Obscurity Interview

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

Well, the new album “Obscurity” hit stores now half a year ago and so we have some busy times at the moment. The hard work creating the album gives away to the fun part in terms of going out on the roads for live-activities, having interviews and all that stuff. Especially our very successful European tour in October/November 2012 with Kampfar, Helrunar and Velnias was a big blast. We just came back from a festival gig (Ragnarök 2013) in Germany which was as exciting as it can be. We pick out concerts and festivals very carefully just to be able to provide fans the best shows we can offer. Meaning things are going pretty well for us and we are looking forward to the things coming in the future.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?

Well, we already said even in the very early days (15 years ago), we play Battle Metal. That´s exactly the style of the new album “Obscurity”. One can say it´s a mix of Death/Black/Viking Metal with pagan and martial lyrics. The music doesn´t differ that much from the previous two albums. Of course we have some shifts, but you always get a true Obscurity album when you buy one. We always try to put in new elements, speaking of lyrical style and so on. It´s a good mix of our very own music style with fresh, new elements and great sound. We remain true to our sound and push it forward to a higher level. Nevertheless the album got some originals to offer. If you need some good Battle Metal to get you a kick in the butt or that gives you the power to kick butts, well, then Obscurity is the first choice, hehe.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?

As we try to tell tales with our lyrics rather than put just some catchy phrases together, you will learn some things about the Christian church as an institution (In nomine patris), you´ll get a sing-along anthem called “Obscurity” (yeah, after fifteen years we dared to sing about ourselves and our army of fans). There´s a tale about the ancient germans and their path (Germanenblut), you can listen to the fearless warscream of some northmen which will invade your shores with their longships (Strandhogg).  Another song is about a warrior who walks the path of life alone, fights against the struggles life can offer, it is also an homage to Quorthon, the Bathory mastermind (Ensamvarg). You can dive into the times of the four eschatological disasters which are the prelude to the doom of the gods in northern mythology (Blutmondzeit, Jörmungandr, Weltenbrand and Fimbulwinter). These four songs are a mini-concept and if you are into the northern mythology you will like it. Then again we have a true sing-along anthem, a martial no-retreat-order/death-or-glory march (Kein Rückzug). The last song comes as a surprise since it features softer, darker sounds, yet without lacking heaviness and gloomas. It deals with a warrior´s final journey to Valhalla (So endet meine Zeit).

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

One cannot really put us into a very special or even single metal genre like just Black Metal or just Death Metal or just Thrash Metal or just Pagan Metal and so forth. We offer our very own style with a lot of different genre elements. We never intended to stick just to one genre because all members of Obscurity have their own favorites and tastes and we thought that would be too boring to us and the listeners. We believe in that right on from the beginning and as our music is not precisely definable but rather a bit of twilight between a couple of genres, we have chosen the name Obscurity. And now fifteen years later, things attested that we were right so many years ago.

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

We had quite a bunch of shows which are unforgettable experiences to us. I just want to name a few here. At the Ultima Ratio festival in 2008 we had the first slot to play at 12.00 am which isn´t always a good slot but at that day over 3.500 fans screamed out loud for us for about 15 minutes before we entered the stage. I still have a video with the sound of the audience. All three Ragnarök festival shows are very special. In 2010 and 2013 we set up shows with pyrotechnics and such stuff. We almost set the whole Ragnarök festival on fire… but the audience went totally crazy and that released incredible power to us on stage. In 2010 we entered the stage at around 2:30 in the night. Normally there are only few people still in front of the stage but at that day it seemed that almost everyone was waiting for us. So what followed was a very, very intense party for us and the fans. Furthermore is our European Tour in 2013 a memorable experience in our lives.  It is really a tour to remember.

We are very lucky to have some special shows and encounters during our career and we are grateful for those experiences we will never forget. We have to thank our fans for having such blasts again and again. Thank you wherever you are, guys!

6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?

We have scheduled some selected festivals and headliner-shows for 2013 but another tour so quick after the one in 2012 isn´t planned yet. Of course we are talking about a tour and have some stuff in mind but it´s nothing settled yet.

7. Currently the band is signed to TrollZorn Records, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support they have given you so far?

In 2007 we considered if we want to continue our work with Massacre Records. The Massacre guys did a good job for us but we felt that we maybe will have to move in a different direction. At that time we met Kai and Stefan from Trollzorn at a festival. They had a merchandise booth there (they have also a mailorder site) and saw our performance. After the show they came to us and wanted a couple of shirts and such stuff for their mailorder business. We kept in touch and a couple of months and conversations later they asked if we were interested in working them. That´s one of the famous lucky incidents you need in life. We became partners in crime, friends and have a successful and pleasant cooperation since those days.

They always supported us very bravely. We don´t have any restrictions and can do whatever we want, because TrollZorn knows that we always give the best and same goes for them.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the new album by fans of Viking Metal?

So far we got a lot of excellent reviews and recognition from both the magazines and fans from around the world. It still astonishes us, as we never thought that a band with German lyrics would even hit the attention of people from Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Ghana for example. Ok, there´s Rammstein with German lyrics but we aren´t Rammstein, hehe. Anyways, again we can be grateful to have dedicated supporters all around the world. This is extremely exciting and we wish to visit all those guys with a cool live-performance. Unfortunately that is not possible.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Hmmm, in the same direction as it´s heading since a couple of years now. We don´t have to change things radically just for the sake of seeming progressive. We like the music and the way we create our stuff. We still have great fun on our path and people enjoy our work more and more. There´s no need of big changes. Of course we wanna have evolution or better improvement to our music, as we add different new elements to our sound, music and lyrics, but I think if you will buy an Obscurity album in the future, you will always know what you get. Pure Obscurity! Iron Maiden doesn´t invent themselves for over twenty years now. If you buy their albums you may be disappointed until a certain point but you must admit it´s still Iron Maiden. Yeah, yeah, I know we aren´t Iron Maiden and I don´t really want to compare us with those heroes of Heavy Metal, but the principle is the same.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Actually we never had any strong ideals which influenced our music. We are five guys with different metal styles. There are intersections in tastes, but those really didn´t find their way into our music. Let´s say there are some bands which we adore and we try to bring the same power on stage like them.

There are a couple of bands which are still prominent in our music systems. Bands like Unleashed, Dismember, Hypocrisy, Anthrax, Maiden, Slayer, Primordial, Enslaved, Bathory, Immortal and so on. We are a bit older now and we definitely listen to new bands, as well, but we are kind of old-school buddies.

11. How would you describe your views on Paganism?

Ahh, that´s a hard question because it´s always hard to give a proper answer which covers this vast topic. It is not only about being dismissive against the Christian church or other religions and to wear kiddy T-shirts with the print “Odin not Jesus”. If you have troubles with world religions, that´s ok for me, as long as you respect people with different cultures and religious background. None can prove you are right and blame you for that, but you can´t prove it either. You need to have a strong faith in yourself and your way to interact socially with other persons. All the rest about old gods, the old mythologies and so on are well-known and I think you don´t need me to explain that for the seemed like hundred´s time.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Some of us are very deep into history, like myself. We are very busy with our jobs, our families and kids, we watch a lot of movies, travelling around to learn more of foreign cultures and people, I love Star Wars and the rest of us loves beer. That´s it, hehe!

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Thank you for having Obscurity on this interview. It´s an honor and I hope we can arrange a live show anytime in your neighborhood, hehe. I hope the readers didn´t fell asleep already and you enjoyed the interview as much as I did.
Remain true to yourself and Metal on!
Thanks a lot!
Ziu/Obscurity

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Oprich Interview

Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Now we prepare our material for recording of an Internet single. It will include 2 songs. The single will be titled as "Winds’ Heady Mead" by name of one of our songs. In our previous albums we’ve already dealt with the topic concerning the Upper Volgian settlements of free men – a special phenomenon which can be compared to Vikings of Northern Europe or Cossacks of the Southern borders of Russia. Extensive and sparsely populated lands of Northern Russia – from Baltic to Transurals area – were a part of the state of Lord Novgorod the Great in the Middle Ages era. For development of these lands, and often for predatory attacks against adjacent lands the teams consisting of military youth were created in Novgorod and the cities within its power. Participants of such teams were called as ushkuiniks – according to the name of a river rowing and sailing craft – an ushkui. However, ushkuis could sail in the sea as well. The Swedish city Sigtuna, for example, still remembers a shattering campaign of the Novgorod groups. In the 14th century ushkuiniks had raided along the Norwegian coast, having ruined some regions. It was made as retaliation. Tatar aggressors also got hard lines from ushkuiniks, although they subdued Russia in the 13th century – but they could not overpower Northern Russian outlaws. The Tatar cities across the Central Volga went through devastating attacks of ushkuiniks more than once. Russian northerners, being skillful in prompt and impudent attacks, took the cities by storm ruthlessly suppressing any resistance. They quickly embarked the taken loot and left upstream the Volga, leaving the glowing fires as a revenge for humiliation from the Tatar sovereignty. Territorial coverage of the campaigns of ushkuiniks was really great – from the Central Volga to Northern suburbs of the continent, from Scandinavia to Western Siberia.
Campaigns of ushkuiniks often began from the Upper Volga (from the Sheksna River’s inflow to the Volga), so it’s namely our lands - as Rybinsk city is located in a junction of these two Russian rivers, and OPRICH comes from Rybinsk. I needed such a long introduction because I tried to bring narration about the essence of our nearest plans. Our single "Winds’ Heady Mead" will be dedicated to ushkuiniks, their campaigns, their daring and luck, and also to the topic what is life on the Volga. It is the deep breadth, slow current, this fresh wind and cries of seagulls, the shine of the sun on waves, this feeling of freedom – all of this is the Volga. We will try to enclose such feelings and impressions to our new songs. Stylistically the single’s material will move away from traditional pagan metal in a way and will move towards hardcore – however with all Russian ethic flavour.

How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous releases?
I do not know what our listeners will think, but as for as us the sound of our new album can be described as more various – than ever before! ( We applied new folk instruments and we used them in arrangements more widely. Guitar sound changed as well. Besides distortion effects we used the drive effects – as real rockers of the 70’s (. So, if everything goes further in this way, sometimes we will play the real blues from the bank of the Volga (.

What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the new release explores?
The album "Birdless Heavens" is a conceptual work about Winter. About Northern, Russian winter. The first song, "Valedictory Hymn", parts with Summer, green leaves, and tender heat of the Sun. Summer raises a farewell bowl, giving way to Fall with its chilling wind, dark rough waves of the Volga, rains and fogs that creep among fir-trees. But Autumn will also not be late –the first ice holds down pools here, and fallen leaves become covered with hoarfrost. Also there comes the special time – "The First Wintry Touches". The first snow buries the earth. The twilight, a silent beast, is creeping up. And here comes Hiems – with blizzards and snow, holding everything down with frost. Time stands still in shining ice silence. "This Light And Joyous Death" is a song about a fierce, ruthless triumph of white ice space without spots of life. "Beldam-Snowstorm" follows, and it is about how the beldam-snowstorm pursues a traveler, trying to carry him away in the vortex embraces, whirl him in a blizzard round dance and lull among soft snow for eternal rest. But the traveler managed to take cover in the warmth of a house, and the blizzard hits against the walls, groaning and being angry with relentless senile rage. The fifth song, "The Sit’-River", is about a fight between Russian warriors and Tatars, that took place on the outcome of winter of 1238 in the woods of Zavolzhye. Forces were unequal, and the Russian hosts lay down on the snow fields for Russian Land and their knjaz’ (prince). On this tragic note the album turns in the way, where in the middle of low blizzard clouds, between cold and death, a thin, but persistent beam of hope shines. "Guslar the Prophetic" (gusla player), with his singing, recovers the recollection of bright haying meadows, magic singing of nightingales in ravines and groves – and this ringing of gusla strings becomes the spring thaw, and beams of the spring sun make their way through clouds as hot blades. And now, a playful breeze smells of forthcoming high water, and old ice of the Volga, at any moment, will crack under the pressure of melt water. "Soon, Very Soon!" the Volga will become free of its ice armor, and the boats of the northern teams will rush for a new campaign! This campaign shall be, when "Winds’ Heady Mead" makes sail towards the warrior’s good fortune.

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
The word "oprich" is of Old Russian origin, and nowadays it is not used in colloquial speech. Those people, who are familiar well with history of Russia, may know about Oprichnina – a special phenomenon during the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. However the sense of our name is not connected in any way with this era, and the words "oprich" and "oprichnina" are just paronymous ones. The word "oprich" means something special, isolated, separated from a general series, opposed to something. As it happens often with ancient words, the sense of the word "oprich" is rather wide, and it depends on particular application. It is both opposition, denial, isolation, and “on the contrary”, “from the outside”, “against”. Generally, by means of such name, we let you know that we came to music with our specific aims, and we will reach them by our own means.

What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
All of our last concerts were the best! ( We did not play alive for two and a half year because of different reasons, and in autumn of 2011 we decided to break off this vicious circle and return on the stage. The trip to the Moscow big festival “Volh Pagan Fest 1” began for us from a serious car accident, in which the car was broken completely, but miraculously nobody suffered – bruises and abrasions are not counted. Having got into other car, we reached Moscow, but with some delay. We played with big enthusiasm – because after the accident we could not have any fear of returning to the stage! At all! (
Then we played a concert in a small town Danilov. It is a real Russian province – not high houses of the 18 – 19th centuries, ancient churches, a lot of trees. Concerts in such towns are a rarity; therefore the audience met the groups with special enthusiasm and sincerity. In general, friendliness, openness and sincerity are specific features of Russian province, and it’s a very pleasant feature.
After that we played in our city Rybinsk. There all people together, all people are friends. And the atmosphere was the most benevolent. So, if you want to sing your songs about the Volga, the most correct pastime is to perform them on the bank of the Volga (
The next trip to Moscow, this time to “Volh Pagan Fest 3” with Romanians of Negura Bunget as headliners, stayed in our memory due to the pleasant and cheerful atmosphere of the travel, as the concert itself gathered very little audience – either owe to insufficient advertizing, or because there were much other metal gigs that day in Moscow. But in any way we had good memories.
This time performance in the center of light industry, the city of Ivanovo, which is also called as "Russian Manchester", took place in a packed house and had good support of audience. Praiseworthy organization, new friends and excellent groups – it is all about the concert in Ivanovo.
The last one in the list of the visited cities is Cherepovets – the steel industry capital of the Russian North. There was all – a picturesque road among snow-covered coniferous forests, a beautiful city on the bank of the Sheksna river, old friends, and high quality performance. Leaving the stage after such concerts, you never know what prevails – pleasant tiredness owe to well-done work or desire to continue. There is a video of this performance, it includes our almost whole set list of that evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ88zcfLZpY

Do you have any touring plans for the future?
Literally saying, the presentation of our recently released album "Birdless Heavens" will take place next week. It will be in our hometown Rybinsk. We don’t have any other plans for now, but we are open for any concert offers. However, the main task for us now is work on a single.

On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your new album by fans of folk metal?
The album has been just released, and at the moment we don’t have many responses. The first reviews mention a variety of our material and its originality. In general the feedback is positive; however I cannot say that our album is praised only. Someone needs more growling, someone wants more fun – generally it’s a matter of taste. As usual we are compared to Arkona – probably, from the present moment it will be the destiny of all Russian groups ( In one of reviews on our previous album a German author called our group as VolgaJugend – the youth of the Volga. We liked this expression, and now we use it. Well, and in an Italian review we were called as “Soviet folk metal” ( So we look forward for reviews! (

What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
It is hard to say right now. Our creativity is free, and it’s difficult to predict where our inspiration will bring us next time, so we don’t make plans for the distant future. I can tell you one thing: we will use more hardcore groovy riffs, and we will bring our national component of our music nearer to authentic folk. It seems to us that such direction is right, and it is possible to develop it for a long time.

What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
All of us have different musical preferences, and they influenced each of us in its own way. However if we speak about any collective musical taste which allows us composing music in this, but not different way, then Russian music, first of all traditional, influenced us strongly in a large extent. Secondly, probably, music of Russian composers, because their influence on any Russian musician is so strongly, that it is impossible to avoid or ignore.
Certainly, all of us listen to metal. All kinds of metal – from heavy to grindcore. Interesting representatives may be found in any style, however now the quantity of music in the world is so great that we have to spend a lot of efforts and time for identification and selection of the best music for ourselves. Personally I prefer Russian and Slavonic folk music – especially those authentic recordings which were gathered by ethnographic expeditions during the time of existence of the tradition which has not been interrupted by TV and mass culture. Also I love old school hardcore.

How would you describe your views on Paganism?
If we talk about ancient Paganism – Paganism that existed before x-tianity era – then it is necessary to study it. Study laboriously, carefully, applying scientific methods, collecting knowledge little by little. It is not necessary to idealize it – we need it in the way it was, instead of such we would like to see. If we talk about new, revived Paganism, then we should understand that it is a radically different phenomenon, because it was recovered in absolutely other time. At present Pagan world-view becomes topical for many reasons: the crash of x-tianity and spiritual emptiness which appeared on its place; the eternal call of the archetypes of our ancestors; a dangerous ecological situation when it is impossible to treat the Nature as a storeroom for human needs anymore – as it was during the era of the triumph of x-tian ideas. Also we may add another reason: globalization tries to destroy our memory of ancestors – the memory that knocks at our hearts more persistently. And of course we should not forget about the amazing spirit of the Universe calling the Human of the New Era into its spaciousness!

Outside of music what are some of your interests?
OPRICH is not just a group of musicians gathering from time to time for solution of creative problems. We are friends. We celebrate holidays together (including Pagan ones), birthdays, and weddings. All of us are from one city, not so big if we measure from a Russian point of view – the population of Rybinsk is 240.000 people. Therefore our interests besides music not only coincide in many respects, but they are embodied together as well. Outdoor activities, travelling, sport, militarized games, studying of history and many other things are those occupations, which are both rest and entertainments for us. As for me, that absolutely short time that remains after working and playing music I spend for photography, design, sport, and firing a pistol. I read a lot of really different books, but in any way they concern history, sociology, political science.

Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
I think it’s time to see us at concerts! (

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Forlorn Path/Man's Last Portrait/2013 CD Review

  Forlorn  Path  are  a  band  from  New  Jersey  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  progressive  combination of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2013  album  "Man's  Last  Portrait".

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  present  on  this  recording,  while  the  keyboards  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric,  ambient  and  progressive  sound  to  the  recording  along  with  some  elements  of  noise,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  melodic  and  symphonic black  metal  with  doom  and  death  metal  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  while  also  adding  in  influences  from  progressive  music,  folk,  noise  and  jazz  to  bring  in  more  original  elements,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  black/doom  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for t he  acoustic  guitars  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  add  more  dark,  folk,  jazz  and  progressive  elements  to  the  recording.

  Vocals  range  from  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  to  deep  growls  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  samples,  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  poetic,  and  metaphysical  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  dark,  heavy  and  professional  sound  for  being  a  self  released  recording  with  some  of   the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Forlorn  Path  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  progressive  hybrid  of  melodic  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Empire  Of  Decadence"  "Masquerade"  "Ghosts"  and  "Relics".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Sidious/Ascension To The Throne Ov Self/Kaotxin Records/2013 EP Review

  Sidious  are  a  band  from  The  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  symphonic  black,  death  metal  and  deathcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2013  ep  "Ascension  To  The  Throne  Ov  Self"  which  was  released  by  Kaotoxin  Records.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the  music,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  symphonic  sound  to  the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  symphonic  black,  brutal death  metal  and  deathcore  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  along  with  a  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  and  technical  sounding  black/death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  with  some  Gregorian  chants  being  used  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  concept  and  rebirth  of  humanity  after  generations  compounded  by  religious  and  monetary  systems,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  brutal  and  professional  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Sidious  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  symphonic  black,  brutal  death  metal  and  deathcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Insurmountable  Mass"  and  "Nihilistic  Regeneration".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.    

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Paladran/Nodfyr/2006 Demo Review

  Paladran  are  a  band  from  the  Chezch  Republic  that  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their self  released  2006  demo  "Nodfyr".

  Drums  range  from  slow to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present  on  this  recording,  while  the  folk  instruments  bring  a  very  dark  and  medieval  folk  music  sound  to  the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  folk  metal  riffs  that  utilize  a  great  amount of  melody  in  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  folk  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  they  use  finger  picking  and  full  chords  to  add  more  atmosphere  to the  recording.

  Vocals  are  mostly  clean singing  folk  metal  vocals  with  a  brief  use  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams,  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  their  native  tongue  and  cover  Paganism  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  for  being  a  self  released  recording  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on this  recording  with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Paladran  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan   this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rustem"  and  "Purhan".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Anima Sementis/Interitum/2013 Ep Review

  Anima  Sementis  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2013  demo  "Interitum".

  Drums  range  from  slow  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  thrown  into  the music  at  times,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  dark, atmospheric  and  symphonic  sound  to  the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  symphonic  black  metal  with  death  metal  along  with  a  great  amount  of  melody  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  black/death  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  death  metal  growls  to  high  pitched  black  metal  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  anti  christian   and  apocalyptic  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  for  being  a  self  released  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Anima  Sementis  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ruins".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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Odraedir/Pagan Forest/2011 Demo Review

  Odraedir  are  a  band  from  the  Chezch  Replubic  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk  and  melodic  black/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2011  demo  "Pagan  Forest".

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  some  blast  beats  being  utilized  at  times,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to them,  as  for  the  folk  instruments  when t hey  are  utilized  they  bring  a  medieval  pagan  feeling  to  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  melodic  black/death  metal  with  pagan/folk  metal  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  some  thrash  influences,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  pagan  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  to  add  more  elements  of  folk  music  to  the  recording.

  Vocals  range  from  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  to  deep  death  metal  growls,  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Paganism,  Mysticism,  and  Occultism,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very,  dark,  raw  and  primitive  sound  to  it.

  In  my  opinion  Ordraedir  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  melodic  black/death  and  pagan/folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Dawn  Of  Oden's  Horde"  and  "Mystic  And  Occult Practics".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

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