Duskseeker/The Maw/Fiadh Productions/Realm And Ritual/2026 EP Review

  Duskseeker  are  a  solo  project  from  Texas  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "The  maw"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Realm  And  Ritual.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Elements  of  industrial  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  death  emtal  influences.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  a  Nocturnus  cover  and  the  ep  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Duskseeker  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  industrial  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Gnosticism  and  90's  Video  Game  Lore.

  In  my  opinion  Duskseeker  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Command  And  Control"  and  "Moonlight  Blade".  8  out  of  10.

https://duskseeker.bandcamp.com/album/the-maw

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/duskseeker.portal

https://extraterrestrial.network/    

   

Jonas Kolb/Je suis Berenice/2026 Full Length Review

  Jonas  Kolb  is  a  solo  artist  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Je  suis  Berenice".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  programmed  beats  and  clear  male  and  female  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.   

  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  some  tracks  also  show  influences  of  goth  and  industrial.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  style  and  when t he  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  i in  length.  

  Jonaj  Kolb  plays  a musical  style  where  he  takes  dark  ambient,  black  metal,  goth  and  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in German  and  cover  loss,  madness  and  despair.

  In  my  opinion  Jonas  Kolb  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Puppengott"  "Je  suis  Berenice"  and  "Singvogel".  8 out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://jonaskolb.bandcamp.com/album/je-suis-berenice

 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@puppengott
Merch: https://elasticstage.com/jonaskolb

Nibiru/Hypostasis/Argonauta Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Nibiru  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  psychedelic  and  ritualistic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone,  industrial  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Hypostasis'  which  will  be  released  on  February  27th  by  Argonauta  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  ambient  at  times  and  avant  garde  style  choirs.  Samples  are  also  used  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  black  metal  style.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  adding  in  more  of  a  noisier  approach  to  playing  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  also  adding  in  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  repetitive  sounding  along  with  drones  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album.  The  recording  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments  as  well  as  the  tracks  also  adding  in  touches  of  industrial,  darkwave  and  post  punk,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Alchemy,  Occultism,  Egyptian  Magick,  Philosophy  and  Voodoo  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Niburu  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  psychedelic  and  ritualistic  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  drone, ambient  and  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Azoth"  and  "Obeah".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/nibiruritual

https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-3mm8OrahE&feature=youtu.be        

Nightshade/In Essence Divided/my Kingdom Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Switzerland's  Nightshade  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2026  album  "In  Essence  Divided"  which  will b e  released  in  February  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  An  industrial  style  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  choir  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  avant  garde  and  symphonic  sounds  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  takes  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  direction  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  metal  elements,  rap  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  showing  some  influences  of  70's  progressive  rock  at  times.  Clear  male  and  female  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  wind  instruments,  when  the  recording  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  motive  of  cosmologies  told   from  different  world  mythologies.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nightshade  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  progressive  black  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stateless  Journey"  "Night  Torn"  "Of  Seas  &  Seeds"  and  "Brother  Of  Sleep".  8  out  of  10.

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

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

Master's Hammer/Maldorör Disco/Darkness Shall Rise/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Master's Hammer  are  a  band  from  Czechia  that  has  a  history  that  goes  back  to  the  mid  80's  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Maldorör  Disco"  which  will  be  released  on  November  26th  by  Darkness  Shall  Rise.

  Synths  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  brings  in  elements  of  electronic  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  grim  black  metal  style  mixed  in  with  some  touches  of  industrial  while  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  recording  also  has  its  avant  garde  moments. 

  All  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  while  also  avoiding  the  use  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  sections,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Master's  Hammer  goes  for  more  of  a  electronic  and  experimental  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Czech  and  cover  the  traditions  of  their  homeland  and  occultism.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Master's  Hammer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Genesis  P.  Orridge"  "Bochnatky"  "Doppleganger"  and  "Slatina".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/MastersHammerOfficial 

Irreparable Interview

 

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

N.M. - We finished recording The Fate Of All Life in February, with the final masters being approved in April. Since then we’ve played a few shows and are preparing for our big album launch show which is scheduled for November 29th. There has been some work on a cover song, but there will be more information on that when it all comes together.

2.Later in October you have your first full length coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

D.B. - This release is what we have aimed for since the beginning. There was a clear idea in my head when we first began writing in 2018, and while I am proud of our first two records, we experimented with soundscapes on our first release and expanded upon that with "Complete Emptiness", though I always had a feeling we had not quite yet achieved what I had envisioned. This time around, without being hindered by technical restrictions or inexperience, we had the freedom to focus more on what we wanted to write, instead of overcoming hurdles to get there, and sonically it represents what I had always had in mind for the band.

N.M. - I feel that with Complete Emptiness we really started to find our sound. So with this new album, the songwriting has continually improved, expanding on the previous release while adding new elements and really solidifying what we’d set out to achieve.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the past 6 years?

N.M. - The lyrical themes are quite introspective and focus on personal suffering, the inevitability of death, the idea of multiple “deaths” and “rebirths” throughout a lifetime, endless cycles and the idea that we are, in fact, living in hell. Hell within and hell without. 

It is rather bleak, and everything I write is extremely personal, but I do like to allow some ambiguity for the interpretation of the listener because art is in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

As we became more focused, the songwriting, lyrics and themes have all improved over the years. It is always a process when starting a new project. You create a foundation, as we did with our first EP Transfixion. From there we played on our strengths as we saw them and went forward. I think the improvements on the 2nd EP Complete Emptiness were quite vast. 

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

M.B. - Irreparable means "broken beyond repair" and we felt this was a true expression of the themes of the music we were trying to create. The sort of depressing music where the tone is there is no coming back from this. There is no salvation. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. When you are that truly far gone and nothing can ever bring you back.

N.M. - When trying to think of a band name, this word literally jumped at me. I think in some ways it aptly describes how I feel inside, so I took the opportunity to turn it around as a catharsis. There can be such beauty in our suffering. A lot of the most amazing art over the years is inspired by this. Expressing these bleak feelings is something we can all relate to and get something positive out of creating.

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

D.B. - One moment there was a person, atop a hill, gazing out into the universe. The next moment they were gone, and their presence never really meant anything at all.

N.M. - For the artwork, I sat down with Promathiart and went over the album's themes and lyrics with him, as well as visions I had in my head about what the artwork could look like. He took extensive notes and came back to us with sketches and after a few back and forth’s we decided that this is what best represented the album. 

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

M.B. - I would say the best shows have been any of our interstate shows because it's always great to go to a new place we don't normally get to play, as well as meeting people from other parts of Australia. The run of shows we did with Mondernte (Iceland) were fun to play for that, as well as seeing her performance every time was always a pleasure. The best show was probably Melbourne Dethfest at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, put on by Your Mate Bookings. That one came to us so last minute because Midnight Odyssey unfortunately had to pull out due to cyclone warnings where they were going to be flying from, and with maybe 3 days notice we jumped on and played to the biggest audience we have ever played to. Plus it was an honour to play with Left to Die, the Death tribute band.

Our stage performance is bleak yet intense. NM is a great performer and a lot of the times when I am playing a show, I am distracted by how much he throws himself into what he is doing whether it is movements of pure aggression, or a vision of a man having a full on mental breakdown on stage. 

N.M. - I concur, the Mondernte shows were incredible and we made a lifelong friend out of her. We are definitely keen to tour with her again when she comes back to Australia. Our first big show was supporting Unto Others (US) in 2023, which was when we were launching the Complete Emptiness EP. This was organised by Your Mate Bookings, who also contacted us for the Melbourne Dethfest fill in slot mentioned above which was definitely our best show so far.

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

M.B. - Our album launch for The Fate of All Life is at the Leadbeater Hotel in Richmond on Sat 29/11. Organised by Black Oceans Media, it also features Burden Man (NSW), The Nihilistic Front and Nighteyes. Our end goal is to tour Europe. I think that would be amazing.

8.Currently the band is signed to 'These Hands Melt', how did you get in contact with this label?

D.B. - The label found us so perhaps you would have to ask them! They had found us in the digital void and reached out, saying that our music spoke to them. They contracted us for a vinyl release of "Complete Emptiness" and then re-signed us for "The Fate of all Life". They have always respected our vision and allowed us to create freely, and they have made the process of label/artist interaction as streamlined and simple as possible. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

N.M. - I had always assumed they found us because we’d had the Netherlands-based French vocalist Carline van Roos (Aythis, Lethian Dreams) guest on a track on Complete Emptiness.  Either way, it’s been a great relationship from the get-go and we do appreciate all their hard work.

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

D.B. - Amazing! I wondered during the early stages of our journey if our music would be anathema to genre-purists (either of extreme/black metal, or also to listeners of goth electronica) but most people at our shows seem to really dig it and enjoy that it's a little bit different. It's always just been about telling a story, and every story has highs, lows, and mid points. We use genre-shifting to convey that and I think people enjoy it.

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

D.B. - That's a hard question. I don't want to repeat what we've accomplished as I think music tends to lose heart and sounds less genuine when that happens. It's a lot of why we didn't adhere to a specific genre/sound in the first place. I think it's important to let the next record come to us naturally, and not try and force another release for the sake of it. I guess at this time all I can say is...watch this space!

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?

D.B. - My guitar work was heavily inspired by classic black metal like Emperor & Immortal, and also a lot of post-punk and early hardcore. Bands like the Dead Kennedy's, TSOL, Siouxsie and the Banshees etc. I always loved the similarities between black metal guitar playing and that kind of surf-rock sound the Dead Kennedy's had. They were one of the earliest influences on my playing and there's probably a bit of them in everything I do. In terms of the electronic components of our sound, I was heavily influenced by classic horror & science fiction films and their synthesizer scores. Probably not so much the modern synthwave resurgence, but classic composers like John Carpenter, Christopher Young and Claudio Simonetti's Goblin are all massive influences.

N.M. - From a young age, I was heavily inspired by frontmen like Marilyn Manson and Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. As my tastes grew more extreme, vocalists like Attila Csihar (Mayhem), Alan Averill (Primordial), Niklas Kvarforth (Shining), Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) and Kim Carlsson (Lifelover) further shaped my role in extreme music.

On the goth/darkwave spectrum, I have been heavily influenced by the likes of Type O Negative, Fields of the Nephilim, Beastmilk/Grave Pleasures, Killing Joke etc.

M.B. - Mostly listening to dungeon synth at the moment. Artists like Erang, Hole Dweller, Quest Master.

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

N.M. - Thanks for your interest in what we do, and we hope you like the album!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irreparable2019
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irreparable_band
Bandcamp: https://irreparable2019.bandcamp.com/music
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hl2UiW6hsIKnoN8mVahJF?si=g8VGXGUHS-iEUt3QoYxVGQ

Irreparable/The Fate Of All Life/These Hands Melt/2025 Full length Review

 

  Irreparable  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  goth  and  darkwave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Fate  Of  All  Life"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  album  which  also  brings  in  elements  of  industrial  that  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  words  are  also  utilized  briefly  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  synths  that  add  in  elements  of  darkwave  and  goth.

  Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  angry  shouting  style  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  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  as  well  as  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  at  times,  violins  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  cyclical  suffering  and  death.

  In  my  opinion  Irreparable  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  goth  and  darkwave  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Upon  Malignant  Shores"  "Failure  To  Thrive"  and  "Death  in  A  Time  Capsule".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irreparable2019

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irreparable_band
Bandcamp: https://irreparable2019.bandcamp.com/music

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hl2UiW6hsIKnoN8mVahJF?si=g8VGXGUHS-iEUt3QoYxVGQ

https://youtu.be/Kilz9Lcz6J8      

PreEmptive Strike 0.1/Un[Re]leased Strikes/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Greece's  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dark  electro,  ebm  and  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album "un[Re]leased  Strikes.

  Spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  electronic  industrial  direction while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed.  Synths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  harsh  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  back  up  shouts.

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  EBM  elements  and  a  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  re-mixes  of  previous  recordings.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  elements  and  melodic  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly..

  On  this  recording  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  focuses  more  on  a  dark-electro  industrial  style  with  elements  of  ebm.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  violence  and  war.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  electro,  ebm  and  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Talos"  "Marauders  From  Earth"  "Autocracy  Of  The  Deep:  and  "Tactical  Nuke  Incoming".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.discogs.com/sell/item/3723211870?fbclid=IwY2xjawL5wk5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHkP3JLkWsyXqK2TfLzGSEQftp8YgdIq5Kjo-uGYgAe_0SZZ5o6GzfL7eAPOS_aem_FL38tmZYEufZuueAOalfwQ

      

Creatvre/Toujours Humain/I, VOidhanger Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  France's  solo  project  Creatvre  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  and  progressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Tojours  Humain"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  Industrial  style  beats  and  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  and  progressive  sounding  while  clear  singing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  acoustic  guitars  and  wind  instruments.

  On  this  recording  Creatvre  goes  for  a  very  modern  and  progressive  form  of  avant  garde  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dystopian,  poetry  and  awareness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  from  Creatvre  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  progressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Syntropie"  "Chant  des  limbes"  "Toujours  en  bas"  and  "Shaina".  8  out  of  10.

  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/toujours-humain      

Versatile Interview

 

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

Famine : We have focused all our energy on promoting our new album after having the opportunity to sign a new partnership with the French label "Les Acteurs de l'Ombre." While waiting for the release scheduled for April 11, 2025, several new updates will continue to appear on our social media. In parallel, we have also participated in several concerts and festivals, including the Apocalypse Metal Fest 2024 in France alongside Seth, Ten56 and Crisix, and “Traumatica - Festival of Fear” held in the heart of Europa Park in Germany, which welcomes thousands of people every day. 

2.In April you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep ?

Famine : We wanted to explore our universe further and the characters of our fictional world called "l'Envers" in French. In the beginning, the EP has been our first business card to share within our networks. The idea was to showcase several directions in each track that we were already ready to embrace and explore further in the future. Today, with the album, our roots still being black metal and electronic music, we’ve expanded into several new sounds, highlighting genres like symphonic music, deathcore, death metal, and more. We also decided to increase the BPM to play more intense tracks during our shows, without wanting to make mid-tempo exclusively part of our approach. Everyone in the band felt the need to create more powerful compositions. Each track can be considered a single, as it also brings its own theme and unique sounds between cathedral bells, gas mask breaths, harpsichord & more.

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

Hatred: The main idea is to tell stories and transport the listener into a fictional universe of our own creation. Despite the fantastical aspect, there are underlying themes that address topics such as alterity, monstrosity and alienation, identity and individuality, exaggeration, vices, social classes, and the endless cycle of destruction and creation.

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

Hatred: The name Versatile is directly taken from our eponymous track. It refers to a shapeshifting creature capable of taking on the features of other individuals. As it transforms over and over, it forgets its original identity and drowns in solitude when no one is there to look at it.

Once again, the fantastical creature serves as an allegory, representing manipulative individuals who can adapt their image to suit their victims.

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

Hatred: The album begins with the end of one world, giving way to the emergence of the universe in which our characters evolve.

The artwork depicts this cataclysm, the final moment before the fall. The cathedral we see is on the verge of annihilation, and with it, every memory of its dogma and the old world

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the masks the band members wear in the promo pictures?

Famine : In a few words, Famine is a wild, cannibalistic beast with an insatiable hunger. His fate leads him to devour all forms of life, leaving nothing behind. Starting from these origins, I wanted to create a filthy and bloodthirsty character, barefoot, wearing only vague black cloths wrapping his form. Today, I draw more inspiration from Aztec culture, particularly from the god "Mictlantecuhtli". He is often depicted with a feathered adornment, symbols of his high status, and tribal pendants made of human remains or bones. I would like to deepen my inspiration in this culture, which is rarely represented in the metal world. On a personal level, I’m beginning to believe that I’ve come to represent all my repressed anger and disgust in the creation of my character. I’m a zen guy, I’ve gotten into the habit of repressing my primitive impulses a lot. 

Cinis : The costume we wear are integral to our identity as a band and to the character I portray, Cinis, the Priestess of Ashes. My headpiece is designed with cathedral-inspired elements, which evoke a sense of the sacred and the mysterious, reflecting the religious undertones of our music and themes. The mask itself, crafted by the same designer, adds an additional layer of intrigue. It’s a symbol of the enigma surrounding our music and characters. The mystery of the mask invites our audience to interpret the persona we present, allowing them to engage with our art on a deeper level. In addition to the mask, my outfit includes a long black cape adorned with skull shoulder pads, emphasizing a gothic aesthetic that complements the darker themes of our music. This entire look combining elements of the sacred and the macabre embodies the essence of Versatile and helps to create a captivating atmosphere during our performances.

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

Famine : Personally, “La Fête de la Musique 2024” in Geneva was a very positive and surprising experience—I had an absolute blast. Even before the concert began, it was the first time the audience was shouting our name during our line check on stage before we even started playing. The tension was palpable, and the atmosphere was very electric. It only took a few minutes to put everyone into a trance state , and those moments will always be very precious to me when such beautiful synergy is created between the artist and the audience.

Just like our compositions, we are committed to enhancing the immersion of our universe both musically and visually during our stage performance. Each of us portrays our own character, moving and communicating with the audience in this way. For example, you'll always see me hitting my chest and head with my fist, while stomping brutally on the floor with my foot. We are also supported by several visual elements, including lighting effects, smoke, and pyrotechnic effects

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

Famine : At this moment, we have planned a big event for the release of our upcoming album on April 26th in our hometown of Geneva, alongside "Morgarten" (Epic Black Metal) and "De l'Abîme Naît l'Aube" (Ritualistic Post Metal). This evening is exclusive because we will play the full tracklist, keeping some new visual surprises under wraps. Since we recently signed with our new French label, "Les Acteurs de l'Ombre," we are collaborating with them to promote the album. We will also participate  on May 2  in the "Rituel Noir" festival in France with major bands such as Wiegedood, BORGNE, and more.

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

Hatred: It is still difficult for us to grasp our notoriety beyond Europe. We know that some people follow us from farther away, and we are happy to share our music as much as possible.

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

Hatred: I think we will stay true to our original intent while pushing the limits of madness and violence even further.

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 ?

There are two of us composing, so we each have our own perspective and sensitivity. As for me, I will probably sound presumptuous, but I can't really associate the influences of the bands I listen to with my composing work. Or at least, maybe I do it in a completely unconscious way. I work much more with my emotions and the inspiration of the moment rather than trying to find a specific style. When Hatred and I open ourselves up to composition, it's quite an emotional challenge sometimes. The idea has never been to put ourselves into an exclusive category, but rather to let our inspirations explode depending on the chosen theme. The main challenge is then putting together the different pieces of the puzzle to make them fit. That's why we really did in-depth work, keeping or discarding the parts that interested us the most. That's why the album takes a different direction, as it brings more maturity by presenting both novelty and more assertive Death Metal & Deathcore parts than in the EP. We are sincerely satisfied with the result.

What I'm listening to right now brings a contrast that always makes me laugh. At the moment, I'm revisiting albums from Regarde les Hommes Tomber (Post Black Metal) while also listening to The Green Kingdom (Electronic Ambient) or atmospheres with Tibetan gongs.

Hatred: I particularly appreciate bands that blend different subgenres of metal and strive to create something unique and powerful.

Among our initial influences, there’s Psyclon Nine for the electronic elements, Wormfood for the atmosphere and lyrics, and Dimmu Borgir for their orchestral power.

Some other bands I deeply enjoy: Carach Angren, Septicflesh, Dark Tranquillity, and Shade Empire.

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

Famine : We sincerely thank you for your interest in our music and our universe !  We are truly excited to present our first album and, in the future, to come to the USA to spread our darkness ! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QTIYezdtDg

Versatile/Les Litanies Du Vide/Les Acteurs de L'Ombre Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Versatile  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  an  industrial  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Les  Litanies  Du  Vide"  which  will  be  released  in April  by  Les  Acteurs  de  L'Ombre  Productions.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  choirs  and  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Industrial  style  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Some  of  the  music  also  adds  in  some  symphonic  touches  while  the  album  also  has  its  dissonant  moments.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  clear  vocals  and  melodies  can  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  are  also  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  album  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  their  native  tongue  and  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Versatile  are  a  very  great  sounding  industrial  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Enfant  zero"  "Cave  Canem"  "Monstre"  and  "Le  mal  necessaire".  8  out  of  10.

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Nightshade/Wired/2025 Re-Mastered EP Review

 

  Nightshade  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  industrial  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2003  ep  "Wired"  which  wil  be  re-issued  as  a  re-mastered  version  in  March,  2025.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  industrial  along  with  some  synths.  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  shouts  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Nightshade  went  for  more  of  a  mid  tempo  style  of  blackened  industrial  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  insanity  and  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nightshade  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  industrial  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-mastered  version.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Among  The  Breed"  and  "Inside  Of  You".  8  out  of  10.

  https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jAn4fqWCIFNFh3RlKNiCh

https://nightshadech.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NightshadeMetal

https://www.instagram.com/NightshadeMetal    

PreEmptive Strike 0.1/Pause In Chaos/Stop The Madness/Infacted Recordings/2024 Single Review

 

  Greece's  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  harsh  electro/industrial  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  single  "Pause  In  Chaos/Stop  The  Madness"  which  was  released  by  Infacted  Recordings.

  Riot  sounds  start  off  the  single  along  with  some  industrial  style  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  EBM  direction.  Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  keyboards,  robotic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  nit  throughout  the  recording while  they  also  bring  in  3  re-mix  versions  of  the  same  time  which  also  brings  in  a  different  approach  each  time.  The  second  song  beings  in  more  of  an  old  school  EBM  style  and  the  re-mixes  bring  in  more  of  a  harsh  approach.

 On  this  single  PReEmptive  Strike  0.1  continue  returning  to  their  harsh  electro/industrial  style  as  well  as  staying  away  from  the  more  metal  influenced  style  of  recent  material.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  chaos,  violence  and  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  electro-industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  8  out  of  10.

  https://infactedrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/pause-in-chaos-stop-the-madness?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJax8IuF50M  

King Satan/The Devil's Evangelion/Noble Demon/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  solo  project  King  Satan  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  industrial  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Devil's  Evangelion"  which  was  released  by  Noble  Demon.

  Industrial  style  beats  and  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  angry  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  angry  shouts  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  one  song  also  introduces  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  word  samples  also  being  used  briefly,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  male  vocals  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  King  Satan  continues  to  expand  on  his  mixture  of  symphonic  black,  death  and  industrial  metal  from  his  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Philosophy  and  Dark  Humour  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  King  Satan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black,  death  and  industrial  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "New  Aeon  Gospel'  "Once  Upon  A  Shadow"  "The  Devils  And  Saints"  and  "The  Devil's  Evangelion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.kingsatan.net 

https://www.facebook.com/kingsatan616 
https://www.instagram.com/kingsatanofficial 

  

Against I 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 ep?

Of course I can! We've been going on non stop on finishing up the new album dropping later this year. Now we are just taking

a breather before going back at music again. No rest for the wicked!

2.In May you had released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Oh its like night and day, ok maybe not but it sure is different. The old stuff focused more on electronic music with metal elements.

But we decided that it wasn't what we wanted to do, so we just changed focus and style.

3.All of the band members are also involved with other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Against I' that you have not been able to do with your other groups?

Yes, we all come from different bands and different styles of music and decided that it would be fun to take all those elements and fuse them into one band more or less. But as said before , we had one style in mind first but decided to change into something else entirely.

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

The lyrics went from self hate, cynicism to more about war,death and similar themes. There's a lot of darkness in them you could say. Well , we work a bit differently to maybe other bands. Usually I (Freddie) make the base of the tracks with drums,electronic parts etc, then  I send it off to Mathias and he records bass and guitar and then he sends it back to me and I send it to Anders for drums. It might sound a bit complicated maybe? But it works so well and its so smooth.

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

Against I is basically how I (Freddie) feel , it's me against myself. Thats why the early lyrics were written about a lot of my self hate. Depression is a pain and it feels like my brain works against me from time to time.

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

The artwork depicts what the EP is about , which is war. I think its perfectly shows off just that . A nuclear bomb going out in the center of a city. In this case a future city , but none the less. It feels more real than ever.

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

Haha well sadly we have only played one show so far. Out main focus has been music. But we are trying to change that now.

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

As of right now we have nothing sadly, but we are working on it . So hopefully in a near future

9.The new ep was released on 'Twisted Flesh Recordings', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

To be real honest with you, Twisted Flesh Recordings is my own label which I release all my own stuff on.

Sometimes its just easier to have a label in your back when release stuff , you know? But we actually have a label for

releasing our physical CDs which is called Advoxya Records. It's a Hungarian label I've(Freddie) worked with for years.

Dima who runs it is super supporitive and lets us do as we please.

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

It's been very positive I think, at least from the people and zines who have said anything.

Our plays have "exploded" compared to what they were before. Maybe people can actually tell we enjoy what we do?

11.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?

I don't think that any of the other projects are super active tbh. Mathias plays bas for Reek from time to time and Anders plays drums in a nu metal band called Porq. Otherwise I think we've all been too busy with Against I.

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

Oh sooner than you think! Later this year for sure! Where we are going is hard to tell, we will see. I think there might be a little less synthesizers in the new stuff or at least a different sound on them.

'

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

We are very diverse, but right now we are listening to the new Pain, Rotting Christ and Nekrodawn

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

Thank you for having us and hope you're looking forward to the new album!

https://www.instagram.com/againstiband/

https://www.facebook.com/againstIband/

https://www.youtube.com/@againsti9074

https://open.spotify.com/album/0NE9zhlJOqFPrnHPa41XeG

https://music.apple.com/us/album/destruction-lullaby/1743286698

Against I/Destruction Lullaby/Twisted Flesh Recordings/2024 EP Review

 

  Against  I  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Destruction  Lullaby"  which  was  released  by  Twisted  Flesh  Recordings.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  synths  being  added  into  the  music  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times   while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Some  of  the  songs  also  add  in    a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  tradition  mixed  in  with  some  modern  touches,  electronic  beats  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  industrial  rock  and  ebm.

  Against  I  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  electronic  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Against  I  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal  and  electronic  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  Define"  "Death  Defined"  and  "Destruction  Lullaby".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://www.instagram.com/againstiband/

https://www.facebook.com/againstIband/

https://www.youtube.com/@againsti9074

https://open.spotify.com/album/0NE9zhlJOqFPrnHPa41XeG

https://music.apple.com/us/album/destruction-lullaby/1743286698