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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lares 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?

Recording our latest album in our studio/rehearsal room was a completely different beast compared to our previous two albums, which were recorded in a professional studio. We had to rearrange the space and experiment extensively to capture the entire song in one take, without a click track. We wanted a cinematic feeling, so we took our time working with Luca Leprotti (David di Donatello winner for best sound in "Volevo Nascondermi" by Giorgio Dritti) for the mixing. Once we had a version we liked, we sent everything to our label, Argonauta Records. While waiting for the album to be pressed and released, we worked on new material and went on a small tour in Germany.

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

Our first album, “Mask of Discomfort” (2017), was more of a stoner doom album, but it already hinted at elements that became more prominent in our next album, “Towards Nothingness” (2020) – black metal parts, ethereal post-rock guitars, ambient drone, and slow doom sections. With our latest release, we continued on this evolutionary path, adding more elements and focusing on the dynamics of various sections. We recorded it ourselves in our studio to maintain the freedom of not having time limits due to budget constraints. “Et in Arcadia Ego” was born from our first session together after a long pandemic break. We captured the energy of that day, playing the whole 27-minute track repeatedly without a click until it was perfect.

3. This is also your first release in four years. Can you tell us a bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

We had a complicated period after releasing our previous album, which coincided with our first major tour in June 2020. But everyone knows what happened then. Lockdowns and health concerns led to a period of inactivity. Depression set in, and we wrote parts at home. When we finally met again, we played for hours, jamming on what we had. We decided to create a long song representing the long wait, mixed emotions, and static floating of time, along with themes of death, apocalypse, and the dawn of humanity. After recording “Et in Arcadia Ego,” Simone left the band, and Giovanni joined as a second guitarist and synth player. We wanted to be ready as a new force before releasing the album.

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

We explore themes like the contrasts within the city and nature, occultism, paganism, death, depression, oblivion, abandonment, and psychedelics. Our music and lyrics are heavily influenced by the current political situation in Germany and globally.

5. I know the band's name comes from Roman and Etruscan mythology. Can you tell us a bit more about your interest in this topic?

We liked the idea of an Etruscan/Roman faceless god, an entity that can be molded into any desired shape, believed to observe, protect, and influence fate. Some members come from the Etruscan volcanic areas of Italy, and the constant touch with catacombs, unholy temples, and the ghosts of an ancient civilization worshiping nature, their forces, and powers, as well as the inner self, has always fascinated us.

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

Choosing that artwork was spontaneous and connected with the concept of the new album. After one of the first times we played the long song entirely, our ex-synth player Simone instinctively suggested the title “Et in Arcadia Ego” and showed us the painting by Guercino with the same title. We officially asked the National Gallery Museum in Rome for permission to use the image, and to our surprise, maybe a metalhead was working the office desk, they gave us the ok.

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

Recently, we played a small release tour in Germany, which was our most intense experience to date, with the best show in Dresden headlining the last day of the Gockel Scream Festival. Lares has no form or shape, so we like to create a blurry and ethereal atmosphere on stage. Seeing people with eyes closed, completely lost in the sound and shaking – more than us after the concert – is the most important reward we’ve achieved. We are grateful that our experimental “monster” track album touched so many souls deeply.

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

Yes, we are working on a second tour outside of Germany for the end of the year or 2025.

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

We’ve had a lot of responses from the States, South America, and Northern Europe. Since the release of our second album, we’ve noticed a small but dedicated following. We know our music isn’t easy to digest for genre purists. We don’t believe in subgenre categories; it’s cool nowadays that there are no boundaries with music. Somewhere out there, there’s a trve black metal guy secretly listening to Mitski.

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

We’re in a constant jamming process. An album always represents the past for us. When you hear it, we’ve already moved on to another chapter. Our next goal is to experiment in fields we’ve never been before – maybe with more electronic elements, maybe with shorter, aggressive songs. For now, we might have had enough of concept albums and will surely do something different in the future.

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

Thanks for giving us this space, and thanks for reading. I hope you find new tunes today. Spread the evil. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/ laresband
https://www.instagram.com/ laresmetal/

Maudissez Interview

 

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

Maudissez is a project by three anonymous musicians based in France who, through death-doom-noise music, try to promote anti-Catholicism ideas. We recorded our first album in 3 days live in a Catholic church that was still active at the time. For obvious reasons, the parish wishes to remain anonymous.

We address topics such as the various genocides caused by the Catholic Church, the intrinsic misogyny of most religions, and our interpretation of the historical event of the Temple of Reason that transformed Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral on November 10, 1793.

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

We wanted to explore the sound capabilities of the church by producing slow and heavy music, which is why we turned to doom; that was the original intention at least. Our musical background, our physical abilities, and the natural reverberation of the space, of course, evolved this "Doom" into something more aggressive.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Anti Catholic themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your hatred for this religion?

We hate all forms of oppressive power over the people, whether it be through a system, an ideology, or a religion. Like many others, we were born into an environment where Catholicism was imposed on us before we even had the ability to think about it. We could have written about the rise of the right, fascism, or even capitalism, but since we had access to a Catholic church for the recording, we decided to go with this theme.

That being said, there are many people, even today, who do not have access to the necessary resources to think about or even find a way out of an oppressive religion. We consider ourselves privileged; we do not judge anyone, we only wish them to find the necessary resources.

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

We have only reinterpreted one of the passages often cited during masses, and even used as propaganda on billboards everywhere, Pray for them. Curse for them is "Maudissez pour eux" in french

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

We wanted a striking yet simple visual, which is why we went ahead with a very understated illustration. The details and intricacy are almost nonexistent, and the lines are bold, reflecting our music.

6.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

Since we wish to remain anonymous, there will be no live performances, at least not in front of an audience. Also, we have no intention of finding disguises to hide ourselves.

7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?

As mentioned above, we do not wish to reveal the name of the parish that helped us with the recording. We denounce the oppression inflicted on the people, not the people themselves.

8.'Sentient Ruin laboratories' are re-issuing your album on physical format, how did you get in contact with this label?

They are the ones who contacted us directly, and we are very pleased about it. 

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

It’s hard to believe that so many people came across our self-distributed album, including the label. We are very grateful. It seems we are not the only ones seeking a certain urgency, a sense of danger in art. Music produced for a specific clientele is not interesting; the result is a safe and comforting product, not art that makes us uneasy.

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

We don’t really know what we are going to do next, but we certainly would like to be able to record another album. We are also more than open to unusual collaborations.

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?

It is difficult to clearly define which bands had a direct influence on the composition of our music, as each of us has distinct references. Even though we intended to create doom, our vocal abilities led us more towards death, black, and raw punk. After the recording, listening to the results of the reverb and feedback exploration in the church, it was consistent to steer the album towards raw sounds and emphasize the creative space.

So the short answer is:

-Body Void

-Disrotted

-Coffin Lurker

-Primitive man

-Sumac

-Vile Creature

-NonServiam

-Lord Mantis

-Corrupted

-Sissy Spacek

-VOMIR

-Portal

-Fange

-Lingua Ignota

-Celeste

-Amenra

What we’re listening today:

-Big|Brave - A Chaos of Flowers

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

Thank you for your interest, it is greatly appreciated.

Respect others, curse the oppressors.

 https://www.instagram.com/maudissezpoureux/

Locusts And Honey Interview

 

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

Stephen: We are a doom band from the UK.

Tomás: I’ll go along with that! With some black metal and dark ambient flourishes. 

So far you have released one album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Stephen: It's a sort of blackened funeral doom with a cinematic bent. There's more of a mix of influences and styles in there than that, but essentially we wanted to write and play slow, heavy, bleak and sorrowful metal.

Tomás: I went for a dense, suffocating, wall of sound production style… not sure I achieved this but it was certainly my intention.

Both of the band members are also involved with other bands and projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Locusts And Honey' that you have not been able to do with your other groups?

Stephen: Slow, heavy music has been a go-to for me since I was a kid. My previous bands have been on the sludge side, so it's been great to shift over to doom. It's a different palette to work from and can be very emotionally charged. In the last few years I've had to come to grips with some mental health stuff, so it's a great release for me.

Tomás: I too have been playing loud music since I was young, black metal in particular. I currently have two other working projects, Gergesenes and Penitent Whisper. They are black metal and dark ambient respectively. I wanted to be freer of some of the constraints self imposed within those genres when starting Locusts and Honey I guess. 

Your lyrics are inspired by the bog bodies that were found in Denmark and Ireland, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Stephen: Tom messaged me and said he was getting inspired by the bog bodies and asked if I wanted to be involved in what he was writing. So I started reading up on the phenomenon a bit. There's still a lot of mystery around the sacrificial practice, but also a lot we can deduce. However, when I heard the music Tom had written, what I heard was dark but very human and relatable, and immediately it made me think of how death sharpens our appetite for living, especially living well.

Tomás: The inspiration came from a reading of Glob’s seminal The Bog People: Iron-Age Man Preserved. If I’m honest it was the grainy photos therein that really affected me. Some rereading of Seamus Heaney’s bog poems, The Grauballe Man was perhaps the starting point. I visited the National Archaeology Museum in Dublin a few years back - viewing the remnants of those bodies on display there whilst suffering from a corruscating hangover left me wanting to create something for some reason! 

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Locusts And Honey'?

Stephen: It's a Biblical reference that Tom used for a previous project of his, and we both still quite liked how it sounded.

Tomás: Yes, the name was used almost twenty years ago for a rather maudlin slowcore project I had at the time. I mainly resurrected it to avoid the rigamarole of settling on a new name. Somewhat strangely, the two friends I was working with back then are now in this current version of the band. 

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

Tomás: The artwork was created for us by Samuel Guillet or Sam Rictus (https://www.instagram.com/samrictus). Sam was given a fairly loose brief to be honest - I’m very happy with how it turned out and strongly recommend others to check out his work. 

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?

Stephen: We’ve recently been recruiting for a full line-up, which is great. When you get the right people it's a real pleasure to come together to create music, and I'm pretty excited to see the impact it will have for us in the near future.

Tomás: Yes, we have nearly solidified a full conventional band lineup. 

The album was released on 'Hypaethral Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Tomás: I sent the recording to various labels who I felt may be interested in working with us. I had heard some of the bands on Hypaethral before, like QAALM. so I was happy when Chris from Hypaethral said he was interested and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with him ever since! I’ll actually let Chris chime in himself here and let him give you some further information…

Chris: We started up Hypaethral Records back in 2012, with the goal of helping underground bands get their music out in physical and digital formats. We mostly work with doom and blackened metal. Locusts and Honey have been the first international band that we’ve worked with (outside of North America), which was an exciting new step for the label. 

Tomás sent me a cold email with a stream for the full EP and I knew immediately that it was something that we wanted to release. It absolutely blew me away on the first listen!

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

Stephen: The feedback I've got so far has been pretty positive. I think a lot of people understood what we were going for with the record and the band in general, and that is incredibly gratifying. We’re extremely grateful for all the support and love we’ve received so far.

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

Stephen: I see us just slowly evolving. We have a strong idea of the themes and feelings we want to evoke with our music, so however we progress it will be with these in mind.

Tomás: We have been writing new material with our new members. A totally new approach and one I am personally enjoying very much. I hope the future involves new music and touring too. 

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?

Stephen: Our influences are pretty varied, but I suppose the most apparent influences would be the likes of Bell Witch, Cough, Corrupted, The Body, Asunder… I don't ever have a band or record in mind when I'm writing, I just trust the influence of the music I love will come through naturally, filtered by my own thinking and emotions.

As to what I'm currently listening to, I quite often go back and listen to old favourites. At the time of writing this, I’ve just revisited the small but cracking discography of Carol Ann. Of new releases on the heavier side of things that I've been enjoying, there's Thou’s Umbilical, Cowardice’s Atavist, Simian Steel’s Missing Fucking Link… But it's always down to where my mood takes me.

Tomás: I feel I have less of the conventional ‘doom’ influences than perhaps Stephen does. I guess I draw most of my influences from the black metal spectrum… I have been close to the genre since I was a teenager in the mid nineties. Much as I have tried with lots of recent raw black metal it does still feel like my primary influences are those names from the Norway we all know so well. Also, I guess The Caretaker, William Basinski, Deathprod have influenced our more ambient moments.

I don’t listen to huge amounts of new heavy music I must say. That said, I enjoyed watching Sanguine Relic and Black Cilice play in London the other evening… Some other stuff I’ve recently enjoyed listening to of late have been Myriam Gendron, Warren Zevon, Jackie Edwards, Joanna Sternberg, Carme Lopez, Spirogyra, Washington Phillips, Tucker Zimmerman, Peter Bellamy… always a lot of Dylan too & lots of classical music - I’m getting on in years. 

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

Tomás: Many thanks for the interview and interest. 

https://instagram.com/_locustsandhoney_

Maudissez/Self Tiyled/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2024 Album Review

 

  Maudissez  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2023  album  which  will  be  re-issued  in  July,  2024  by  Sentient  Ruin  laboratories.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  lo-fi  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  emtal  growls  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also adding  in  elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Drone  orientated  atmospheres,  harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  the  background  briefly  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  synths  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Maudissez  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  elements  of  drone  and  noise  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  Anti  Catholicism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Maudissez  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fracture  par  fracture"  and "Meurtrissure  par meurtrissure".  8  out  of  10.

  BANDCAMP RELEASE

Locusts And Honey/Teach Me To Live That I Dread The Grave As Little As My Bed/Hypraethral Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Locusts  And  Honey  are  a  duo  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal,  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Teach  Me  To  Live  That  I  Dread  The  Grave  As  Little  As  My  Bed"  which  was  released  by  Hypraethral  Records.

  Dark  ambient  style  drones  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  noises  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Locusts  And  Honey  play  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal,  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  bog  bodies  of  Ireland  and  Denmark  -  people  of  the  Iron  Age  who  where  sacrificially  hanged  and  found  extremely  well  preserved  in  peat.

  In  my  opinion  Locusts  And  Honey  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal,  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Leathern  Cord"  and  "Traitor  To  love".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://instagram.com/_locustsandhoney_      

Haunted Plasma/I/Svart Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Haunted  Plasma  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  psychedelic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  techno  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "I"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Svart  Records.

  Sci-fi  orientated  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  adding  in  some  spoken  word  parts.  Touches  of  techno  and  krautrock  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  programmed  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  and  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  black  metal,  clean  playing,  harsh  screams  and  noises  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Haunted  Plasma  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  techno,  krautrock,  noise  and  psychedelic  black  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  William  Gibson  and  Phillip  K.  Dick.

  In  my  opinion  Haunted  Plasma  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  techno,  krautrock,  noise  and  psychedelic  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reverse  Engineer"  and  "Echoes". 8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/p/Haunted-Plasma-100064487333162

https://www.instagram.com/hauntedplasma/        

      

Lares/Et In Arcadia Ego/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Lares  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  psychedelic   mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Et  In  Arcadia  Ego"  which  will  be  released  on  April  12th  by  Argonauta  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  noises  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  slower  sections  of t he  album  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom metal.

  The  only  track  that  is  present  on  the  album  is  also  over  27  minutes  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Synths  and  clean  playing  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  also  takes  the  song  into  more  of  a  psychedelic  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well a s  the  music  also  adding  in  some  90's  era  grunge,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  more  of  a  mid  60's  rock  style. 

  Lares  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  mixes  it  with  elements  of  grunge,  noise  and  psychedelic  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

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

  https://www.facebook.com/ laresband

https://www.instagram.com/ laresmetal/     

Nothing Is Real/Acts of Despair And Faith/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Los  Angeles,  California's  solo  project   Nothing  Is  Real  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  progressive,  psychedelic  and  technical  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  experimental  noise  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "Acts  of  Despair  And  Faith"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  distorted  and  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical,  progressive  and  experimental  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  noise  rock  touches.  All  of  the  songs  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction   and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  adds  in  more  of  an  improvised  atmosphere  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nothing  Is  Real  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive,  psychedelic, technical  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  experimental  noise  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Block  The  light"  and  "Split".  8  out  of  10.

  

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The Sept/MMXXIII/Cursed Monk Records/2023 EP Review

 

  The  Sept , are  a  band  from  Ireland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  ep  "MMXXIII"  which  was  released  by  Cursed  Monk  Records.

  Synths  and  electronic  sounds  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  distorted  amp  noise  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into a  very  fast  and  brutal  grindcore  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal,  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  saxophones,  operatic  female  vocals  and  piano's  also  being  utilized  briefly.

  The  Sept  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge  metal,  grindcore  and  harsh  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Gaelic  Esotericism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  The  Sept  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal,  grindcore  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Endless  Knot"  and  "Nala  Ukhthaz  II".  8  out  of  10.

  YouTube: https://youtu.be/Q8TRqTwt-V4

Preorder: https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/mmxxiii         

Tele.S.Therion/Lunurumh/Hinthv Ritvvm [Riteet v ZHinthv]/Radical Matters/2020 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  collaboration  between  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunurmh  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  ritualistic  and  'acousmatic'  style  of  black  metal  and  the  album  was  originally  released  in  2020  and  called  "Hinthv  Ritvvm  [Riteet  v  ZHinthv]"  which  was  released  by  Radical  Matters.

  Field  recordings  and  ritualistic  whispers  start  off  the  album  which  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  occult  black  metal,  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  spoken  words  and  chants  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  avant  garde  style  soundscapes  are  also  added  into  the  background.

  At  times  the  vocals  also  get  very  demonic  sounding  while  one  song  also  introduces  elements  of  noise  onto  the  recording.  Bass  guitars  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  which  also  adds  in  slow  riffs  that  are  heavily  influenced  by  doom  emtal  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments,  each  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  and  all  of  the  music  is  also  improvised  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  a  couple  of  minutes  of  silence.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunurmh  take  black,  doom  metal,  noise,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  ritual  and  mix  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  Etruscan  and  Sumerian  Rituals.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Tele.S.Therion  and   Lunurmh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  metal,  avant  garde,  experimental,  noise  and  ritual,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Maqlu  Surpu"  "Liber  Linteus"  and  "The  Etruscan  Liver".  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/hinthv-ritvvm-riteet-v-hinthv          

Tele.S.Therion/Lunurumh/Liber Linteus Zagabriensis - LLZ [Ao - 4MN c​.​P22AT +x] - For voice Solo (Paper gramophone)/Radical Matters/2020 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunurumh  that  goes  for  a  ritualistic  and  'acoumatic'  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Liber  Linteus Zagabriensis  -  LLZ  [Ao  -  4MN  c​.​P22AT  +x]  -  For  voice  Solo  (Paper  gramophone)"  which  was  released  by  Radical  Matters.

  Whispered  vocals  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later.  Some  of  the  deeper  vocals  also bring  in  elements  of  black  metal  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  field  recordings  and  electronic  sounds  are  also  introduced  on  the  second  track.

  All  of t he  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  album  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  an  avant  garde  style  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  few  seconds  of  silence  and  elements  of  noise  are  added  on  the  closing  song  and  all  of t he  music  is  also  improvised.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  teams  up  with  Lunurumh  and  goes  for  mostly  a  ritualistic  appproach  with  this  rleease  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  the  song  themes  focus  more  on  occult  rituals.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Tele.S.Therion  and  Lunirumh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  ritualistic  music  with  touches  of  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Liber  Linteus  Zagabriensis  -  LLZ  [Ao  -  4MN  c.P22AT  +x]  -  Paper  gramophone  with  three  cones".  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/liber-linteus-zagabriensis-llz-ao-4mn-c-p22at-x-for-voice-solo-paper-gramophone     

Tele.S.Therion/Nature Unveiled/Radical Matters/2020 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  which  shows  them  expanding  on  the  acousmatic  style  of  black  metal  and  the  album  was  released  in  2020  by  Radical  Matters  and  called  "Nature  Unveiled".

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  power  electronics  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  at  times.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some   voices  and  chants  also  being  added  into  the  background on  a  couple  of  tracks.   

  Elements  of  black  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recordings  while  the  bass  guitars  also  enhance  the  heaviness  of  the  album.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  apocalyptic  sounding  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well as  all  of  the  music  also  being  improvised,  radio  receivers  and  harsh  noises  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  went  more  experimental  and  ritualistic  sounding  as  well  as  only  adding  in  small  touches  of  black  and  doom  metal.  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  songs  themes  are  based  upon  Current  93's  "Nature Unveiled".

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  album  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  ritual,  noise,  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I -pt. I"  and  "II".  8  out  of  10.

https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/nature-unveiled  

      

Tele.S.Therion/Black Paintings XII - XV/Radical Matters/2020 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  which  is  also  done  in  a  'acousmatic  black  metal'  style  and  the  album  was  originally  recorded  in  2011  and  released  in  2020  and  called  "Black  Paintings  XII  -  XV"  which  was  released  by  Radical  Matters. 

  Dark  soundscapes  and  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  noises  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  at  times.  Elements  of  underground  industrial  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction. 

  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  improvised  along  with  some  power  electronic  sounds  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  harsher  direction  and  when  bass  guitars  are introduced  on  the  album  they  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  black  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  some  touches  of  ambient  also  being  mixed  in  at  times.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  focused  more  on  an  experimental  noise  direction  with  some  touches  of  black  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental,  noise,  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "XIII"  and  "XV".  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/black-paintings-xii-xv    

Tele.S.Therion/The Chapel/Radical Matters/2020 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  earlier  recording  from  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  which  displays  beginnings  of the  'acousmatic  black  metal  style'  and  the  album  was  originally  released  in  2011  and  called  "The  Chapel"  and  was  re-issued  in  2020  by  Radical  Matters.

  Ambient  style  soundscapes  and  electric  bass  guitar  sounds  start  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  brings  in  elements  of  noise.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  amplifier  distortion  as  well  as  going  into  a  very  ritualistic  direction  at  times.

  All  of  the  music  is  also  improvised  while  metaphonic  chants  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  A  lot  of  the  album  also  mixes  in  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal  to  take  the  recording  into  more  of  a  heavier  direction  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.

  Field  recordings  and  drones  can  also  be  heard  on  certain  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  at  times.  Most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  style  as  well  as  the  whole  album  also  remaining  true  to  a  slower  direction  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  experimental  and  ritualistic  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I"  "IV"  and  "VII".  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/the-chapel    

      

Tele.S.Therion/Wilderness Perversion/Grimoire XIII/Radical Matters/2020 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  and  Wilderness  Perversion  better  known  for  his  work  in  Mortuary  Drape  and  the  music  goes  for  an  acousmatic  form  of  black  metal  and  the  album  is  called  "Grimoire  XIII"  and  was  released  in  2020  by  Radical  Matters.

  Grim  black  metal  vocals  and  ritualistic  chants  start  off  the  album  while  the  bass  guitars  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  are  used  as  a  lead  instrument  on  the  recording.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  music  also  being  improvised  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at times.

  The  album  also  has  its  experimental  and  avant  garde  moments  while  harsh  noises  and  drones  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Sound  effects  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  demonic  voices  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  slower  direction.

 On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  and  Wilderness  Perversion  mix  their  2  different  styles  together  and  create  a  very  ritualistic  and  experimental  sounding  album t hat  captures  the  heaviness  and  black  and  doom  metal  while  the  song  themes  focuses  on  grimoires  and  rituals.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Tele.S.Therion  and  Wilderness  Perversion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  and  ritualistic  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/grimoire-xiii     

      

Tele.S.Therion/Black Paintings VIII-XI/Radical Matters/2020 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  earlier  recording  from  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  which  shows  their  early  style  of  acoustomatic  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Black  Painting  VIII-XI"  which  was  originally  produced  in  2011  and  released  in  2020  by  Radical  Matters.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  noises  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  captures  a  very  lo-fi  atmosphere  along  with  some  drones  also  being  utilized  in  certain  sections  of t he  recording  and  the  bass  guitars  add  in  the  heaviness  of  black  and  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  improvised  while  the  percussions  also  add  in  some  ritualistic  touches.  All  of t he  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  harsh  noises  that  are  done  by  amplifiers   mixed  in  with  some  power  electronics.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  took  black,  doom  metal,  noise,  experimental  and  drone  and  mixed  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording  that  was  heavier  than  current  releases  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  metal,  drone,  noise  and  experimental,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Paining  VIII"  and  "Black  Painting  XI".  8  out  of  10.

  https://telestherion.bandcamp.com/album/black-paintings-viii-xi

Tele.S.Therion/Pho Ba Grong 'Jug - Acta incognitorum, r. g. i. v. VIII TA - Contemplatio Musicae In Musicae Absentia [For solo performer]/Radical Matters/2023 FUll Length Review

 

  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  expanding  on  their  acoustomatic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Pho  Ba  Grong  'Jug - Acta  incognitorum,  r. g. i. v.  VIII  TA  -  Contemplatio  Musicae  In  Musicae  Absentia  [For  solo performer]"  which  was  released  by  Radical  Matters.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  and  avant  garde  musical  direction.  All  of  the  music  is  also  improvised  while  viola  bow's  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  electric  bass  also  being  utilized  more  as  a  lead  instrument  and  the  album  also h as  its  ritualistic  moments.

  Elements  of  black  and  doom  metal a re  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  noises  are  also  added  into  some  part  of  the  album.  When  percussion  is  utilized  it  is  also  done  in  a  very  aggressive  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  home  made  instruments,  evil  voices  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  On  this  recording  Tele.S.Therion  takes  black,  doom  metal,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  noise  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  album  as  well  as  keeping  everything  improvised  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark,

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  meta,  noise,  avant  garde  and  experimental  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.

  : https://telestherion.bandcamp.com

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

    

Tele.S.Therion/VERB.D.SVM C.S.T ARCON/Radical Matters/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  Tele.S.Therion  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  expanding  on  their  acousmatic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "VERB.D.SVM  C.S.T  ARCON"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  Radical  Matters.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  drones  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  heavy  guitar  riffing  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  black  and  doom  metal.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  the  percussion  also  taking  the  recording  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction.

  The  only  track  that  is  presented  on  this  recording  is  also  very  close  to  being  80  minutes  in  length  while  a  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  improvised.  Trumpets,  trombones  and  daxophones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  distorted  guitar  amp  sounds  also  adding  in  touches  of  noise.

  The  whole  album  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction  along  with  the  music  also  getting  more  diverse  sounding  as  the  track  progresses.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  nightmares  and  violent  hallucinations  as  well  as  some  fast  drumming  and  blast beats  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  after  almost  an  hour  piano's  are  also  introduced  onto  the  recording,  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tele.S.Therion  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde,  experimental  and  ritualistic  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  tihs  album.  8  out  of  10.

  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wte3JaCtl9Y

https://telestherion.bandcamp.com              

Uranium/Pure Nuclear Death/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Uranium  are  a  solo  project  from  Pennsylvania  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  blackened  form  of  industrial  with  elements  of  harsh  noise  and  death  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Pure  Nuclear  Death"  which  will b e  released  in  October  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  Death  industrial  style  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  distorted  yet  heavy  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  tracks a re  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  lot  of  power  electronics  and  harsh  noises,  spoken  word  samples  are  also  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  On  this  album  Uranium  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black  emtal,  death  industrial  and  harsh  noise  that  he  had  established  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  science,  ethical  literature  and  philosophy  theme.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Uranium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Absolute  Terror"  and  "Black  Night  Satellite".  8  out  of  10.

  BANDCAMP RELEASE