Tzadok/We Are Tzadok/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Tzadok  are  a  band  from  Mexico  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  death,  power,  heavy  metal  and  metalcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "We  Are  Tzadok"  which  will  be  released  on  December  6th  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  The  clear  vocals  mix  traditional  and  power  metal  together  while  the  more  harsh  side  mixes  black  and  death  metal  together.  Elements  of  folk  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  one  song  introduces  female  vocals  onto  the  recording.

  A  lot  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  metalcore  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fat  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  love,  hope  and  justice  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Tzadok  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  death,  power,  heavy  metal  and  metalcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Redeemer  Mind"  "Andromeda"  and  "The Return".  8  out  of  10.

  www.instagram.com/tzadok_oficial

www.facebook.com/Tzadokoficial

youtube.com/@tzadokoficial6434  

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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Moisson Livide/Sent Emperi Gascon/Antiq/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Moisson  Livide  are  a  duo  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Sent  Emperi  Gascon"  which  will be  released  in  may  by  Antiq.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  good  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in a   very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  power  metal  style  singing.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  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.  

 All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  of  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  influences  of  punk  rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Gascon  and  cover  everyday  life  and  old  legends.

  In  my  opinion  Mossson  Livide  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  sèrp  d’Isavit"  "Sent  Empèri  Gascon"  and  "Caçaire d’eternitat".  8  out  of  10.

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Wandering Oak 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?

First of all, thanks for your interest in interviewing us! We really appreciate it.

Well the album has only been out for about a week and thus far we've begun rehearsals for a few regional shows (Buffalo, Boston, Baltimore) in July, and we have some new merch items down the pipeline.

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

The biggest shift is that we have pushed our sound in a much more progressive direction whilst also increasing the black metal ferocity and aggression. We've pushed our instrumental abilities much further and also pushed the envelope with influences and the scope of the compositions.

3.This is also your first release in 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

A lot! We had just come off of a short tour with Wilderun in 2019 and were poised to work on the album before COVID hit, which in a perverted way gave us time to woodshed new ideas. Also, Joe decided not to commit to the band and we spent a long time trying to find a new guitarist. We did play some local shows here in Rochester before we decided to replace our drummer, and we were essentially in album mode for about a year. 

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Much of the music deals with the concept of overcoming hardship, be it from loss, climate change, mental illness, and fascism. We feel our sound has become a lot more sophisticated whilst still being very organic and rooted (pun intended) in our original mission statement. We've also assembled a group of musicians that I feel finally does the music I have in my head justice, while adding their own spin that creates something that is more than just the sum of its parts.

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

There are several meanings, but fundamentally it is a 'kenning', a compound or figurative phrase in Old English and Old Norse poetry used to replace a common noun, It refers to our meandering songs that drift away from the root yet stay grounded. It is also of course a reference to Ents from Tolkein's universe, and much like the term 'Led Zeppelin' is an oxymoronic description of the music - large, massive and imposing, intricate, but also down to earth and natural, yet adventurous. We want the listener to know they're in for a trip.

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

It was designed by the amazing Czech artist Moonroot who also did our new logo, and it was based off of a rendering done by a colleague of mine. It is meant to represent a tree that has weathered every season, as an analogy for the struggles of life.

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

Some of our best performances include some of the dates we played on the road with Wilderun, not to mention the special opportunity we had to open for Negura Bunget on two of their dates on the final US tour they did. RIP Negru. Our stage performances are relatively no frills, high energy. We like to wear war paint but keep the outfits minimalist. It's more about the music than the presentation for us. We let the riffs do the talking.

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

Yes, as previously stated we have three shows booked in July of this year, and hopefully there will be more to come.

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

So far the reaction has been very good! Obviously it will take time for the album to spread through the networks but so far so good! There are definitely some that feel like we have progressed too far from our original sound or think we're too overwhelming, but honestly we feel like people in this scene just aren't used to being challenged anymore.

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

So myself (Robert) I have my other band Goblin Hovel who are currently recording our next album, We're a more zany style of folk metal. Deidre and myself also joined The Atrocity Tourist, fronted by Hovel's lead singer. It's an avant-garde metal band devoted to the modernization of the murder ballad. CW has his black metal band Hubris which also includes our session guitarist Andy, who are also both of Ferus Din. Hubris are putting the finishing touches on their next album and you should definitely check it out. They are FIERCE. Furthermore, Andy and I are also part of the triumphant anti-fascist black metal band Helianthus, which will hopefully be working on our full length this year. Andy also has the bands Temple of Mammon and Antiquity. Our live guitarist Mitch has this cool Celtic Fusion project called Wired Tae the Moon, and I implore you to give them a listen. They're very unique.

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

More progressive, more ambitious, more aggressive, more transgressive, but decidedly darker and more pointedly sociopolitical.

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

Several of us have been listening to a lot of Havukruunu. They rip. Mitch has been listening to Dixie Dregs a lot. I've been getting back into jazz and ambient music. Also a lot of Doomsword and Borknagar. Deidre is usually listening to a lot of prog and jazz. Andy is a classically trained musician and plays a lot of early music, and his listening reflects that as well. His father was in a progressive rock band called Rodan in the 70's that opened for Gentle Giant and Mahavishnu Orchestra amongst others, and those are very much shared tastes.

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

Thanks again for taking an interest in us! We hope you really enjoy the album and maybe you can catch us live when we eventually book a larger tour. Hopefully next year. Keep your eyes peeled for some cool merch items, and follow us on http://wanderingoakband.bandcamp.com 

Wandering Oak/Resilience/Fiadh Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Wandering Oak  are  a  band  from  New  York  that  plays  an  epic  and  progressive  mixture  of  folk,  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Resilience"  which  was  released  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  clean  singing  and  death  metal  growls  while  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  also b e  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  traditional  metal  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  acoustic  guitars  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  when  they  are  utilized.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  showing  an  influence  of  thrash  metal,  spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  are  also  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  and  folklore  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Wandering  Oak  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  progressive  mixture  of  folk,  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Fir  They  Fell"  and  "Snowbound".  8  out  of  10.

   Wandering Oak       

Executus 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?

(Adrian)

Having only just released our debut album ‘The Black Throne of Chaos Abandoned’, we have been focused on getting the word out there for people to listen to and enjoy the tunes. We have also started to explore new ideas for the next concept album. 

Our drummer Francis is expected to welcome his first child in April so there are exciting times for him.

 

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

 

(Adrian)

Since the release of both our demo album ‘Empire in Ruin’ (2016) as well as our EP ‘Escape Reality’ (2017), musically we have shifted a little musically. The newly released album incorporates more rhythm driving qualities from black metal opposed to our old days of sustaining purely thrash inspired riffs. This blending of the two styles we feel really helped create the dynamics we wanted for this new concept album that otherwise, we would not have been able to achieve.

3.This was also your first release since 2017, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

(Kym)

Since our last release of our EP ‘Escape Reality’ in 2017, there has been a steady focus on writing songs for this album. Our original intention was to release another EP, however, as we continued to write music, the prospect of an album unfolded. Additionally, we have performed several local gigs to take some time off from writing, enjoy what fans in South Australia offer, and test some new tunes.

Most of the band members are fathers, so looking after family keeps them quite busy. Everyone also works in Engineering or IT full time, so it can be a challenge getting the crew together at times.

 

4.A lot of your lyrics show some inspiration from the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this author?

(Grant)

Lovecraftian horrors are just so well-crafted – they evoke a fantastic unknowable evil that provides a great eldritch backdrop for our style of music. This coupled with a sci-fi and fantasy bent (from the likes of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings, etc.) gives us plenty work with 😊

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

(Grant)

The songs themselves tend to work through a story around the group of space Vikings known as Executus – at the face of it. But within that the songs themselves tackle all kinds of things. In particular anxiety, depression, guilt, and the general existential dread of living on earth in 2024 with how bad everything is, with no one seemingly doing anything about it.

 

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

(Grant)

Executus – is a boss from World of Warcraft’s first raid back in 2004. Major-domo Executus.  It’s catchy and leans into our nerd pedigree.  

 

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

(Kym)

We wanted the artwork to depict the moment Azathoth emerges from the astral gateway, which happens around track 5, for those playing along at home. We got in touch with an Aussie artist named Scotty Bates who has done work for bands like Slaughter To Prevail and Aborted, and seemed to have a healthy appreciation for sci-fi. At the time we only had a handful of songs and this was intended to be an EP, but we were so blown away by the artwork he sent us, it inspired us to make it a full album.

 

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

(Adrian)

One favourite show we played was located inside a local brewery. There was very little room so we played on the floor, allowing people to come up and headbang over our foldbacks as we played. People were falling down over equipment, headbanging, and we were right there with them. We loved that personal intimacy this provided and hopefully we can play another one in the future. Sometimes with raised stages, fans can seem distant.

So the closer you are, the better. 

 

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

(Grant)

No touring plans as yet. I mentioned before our drummer is expecting his first soon and would like to be available for that. Hopefully we can look to string a few local shows together however.

 

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

(Kym)

I mean, we wouldn’t say no to a label if they were interested. Everything we have recorded and produced to date has been self-funded.

 

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and thrash metal?

(Adrian)

It has been absolutely amazing! There has been nothing but positivity towards this album from all around the globe.  Despite this albums’ late release on December 4, we’ve even managed to sneak into the top 10 heavy metal album listings for several YouTube channels, podcasts and radio stations. 

Seeing people enjoy our music is what we do this for, and we thank everyone for listening and hope you enjoyed it!

 

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

(Grant)

I feel musically we have honed in on a style and genre that works well for us, and enjoy writing and creating music to this. We will continue to write new songs which hopefully in the near future everyone can enjoy.

 

13.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?

(Adrian)

For several of the band members, Metallica has definitely provided a lot of musical influence. You can probably hear a lot of Kirk in the guitar solos. Rhythmically, bands like Sepultura, Immortal and Skeletonwitch have helped create the raw sound and energy of the riffs.

 

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

(Grant)

Thanks for reaching out for this interview – we could not be happier with the response to the album so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxW2X7TJiT4

Executus/The Black Thrones of Chaos Abandoned/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Executus  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "The  Black  Thrones  Of  Chaos  Abandoned".

  Clean  playing  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  thrash  emtal  elements  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  album  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  traditional  metal  at  times  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  singing  onto  the  album,  one  track  is  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction  and  cosmic  horror  themes  with  some  inspiration  from  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.  

  In  my  opinion  Executus  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  " The  Lurker  At  The  Threshold"  "Behold!  A  Bloodstained  Sky"  "Invocation  of  the  Abyss"  and  "The  Worlds  Grave".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/au/album/escape-reality-ep/1272954327

https://executus.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/executus

https://www.instagram.com/executus.adelaide/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lLqBRUSaXXr0sUb8Rx5Gl

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXabWXEpLIupak9BuFnVVCg   

  

Swansong 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?

Yes, thank you! We released our debut album “Awakening” 1st of December 2023 and the welcoming support this album has received has amazed us all. We have been enjoying the ride, training, playing music and planning next year, also doing some interviews. Topi already started to compose the second album. We also just made a deal with a new awesome booking agent Kallo Agency, many awesome death metal bands in his roster. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep? Well our EP was like our first demo as a band and we were trying things. On the album we evolved and added for example some thrash elements into some songs and also grew more versatile. The album is heavier than our EP, still retaining the beautiful melodies and guitar harmonies. On this album, the vocals are also more extreme, more versatile and there is no clean singing.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music? Lyrical themes are wide: mythologies, creatures, tales from the dark forests and from the sea. Witches, guardians of the realm of the dead, femme fatales, death, love, anger, sorrow, adventure, battle, nature, winter and everything in between. It is a Swansong world and there are no limits.

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

Jemiina lives in the countryside in a lake house. Every year the same swans return to Jemiinas beach cottage, so she loves swans. That image is inspiring. Also death is a natural and interesting theme in songwriting and swansong stands for that in a beautiful way. And ofcourse Carcass has a killer album called “Swansong” so many things led us to this name.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover? Finnish artist Timo Kokko designed the cover, like our other covers also. He designed it based on our song “Awakening” that is also the album title. Under the full moon, in the forest, in the darkness of the night, you can hear the ancient trees whispering. In the old days, people believed in the power of the forest spirits and went to the forest to ask the spirits for many things. It is a tribute to the beautiful forest, which has aroused many feelings and hopes, as well as fear, over the years. He painted beautiful moon mist around the moon.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? All audiences have been so awesome and we are very happy with every place we have been to! It's so awesome that people want to hear our music live. If we have to pick one, it must have been the “Bloodred Hourglass” gig since those guys are so talented and super nice, they play hard and make awesome music. Also the crowd was amazing and there was a moshpit! Guys play emotionally and they are also very technical experienced players. Jemiina sounds brutal and we just want to enjoy the music and have fun, also we talk to the audience like we talk to friends, because that is what every listener truly is to us. We love gigs and can’t wait to do more next year! Feels very special to perform the album songs!

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

We have gigs coming up next year but we can’t announce them yet.

8.The new album was released on 'Noble Demon', can you tell us a little bit more about this label? Noble Demon is a newer hungry label with an awesome lead man Patrick Laureano Walch. He is very passionate about music and he is very experienced and wise, but also like good friend you can message anytime. Amazing people at the label, we are very happy with them. Also amazing bands and releases! For example our label mates Night Crowned and their just released new album! Wow what an honor to be in the same label with them and so many more.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of melodic and extreme metal? It has been amazing and we are so grateful and happy! The album has had awesome reviews around the world and new awesome people have discovered us.  We could have not even imagined this. Extreme people have found something for them in our music according to the feedback and also melodic music fans have welcomed us.

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

Active projects: Lauri plays bass and takes care of vocals in Bad Baron. Plus he has a solo project, dark symphonic rock thing called Late_Lokakuun.  Tuomas also plays the guitar in Bad Baron. Jimi plays drums in Sadistik Forest, Kaera, Se Josta Ei Puhuta. 

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? We want to create music emotionally. So nothing calculated or too planned. Evolving is the biggest goal: more melodies, more stories, more brutal vocals, lower and higher. 

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

Jemiina: I listen to many metal genres, old and newer bands. But my latest big crush is Shadow Of Intent and their “Elegy” album. That is the direction I am drawn into: awesome guitar melodies and variable super cool brutal vocals.

Topi: I listen mostly 80’s and 90’s heavy metal!

Lauri: Almost all music is good, but metal in its various forms is currently going thru my ears. This year I found out about Lorna Shore. Fell in love with their latest album immediately.

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

Jemiina: Thank you for this interview and for the review also! Great thoughts and bands in your blog. Big thank you for everyone listening to our music, hope to see you soon! Have a great next year everyone, pedal to the metal!

Lauri: Thanks for all support. Keep on supporting metal.

https://www.facebook.com/officialswansong

Quiet River/Echo Chamber/Broken Bones Promotion/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Quiet  River  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Echo  Chamber"  which  was  released  by  broken  Bones  Promotion.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  70's  and  80's  metal.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  elements  of  speed  metal  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while blast  beats  are  also  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up.  A  lot  of  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  modern  and  melodic  folk  metal  style  which  also  updates  the  old  school  approach  of  the  recording  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Quiet  River  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  psychology,  fantasy  and  inner  struggles.

  In  my  opinion  Quiet  River  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Octane  Overload"  and  "Mirage".  8  out  of  10.

  https://quietriver.bandcamp.com/album/echo-chamber

 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088354898901    

    

Swansong/Awakening/Noble Demon/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Swansong  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  melodic  death  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Awakening"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Noble  Demon.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  80's  and  90's  traditional  metal  influences.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  brings  in  a  more  modern  day  aggression  along  with  the  clean  sections  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  when  they  are introduced  onto  the  recording  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  

 Swansong  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  folk,  melodic,  black, death  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  nature  and  witchcraft  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Swansong  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  melodic  black,  death  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Burning  Flames"  "Frost  Of  Winter"  "Awakening"  and  "Fury  Of  The  Witch".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Swansong/3540502242 

  

    

Old Ruins Interview

 

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

(Kraje)

A lot of things happened in that time because the recording was finished one year ago also in September.

We had no label at this time and decided to send our complete album to some labels to find out if anyone is interested in a deal with us.

And when we finally got the deal we knew that we have to be patient because of the long time period for a vinyl pressing.

So we had enough time to practice, play some shows and of course we already wrote some new songs in that time.

2.You have a new album coming out later in September, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

(Kraje)

First of all this time we were in a professional studio.

The EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by myself.

So the sound is much fatter than on the EP.

Musically it is not so different. Four songs from the EP are also on our album, to complete the whole concept.

We always try out to give our songs something special, like a smooth guitar solo, or a part and style of riffing, you wouldn’t expect. And especially not in a black metal band.

So you can see the whole album as a story, lyrically and musically.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover the video game 'Diablo' can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this game'?

(Kraje)

That’s right, we are all great fans of the diablo videogames.

In my youth the was it Diablo 2 – Lord of Destruction what captivated me and nowadays we are all play Diablo 4.

Maybe that sounds a little bit crazy, but this game influenced me for all of our lyrics.

The dark atmosphere of the game, the great story without an happy ending, the tragic…

Can it more perfect for a black metal band?

The lyrics on “Always Heading East” are about the Dark Wanderer and his tragic story in Diablo 2.

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

(Kraje)

That’s a funny story

Our drummer Alex and our guitarist Ersin hang around to think about a band name and Alex was talking about Tyrael’s Sword Aldruin. (For those who knot know, Tyrael is a character from the videogame.)

And Aldruin sounds very similar to old ruins. So ersin asked him why he is talking about old ruins and our band name was born.

I think the name fits very good because a lot of scenes we describe in our songs, happening in old ruins our graves.

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

(Kraje)

The Artwork is from the great German artist Timon Kokott.

He did our Artwork for the EP as well.

The Artwork shows the dark wanderer on his way through the desert and of course he is heading east as you can see.

Every time I look at this artwork I am travelling back in time when I first entered the second act of diablo 2.

That’s exactly the scene and there where so many scenes we had in mind for the album artwork, but this one is perfect.

If you don’t know him, check out Timon Kokott Artwork.

He is awesome

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

(Kraje)

So imagine yourself you made a band with no plans to play live.

Only creating cool songs, record them and that’s it.

But our EP was very successful and so we got the chance to play as substitute on an open air event in July 2021. It was in the middle of the pandemic and so it was one of the first concerts after a long time. 

Then this moment when we started the show

There were about 400 people on the place , and some of them wore our shirts.

And all that on our first live performance ever.

That was crazy

Our stage performance includes normally headbanging and some posing.

But not as wild as in a thrash band for example.

First of all we want to create a dark atmosphere and transmit it to the crowd

And of course we prefer to play tight and without great mistakes before acting like maniacs on stage.

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

(Kraje)

Right now we have no plans for big tours but we still have a few shows left this year.

8.Cyrrently the band is signed to 'Doc Gator Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

(Kraje)

Doc Gator Records is a Label from Switzerland.

When someone says Doc Gator Records is an underground label, then you should know that there is always the motto : quality before quantity.

They signed Bands from Brazil, Bulgaria, Wales, England, Canada, India, USA, Switzerland and at least Germany.

And that is what makes them very special.

They give bands like us a chance to spread the music all over the globe.

For me this is more than underground work.

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

(Kraje)

Very different.

You know the old school black metal fans would say our music isn’t rough and fast enough.

Then you have these guys expecting nothing when they first heard our EP on Youtube, and later that day ,they bought it digital on bandcamp to support us.

Others are the same videogame freaks as we are, so they are totally hyped

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

(Kraje)

Right now there is only me playing in another Band

It’s called Smorrah and in this band I play bass and do some backing vocals.

We recorded our first album in the same studio we were with old ruins.

I told the guys about the awesome time in the studio and the awesome sound Michael creates.

At the Moment we are planning our release.

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

(Kraje)

I can’t say where we are going in the future.

When we start a song, we never now what journey we will go on.

Some new parts are very 90’s black metal and then there are some breaks that you would never expect.

The only thing that will stay is our lyrical inspiration about the videogame and everything else only the time will tell.

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?

(Kraje)

Immortal and the Sideprojects from Abbath and Demonaz were big influence to me over the years. But there are a lot of other bands I prefer.

So on the one week I listen to iron maiden all the time, and the next week I listen to dissection.

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

(Kraje)

When I look back to the last 10 years ,

Never give up your dreams, there is always a way to reach what you are dreaming about.

And when you check out our Music…. Stay awhile…. and listen

https://www.instagram.com/oldruins.official/

https://www.facebook.com/OldRuinsGE

https://twitter.com/therealOldRuins

https://open.spotify.com/artist/16B7r7ccFBc2CGIdwzxSWA?si=40mlzhJsSlKidNDuGm5iEQ&nd=1

Old Ruins/Always Heading East/Doc Gator/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Old  Ruins  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Always  Heading  East"  which  will b e  released  on  September  15th  by  Doc  Gator.

  Clean  playing,  nature  sounds  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  aster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  the  slower  sections  of t he  tracks  also  bring  in  element s of  doom  metal.

  Some  of  the  guitar  leads  also  show  an  influence  of  traditional  metal  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  heaviness  of  death  metal  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  percussion,  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  and  keyboards  are  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  video  game 'Diablo'.

  In  my  opinion  Old  Ruins  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Dark  Wanderer"  "Risen  From  The  Grave"  and  "Lord  of  Hell".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/OldRuinsGE

https://www.instagram.com/oldruins.official/

https://twitter.com/therealOldRuins

https://open.spotify.com/artist/16B7r7ccFBc2CGIdwzxSWA?si=40mlzhJsSlKidNDuGm5iEQ&nd=1

Orkrist 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?

After releasing the new album (January 2023) we of course tried to promote it and played few gigs in Czech republic and Slovakia. There was one special concert in our hometown, just very recently (end of June) where we played on a small courtyard, so open air, old walls, and own sound production (little bit underground style) 😊

 

2.In January you had released a new album, musically how does it differ form the stuff you have released in the past?

We have a typical footprint from the late 90’s – melodic black/doom metal, with keyboards, flute, female voice and male grunts, melodic or slow doom guitars. This is something what media is telling us is wrong – that we do not change ourselves. However I am not taking that so badly, you need to have a typical footprint (Iron Maiden has, it, AC/DC as well, ...) and evolve even. We try to bring always some small elements on top – in this case it was more acoustic guitar playing in parallel with the electric one, male clean voice in few songs and live (not much to be heard in the recording) we use a timpan (hit orchestral instrument) which is very rare. (also expensive 😊 )

3.The band was also broken yup for a few years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?

We have this question in almost every interview 😊. It was simply the destiny – me (as a composer) was empty of ideas, few band members started their own families or travelled abroad. We met together after 14 years, with having family life little bit stable and tried to put something together. Since the comeback (2018) we released 2 albums, what we did not expect. We somehow thought we will only play the old songs, as we have seen many people wishing our comeback, but we had luck there were ideas even for 2 albums. 

4.The lyrics and the band name comes from the writings of J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his writings and also do you have any interest in other fantasy authors?

Apologies if you got wrong information. Inspiration by Tolkien was with us in 2003 on our 2nd album „Grond“. The last album is inspired by old Slovak (our country) faerytales and castle legends. Do you know that Slovakia is the country with most of castles / ruins per one citizen? With that lot of old legends come and we try to use them in the lyrics. Normally these are stories about unhappy love, romantic topics, wizards, dragons, witches, prophecies, curses .... all the themes from the new album are captured on the album layout if you watch carefully.

The stories normally end sadly, therefore also the album name LUEA (Living Unhappily Ever After).

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

I touched this topic in the previous answer. It is a collage of all various tales and legends being used in the song lyrics. You will find an abandoned cursed castle, maid jumping from a cliff because ending her life due to an unhappy love, wizard calling a dragon, witches flying above the mountains and few others. In te part with the mountains we incorporated the highest hill of our country, which has a typical abyss seen on the first look.

We like the artwork much and it was created by a talented guy Joan Llopis Domenech.

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

We have mainly small underground concerts (70 – 250 people in the audience) and they have one thing in common – great atmosphere coming from the fans. We try to communicate with people and lead them to support us by clapping some rhythmical parts.

 

What is maybe unusual is ( I mentioned already earlier) – using  timpani, which is a great instrument – if visually or sound wise. 

 

It is not easy to set up the sound for it, therefore we rather use it for the open air concerts. For smaller or indoor events we have an alternative – a tom hidden in  piece of wood. People always ask us if that is real. It is.

 

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

Currently we have set a summer break. We are a small band, without label – it is not easy to get to festivals, speaking about some known ones. We can rely only on luck and friendship / support of some local promoters. Here we had a great opportunity to play as support of Eluveitie last year, the last band before they started. That was great, you do not have this kind of luck normally. (we had something similar long time ago when we played in front of Nightwish). If you are successful to get to some festival, band of our size, which is completely unknown normally gets playtime very early when not much people are in.

Our dream was to get to some bigger festivals in Germany, however not successful there. Nevermind, we know that music is business as well. 

8.Currently the band is unsigned but has worked with a label in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future or do you prefer to be independent?

We released our last 2 albums by ourselves. There are pros and cons to be with some label.

Pros – much better promotion, distribution, chance to get to better concerts.

Cons – you are somehow bound, and we do not prefer that. In the current situation we have complete freedom (but of course losing the pros)

We do our music from heart, it is not our money income (rather money absorber 😊 ).

I am not saying label yes or no, but feeling fine where we are.

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

We are a small band from a country which is not that known on the worldwide metal map. We have a small, but strong and heartful fan base in our country. If I take a look where did we send our albums, then it is Czech republic, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, US, Japan, Russia, .... But very small quantities – every country to be counted on fingers of one hand.

Still, it is very hard to get successful nowadays. There are so many bands, so much competition. Some of them are more stronger virtually (reactions on facebook, views on youtube), but what we learned from smaller bands – strong virtul presence does not mean autoamtically success.

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

Nobody knows. Ideas are coming as they are. There is no band with never ending source of ideas – everybody will start to repeat themselves. Here is the advantage to be not contracted with a label and feel the pressure to produce even being not convinced about well deserved result. 

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

Every of us liks something different. Schwarzwald (guitarist) likes more power bands like Statovarius, Evergrey, Kabi (bass guitar) likes Finntroll, XIII, stoleti, Rob (drums) some old Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth and of course some drum strong bands like Behemoth, Lydia (female voice, flute) likes not only metal. Myself, Crom (keyboards, male vox) loves bands from mid of 90’s – Summoning, Bal Sagoth, Therion, Hecate Enthroned, .... in the last year I listen much to old friend band from Germany – Ancient Ceremony.

 

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

What else I can do instead of – thanking you (for space for our band, and interest) and to everybody who reads this. If we are new to you and you like atmospheric melodic metal music (with emotions, little bit medieval/folk touch – flute, with keyboards, beauty and the beast vocal style, ...) drop some minutes to listen to us where you can find us online.

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

Orkrist/Luea/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Orkrist  are  a  band  from  Slovakia  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  epic  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Luea".

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  female  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  gothic  metal  atmosphere  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Elements  of  folk  music  and  flutes  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  aggressive  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  Clear  male  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard.

  At  time s the  music  also  gets  very  epic  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  mixing  in  a  lot  of  traditional  metal  elements,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  closing  track  is  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  J.R.R  Tolkien.

  In  my  opinion  Orkrist  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Raven  Of  Revenge"  "Prince  Of  Melancholy"  and  "Black  Bird's  Beard".  8  out  of  10.

  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4e9WmaTst5qJ1jl0JpHs7x

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/de/artist/15816
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/de/artist/orkrist/1497437200
Bandcamp: https://orkrist.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@orkrist1151

https://www.facebook.com/orkristofficial/

Ardent Nova Interview

 

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

Mike: Absolutely - Ardent Nova formed from the ashes of Draconis and Pagan Thunder. I formed Draconis in 1995 and by 1999 I wanted to also work on a less extreme project, one that revolved around clean vocals and "bigger" choruses. Which was supposed to be Pagan Thunder.  Obviously Ardent Nova has the aggressive vocals, but that's another story

2.You have a new album coming o9ut in the middle of March, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Mike: My original thought was basically Power Metal but with some Pagan/Viking metal elements

3.Some of your lyrics cover Paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Mike: my interest in this goes back to elementary school. I've always been fascinated by ancient cultures, everything from Greece/Rome/Egypt and even Japan and  Mayan civilizations to a degree. However the Scandinavian/Viking culture of the middle ages is really at the forefront of all of them. Between the lore, myths, customs and respect for nature I think modern society has a lot to learn simply by looking back

4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explred so far with the music?

Mike: ups and downs of life, dealing with people, being a leader, being a lone wolf, letting go of stupid sh*t and not dwelling on the past. If I can ever tie any of that in with the "pagan" themes I will, so the songs can have a double meaning 

5.Originally the band was called 'Pagan Thunder', what was the cause of the name change and also the menaing and inspiration behind the name 'Ardent Nova'?

Mike: I really wish it could have worked out with the original name, I have an incredible logo drawn by the same guy who did my business logo. But life happens and there is a time limit on things and an expiration date. I had a dream that I was in a band Ardent Nova and when I woke up, I was like: "I'm SURE that name is taken" hahahaha! I guess I lucked out

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

Mike: not much to tell there as I did not draw it. Amazing artist though, I follow her artist account on IG and that particular piece caught my eye. She has lots of really cool and unique pieces on her profile

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Mike: I'm open to anything, as long as the new individuals will commit and not be flaky (so, things are not likely to change)

8.The new album is coming out on 'Wise Blood Records', are you happy with the support the label has given you so far?

Mike: absolutely. Sean is a pleasure to work with, both with Ardent Nova and Empty Throne

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

Mike: so far seems really good, low engagement and low numbers but I guess that is to be expected these days. It's a shame that the days of fans being psyched up for a new record are LONG gone

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

Mike: same/similar style, at least for album 2 which is basically.already finished 

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?

Mike: as far as influences: Falconer, Mithotyn, Nocturnal Rites, Stratovarius, Hammerfall, Forefather, Turisas, Finntroll, Forefather, and of course the classics Slayer, Metallica, Exodus etc. These days I listen to much of the same as I did years ago, the latest Katatonia record is exceptional, latest Revocation is incredible, Hypocrisy "worship" and Ensoferum "Thalassic" stand out to me

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

Mike: Thanks featuring Ardent Nova, hope everyone enjoys our new record and if a band you like comes to your town (or close) don't be a lazy cheap-ass, go see them live!! 🤣

https://ardentnova.bandcamp. com/album/ardent-nova

Ardent Nova on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ ardent_nova/ 

Ardent Nova on FB: https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id= 100087978697755