Chronicler Of Ardul/Sounds Of Ardul/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  are  a  solo  project  from  Richland,  Washington  that  started  out  playing    a  fantasy  themed  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  on t his  album  keeps  the f antasy  themes  and  goes  into  more  of  an  acoustic  folk  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Sounds  of  Ardul"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Acoustic  guitars,  percussion  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album   along  with  some  clear  singing  a  few  seconds  later.  Some  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction  while  one  track  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  album  and  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  a  cinematic  and  atmospheric  direction  while  most  of  the  songs  are  also  very  short  in  length.  Stringed  instruments  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  a  lot  of  the  recording  also  capturing t he  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  movie  soundtrack,  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  goes  for  a  very  cinematic  and  symphonic  style  of  folk  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  the  mythic  world  of  Ardul

  In  my  opinion  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  are a   very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  cinematic  folk  music  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Watch  Over  Me"  "Woodlands"  "Unwelcome  Quests"  and  "Zarek  The  Bloody".  8 out  of  10.

  Official Website: chroniclerofardul.com

Bandcamp: https://chroniclerofardul.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chronicler-of-Ardul-100063489851273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicler_of_ardul
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChroniclerOfArdul
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5h3LfVFyzZA7Tl0eBhQxKg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chronicler-of-ardul/1678862672

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicler_of_ardul   

Bloodred/Colours Of Pain/Massacre Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Bloodred  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  brutal  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Colours  Of  Pain"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  massacre  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  ver4y  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  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  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  atmospheric  touches,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Bloodred  takes  their  melodic  and  brutal  style  of  blackened  death  metal  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  betrayal,  censorship,  environmental  collapse,  societal  decay,  pandemic  devastation  and  global  resistance.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bloodred  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  brutal  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ashes"  "Heretics"  and  "Resist".  8  out  of  10.

  www.bloodredband.com 

www.facebook.com/Bloodredofficial 

www.instagram.com/bloodred.band 

https://youtu.be/rxKVHDRhdC0  .    

Hexagraf/Walsen van hoop/Void Wanderer Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Hexagraf  are  a  duo  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  an  atmospheric,  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Walsen  van  hoop"  which  will b e  released  on  December  18th  by  Void  Wanderer  Productions.

  Coughs  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  darker  and  heavier  direction  while  elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  parts  of  the  recording.    Symphonic  keyboards  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  vocals  bring  in a   mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.

  Whispered  vocals  and  spoken  words  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style,  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clear  singing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Dutch  and  cover  the  dark  underbelly  of  industry.

  In  my  opinion  Hexagraf  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stoflongen"  and  "Bitjend  in  de  geestvan  productie".  8  out  of  10.

 https://voidwanderer.com/product/hexagraf-walsen-van-hoop-cd-preorder/

Norilisk/Gigantes Mortui/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2025 Live Album Review

 

  Quebec,  Canada's  Norilisk  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Gigantes  mortui"  which  was  released  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier,  melodic  and  melancholic  direction.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  touches  of  the  90's  era  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  style  while  black  metal  screams  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  which  some  touches  of  post  metal.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  and  each  song  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  being  recorded  in  a  live  rehearsal  setting.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  French  and  cover  mythology  and  history  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Norsilisk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beyond  The  Horizon"  and  "No  Sacred  Sound".  8  out  of  10.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norilskdoom/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf-_GYz9HnA
Norilsk Bandcamp: https://norilskdoom.bandcamp.com/album/gigantes-mortui-mmxiv-mmxxiv
Hypnotic Dirge Bandcamp: https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/gigantes-mortui
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/2RHvb7kuSrHa2htjZnnYwd?si=y9MQt_XhRvioKOsW2MRqBA

Drofnosura/Ritual of Split Tongues/Transcending Obscurity Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Drofnosura  are  a  band  from  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Ritual  Of  Split  Tongues"  which  was  released  by  Transcending  Obscurity  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  spoken  words  are  also  used  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  some  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Influences  of  post  metal  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  very  dissonant  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  ritualistic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Drofnosura  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Selection  Of  A  Corpse"  and  "The  Well  of  Seven  Heads".  8  out  of  10.

  

Official Video Stream #1

Official Video Stream #2

Drofnosura Bandcamp

Drofnosura Facebook

Drofnosura Instagram         

End of Dawn Interview

 

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

At the moment we are continuing the momentum from our debut album Primordial Darkness. Since signing with WormHoleDeath Records and releasing the album in late 2024, we have been playing shows around Greece and working on new material. Our recent performance at the GR Festival in Volos was a highlight, and we are steadily preparing the next steps for both live activity and songwriting.

2. A year ago the band released its first full-length. Can you tell us a bit more about the musical style you aimed for?

With Primordial Darkness, we wanted a balance of symphonic and gothic black metal, combining aggressive elements such as riffs and harsh vocals with clean vocals, orchestral arrangements, and darker atmospheric layers. The music explores contrasts like melancholy and intensity, and the themes draw from mythology, biblical imagery, and existential ideas, which naturally shaped the album’s cinematic and somber tone.

3. The band has been active since 2019 but waited until 2024 to release a debut. What were those first years like?

Those early years were focused on developing the sound and identity of End of Dawn. The project started small and gradually came together as a full band, with each member bringing personal influences into the writing process. We spent a lot of time composing, experimenting, and shaping the atmosphere that eventually defined Primordial Darkness. We also played a few shows to try out new material, and in 2024 the partnership with WormHoleDeath made it possible to release the album properly.

4. Many of your lyrics touch on occult themes. What draws you to this subject?

For us, the occult is less about dogma and more about symbolism. It offers imagery that represents internal struggles, transformation, and the more hidden aspects of human experience. Using these themes helps us frame emotional and psychological ideas in a way that fits the tone of our music, without leaning on any strict doctrine or established belief system.

5. What other lyrical topics appear in the newer material?

Besides occult symbolism, we also explore ideas related to death, mythology, biblical references, dark fantasy, and existential conflict. On the debut album, each track follows a kind of descent and eventual rise on a spiritual or psychological level. The new material draws more from dark fantasy influences such as literature, cinema, games, and the Dungeons and Dragons universe, which gives us room to approach our themes from another angle.

6. Can you tell us more about the album artwork?

The artwork represents the core essence of Primordial Darkness: the dawn of a post-apocalyptic era freed from the burning light of human civilization and welcoming a purifying darkness. The eclipse, which people seem to greet with awe, symbolizes that transformation. Both the confrontation with the unknown and a gateway to spiritual awakening, echoing the album’s lyrical themes. We wanted the visual aesthetic to mirror the music’s atmosphere: mystical, oppressive, and transformative.

7. Out of all the shows you have played so far, which one stands out the most?

Our performance at the GR Festival in Volos this August stands out. Sharing the stage with local bands and, one of our inspirations, Old Man’s Child was meaningful for us, and the atmosphere of the event left a strong impression. As we started performing, clouds gathered and darkened the sky, and combined with the crowd’s energy it felt like a true dark rite.

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

We are currently planning the next steps. While nothing is confirmed yet, we aim to be more active live in 2026, both within Greece and potentially abroad. We are considering festivals, a national tour, and international appearances depending on how things develop.

9. Will the next album also be released through WormHoleDeath Records?

WormHoleDeath has been a supportive partner for our debut, and the collaboration remains positive. We will decide how to proceed once the new material reaches a more complete stage.

10. How has the worldwide reaction been to your music from fans of symphonic and gothic black metal?

The feedback has been encouraging. Listeners have responded well to the combination of heavier elements with orchestral and atmospheric parts. We are still building our audience, but so far the reception has been helpful and motivating.

11. What is going on with some of the other bands or projects your members are involved in?

Several members remain active in other projects, which brings new ideas back into End of Dawn. This year, Gravekeeper released a full length with his hardcore band Soulhound, as well as a single with his blackened deathcore band Chants ov Obscurity. Akhenaten released a split with Darkest Oath. Absence and I are working on a black metal project that is still taking shape. Other members occasionally join different projects or tribute bands, although our primary focus is on the next End of Dawn release.

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

We want to continue developing the symphonic and gothic aspects of our sound while keeping the raw black. metal foundation present. Our goal is to expand the arrangements, use a wider dynamic range, and put more attention on the visual and atmospheric elements of the music. We also feel more comfortable on stage now, which motivates us to improve the live experience further.

13. What bands or musical styles are the members currently listening to?

We listen to a broad mix of metal styles, as well as related genres such as gothic rock, psychedelic rock, dungeon synth, dark synthwave, Scandinavian folk, classical music, and film soundtracks. Each member has personal preferences, but our influences often blend into the writing process. We all share an interest in symphonic black metal, particularly bands like Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and Old Man’s Child.

14. Any final words or thoughts?

We would like to thank our siblings of the night who have embraced Primordial Darkness and shown interest in the band. We are already working on new material and we hope to continue growing and creating music with sincerity and focus. Stay with us. The dawn may end, but the darkness continues to evolve.

https://linktr.ee/endofdawn

Dimension Of The Abandoned/Self Titled/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Dimension  Of  The  Abandoned  are  a  band  from  Sacramento,  California  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  form  of  blackened  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  and  self  titled  2025  album.

  Clean  playing  and  synths  start  off  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  progressive  feeling  while  also  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times..  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  elements  of  traditional  metal.

  Clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  introspective  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dimension  Of  The  Abandoned  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  heavy  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Journey  To  The  Ethereal"  and  ""The  Abandoning".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp

YouTube      

Aduanten/Apocryphal Voice/Nameless Grave Records/2o25 EP Review

 

  Aduanten  are  a  band  from  Austin,  Texas  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Apocryphal  Voice"  which  was  released  by  Nameless  Grave  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  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  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Aduanten  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  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  decay  and  despair  with  profound  sorrow.

  In  my  opinion  Aduanten  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  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  "Cerulean  Dream"  and  "The  Weakening  Sovereign".  8  out   of  10.

https://youtu.be/sR2DwsbrEgM

    

End Of Dawn/Primordial Darkness/2024 Full Length Review

 

     End  Of  Dawn  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  gothic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Primordial  Darkness".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Operatic  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  gothic  metal  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  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.  A  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  used  at  times,  clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  darkness,  chaos,  damnation,  occultism  and  suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  End  Of  Dawn  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  gothic  and  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dawn  of  Decay"  "Stepping  Into  Oblivion"  "The  Fall  Of  The  Rebel"  and  "Breaking  The  Pendulum".  8/5  out  of  10.

  ouTube – Full Album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h265r1GBC4

Spotify Artist Page:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/03GS0Jd0J7nEJv1Ra3idkS?si=58e4dda93eac40cd

The Promise Of Plague/The Earth Above, A Grave Beneath/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Kentucky's  The  Promise  Of  Plague  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  90's  inspired  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "The  Earth  Above,  A  Grave  Beneath"  which  will  be  released  in  2026.

  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  start  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Spoken  words  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts

   The  recording  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  clear  vocals  also  add  in  touches  of  gothic  metal,  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  some  acoustic  guitars,  the  album  also  closes  with  a  Quiet  Riot  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  sorrow  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  The  Promise  Of  Plague  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  90's  inspired  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vomit  Running  Through  My  Veins"  "The  Earth  Above,  A  Grave  Beneath"  and  "Of  Sorrow".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp

https://thepromiseofplague.bandcamp.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/thepromiseofplague

YouTube

https://youtube.com/@thepromiseofplague

An Abstract Illusion/The Sleeping City/Willowtip Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  An  Abstract  Illusion  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Sleeping  City"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  At  times  the  recording  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  clear  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  some  of  the  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  depths  of  human  suffering  the  the  psyche  with  some  touches  of  dystopian/science  fiction.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from An  Abstract  Illusion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "No  Dreams  Beyond  Empty  Horizons"  and  "The  Sleeping  City".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/AnAbstractIllusion    

The Omega Swarm/Crimson Demise/Van Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  The  Omega  Swarm  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Crimson  Demise"  which  was  released  by  Van  Records.

  Apocalyptic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  and  symphonic  touches.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  fast  riffs  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  tremolo  picking.

  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words,  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Omega  Swarm  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  of  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Veiled  Source"  "Lethal  Increase"  and  "Vacuum  Within".  8  out  of  10.

  Instagram:  @theomegaswarm

Facebook:  The Omega Swarm

https://www.van-records.com       

Ka,aper/While Flows The Nile/Satanath Records/The End Of Time Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Ka'aper  are  a  band  from  Cyprus  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "While  Flows  The  Nile"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath  and  The  End  Of  Times  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  emtal  screams.

  Elements  of  dark  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  spoken  words  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  electronic  touches.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  violins  and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  brings  in  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.

  Ka'aper  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  atmospheric  forms  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Egyptian  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Ka'aper  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  dark  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reign!"  "The  Sun"  "Into  The  Hall  Of  Truth"  and  "Lullaby".  8  out  of  10.

  https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat386-kaaper-while-flows-the-nile-2025

Xavernah 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?

For Xavernah I’ve been mostly focusing on extending further exposure for ‘Absence’. However, of course I have developing new concepts and working on new material, but besides ‘Absence’ my priorities currently lies with getting albums out for both my bands Epistulum (Keytar-driven melodeath) and Signs of Extinction (Symphonic Deathcore/Tech Death) later this year.

2.In February you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Personally I tried to do something completely new for myself. Until the point of writing this record I worked/wrote predominantly on Death Metal/Deathcore, so this was an experiment to try something new with a very atmospheric approach to Black/Doom. Whilst a lot of different flavors seeped into the music, Black/Doom was still the foundation. Funnily enough, after release, the album is seemingly taking a life of its own and is regarded more as an atmospheric Blackened Death Metal-record. I'm not complaining, but I do find it funny and interesting how the album has been categorized so far! 

3.A lot of your lyrics are inspired by writers of the 19th and 20th century, which authors had the most influence on your songwriting?

Definitely H.P. Lovecraft and Olaf Stapledon! Lovecraft for the more eerie and dreadful elements and Stapledon for the more sophisticated, thought-provoking "our-place-in-universe" elements. But with a song titled Ozymandias, and the lyrics being derived from the poem, I cannot go without mentioning Percy Bysshe Shelley too! 

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

'Xavernah', as far as I know, has no real meaning. I've taken it from the song 'Xavernah Glory' from the Romanian Black Metal band Katharos XIII, one of the many influences for this project. I really resonate with that song and the word itself is unique, sounds cool and happens to also look cool! 

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

The cover itself is 1/3 of the entire art piece! It is basically a panoramic amalgamation of the entire album’s story within a single piece of artwork, with the center being the climax of the record! Shout out to Nick Wilschut of Skycraft Productions for creating it! He really outdid himself and put down exactly the image I had in mind.

6.With this project you record a lot of the music by yourself but have experience working as a drummer with a full band, do you prefer to work solo?

Both have its pros and cons. Whilst I do relish the full un-compromised creative control when working solo, it does also ask a lot of you and whenever you get stuck or second guess yourself you don’t really have someone else to turn to. But that’s why I have multiple projects. With Xavernah I figure it out myself and at the end of the day have a product which is 100% me, and with my bands it is a different dynamic, leading to different results but just as fulfilling. 

7.On the new album you also have a few guests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording? 

I wouldn’t consider guests, but integral session musicians. Without them, there wouldn’t be an album.

Most of the people involved on the record are fellow students back from my class of music college I have graduated from since. 

Martín Jaramillo, who recorded the electric guitars, is one of the many fellow students involved but also a band member within our band Signs of Extinction.

Thijs Ronteltap is one of the two who isn’t directly involved from my class! Frontman of Epistulum, which I drum for, I asked him to be part of the record and he ended up recording most of the vocals, some piano and acoustic guitars.

Siebe Sol Sijpkens, although an alumnus of the same college, far exceeds my year. Recommended last minute by the album’s mixer to record the bass, he is known primarily for playing with Blackbrair.

Whilst not actively “playing” on the record, also huge thanks to Jordy Hoogvliets (Vrøde) for the additional orchestration and Siebe van der Haring (Benchwarmers) for the additional programming on ’Thalassic Dream’.

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

I’m not actively seeking, if that's what you mean. I did, soon after release, get approached by a label and we discussed the possibility of Xavernah signing a deal but we couldn’t come to an agreement. For the time being I don’t mind being an independent artist, but if the right label comes around… Who knows.

9.On a worldwide level, how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground metal?

Whilst it has been quite hard to break through the noise that is the current music industry, the people it has reached have generally responded very positively! Applying a niche take on an already niche genre, I was expecting way more of a mixed reception, but that hasn’t really been the case! Even more, critics have been overwhelmingly positive so far! 

10.What is going on with 'Epistulum' these days?

We have been working hard on a new album, and are putting the finishing touches on it! The album should see the light of day somewhere in the second half of this year!

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

Oof, that’s a surprisingly deep question all the sudden. Honestly, I am not sure… Day by day the details change. But what remains consistent is that I want to make music that tells a story, moves people and pushes boundaries. Preferably for projects I am directly involved in, but I do think I would also do pretty well as a songwriter, producer or even some kind of (creative) consultant for other bands/artists.

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?

Consciously or subconsciously nearly everything that I enjoy listening and playing has had some influence on the record, in one way or the other. But honing in on the important elements for this record the Black Metal influences came from artists like Mare Cognitum and The Great Old Ones, the Doom elements from artists like Bell Witch and Bismuth. The atmospheric elements come from both metal acts and other artists/media like Hans Zimmer’s Dune soundtrack or ambient artists like Cryo Chamber. 

Whatever I’m listening to is kinda all over the place and changes weekly or even daily! However there is usually still a prominent metal element present. This week I’ve had Vildhjarta’s ‘måsstaden under vatten’ on repeat due to the recent album announcement, another (but very different) atmospheric metal journey!

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

First of all, thank you for having me!

For those still reading, please check out ‘Absence’ if you haven’t already! You can find it on Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify or your preferred streaming devices. And if you liked what you heard and want to stay in the loop about Xavernah go follow the project on Instagram and Facebook! Thank you!

Now there’s nothing left, merely absence

Bandcamp: https://xavernah.bandcamp.com/album/absence
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pj2ChpqDBXM7QHwmSmrfe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Xavernah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xavernah_project/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569326456220

Xavernah/Absence/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Xavernah  are  a  solo  project  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  ambient  and  dark  jazz  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  album  "Absence".

  Pianos  and  ambient  elements  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  bringing  in  a mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  desolation,  dread  and  nihilism  with  some  inspiration  from  the  poetry  of  Percy  Bysshe Shelly  and  other  writers  from  the  19th  and  early  20th  century.

  In  my  opinion  Xavernah  is  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  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  "Perpetual  Gloom  Across  The  Basaltic  Horizons"  and  "Celestial  Ruin".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://xavernah.bandcamp.com/album/absence

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pj2ChpqDBXM7QHwmSmrfe
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Xavernah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xavernah_project/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569326456220

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Touches  of  dark  jazz  are  also  added  into  the  music  at  times  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  spoken  words  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.