Einvigi/Latent/2026 Full Length Review

  Einvigi  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  modern  style  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Latent"  which  will  be  released  in  October.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  also  adds  in  elements  of  post  rock  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal   screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  whispers  and  growls  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  tracks  also  adds  in  a small  amount  of  clear  singing.

  Touches  of  shoegaze  can  also be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  along  with the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Einvigi  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Resistance"  "Waltz  of  Destruction"  and  "Latent".  8  out  of  10.

    https://www.facebook.com/Einvigi/

Dvorac/On The Wings Of Unknown/Der neue Weg Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Dvorac  are  a  solo  project  from  Croatia  that  plays  a  very  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "On  The  Wings  Of  Unknown"  which  was  released  by  Der  neue  Weg  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  and  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Touches  of  shoegaze  and  post  rock  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  death  and  nature  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Dvorac  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  progressive  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Wall  Of  Sleep"  and  "Witch  of  The  Moon".  8  out  of  10.

https://dvorac.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-wings-of-unknown

Moorah/The Beast Called Ego/Art Gates Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Moorah  are  a  band  from  Czechia  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  ritualistic  and  apocalyptic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  beast  Called  Ego"  which  will b e  released  in  November  by  Art  Gates  Records.

  Synths  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  a  great  portion  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  with  some  old  school  touches.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  add  in  more  of   post  metal  style.

 Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words.  Some  of  the  music  also  adds  in  influences  of  post  punk  and  blackgaze  which  also  takes  the  album  into  a  more  modern  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  faith  and  destiny  within  an  apocalyptic  world.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Moorah  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ritualistic  and apocalyptic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Left  Hand  Of  Darkness"  and  "Demon  za  krkem".  8  out  of  10.

https://artgatesrecords.com/artists/moorah   

Cairriss Interview

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

We are Cairiss, we play Blackgaze. We formed the band when we were at University together about 13 years ago.

2. In July you have your first full length album coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep and demo?

It’s a fair bit more progressive and refined than the EP, and the lyrical themes are more personal and emotional.

3. This is also going to be your first release in 10 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

Primarily just life got in the way really, but many of us are also in other projects that have been busy during the gap (Mountainscape and Asira).

4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with the music?

Our lyrics primarily deal with different aspects of trauma and trauma recovery.

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

At the time we didn’t think it would gain any traction, so we pretty much just made up a word that we thought sounded interesting and fitted the music!

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

It was all the work of our vocalist Freya Brown, she wanted to capture the artistic essence of “Wilderness” and the meshed connectivity between different aspects of the psyche.

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

Probably the best shows we’ve had are Warhorns Winterfest and Atmosfest! We’d like to think our stage performance is very emotive and deeply personal. We always love to chat to everyone afterwards!

8. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

We intend to play some UK shows in the latter half of the year and we have some plans in the works.

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

We’re definitely open to the right label helping us in the future! We have received some interest from a few labels but we felt we were in a better position to release independently this time.

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

We have had a fairly consistent underground following since Disgraced was released that have always been amazing, but we’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how widely in the scene it’s reached!

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

We have ideas in the works for more music which builds upon the same themes and feelings we’ve always drawn from!

12. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

We’re heavily inspired by Blackgaze, Post-metal, pretty much all branches of Extreme Metal, alongside prog rock, jazz, classical, film & video game score and pretty much anything else in-between! These days we’re enjoying Ethel Cain, Angine De Poitrine, Corey Wong and reminiscing with Linkin Park.

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

Thank you for having us!

https://linktr.ee/cairiss
https://www.instagram.com/cairiss_band/
https://www.facebook.com/Cairiss/
https://www.youtube.com/@CairissUK
https://cairiss.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2d1UsJ7a6PT3hN9yb87bNg?si=J5aT6TdhSDyqJEmmq9AQxw 

As Bright As The Stars/Celestial Ascension/Flowing Downwards/2026 Full Length Review

  As  Bright  As  The  Stars  are  a  solo  project  from  Indonesia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Celestial  Ascension"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Flowing  Downward. 

  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  shoegaze  along  with  a  good  portion  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of t he  album.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  angry  shouts  and  spoken  words.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  spirituality  and  transcendence  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  As  Bright  As  The  Stars  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Lost  Shadow"  "Untouched"  and "Celestial  Ascension'.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/As_Bright_as_the_Stars/3540454043

https://www.facebook.com/abatsofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/asbrightasthestarsmusic/

   

Cairiss/Wilderness/2026 Full Length Review

  Cairiss  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Wilderness"  which  will  be  released  in  July.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Clear  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  harsh  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  songs  also  have  their  atmospheric  moments.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy  and  existential  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cairiss  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nervosa"  and  "Wildfire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/cairiss

https://www.instagram.com/cairiss_band/
https://www.facebook.com/Cairiss/
https://www.youtube.com/@CairissUK
https://cairiss.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2d1UsJ7a6PT3hN9yb87bNg?si=J5aT6TdhSDyqJEmmq9AQxw

https://youtu.be/8F4_c4s2AIc?si=jYYgqLiXFsA2c4qD

Conjurist Interview

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

1. This is a project I started so I could do the things I wanted to do with metal and extreme music. Ive been in dozens of different types of bands in the Nashville area for many years and it was time to bring my ideas to life that were either not understood or didn’t fit in with what other people were trying to achieve musically and lyrically. I had built up an overflow of ideas and I needed a passion project to contain them and then decide if I needed to release them. Once I got about three songs in I knew it was something I was interested in pursuing. 

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

2. It started with tons of guitar riffs and as I put them together I realized it had its own style even though it was a mixture of several genres. The goal was clear to keep the project metal so I still needed to stay within the realm of it but I allowed myself to use any subgengre of metal to capture the feeling from song to song. I knew that I wanted the subject matter to be paranormal, otherworldly and tap into ideas of conspiracy theory. These types of ideas can be uncomfortable when working with other people so this was the perfect opportunity to do so. This gave the project a direction and purpose. Instead of just being a catch all for my creative ideas it became something with a clear vision at least for the debut album. There’s still room for growth and evolution but I plan to keep it musically metal and lyrically in the same area as what Ive done with I am the Earth. 

3.You also have a background playing other types of extreme  metal, do you feel this has helped you become a better musician?

3. Ive been in many different bands in the Nashville area for a long time as I mentioned before mainly as lead vocalist. I can list a couple of the metal bands. Animality- a tech death project I helped start and stayed with for a few years as lead vocalist. I wrote and recorded the lyrics and vocals for two albums with them. Three of the guys from that band are in the Conjurist music video for Solace for the Shaman. I plan on continuing to work with them and they have shown a lot of support and interest in Conjurist. CreekDevil- a southern metal and rock band I am currently in as lead singer. It was created by the guitarist and myself after I left the rhythm guitar/backing vocals position of a band we were in together called Of Serpents- a blackened melodic death and metalcore band I played in for a few years after leaving the band I created and started with S.O.M.A. sounds of mental anguish- a metalcore/nu-metal/post hardcore band I was the lead singer and main songwriter for. There’s a lot of people who I have been involved with in the Nashville metal scene who are either still active or have made a name for themselves in metal that have definitely helped me as an artist fine tune my craft. 

4.A lot of your lyrics cover mysticism, ancient history and conspiracy theories, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics and which aspects of these subjects do you bring out in your songwriting?

4. I’ve been interested in that stuff for a very long time. The fear of the unknown. I’ve had my own experiences with it and I’ve made sure to stay updated and aware of what’s going on in those areas. In my father’s free time he was a paranormal investigator and enthusiast of the subject. A lot of crazy stuff is going on right now regarding disclosure in America and whether it’s the full truth or just a distraction as some people think and it has now made everyone a conspiracy theorist. We just don’t know what the future holds and it’s scary but exciting. This is a perfect time for Conjurist. 

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

5. The name Conjurist is something I came up with years ago when I left Animality. I wanted to do another project with a few of the guys and it just didn’t happen. Whenever I started working on the material for I am the Earth I remembered that name and thought it would be perfect for the project. It sounds scary which is fitting for metal and the subject matter of the project but it also means something to me about manifesting my thoughts into reality. Bringing my ideas to life. It’s difficult to come up with a good one word band name nowadays. It seems like everything has been taken so when I came up with it I thought it would be best to come up with a word that doesn’t exist so I was happy to see that it was still available. 

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

6. The album artwork was done by my son when he was in 2nd grade art class. He was not very proud of it but I loved it as soon as I saw it. It fit for the album because it looks like it could be some ancient cave drawings. I thought this is perfect for I am the Earth. lol! 

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other musicians in previous bands, do you prefer to work solo?

7. Ive always loved producing myself and have recorded and produced some of the other bands I was in and even a couple of friends bands and music. Ive had terrible experiences with other people producing my work but there has been a few producers I worked with that made my job a lot easier and did a way better job than I could have for certain projects. I guess it just depends on who is doing it but if you don’t have the right person you end up wasting a lot of time and money. I don’t mind putting in the work because it can be very rewarding and sometimes fun. I always learn something new and I must spend my time and money wisely if I’m going to make the most of it. 

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

8. We’ll see what happens. If it makes sense and helps the project then I’d be interested. 

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

9. So far the reactions have been great. It’s still a new project so there’s a lot of people who have not had a chance to hear it. 

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

10. I plan on staying focused and getting more music done. I’m currently finishing the writing for the next album which will have at least another 10 songs and will be in production soon. I have several live musicians ready to get some shows done but all in due time. Promoting this album and getting it heard will determine what happens next. It takes a lot of planning and money to hit the road. The live production starting out will need to be as visually interesting as the music to give fans the full experience of what this project is and will become. 

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. The bands who have influenced the sound of this project are what’s been listed before. Meshuggah, Alcest, Converge, Gojira, Mastadon, Pallbearer, Fallujah, Acid Bath. I’m a huge fan of Meshuggah and have been since 1998 when I was just a kid so there’s a few of the djent bands and definitely mathcore bands I like. The shoegaze type influences would be from bands like HUM and My Bloody Valentine. 90s bands were a big influence like NIN and Smashing Pumpkins. I’m a huge Mike Patton fan so blending genres and being experimental is nothing new to me. A band I’ve loved more recently is Imperial Triumphant. Another great album that was recently remastered is Nasum Inhale/Exhale. I find myself naturally gravitating towards Swedish metal bands. Meshuggah, At the Gates, In Flames, Nasum, Dissection, Vildhjarta, Opeth, Katatonia, Humanity’s Last Breath, Thrown. I don’t know what’s in the water over there but they’ve given the world a lot of great bands I absolutely love. 

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

12. I’m excited about the future of this project. There were a lot of things that happened in my life over the years that have given me my story, experience and opportunities to finally make something like this happen. I’m eager to share this music with the world and push the boundaries of extreme music in this form to merge chaos and dissonance with melody and emotion paired with experimental vocals and lyrics that question our origins, current narratives and bring light to the terrifying reality that there’s more to this world than what we’ve been allowed to see.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566891959330 

Conjurist/I Am The Earth/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Conjurist  are  a  solo  project  from  Nashville,  Tennessee  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black,  melodic  death,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "I  Am  The  Earth".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  touches  of  shoegaze  before  adding  in  clear  vocals  which  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  good  amount  of  hardcore  elements.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing   along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  also  shows  an  influence  of  doom  metal  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  arts,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  ancient  history,  conspiracy  theories  and  the  dark  corners  of  human  emotion  and  existence.

  In  my  opinion  Conjurist  is  a  very  decent  sounding  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black,  melodic  death,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Better  Call  Saul"  "Nineveh"  "Empires"  and  "Skinwalker".  8  out  of  10.

  https://conjurist.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-the-earth

https://open.spotify.com/album/49y7EtDUtubQhXH3vpmiXg

       

My Dark Secret Transcendence/My Dark Secret Diary - Part 1/2026 Full Length Review

  My  Dark  Secret  Transcendence  are  a  band  from  Thailand  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  depressive  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "My  Dark  Secret  Diary  -  Part  1".

    Melodic  post  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads  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.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  elements  of  shoegaze.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  clear  male  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  female  vocals,  atmospheric  sounding  synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  as  the  recording  progresses  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  are  also  introduced  into  the  music.   

  On  this  recording  My  Dark  Secret  Transcendence  takes  dsbm,  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  melancholy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  my  Dark  Secret  Transcendence  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  My  Vice"  and  "Father  Sun,  Mother  Earth".  8  out  of  10.

https://mydarksecrettranscendence.bandcamp.com/album/my-dark-secret-diary-part-i  

Viamaer/In lumine lunae (Acoustic Sessions)/2026 EP Review

 

  Viamaer  are  a  solo  project  form  Poland  that  has  recently  been  featured  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  takes  his  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  shoegaze  into  an  acoustic  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  "In  lumine  lunae  (Acoustic  Sessions)'  which  will b e  released  in  April.

  Acoustic  guitars  which  add  in  a  mixture  of  finger  picking  and  full  chords  start  off  the  ep  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Drum  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  post  rock  and  shoegaze  elements  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  cleaner  sections  of  the  music  and  all  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  

  On  this  recording  Viamaer  takes  songs  off  his  previous  full length  and  takes  away  the  vocals  and  heavier  parts  of  the  release  and  takes  his  music  into  an  acoustic  direction  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Viamaer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  acoustic  music  with  elements  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  excitiatione  terrae"  and  "Smaragdus  somnium".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/uGwcEMiYzP8

Facebook | Bandcamp | TikTok | Instagram

Olhava/Memorial/Avantgarde Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Olhava  are  a  duo  from  Russia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Memorial"  which  will  be  released  on  February  27th  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording.  Most  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  tracks  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  which  are  mixed  down  low  while  in  the  mix  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  At  times  the  riffs  also  add  in  more  of  a  repetitive  approach  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  melodic  post  metal  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  calmer  sections  of  the  album  also  bringing  in  elements  of  shoegaze,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  and  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Rebirth  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Olhava  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "After  I'm  Gone"  and  "The  River  Wakes".  8  out  of  10.

https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/memorial

https://www.instagram.com/olhavabm
https://olhava.bandcamp.com

    

Motljus Interview

 

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

Motljus is a black metal project, although the music occasionally takes other musical paths. If you enjoy atmospheric music that takes its time—rather than jumping rapidly from riff to riff—and balances heavy intensity with softer moments, Motljus might be for you. It is the creation of me, Arvid, based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

I started Motljus out of a desire to make music entirely on my own, and to create something I genuinely love listening to myself. I’ve played music almost my entire life, mostly with other people—starting with the violin as a child, then moving on to guitar, and later drums.

The drums really hooked me as a teenager, and I put the other instruments aside. Over the years, I played drums in several bands and projects around Gothenburg.

When I began working under the name Motljus, I had been playing indie rock and post-rock for a long time, and I deeply missed the feeling of playing more loud, heavy music. My other band, Balloon Maker, had a rehearsal space that was also set up as a studio. There, I spent a lot of time on my own, reconnecting with instruments I hadn’t touched in years. With a strong DIY mentality, I recorded the music that became the foundation of Motljus, and eventually the album För Evigt.

2.So far you have released 2 full length's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

I’ve actually released just one full-length album so far, which is my debut, För Evigt. However, it exists in two different versions. The album was first released digitally in 2024, and then on January 9th, 2026, Darkwoods and I released a physical edition as a limited CD.

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

Both the music and the lyrics have been with me for many years. The lyrics reflect my personal journey—from being a young adult free from major struggles or responsibilities and simply enjoying life, to growing older and confronting the harsher realities and burdens of modern society.

Music stayed with me through those difficult years, and also through the moments when life began to turn in a more positive direction. I actually completed the music for För Evigt during one of the happiest periods of my life, while I was on paternity leave with my first child. The album deals with feelings of misery and heaviness, but also with the moments when life slowly moves toward something brighter and lighter.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Motljus'/

Motljus means “backlit” in Swedish. The word is made up of mot (against) and ljus (light), which initially felt very fitting for a black metal project. Over time, however, I’ve also come to see it as a personal striving toward the light in my own life. I also enjoy the fact that it’s a strange and unfamiliar word for anyone who doesn’t speak Swedish.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork on the current album cover?

The artwork for this release is a collaboration between myself and Darkwoods. We drew inspiration from the typical winter atmosphere of my hometown, Gothenburg, which resulted in something dark, realistic, and urban. The album has a modern visual feel while still staying close to a classic, old-school black metal aesthetic. I think the atmosphere we created is something most people can relate to, regardless of where they live.

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

Motljus will remain a very personal project, and I’ll continue to write the music myself. That said, the recording process may look different going forward. These days, I don’t have the time to spend endless hours recording everything on my own, so I’ll need to work in a more time-efficient way. 

I’m also open to once again inviting friends to contribute with guest appearances in the future. Motljus hasn’t performed live yet, but I sometimes dream about giving the music a physical presence on stage. To make that happen, I would need the help of others to truly bring it to life.

7.'Darkwoods' are releasing the physical version of your current album in 2026, how did you get in contact with this label?

Daniel from Darkwoods told me that he actually came across my Bandcamp page by chance! He reached out to me with the idea of doing a physical release of my debut album, and from there we began the process of bringing För Evigt to life in physical form.

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

I started making music purely for myself, with no expectations that it would ever reach an audience. Even releasing the first digital version felt like a huge step. Honestly, I’m still quite shocked that people seem to connect with the music, and it genuinely means a lot to me when someone reaches out to share their thoughts.

I’m very excited about this physical release with Darkwoods, and I think the album has turned out beautifully.

9.Do you also have any experience playing in other bands or musical projects?

Yes, as mentioned earlier, I’ve played drums in several bands in and around Gothenburg, mainly within different styles of metal, rock, and post-rock. Alongside Motljus, I currently play drums in the indie rock band Balloon Maker. If you enjoy calm, cozy indie music, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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

I’m currently in the early stages of writing new material under the name Motljus, and I’m really enjoying the process so far. It feels like a strong foundation for the project’s next chapter.

While Motljus is a solo project, playing music with others is something I truly enjoy. I haven’t had much time for that in recent years, and it’s something I’d really like to bring back into my life again.

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?

Motljus was initially intended to be fairly straightforward black metal, but it gradually became heavily influenced by post-rock and post-metal. The songs grew longer and more dynamic, with multiple sections, turning each track into more of a journey.

Two bands fundamentally changed how I view black metal: early Wolves in the Throne Room and Deafheaven. The way they took the beauty that exists within black metal and other heavily distorted genres and elevated it into something much greater was a real game changer for me. I’ve always loved being immersed in an ocean of distortion, where the melodies are only just visible—like music drifting through a snowstorm.

Lately, I’ve been listening a lot to Augustine, a fantastic Swedish indie rock project with great melodies and a warm electronic atmosphere that works just as well for focused listening as for more relaxed moments. On the heavier side, I’ve lately been enjoying Umbilical by Thou and Confusion Gate by Yellow Eyes.

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

I just want to express how grateful I am that you took the time to listen to Motljus and to write such a thoughtful review for Occult Black Metal Zine. Thank you as well for reaching out to do this interview—it’s truly been a pleasure.

https://www.instagram.com/motljus.gbg/

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"  

Domhain/In Perfect Stillness/These Hand Melt/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Domhain  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  metal  and  blackgaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "In  Perfect  Stillness"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  Cello's  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  clear  singing  add  in  more  of  a  shoegaze  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  remembrances  and myths.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Domhain  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal  and  blackgaze,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Talamh  Lon"  and  "My  Tomb Beneath  The  Tide".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Domhain.band/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domhain_band/   
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5LLcGMtOdgLhqrvrF6prnG 

Bandcamp: https://domhain-band.bandcamp.com 

https://youtu.be/rqILqN9QAaQ    

Lightlorn/The Ebb And Flow Of Galactic Tides/Rogue Planet/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Lightlorn  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  cosmic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Ebb  And  Flow  of  Galactic  Tides"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Rogue  Planet.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  melodies  are  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  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  and  the  synths  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  cosmic  direction.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  clean  sections  also  adding  in  touches  of  shoegaze.  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  touches  of  ambient.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  vastness  of  cosmos  through  the  lens  of  human  emotion.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Lightlorn  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  cosmic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Emergent  Chaos"  and  "Superluminal".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/6F9DPcoj9zY

  

https://linktr.ee/lightlorn

  

Motljus/För evigt/Darkwoods/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Motljus  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "För  evigt"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Darkwoods.

  Drones  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musicals  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  elements  of  blackgaze  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Motljus  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  and  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  blackgaze  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Long  winters,  urban  solitude  and  unrestrained  emotional  intensity.

  In  my  opinion  Motljus  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  post  black  metal  solo  project  with  elements  of  blackgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kally  regn"  and  "Svart  sot".  8  out  of  10.

  https://withinthedarkwoods.bandcamp.com/album/for-evigt

  

    

Forn Kaldr Interview

 

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

It was a project I started back in 2018. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to make music and when I first heard Oath Bound by Summoning I knew it was atmospheric black metal that I wanted to make. So in 2018 when I finally had enough money I bought a computer and started making music.

2.Recently you have released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I've been listening to a lot of Post Rock and Shoegaze recently so for this EP I wanted to take it in that general direction. One of my goals for this project is to have a completely different sound on each release.

3.The new ep was instrumental while previous recordings have had a vocalist, are you open to working with vocals again in the future?

I am open to working with a vocalist again. This release was supposed to have vocals but in the end the person I was working with didn't have the time and I couldn't find someone else soon enough in time for the release.

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

Forn Kaldr means Ancient Cold. Forn means ancient in Old Norse and Kaldr means cold. I came up with the name Ancient Cold at first but it still didn't sound quite right so I searched around for those words in old languages until I found something that sounded like it fit the feel of the music I wanted to make.

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

For the cover I wanted something bright and colourful so I created a night sky with the northern lights.

6.Currently the project is all solo while you have had members in the past, are you open to expanding the line up again in the future or do you prefer to work solo?

I do prefer to work solo although I would like to have other members so I could maybe take the project live one day.

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

I am unsigned although I do have a label (Deuterium Label Group) working with me but more in a promotional sense.

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

The reactions have been mixed. I honestly don't like to put myself under the Black Metal label and I think that reflects in my music. Whilst the main inspiration and root of the sound is in Black Metal, I take inspiration from many genres and try to incorporate them so i'm not restricting myself musically.

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

I would like to do another full length. I am already working on new songs. As a musician I would just like to keep expanding my sound in terms of writing and production.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Summoning were a huge influence on me. Also the music of Howard Shore in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm really into Lorna Shore right now as well so definitely them. In terms of music that I listen to, it's mostly Slam, Deathcore, Metalcore and Pop Punk. I wouldn't say I'm a metal head I just love music. All kinds.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Non musical interests, I love camping and being outside. Spending time with my family. the simple good stuff.

https://fornkaldrofficial.bandcamp.com/album/beneath-an-ocean-of-stars