmurmuur.bandcamp.com         

    

Noir Noir/Black Curtain/Divine Swelling/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2025 Compilation Album Review

 

  Noir  Noir  are  a  solo  project  from  Spain  that  plays  a  mixture  of  raw  black  metal,  death  industrial  and  darkwave  and  this  is  a review  of  his  2025  compilation  album  "Black  Curtain/Divine  Swelling"  which  will  be  released  on  October  17th  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  Dark  ambient  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  compilation  while  the  music  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  at  times.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  bringing  in  more  of  an  industrial  style  as  well  as  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Most  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  songs  going  for  more  of  an  instrumental  direction  and  when  the  music  finally  goes  into  a  heavier,  fast  and  rawer  direction  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Noir  Noir  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  raw  black  metal,  dark  ambient,  noise,  power  electronics,  death  industrial,  darkwave  and  ritual  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism,  ritualism  and  sadism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Noir  Noir  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  raw  black  metal,  death  industrial,  and  darkwave  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Sun"  "Holodomor'  "Behind  The  Sun"  and  "Cycles".  8 out  of  10.

 BANDCAMP RELEASE

Sans Roir/Le Rêve & la Vie/Chapitre XIII/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sans  Roi  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  an  occult  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Le  Rêve  &  la  Vie"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Chapitre  XIII.

  Spoken  word  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  

  The  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  touches  of  black'n;roll  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  more  of  a  gothic  metal  direction  along  with  the  slower  parts  of  the  tracks  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  and  dark  metal,  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  growls  and  clear  singing  also  being  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  French  and  cover  gnosis,  alchemy,  mysticism,  the  writings  of  C.G  Ung  and  the  mysteries  of  Rennes-le-Château.

  In  my  opinion  Sans  Roi  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Love's  Secret  Domain"  and  "The  Art  Of  Dreaming".  8  out  of  10.

  https://sansroi.bandcamp.com/

  

Vintras Interview

 

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

_Vintras is a musical conduit for my misery and depression. An outlet where I can process it, focus it into music and put it to one side for a short while. The devil makes work for idle hands so I make work for myself. _

2.You have your first full length coming out in March, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the  recording?

_It is best described as Black Metal but my intention was to also cultivate the atmosphere of dark 80s New Wave bands - hence the Ultravox cover - which I find have a uniquely cold and bleak atmosphere without being overtly 'heavy' musically. I happened to be listening to a lot of it as I worked on this project. Much of the melody and chord progressions found within that genre lend themselves to Black Metal so it seemed to cross-pollinate. It was never the goal with Vintras to create traditional raw or primal BM but to use the palette that Black Metal affords in terms of tempos, drum beats and vocals as a language and foundation to build upon. We both have considerable experience in creating music through other projects so we wanted the album to sound huge and create a sense of atmosphere and cold distance without losing clarity. _

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

_The lyrics on 'Timescarred' are an exploration of passing time, physical decay, and spiritual decline in the shadow of wavered belief and broken hope. A yearning for elemental truth and the rhythm of a natural tradition and a mourning for the passing of lost power; ancient and profound. Each song is a contemplation of fate and future and a lament of failure and weakness, seen through various masks and reflected upon various selves. Time may heal but it leaves its scars._

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

It is taken from Eugène Vintras; a 19th Century petty criminal turned 'messiah' who said he was visited by angels and claimed to be the reincarnation of Prophet Elijah. He was a con man who founded two cults and adopted the inverted cross as his symbol, dabbling in the occult before being jailed for fraud. To be named for such a man seemed fitting given our worldview and serves as a reminder of the futility of our achievements in life. Supposedly great men are often nothing more than an illusion in the eye of the beholder while the lowest and most base amongst us can be hailed as prophets by the gullible and delusional if the circumstances are right. Ultimately, the search for meaning, power and riches ends in the same grave whether you are a beggar or a messiah.

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

_It is a piece called 'The Study of the Pain' by Devinez. It was A.A.L that drew my attention to her work and as soon as I saw it I knew it was an ideal companion piece to the music._

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Timescarred, and by extension Vintras, was just the music I wrote over the course of two years that happened to be the darkest of my life. As I decided to take it forward and record it properly I asked A.A.L to be a part of it as he is an exceptional vocalist and lyricist that I trusted could bring something to the music and vision that I simply couldn't do alone. The same goes for the drums; I used a renonwned session musician as I wanted the performance to be at a higher level than I was ever going to be capable of. I'm also not a fan of using programmed drums!_I don't intend for Vintras to be a 'band' per se as the music is a reflection of my own mindset and therefore cannot be written by committee. If we ever perform live I will look into assembling a full lineup but there are no plans for that at the moment._

7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a   lower profile?

_Yes. Despite the music being deeply personal, I don't feel there is anything to be gained from having our 'personality' attached to it. You can only ever be disappointed when you learn more about the artist themselves._

8.The new album is going to be released through both 'War and Void Wanderer Productions', how did you get on contact with these labels?

_I was looking for a specialist BM label to handle the release as it is hard to get a foothold self-releasing with an anonymous project that doesn't play live! Thankfully Void Wanderer liked the music and were happy to work with us, and invited War Productions to be a part of it._

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

_So far not too many have heard of us! But I have been very happy with the positive response to the first preview track 'In Death's Dream' that we released in January._

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

_I am in the process of writing a second Vintras album and it is a refinement of, and hopefully improvement on, what can be heard on 'Timescarred'. I only write for Vintras when I am in the right (wrong?) mindset and this seems to be the sound that comes out. If it doesn't sound like Vintras then it simply won't be considered for this project._

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?

_As mentioned previously, the 80s new wave bands are a massive influence (I once jokingly described Vintras as Big Country with blast beats), as well as gothic/doom metal such as early Katatonia/Anathema/My Dying Bride and a range of Black Metal bands. I listen to all of this stuff regularly, plus a tonne of Heavy/Death/Thrash metal and all sorts of old rock & pop from day to day. _

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

I hope you enjoy the album. If so then please spread the misery!

 vintras1.bandcamp.com/album/timescarred-2

Vintras/Timescarred/War Productions/Void Wanderer Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Vintras  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  80's  new  wave  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Timescarred"  which  will b e  released  in  march  as  a  joint  effort  between  War  and  Void  Wanderer  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  melancholic  melodies  also  bringing  in  elements  of  new  wave  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misery  and  desperation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vintras  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  with  elements  of 80's  new  wave  and  gothic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Death's  Dream"  and  "Sorrowed  lands".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/vintras1

https://www.instagram.com/vintrasofficial/#

https://vintras1.bandcamp.com/album/timescarred-2

    

      

Plaguewielder/In Dust And Ash/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ohio's  Plaguewielder  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  post  black,  gothic  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "In  Dust  And  Ash"  which  will  be  released  sometime  in  2024.

  Clean  playing  and  atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  angry  black  metal  style

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  clear  vocals  also  add  in  a  touch  of  gothic  metal.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  some  of  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  elements  of  traditional  metal  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Plagueweilder  take  post  black,  gothic  and  traditional  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  forgotten  working  class.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Plagueweilder  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black,  gothic  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spaces"  "Manifest"  and  "Ash".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://www.facebook.com/PlaguewielderOH

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ATCUKHNMQJVzV4fOMqRDb

https://www.instagram.com/plaguewielder

https://plaguewielderoh.bandcamp.com/album/bound-to-the-chain

https://www.youtube.com/@plaguewielderohio

At The Altar Of The Horned God/Elements/I, Voidhanger Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Spain's  solo  project  At  The  Altar  Of  The  Horned  God  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  moving  away  from  the  ritualistic  and  occult  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases  and  goes  for  a  mixture  of  post-punk,  darkwave,  ambient  and  electronic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  ep  "Elements"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  Programmed  electronic  beats  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later.  Synths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  post-punk  elements,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  few  songs    also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  percussion.

  Bass  guitars  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  clean  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  gothic  rock/darkwave  style  of  singing.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  ambient  touches,  when  harsh  vocals a re  utilized  they  bring  back  the  black  metal  influence  of  previous  releases  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  At  The  Altar  Of  The  Horned  God  moves  away  from t he  black  metal  style  of  the  full  lengths  and  brings  in  more  of  an  ambient  influenced  mixture  of  post-pink,  goth  rock  and  darkwave  which  is  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  alchemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  At  The  Altar  Of  The  Horned  God  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post-punk,  goth  rock,  darkwave,  ambient  and  electronic  music,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ignis"  and  "Terra".  8out  of  10.

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/elements        

Cloven/Twilight's Heart/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Cloven  are  a  solo  project  from  Ontario,  Canada  with  session  members  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  metal,  darkwave,  gothic  rock  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Twilight's  Heart"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  WornHoleDeath  Records.

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing   and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  gothic  rock  and  ambient  elements.

  A  lot  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  the  music  captures  the  dark  atmosphere  without  the  heaviness  of  previous  releases  as  well  as  avoiding  the  harsh  vocal  aspect  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Cloven  moves  way  from  the  heavier  style  of  black  metal  and  harsh  vocals  of  his  previous  release  and  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  gothic  rock,  darkwave  and  ambient.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  human  condition,  the  divine  and  the  eternal  themes  of  love  and  separation.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Cloven  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  darkwave,  gothic  rock  and  ambient,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  The  House  Of  Silence'  and  'Twilight's  Heart".  8  out  of  10.

  cloven137.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Cloven137  

        

Nubivigant/The Blame Dagger/Amor Fati Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Nubivigant  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  clean  vocal  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Blame  Dagger"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Amor  Fati  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  clear  style.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  feeling.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  of  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  touch  of  deathrock.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.  Grim  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  psychedelic  and  atmospheric  moments,  soundscapes  are  also  added  briefly  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Nubivigant  expands  on  the  clean  vocals  style  of  black  metal  that  he  has  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  evil,  horror  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nubivigant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal  that  is  very  different  for  the  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Darkness  Upon  The  Face  Of  The  Deep"  and  "The  Judgement".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/nubivagant.blackmetal  

Eisregen/Abart/Massacre Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Eisregen  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going for  a  dark  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Abart"  which  will  be  released  on  August  16th  by  Massacre  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  keyboard  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  some  gothic  elements  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  touches  of  dark  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  being  over  10  minutes  in  length  as  well  as  the  closing  tracks  also  showing  the  songs  mixing  in  more  electronic  sounds.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  death,  gore,  cannibalism  and  murder  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eisregen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Am  Abgrund"  "Lebenkoder"  "Abart"  and  "Elektro  Baba  Yaga".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/eisregen.official

https://www.instagram.com/eisregenoffiziell