Showing posts with label occult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label occult. Show all posts

Thursday, March 14, 2024

A.C.O.D/Versets Noirs/Hammerheart Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  France's  A.C.O.D  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Versets  Noirs"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Hammerheart  Records.


  Synths  and  operatic  chants  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  first  track  is  also  over  20  minutes  in  length.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  orchestration  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.


  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  and  clean  playing  also  being  utilized on  a  couple  of  tracks,  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  album  closes  with  a  cover  of  Samael's  "Black  Trip".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Afterlife  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  A.C.O.D  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  orchestra  oriented  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Habentis  Maleficia"  and  "Black  Trip".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/acodband

https://www.instagram.com/acodband


  

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Necrophobic/In The Twilight Grey/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Necrophobic  are  a  band  from  Sweden t hat  has  a  history  that  goes  as  bar  back  as  the  mid  60's  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "In  The  Twilight  Grey"  which  will  be  released  on  march  15th  by  Century  media  Records.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  melodic  direction  which  also  utilizes a   great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  also  returns  on  some  of  the  later  songs  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  synths  are  added  on  the  closing  track.


  On  this  recording  Necrophobic  remains  true  to  the  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Darkness  and  the  poetry  of  W.B  Yeats.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Necrophobic  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grace  Of  The  Past"  "Storm crow"  "Cast  In  Stone"  and  "In  The  Twilight  Grey".  8 out  of  10.


  NECROPHOBIC online:

https://www.necrophobic.net/
https://www.instagram.com/necrophobic.official/
https://www.facebook.com/necrophobic.official
https://twitter.com/necrophobic_666
https://www.youtube.com/necrophobicofficial

https://shop.necrophobic.net   

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Hierophant/Gateway To The Abyss/Dusktone Records/2024 Full length Review

 


  Hierophant  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  playing  more  of  a  mixture  of  blackened  death  and  sludge  metal  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  a  blackened  death  metal  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Gateway  To  The  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Dusktone  Records.


   A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  brutal  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard  and  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of the  riffing.


  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  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  more  of  a  90's  style  along  with  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes  and  most  of t he  album  focuses  on  a  brutal  direction,  all  of the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  last  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   


  On  this  recording  Hierophant  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  dark,  brutal  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Anti  Religion  and  Misanthropy  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hierophant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeds  Of  Vengeance"  and  "Nemesis  of  thy  Mortals".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/HIEROPHANTKVLT

https://www.instagram.com/hierophantofficial/

https://hierophant.bandcamp.com/ 

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Veiled Metamorphosis/Tentacled Void Of Infinity/Dying Sun Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Veiled  Metamorphosis  are  a  duo  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Tentacled  Void  Of  Infinity"  which  was  released  by  Dying  Sun  Records.


  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  deep  death  metal  growls  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  90's  influenced  style


     All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some influences  of  the  first  wave  era  of  black  metal  also  being    utilized  at  times  as  well  a  some  dark  soundscapes  and  synths  also  being  introduced  on  one  of  the  tracks,  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  the  album  progresses.  All  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental.


  Veiled  Metamorphosis  plays  a musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  horror  and  occultism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Veiled  Metamorphosis  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Demonik  Suffokation"  and  "Unspeakable  Abominations".  8  out  of  10.


  https://fantoom.bandcamp.com/album/veiled-metamorphosis-tentacled-void-of-infinity    

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Malphas/Portal/M-Theory Audio/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Pennsylvania's  Malphas  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Portals"  which  will  be  released  in  Match  by  M-Theory  Audio.


  Synths  start  off  the  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  symphonic  touches  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats. Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  Clean  playing  and  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  clear  vocals  onto  the  album  as  well  as  some  choirs  also  being  utilized  briefly,  female  vocals  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a man  who  makes  a  pact  with  the  demon  Malphas  to  achieve  his  high  political  ideas  and  this  backfires  and  ultimately  creates  a  demonic  totalitarian  government,


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Malphas  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  and  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fiat  Empire"  "Candle  Hands"  "Pale  Eyes  To  Snowy  Skies"  and  "Man,  Raven  And  The  Portal".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/malphas/1440307628

https://malphas94.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/therealmalphas

https://www.instagram.com/therealmalphas/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0BznQnNFP6qf7DISSjumhg?si=mPqmynqbTxedcWoo3TVZEw&nd=1&dlsi=9d66c829c2854cfe

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

Monday, January 29, 2024

Satarial/Dance Of Steel: Invocation Of Dragon/Sleaszy Rider Records/2024 EP Review

 


  Russia's  Satarial has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Dance  Of  Steel:  Invocation  Of  Dragon"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.


  Throat  singing  and  clear  vocals  start  off  the  ep  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Folk  instruments  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks   along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.


  On  this  recording  Satarial  brings  in  a  very  ritualistic  style  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Slavic  Paganism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Satarial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  the  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Dance  Of  Steel:  Invocation  Of  Dragon". 8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/satarialofficial/  

Sunday, January 21, 2024

Iterum Nata/From The Infinite Light/Nordvis Produktion/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Iterum  Nata  is  a  solo  project  from  Finalnd  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal,  neo-folk  and  progressive  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "From  The  Infinite  Light"  which  will  be  released  in  2024  by  Nordvis  Produktion.


  Spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  and  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  ritualistic  atmosphere  before  going  into  more  of  a  neo-folk  direction.  Synths,  folk  instruments  and  percussion  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  slower  heavier  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  acoustic  guitar  sections  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are utilized.


  Most  of  the  vocals  are  done  in  a  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other..  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Darkness  and  Death  with  some  inspiration  from  the  Qabbalah  to  explain  cosmic  genesis.    


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Iterum  Nata  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  metal,  neo-folk  and  progressive  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Gleaming  Eternity"  "The  Drifter"  and  "The  Crown  of  All".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/se/artist/iterum-nata/1316451649

https://iterumnata.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/IterumNata93/

https://www.instagram.com/iterumnata/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2haCAnM4Yi8B2lhUTT0rbY?si=sWEfeLy5TJ2KpoUr8R29qQ&nd=1&dlsi=6b2bc79102d841cc


    


  

Saturday, January 13, 2024

72 Legions/Self Titled/2023 EP Review

 


  72  Legions  are  a  band  from  Cleveland,  Ohio  that  plays  a  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  and  self  released  2023  ep.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.


  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  direction.


  72  Legions  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  brutal  and  melodic  forms  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes   them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  the  Ars  Goetia.


  In  my  opinion  72  Legions  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  brutal  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Paradise".  8 out  of  10.


  https://linktr.ee/72legionsband 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TlavEuQFHlPiB4ElR8V5d
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/72-legions/1669580353
https://www.youtube.com/@72legions
https://www.instagram.com/72legionsband/

https://www.facebook.com/72Legions/   

Monday, January 1, 2024

Corrosive/Wrath of The Witch/MDD Records/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Corrosive  are  a  band  from  Germany  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Wrath  Of  The  Witch"  which  was  released  by  MDD  Records.


  The  sounds  of  night  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes  and  clean  playing  which  also  returns  on  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  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  dark  yet  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Witchcraft  and  Black  Magick.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Corrosive  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  brutal  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Queen  Of  The  Night"  "End  Of  Your  Bloodline"  "The  White  Witch"  and  "Wrath  Of  The  Witch".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/corrosiveband

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Wells Valley/Achamoth/Lavadome Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 




  Wells  Valley  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  avant  garde  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Achamoth"  which  was  released  by  Lavadome  Productions.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.


  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats   and  tremolo  picking can  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  avant  garde  moments  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  post  metal  touches,  growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  keyboards  are  also  added  towards  the  end.


  On  this  album  Wells  Valley  brings  more  more  of  a  progressive  and  avant  garde  blackened  sludge/doom  metal  style  with  some  elements  of  post  metal.  The  production   sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Hermeticism,  Philosophy,  Spirituality  and  theology  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Wells  Valley  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  progressive  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Princeps"  and  "Indwelling  In  Matter".  8  out  of  10.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/WellsValley/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wellsvalley/
BC: https://wellsvalley.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/sKmo2W1SuDI

  


  

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Tele.S.Therion/Lunurumh/Hinthv Ritvvm [Riteet v ZHinthv]/Radical Matters/2020 Collaboration Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  another  collaboration  between  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunurmh  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  ritualistic  and  'acousmatic'  style  of  black  metal  and  the  album  was  originally  released  in  2020  and  called  "Hinthv  Ritvvm  [Riteet  v  ZHinthv]"  which  was  released  by  Radical  Matters.


  Field  recordings  and  ritualistic  whispers  start  off  the  album  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  occult  black  metal,  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  spoken  words  and  chants  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  avant  garde  style  soundscapes  are  also  added  into  the  background.


  At  times  the  vocals  also  get  very  demonic  sounding  while  one  song  also  introduces  elements  of  noise  onto  the  recording.  Bass  guitars  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  which  also  adds  in  slow  riffs  that  are  heavily  influenced  by  doom  emtal  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments,  each  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  and  all  of  the  music  is  also  improvised  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  a  couple  of  minutes  of  silence.


  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunurmh  take  black,  doom  metal,  noise,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  ritual  and  mix  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  Etruscan  and  Sumerian  Rituals.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Tele.S.Therion  and   Lunurmh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  metal,  avant  garde,  experimental,  noise  and  ritual,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Maqlu  Surpu"  "Liber  Linteus"  and  "The  Etruscan  Liver".  8  out  of  10.


  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/hinthv-ritvvm-riteet-v-hinthv          

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Witches Hollow/Grimoire/Iron, Blood & Death Corporation/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Witches  Hollow  are  a  solo  project  form  Finland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Grimoire"  which  was  released  by  iron,  Blood  &  Death  Corporation.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  90's  influences  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Acoustic  guitars  and  stringed  instruments  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  ritualistic  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Witchcraft,  Horror  and  Occultism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Witches  Hollow  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Witch  And  The  Devil  Spoke"  "The  Witch  And  The  Midnights  Hour"  and  "The  Witch  And  Night  Eternal".  8/5  out  of  10.


  https://open.spotify.com/album/0dZclUVYJrYrHw0dkeddPA        

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Hortus Animae/Waltzing Mephisto/Symbol Of Domination Productions/Black Heavens Music/2023 Album Re-issue Review

 


  Hortus  Animae  are  a  band  from Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  progressive  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2003  album  "Waltzing  Mephisto"  which  was  re-leased  in  2023  as  a  joint  effort  between  Symbol  of  Domination  Productions  and  Black  heavens  Music  and  consists  of  the "Godless  Years"  live  album  as  bonus  tracks.


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  keyboards  add  in  a  lot  of  symphonic  touches.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  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  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments.  Spoken  word  parts  and  growls  are  also  utilized  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  one  song  also introducing  clear  vocals  onto  the  album,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  The  album  also  adds  in  some  Mayhem,  Cradle  of  Filth,  Mike  Oldfield,  Norma Tanega, Jethro Tull and Slayer covers  which  all  sound  different  from  the  original  versions.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  keyboards  also  going  into  more  of  an  avant  garde  direction  at  times,  one  song  is  an  instrumental  and  a  lot  of  the  bonus  tracks  where  recorded  live. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Anti  Religion,  Surrealism,  Death  and  Sadness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hortus  Animae  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Springtime  Deaths"  "Welcome  The  Godless"  "Chamber  Od  Endless  Nightmares"  and  "The  bless  of  Eternal  bleeding".  6  out  of  10.


  https://symbolofdomination.bandcamp.com/album/sodp158-hortus-animae-waltzing-mephisto-20th-anniversary-re-release-2023        

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Gates Of Mourning/A Coronation Of Necromantic Dreams/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Gates  Of  Mourning  are  a  solo  project  from  Florida  that  has  bene  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2023  album  "A  Coronation  Of  Necromantic  Dreams".


  Classic  movie  soundtrack  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  doom  metal.


  On  this  recording  Gates  of  Mourning  remains  true  to  the  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death metal  that  he  has  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  necromancy,  occultism  and  darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Gates  Of  Mourning  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pleading  In  Shadows  Of  Eternity  Summoned  By  Stars"  and  "Treasures  In  the  Depths  Of  Fleshy  Tombs".  8  out  of  10.


  

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Monday, September 11, 2023

Old Ruins Interview

 



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


(Kraje)

A lot of things happened in that time because the recording was finished one year ago also in September.

We had no label at this time and decided to send our complete album to some labels to find out if anyone is interested in a deal with us.

And when we finally got the deal we knew that we have to be patient because of the long time period for a vinyl pressing.

So we had enough time to practice, play some shows and of course we already wrote some new songs in that time.


2.You have a new album coming out later in September, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?


(Kraje)

First of all this time we were in a professional studio.

The EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by myself.

So the sound is much fatter than on the EP.

Musically it is not so different. Four songs from the EP are also on our album, to complete the whole concept.

We always try out to give our songs something special, like a smooth guitar solo, or a part and style of riffing, you wouldn’t expect. And especially not in a black metal band.

So you can see the whole album as a story, lyrically and musically.



3.A lot of your lyrics cover the video game 'Diablo' can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this game'?


(Kraje)

That’s right, we are all great fans of the diablo videogames.

In my youth the was it Diablo 2 – Lord of Destruction what captivated me and nowadays we are all play Diablo 4.

Maybe that sounds a little bit crazy, but this game influenced me for all of our lyrics.

The dark atmosphere of the game, the great story without an happy ending, the tragic…

Can it more perfect for a black metal band?

The lyrics on “Always Heading East” are about the Dark Wanderer and his tragic story in Diablo 2.



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



(Kraje)

That’s a funny story

Our drummer Alex and our guitarist Ersin hang around to think about a band name and Alex was talking about Tyrael’s Sword Aldruin. (For those who knot know, Tyrael is a character from the videogame.)

And Aldruin sounds very similar to old ruins. So ersin asked him why he is talking about old ruins and our band name was born.

I think the name fits very good because a lot of scenes we describe in our songs, happening in old ruins our graves.



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


(Kraje)

The Artwork is from the great German artist Timon Kokott.

He did our Artwork for the EP as well.

The Artwork shows the dark wanderer on his way through the desert and of course he is heading east as you can see.

Every time I look at this artwork I am travelling back in time when I first entered the second act of diablo 2.

That’s exactly the scene and there where so many scenes we had in mind for the album artwork, but this one is perfect.

If you don’t know him, check out Timon Kokott Artwork.

He is awesome


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


(Kraje)

So imagine yourself you made a band with no plans to play live.

Only creating cool songs, record them and that’s it.

But our EP was very successful and so we got the chance to play as substitute on an open air event in July 2021. It was in the middle of the pandemic and so it was one of the first concerts after a long time. 

Then this moment when we started the show

There were about 400 people on the place , and some of them wore our shirts.

And all that on our first live performance ever.

That was crazy


Our stage performance includes normally headbanging and some posing.

But not as wild as in a thrash band for example.

First of all we want to create a dark atmosphere and transmit it to the crowd

And of course we prefer to play tight and without great mistakes before acting like maniacs on stage.


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


(Kraje)

Right now we have no plans for big tours but we still have a few shows left this year.


8.Cyrrently the band is signed to 'Doc Gator Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?


(Kraje)

Doc Gator Records is a Label from Switzerland.

When someone says Doc Gator Records is an underground label, then you should know that there is always the motto : quality before quantity.

They signed Bands from Brazil, Bulgaria, Wales, England, Canada, India, USA, Switzerland and at least Germany.

And that is what makes them very special.

They give bands like us a chance to spread the music all over the globe.

For me this is more than underground work.



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

(Kraje)

Very different.

You know the old school black metal fans would say our music isn’t rough and fast enough.

Then you have these guys expecting nothing when they first heard our EP on Youtube, and later that day ,they bought it digital on bandcamp to support us.

Others are the same videogame freaks as we are, so they are totally hyped


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


(Kraje)

Right now there is only me playing in another Band

It’s called Smorrah and in this band I play bass and do some backing vocals.

We recorded our first album in the same studio we were with old ruins.

I told the guys about the awesome time in the studio and the awesome sound Michael creates.

At the Moment we are planning our release.


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


(Kraje)

I can’t say where we are going in the future.

When we start a song, we never now what journey we will go on.

Some new parts are very 90’s black metal and then there are some breaks that you would never expect.

The only thing that will stay is our lyrical inspiration about the videogame and everything else only the time will tell.


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?


(Kraje)

Immortal and the Sideprojects from Abbath and Demonaz were big influence to me over the years. But there are a lot of other bands I prefer.

So on the one week I listen to iron maiden all the time, and the next week I listen to dissection.



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


(Kraje)

When I look back to the last 10 years ,

Never give up your dreams, there is always a way to reach what you are dreaming about.

And when you check out our Music…. Stay awhile…. and listen


https://www.instagram.com/oldruins.official/

https://www.facebook.com/OldRuinsGE

https://twitter.com/therealOldRuins

https://open.spotify.com/artist/16B7r7ccFBc2CGIdwzxSWA?si=40mlzhJsSlKidNDuGm5iEQ&nd=1


Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Old Ruins/Always Heading East/Doc Gator/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Old  Ruins  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Always  Heading  East"  which  will b e  released  on  September  15th  by  Doc  Gator.


  Clean  playing,  nature  sounds  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  aster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  the  slower  sections  of t he  tracks  also  bring  in  element s of  doom  metal.


  Some  of  the  guitar  leads  also  show  an  influence  of  traditional  metal  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  percussion,  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  keyboards  are  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  video  game 'Diablo'.


  In  my  opinion  Old  Ruins  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Dark  Wanderer"  "Risen  From  The  Grave"  and  "Lord  of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/OldRuinsGE

https://www.instagram.com/oldruins.official/

https://twitter.com/therealOldRuins

https://open.spotify.com/artist/16B7r7ccFBc2CGIdwzxSWA?si=40mlzhJsSlKidNDuGm5iEQ&nd=1

Monday, August 14, 2023

Sangdragon/Hierphant/Wake Up Dead Records/2023 Double Album Review

 


  Sangdragon  are  a  band  from  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  on  the  first  chapter  and  goes  into  a  medieval  folk  music  direction  on  the  second  chapter  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  double  album  "Hierophant"  which  will b e  released  on  October  by  Wake  Up  Dead  Records.


  A  very  ethnic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  tracks a re  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  choirs  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  Some  of t he  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  touches  of  folk music  along  with  some  clear  male  and  female  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.  


  The  second  chapter  starts  out  with  more  of  a  medieval  which  was  introduced  on  the  first  disc  while  moving  away  from  the  metal  elements  of  the  first  chapter.  When  female  vocals  are utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  pagan  atmosphere  along  with  the  percussion  replacing  regulars  drums,  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  choirs  and  one  song  is  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism, Medieval  Rites  and  Fantasy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Sangdragon  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  medieval  folk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Curse  of  Desert"  "War  is  War"  "Majesty"  and  "Back  To  Elysium".  8 out  of  10.


  Facebook : www.facebook.com/SANGDRAGON.AKHENATON.DAEMONIUM

Bandcamp (music, merch):www.sangdragon.bandcamp.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sangdragon_official        


  

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Dawn of Existence Interview

 

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

- Astor: We’ve really been busy getting our new studio in order. We’ve been working on getting the studio back together and preparing for an EP and pre-production on the second album while still focusing on Ancient Arts.

    We’re also starting to rehearse and get our live show together for shows in early 2024 as well as relaunching our merch.


2. In May you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

- Astor: Musically, it’s the same, just with three additional tracks. The EP we released was more of a demo for us to find other musicians and maybe get some initial reactions from our style of music. It served its purpose.


3. This was also your first release since 2019, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

- Astor: The EP in our minds was definitely more of a demo than anything else. On the production side, we used amp sims and electronic and programmed drums.

    After the release of the EP we found a drummer, Fern Lemus, who recorded drums for the album at his studio, FL Recordings, in November of 2019. Our initial intention was to release the album in early 2021. We started working on finishing the album… and then the pandemic hit. 

    We essentially came to a stand still for about six months or so then on top of that, I had some family stuff come up. 

    Even after things started opening back up, supply chains were very slow and we needed a few things in the studio to finish the album and I was set on building custom guitar cabinets. Getting the needed components and equipment seemed to take forever but we got everything finished and sent to Fern for mastering. 

    Then we ran into multiple obstacles with music videos... and then I moved hahah. We ultimately had to do all of them on our own in a short time frame. 


4. A lot of your lyrics cover history, fantasy and the occult, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

- Astor: Our interests essentially come from us growing up in the late 80s and early 90s watching horror movies, TV, reading books, playing video games, playing with Ouija boards, and listening to other bands and reading their lyrics..


5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dawn of Existence'?

- Votan: The name ‘Dawn of Existence’ conjures up questions about the nature of time, history, how we got here, mysteries, and things of that nature. The name itself comes from a bit of lyric from an old Borknagar song I was listening to one day. 


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

- Votan: The cover art is like a visualizer for the album as a whole; it's dark but colorful and dynamic. It evokes mystery and drama much the same way the music does.


7. On the albums you only work with 2 members, are you open to working with other musicians on the albums or do you prefer to remain a duo in the studio?

- Astor: We’re definitely open to working with other people but Votan and I equally share the writing responsibility, both musically and lyrically. We’ve known each other for 30+ years and have written a lot of music together in several different bands so we know how each other writes and take each other’s criticism well most of the time.

    We also usually write and record full demos. For Ancient Arts and the EP we’re working on, we had completed drum parts but when we get the tracks to Fern to record, we definitely allowed him to put his own style on there.


8. I have read the band is currently looking for a different line up for live shows, how has that been working out so far?

- Astor: Finally fairly well haha. We talked with a lot of guitarists we know but they were either committed to multiple projects, on tour, or starting new bands. As of recently, we do finally have a guitarist and a drummer who have committed to playing with us for live shows… we’re not quite ready to announce the lineup though.

    We are currently working on our live show and rehearsing so we do have quite a lot going on at the moment.  


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

- Astor: Surprisingly, it has been overall positive, just on a fairly small scale at present. We’re excited to show our fans our live show and new music and hopefully welcome new fans on a much wider scale.


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

- Astor: We’re focusing on our live show gearing up for shows in early 2024 as well as working in the studio on a, somewhat unexpected, EP and pre-production in our second full length album. We already have quite a bit of material going into the second album.


11. What are some of the bands or musical styles you are currently listening to nowadays?

- Astor: I listen to a lot of different types of music and love finding new bands. Right now I’m listening to newer bands like Fires in the Distance, Voidfallen, Hinayana, The Spirit, and stuff like that. I know both of us have been listening to a lot of Blackbraid, Imperium Dekadenz, and Thulcandra recently as well.

    On top of that we’re always listening to stuff like Behemoth, Hypocrisy, The Halo Effect, Immortal, Bæst, Bloodbath, Paradise Lost, Insomnium, Unto Others, the list goes on.


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

- Astor: If anyone is looking to support us, spread the word and be sure to follow us on our social media as we’ll finally be posting again with new stuff and new merch very soon!



Youtube
Bandcamp
Instagram
Facebook








Sunday, July 23, 2023

Karavan/Unholy Mountain/Evil Noise Recordings/Vinyltroden/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Karavan  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Unholy  Mountain"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Evil  Noise  Recordings  and  Vinyltroden.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  psychedelic  soundscapes  are  also  utilized  at  times.


  Stone r metal  style  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  bring  in  more  of  a  retro  proto  metal  style  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Karavan  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  the  mysteries  of  the  universe. 


  In  my  opinion  Karavan  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Throne"  "demon  Slime"  and  "Unholy  Mountain"{.  8  out  of  10.


  


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karavandoom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karavandoom
Bandcamp: https://karavandoom.bandcamp.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/karavandoom