Vargrav/Dimension: Daemonium/Werewolf Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Finland's  Vargrav  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Dimension:  Daemonium"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Werewolf  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  aggressive  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Symphonic  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  some  of  the  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness  and  Cosmos.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vargrav  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ablaze  Unto  The  Nocturnal  Reams'  "The  Gates  Of  My  Dimension"  and  "Unveil  The  Enslavement  Of  Lunar  Prophecies".  8  out  of  10.

  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item-group.asp?PgpID=40795  

       

Mývalyĭr Interview

 

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

As a band that formed during the pandemic we wrote all of our material remotely, so we have been working on new material and we're also currently planning our live show setup and making sure our songs translate powerfully on stage. At the same time, we’ve been connecting with press, and writing new ideas that are already hinting at where the next album might go.

2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of February, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

So each member of the band has preferred styles of metal. Overall the album is melodic death metal but we didn't want to confine ourselves to one genre, so if you listen you'll find influences of black metal, metalcore and even folk metal.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

As the album name suggests we write about 'The Past Tales'. The Past Tales is a concept album using parts of history and folklore to tell a story that melds with past personal experiences.

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

So we have been asked this question before and we will give the same answer. The name Mývalyĭr (Mee-val-year) does have a meaning, but we are hoping that people will be able to figure it out at some point as well as find the hidden image on our album cover and the hidden feature in our website, as some of us are gamers and we love an easter egg.

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

There’s a great deal of symbolism embedded in the art work and it includes elements which relate to each song on the album. We worked closely with the artist Felipe Franco Machado to ensure the cover didn’t just look striking, but actually felt connected to the music.

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

We only actually all met in person for the first time together at the 'Reign' Music Video shoot, as a band that met online with members in different countries we have yet to play our first show, but we are currently working on our live show as we mentioned before.

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

We do, we are currently organising something and we look forward to sharing it.

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

We are not looking for a label currently but if one was to show interest then we would be open to the right partnership.

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

We did not expect to reach as many countries as we did such as Russia, Chile and USA being a band from the UK who have only just had our first release but we are very happy with the feedback, the comment and the reviews of 'The Past Tales' so far.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Various members are also currently in other bands/projects and the best way to find them out would be via Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

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

Our plan is to start working on our next release and further solidify our sound

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

As we mentioned before each of us have our personal preference of metal so the music we are listing to at the moment are Children of Bodom, Devildriver, Dvořák, Mykur, Berlioz, Beethoven, Ne Obliviscaris, Imminence, Lorna Shore and Wolfheart

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

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, old and new. We are amazed at the feed back and we hope to see you at one of our shows in the near future.

Once again apologies for the delay, and look forward to hearing from you again soon

https://www.facebook.com/myvalyir

Speglas Interview

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

We've been rehearsing as a band a lot and kept our focus on making sure we are ready to hit the stage.

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

It's more direct and to the point, even though we had some of the same elements on the two earlier EPs–this one feels more evolved and fleshed out.

3. The band has been around since 2015 but so far there has only been three releases, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait in between recordings?

It basically comes down to me (Isak) being involved in several other projects that took up a lot of time and focus. I basically finished a full record around 2017–2018, but it never felt like the right moment to release it, so parts of it were distilled into the 2022 EP Time, Futility, and Death. Now my focus has shifted entirely to Speglas—creative work, rehearsing, and live aspects.

4. The lyrics on the new album cover the writings of Fredrich Nietzsche, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?

I'm a hobby reader of philosophy and I even wrote a bachelor's thesis discussing the relationship between music and philosophy. Nietzsche's ideas just resonate strongly with me, and I felt they fit perfectly into this musical format.

5. What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

The first EP (Birth, Dreams, and Death, 2015) had a very loose, abstract theme—mostly abstract for the sake of being abstract. The second EP (Time, Futility, and Death, 2022) became a bit more focused. On this new record (Endarkenment, Being, and Death) the lyrics are very much a fleshed-out concept.

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

"Speglas" means "mirrored" in Swedish. There's no deep philosophical story behind it—we were just sitting at a pub in Stockholm (I think it was Gröna Jägaren) in 2014 when the band formed, drinking beer and throwing around ideas. Somehow "Speglas" came up and stuck.

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

It's a tilted (dead) rose. I had one sitting in a vase at home, took a photo of it, and sent the idea to Tim at Trust No One Recordings, who created the black-and-white artwork based on that. I've always worked fast and intuitively with covers—the first thing that comes to mind usually ends up being it. Here the tilted rose symbolizes transformation: from life to death, light to darkness.

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

I’d say the show we played in 2017 in Stockholm at Kägelbanan together with Antichrist, Vampire, and Gehennah. Great lineup, great turnout, really nice evening.

9. Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

Nothing booked yet, but it's certainly in the planning phase. It will happen.

10. The new album is going to be released on 'Trust No One Recordings', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have worked with in the past?

It's a Swedish label, so geographically much closer, which makes logistics easier. It's also practical in terms of language and mutual understanding of what we both want.

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

The album hasn't been released yet (at the time of this interview), but so far we've received good reviews in magazines and other places. I hope fans of extreme metal—and people in general—will find something resonating in it once it's out.

12. Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Yes. Me (Isak) and our drummer Jesper are both in Sweven. Our bass player Victor is in Grass Eating Man and a couple of other projects. Our guitarist Alexi is only in Speglas.

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

I’ve started writing the next record—about a third is done—and it will be similar to this one but heading in a direction that makes it differ.

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

Personally I've been listening a lot to Susanne Sundfør (Norwegian singer), Judas Priest lately, the Swedish band Kent, Oasis, Father John Misty. I can't speak for everyone, but I'd guess Alexi is listening to something like Concrete Winds or Katharsis.

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

Make sure to pick up the album and merch via the Trust No One Recordings website. Keep an eye out for upcoming show announcements in the coming months (especially in Sweden). Thank you!

https://linktr.ee/speglas 
https://www.facebook.com/SPEGLAS/ 
https://www.instagram.com/speglas /
https://speglas.bandcamp.com 
https://www.tnor.se/ 

Nibiru/Hypostasis/Argonauta Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Nibiru  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  psychedelic  and  ritualistic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone,  industrial  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Hypostasis'  which  will  be  released  on  February  27th  by  Argonauta  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  ambient  at  times  and  avant  garde  style  choirs.  Samples  are  also  used  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  black  metal  style.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  adding  in  more  of  a  noisier  approach  to  playing  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  also  adding  in  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  repetitive  sounding  along  with  drones  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album.  The  recording  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  adding  in  touches  of  industrial,  darkwave  and  post  punk,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Alchemy,  Occultism,  Egyptian  Magick,  Philosophy  and  Voodoo  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Niburu  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  psychedelic  and  ritualistic  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone, ambient  and  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Azoth"  and  "Obeah".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/nibiruritual

https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-3mm8OrahE&feature=youtu.be        

Speglas/Endarkenment, Being & Death/Trust No One Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Speglas  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Endarkenment,  Being  &  Death"  which  will  be  released  on  February  27th  by  Trust  No  one  Recordings.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds  and  spoken  whispers  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  few  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  heavier  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

   Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  both  the  riffs  and  solos  also  showing  an  influence  of  classic  metal  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  Nietzsche  and  cover  his  philosophies.

  In  my  opinion  Speglas  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Endarkenment"  "The  Spirit  Postmortem"  and  "Rage  Upon  The  Dying  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/speglas 

https://www.facebook.com/SPEGLAS/ 
https://www.instagram.com/speglas /

https://speglas.bandcamp.com   

  

Against I/Anti Life/Twisted Flesh Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Against  I  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Anti  Life"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Twisted  Flesh  Recordings.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  black  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Dark  soundscapes  are  also  added  in  between  a  few  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing  as  well  as  the  album  also  mixing  in  some  elements  of  electronic  music  and  samples.

  On  this  recording  Against  I  add  more  electronic  music  elements  in  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal  to  create  a  very  heavy  yet  modern  sound.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Against  I  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Built  To  Destroy"  "Tempel  Of  Greed"  "Sacrifice"  and  "All  Hope  Is  Gone".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/againstIband

https://www.instagram.com/againstiband/
https://www.youtube.com/@againsti

      

Midryasi's Kult/Italian Dark Sound/Dying Victims Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

   Midryasi's  Kult  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Italian  Dark  Sound"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  Drum  beats  and  heavy  riffs  start  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  more  of  a  retro  sound  mixed  in  with  some  melody.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  70's  and  early  80's  clear  singing  doom  metal  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  some  psychedelic  touches  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Some  of  the  riffing  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths,  the  album  also  adds  in  elements  of  first  wave  black  metal  and  NWOBHM,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Midryasi's  Kult  takes  an  early  80's  style  of  doom  metal  and  mixes  it  with  first  wave  black  metal,  NWOBHM,  punk  and  psychedelic  rock  to  create  something  very  heavy  and  retro  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Midryasi;s  Kult  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  back,  doom  metal,  NWOBHM,  punk  and  psychedelic  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Italian  Dark  Sound"  "Mountain  Devil"  and  "Hypopriest".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkXwQZCivxY

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/italian-dark-sound