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

Chestcrush/ ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ/2025 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Chestcrush  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of    black,  sludge,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "ΨΥΧΟΒΓΑΛΤΗΣ"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Distorted  voices  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  emtal.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  brutal  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements  can  also  be  heard  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  growls.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  the  faster  riffing.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  bringing  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  direction  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  a  Crowbar  cover.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  gore  and  violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Chestcrush  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  brutal  blackened  death  metal  with  a  touch  of  sludge  metal  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Underneath  This  Rotten  Soil  Bodies  Are  Still  Bleeding"  "Existence  Is  Punishment"{  and  "As  The  Damned  Writhe  In  Eternal  Woe".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/chestcrushband    

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.    

Mylingen/Svartsyn/2025 EP Review

 

  Sweden's  Mylingern  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Svartsyn".

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  clean  sections  of  the  recording  also  taking  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  and  a  couple  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  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  songs  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of   tremolo  picking  and blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Mylingen  brings  out  a  very  melodic  and  progressive  style  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  the  depths  of  human  nature  focusing  on  themes  of  pessimism,  hate,  anger,  list  and  deception.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mylingern  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Svartsyn"  and  "Manens  Kraft".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/mylingenswe

https://mylingen.bandcamp.com      

Tyrmfar/Symbiosis/WormHoleDeath Records/2025 EP Review

 

  Switzerland's  Tyrmfar  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Symbiosis"  which  will  be  released  on  March  28th,  2025  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  taking  Scandinavian  influences  form  the  mid  90's  to  early  200's  and  mixing  them  in  with  a  more  modern  style.

  On  this  recording  Tyrmfar  remains  true  to  the  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ecological,  social  climates  and  humanity's  relationship  with  nature.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tyrmfar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pilgrimage  Of  Oneness"  and  "The  Reckoning  Part  2".  8  out  of  10.

  linktr.ee/tyrmfar

tyrmfar.com
facebook.com/Tyrmfar
instagram.com/tyrmfar
tiktok.com/@tyrmfarofficial

youtube.com/tyrmfar    

Cradle Of Filth/The Screaming Of the Valkyries/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Cradle  Of  Filth  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  gothic  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "The  Screaming  Of  The  Valkyries"  which  will  be  released  on  March  21st  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  choirs  and  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  gothic  orientated  atmosphere  at  times.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Spoken  words  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  influences  of  thrash  and  traditional  metal  are  also  mixed  into  the  riffs  and  leads.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cradle  Of  Filth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this band,  you  should  enjoy t his  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Live  Deliciously"  "Non Omnis  Moriar"  "Malignant  Perfection"  and  "When  Misery  Was  A  Stranger".  8  out  of  10.

  WEBSITE

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TWITTER
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NAPALM RECORDS    

  

The Infernal Deceit/The True Harmful Black/Personal Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  The  Infernal  Deceit  are  a  duo  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  True  Harmful  Black"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Personal  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90;s  Swedish  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.

 Some  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  acoustic  instrumental.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Infernal  Deceit  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "On  the  Wilderness  Of  Pernicious  Black"  "The  Divinity  Of  Forsaken  Idols"  and  "The  Fathomless  Dominion".  8  out  of  10.

  http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-true-harmful-black

www.facebook.com/theinfernaldeceitband 

Cursed Bloodlines Interview

 

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

We have been working to get the album into people's ears, and get our music into peoples heads. With our album release show behind us, and deemed a success, we are wasting no time getting back into writing new music as soon as possible.

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

"Virulent" itself is a 5 year project that has evolved within itself over time, but to compare it to our first album is like apples to oranges. The bands influence since our first album has completely changed due to most of the original members not being present in the current lineup of "Cursed Bloodlines". When creating and getting a band off the ground it becomes apparent whether a person can sacrifice the amount of time and dedication needed to make a quality band and album, while not being afraid to step outside of their comfort zone. I really think we have all taken a step outside of our norms to make "Virulent" the album we intend it to be.

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

We were riffing about how every band was seemingly making up their own subgenres to describe solely their own band, and we made the comment that we played "poverty metal". It stuck around and we embraced it as our style. "Poverty metal" doesn't really have a sound, but it became an attitude as to not give up in the face of adversity, and to persevere through all odds.

4.Between 2017 and 2023 there was no music being released, what was the cause of the long wait?

There were a lot of differences in opinions in the early lineup of "Virulent" about everything to how it sounded, down to how it would be released and promoted. There were many different musicians working on this album throughout the last 5 years. There many different iterations to many of the songs, but through band members leaving and new band members bringing in new visions, we decided to take our time to make something we are extremely proud of.

5.A lot of your lyrics cover science fictions themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this genre?

We are really interested in the imagery that cosmic horror, and science fiction pervays. We try to make people think about what possibilities could exist, and hopefully get people to see beyond their own experiences through showing the darker side of the universe.

6.How would you describe the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

It is a representation of virulence itself conveyed in a way that if familiar to individuals to recognize. The art work is done in band by Tim "Moth" Morris (Bass). As all members of the band bring a unique set of skills to the table "poverty metal" style, Moth nails the artistic vision that "Cursed Bloodlines" represents.

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

We have three that come to mind. The first is our trial by fire that was the first time we played at the Whisky A Go Go where we had no idea how venues like that operate. Second is The Field of the Dead festival in "Cord" Arkansas, as it was our first show that we traveled a significant distance to play. Third would have to be our album release show that we played this last Saturday, where we hosted local bands to feast and jam with us. Our stage performance is best described as a genuine, energetic hell of a time.

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

We are focusing on writing new music, and playing as many shows as possible. Though we are not opposed to scheduling a tour, we do not have one lined up.

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

We produced "Virulent" all in house, and have a good balance of non talents that makes "Cursed Bloodlines" come together. A staple of "poverty metal" is having to work your ass off to get shit done. If a label were to be beneficial to us, we would absolutely be interested, but as of right now we are seeing how far we can push Cursed Bloodlines with every aspect of the production being "all in band".

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

Very positive. It's amazing being able to get music out into the and seeing who in the world enjoys it. We haven't gotten much hate online. Maybe that's a bad thing?

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

From what we can tell so far, on what we have already in store for next album isn't limited by any expectation. We are not afraid to go outside of any comfort zone, and are always pushing ourselves to make music that we would listen too, and sometimes some things we wouldn't.

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

Holy Shit! There is a wide range of musical influences, anywhere from nordic fold music, to extreme death metal, and everywhere in between. 

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

Michigan

youtube.com/channel/UCfE7-4Ao1vM1Z3Njnc4u7nQ/videos

Cursed Bloodlines/Virulent/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Cursed  Bloodlines  are  a  band  from  Yucca  Valley,  California  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Virulent".

  A  very  fast,  brutal  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  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  groove  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  along  with  the  album  also  mixing  in  influences  from  both  the  old  school  and  modern  era's  of  extreme  metal.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  at  times  and  as  the  album  progresses  spoken  words are  also  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  brutal  science  fiction  themes.

 In  my  opinion  Cursed  Bloodlines  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death, thrash  and  groove  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Nightmare  Grotesque"  "Bodies  In  The  Cellar"  "Mephetic  Rebirth"  and  "The  Rats  In  The  Walls".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Cursedbloodlines/

Act Of Impalement/Profane Altar/Caligari Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nashville,  Tennessee's  Act  Of  Impalement  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  blackened  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Profane  Altar"  which  will  be  released  on  February  28th  by  Caligari  Records.

  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.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  death  metal  growls.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  black  metal  screams  can  also b e  heard  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  90's  death  metal  style  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffs  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  touches  of  crust  and  d  beat  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  History  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Act  Of  Impalement  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Apparition"  "Deities  Of  The  Weak"  and  "Profane  Altar".  8  out  of  10.

  https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/profane-altar

www.facebook.com/actoofimpalement         

Mantar/Post Apocalyptic Depression/Metal Blade Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Mantar  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  moves  away  from  the  blackened  style  of  sludge  metal  of  previous  releases  and  goes  into  more  of  a  blackened  death  punk  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Post  Apocalyptic  Depression"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  also  capturing  the  energy  of  punk  rock.  Elements  of  black'n'roll  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  rough  yet  aggressive  style  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  metal/punk  style.  

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  back  up  shouts  as  well  as  some  guitar  leads  also  being  utilized  at  times,  spoken  words  can  also  be  briefly.  One  song  also  adds  in  more  of  a  traditional  hardcore  punk  style  of  vocals  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  van  also  be  heard..

  On  this  recording  Mantar  drops  the  sludge  metal  elements  of  previous  releases  and  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  black'n'roll  and  death  punk.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mass  hysteria  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mantar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Absolute  Ghost"  "Dogman  Down"  "Church  Of  Suck"  and  "Cosmic  Abortion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.mantarband.com 

https://www.facebook.com/MantarBand 

https://www.instagram.com/mantarband 

Throne/That Who Sat Upon Him, Was Death/Redefining Darkness Records/2025 Full length Review

 

  Throne  not  to  be  confused  with  the  band  from  Italy  of  the  same  name  are  a  band  from  Jackson,  Michigan  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  more  of  a  brutal,   melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "That  Who  Sat  Upon  Him,  Was  Death"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  A  very  heavy  yet  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffs.

  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.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  having  their  guttural  moments.  

  On  this  recording  Throne  goes  for  more  of  a  modern  melodic  and  brutal  form  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  chaos  and  heresy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Throne  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Disentombed"  "Realm  Of  Immolation"  and  "Where  Angels  Cower  in  Fear".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp

Exiled Hope Interview

 

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

 I have the 4th album pretty much done, the 5th album is in progress, and I have a bunch of covers that might make their way onto a separate album or EP. I also just released some new merch designs (which you can find in my online merch store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/). There's always a lot going on behind the scenes.

2.You have a new full length coming out early in 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It's at a much higher quality than my previous releases in terms of production and performances. Before finishing the album, I took several months off of working on original music to take lessons and work on covers in order to develop my skills, because I felt like I had plateaued and wasn't able to make the music I wanted to make. I'm a much better musician than I was on the first 2 albums and EP, and I had a professional mix engineer work on Apocrypha as well. Stylistically, this album strays a bit from the folk and progressive influences that were on the first Exiled Hope albums and plays up the black metal and power metal influences; it feels more like Kamelot and Cradle Of Filth than Eluveitie and Ensiferum.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit about your interest in this genre?

I love this genre because it uses escapism as a vehicle for working through real, personal emotions. When you take a feeling and turn it into something concrete in the form of music and/or lyrics, it's easier to process, understand, and work through that feeling. It becomes something you can choose to perceive instead of something that's vaguely perceptible and always there. As a result, my fantasy-inspired lyrics serve a purpose similar to that of fables or fairytales: they impart life lessons through storytelling.

4.You have also done soundtracks for films, what type of films have you contributed music to so far?

. I've done a vast array of short films for YouTuber John H. Shelton, generally in the urban fantasy or thriller genre. Most recently, I released a soundtrack album for the indie horror film What Happens After Midnight. I also recorded a folk-inspired soundtrack for Hallowed Paths (still in development), which is a loose retelling of a Finnish folktale. I would love to continue doing soundtrack work!

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

On a surface level, Hope is the name of the main protagonist of the first album, and she is exiled from her city after she learns dark secrets that the city's corrupt leaders would rather keep hidden. On a deeper level, the name Exiled Hope represents the hope for a better world that the fantasy genre instills in us, and reminds listeners that too often, we "exile" this hope from our spirits when we grow up and are forced to abandon things that inspired us as kids. The name is a reminder to keep pursuing the hope that society exiles from us, and to hold onto our passions.

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

 The cover artwork is The Deluge by John Martin (1834). I chose this piece to represent the turmoil that defines the protagonist's journey on this album, as he strives to find his own path in a world where he feels forced to choose sides and abandon different parts of himself.

7.You have worked both solo and with other musicians, do you prefer to work by yourself?

Generally, working by myself is easier because I'm fully in control of the project and can get the work done more efficiently. Working with other musicians requires compromise, discussion, scheduling, and waiting on everyone to send their parts over. I love working with other musicians, but I need my own personal outlet where I can work at my own pace and control the direction of the project. I also enjoy challenging myself to learn different parts, different skills, and different instruments, as I do in Exiled Hope; even though finishing a project is rewarding, the journey of creating the music is the fun part.

8.You have also collaborated on a few recordings with 'Steel Forge', musically how do you feel their style differs from yours?

Their style leans much harder in the melodeath direction than Exiled Hope has so far. It's a style that I've wanted to explore for a while, but that never really found its place in Exiled Hope. Working with Steel Forge and catering more to their members' skillsets and interests has given me the opportunity to tap into that creative energy. I wasn't just composing for myself, I was composing with other musicians and another vocalist in mind, and I think the challenge of building that seamless synergy between us resulted in some of my best work yet.

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

I am not looking to sign with a label. I am happy to create at my own pace, and I've built up a solid team and support system that cannot be easily replaced. There are many more paths to success in the music industry than there once were, and I think the metal scene in particular leans too hard on legacy thinking instead of taking advantage of the new opportunities that are available to musicians in the 21st century.

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

Extreme metal fans seem intrigued for the most part. Some people don't really understand the intent behind my genre blend, but that's ok; I'm not trying to appeal to a broad, general audience. My music is more for nerds (I say this lovingly, as a fellow music nerd) who like hearing unexpected twists and puzzle pieces in their music; I try to make it interesting to listen to. The people who get it, really do seem to get it. I've read multiple positive reviews that appear to perfectly understand my vision and ideas. I love seeing various interpretations of my music that, while all different, are often all correct at the same time. The emotional core of my music and the joy of creating something multifaceted and ambitious seem to resonate with people, and that's what matters to me.

11.What is going on with 'Forgotten Shrine' these days?

We're working on some new music, but we're still a bit unsure whether it will lead to an EP or a full album this year. We've both contributed songs to the project, and we're very excited to show them all off in one format or another.

12.Where do you see herself heading into as a musician during the future?

I see myself: 1) making a decent side income from my royalties, album sales, and merch sales; and 2) licensing my music to and recording original soundtracks for TV, film, and game producers. I'd say those are my main goals at the moment.

13.What are some of bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?

I've been listening to a lot of early-2000s post-grunge and alt-metal (such as Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Daughtry), and some more recent power metal (such as Arion, Frozen Crown, Kalidia, and Visions Of Atlantis)

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

Thank you for your thoughtful questions and your positive reviews! I appreciate you taking the time to check out my music and put this interview together.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

https://www.youtube.com/@exiledhope

Shrykull/Beyond Subconscious Realms/Road To Masochist/Eggy Tapes/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Shrykull  are  a  duo  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  with  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Beyond  Subconscious  Realms"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Road  To  Masochist  and  Eggy  Tapes.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Shouts  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  brutal  moments,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style as  well as  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  mixing  in  touches  of  sludge  and  doom  metal, synths  and  harsh  noises  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Shrykull  takes  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  a  very  heavy  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Shrykull  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  metal  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blocking  The  Kingdom  Of  Infinite  State"  "Gateway  Of  Nightmares"  "Chaotic  Disforms  Of  Cosmic  Misalignment"  and  "Collective  Fugue  State".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://www.facebook.com/shrykull

https://youtu.be/BI12FJVn6oU

Shores Of Null/The Loss Of Beauty/Spikerot Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Shores  Of  Null  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "The  Loss  Of  Beauty"  which  was  released  by  Spikerot  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  clean  vocals  also  add  in  more  of  a  gothic  metal  style.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  keyboards,  spoken  words  are  also  introduced  briefly  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Shores  Of  Null  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  doom  and  gothic  metal  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  life,  death  and  sorrow  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Shores  Of  Null  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death,  doom  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Destination  Woe"  "Nothing  Left  To  Burn"  "My  Darkest  Years"  and  "Underwater  Oddity".  8  out  of  10.

  YouTube - https://youtu.be/vWOcwJYjhq8​

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3ZckbMW​

Album order (Digital, CD, Vinyl) - https://linktr.ee/thelossofbeauty 

Ghost Hollow/Examinations Of The Heart/2025 Full length Review

 

  Ghost  Hollow  are  a  band  from  Arkansas  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  metal  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Examinations  Of  The  Heart"  which  will  be  released  in  February.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  heavy  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  and  sludge  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  parts  of  the  album  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  as  well  as  the  mid  tempo  sections  also  adding  in  touches  of  hardcore.

  On  this  recording  Ghost  Hallow  takes  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  metal  and  hardcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  anguish,  introspection  and  catharsis.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Ghost  Hollow  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  metal  and  hardcore,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Formless  Apparitions"  "Lay  Down  The  Sword"  and  "Examinations  Of  The  Heart".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/GhostHollowAR

https://www.instagram.com/ghosthollowar/

https://ghosthollow.bandcamp.com/

https://linktr.ee/ghosthollowar

    

Possessive/Res Ipsa Loquitur/Brucia Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Possessive  are  a  band  from  Boise,  Idaho  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  d  beat  and  power  violence  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Res  Ipsa  Loquitur"  which  was  released  by  Brucia  Records.

  Dark  and  atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  d  beat  and  power  violence  are  also  added  in  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  while  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  are  also  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up.  Some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  one  song  is  also  a  drone  orientated  instrumental.

  Possessive  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  death  metal,  d  beat  and  power  violence  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Possessive  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  metal,  d  beat  and  power  violence  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sun  And  Moon"  and  "Sure  Sign  of  The  Nail".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/possessiveband