Lunar Spells/Demise Of Heaven/Northern Silence Productions/2022 CD Review

 

  Lunar  Spells  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  an  old  school  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Demise  Of  Heaven"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  During t he  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals a re  mostly  grim y et  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Synths  are  also  mixed  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at  times  and  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Scandinavian  style.  

  Lunar  Spells  plays  a  style  of  black  metal t hat  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  style  and  looks  at  the  Scandinavian  bands  of  that  era  instead  of  the  Hellenic  style  of t heir  home  style  which  also  makes  the  album  stand  out  a  lot  more.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  depression,  misanthropy  and  hate  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Lunar  Spells  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Praying  For  Redemption"  and  "Anguish  And  Sorrow".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://lunarspells.bandcamp.com

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

  

Void Of Apep/Regnum Umbrae/2022 EP Review

 

  Void  Of  Apep  are  a  solo  project  from  Portugal  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Regnum  Umbrae".

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  bass  guitars  also  taking  a  role  as  being  a  lead  instrument  and   melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing 

  The  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  90's  influences  mixed  in  with  more  of  a  horror  orientated  atmosphere  which  is  also  brought  in  with  the  synths.

  On  this  recording  Void  Of  Apep  brings  in  horror  movie  style  synths  into  his  occult  style  of  black  metal  to  create  something  very  different  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyric's  cover  Occultism  themes..

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Void  of  Apep  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ars  Tenebrarum"  and  "Caput  Mortuum".  8  out  of  10.

  https://voidofapep.bandcamp.com/album/regnum-umbrae   

Terra/Für Dich Existiert Das Alles Nicht/2022 Full length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Terra  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  style  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Für  Dich  Existiert  Das  Alles  Nicht"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Distorted  soundscapes  and  drones  start  off  the  album  for  a  few  minutes  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  raw  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also h as  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  elements  of  post  metal  as  well  as  the  riffing  also  going  into  a  very  repetitive  direction  at  times,  keyboards  can  also b e  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Terra  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric,  aggressive  and  repetitive  style  of  post  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Existentialism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  terra  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  atmospheric  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Beginning"  and  "The  End,  my  End".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/TerraUK

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/terra/1167040286

https://www.instagram.com/terra_ukbm/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5rBaj7VSVDy99wb9ELfVUQ?si=Sdt7KTdAQrObJPk21L2E1A&nd=1 

Blossom/Death's Serenade/Oak, Ash & Thorn Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Blossom  are  a  duo  from  Minnesota  that  plays  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Death's  Serenade"  which  will b e  released  on  August  5th  by  Oak,  Ash  &  Thorn  Records.

  Clean  playing  which  also  returns  on  later  tracks  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when t hey  are  utilized.  Clear  singing  can  also b e  heard  at  times  and  the  vocals  mostly  vocals  on  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Growls  can  also be  heard  at  times  which  also  add  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

 whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  tragic  sounding  pianos  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental. The  production  sounds  very  dark  and r aw  while  the  lyrics  cover  adventure,  human  struggle  and  environmental  calamity.

  In  my  opinion  Blossom  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal b and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lading  Luminaries  Guide  The  Path"  "The  Knees  Buckle  Under  The  Pressure"  "Influenced  by  Beauty  And  Melancholy"  and  "Death's  Serenade".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://blossommn.bandcamp.com/

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

Sadomassacre Interview

 

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

1. I conceived of this project earlier this year, and put a demo together in June. The idea was to be straight to the point, old school, and DIY. I wanted to make short, simple tracks that would be enjoyable to make and give off a don't-give-a-fuck attitude.

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

2. It's basically a mix of black metal and punk, styles i really enjoy and find fun to make.

3.Some of your lyrics cover occult themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

3. I've always found that stuff fascinating, as does basically everyone involved in this style of music. I'm not an expert on the occult or demonic to be honest. But it always evokes something nothing else can. 

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

4. The lyrics aren't very complex and aren't really discernable in the music, mostly they're about satanic stuff, violence, alchohol, and fucking.

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

5. It's pretty self explanatory i think.

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

6. I'm not really sure yet with this project. At the moment I'm more than happy doing everything myself, but who knows what will happen in the future. 

7.So far very little is  known about the musical project other than the bandcamp page, do you prefer to maintain a lower profile?

7. I didn't want to fuck around with social media and shit with this project, it's supposed to be old school, the magic would be taken away if i was posting stuff on instagram or whatever. I always think it's funny when bands try and present themselves as being esoteric and elitist then have pages on every social media, have all their music on all the streaming services, ETC. Nothing wrong with doing that in itself but it feels like a non sequitur to me.

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

8. I've been sending it to some small labels, but this project is for the underground, I definitely do not want involvment of any major labels (not that i'm delusional enough to think fucking nuclear blast or some shit would have the remotest interest in this lo-fi messy shit though haha)

9.Do you have any experience working with other bands or musical projects?

9. Yes, I've always been releasing music since I was about 15. I've made a lot of music by myself and I've been in a couple of bands. I'm the drummer in a sludge metal band called Bullhead, and in the past i've had a couple of solo projects making black metal and ambient music. 

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

10. I have no idea. Probably never to be honest. Right now I just want to make demo tapes and hopefully release a split or two with some like minded bands. It's just suppoed to be DIY noise. nothing as polished as a full length album is planned any time soon. 

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. For Sadomassacre in particular, it's mostly influenced by Bathory, Abigail, Barbatos, Sarcofago, Blasphemy, early Sigh, and punk like GG Allin and Bad Brains. Lately i've been listening to those bands i just listed, as well as tons more 90s black metal, and a couple of newer bands with an old school style. I do listen to a lot of styles of music but the last few months I've been completely possessed by metal and had no time for anything else. 

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

12. Cheers for the questions! Keep the flame of underground metal burning. 

https://sadomassacre.bandcamp.com/releases

Cogadh Interview

 

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

Cogadh is a Black Metal duo from Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Ira play the guitars and bass on the EP while Alex does vocals and the drums. We use a combination of melodic riffs followed by more traditional Black Metal melodies that helps capture the best of both areas in Black Metal. 

2.In September you have an ep coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

The EP release date is actually in October, the musical style we used for the recording was a combination of traditional Black Metal, with elements of thrash, folk and heavy metal. We also threw some pagan/folk metal elements with clean, raw and echoing voices/singing on some of the songs.  

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Irish Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

We’ve always enjoyed music that explains stories and folklore of the past. The ideologies of ancient cultures are really rich in ideas, morals and depth. It’s the perfect scenario for making a song. Also since the name of the band is Cogadh (which comes from the Gaelic culture in Scotland and Ireland) having songs about ancient tales of the U.K and Ireland seem fitting.

4.I know that the band name is Gaelic for 'war', how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

War is chaotic, sometimes long and drawn out, plus it finishes in a different place then when it started. In relation to our music, our songs sometimes are epic and long. We also progress through different styles of playing (aggressive riffs followed by melodies) and usually finish the song in a different spot then when it started. Our songs can also be quick and to the point, full of attack, much like in war. 

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

An artist named Manuel Scapinello from Italy did this artwork for us, his stuff is amazing and we really recommend everyone check out his stuff! It’s the perfect balance between nature, solitude and a looming grimness with the fortress in the background and serpent imagery. The black and white also adds to the raw atmosphere and allows the details to blend perfectly together. Great for Black Metal, check his stuff out!

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

For the time being we plan on being a 2 piece band, however we still do plan on playing live with sessional musicians. It is hard to say right now if we will expand into a larger line up. 

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

Not many have done a cover of Pure Holocaust that we are aware of. It’s an underestimated Immortal track and we thought it would be great to give it shot and do a cover that most bands haven’t tried yet. 

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

We wanted to work with promoters first to see how the results were from the EP. In the long run, looking for a label would be the ideal plan.

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

We haven’t had any songs released yet as this is our debut. However; we’ve received positive feedback from promoters, and with that we think most people would like our material.

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

The goal will be to do a full length album next, perhaps a year from now. Looking ahead, we see ourselves continuing to make music and release material at a consistent basis. Regardless of where Cogadh goes, it will always be something we continue to develop. 

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?

Havukruunu, Taake and Primordial overall. Black Metal bands that combines melodic riffs with traditional Black metal elements, Havukruunu would definitely be a large influence. 

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

Check out the EP! It’s a really great work of art and contains all the elements that make Black Metal great! And thanks again for this interview! 

https://www.facebook.com/Cogadh-102141112559631/

Vasileys Interview

 

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

As the saying goes it is what it is. A project for my personal expression. Vasileys means King, in my native language. The name was inspired by the Kingdom of worlds, called the multiverse. Was the choice on purpose? Another question I have to answer to myself. What Vasileys represents, is the choice we have, to create the world we want. Each chooses alone. At ever changing circumstances us all live past, future, operate in the current moment, a past that evolves, past and future collide. I think, music can have the power to change, us, the environment, the universe.

2.Recently you have released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

The style of Phenomena can best be described as black ambient, with symphonic elements and quite a lot of noise.

3.Your lyrics cover star systems and nebula's, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

The lyrics are actually channeled works. They come to me usually when the music is composed. All lyrics are in Greek and I just type what is being dictated. Everything is the same in regards to the subject matter. Ancient or new.

54Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is present on the new album cover?

It"s an occult sigil. Was it there before I drew it? A sigil is an intention in picture form. An advanced system of hypersigils links Vasileys with my older work. I think a system of magic is crucial for the advancement of art in general. Was everything perhaps predetermined?

Art is what makes the world go round. And that is the point I believe. To upload something of value to the collective. Wars are not the question but art is the point of it. Another way to put it would be to think of everything as reality art, all doings of the mind and body. Eternity artwork.

At the end of the road we meet.

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

I like working alone although I'm not closed for collaborations.

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

Not really.

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

At the moment it's too early to say.

At past occasions, my music was received well. So, we'll see.

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

At this question, I'll only name a couple, there are more. I used to have the project Eriphion, also the part of producer in a couple of albums. Another project was called Thaymatourgia.

9.Where do you see yourself heading into into musically during the future?

As it is right now I think the Vasileys music will take a darker road.

110What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

All music I compose is there inside, I try really to just let it come out.

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

A message: at the end, the artworks will realize themselves. We have to realize the truth each on their own. Thank you for the interview and the interest in my music.

https://vasileys.bandcamp.com/album/-

https://www.facebook.com/Vasileys-105279652277358