Yog-Sothoth Interview

 

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

I started Yog-Sothoth because I really got into symphonic black metal and just wanted to write music like that. I wrote and released the EP and was surprised how much everyone liked it, so I decided to continue the project. I was recently joined by my childhood friend Zann, who is currently helping me write lyrics cause he's really fucking good at it. If you like Bal-Sagoth, you'll definitely like Yog-Sothoth. 

2.In August you had released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

When I was writing the EP I was going for a more Bal-Sagoth type sound. I think I managed to get it pretty close while also adding a bit of my own style into it and not making it just a copycat band. Other bands that inspired Yog-Sothoth's sound were Zel Agganor or Runeshard.

3.A lot of your lyrics and the band name are inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?

My first exposure to Lovecraft's work happened around 2018/2019 when a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to join him and his team in a session of the table top RPG "The Call of Cthulu". I instantly fell in love with all the Eldritch stuff and decided to start reading more about it. A few years later I permanently joined the RPG team. My new character was a Yog-Sothoth cultist - that's where the project's name comes from.

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

There's not much to the artwork - just a picture taken last winter with Yog-Sothoth in the sky. I made it and thought it looked cool.

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

If we meet any talented musicians who would like to join us, we will definitely consider adding them to the line up.

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

We got one offer but we rejected it. We're open to working with a label and it would definitely make some things way easier for us, but on the other hand it might make us treat Yog-Sothoth more like a business. We want to keep making art and if we ever find any label that will want to help us make art and not business (which is unlikely), we will sign a deal.

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

I did not expect the reaction to be so positive. After the release of "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" I got a lot of comments and DMs saying that people loved the EP and were impressed with the songwriting. It's really motivating. Thanks to everyone who listened and left such positive feedback!

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

I finished writing music for a new album like a week ago. Zann is finishing up some lyrics. We have one song recorded already. We're not sure about the release date yet - me and Zann are starting uni in a few days, which might slow down the recording process. We're hoping to have it done by the end of the year. You can expect the release some time next year.

As for my future as a musician, I'd like to gather some people and play a few local Yog-Sothoth shows. Maybe go on tour if our budget allows it. I mainly want to keep making art and express myself through it. The direction my music goes heavily depends on the direction my life goes as my music is kind of an image of my soul.

9.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?

My musical journey started with classical music. My parents would play me classical music all the time. At the age of five my favourite song was Vivaldi's Spring. I joined a choir, and later went to music school to study playing the organ. When I was around 12 my brother got me into punk. After listening to punk for a few years, I finally discovered metal. My first metal subgenre was power metal with my first band being Powerwolf. I then discovered more symphonic bands and thought it was cool. I went through every metalhead's mandatory Mayhem phase and started looking for more black metal. That's when I discovered Bal-Sagoth. I fell in love with symphonic black metal instantly. I'd say the biggest influences on my music are Vivaldi, Bach, all the Chris Bowes' bands (mainly Gloryhammer cause of symphonic stuff), Bal-Sagoth and Zel Agganor.

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

I'd like to thank everyone who supports Yog-Sothoth in any way. It means a lot. If you're curious about the upcoming album, follow us on Facebook and Instagram - we post updates and little snippets there sometimes.

https://linktr.ee/yogsothothband

Yog-Sothoth/Through The Gates Of The Silver Key/2024 EP Review

 

  Yog-Sothoth  are  a  duo  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Through  The  Gates  of  The  Silver  Key".

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Yog-Sothoth  plays  a  style  of  symphonic  black  metal  that  goes  back  to  the  classic  era  of  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.

  In  my  opinion  Yog-Sothoth  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Curse  of  Innsmouth"  and  "Rituals  Of  The  Black  Pharaoh".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/yogsothothband  

    

Ensiferum/Winter Storm/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Ensiferum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  controls  the  epic  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Winter  Storm"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clear  vocals  mix  pagan  and  power  metal  together.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  introduces  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Shamanism,  Magick  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ensiferum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winter  Storm  Vigilantes"  "Scars  In  My  Heart"  and  "Victorious".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.ensiferum.com

https://www.facebook.com/Ensiferum
https://www.instagram.com/ensiferummetal/

  

Gates Open/Black Clouds Over The World/Inverse Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Gates  Open  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Black  Clouds  Over  The  World"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  thrash  metal  elements  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era.  Most  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction  with  only  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  being  utilized  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  

  On  this  recording  Gates  open  remain  true  to  the  melodic  and  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gates  Open  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nightmares  Coming  True"  and  "Gates  Of  Rock".   8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/gatesopenband 

https://www.instagram.com/gatesopenband 

https://gatesopen.bandcamp.com 

https://youtu.be/SX2vkPowiZA

https://youtu.be/LWgHQN84p4g   

The Crown/Crown Of Thorns/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  The  Crown  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal,  grindcore  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Crown  Of  Thorns"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  brutal  thrash  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements.  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  take  the  recording  into  more  of  a  black  metal  direction  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  80's  style  death  metal  growls.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  true  to  more  of  an  old  school  extreme  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  mixing  in  the  more  aggressive  side  of  thrash  metal  as  well  as  some  whispers  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  they  also  add  more  of  a  modern  approach  to  an  old  school  style,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti  Religion,  Satanism  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Crown  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Hunt  With  The  Devil"  "Gone  To  Hell"  "God  King"  and  "The  Storm  That  Comes".  8 out  of  10.

  http://www.thecrownofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thecrownofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/thecrownband

https://x.com/thecrownsweden

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

Ephialtes/Melas Oneiros/Black Lion Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ephialtes  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Melas  Oneiros"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Black  Lion  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  direction  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  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.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  archetypical  characters  and  events  that  are  iconic  and  significant  for  humanity.  

  In  my  opinion  Ephialtes  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  The  Victims  Of  Sirens"  "Children  Of  Arachne"  and  "The  Blood  OF   The  Gods".  8 out  of  10.

  https://ephialtesblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/melas-oneiros (CD, Digital)

https://storeblacklion.bigcartel.com
https://orcd.co/melas-oneiros 

https://www.facebook.com/EphialtesOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/ephialtesofficial

Oryx/Primordial Sky/Translation Loss Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Oryx  are  a  band  from  Denver,  Colorado  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Primordial  Sky"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Translation  Loss  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  a  few  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  briefly,  all  of t he  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Oryx  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  atmospheric  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  life,  death  and  the  cosmos.

  In  my  opinion  Oryx  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Primordial  Sky"  and "Look  Upon  The  Earth".  8  out  of  10.

  https://orcd.co/primordialsky

https://www.facebook.com/theeoryx/

https://www.instagram.com/thebandoryx/  

Alkonost 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?

Not much time has passed yet - so far we're excited and in disbelief that it's finally happened, actively promoting it on the web, monitoring the reactions of listeners and gathering feedback.

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

On the one hand, in some sense we continue the course we took about ten years ago. On the other hand, the album is different from our previous records - we can say that it turned out to be heavier and more diverse in sound. On it you can hear both classic folk moves and alternative metal, which is not quite typical for us. Sympho, doom, leisurely rhythms and some fast ones - in general, it's a fiery cocktail.

3.The lyrics on the new album cover the various aspects of fire, can you tell us a little bit about about the songwriting that is presented on the new recording?

‘’Fire‘’ concept was the starting point, it was invented and proposed by our lyricist Mare Mirkie. First of all, each song's theme was worked out, what it is about, what it should have emotional colouring, sound, etc. After that we started to work: our guitarist Andrey Losev brought the arranged music, and then each member finalised his parts and added the final touches to the canvas. Some songs were composed by third-party composers. The lyrics were traditionally written to the arranged music.

4.A lot of your lyrics and the bands name comes from Slavic Paganism and Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

As far as paganism is concerned, we can say that we are not adherents of it, if you can catch motives consonant with it, it is only in our early songs. The themes of our songs are fantasy, fairy tales and a little bit of folklore, so mythology is closer, because all this is closely intertwined with each other. In general, we don't rely on something specific, but create our own universe with our own characters and stories.

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

The author of the cover art is artist Marina Potovichenko, whose works can also be seen on the releases of other famous russian artists. We can't say that there is any special story behind the cover art - we just thought over the variants and decided to choose this one, bright and minimalistic. By the way, the most attentive will notice that this lizard doesn't quite look like a real salamander, but that was the idea - it's primarily about a deity, a spirit of fire.

6.The band has been around since 1996, what is it that motivates you to keep going after almost 3 decades?

During this time we have changed our approach to music and band work several times to refresh our sound, and each time the result has given us confidence in our chosen path. We went through some serious crises when it seemed to be over, but we always found new incentives to continue. Also some new members gave the band a new breath. And in general, the more diverse things happen around us, the more incentive for growth and creativity.

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

For a long time we only played at festivals, and they all seemed cool. The ones that have forever remained history are, for example, the legendary russian ‘Folk Summer Fest’. Of the modern ones - ‘Bylinnyi Bereg’, ‘Uletai’, ‘Imandra Viking Fest’. From the touring life we can remember a joint European tour with Arkona band in 2007, and also a big tour 2018-19 with the presentation of the album ‘Octagram’, when we travelled through the whole Russia from Lake Baikal, finishing in Central Europe.

As for our performances, we always try to make the show bright, dynamic and catchy - in this case we are helped by smoke, light, aggressive feeding and, of course, synchronised headbanging!

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

We are not planning any big tours. Next year, perhaps, we will play a few presentation concerts in major cities of our country - Moscow, St. Petersburg and some others.

9.The new album was self released while the band has worked with plenty of labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

The music industry has changed quite a lot since we were working with labels. And today, as an independent underground band, we do not see any reason to ask for support from labels again. Although, of course, everything depends on the terms and details of co-operation - we are open to suggestions.

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

We have quite a lot of fans all over the world, and if you believe the statistics of the streaming platforms, their number is constantly growing. For example, Spotify says that last year we were listened to in 137 countries. Foreign fans often write to us with words of gratitude and support, and some of them we know personally and communicate with. All in all, we like what we see. 

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

It's hard to say now, because we discuss such moments at the beginning of each album's production. The sound is also strongly influenced by the general theme of the songs and the chosen concept. So we never know where our experiments will take us next, but the signature features will certainly always be in our music!

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

Our tastes are very diverse. We listen to music ranging from electronica and 70s heavy rock to hip-hop, post-punk and extreme metal. In our headphones, ABBA can be next to Gojira, and J-M Jarre and Metallica to Death and Billie Eilish. Of course, we try to follow the trends, not only in metal, but in general.

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

Take care of yourself and your family, listen to more good music and, of course, the new Alkonost album! \m/

 

 http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

The Mosaic Window/Hemasanctum/Willowtip Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  The  Mosaic  Window  are  a  solo  project  from  Los  Angeles,  California  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  his  2024  album  "Hermasanctum"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Synths  and  torture  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  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 album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  few  songs  also  introducing  clean  playing  into  the  music.

  A  couple  of  tracks  also  add  in  some  session  work  from  Andy  LaRocque  better  known  for  his  work  with  Death  and  King  Diamond  as  well  as  the  two  closing  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album and  covers  life,  relationships  and  loss.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Mosaic  Window  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Incantation  To  Summon  The  Unstable"  "Ash  Like  Anvils"  and  "Hymn  To  Silence  the  Light".  8  out  of  10.

  https://themosaicwindow.bandcamp.com/album/hemasanctum

https://willowtip.com/bands/details/the-mosaic-window.aspx

The Mountain King/Stoma/Void Key Recordings/2024 Full Length Review

 

  The  Mountain  King  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  post  black,  doom,  death  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Stoma"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Void  Key  Recordings.

  Synth  orientated  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  alter  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Clear  singing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  at  times  the  music  also  brings  in  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  and  some  of  the  album  also  adds  in  touches  of  ambient  and  post  hardcore.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  question  of  balance  between  everyday  life  and  the  thoughts  about  the  inevitable  death  of  the  individual  at  the  end  of  it.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Mountain  King  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of post  black,  doom,  death,  progressive  metal  and  drone,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Space  Is  Now  Tainted"  "Stoma"  and  "To  The  Caves".  8  out  of  10.

  https://themountainking.bandcamp.com/album/stoma

  

Alkonost/Salamander's Gift/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Alkonost  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Salamander's  Gift".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clear  singing  is  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  stlye.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  throughout  all  of  the  songs.

  Alkonost  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  the  different  faces  of  fire  with  some  inspiration  from  Slavic  Paganism  and  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Alkonost  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Искра"  "Оберег"  "Северное  сияние"  and  "Маяк".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Eva Can't/Emisferi/My Kingdom Music/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Eva  Can't  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  avant  garde  and  progressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Emisferi"  which  will  be  released  by  September  20th  by  My  Kingdom  music.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  When  clear  singing  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  recording  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.

  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  while  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  few  songs  also  being  instrumentals,  classical  guitars  and  wind  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  an  emotional  and  physical  journey  divided  into  4  chapters.

  In  my  opinion  Eva  Can't  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  and  progressive  post  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  Volta  (Ghiacci  Boreali  I)"  "Prima  Tempesta  (Mari Boreali  I)"  "Di  Stanze  Assenti  (Mari  Australi  I)"  and  " Labirinti  (Ghiacci  Australi  III)".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evacantofficial

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evacantofficial   

Invictus Interview

 

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

 Kurt: We all grew up loving underground music in general. All of us were stretched between different scenes and genres. We loved punk, hardcore, grind, death, black… And I think we incorporate a little of that in our music. In my head we are a melodic blackened death band. But you can hear quite some crossover in our music if you listen closely. I see the music as an ode to all the records that shaped us growing up. When people hear the record they mostly refer to bands like Dissection, Death, Unleashed, At The Gates, The Haunted, Bolt Thrower, old Amon Amarth… I feel like that is a good reference for what we are doing. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep and  split? 

Kurt: I think we’ve grown a lot more as a band. The songs are much more mature. We put a lot more influences in it and went deeper. I feel we left behind our hardcore roots on this record and evolved to being a “real” metal band, whatever that may mean. There is much more black metal in it, being heavily inspired by bands such as Dissection, but also a lot of death metal. 

3.You refer to your music as being 'edgmetal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term? 

Kurt: “edgemetal” was a term donned by Congress in the early 90’s. In the H8000 scene a lot of bands emerged that were on the border between death, thrash, black, hardcore, … Those bands (Liar, Congress, Deformity, …) had a huge impact on us growing up. They called themselves edge metal over the term metalcore. Back then everybody was straight edge in that scene, hence the word “edge” and they thought of their music more as metal, as opposed to hardcore (like youth of today)... There is a lot of similarity between those bands and Invictus, so we felt like the term fit us very well. It’s also a lot shorter to write as “melodic blackened death metal”. 

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

Jo: This world is very rotten and often I hope we humans just stop existing. Cause we really don’t earn this. Next to this I also want a society that treats each other better. For every horrible act someone creates, there are a lot of humans who do their utter best to make it a better world. So although most of my lyrics are cynical, dark and straight on misanthropic, some of them end towards a positive way (with a little reading between the lines). They explore the topics of despair, unnecessary hatred, inhumanity, abuse, suicides, conspiracies, the rise of hategroups and social media’s (un)“reality”. 

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

 Kurt: The inspiration is a bit double. Firstly it came from one of my favorite records growing up by a local band called Liar. Secondly it’s a from a poem written by William Ernest Henley: Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. The poem revolves around resilience, inner strength and overcoming adversity. Something that we all have to deal with in life. 

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

 Kurt: We believe that humanity is ruining our planet and killing itself. The artwork is meant to represent that: A desolate toxic mountain with no life on it. It’s also a bit of an ode to the artwork of “The Sound Of Perseverance” by “Death”, one of the bands that shaped us when we were young. 

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

Kurt: I would describe our shows as very pure and real. We are not playing dress up or playing theater. Nothing against bands who do… I feel it’s just not something that would fit us. We’re all a bit punk, so we believe in “what you see is what you get”. 

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

 Kurt: We are lucky to get quite some shows on a lot of varied bills. So this year is starting to fill up nicely. A personal ambition is to do some weekend tours in Germany and Eastern Europe. I’m hoping we can play some fests next summer, especially Ieperfest would be great as I’ve been going there for 24 years. Rockstad in Romania is also a dream I’d really like to achieve.

 9.The physical version of the album is going to be released through many labels, can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you are working with on the new release? 

Kurt: Working with so many labels helps us get some more coverage and distribution. We chose Genet Records because it’s a legendary name from the 90’s, and in Belgium they provide a home base for bands that are crossing over and merging multiple genres. Bands like Last, Förbittring, Work of The Flesh, Verslinder, Dudsekop all share a similar background and vision as we do in a way. Tim from Bound By Modern Age actually contacted us after the split we did with Risale. He liked the songs and wanted to work with us. We talked to him and we shared very similar opinions and world views, so it was a no brainer to get him on board. He’s an all around great guy and him being situated in Germany is a great advantage for us as a band. 24 edge wear is a new clothing brand/label that was started by our good friend Nico. We will be the first release for him. I really wanted to get him aboard as I consider him a good friend. In My Heart Empire was recommended by us through our old label (Ugly and Proud Records). He has an amazing distro filled with punk,crust, grind, hardcore, death, thrash, back…. 

10.In 2023 you were a part of a split with 'Risale', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording? 

Kurt: I really liked them. They incorporate that 90’s hardcore sound but put it in a modern package. Ozan was great to work with. Even though they were musically different from us, and they were way younger, we got along really well. It’s too bad they stopped right after the release of the split. So they couldn’t really promote it that well. I think they would’ve had a great future as a band. 

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

 Kurt: The record will be officially released on october 4th, so you’re one of the first who heard it. Overall most people who heard it are really positive about it. It’s generally seen as a big step up from our split, both musically as production wise. I think this is some of my best writing so far, and most of our friends seem to agree to that. The singles we released in anticipation of the full album did get very good feedback, so that builds good confidence for the record. 

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

Kurt: I think we’ve set the foundation for our sound with this record. We will continue to build on this in the future. The current songs we are writing are a bit less mid tempo. So more fast but also real slow parts in there. Maybe also include a bit more of the old Swedish bands in our music like Grave, Dismember, Entombed… We’ll see. I like that our music allows for a multitude of influences and styles to be mixed into it. 

13.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? 

Kurt: When writing I get a lot of inspiration from my all time favorite records. I often think “What would Slayer do” when I’m stuck with a song. Big inspirations for me are black metal bands like Dissection, Watain and Darkthrone. Those records get a weekly spin at home. But a lot of classical death metal records also find their way into our music. Bolt Thrower’s “The fourth crusade”, At The Gates’ “Terminal spirit disease”, the later Death albums… A lot of “smaller” bands I look up to also find their way into our music. I’m really into bands like Ringworm and Der Weg Einer Freiheit, and our friends in The Infernal Sea from the UK have always been a band I’ve looked up to. 

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

Kurt: First of all: Thank you very much for this interview and the support you’re giving our band. It really means the world to us when people express an interest towards our music. Also the people who read this: Thank you for checking us out! I’d encourage everyone who reads this to get involved in underground music. Start a band, do a zine, go to shows and maybe put on a gig yourself. It’s not the big fests and rockstar bands that keep metal alive, but people like you and me who are passionate about it

https://www.facebook.com/invictusxxx/

Deimhal/The Diabolical Liberation/2024 EP Review

 

  Deimhal  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "The  Diabolical  liberation".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  also  introducing  symphonic  elements  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  operatic  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  aggressive  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  classical  gutiars.

  On  this  recording  Deimhal  remain  true  to  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  that  they h ad  established  on  their  previous  release,  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  sin  and  diabolical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Deimhal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Flesh  Words  Of  Sin".  8  out  of  10.

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deimhalofficial

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YluMkoNrxPDj6YM3FvkvW

bandcamp: https://deimhal.bandcamp.com    

Black Aeons/Entering The Shadows/Silent Watcher Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Black  Aeons  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Entering  The  Shadows"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Silent  Watcher  Records.

  

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  melodic  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style.

  

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Death,  War,  Greek  Mythology  and  Nordic  History.

  

  In  my  opinion  Black  Aeons  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  "Dawn  Of  A  New  Time"  "Relentless  Fire"  "Shadows  of  A  Dying  Light"  and  "We  Are  The  Dead".  8  out  of  10.

  https://blackaeons.bandcamp.com/album/entering-the-shadows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KSz2MK4wU

Invictus/Despair/Genet Records/Bound By Modern Age/In My Heart Empire/x24x Edgewear/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Invictus  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Despair"  which  will  be  released  in  October  as a  joint  effort  between  Genet  Records.  Bound  By  Modern  Age,  In  my  Heart  Empire  and  x24x  Edgewear.

  A  very  fast  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  Gothenburg  influences  without  sounding  like  a  copy  of  that  area.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  some  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  tracks  also  show  an  influence  of  hardcore.

  Invictus  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  hypocrisy,  social  indifference  and  inhumanity  of  mankind. 

  In  my  opinion  Invictus  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  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inhumane  Shells"  "Wolves"  "Despair"  and  "Screams  of  An  Enslaved  Choir".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u62FivZ_hfE

Forsaken Rite/The Forgotten West/2024 EP Review

 

  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  band  from  Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "The  Forgotten  West"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Folk  instruments  and  symphonic  elements  start  off  the  ep  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  medieval  atmosphere  at  times  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Forsaken  Rite  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  lore  and  heroic  feats.

  In  my  opinion  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Forgotten  West"  and  "Call  To  War".  8  out  of  10.

   Facebook.com/ForsakenRite | Instagram.com/forsaken_rite

yric Video - https://youtu.be/o8qp-l83nAI​

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4a3a8zS