Aliore Interview

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

Aeter : Hey Occult Black Metal Zine! This is Aeter (guitarist/composer), and it's an honor to answer these questions for your webzine. Since the recording of our first album, things have been really overwhelming, as we've had the chance to reach a mostly very receptive audience from all over the world. We receive feedback on our YouTube channel, Instagram, and also from the professional press, which is very important to us. We also had the chance to catch the eye of the mighty cult French metal label Adipocere, and get signed by them. They have helped promote and discover huge metal bands such as Sacramentum, Moonspell, and Diabolical Masquerade. We feel very fortunate, and we are confident that the record will get all the attention it deserves. Another dream come true (at least for me) was when the French guitar brand Flamel Guitars endorsed me. I am thrilled to have gained the confidence of such an amazing manufacturer, and I feel very lucky and ready to hit stages everywhere with those beautiful axes.

2. You have a new album coming out in November. Musically, how does it differ from the material you released in the past?

Aeter : In the past, I was the sole member aboard Aliore, and back then it was an atmospheric, instrumental blackgaze and black metal project. Since I decided to form a real band with dedicated members, everyone involved has infused Aliore's musical framework with their own vision. We now have French lyrics, a whole lore surrounding the characters we portray, and most importantly, the music has become more aggressive while keeping that dreamy quality, as if you were stuck between two worlds—like a parallel universe hovering between life and death. Murmur, our lead singer, comes from a black metal and classical background. She brings that extra layer of interpretation and life, while Dolor, our bass player, has become our main orchestration composer, which is a massive part of Aliore's sound today. Last but not least, Abaddon, our drummer, writes all his parts with his own unique vision, which is also crucial to me. In 2026, Aliore is fully realized, and we are working very hard on our sound, our lore, and the emotions we want to share with people.

3. The band started out with instrumental music while the newer music has vocals and lyrics. What was the decision behind going in this direction?

Aeter : When I founded Aliore, it was during dark times worldwide due to the pandemic. I was alone at home, driven by an urge to compose something intense yet epic and dark. When humanity slowly regained some form of freedom back in 2023, I decided to resurrect the project, but this time with real band members. The goal for me was to share that music live and try to live the best possible experiences through it. As I mentioned above, every soul in Aliore is now fully integrated, bringing their own energy and vision.

4. The lyrics on the new album have a concept to them. Can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting on the current release?

Aeter : As we started to rehearse and get to know each other, we realized we shared a deep passion for esoteric subjects, history and black metal. Oraison Funèbre can be considered a concept album, featuring a continuous story running from the first track to the last. "Renaissance," which means "rebirth" in French, marks a turning point: Murmur is murdered by her husband—a World War I army general who completely lost his mind due to mental illness, compounded by heavy drug abuse, and returned home entirely dysfunctional, to the point of murdering his own wife and burying her in the fireplace. Marianne dies, but Murmur is born: an entity stranded in an in-between world, struggling to understand what happened to her. She goes from experiencing apprehension, to seeking answers from the Prince of Darkness (Entretien avec le diable / Interview with the Devil), to fully embracing what befell her, ultimately taking her revenge and—most importantly, by the end of the record—accepting the catalyst that turned her into Murmur. Dolor, Abaddon, and myself are directly connected to Murmur, as we were all killed by her husband during the war. Dolor was the medic who took his own life after witnessing too many horrors, driven to despair after Murmur's husband led thousands of men to their certain deaths. Abaddon was the apothecary who supplied the general with drugs and tried to poison him before getting caught in his own trap. As for myself, Aeter, I was the soldier who lost his life in an already lost battle.

5. Lyrically you have also covered esoteric themes. Can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Aeter : When I was a teenager, I was really into playing with the Ouija board, chasing ghosts, and reading dark authors like Lovecraft, Poe, and Baudelaire. These subjects deeply fascinate me and have helped shape my imagination. Beyond ghosts, it's more about trying to find the magic hidden in everyday life—unexplainable things, the energies you can feel when entering certain rooms or places, remaining deeply instinctive, and listening to your inner voice. I even visited Père Lachaise Cemetery to pay my respects to Allan Kardec, a Frenchman who pioneered early experiments with table-turning, Ouija, and esotericism in the 19th century. His grave is truly outstanding: a monument shaped like a rustic stone dolmen (a prehistoric megalithic structure) topped with a bronze bust of himself. Fascinating stuff.

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

Aeter : Aliore comes from Latin and means "Elsewhere" (Ailleurs in French). The inspiration stems directly from that craving to chase—and perhaps find—that "elsewhere" hiding somewhere out there, just waiting to be discovered.

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

Aeter : We are lucky to have Murmur in the band, and not just for her vocal talents—she is also a professional designer, and we are very fortunate that her skills match Aliore's visual universe. She painted the album cover entirely from scratch. The great thing is that we had full creative control, and she completely understood what we needed. I think she presented us with what would become the final version of the cover on her very first try, and we only had a few minor tweaks to make! You can see Murmur transitioning from human to entity, following all the adventures that await her on this musical journey—from misunderstanding to acceptance, and finally, escape.

8. Out of all the tours and shows the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

Aeter : So far, Aliore has only been around for a year and a half. In such a short lifespan, we've been very fortunate to play amazing shows, like opening at the Opéra de Nice for Septicflesh, or sharing the stage with Houle, another thematic French black metal band. I think we love what we do so much that every single moment we spend on stage stands out for us. Playing live is a double-edged sword: it can be deeply rewarding, but it can also leave you with the greatest doubts and questions about yourself as an artist. We live for that!

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

Aeter : We definitely have plans. As I mentioned, we are now signed with Adipocere, and they are actively helping us spread the word. We will be playing on various stages in the near future.

10. On a worldwide level, how has the reaction to your music been among black metal fans?

Aeter : So far, we are very satisfied with the feedback we've received. Lots of positive comments and support. People seem very curious about the band, and that's great. More than anything, we want to meet our audience—the people we can share stories and emotions with, and live a wonderful musical journey together.

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

Aeter : All I can say is that we are a hard-working band. Our second album is already being written, and it is taking a really interesting musical turn that we can't wait to share! Get ready for even more aggression and darkness as we head into even deeper, darker territories...

https://www.facebook.com/alioremetalnoir/

 

Aliore/Oraison Funebre/Adipocere Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Aliore  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  esoteric  and  theatrical  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Oraison  Funebre"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Adpocere  Records.

  Clean  playing  and  drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction while  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  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  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a small  amount  of  spoken  words.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  the  mid  90's  era  symphonic  style  along  wit h one  song  also  introducing  operatic  vocals  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  four  souls  torn  from  the  First  World  War  bound  together  by  tragedy  and  destiny.

  In  my  opinion  Aliore  are  a  very  great  sounding  theatrical  and  esoteric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Renaissance"  "Tumulte"  "Sous  la  LunePale"  and  Cendres  et  Lumiere".  8  out  of  10.

  Aliore - Entretien avec le Diable (Single)

Aliore - Cendres et lumière (Official Lyrics Video) - Oraison Funèbre

Aliore - Cendres et Lumiere - Piano Voix Live - YouTube      

Noctule/Extinguish Thy Flame/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Noctule  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  post  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  2026  album  "Extinguish  Thy  Flame".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into a   lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  At  time s the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  clear  vocals,  keyboards  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  as  well  as  one  of  the  later  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  Elden  Ring  saga.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Noctule  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  post  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Devour  The  Gods"  "Goddess  Of  Rot"  and  "Age  Of  The  Stars'.  8  out  of  10.

  SINGLE PROMO 

MUSIC VIDEO    

Vinteraske/Nocturne/Naturmacht Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Vinteraske  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Nocturne"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Water  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  shoegaze  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  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  faster  sections  of  the  music  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  ad  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vinteraske  plays  a  style  of  post  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mental  and  emotional  turmoil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vinteraske  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Schwerer  regen"  "Kein  ort  wird  mehr  fur  mich  sluhen"  and  "Enfroren//Verbrannt".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/xog8ElwUm0U?si=HPPobdSDi8tO-xxc 

Acédia/Égarement/Les Productions Hérétiques/2026 Full Length Review

     Acédia  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Égarement"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Les  Productions  Hérétiques.

  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  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  touches  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  sounding  while  the  guitar  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  post  metal  style.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Acédia  takes  their  progressive  and  avant  garde  style  of  black  metal  into  a  more  aggressive  and  darker  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  misanthropy,  suicide,  alienation  and  apathy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Acédia  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  progressive  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Sécheresse"  "Les  ruelles  murmurent"  and  "Nuit  sans retour".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Acediaqc/      

Anagnorisis/Caregriever/Bolverk Collective/Vendetta Records/Negative Reflections/2026 Full Length Review

  Kentucky's  Anagnorisis  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Caregriever"  which  will b e  released  in  october  as  a  joint  effort  between  Bolverk  Collective,  Vendetta  Records  and  Negative  Reflections.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  head  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  At times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  a  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  Electronic  sounds  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  samples  also  b3eing  used  briefly,  one  track  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  childhood  trauma,  depression,  grief  and  self-reflection.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Anagnorisis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chole"  "A  Living  Grave"  and  "Death  Of  me".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/Anagnorisis666

https://anagnorisis.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/anagnorisis666

https://www.facebook.com/anagnorisismetal

https://www.youtube.com/user/Anagnorisisband    

Sepulchre By The Sea/Godseeker/2026 EP Review

  United  Kingdom's  solo  project  Sepulchre  By  The  Sea  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  post  black,  doom,  death  metal,  hardcore  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  ep  "Godseeker"  which  will  be  released  in  November.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  ep  before  adding  in  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Some  of  the  music  also  mixes  in  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  clean  sections  show  an  influence  of  shoegaze  and  post  rock.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal,  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  the   mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  Edgar  Allan 
Poe.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sepulchre  By  The  Sea  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should c heck  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Godseeker".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/sepulchrebytheseamusic      

Fugit/Where Foxes Say Goodnight/2026 Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Fugit  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  and  psychedelic  mixture  of  post  black,  doom  metal,  blackgaze  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Where  Foxes  Say  Goodnight"  which  will b e  released  in  October.  

  Post  rock  style  clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  touches  of  shoegaze.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  elements  of  ambient  as  well  as  taking  the  music  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction  and  the  slower  riffing  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  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  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  female  and  male  vocals,  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  spoken  words  also  being used  at  timrd.  One  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  the  album  also  has  its  psychedelic  moments,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Italian  and  cover  night  and  distance  with  some  inspirations  from  the  poems  of  Edgar  Allan  Poe  and  the  paintings  of  Hermann  Kaulbach. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fugit  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  psychedelic  post  black,  doom  metal,  blackgaze  and  ambient, you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Foxes  Say  Goodnight"  and  "Le  malincomie  dei  mondo".  8  out  of  10.

   https://fugitofficial.bandcamp.com/album/where-foxes-say-goodnight-2026       

  

In Luna Interview

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

Hey, this is Uruksoth. Well, since 2015, when our first album came out, as well as the split we released with Psychonaut 4, Vanhelga, and Offdrykja. In Luna had basically been on hold when it came to writing new music. It wasn’t until around 2020 that we started working on what would eventually become our new album, which is finally coming out now.

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

Musically, when it came to writing the album, both in terms of the music itself and the lyrics and vocals, there wasn’t really a huge difference. It was more of a natural continuation of what we had already recorded. The most noticeable difference in terms of the recording process is that, on our first two releases—the debut album and the split we put out—the drums were programmed by Auka. This time, however, we had the collaboration of Diego Mota from Gaerea, who joined us as a session musician to record the drums for the new album.

3.From 2015 to 2026 there was no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between releases?

To be honest, we didn’t really feel the need to record anything new in the years that followed, so we decided to let the band rest until we had a clear intention of recording something new. We didn’t want to record just for the sake of recording something. We wanted it to be something meaningful for us, something that we genuinely felt was important and could bring something to the project. We wanted to reach that point where we could say, “Now is the right time to record these new ideas we have.” On my side, I’ve also been focused on other bands I’m currently involved with or have been involved with, working on various recordings and albums. If I remember correctly, we started the recording process towards the end of 2020. Since then, we’ve been working on it without any kind of rush or pressure. We’ve taken as much time as we felt we needed, and now, finally, the new album will see the light of day very soon.

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

The lyrics in Luna are one of the most important things for us, just as important as the composition of the music. They represent who we are and the message we want to convey. They follow the same path as our earliest recordings, talking about inner emptiness, the darkness that we carry within ourselves, which comes from deep inside us. On this new album, we explore themes such as depression, anxiety, loss, and grief. When it comes to writing the lyrics for In Luna has always been quite easy for me to talk about these subjects, since I put my own personal experiences down on paper, either in a more metaphorical way or in a more explicit manner.

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

All the graphic design for the new album was done by Fernando Navarro and his design company, Mutta. He’s a very good lifelong friend of mine, and we’ve played together in different extreme metal bands over the years. He was also responsible for the artwork and design of In Luna’s first album. He knows us really well, so he’s very easy to work with. He also knows exactly how I think and what kind of design I might like, so he can basically create something that I already know I’m going to love. It’s a perfect fit for us. As for the album cover, there’s a person on it, and the album is called “The Architecture of Negativity”. The idea is that the human being is the architect—the builder as well as the destroyer—of the negativity and pessimism in each person’s life, whether they experience more or less of it. So, considering the album title, it probably would have been easier to go with something like buildings or a modern cityscape, some urban landscape from any city in the world. But we liked Fernando’s concept much more. He came up with the idea for the album partly after seeing the lyrics I had written, and that’s how this whole concept came together. Then, as for the photographs, some of the photos we have inside the album were actually taken by me.

6.The band members live in Chile and Spain, what impact does the long distance between band members have on the musical style that you play?

Yes, Aukka is Chilean and I’m Spanish, although I’ve been living in Germany for about six years now. Actually, the distance between the two members of the band has never really been an obstacle for us, especially given the times we live in, and even back when we first started. You can easily record an idea at home, send it to me, and then we can go over it together. We can say, “Maybe we could change this part,” or “Let’s repeat this section,” or whatever else we feel needs changing. It’s actually a very easy way of working. And when it comes to recording the album, there’s no problem at all either, because we both have our own recording equipment and everything we need. So, honestly, it’s pretty straightforward. Even though we’re based so far apart, as I said, it’s relatively easy to put all our ideas together and turn them into a new piece of work.

7.So far the band has only done one live show which was in 2017, would the band be open to doing any live shows in the future?

The show we played was a one-off, and we presented it as Iluna’s first and last concert. The organizers of the Iberian Warriors Fest got in touch with us and told us they were interested in having Iluna play at the festival. I told them to give us a little time to think about it, because we had never really considered playing live. The distance between us makes that quite difficult. So we thought about it, and although Aukka unfortunately couldn’t make it to Spain for the show, we decided to go ahead with it as an exclusive date. I also thought it could be something really special for people who liked In Luna and had never had the chance to see us live—to give them that one opportunity to see us in an exclusive show. And regarding your next question, no, we’re not going to play any more concerts. It would feel like we were going back on our word after saying that it was going to be our first and last show. But it really was an unforgettable experience. The audience received us incredibly well, and there were so many people there who had never even heard of us before. Playing at a festival, in a completely packed venue, alongside such great bands, and having the audience respond to us the way they did was honestly amazing. But, as I said, we don’t have any plans to play live again.

8.On the new album toy also have a few quests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and their contributions to the recording?

Yes, for the new album we worked with two session musicians for the recording. As I mentioned in an earlier question, Diogo Mota from Gaerea played the drums. We met at a festival where I was playing with one of my other bands, and shortly afterwards I immediately thought of him for the drum recordings. We didn’t want to use programmed drums again. They had worked well for us in the past, but we wanted to take another step forward and achieve a more professional sound this time. Diogo is a session musician and that’s part of what he does professionally, so I asked him if he’d be interested in getting involved with the project. I sent him a few demos, he liked the style of music, and we hired him for the recording. Then, on bass, we have Deimos AF, who is a good friend of mine. We’ve also played together in a band in the past, and he joined us to record the bass tracks. He really brought a very intense sound to the album, as well as some great ideas during the recording process

9.The new album is going to be released on 'Talheim Records'. how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?

Working with Talheim is actually very easy. I’ve known Mat, the owner, for many years. They co-released the “Urban Negativism” split with OP Records, and that was our first contact with the label. Over the years, Talheim has also released material by another one of my bands, a Post Back Metal band called Korzo. So we already had a good relationship with them, and they’re really easy to work with. They listen to your requests, they come up with their own ideas or suggestions on how to improve things, and there’s always been a very positive response. Both Mat and his whole team do honest, genuinely underground work, and they’re truly committed to the bands they release.

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

At the time I’m answering this interview, there hasn’t been any preview of the new album yet—not a song or even a snippet. The album is coming out in early October, so unfortunately I can’t really say anything about it just yet. What did come out a few weeks ago were two older tracks that we originally released on the “Urban Negativism” split. They’ve basically been reissued and are now available on all the major digital platforms, whereas they weren’t available there before. Talheim has made those two tracks available digitally, so people can finally listen to them online. As for those two songs, when they were originally released in 2015, along with our debut album—which was also released that year, although it had been recorded a little earlier—the response from the Black Metal and Depressive Black Metal scene was actually quite good. We were a completely new and unknown band at the time, so considering that we’ve always been part of the underground scene, we were really happy with the reception. 

Jose Lavin | In Luna: 

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

As for the future, we honestly don’t know ourselves. We’ve recorded this new album and we’re very happy with the result. Maybe this will be our last album, or maybe there’ll be another one. Maybe we’ve already said everything we wanted to say. We just don’t know yet.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

We listen to all kinds of Extreme Metal and Metal in general. We just like music that’s well made. And by that, I don’t mean that it has to be ultra-complicated or incredibly technical or progressive or anything like that. We just want music that we enjoy and that makes us feel something.  We listen to all kinds of Black Metal, Death metal, Doom… Post Rock and Pos Metal, Soundtracks…And personally, I also listen to a lot of Neofolk and Dark folk and some Heavy Metal classics.  We just love music.

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

Thank you very much for the interview and for your support of the band."

https://tree.tal.hm/@inluna

 

Die Sünde/Effemeridi/Time To Kill Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Die  Sünde  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  and  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  with  elements  of  hardcore  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Effemeridi"  which  will b e  released in  November  by  Time  To  Kill  Records.

  Post  rock  style  clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  riffing  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  hardcore.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  album  also  has  its atmospheric  moments  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing.  Spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  and  when  guitar  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  philosophical  and  introspection  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Die  Sünde  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black,  doom  metal  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Su  una  rotta  d' un  mare  di  perigli"  and  "Con  occhi fissi  verso  orizzonti  attesi".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/diesuendeband

https://diesuende.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/diesuende   

Krallice/Scour oOder/Profound Lore Records/2026 Full Length Review

  New  York's  Krallice  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  technical  and  avant  garde  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Scour  order"  which  will  be  released  on  September  18th  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  technical  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  You  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the recording  along  with  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  angry  shouts  and  black  metal  scvreams  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  post  metal.  When  the  album  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  recording  also  bringing  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  raw  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  death  metal  growls   as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody,  atmospheric  and  psychedelic  soundscapes  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric  and  abstract  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Krallice  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  technical  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Agonal  Shining"  "Living  Useless  Ritual"  and  "Scour  Order".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/ygghuur/ 
https://www.facebook.com/krallice/ 
https://krallice.bandcamp.com 
https://krallicetour.com

Aodon/Khamsin/Transcending Obscurity Records/2026 Full length Review

 

  France's  Aodon  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Khamsin"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Transcending  Obscurity  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  fast  riffing  they  give  the  music  more  of  raw  feeling  while  the  album  also  adds  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  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Aodon  brings  out  a  very  modern,  aggressive  and  atmospheric  style  of  post  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  turmoil  and  anguish  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Aodon  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Les  torrents"  "Khamsin"  and  "Dans  I'oubli".  8  out  of  10.

  Aodon Bandcamp

Aodon Facebook

Aodon Instagram

In Luna/The Architecture Of Negativity/Talheim Records/2026 Full Length Review

  In  Luna  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Chile  and  Spain  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Architecture  Of  negativity"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Talheim  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  raw  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats. When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  elements  of  shoegaze  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  clear  singing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.

  In  Luna  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  shoegaze  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  intimate,  pessimistic  and  deeply  personal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  In  Luna  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "See  Disappear"  and  "The  Empty  Smile".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tree.tal.hm/@inluna 

Firtan/Helios/AOP Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Germany's  Firtan  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric,  experimental  and  progressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Helios"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  AOP  Records.

  Stringed  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Clear  amle  and  female  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  goes  into  an  experimental  direction  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.

  Clean  playing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  and  synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  a  good  portion  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  progressive  touches,  saxophones  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  closing  track  is  a  Bathory  cover  .  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  clarity  forged  through  struggle.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Firtan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  experimental  and  progressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kalikas  Tongue"  "Ascension"  "The  Form  Revealed"  and  "Man  Of  Iron".  8  out  of  10.

  

facebook.com/firtanofficial   

   

Marea/A Caress Of Autumn For All The Lost/Hypnotic Dirge Records/Masked Dead Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Marea  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "A  Caress  Of  Autumn  For  All  The  Lost"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as  a  joint  effort  between  Hypnotic  Dirge  and  Masked  Dead  Records.  

  Acoustic  guitars  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  depressive  black  metal  screams  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  whispered  vocals  and  the  clean  sections  also  add  in  a  touch  of  post  rock.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals  and  the  music  is  more  rooted  in  the  modern  era  of  the  genre,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  cover  isolation,  remorse,  regret,  broken  dreams  and  the  fragile  existence  of  broken  relationships.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Marea  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Beauty  Of  Broken  Things" and  "Absence  Of  Self".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/marea.rusted

https://www.instagram.com/marea.rusted/

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

Der Weg einer Freiheit Interview

 

Answered by Nikita Kamprad

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

These days, we’ve just wrapped up our festival season, which wasn’t overly busy, but busy enough for a band like us. We’re not constantly touring; instead, we try to pick the festivals and shows that we really want to do. So we had a great festival summer and right now we’re preparing for the very last festival we’re doing in Portugal in about three weeks, as well as the second part of the INNERN European tour which is coming up in October.

This part of the tour focuses more on what you could call B-markets — smaller cities that we haven’t visited in a very long time, both in Germany and abroad. And in about two weeks, the INNERN instrumental album is scheduled for release. The first song, 'Xibalba', has already come out in its instrumental version and we’re very excited to see how people react to it and what they think this instrumental release is actually about.

We’ve been asked quite a bit about the philosophy behind it and why we feel it’s a nice addition to the original version of INNERN with vocals, so we’re looking forward to explaining that a little more through interviews like this.

So, these are exciting times for us. Other than that, we’re doing very, very well.

2. Recently you have released an instrumental version of your previous album, what was the decision behind releasing an album without vocals instead of working on a new album?

Instrumental music has always played a big role in Der Weg einer Freiheit’s music. We’ve released instrumental songs on previous albums — even our first album had two — although on the last two albums we only had a few smaller, interlude-like instrumental pieces.

Our fans, and especially people who play instruments themselves, have always appreciated the musicality in our work and the carefully crafted instrumental content. Since Noktvrn, and especially on INNERN, the use of synthesizers, sound textures and other effects has also become much more prominent, creating a more cinematic feel. After the release of INNERN, we received a lot of positive feedback about this direction.

The idea for the instrumental release actually came from our bassist Alan. When we were writing INNERN, 'Xibalba' was one of the first songs we finished, but one of the last to receive vocals. We usually finish our songs instrumentally before adding the vocals, so we spent a lot of time listening to the instrumental version. Alan got so used to it that when we finally added the vocals, he actually missed experiencing the song in its instrumental form. That’s when he came up with the idea of releasing it that way.

We then thought, together with our label, why not do the entire album? There’s also a practical side to it: nowadays, I don’t think an album cycle necessarily has to end once the album is released and you start working on the next one. You can keep working with the music that’s already there and find new ways of presenting it, while also keeping the momentum going and promoting the upcoming tour.

That doesn’t mean we’ll release an instrumental version of every album in the future. It’s more of an experiment for us, but we feel that INNERN lends itself particularly well to it because of how strong the musical content and the atmospheric elements are. That’s ultimately the main reason behind this release.

3. A lot of your lyrics cover philosophical and existential themes, are there any philosophers that have had an influence on your songwriting?

I wouldn’t necessarily say philosophers in the first place, but rather a couple of books and different schools of thought that have influenced the way I write lyrics and think about life in general, which is ultimately one of the main topics of Der Weg einer Freiheit’s music.

I think a lot of it is about everyone’s journey from being a child, to becoming a teenager and eventually an adult who is responsible for their own life and finding meaning in our actions, our communication and simply in living day by day. The books of the German author Hermann Hesse, for example, have been particularly inspiring to me in that regard.

There are also more contemporary influences, especially when it comes to how I approach the creative process and my lyrics and music. One example is the Blindboy Podcast, which deals a lot with mental health, psychology and different approaches to understanding ourselves. Jungian psychology and a bit of Buddhism, at least the philosophy behind it, is also something that has inspired me, particuarly throught the last couple of years.

So rather than being directly inspired by ancient philosophers or specific philosophical schools, I’d say literature, psychology and contemporary discussions around these subjects have had a much stronger influence on my lyrics.

4. Out of all the tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

I think one of the tours we still talk about a lot and that many people tell us they saw us on for the first time, was our 2023 tour with Igorrr, Amenra and Hangman’s Chair. It was a huge six-week tour that took us through almost every corner of Europe, from Spain, France and Italy all the way up north-east the Baltic states and Scandinavia.

The crazy thing was that every day felt like a festival day, with four bands and their full productions having to fit into a single show day. The setups, soundchecks and changeovers were incredibly short, so it was definitely stressful at times. But at the same time, we got to play so many venues that we could never have played as a headlining band at our current level. We played places like Salle Pleyel in Paris and Cirque Royal in Brussels, which was an incredible experience.

Another tour that really stands out to me was our 2014 tour through Russia. Obviously, it’s something we could never imagine doing today, but back then it was one of the biggest adventures we could have had as a band. We had amazing shows and experiences, and we got to know the country and its people firsthand — not through the media or news, but by actually meeting people, spending time with them and celebrating music and Metal together. Compared to now, it feels like a completely different time we lived in.

That’s something I still cherish a lot personally, but it also makes me very sad when I think about what has happened since then. Seeing what the Russian government is doing to Ukraine, the fullblown war, but also what it's been doing to its own people over years and decades, is incredibly painful. When I remember the beauty of the country and the people we met there, it’s particularly heartbreaking to see how all the propaganda and indoctrination can contribute to a government destroying its own country and its relationships with the outside world.

5. The band is more rooted in the modern era of black metal, do you feel this genre has made plenty of changes in the last decade with bands creating their own styles that move away from the more traditional aspects of the genre?

I mean, black metal, simply put, is just another musical genre. And musical genres are always open to interpretation, to mixing different influences, developing new styles or putting new ingredients into something that already exists.

I know there are a lot of purists and purist bands out there who still make the kind of sound that black metal stood for in the ’90s and that’s perfectly fine if people enjoy doing that. I sometimes enjoy contemporary bands that stay very true to that sound myself. Take Darkthrone, for example: their sound has remained quite consistent over the decades, but they still reinvent themselves with every album, sometimes sounding more heavy metal, sometimes having a strong death metal influence and then going back to black metal. At the same time, I enjoy bands like Deafheaven, who have a very different and individual approach while still being associated with black metal.

I definitely see ourselves more in that direction. We really cherish the roots of black metal and the bands that originally inspired us, but we also want to take our music somewhere new by combining influences from completely different genres. As a music producer with a studio full of different instruments, I’d be stupid not to experiment with anything that sounds good to me and see if I can turn it into something that works within our music.

'Forlorn' is a good example of that. Nicolas and I were playing around with synthesizers and came up with something that turned into a song we couldn’t really put into a specific genre. It has blast beats, double bass and screams in the second part, but the first part of the song is something completely different that we didn’t even know we could do until we tried it. I think that kind of experimentation is very important to our music, and the fact that 'Forlorn' has become one of our most successful songs shows us that our audience appreciates that approach, too.

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

Thank you for the opportunity to talk about our band and the instrumental version of INNERN. We know it’s a bit of an experiment and I’m really curious to see where this is going and how people will respond to it.

And of course, thank you for the work you’re doing with the magazine. We really appreciate the fact that you give bands like us the opportunity to be heard, to talk about our music and to share the ideas behind it. That’s something we value a lot.

And to everyone who hasn’t listened to INNERN yet: feel free to give it a chance, whether it’s the original version with vocals or the new instrumental version. We hope to see you very soon at one of our shows!

https://derwegeinerfreiheit.de/