Ggu:ll/Ex Est/Counsouling Sounds/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Ggu:ll  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  doom  metal,  noise  and  atmospheric  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Ex  Est"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Consouling  Sounds.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones,  psychedelic  sounds  and  noises  also being  used  at  times  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  growls  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Ggu:ll  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  meaning  of  existence.     

  In  my  opinion  Ggu:ll  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  noise  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Falter"  and  "Hoisting  Ruined  Sails".  8  out  of  10.

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

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

Norrskold/Prisma Aeternus/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Norrskold  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Prisma  Aeternus"  which  will  be  released  in  November.

  A  very  fast,  aggressive  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  When  classical  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  clean  playing  and  atmospheric  sounding  synths,  one  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording..  

  Norrskold  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  atmospheric  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  th e lyrics  are  a  concept  album  that  cover  a  dystopian  observation  of  the  rise  and  fall  of  mankind  in  relation  to  the  evolution  and  destruction  of  the  earth. 

  In  my  opinion  Norrskold  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Witness  The  Illusion"  "Perfection  Into  Solitude"  "Indifference"  and  "Stars  To  Reside".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Yevabog/Between Two Fires/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Yevabog  are  a  solo  project  from  Seattle,  Washington  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Between  Two  Fires".

  A  very  fast  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  synths  also  ad d in  some  symphonic  touches.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  clear  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  while  the  song  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  and  clear  vocals  onto  the  album.  

  On  this  recording  Yevabog  takes  the  atmospheric,  symphonic  and  melodic  styles  of  90's  era  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  emtal  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  possession  and  betrayal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Yevabog  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Golden  Reaper"  and  "22  Disciples  Of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/xkSV_U6RcK0

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QDLelqjXt45lfsNAEStCF

https://music.apple.com/us/album/between-two-fires-ep/1640806806

https://yevabog.bandcamp.com/album/between-two-fires

https://www.instagram.com/yevabog/  

Hegemone/Voyance/Brucia Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Hegemone  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  metal  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2022  album  "Voyance"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  of  the  vocals  also  show  an  influence  of  hardcore.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  some  clear  vocals  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  post  metal.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  a  small  amount  of  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times.  The  music  also  adds  some  dissonant  touches  on  one  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  blast  beats  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up,  folk  instruments  and  electronic  frequencies  can  also b e  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  rage,  tension,  pain  and  disquiet  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hegemone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  post  black,  sludge  metal  and  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nourishment"  "Sermon"  and  "After  Demise".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hegemone.bandcamp.com/  

An Abstract Illusion/Woe/Willowtip Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  An  Abstract  Illusion  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  progressive  and  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Woe"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  clear  vocals  can  also b e  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  touches  of  electronica  can  also b e  heard  at  times.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  black  metal  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  melody  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  poetic  atmosphere  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  death  and  humanity  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  An  Abstract  Illusion  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  "Slaves"  and  "In  The  Heavens  Above,  You  Will  Become  A  Monster".  8  out  fo  10.

  https://anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com/album/woe    

Moribund Dawn/Dark Mysteries Of Time & Eternity/Carbonized Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Moribund  Dawn  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  Swedish  influenced  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Dark  Mysteries  Of  Time  &  Eternity"  which  was  released  by  Carbonized  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  epic  sounding  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  

  Spoken  word  pars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and   the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style.    

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  sorcery  and  night  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Moribund  Dawn  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  black  metal b and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  mysteries  Of  Time  &  Eternity"  and  "Lunar  Chaosium"..8  out  of  10.

https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dark-mysteries-of-time-eternity  

Evoking Winds/The Heroes/2022 FUll Length Review

 

  Evoking  Winds  are  a  band  from  Belarus  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  takes  an  atmospheric  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  metal  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "The  Heroes".

  A  very  heavy  yet  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  atmospheric  touches.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  blast  beats  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  black  and  folk  metal  elements.  On  some  of  the  tracks  the  music  also  brings  in  more  of  a  dungeon  synth  an d  fantasy  movie  soundtrack  music  style  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Evoking  Winds  takes  an  atmospheric  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk,  dungeon  style  and  fantasy  soundtrack  music  to  create  something  very  different  sounding  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Evoking  Winds  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  symphonic  black,  folk  metal  and  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Arms"  "Echoes  of  battles"  "Warlock's  Power"  and  "Elemental  magic".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/FIf4ApdLJ1s

https://evokingwinds.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/evoking.winds.official

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvrxEe4T1lcXRQmosJUWfw  

 

Metakosmia Interview

 

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

VASILIS: Hello, we are METAKOSMIA, a metal band from Greece, Athens. The band was created about 2 years ago by two persons -Vasilis Kakafikas and Petros Geromarkakis. The aim was to create music that is both unique and that would represent the concept behind the name of the band: METAKOSMIA.

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

V: Yes. From the very beginning, what we had in mind when creating our debut album -Aperantos Kosmos, was that musically, the medium through which we would let our artistic selves to unfold, would be that of the metal sound for sure. But with no boundaries. 

We knew that we should use lots of keyboards and sounds, combined with a more harsh directions, to the extend of reaching the death and black metal territory. In every step of the process of creating and recording, we would ask ourselves: Ïs this really METAKOSMIA? Does it give to the listener (us for start) this otherwordly sense? Is it truly a METAKOSMIA sound? Does it take you there? If the answer was "no", we would immediately delete and go for a new start. If the answer was "YES!", we then knew we were on the right track and that we should move forward to that same direction.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Greek Philosophy, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

V: We have always been interested in philosophy. We consider ourselves to be philosophers as well. Being a friend with wisdom also has a practical side inside the meaning of the word. Philos - Sophia. It is a way of life, not just an empty idea. In the early years reading Plato about Socrates, and then moving to all the rest of the giants of thought. It has been said that everything you can think or imagine, has already been talked about from one or more of our weirdly smart ancestors. Every culture has its own wisdom. At the same Golden times of Greece (500 BC), Chinese philosophy was also at its greatest peak.

The truths are universal.

4.Lyrically you also go into Science and Mysticism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these paths have evolved over the years?

V: Science becomes more and more obscure with every new step it takes. Especially after the "new" quantum physics evolving, new interesting ideas and realizations like the string theory, the multifaceted universes, the discovery of dark matter and dark energy, science has humbly lowered the head and admitted that knows only 5% of what is out there. And this is a stance that science ought's to maintain. Otherwise it may very easily transform into a totalitarian monster, a godlike Authority like -unfortunately- it tends to have  become in some of its aspects, in the past few years, for example in the medicine field... 

So science, by admitting that knows nothing really, and furthermore reassures that the observer IS the observed, opens again the gates for mysticism to pass through and enter the realm, in all its past glory. Magic is again a reality, not just by the future that technology may imply, but by the role of perseptionin the game and how it shapes reality. An ancient knowledge that gets lost and resurrects through the passing of aeons.

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

V: One of the greatest of all times, Epicurus, following the teachings of Democritus, who further built on the system of his teacher Leucippus, who shaped the atomic theory, figured out between other things, that Gods exist, but have nothing to do with the common image of the gods, that the every day man imagines, or had been led to believe as such. Metakosmia are those relatively empty- of ordinary matter- places, vast voids of almost perfect emptiness between the galaxies. There they live and prosper. They have nothing to do with humans and they don't intervene. They are almost indestructible beings. To us, they look Godly-like. Unfortunately, so little of the works of Epicurus has been saved. But do a favor to yourself and read Lucretius' "De rerum natura". It hides inside

more than one book of Epicurus.

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

V: On the top there is a photo I shot, of a sculpture from the archaeological museum of Peiraius in Greece. It is a scene depicting theurgy, part of the Eleusis mysteries. One can see the symbolic gestures, symbolic hand shapes from the high-priest and the high-priestess while they whisper the mystic language of the ancient mysteries. It is well known that the truths were revealed there by gestures, symbolic images, unknown -to the common listener- words, etc. that "worked" with the subconscious mind of the initiate. 

At the lower side of the cover, one can see the sea. And the endless sky. The logo and the title stand in the middle of the picture, in a way that reminds us and increases the feeling of the enormous size of infinite space... Aperantos Kosmos (World without end - infinite cosmos)

7.On the album you worked as a duo, how do both of your styles different from each other and what impact did it have on the musical style?

V: I would say that Petros was more experienced in ambient music and sounds and more on the black metal aesthetic, while I am into a more death metal and melodic expression of feelings. We both like almost every kind of metal in general as well as everything that sounds inspiring, interesting, innovative etc. 

Having myself participated in various musical projects in the past, I think that METAKOSMIA - Aperantos Kosmos is the best one yet.

8.Currently you are unsigned, have you received any label interest?

V: We are currently in contact with a few labels. There is a great possibility that there is going to be an agreement. We have to be a little patient for the moment. We would to see the album released in double vinyl and cassette tape formats.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme metal and the more experimental and ambient musical genres? 

V: The truth is that from the 2-3 reviews that are on the net and from the 2-3 youtube channels that it has been on, the feedback has so far been very positive. 

People seem to appreciate and understand the concept of the album. Back when we were creating the songs, we wanted the album to be an experience, not just another listen. I believe we have succeeded in this, it is an emotional journey, an initiation almost to another world.

10.With the death of the other member of the project what affect does this have on the future of the musical project?

V: Although the album was ready, it took me about a year after the passing of my good friend and bandmate, to release it. My first thoughts was that, that was it, there was going to be nothing more, after this one album. After some more thought, a few days ago to be honest, I decided that METAKOSMIA are here to stay.

I feel I ought it to Petros too. Alone or with the help of others, METAKOSMIA will continue to be and create unique music in every step. A never-ending journey in a never-ending world...

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?

V: So many bands that one can mention. The classics from the swedish melodic death, like: Dark tranquillity and the gallery, In flames wth the jester race, Edge of sanity etc. Heavy metal bands like Manowar or judas priest. Celtic frost, Arcturus, Pan thy monium, Diana Ankudinova, Babymetal, Dark millenium, Perfect bliss, Terrasound with abstract portrait and more...

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

V: Thank you for this interesting questions and thanks for the nice review of Aperantos Kosmos, I wish you and all your readers, the best.

Bandcamp: https://metakosmia1.bandcamp.com/album/aperantos-kosmos
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBc5TTJs5oxT4YcVjTqD4hw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Hy5rQ3E5SFiF0WqVbTd2o
Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/metakosmia/aperantos-kosmos

Metakosmia/Aperantos Kosmos/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Metakosmia  are  a  duo  from  Greece  that  an  experimental  and  ambient  form  of  symphonic  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Aperantos  Kosmos".

  Ambient  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  space  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  clean  singing  which  also adds  in  an  avant  garde  touch  and  grim  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding.

  The  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  some spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  one  one  song  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals. Melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  death  metal  growls,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  As  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  fast  tremolo  picking   are  also  added  on  the  recording  but  keeping  the  main  focus  on  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  lyrics  cover  Greek  Philosophy,  Space,  Science  and  Mysticism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Metakosmia  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  and  ambient  symphonic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Entropy"  "Astronomikos  Kanon"  "Tetrapharmakos"  and  "The  Absence  of  Suffering".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: https://metakosmia1.bandcamp.com/album/aperantos-kosmos
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBc5TTJs5oxT4YcVjTqD4hw
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Hy5rQ3E5SFiF0WqVbTd2o

Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/metakosmia/aperantos-kosmos   

Kaamos Warriors/Spirit From The Void/Inverse Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Kaamos  Warriors  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Spirit  From  The  Void"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  inverse  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  keyboards  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  a lot  of  dark  metal  elements.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts,   clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  the  more  melodic  side  of  the  early  90's  doom/death  metal  era  along  with  some  gothic  metal  touches  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Finnish  and  English  and  cover  darkness,  winter,  night  and  chaos  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Kaamos  Warriors  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Blood  And  Spirit"  "The  Flames  of  the  Dragon"  "Into  Thy  Light"  and  "Surrun  mustat  siivet".  8  out  of  10.

-In Blood and Spirit: https://youtu.be/itvk4Zzw1PQ 
-Vapaus: https://youtu.be/8QQq88C2cYQ
-Varjojen Vaeltaja: https://youtu.be/KV7PRfZtLvM 

https://www.facebook.com/KaamosWarriorsOfficial

https://spoti.fi/2B5wCB2 

https://kaamoswarriors.bandcamp.com

Qaalm/Resilience & Despair/Hypaethrael Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Qaalm  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Resilience  &  Despair"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Hypaethrael  Records.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  keyboards  start  of  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  funeral  doom  metal  and  capturing  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  stringed  instruments  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  at  times  you  can  also  hear  an  influence  of  post  rock.

  Qaalm  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  atmospheric  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  personal  experiences,  depression  and  adverse  aspects  of  humanity.

  In  my  opinion  Qaalm  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  atmospheric  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reflections  Doubt"  and  "Lurking  Death".  8  out  of  10.

  http://twitter.com/qaalmband

http://www.instagram.com/qaalmband    

    

Vinterland/Welcome My Last Chapter/Black Lodge Records/2022 Full Length Re-Issue Review

 

  Vinterland  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  1996  album  "Welcome  To  My  Last  Chapter"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  February, 2022  by  Black  Lodge  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  which  also  appear  on  later  songs  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  musical  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  influences  from  melodic  Swedish  death  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  synths  also  being  brought  into  the  music  on  a  couple  of  songs  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.  

  Vinterland  plays  a  style  of  melodic  black/death  metal  that  was  very  different  for  the  era  it  was  released.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  night,  nature  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vinterland  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Our  Dawn  Of  Glory"  "As  I  Behold  The  Dying  Sun"  and  "Wings  Of  Sorrow".  8  out  of  10.

https://orcd.co/welcome-my-last-chapter-remastered

www.blacklodge.se/artists/vinterland/

  

Torri/Self Titled/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Torii  are  a  solo  project  from  Arkansas  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a mixture  of  post  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  and  self  titled  2021  album.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  dark  yet  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Acoustic  guitars  and  stringed  instruments  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  post  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  musical  direction  and  synths  also  make  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks. 

  On  this  recording  Torii  takes  the  atmospheric  style  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  to  create  a  very  dark  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  apocalyptic  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Torii  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Synthetic  Dust"  "Grey  Expanse"  and  "Torii".  8  out  of  10.

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Bandcamp

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Tenebral Rift/Umbra/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Tenebral  Rift  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Umbra".

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Water  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  tortured  sounding  whispers  being  added  on  one  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  all  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a decent  amount  of  spoken  word  parts

  Elements  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  post  metal  style  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  dark  and  uncharted  territories  of  the  mind.

  In  my  opinion  Tenebral  Rift  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vale  Of  Shadows"  and  "Lingering  Wound".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/8sRLjr7mnE8

https://open.spotify.com/album/741NSedHGoImGKlwETBFvU

https://tenebralrift.bandcamp.com/

3xperimental/Dimorphis/2021 Single Review

 

  3xperimental  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  single  "Dimorphis"  which  will  be  released  on  November  24th.

  Sci-fi  orientated  keyboards  start  off  the  single  along  with  some  programmed  drum  beats  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great amount  of  atmospheric  and  symphonic  elements  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  second  track  is  also  an  instrumental  version  of t he  first  song.

  On  this  recording  3xperimental  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  atmospheric  and  symphonic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while t he  lyrics  cover  space  exploration  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  3xperimental  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: https://3xperimental.bandcamp. com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ 3xperimentalofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UCV4Sr1ddDzpS3XmqaezEHwQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ artist/7FfVUqDrJou7hZpMuNpMdB

  

    

Moonscar/Blood Moon/Supreme Music Creations/2021 CD Review

 

  Moonscar  are  a  solo  project  from  Greece  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  gothic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2021  album  "Blood  Moon"  which  was  released  by  Supreme  Music  Creations.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Symphonic  sounding  synths  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  elements  of  gothic  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  the  album  progresses.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes  with  some  inspirations  from  the  writings  of  Edgar  Allan  Poe. 

  In  my  opinion  Moonscar  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  gothic  and  symphonic  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blood  Moon"  and  "Abyssal  Eclipse".  8  out  of  10.

https://moonscargr.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/moonscargr/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2y58FC7p1TWvkuXQDJsWzr?si=CWXj_L0jRBSl9-9cQ3XdIQ&nd=1   

Oenos 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 ep?

A few social media things, I'm about to launch a merch store, and now have a batch #1 of Oenos wine I am not licenced to sell. I'm working on a music video too for one of the songs on the EP - and itching to get writing & recording new stuff.

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

I'd say Crno IV is leaning more towards post-metal with some black, doom and sludge elements. Previous release was more on the black metal side with post and sludge. This new EP is a mix of songs I wrote a couple years ago and brand new stuff that seemed to work well together. I hadn't written any lyrics or vocal parts for the older songs so those were borne over the last year.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years?

The lyrical themes on the EP are failure, apathy, fear and the poor state of our planet - anxiety, with a glimmer of hope.

I'm ... developing as a songwriter. I don't have an education or similar in music. I find riffs and melodies seem to come to me fairly naturally when I've got the time to properly zone out on it. I get into some sort of a state of flow and things evolve from there on via experimenting. Lyrics I still struggle with and is something I really want to focus on improving. I think my music is overall growing in complexity; there's more layers, soundscaping and smaller things that make the songs more interesting.

On the recording and production side I have gotten much faster as I've familiarised myself with gear & tools and I've learned to listen and balance my mixes better. It has also become easier for me to get what I imagine in my head, a vision of sorts, on record.

But I know nothing. It's a never ending learning journey and there's so much music I haven't explored and touched.

4.I have read that a lot of the song lyrics are inspired by wines, what are some of the wines that you prefer to drink?

All the songs are named after the wine I had when writing. I tend to like full bodied, rich reds and currently drinking a fair few blends. 'Gratitude' 2019 from Boschkloof, Stellenbosch, SA and 'Andreza' 2016 from Douro, Portugal as the most recent highlights.

I do like to explore though so I tend to try all sorts from all around the planet - red, white, natural, berry, all of it.

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

Oenos is an ancient Greek word for wine. I started naming my songs after the wines first, and the name followed. I liked how it sounded and it fit the theme of what I was doing.

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

The original photo was shot by a friend of mine, Livia, at a cemetery close to where I live. It is a depiction of anxiety. I also wanted to incorporate some wine elements on the EP cover so took a bunch of corks with me to the shoot with a rough idea not knowing if it'll work. Worked, and I find the EP theme comes across well.

Check out Livia's photos here https://www.deviantart.com/monochromesofliv.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I've so far written and recorded everything by myself, but open to working with other people and generally collaborating. It's not something I have actively pursued though, I quite like working solo as there's only myself I can hold accountable for the results :-)

8.Originally the musical project was based in Finland but now you are located in the United Kingdom, how would you compare the two countries?

There is the obvious language, size and location difference - and also plenty of cultural and historical things that differ. London's been a great base for exploring the world - I love travelling - which was a bit trickier from northern Finland where I used to live.

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

I am not looking for a label.

10.on a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, doom and post metal?

Very positive and the combination seems to resonate with other people than me too. The metal community is strong around the world.

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

I've got tons of music written for the next full length. It tends to take me a while to get stuff finished so we'll see when I'll actually get it out!

There'll be more experimenting and I've also joined Archierophant on guitars and possibly more vocals (I did vox for a couple of songs previously) so working with other musicians is in flight.

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?

Anything black, post, sludge, doom. Some jazz, folk and ambient stuff too. I've been listening to the latest releases from Rivers of Nihil, LLNN, Lantlos, Kauan and Papangu recently and also seen quite a few modern jazz bands live as well.

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

My EP Crno IV is out now and you can find it on Bandcamp, Spotify and similar streaming services. Pick up a t-shirt or a tote bag from my merch store if you fancy supporting my musical adventures in other ways. I like reading your thoughts and getting feedback so don't be shy getting in touch via the usual socials (@oenosmusic) and email. Oh and any wine recommendations are always extremely welcome!

I would like to make more of my own wine. Know any good vineyards?

Thanks,

Sami / Oenos 

https://www.instagram.com/oenosmusic https://www.facebook.com/oenosmusic https://twitter.com/oenosmusic   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aYSv2Rey28IvFv0vmOKmg