Journey Into Darkness Interview

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



I just released this week so not much musically, more about promotions! Although, I was working on this album up until the day it was released. I have already started on the next album, but I have no idea when that will be.





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



If I go way back, I played in a death metal band Sorrow back in the early 90s (we had 2 albums on Roadrunner). That music was of course more standard OSDM with some heavy doom influences. After we broke up I started writing all synth music that was reminiscent of intros and interludes on metal albums. But it wasn’t minimal, there were dark melodies with heavy death style drums. The music now is probably similar when it comes to the melodies and song structures, but the new stuff incorporates guitar and vocals and is way more heavy and intense.



3.This is also your first release 1996, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?



After I released that CD in 1996, I was somewhat jaded. That CD was released on a small label I started myself and honestly cost me a lot of money. It was just hard to reach people and since the music was not death metal and not dark wave or dungeon synth, it just sat in the middle and got very little traction. I continued to write music on and off for the next 20 years (holy shit) but didn’t get serious again until about 2 years ago. So not much went on musically in that time (except I did continue to listen to all the great new music that came out). I won’t bore you with my non music career LOL



4.Your earlier release was more dark ambient while the new album is more symphonic black/death metal, can you tell us a little bit more about the decision behind going into this musical direction?



The older music was sitting in between a bunch of genres, and I guess after listening to it again years later, I realized it just wasn’t heavy enough. So I added guitar to one track and was immediately excited with the result. The melody and emotion was still there, but the music was just way more intense. So I said skrew it, I might as well add some vocals too! I am very happy with the result, it blends what I was trying to accomplish many years ago with my desire to write intense heavy music again. Sought of a merging of Sorrow and my original JID album.



5.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer album?



I’ve always tried to write meaningful lyrics. The music comes first, but if you have good lyrics the sum of the whole is more than the sum of its parts. As usual, there is an anti-religious song, I can’t help it, I hate religion LOL. One song is about humanity’s deeply violent past, present and future. It’s unavoidable. Another song is about the finality of life and of the universe itself, that death is literally written into our DNA and the structure of the universe. The last song with lyrics is about how insignificant we are compared to the universe (the title gives that away ha). Not just in size, but in time as well. You can take that to be depressing or a way to alleviate the daily stress of life. Some days I choose one, some days I choose the other.





6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Journey Into Darkness'?



Quick story. The first name I came up with was Near Death Experience and the title of the first album was Journey Into Darkness. But I got a cease and desist letter from a lawyer representing a band that was using that name and had a business in a state using that name. So I switched the name of the project and the album. I am actually happy I did it. I like the name JID way better. It feel it conveys the mood and feeling of my music. When someone listens I want them to have a journey into darkness.



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



I wanted a cover representing the title Multitudes of Emptiness. That emptiness is everywhere, both on an emotional level but also in space. Life is empty, and again, you can be depressed about it or you can use it to say fuck it, nothing matters, just try to enjoy life. But space is empty too. An atom is mostly empty space, to the vast distances between stars and galaxies, the universe is empty. I didn’t want a cover that was just black of course, so having a person who was ethereal, or somewhat hollow whisking away into the vastness of space worked well.



8.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with a full band, how would you compare the two?



The obvious advantage to working solo is the creative freedom. But that makes it more difficult too. I get to control every aspect of the music but that means I also have to write every aspect. I obsess over everything, every note, every cymbal, arrangement, etc. so sometimes I second guess myself. At times it can be very nerve-racking. There were times I almost had panic attacks while working on this album. Occasionally I would ask a friend for an opinion. But for me, it is worth it to be able to bring to life my musical ideas exactly the way I want.



9.The new album was self released, are you open to working with a label again in the future?



I would be open to working with a label, I just didn’t want to wait around on this release. Although labels are still important, and I am sure they can do more than an individual, I didn’t want to wait around for months trying to get a deal and then waiting for more months to have the music released.



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



It’s only been one week, so far so good! A posted video got over 1000 streams with no thumbs down so that is good LOL. I’ve picked up a few hundred new followers on Facebook, Bandcamp, Youtube, Spotify, etc. Many people have been really receptive and like the hybrid style from both the black metal and death metal side. So I am very happy.



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



The simple answer is the newer music will be similar to this album. I am really happy with the sound and there is still a lot of area to explore within it.



12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?



I’ve been around since the start of extreme metal in the 80s and I am amazed at how it has progressed over the years. The newer music is amazing and definitely prompted me a few years ago to resurrect JID. So here is a long thought that explains a lot: I love symphonic extreme metal, but sometimes it emphasizes the orchestra parts too much. I love black metal, but sometimes the music is too melancholy. I love death metal but sometimes it lacks melody. I love classical but it can be very boring. So I have tried (and I hope succeeded!) at taking all the genres I love, mixing in what I think is great about them and leaving out what I feel is not as good and creating something unique. I don’t want to name bands, there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of bands I listen to and my favorite band can change daily LOL.



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



Thanks very much for this interview, it feels great to be back making music. For anyone interested, you can visit my website for links to all social media and streaming sites: jidarkness.com





Brett - Journey Into Darkness

https://jidarkness.com/

Journey Into Darkness/Multitudes Of Emptiness/2020 Full Length Review

  Journey  Into  Darkness  are  a  solo  project  from  Florida  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self released  2020 album  "Mulitudes  Of  Emptiness".

  A  very  dark  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  programmed  beats  while  the  synths  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  a  few  ambient  style  instrumentals  also  being  added  onto  the  recording  as  the  album  progresses.

  Journey  Into  Darkness  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  symphonic  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  some  doom  and  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  a  few  ambient  interludes  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Journey  Into  Darkness  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  be  Human  is  To  Be  Inhuman"  and  "Sending  Death".  8  out  of  10.

https://jidarkness.com/

https://journeyintodarkness.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Journey-Into-Darkness-133854346636888

https://youtu.be/qoAINEwHfdo  

N + [BOLT]/Play 15 Amps/Midira Records/2020 Full Length Review

  Germany's  N+  and  [BOLT]  team  up  once  again to  create  a  recording  that  mixes  experimental,  ambient,  improv,  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  collaboration  album  "Play  15  Amps"  which  was  released  by  Midira  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  bring  elements  of  ambient  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  the  background  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  As  the  album  progresses  the  music  also  starts  getting  more  diverse  sounding  while  guitar  orientated  drones  are  also  utilized  at  times.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  the  guitar  sounds  also  mixing  in  elements  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  into  the  heavier  sections  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  repetitive  moments,  stringed  instruments  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  the  re-mix  track  also  shows  more  of  an  avant  garde  side. 

  On  this  recording  N+  and  [BOLT]  team  up  and  create  a  recording  that  mostly  focuses  on  the  experimental,  ambient  and  drone  side  of  the  spectrum  as  well  as  having  some  touches  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  and  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  N+  and  [BOLT]  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  ambient,  improv,  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone.  you  should  check  out  this  collaboration.   

https://wearebolt.bandcamp.com/album/play-15-amps

V:XII Interview

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

V.XII was created in 2018 and was initially meant to be music for a new Deadwood album. But early on it became quite clear that this was something I wanted to have a moniker of its own, and a project that I will be able to invest more time in than Deadwood. The music itself is a mix of Death Industrial, Ambient, Doom and Black Metal with emphasis on Death Industrial. I have been involved in multiple bands and projects during my years in the sonic arts. Ranging prom primitive Black Metal in Blodulv and Doom/Death in Culted to more experimental industrial sounds in Keplers Odd and Black Ambient/Death Industrial in Deadwood to name a few. And V:XII is a combination of all.

2.Recently you have released a new album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

I wanted to combine the elements of Death Industrial music with the atmosphere of Doom and Black Metal. Using a more beat oriented and structured approach to the tracks then I had done before. Without losing the atmosphere and intensity that I achieved in other projects before V:XII.

3.You are also involved with a few other musical projects, how does the music you do with 'V:XII' differ from the stuff you do with your other bands or groups?

V:XII is, as stated above a more structured and beat oriented creation then my previous efforts doing Death Industrial type of music. Something I think Deadwood lost along the way. And its not by any means Metal based music like Culted even if it draws some influence from genres like Doom and Black. So, it is a whole other entity. This will be my go-to project when doing solo albums from now on.

4.Some of your lyrics touch on Occultism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

I have always been inspired by the occult and the symbolism that comes with it. In my youth I was experimenting with different types and branches of systems out there. Today not so much. But it keeps being a big influence on lyrics be it figurative or not.

5.You also have a few runes on your bandcamp page, how would you describe your interest in runology?

As mentioned above, that was one of the branches that I explored in my youth and it had a deep impact on me. Today its more it is more of a lyrical inspiration then anything else.

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

I had Max Winter (Teratogen) to do the artwork. He usually does designs for metal bands, but I think he did a great job with the layout. I sent him my tracks and the lyrics. And I let him come up with his interpretation of the music. The only part I played was to let him know my preferences and ideas. But he had, creative control over the layout.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with other musicians, how would you compare the two?

It a whole other thing when one has complete control and don’t have to compromise about anything. Both has its pros and cons though. When recording with other people you get a direct feedback about what you need to re-work and record again, so you always have the opinions of others to fall back on. Good or bad.
But when you have 100% control and no one else’s opinion to take into consideration you get everything exactly the way you want. You can’t blame no one, but yourself if it doesn’t sound good. There´s a lot more pressure to perform at a higher level, there´s nowhere to hide. It´s just you.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal, experimental, noise and ambient?

The Rom, Rune and Ruin album was just released so I have yet to get proper feedback on that album. But in my opinion, it’s one of my best albums up to date, so I’m very eager to get some proper reviews. But other than that, I think I have had a good response in general for most of my albums. Reviews have been positive for both Culted and Deadwood in the past. Sure, there are always some people that dislike what you do but that’s inevitable. I create music that I myself want to listen to and its an outlet for me. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it.

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

Culted is working on a new album, if things go according to plan it will be done in summer 2020. I will be recording vocals in the next fem months.

I have started to work on a new V:XII album but it’s on hold until the Culted album is done.

Deadwood is on ice but will most likely be an outlet for more Black Ambient music in the future.

Aum Arrhythmia is working on a new album, but I have no idea when that one will be finished.


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

Only time will tell.

11.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?
Too many to bands and genre´s to give you a list but here are three bands that have had a huge impact on me over the years:
Darkthrone
Tool
Brighter Death Now

Some of the records that I have been listening to the last few days are:
Kjellvandertonbruket – Doom Country
Blut Aus Nord-Hallucinogen
Wolfbrigade-The Enemy: Reality
Trepaneringsritualen-Kainskult
Human Impact-S/T

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

I’m good, thanks!

https://vxii.bandcamp.com/

https://culted.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/daniel.jansson.75641

V:XII/Rom, Rune And Ruin:The Odium Disciplina/Aesthetic Death/2020 CD Review

  V:XII  is  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal,  industrial,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of his  2020  album  "Rom,  Rune  And  Ruin: The Odium Disciplina"  which  will  be  released  on  February  29th  by  Aesthetic  Death.

  Power  electronics  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  ritualistic  soundscapes.  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Industrial  style  programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  while  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  at  times.  Harsh  noises  are  also utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording along  with  the  spoken  word  parts  also  enhancing  the  ritualistic  side  of  the  music  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient    and  all  of the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other,  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  V:XII  plays  a  musical style  that  takes  black,  doom  metal,  industrial,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Occultism  and  Norse  Rune  themes.

  In  my  opinion  V:XII  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of   black,  doom  metal,  industrial,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  New  Black"  "Ururz"  and  "Vanagandr".  8  out  of  10.

https://vxii.bandcamp.com/releases     

    

Baron SAMEDI/11/Maaninen Henki Records/2019 EP Review

  Baron  SAMEDI  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  has  recently  been  featured  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  ambient,  experimental,  drone  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  ep  "11"  which  was  released  by  Maaninen  Henki  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  field  recordings  start  off  the  ep  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Voices  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  briefly  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  noise  elements  and  ambient  sounds  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  The  music  also  gets  very  experimental  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  ritualistic  and  demonic  atmosphere.  Both  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  second  song  goes  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  drone  style  as  well  as  having  some  diversity

  On  this  recording  Baron  SAMEDI  takes  noise,  experimental,  ambient  and  drone  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  that  is  very  different  from  the  previous  album  reviewed  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Baron  SAMEDI  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  drone,  experimental  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Dead  Calm  Kab".  8  out  of  10.

https://mhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/11

Bogwych/On The Wind Is All That Is Left/Trepanation Recordings/2020 Full Length Review

  Bogwych  is  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  dark  ambient  blackgaze  and  doom  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "On  The  Wind  Is  All  that  Is Left"  which  will  be  released  on  January  31st  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  A  few  seconds  of  silence  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  noise  and  experimental  elements  as  well  as  the  recording  also  capturing  an  improv  atmosphere  at  times.

  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  some  drums  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.  Spoken  word  parts,  whispers  and  grim  black  metal  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  while  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.

  Dark  ambient  soundscapes  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  bass guitars  also  being  utilized  briefly  along  with  some  touches  of  shoegaze  also  being  utilized  when  clean  guitars  are  added  onto  the  recording.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  riffing  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Bofwych  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  dark  ambient  blackgaze  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  8  out  of  10.

https://bogwych.bandcamp.com/album/on-the-wind-is-all-that-is-left-only-roots-remain    

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.

Castle Of Yester/Echoes From Hobgoblin Ha'/2019 Full Length Review

  Castle  of  Yester  is  a  solo  project  from  new  York  that  plays  a  very  symphonic,  ambient  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2019  album  "Echoes  From  Hobgoblin  Ha'".

  A  sci-fi  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording  which  also  add  in  elements  of  dungeon  synth.  At  times  the  guitar  riffing  also  captures  a  lo-fi  atmosphere  while  also  mixing  symphonic  elements  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  most  of  the  music  goes  back  to  the  90's  demo  era  of  the  symphonic  side  of  the  genre.  Blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  riffs  also  start  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody,  out  of  key  power  metal  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  a  couple  of  songs  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  avant  garde  and  ambient  elements.

  Castle  of  Yester  plays  a  style  of  symphonic  black  metal that  goes  back  to  the  early demo  days  of  the  genre  while  also  mixing  in  some  touches  of  dungeon  synth,  ambient  and  avant  garde  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Scottish  Yester  castle  and  its  beacon  of  sorcerers. 

  In  my  opinion  Castle  Of  Yester  is  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde,  ambient  symphonic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Donning  Myself  In  Armor  Most  Spiritual"  "On  The  Infestation  of  Goblins  In  Our  Humble  Village"  and  "Encrumbling".  8  out  of  10.

https://castle-ov-yester.bandcamp.com/releases     

[ BOLT]/Lavas Magmas/dunk! records/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Germany's  [ BOLT ]  and  Lavas  Magmas  which  was  released  by  dunk!  records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  [ BOLT ]   who  move  from  a  blackened  drone  doom  metal  style  to  more  of  an  instrumental  ambient  drone  style  with  their  track

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  their  track  is  also  over  10  minutes  in  length.  All  of  the  music  is  instrumental  along  with  some  elements  of  ambient  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  song  and  the  track  also  avoids  the  black  and  doom  metal  influences  of  previous  releases.

  Next  up  is  Lavas  Magmas  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise  and  industrial.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  field  recordings  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background.  his  track  is  all  instrumental  along  with  the  track  being  over  10  minutes  in  length  and  the  song  also  adds  in  elements  of  noise  and  industrial  and  the  music  also  gets  more  diverse  as  the  song  progresses.

  On  the  closing  track  [ BOLT ]   and  Lavas  Magmas  team  up  together  and  mix  both  of  their  very  different  style  together.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  while  the  track  is  over  20  minutes  in  length  and  an  instrumental.  Field  recordings  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  elements  of  ambient  and  as  the  tracks  progresses  the  music  also  starts  adding  in  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal.

  In  conclusion  i  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  doom  metal,  drone,  noise,  experimental  and  ambient.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/wearebolt/
https://wearebolt.bandcamp.com
www.lavasmagmas.bandcamp.com
                 

Tovarish/If The War Comes Tomorrow/Argonauta Records/2019 CD Review

Tovarish  are  a  band  from  Providence,  Rhode  Island  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient, black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "If  the  War  Comes  Tomorrow"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Argonauta  Records.



  Spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.  A  touch  of  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  screams  along  with  some  ambient  style  synths  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.



  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  music  while  harsh  noises  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  songs.  Spoken  word  samples  are  also  brought  onto  some  of  the  later  tracks  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  and  experimental  sounding  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  As  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of field  recordings,  female  vocals  and  demonic  growls  can  also  be  heard,  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Soviet  era  Communism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Tovarish  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient, black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "They  Know"  "Silver  And  Lead"  From  Trench  To  Triumph"  and  "If  The  War  COmes  Tomorrow".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Tovarishband

https://tovarish.bandcamp.com

Dark Reverence Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Yes, we are a duo. Lord of Horns creates and records all of the music and Legion sings in various styles. We both contribute with lyrics and Legion focuses on our visual marketing.

2.Recently you have released a demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?
We chose 3 songs that we felt displayed our talents and influences the best. It has a good mix of goth, black metal, ambient, and industrial. We were able to prominently display Legion's vocal capabilities, which is a key factor of our music.

3.You refer to your music as 'savage goth', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?
I came up with the term to describe our sound. We are a little too soft for metal and way too hard for traditional goth. I wanted a term that represented our sound as soon as you heard it. Metal in general and especially black metal is known to be savage sounding. Goth is more dreary and slower paced, but we use elements of each to attain our sound. I didn't want to go by 'goth metal' because that's still not exactly what we are doing. I really wanted something that represented our black metal influences, so I chose the word savage.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
We have a range of topics that we enjoy writing about. They include, but not limited to, serial killers, dark fantasy/ mysticism, psychological torture, classic horror tropes, etc.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dark Reverence'?
We revere all that is dark, we live in a harsh world and we feel dark themes are more realistic and representative of life. For this project, we wanted to incorporate many different types of dark music that we each are influenced by. Some people like goth, or industrial, or thrash metal. We like it all, so long as it's dark sounding. It's also another take away from our black metal influences. Many bands are Dark this or Dark that. So, the name works well to promote our sound.

6.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?
For the time, we are happy with how we work. We would love to share the stage with other musicians, but we don't want to compromise on our craft. I think if we are ever signed by a major record label, studio musicians would work best for us.

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
So far we only had one show with a good turn out. We started slow and didn't promote much. Now we are promoting constantly. Our last show was the best, we opened for the Vampirefreak's monthly Cybertron event last month. For being an unknown opening band, we played for about 60 people, half of which we personally sold tickets to. Our stage performance is rather reserved. We wear hoods and have mysterious presences. That's the aesthetic we are going for.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We have 2 shows coming up next weekend. One is in Ardmore, PA at the Rusty Nail. That's a metal show. The night after we will be in Mystic Islands, NJ at the last Castle Corridors event. That's a goth dance event. In the summer we just got accepted to perform at Steampunk Fest. Before then, however, we want to do some weekend touring around the northeast region of the US to spread our name. We are thinking that would go from March-May

9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We are still only 4 months old, so no interest has come to us. We aren't really looking for a label right now. We want to gain exposure first to make ourselves more marketable for bigger labels.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and goth metal?
We received a good amount of positive feedback by fans of those types of music. These are people I am friending on facebook and promoting to all over the world.

11.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We want to do a few more demos first and then focus on getting a record or distribution deal. Once we have that we would be game to do a full length release.

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?
Legion enjoys traditional goth, industrial, and tribal; bands like Depeche Mode, Eisbrecher, Dead Can Dance, are just a few. I like a lot of styles from blues to hard rock, metal of all kinds, punk and goth. We continue to listen to much of the same as we always have.

13.How would you describe your views on Occultism?
We embrace occultism. I am a nordic pagan and Legion is spiritual, but unaffiliated with religion.

14.What are some of your non musical interests?
We like being out in nature and creating art. We enjoy going out to goth clubs and metal concerts.

15.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
It was a pleasure to take part in this interview and we thank you for taking interest in our project!

https://www.facebook.com/darkreverenceband/

Dark Reverence/2018 Promo Review

  Dark  Reverence  are  a  duo  from  New  Jersey  that  plays  a  mixture  of  goth,  ambient  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  promo.

  Heavy  yet  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  promo  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  programmed  beats  as  well  as  the  female  vocals  also  mixing  goth  elements  onto  the  recording  and  the  music  also  incorporates  a  great  amount  of  synths.

  A  decent  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  while  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them as  well  as  a brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Dark  Revernece  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal,  dark  ambient  and  goth  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dark  Reverence  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  dark  ambient  and  goth  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Let  Me  Be  Myself  Again".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/darkreverenceband/
  

Haiku Funeral/Decadent Luminosity/Aesthetic Death/2018 Double Album Review

  Haiku  Funeral  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  blackened  industrial  and  ritualistic  satanic  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  double  album  "Decadent  Luminosity"  which  was  released  by  Aesthetic  Death.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  first  side  of  album  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length   along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  industrial  elements  as  well  as  the  vocals  being  mostly  done  in  a  very  grim  black  metal  style  and  synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  A  great  amount  of  programmed  and  militant  beats  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  melodic  chants  also  being  used  briefly  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  stringed  instruments,  some  tracks  also  add  in  whispered  style  vocals  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  and  when  percussion  is  utilized  briefly  it  adds  in  more  of  a  shamanistic  atmosphere  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  elements  of  Indian  ethnic  music.

  Ritualistic  percussion's  start  off  the  second  sound  of  the  album  along  with  some  clear  yet  chanting  vocals   while  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  and  they  also  sound  very  demonic  at  times  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Ambient  style  synths  and  ritualistic  soundscapes  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  second  half  of  the  album  while  grim  whispers  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  at  times  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  an  instrumental.

  With  this  double  album  Haiku  Funeral  brings  out  2  different  sides  of  their  musical  style  with  the  first  side  being  blackened  industrial  and  the  second  side  ritualistic satanic  ambient,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Eastern/Western  Occultism,  Rituals  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Haiku  Funeral  an  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal,  industrial,  experimental,  ritual  and  dark  ambient,  you  should  check  out  this  double  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Scientia  Intra  Satana"  "Dreaming  Kali  In  The  Temple  Of  Fire"  "Lacerate  The  Light"  and  "Endlessly".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/haikufuneral/

  

Abstracter/Cinereous Incarnate/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2018 Full Length Review

  Oakland, California's  Abstracter  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  into a  mixture  of  black,  death,  sludge,  doom  metal,  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Cinereous  Incarnate"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  Distorted  amp  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier musical  direction  while t he  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  vocals  also  utilizing  death  metal  growls  and  grim  black  metal  screams.  and  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  crust  and  d  beat.

  A  lot  of  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  elements  of  harsh  noise,  dark  ambient  and  drone  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Abstracter  mix  black,  death,  doom  and  sludge  metal  with  some  elements  of  drone,  dark  ambient  and  noise  to  take  their  sound  to  another  level,  the  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Abstracter  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  death,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nether"  and  "Devouring  Night".  8  out  of  10.

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/cinereous-incarnate?utm_source=ALL&utm_campaign=8a2a0fb12e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3b1f609241-8a2a0fb12e-512509221    

Primitive Man/Steel Casket/Tartarus Records/2018 EP Review

  Denver,  Colorado's Primitive  Man  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  where  they  move  away  from  their  blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  by  bringing  in  more  of  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2018  ep  "Steel  Casket"  which  will  be  released  on  April  25th  by  Tartarus  Records.

  Ambient  style  drones  start  off  the  ep  while  clean  guitars  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  they  give  the  music  more  of  an  experimental  and  avant  garde  feeling  along  with  both  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  after  awhile  power  electronics  and  harsh  noises  make  their  presence  known.

  After  awhile  the  music  gets  more  diverse  along  with  both  of  the  tracks  being  instrumentals  along  with  some  natural  noises  also  being  used  at  times  and  both  of  the  songs  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  and  the  acoustic  guitars  have  more  of  a  dominant  sound  on  the  second  track  and  towards  the  end  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Primitive  Man  move  way  from t heir  blackened  sludge/doom  metal  style  and  go  into  more  of  an  instrumental  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  ambient  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Primitive  Man  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  drone  and  harsh  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "A  Life  Of  Turmoil".  8  out  of  10.

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Hildr Valkyrie Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the solo project since the recording and release of the new album?
First of all thank you for granting me the pleasure to have an interview with you.

For the time, all are in shadows, just few songs in a very primitive form, ideas that needs to bloom into something new. That was caused because my Keyboards in which I composed everything on, has been broken; and this took me some more time than I expected to learn new ways to write music with my midi and pc. Had to be familiar with new technologies that have never involved with and this kept me back by having fast new material for Hildr Valkyrie, but definitely there will be a new album in the main future.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
I can’t really give you a specific genre for the album as it comes for the music itself, almost all songs have their own personality in which also happened to my previous releases. You can find from Folk (polyphonic) to Viking metal, Black metal, Symphonic metal etc, you can recognize a lot of genres in, so how do we describe the music of Hildr Valkyrie? I simply do it from the themes that my lyrics refer to, so in just two words we can describe it as Heathen Metal.
Now as it comes to the differences between the releases of the past. I can say that still I kept the identity of Hildr Valkyrie, and in the same time my session guitarist Jan Twothousandarrows made the difference by playing a huge role in the nowadays sound of the band, he was free to act as he wanted and recorded the guitars and bass in free will also he added a part of the drum programming as well!  Then my sound producer Patric from WSL studio also put his knowledge to reveal the details of the music in this album and last but not least “time”, yes time that helped me to become a bit better than before, I am not a professional musician, I am self-taught one and time is my best friend in many occasions.

3.This is your first solo release since 2008, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?
Yes, I am a “bit” slow with the releases of Hildr Valkyrie this is true, but as an artist I am not. In the meantime I have done some appearances in V/A either with covers, either with new songs as Hildr Valkyrie and also many, many collaborations with bands I appreciate so much in small or bigger roles. I can name you a few such as with Elffor (Basque/Spain), Emyn Muil (Italy), Helrunar (Germany), Eliwagar (Norway), Celtefog (Hellas), Voluspaa (Norway), Kawir (Hellas), The Wolves of Avalon (UK), Folkearth and Folkodia (International), Meneapneontes (Hellas) and many others that in total we can count around 45 different releases as far in my bio.     

4.A lot of your lyrics are based on Norse Mythology and Paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
From little child I was unfriendly with christian religion, something was wrong in my childish little mind, something did not fitted well. Later on I was considering myself as an agnostic. Years passed and found myself pretty close to the Nordic Paganism, I started to study, learning with much passion about Odinism, trying with each possible way to learn as much more I was able to; by reading online books that was not in my mother language and of course not the easiest way to achieve the goal I wanted. In the very beginning I thought I was strange and alone, but this did not bothered me at all because finally I felt complete into my soul. Later on I found European and American Folks from Odinic Rite that gladly accepted me as an equal member to their Religious community even if my blood is not from North Europe and gladly helped me to learn even more.
You see, Traditions of Europe must stay alive, even if you are Hellenes, or Norwegian, or Germanic, or Italian, or Basque, or Slav etc, because this is our Identity and our secure mean to survive cultural into the multiculturalism way of life that the clique of managers (because this is what they exactly are), the “big heads” in which we are (forced to) ruled from, compulsion us to live in deeper in this situation, day by day more and more, without being able to even speak about it; because automatically they point a finger to you screaming about politics. No! It is not about politics; Religion and Traditions are more than this and something complete different topic, it is about our European Cultural Identity. Christianity was and is one of their weapon as this religion itself is multicultural, all Nations under the banner of jehovah and his son yeshua the woodcutter, well no, my Gods are more than just this!
So, let’s go to the conclusion, because this question may never have an end. For me, these topics are not just fashion as for many meant to be, are not just fancy stories with swords and axes to play with, neither I wear my Mjollnir or carry Heathen Symbols on me for fun or any kind of fame or to create a name around my person, this is my living Faith, my Oath.
And by the chance I would like to refer a problem that I am still reading in written articles or dialogs around the net for our Religion, Gods ARE, Gods DO exist, Odhinn IS not was, Thor IS not was, Gods can’t die and you want to call it Paganism in general? You want to call it Heathenism? You want to call it Old Faith? Asatru? Odinism? Hellenism? Nordic? Germanic? Slavic? Ancestral? This is not a dead Religion, we have to make up our minds and think different than the way they we’ve been taught as far from the christian society, and so; our Gods ARE!

5.You have worked both solo and with full bands, which one do you prefer?
Actually the time that I had true rehearsals with bands is a far past for me, far back before the creation of Hildr Valkyrie, just had a small “refresh” of memory of how it is with Kawir before we go on stage because I was called to be their guest (for the Hellenic live in Athens) for the 20th anniversary of the band.
Further more, I can not compare the full bands that they are asking me to join them, with my solo project, of course and I live the process through the first note till “that last little detail” which is needed to be changed, I get the inspiration to write lyrics through the music and sing to give the last touch to the songs, something that I do not enjoy when I get complete songs to sing, but in the end; for me it is the same satisfaction, and to tell you the truth, I feel more responsible to the bands that they trust in me and ask to join them. To my creations, I can find mistakes (no one is perfect) but I care much more if I find mistakes to my guest or session appearances.

6.You have also released a great amount of material with your other musical projects, do you spend a great amount of time writing, performing and recording music?
Well, I never thought of that. You know, I never count the time when I am doing these activities. For me the time stops when I start a recording, when finish and I get up my head it is or dark, or dawn. I forgot completely the time, I am somewhere else, in another cosmos, in another dimension.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of viking and folk metal?
Ow, by my own standards of course I am more than happy! I have fans from almost all around the world. I could never imagine that when I first started Hildr Valkyrie. In the beginning I must admit that the enthusiasm of the fans was much more than now, and to be honest, this is my fault because whatever you leave it behind it does leave you too. I should have been a little more active with Hildr Valkyrie, for example to had at least one more album in the meantime to keep the interest of my fans, but Hildr Valkyrie is not the only thing I deal with in my life of course!

8.what is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?
Most of the bands that I have been involved with are active, and as I am learning news from them, they keep on recording new music. Some they will call me again, as my most of collaborations are not just for one album and I’ll be more than happy to give my help again! I also have new proposals for new collaborations and one new born black metal band that we are just started to record our first songs with a very talented Hellenic guitarist and the band name is “Solis in Antris” which means “Alone in the Caves” (you are the first that I announce it)!

9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I don’t know what future will bring, more collaborations maybe? New bands? I just hope that the Norns will be well favored as possible!

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
The mainly influences in which I never hid, are Falkenbach and Summoning. Two different genres of metal in which I combine them in a special way with my own identity. This is also one of the reasons why I can’t refer to one specific genre for my one-woman band.
At the time, I am listening more to Anglo-Saxon bands such as Winterfylleth, Wodensthrone, Ildra etc but I do not think that this showed up to my music since my skills can not touch these megatheriums!

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

I like photography and photography manipulation, even if I have not the time as I used to. Also with my husband and beloved friends we run an organization under the name of Thyrsos – Oikos of Ethnikoi Hellenes, in which members and friends organize and have active practice by having Rites to the Gods, we have done European meetings with other members of Heathen organizations, we have presented Hellenism within European Heathenism to other countries, street activities such as raising banners and protest, also we run online publications that has to do with Heathenism in all its forms, and I think if you add the daily job for earing my living and music activities is a full life!

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
 I think this was a wonderful interview, one of the few indeed! Thank you for taking time to write these questions and I must thank also and your readers for their patience and interest to read this interview too! 

Haire!

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Hildr Valkyrie/Revealing The Heathen Sun/Stygian Crypt Productions/2017 CD Review

  Hildr  Valkyrie  is  a  solo  artist  from  Greece  that  plays  an  experimental  and  ambient  mixture  of  folk,  heathen  and  viking  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2017  album  "Revealing  The  Heathen  Sun"  which  was  released  by  Stygian  Crypt  Productions.

  Tribal  style  percussion starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  female  vocals  a  few  seconds  alter  while  the  music  also brings  in  a  very  tribal,  ritual  and  shamanistic  atmosphere  and  after  the  thunder  sounds  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  symphonic  musical direction  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  gets  more  experimental and  also  mixes  in  more  ambient  touches  and  when  acoustic  guitars  and  flutes  are  utilized  they  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  onto  the  recording.

  Hildr  Valkyrie  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  viking  and  folk  metal  while also  mixing  in  elements  of  black  metal,  experimental  and  ambient  to  create  something very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Sagas  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hildr  Valkyrie  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  ambient  mixture  of  folk  and  viking  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should c heck  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ove  Lands  Mountains  And  Shade"  "The  Rune's  Song"  "An  Ode  To  Allfather  Odhinn"  and  "Summoning  The  Heathen  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

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