LaColpa/Post Tenebras Lux/Brucia Records/2020 Full Length Review

 

  LaColpa  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  noise  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Post  Tenebras  Lux"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Brucia  Records.

  Distorted  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  decent  amount  of  noise  elements.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all of  the  musical  instruments  also having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  and  sludge  metal.  Growls  can  also  be heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding in  some  early  20th  century  music  samples  and  all  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  a  slower  direction,  clean  playing,  spoken  word  parts  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  LaColpa  adds  more  drones  into  their  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  noise  to  take  their  style  to  another  level.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the lyrics  cover  occultism,  darkness  and  pain  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  LaColpa  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Opal"  and  "Relics".8out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

SoundCloud

      

Irhagar Interview

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


A little about the project. We are from the city of Ulan-Ude, located in South-Eastern Siberia, near Lake Baikal. It is important to note the territorial location, because our music and sound absorbed the local motives of nature and the phenomena of the cultures of the peoples living here since ancient times.

2.Recently you have released an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?
Since our music is closely related to local folklore, we are intermediaries in it. It passes through us and gradually manifests through tools, gaining face. Thus, you can hear the awakening of different forms of energies that are inherent in each of us. All this, in the end, pours out, as if from an overflowing bowl, into music that does not limit itself.

3.What are some of the themes and images you have brought out with your music so far?
Our goal is not to create and impose certain images. We just want to nudge the listener to build their own. For example, the cryptographic definitions of our tracks speak about this - that is, the listener himself gives the names.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name "Irhagar'?
Let's just say that there is no inspiration behind this and not even a name, let alone a hidden meaning, etc. Irhagar is an ancient name deeply rooted in the rituals of the Baikal peoples. This is the name of the spiteful,”grinning” Spirit.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
The cover is a visualization of the music, forming a complex with the definition of tracks of a whole picture. Simultaneously bringing the listener into the trip, immersing him. Better look closely to the cover and it’ll say more than we can.

6.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?
Our live performances are an important factor in shaping the overall picture. In the period prior to release, we had already performed several live performances on the local stage of our city. The rest, of course, is in the future.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
It is difficult to say yet whether we are looking for a label. But if we receive proposals, we will certainly consider them.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your recordings by fans of underground music?
We received messages from different parts of the world. And these were mostly positive reactions and bewilderment, of course in a good sense of the word. To be honest, it is difficult to judge feedback now, because this is our debut release

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

We do not think it is worth setting any definite goal in the future, concerning the direction of music. But we try not to limit ourselves to various frames and labels. Use all opportunities and skills to the maximum.

10.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?
You know we can endlessly list everything and everyone and it doesn't make sense. Undoubtedly, we have been influenced by a wide variety of musical genres of the electronic and heavy underground scene, as well as other art forms.

11.How would you describe your views on metaphysics?
This can be felt on an ephemeral plane. That which arises before all the concepts and concepts in which the human mind can endlessly wander. Do not forget this and do not remember.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
“Questions are always baffling”

1. SoundCloud
2. vk.com

Irhagar/Sutra/2020 Full Length Review

  Irhagar  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  black  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Sutra".

  Amp  style  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  at  times.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  at  times  along  with  the  slow  yet  heavy  riffing  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

 A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Synths  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  an  amprov  atmosphere  at  times  as  well  as  most  of  the  music  also  being  instrumental,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  atmospheric  sounding  drones  can  also  be  heard,'.

   Irhagar  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge  metal,  drone  and  experimental  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark

  In  my  opinion  Irhagar  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal,  drone  and  experimental  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  8  out  of  10.

https://irhagar.bandcamp.com/releases   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Throwing Bricks/What Will Be Lost/Tartarus Records/2020 Full Length Review

  Throwing  Bricks  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black, sludge  metal,  hardcore  punk  and  screamo  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "What  Will  Be  Lost"  which  was  released  by  Tartarus  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.  The  slow  riffs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal  along  with  the  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  growls  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a very  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  music  also  brings  in  elements  of  screamo  and  hardcore  punk.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  songs  also  bring  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  clean  playing  also  making  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks  and  as  the  album  progresses  atmospheric  sounding  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  emotional  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Throwing  Bricks  are  a  very  great sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal, hardcore  and  screamo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Day  He  Died"  and  "Galling".  8  out  of  10.


https://www.facebook.com/throwingbricksband/

https://throwingbricksband.bandcamp.com/  

(0)/SkamHam/Napalm Records/2020 Full Length Review

  (0)  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "SkamHam"  which  will  be  released  on  April  24th  by  Napalm  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavier  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  growls  and  deep  growls  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  progressive  and  post  metal  elements.  Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  clean  playing  also  making  a  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks.

  A  great  portion  of  the  songs  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  as  the  album   progresses  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Danish  and  cover  dark  and  gloomy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  (0"  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  metal  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tyndere  end  Hud"  "Rod  Glorie"  and  "SkamHam".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/42qW87QjajI

    

V:XII Interview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

Only time will tell.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Too many to bands and genre´s to give you a list but here are three bands that have had a huge impact on me over the years:
Darkthrone
Tool
Brighter Death Now

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

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

I’m good, thanks!

https://vxii.bandcamp.com/

https://culted.bandcamp.com/

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

Ferra-Reto/Hraesvelgr/Nailed Nazarene Industries/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Brazil's  Ferra-Reto  and   Russia's  Hraesvelgr  which  was  released  in  2019  by  Nailed  Nazarene  Industries  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Ferra-Reto  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient  and  harsh noise.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  dark  ambient  style  soundscapes  and  industrial  style  beats.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  the  track  is  also over  15  minutes  in  length,  as  the  tracks  progresses  noises  are  power  electronics  are  also  added  into  the  music  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Ferra-Reto  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of experimental,  dark  ambient  and  harsh  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.

  Next  up  is  Haraesvelgr  a  solo  project  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  music  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  and  sludge  metal. The  track  is  also  over  12  minutes  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  elements  of  black  metal  drone,  at  times  the  song also  gets  very  repetitive  sounding  as  well  as  always  sticking  to  a  very  slow  yet  instrumental  musical  direction.

  In  mu  opinion  Hraesvelgr  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.

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

https://nailednazareneindustries.bandcamp.com/album/ferra-reto-hraesvelgr    

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://vxii.bandcamp.com/releases     

    

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tovarish Interview

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

We've released our very first music video for the song The Year Without Summer and we're releasing our second music video for the song Silver And Lead. We've played a few shows and are already planning to write and record new material.

2.In July you also have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Our sound is always evolving. We sound much different from our first album "Da, Tovarish" and I think that's for the best. We've been providing remixes for other artists and that has lead to us having a bit more of an industrial influence. We've also been incorporating more melody and ambient sound to compliment the harsh drones.

3.This is also your first album since 2015, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?

We usually go in a bit of hibernation between albums. We still play live locally, but we let the music rest so to speak. Everyday life tends to get in the way and we also work on other musical projects, so time occasionally slips away. When we do get together to write and record, it comes in large creative bursts and then we revisit later with clear minds to see if we should continue or start anew.

4.Your lyrics deal a lot with Soviet era Communism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic and what led you to be interested in that era?

A lot of extreme bands (black metal, noise etc) either flirt with or outright embrace fascist imagery and ideology. We oppose all that and created Tovarish in direct response. Fascism is on the rise around the world and people must look for a way to combat and defeat it. There are lessons to be learned from Soviet-era Communism, both good and bad and we must look to the past in order to help save the future.

5.In modern day society a lot of people think communism is making a huge come back with all the whole war between socialism and the lat right, what are your thoughts on this?

I think it's encouraging that people are becoming more socially and politically aware and active to fight against those that destroy us simply for existing. People are not just rolling over to the tiki torch-carrying hatemongers that proclaim racial and gender superiority. There is a whole new generation of people moving further to the left because they see that we must work together to become better. A rising tide lifts all ships, many hands make light work, that sort of mentality.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Tovarsh'?

Tovarish means "Comrade". We chose that name because it encapsulates who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together as a band. We truly do work together in all aspects of the band, whether it's writing, recording, booking shows, and even merch design.

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

The artwork was created by the amazing Stephen Wilson, who has also down artwork for Crowhurst, False, and Vile Creature.  We did not really put any restrictions or give any parameters. We sent him the album and just let him create something that is incredible to look at.

8.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We've been lucky enough to play with some amazing bands. Kayo Dot, SubRosa, Psalm Zero, Endon, Batillus, Kowloon Walled City. All of those were great experiences. Our live performance typically includes video projected behind us. Past videos  have included riot footage, Soviet propaganda cartoons, time-lapsed nature video. It gives the audience something to focus on while we play.

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

Not really. We don't tour and now only play shows if we're asked. In the beginning, we would play just about any show offered to us or would book our own. It led to many mixed bills in terms of genre and talent, which had less than desirable results.

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

Mixed I suppose. Your average metal fan probably wouldn't like us. No riffs, no mosh, no fun. The people that "get it" though really do understand and appreciate what we're doing. It's not easily listenable or digestible music, but there is something there and it's always encouraging when fans enjoy what we're doing.

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

Without putting us in a box, I would say more ambient and melodic sounds. We're really proud of what we have accomplished with If The War Comes Tomorrow and would probably continue on that track.

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

It depends on the day and the mood, but recently we've been drawn to sludge, doom, drone, and soundscapes.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

Politics, electronics, books.

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

Our music is available at tovarish.bandcamp.com and argonautarecords.com. Thanks so much for taking the time to ask us questions.

[ BOLT ]/Morasth/dunk! Records/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Germany's  [ BOLT ]  and  Morasth  which  was  reelased  by  dunk!  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  [ BOLT ]   who  return  with  their  mixture  of  black,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  distorted  amp  noises  and  drones  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  their  side  of  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  sludge  and doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  their  song  which  is  also  over  20  minutes  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  an  improv  atmosphere  along  with  the  track  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  black  metal  influences,  All  of  the  music  is  instrumental  as  well  as  the  song  also  using  the  same  riff  for  a  few  minutes  and  as  their  side  of  the  split  progresses  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  [ BOLT ]   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.

  Next  up  is  Morasth  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  doom  and  post  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  with  some  distorted  amp  noises  before  going  into  more  of  a  slower  and  heavier  doom  metal  direction.  Their  track  is  also  over  18  minutes  in  length  while  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  give  the  song  more  of  an  atmospheric  post  metal  feeling.

  Their  track  also  uses  the  same  riff  for  most  of  the  track  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  improv  atmosphere  and  also  keeping  everything  in  a  slow  yet  instrumental  musical  direction,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Morasth  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  drone,  sludge,  doom  and  post metal.  8  out  of  10.

 https://dunkrecords.com/collections/dunk-records-on-vinyl/products/b-o-l-t-morasth-b-o-l-t-vs-morasth-lp

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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



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

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

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

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

https://tovarish.bandcamp.com

Heathe/On The Tombstones, The Symbols Engraved/Wolves And Vibrancy Records/2019 Full length Review

  Heathe  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  drone,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  noise  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "On  The  Tombstones,  The  Symbols  Engraved"  which will be  released  in  May  by  Wolves  And  Vibrancy  Records.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  slow  and  heavy  doom metal  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  tortured  black  metal  screams  while  the  only  track  on  this  album  is  over  38  minutes  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  an  improv  atmosphere.

  Horns  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  and  also  gives  the  song  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  which  also  captures  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal,  At  times  the  riffing  get  very  repetitive  sounding  along  with  the  same  riff  being  used  for  minutes  upon  minutes  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  influences  of  drone  and  noise  rock.

  Heathe  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  drone,  doom  metal  and  noise  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  when  they  are  utilized  cover  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Heathe  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone  and  noise  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/heathedeath      

Primitive Man/Hell/Translation Loss Records/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Denver,  Colorado's  Primitive  Man  and  Portland,  Oregon's  Hell  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Translation  Loss  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Primitive  Man  who  return  with  their  blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  with  some  distorted  amp  noises  before  adding  in  some  heavy  sludge  and  doom  metal  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  some  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Both  of  their  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length  while  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up  as  well  as  the  music  always  sticking  to  a  very  dark  and  heavy  direction,  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  hatred  and  misanthropy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Primitive  Man  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Oily  Tears".

  Next  up  is  hell  a  band  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  distorted  amp  sounds  before  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Their  track  is  also  9  minutes  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal a re  added  in  the  slow  and  heavy  riffing.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  track  always  sticking  to  a  very  dark  and  heavy  musical  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misery,  darkness,  pain  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hell  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/02/20/full-split-stream-primitive-man-hell/

  

Hipoxia/Ruinae Ira, Creans Ruina eo Tempore Est -Monumentum ab Khaos II/The Way Of The Hermit/2018 CD Review

  Hipoxia  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  sludge  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Ruinae  Ira,  Creans  Ruina  eo  Tempore  Est -Monumentum  ab  Khaos  II"  which  was  released  by  The Way  Of The  Hermit.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  grim  whispers  also  being  used  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  sludge  metal  direction  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  slower  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  influences  which  show  up  mostly  in  the  screams  and  as  the  album  progresses  touches  of  drone,  gothic  rock  and  ambient  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Hipoxia  remains  rue  to  their  mixture  of  drone,  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  while  also  adding  in  more  post  metal,  goth  rock  and  ambient  elements  this  time  around,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Hipoxia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Purification  Through  Amok".  8  out  of  10. 

https://youtu.be/rcdx9w0ZO5g

    

N (46)/[BOLT]/(Nameless Release)/Midira Records/2018 Full Length Review

  [BOLT]  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  teams  up  with  Germany's  N (46)    plays  an  instrumental  mixture  of  black,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  a  nameless  release  that was  released  by  Midira  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  slow  and  heavy  doom  metal  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  being  instrumental  and  the  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  decent  amount  of  black  metal  elements  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  an  improvised  atmosphere  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  slow  direction.

  [BOLT]  and  team  up  together  and  mixes  black,  drone  and  doom  metal  together  while  keeping  everything  instrumental  and  mixing  their  different  styles  together  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  N (46)  and  [BOLT]  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.

https://n-bolt.bandcamp.com/

[BOLT] 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 played a tour in late March with our good friend N and some nice festivals, plus further planning for future releases and some shows.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I guess the biggest change or difference would have been the addition of drums respectively an additional band member. Hence, the whole writing process including its approach and sound changed in some ways. Specifically the addition of drums comes naturally with rhythmic changes or, as in our case, the general addition of rhythm. We understand ( 0 4 ) as a journey with recurring musical ideas which are featured throughout the album and tiled together by fuzzed out bass guitars, drums and degraded effects.

3.So far all of your music has been instrumental, would you be open to working with vocals or lyrics in the future?

We already have plans to work with someone on vocals, but rather in the sense of an additional instrument than central element as you would find in a classic band set-up.

4.Most of your song titles are named after numbers, can you tell us a little bit more about this concept?

Actually there isn’t too much of a concept apart from the songs being connected to a consecutive number. Since we don’t have any lyrics, it leaves enough room to the audience to interpret or relate to a song or an album whatever they want. Also, we don’t have too much say, haha.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name [BOLT]?

The name derives from a black beam, which in our early days represented our ‘band name’, but actually wasn’t pronounceable. We then came across an industrial bolt, which came closest to the previously used black beam.  [ ███████]

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

This year’s Dunk!Festival was remarkably good. It doesn’t happen too often that there is a strong connection between the audience, us as a band AND the place/venue we actually play which in that case was the forest stage and happened to be a special and unique experience.
When it comes to the performance itself, it depends on quite a few things. In an ideal world, we offer an intimate and equally intense performance. But that depends on things like sound, stage, audience, lighting or the like.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the next few months?

16.6. in Leverkusen and 25.8. in Mülheim (Ruhr). Both are festivals which combine art and music. Maybe a long weekend in late October.

8.You have also been a part of a few splits and collaborations, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands or artists you have shared these recordings with?

We met all of our split and collaboration partners before we actually worked on a record. Or it was suggested by one of our labels. Anyway, an important criterion to all of our works with other artists is the creative work and the goal to enhance our, as well as our partners musical horizon. Keep in mind we started as a bass duo which naturally comes with limitations to sound and song writing. Therefore, having the opportunity to work with other artists was (and still is) an endless source of inspiration and enabled us to foster our own creativity.

9.Can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you have worked with on the new album?

Both labels, Dunk! Records and Narshardaa Records, are run by very kind and enthusiastic people and put a lot of effort in our latest album. Dunk is based in Gent/Belgium and Narshardaa in Kiel/Germany.
It was nice to see that both labels were open to work with us and leave their more common path of post rock and hardcore.


10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal, doom and drone?

That’s quite hard to say. We don’t focus too much on genres themselves, since it would limit or restrict not only our own music, but also views on our music by third parties.
Generally speaking feedback so far has been very good, which we are very grateful for, but again, that’s not really connected to genres. Most people who get back to us or write something about our songs and albums share a general interest in music which tends to move away or beyond genre limitations.

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

Currently we are working on a collaboration with an US film composer, the next album and a theatre project. The recordings to two split albums are almost done, same with two N+BOLT albums.
We like to keep all of that as well as all of our future works quite open. As mentioned before, too many labels on your own musical style might restrict you in one way or the other.

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

All three of us share an interest in what one might describe as heavy and/or atmospheric music. This ranges from black metal, post metal or rap music to pop music. I guess a key element to all genres we are interested in, is some sort of a well created atmosphere and a creative approach to song writing.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

I guess Andi’s interest in recording and mastering is worth to be mentioned.

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

Thanks heaps for the interview. Equally to the reader for dealing with our messy answers. Hearts.

https://wearebolt.bandcamp.com/music