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      

Norilisk/Antipole/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Quebec,  Canada's  Norilisk  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Antipole"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  A  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  brings  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  blackened  metal  screams  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  whole  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Norilisk  remain  true  to  the  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  the  concept  of  duality.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Norilisk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Antipole"  "Nunataks"  and  "Un  chant  pour  les  morts".  8  out  of  10.

   https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/antipole

  

Cephyre Interview

 

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

I would love to: The band was formed in Hesse, Germany in early 2021 although we have known each other for decades and shared school desks, rehearsal rooms and stages in various constitutions in the past. Therefore it just felt right when it all came together. Unfortunately it was quite a challenging time to start a band as the pandemic kind of peaked exactly when we all waited in the wings. That is one reason why it took us a while to really get our shit together, but here we are at last.

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

We came up with the term „Dark Extreme Melodic Metal“ because the common genre-descriptions did not seem to fully meet our demands. Given the fact that we have our roots in different subgenres our music turns out to be a mixture of quite a lot extreme Metal influences reaching from Death to Black and Melodic Doom with a pinch of Gothic Metal in the polyphonic vocal parts, but if I had to put it into only one well-known box I would probably say, that the influence we all have in common is good old Swedish Melodic Death. 

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

The lyrics of the EP approach several aspects of Platos Allegory of the cave. Of course we do not offer a highly sophisticated deep-dive into ancient greek philosophy, but looking at the topic from different perspectives can still create really exciting views into the concepts of individual freedom and self-awareness. It also makes you question, how far we have really evolved as mankind. Isn‘t it almost hilarious to think of an old bearded greek dude wrapped in white sheets and brooding over exactly the same issues we still struggle with today?

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

CEPHYRE is a „Frankenword“ assembled from „Zephyr“, which resembles natural creation and procreation on one side and „Fire“, resembling the oppositional forces of destruction but also symbolizing progress and knowledge. The name therefore verbalizes the principles of duality, the merging of polar opposites into something new and distinct.

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

We tried to capture the lyrical concept of the allegory of the cave in different scalings throughout the artwork of the digipak. The cover artwork shows one of the key scenes in the narrative: A prisoner escapes the darkness of the cave and steps into the light, facing new challenges.

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

In late 2023 year we organized a little festival called „Roots of Metal“ with our resident friends „Oracle of Worms“ and „Concrete Cold“. We also invited our friends „War Engine“ from Novi Sad, Serbia. I have absolutely no idea, if that was our best show. But it was probably our most fun weekend so far. The last gig we played was at a Halloween-Party, so it would have been almost rude, not to put on a little corpsepaint. We normally don‘t do that, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. Generally spoken our stage presence depends a lot on the on-site conditions. Our bassplayer Chris for example tends to do a lot of meters on stage, but at one show he was forced to stand in the doorframe to the restroom due to lack of space. So you always have to adjust a little to the circumstances and try to get the best out of each situation. By the way: Chris handled his situation a lot better than I did when I found myself next to something that highly resembled a stripper pole on stage.

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

We have some shows scheduled for early 2025. our original plan was to make „Roots of Metal“ an annual event. This plan unfortunately only lasted a little less than one year, because the venue let us down badly. The billing however was already booked and we still want to play with all the bands, that were involved, so there are some more shows to be announced before long. And then there is still a visit to pay back, so we really hope to make it to Serbia this year and maybe add some gigs on the way. 

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

Up to now we tried to do almost everything by ourselves which gave us a lot of freedom in approaching different processes, but of course there are also downsides to that mode of operation. For example: We recorded almost all the tracks for „Gleam“ in our rehearsal room, our living rooms, bedrooms and even kitchens. When it came to mixing we had the hybris of even doing that completely by ourselves. This took quite some time just to realize, that we were not completely happy with the results. So we finally scrapped our own mixes and gave the recorded tracks to our friend Sascha Stange, who completely nailed our desired sound in about the time it took ourselves to figure out the right reverb-settings for background vocals. What I am trying to say is, that some things just should be done by people who teally know how to do them in order to prevent yourselves from getting stuck in a rut. So a label would absolutely make things much easier for us and we hope to get in touch with people to support our next releases.

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

So far we have only played shows in Germany, which makes it a little difficult to talk about worldwide reactions. There have been quite a few positive reactions as yet and of course there is social media and all that comes with it. But a thumb on facebook or a heart on Instagram does not really get you into conversations. But who knows ... Maybe this interview might also help to connect with some more people out there. We would love that.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Our bassplayer Chris is vocalist in his Hardcore-bands „Business as Usual“ and „Blind Youth“. Our drummer Manu also plays in the Thrash-Metal-band „Centrate“.

11.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We had actively decided to put the first songs we wrote on the EP, so there will almost naturally be an audible development. Actually we have already written approximately 80% of the material for our full-length-album alongside two a little more experimental projects, which will most likely end up on additional EPs in the future. At the moment we are still figuring out the exact schedule, but the tendency is to start recordings for the full-length within the next few months as we are really excited to see the pieces come together and add the final touch.

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

As I mentioned before we have a lot of various influences, but most of them are to be found in different types of 90s extreme metal, which is why we wanted our sound to partially be kind of a reminiscence to that era. Our mixing engineer Sascha did a great job in helping us create this atmosphere and adding just the right amount of a modern touch. Nowadays I am personally most excited about listening to bands that somehow push their boundaries. The latest album that really got under my skin is the new Gaerea.

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

I guess, that I already got a little carried away at some points, so I will cut this one short and just go with „Thank you for having us, it was a pleasure“.

www.cephyre.band

www.cephyre.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/cephyre.band
www.instagram.com/cephyre.band

Exiled Hope/Steel Forge/Realm Of the Exiled/2025 Collaboration EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  ep  between  U.S.A's  Exiled  Hope  and  United  Kingdom's  Steel  Forge  who  team  up  together  and  bring  out  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death,  power  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  ep  "Realm  of  the  Exiled"  which  will  be  released  in  2025.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  clean  sections  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  folk  music.  One  of  the  songs  also  introduce  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  that  are  more  rooted  in  power  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length, the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  mix  their  two  different  styles  to  create  something  very  heavy,  melodic,  symphonic  and  epic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  doom,  death,  gothic,  power  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Light  In  the  Darkness"  and  "Beyond  The  Veil".  8  out  of  10.

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdZNNjK9ieVITFmcplPs1hA 

Bandcamp: https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth 

Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/

Bandcamp: https://steelforge1.bandcamp.com/

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

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/steelforgeband?lang=en-GB

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steelforge8934

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CNLoVLW2SVhYxd6aZsGyR

      

Greh Interview

 

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

Gjero: Since recording "Dysphoric Devotion," we've been busy rehearsing, refining our live show, and preparing for the album release in January. We're incredibly excited to finally share this music with the world and can't wait to see the reaction.

 

2. You have your first full-length coming out in 2025. Musically, how does it differ from your previous EPs?

"Dysphoric Devotion" builds on the foundation laid down by our debut EP "Reversion of the Repressed." While the EP showcased our blend of black and death metal with doom elements, the new album delves deeper into this sonic territory. We've incorporated more atmospheric passages to create a more immersive listening experience, while still retaining the raw aggression and intensity that defines our sound.

 

3. What are some of the lyrical themes and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

The lyrics on "Dysphoric Devotion" explore themes of despair, alienation, and the struggle to find meaning in a world filled with darkness. We delve into the human condition, confronting the abysses within ourselves and the external forces that threaten to consume us. There's also an undercurrent of hope and resilience that shines through the bleakness.

 

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

The name GREH is a play on the word "greh," which carries connotations of grief, sorrow, and despair in some Slavic languages. We felt this name encapsulated the emotional weight of our music and the themes we explore.

 

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

The artwork for "Dysphoric Devotion" is a visual representation of the album's themes. It's a dark and evocative piece that reflects the emotional turmoil and existential struggle explored in the music. We don't want to reveal too much, but we hope it will resonate with listeners and draw them deeper into the world of the album.

 

6. Originally the band started out as a solo project, what was the decision behind expanding into a full band?

GREH began as a solo project to explore my musical vision. However, after recording the "Reversion of the Repressed" EP, I felt the potential for the project could be fully realized with a full band. Bringing Maurice and Martin on board allowed us to develop a more dynamic and powerful sound in our live performances and on this new album. 

Martin, our vocalist. He has a rich musical history and has played in various bands before joining GREH. His vocal abilities are second to none and he brings a depth and complexity to our music that makes it truly unique.

Mauirice, our drummer. He is the heart of our band and keeps us all in time. His energy and commitment is infectious and he always puts 100% into every rehearsal and every gig.

And I am the lead guitarist of the band. I have a deep passion for metal and have always dreamed of playing in a band that plays this type of music.

We all came to GREH through our shared love of music and our desire to create something unique and meaningful. It was a natural progression and we are proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to what the future holds.

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

We've had some great shows so far, but a few that stand out include our performance with Hexis, and our set headlining alongside Coldspine, Dornen, Tristis, and Tourin Horse. Our stage presence is intense and energetic. We strive to create a consuming atmosphere that reflects the aggression and despair of our music.

 

8. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Absolutely! We're currently booking shows for 2025 in support of "Dysphoric Devotion." We're eager to unleash the new album live and connect with fans on the road. We'll announce the tour dates as soon as they're finalized, so stay tuned!

 

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

The response to our music has been overwhelmingly positive. We've been fortunate to connect with fans of underground metal from all over the world. It's been incredibly rewarding to see our music resonate with listeners on a global scale.

 

10. Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

We're all entirely focused on GREH at the moment. This band is our primary creative outlet, and we're pouring all of our energy into making it a success.  Maurice Müller is still active as drummer in HARD STRIKE and MILAN, and Martin Kocula is active as singer and guitarist in GRAU.

 

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

We're constantly looking to evolve and push our sound forward. While "Dysphoric Devotion" represents a significant step in our musical development, we see it as just the beginning. We're excited to experiment and explore new sonic territories in future releases.

 

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

Our musical influences are wide-ranging. We draw inspiration from classic black metal bands like Bathory and Darkthrone, as well as death metal innovators. But our inspiration goes beyond the genre. We are also influenced by bands outside of metal that have shown us how to bring emotional depth and musical complexity to our songs. Ultimately, our music is the result of all these influences and our own unique vision. We are proud to follow in the footsteps of these great bands while forging our own path.

https://linktr.ee/greh

Greh/Dysphoric Devotion/Fetzner Death Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Greh  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Dysphoric  Devotion"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Fetzner  Death  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  album  also  has  its  atmospheric  and  dissonant  moments.  Grooves  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  mid  tempo  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  synths  are  also  added  towards  the  end

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

  In  my  opinion  Greh  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chained  Thoughts"  "All  Flesh  Decays"  and  "Enter  my  Oblivion".  8  out  of  10.

   https://grehmetal.bandcamp.com/album/dysphoric-devotion

 https://linktr.ee/greh  

Cephyre/A Gleam Within The Gloom/2024 EP Review

 

  Cephyre  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "A  Gleam  Within  The  Gloom".

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  while  also  introducing  synths  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  parts  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  a  lot  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  Sections of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  clear  singing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  o f  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Blackened  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Cephyre  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  realistic  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Cephyre  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Gleam"  and  "Distraction  From  Reality".  8  out  of  10.

  www.cephyre.band

www.cephyre.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/cephyre.band

www.instagram.com/cephyre.band  

Summoning Saturn Voids/Self Titled/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from  Norway  and  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  album  which  was  released  by  Argonauta  Records.

  Synths  and  atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a 70's  rock  style.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  and  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  doom  and  stoner  metal  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  aggression  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Lovecraftian,  Cosmic  Horror,  Science  Fiction  and  Space  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cosmic  Sabbath"  "Technical  Heresy"  and "Siggy  Starsmoke  And  The  Bongsters  From  Mars".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/ summoningsaturnvoids

LaColpa/In Absentia Lucis/Brucia Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  LaColpa  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dissonant  black,  sludge,  doom  meta,  experimental,  drone  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "In  Absentia  Lucis"  which  was  released  by  Brucia  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  At  times  the  recording  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  some  whispers  also  being  utilized  briefly  along  with  some  noises  and  drones  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  songs.

  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  also  brings  in  a  very  dissonant  vibe  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  distorted  style.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  music  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  improvised  style.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  album  finally  speeds  up  blast  beats  are  also  introduced  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  and  clear  singing.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  negativity  and  pain.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  LaColpa  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dissonant  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone,  experimental  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Our  Vast  Loneliness"  and  "Wher  God  lives".  8  out  of  10.

  https://lacolpa666.bandcamp.com/     

Morast/Fentanyl/Van Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Morast  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Fentanyl"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Van  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  one  song  also  introduces  clear  vocals  onto  the  album.  Spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Morast  goes  for  more  of  a  slow  sludge  and  doom  metal  style  which  also  mixes  in  the  aggression  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  grief,  loss  and  the  abyss  of  emotional  pain.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Morast  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Furor  And  Ecstasy"  and  "On  Pyre".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/Fy8wByYIowI  

Apocalypse/Pandaemonium/MiMi Sound Records & Publishing/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Apocalypse  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  viking,  death,  thrash and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Pandeaemonium"  which  was  released  by  MiMi  Sound  Records  &  Publishing.

  Keyboards  and  classical  music  elements  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  riffing  mixes  in  touches  of  death  and  thrash  metal  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  and  gothic  metal  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style.

  Clear  viking  metal  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  demonic  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  as  well  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  time,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and a  few songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  witchcraft  burnings  and  darkness  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apocalypse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  black,  viking,  doom,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hanged,  Drawn  And  Quartered"  "The  Well  Of  Deception"  and  "Pandeaemonium".  8  out  o  10.

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

  https://orcd.co/primordialsky

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

  

Hand Of Omega/The End Of The Beginning/Cursed Monk Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Hand  Of  Omega  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "The  End  Of  The  Beginning"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Cursed  Monk  Records.

  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  shouts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  harsh  noises  also  make  a  return  as  the  album  progresses,  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  environment  and  society  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Hand  Of  Omega  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Survival  Of  The  Shittest"  and  "Amazon  Burning".  8  out  of  10.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmV6x_IyKQE

https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/the-end-of-the-beginning

NightWraith/Divergence/2024 Full Length Review

 

   NightWraith  are  a  band  from  Denver,  Colorado  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Divergence"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clear  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.

  Pedal  steel  guitars,  baritone  saxophones,  and  flutes  are  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  they  also  bring  in  a  cover  of  Pink  Floyd's  "Us  And  Them".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  heart  of  being  human.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  NightWraith  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Perpetual  Night"  "Fallen  Kings  And  Queens"  and  "Us  And  Them".  8  out  of  10.

   Nightwraithband.com | Facebook.com/nightwraithband | Instagram.com/nightwraithband | Youtube.com/@nightwraithband5142 | Twitter.com/nightwraithband​