Kvaen/The Funeral Pyre/Black Lion Records/2020 Full Length Review

  Kvaen  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  along  with  some  session  musicians  that  plays  a  melodic  form  of  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  viking  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "The  Funeral  Pyre"  which  will  be  released  in  2020  by  Black  Lion  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  Swedish  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats. Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  speed  and  thrash  metal  elements.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  having their  old  school  moments  while  clean  playing  and  viking  metal  influences  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  as  well  as  the  songs  also adding  in  a  good  balance  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Keyboards  can  also  be heard  at  times,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  also  gets  more  atmospheric  sounding  and  the  recording  closes  with  an  instrumental  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vikings,  Ragnarok,  Cold  Steel  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kvaen  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  melodic  black,  viking  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Revenge  By  Fire"  "The  Wolves  Throne"  and  "Bestial  Winter".  8  out  of  10.

“Yee Naaldlooshii”: YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY || DEEZER
“The Funeral Pyre”: YOUTUBE || SPOTIFY || DEEZER || NO CLEAN SINGING Premiere       

Tovarish Interview

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

We've released our very first music video for the song The Year Without Summer and we're releasing our second music video for the song Silver And Lead. We've played a few shows and are already planning to write and record new material.

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

Our sound is always evolving. We sound much different from our first album "Da, Tovarish" and I think that's for the best. We've been providing remixes for other artists and that has lead to us having a bit more of an industrial influence. We've also been incorporating more melody and ambient sound to compliment the harsh drones.

3.This is also your first album since 2015, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?

We usually go in a bit of hibernation between albums. We still play live locally, but we let the music rest so to speak. Everyday life tends to get in the way and we also work on other musical projects, so time occasionally slips away. When we do get together to write and record, it comes in large creative bursts and then we revisit later with clear minds to see if we should continue or start anew.

4.Your lyrics deal a lot with Soviet era Communism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic and what led you to be interested in that era?

A lot of extreme bands (black metal, noise etc) either flirt with or outright embrace fascist imagery and ideology. We oppose all that and created Tovarish in direct response. Fascism is on the rise around the world and people must look for a way to combat and defeat it. There are lessons to be learned from Soviet-era Communism, both good and bad and we must look to the past in order to help save the future.

5.In modern day society a lot of people think communism is making a huge come back with all the whole war between socialism and the lat right, what are your thoughts on this?

I think it's encouraging that people are becoming more socially and politically aware and active to fight against those that destroy us simply for existing. People are not just rolling over to the tiki torch-carrying hatemongers that proclaim racial and gender superiority. There is a whole new generation of people moving further to the left because they see that we must work together to become better. A rising tide lifts all ships, many hands make light work, that sort of mentality.

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

Tovarish means "Comrade". We chose that name because it encapsulates who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together as a band. We truly do work together in all aspects of the band, whether it's writing, recording, booking shows, and even merch design.

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

The artwork was created by the amazing Stephen Wilson, who has also down artwork for Crowhurst, False, and Vile Creature.  We did not really put any restrictions or give any parameters. We sent him the album and just let him create something that is incredible to look at.

8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We've been lucky enough to play with some amazing bands. Kayo Dot, SubRosa, Psalm Zero, Endon, Batillus, Kowloon Walled City. All of those were great experiences. Our live performance typically includes video projected behind us. Past videos  have included riot footage, Soviet propaganda cartoons, time-lapsed nature video. It gives the audience something to focus on while we play.

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

Not really. We don't tour and now only play shows if we're asked. In the beginning, we would play just about any show offered to us or would book our own. It led to many mixed bills in terms of genre and talent, which had less than desirable results.

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

Mixed I suppose. Your average metal fan probably wouldn't like us. No riffs, no mosh, no fun. The people that "get it" though really do understand and appreciate what we're doing. It's not easily listenable or digestible music, but there is something there and it's always encouraging when fans enjoy what we're doing.

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

Without putting us in a box, I would say more ambient and melodic sounds. We're really proud of what we have accomplished with If The War Comes Tomorrow and would probably continue on that track.

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?

It depends on the day and the mood, but recently we've been drawn to sludge, doom, drone, and soundscapes.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Politics, electronics, books.

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

Our music is available at tovarish.bandcamp.com and argonautarecords.com. Thanks so much for taking the time to ask us questions.

Ainsoph/Ω - V/Woves Of Hades/2020 Full Length Review

 Ainsoph  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  post  black  metal  with  elements  of  avant  garde,  post  punk.  progressive  music  and  jazz  and  this is  a  review  of  their  album  "Ω - V"  which  will  be  released  in  2020  by  Wolves  of  Hades.



  Heavy  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  all  done  in  a  very  clean  and  ethereal  style  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal style.Elements  of  shoegaze  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful.



  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  post  punk. When  the  music  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  utilized  briefly



  At  times  the  music  also  has  its  its  progressive  moments  as  well  as  mixing  in  elements  of  jazz.  One  track  is  an  instrumental  and  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  along  with  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  onto  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Kaballah  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ainsoph  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  black  metal  band  with  some  elements  of avant  garde,  post  punk.  progressive  music  and  jazz  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Malkuth"  "The  Long  And  Self-Destructive  Road"  and  "Maggot  brain".  8  out  of  10.

https://wolvesofhades.bandcamp.com/album/v  

Pagan Reign/Art Of The Time/Casus Belli Musica/2019 CD Review

  Pagan  Reign  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Art  Of  The  Time"  which was  released  by  Casus  Belli  Musica.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  All  of  the  musical instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  one  track  also  introduces  clean  pagan  vocals  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments  as  well  as  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  some  tracks  also  add  in  death  metal  growls  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard in  the  faster  riffing  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Slavic  and  Nordic  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Pagan  Reign  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Gods  We  Trust"  "Eternal  Saga  Of  Glory"  and  "Voice  of  The  Legend".  8  out  of  10.

PAGAN REIGN FACEBOOKPAGAN REIGN VKONTAKTEPAGAN REIGN BANDCAMP  .    

Gentihaa/Reverse Entropy/Symmetric Records/2019 Full Length Review

  Gentihaa  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2019  album  "Reverse  Entropy"  which  was  released  by  Symmetric  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  melodic  guitar  leads  and  heavy  riffing  onto  the  recording.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  clean  vocals  when  they  are  utilized  bring  elements  of  power  metal  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  utilizing  a  great  amount of  black  emtal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  symphonic  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  ethnic  instruments  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  and  a  couple  of  later  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Gentihaa  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Empathy"  "Alpha"  and  "Singularity".  8 out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DFl9eCsLZU&feature=share

https://gentihaa.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/gentihaa/

https://www.instagram.com/gentihaaofficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaUAcnyTmSNdnHNVcVu9TQ

    

[ BOLT ]/Morasth/dunk! Records/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Germany's  [ BOLT ]  and  Morasth  which  was  reelased  by  dunk!  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  [ BOLT ]   who  return  with  their  mixture  of  black,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  distorted  amp  noises  and  drones  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  their  side  of  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  sludge  and doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  their  song  which  is  also  over  20  minutes  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  an  improv  atmosphere  along  with  the  track  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  black  metal  influences,  All  of  the  music  is  instrumental  as  well  as  the  song  also  using  the  same  riff  for  a  few  minutes  and  as  their  side  of  the  split  progresses  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  [ BOLT ]   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Morasth  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  doom  and  post  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  with  some  distorted  amp  noises  before  going  into  more  of  a  slower  and  heavier  doom  metal  direction.  Their  track  is  also  over  18  minutes  in  length  while  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  give  the  song  more  of  an  atmospheric  post  metal  feeling.

  Their  track  also  uses  the  same  riff  for  most  of  the  track  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  improv  atmosphere  and  also  keeping  everything  in  a  slow  yet  instrumental  musical  direction,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Morasth  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  drone,  sludge,  doom  and  post metal.  8  out  of  10.

 https://dunkrecords.com/collections/dunk-records-on-vinyl/products/b-o-l-t-morasth-b-o-l-t-vs-morasth-lp

Grey Skies Fallen/Cold Dead Lands/2020 Full Length Review

  Grey  Skies  Fallen  are  a  band  from  New  York  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Cold  Dead  lands"  which  will  be  self  released  in  2020.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  clean  playing  also being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  utilized  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars, at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  and  all  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  a  slower  musical  direction.

  On  this  recording  Grey  Skies  Fallen  goes  for  more  of  an  epic  style  of  doom  metal  while  still  mixing  in  some  elements  of  progressive,  melodic  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair  and  bleakness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grey  Skies  Fallen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cold  Dead  Lands"  and  "After  The  Summer  Comes To  Fall".  8  out  of  10.

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