Qaalm/Grave Impressions Of An Unbroken Arc/Hypaethral Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Qaalm  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Grave  Impressions  Of  An  Unbroken  Arc"  which  was  released  by  Hyperthral  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  funeral  doom  metal  which  also  captures  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams.

  Some  of  the  deeper  vocals  also  add  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  while  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  take  the  album  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  rock  style ,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Qaalm  takes  a  very  atmospheric  and  melodic  form  of  post  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal  and  progressive  rock  to  create  a  very  diverse  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  introspection  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Qaalm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  post  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shadows  Behind  The  Sun"  and  "Hangman's  Lament".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/qaalm    

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

  https://orcd.co/primordialsky

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

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

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/

Vulgaris 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?

Jess: Straight back to work! We've been sitting on a whole load of new ideas while finishing the album and we're starting to really flesh those out as a band now that we've released Seat Of The Fire. Otherwise we've been performing as much as we can, with the album launch show and our performance at Signature Brew being standouts.

2.In May you album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Jess: I think we're continuing to improve as musical collaborators with each song or rehearsal and the album speaks to that. I think our last album was a good statement of intent but we had maybe not found a consensus of sounds that feel ‘Vulgaris’ yet, whereas we now know how to pull from each other to blend our influences and styles much more successfully. SOTF has a lot of my favourite groovy riffing but meets these incredibly grand sludgy evil moments that are almost post metal and atmospheric and I think the combination of those parts really work for us in a way that we didn't fully capitalise on before.

Matt: For me, the newer album feels more cohesive in terms of styles and vibes compared with the debut, even when it does move between fast black metal and slower passages. It’s also more intense and extreme to me, and has a lot of moments that are heavier than anything we fit into the debut album.

3.The lyrics on the new album are inspired by Greek Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Jess: Well I personally just find so much inspiration in myths and legends, these classic fables that are endlessly rich for storytelling and of course our lovely vocalist/ guitarist Jon is Greek Cypriot so in the writing process it made a lot of sense to draw from those places. I think it can often feel like the world is burning so the framing of current unrest through the lens of these old gods is something I enjoy.

4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

Matt: On the debut album, we didn’t have a specific concept for the album, so there’s songs covering topics such as climate change, serial killers and also again some mythology. We then released a standalone single in 2021 called Goat Bong, which was a somewhat silly track lyrically about cults.

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

Jon: The name “Vulgaris” comes from two things that were irritating me when I formed the band 2017. The “Era Vulgaris” which was when right wing populism was at an all time high it felt like, and also “Acne Vulgaris”, which has a way more embarrassing reason. So I decided to take the two words in common and turn them into something positive. Plus it’s a great name for a metal band, if nothing else.

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

Jess: I had a really clear image of what I wanted for this after writing Black Gold Baptism. I wanted this almost baptised figure walking from an oil coated sea filled with anger, someone ready to burn it all down. And when Matt found our incredible artist Leoncio Harmr we struck gold, he really got the concept and yeah I'm absolutely thrilled with how it turned out.

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

Jess: We're a bit spoilt with this question as we've played some of my favourite places in the country and shared the stage with some excellent people. An easy shout out is playing The Forum with Conjurer in Tunbridge Wells, but also the final of the metal to the masses competition where we played at the dome in London which was so much fun being surrounded by the underground London metal community. 

Our performance is something we work very hard on and it's something very deliberate- we aim to build an atmosphere with the samples and lighting before landing our explosive songs and then from there it's just all about making people lose it to the music.

George: As well as the Forum and getting to the M2TM final mentioned by Jess, a recent highlight for me was overwhelming the little crowd at the Black Griffin in Canterbury. Wild Halloween night on and off the stage and things kept heating up with the opening bands - it all boiled over when we started with a big opener and I felt like we tore the place down. I loved it. 

We all play with our own individual visceral intensity that seems to connect with people live when blended together - I’d say that our live performances do our songs justice. I really enjoy the camaraderie we have before, during and after we play. 

Matt: On top of the ones mentioned above, I really enjoyed the album launch show we did in May when we played Seat Of The Fire in full, and also a show we did in Brighton in 2022 supporting a band called Kinzoku, the crowd made that a great show and I really enjoyed the headliner’s set too. Our stage show has definitely evolved in the past couple of years as we’ve begun to integrate samples and play around with different lighting. For me, the important thing is opening with a high-octane song that gets us and the crowd immediately in the zone, and just keeping the momentum going from there on.

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

Jess: Hard at work trying to plan a tour yes but we had the best launch night show with some of our favourite bands last month, we're also playing Kent and Bristol next at the end of the month.

George: I hope we can find a run of shows with some bands in the post/sludge/blackened/doom scene. We’ve made friends with some great bands who we’ll try to tour with when they have new releases.

Jon: I love playing live, so we’ve got some very interesting shows coming up in August which are with punk bands. I’ll play anywhere. August is shaping up to be a busy month for us.

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

Jess: It's pretty insane how many countries have been playing our music l think it's something like 33 different countries now, and yeah that blows me away, radioplay in a country I've never been to myself is very humbling. Feedback has been fantastic. I am very proud of how many people get our blending of styles and are invested in a brutal concept album like SOTF.

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

Jess: Spoilers but we're currently delving a bit more into the sludge/post sounds with some really fun new contortions of those genres. I'm also very aware of how the crowd has been exploding to some of our tunes off of SOTF so I'm writing some nasty ideas in the dissonant techy realm, all will be revealed soon.

Matt: I think we would like to explore as many sounds as we can while broadly keeping the overall energy and vibe consistent with what has come before, whether that be doubling down on blackened aggression, playing around with longer, more progressive writing, or unleashing some foul sludgy filth.

Jon: More disgusting riffs. I love the grooves on Seat of the Fire so I want those to continue. Also just doing what we normally do, which is just fucking around with different metal genres and tying it all together. I don’t want to be stuck doing purely one sound on one album, if that makes sense.

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

Jess: Well George just turned me onto the new Black Tongue album which is pretty outrageous, and I'm loving the new Nails singles, but as I write this Gojira is currently playing also.

George: Apart from giving Jess great slam recs, my favourite scene is grim blackened stuff - a lot of which seem to be French. Bands like Celeste, Mourir, Plebeian Grandstand, Throane, Cross Bringer, Oathbreaker, Dragged into Sunlight etc.

Matt: I’m increasingly into anything that falls into the overlap between sludge, stoner, prog and post-metal, whether it be Elder, Dvne, Mastodon, Horndal, Meridian Sun, or anything else in that general area.

Jon: I love bands that are creatively heavy, so bands like Wayfarer, Blood Incantation, Meth, Deafheaven and Mizmor to name a few. I’m not a fan of bands who are “heavy” just for the sake of it. 

I’m a huge fan of 90s black metal as well as early 00s British Indie. When I’m not listening to metal, I’m listening to that.

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

Jess: Make sure you try to catch us live, that is our favourite thing in the world and I think the songs really speak in that environment. And stay tuned for another video soon - go on and follow us on our socials, we're Vulgaris everywhere.

vulgaris2017.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/VBANDUK
www.instagram.com/vulgaris_band
twitter.com/vulgarisband
www.youtube.com/@vulgaris978
Spotify: SpotifyVulgaris

Vulgaris/Seat Of The Fire/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Vulgaris  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Seat  Of  The  Fire"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding intro  starts  off  the  album  before  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  which  also  returns  on  later  song.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  sludge  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  influences  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing,  keyboards  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vulgaris  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Gold  Baptism"  "Prometheus  Rise:  and  "Seat  Of  The  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  vulgaris2017.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/VBANDUK
www.instagram.com/vulgaris_band
twitter.com/vulgarisband
www.youtube.com/@vulgaris978

Spotify: SpotifyVulgaris      

  

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/

Demande à la Poussière 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?

Vince : Well, we’ve been on tour over a week in France just after the release of the album. It was great to meet the public and play new songs from Kintsugi. After a year of work on the recording without gigs we were really looking forward to playing live again. 

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

Vince : In my opinion, Kintsugi is less dark compared to the previous album. Maybe more doomy and sludgy I would say, that reminds me a bit of the first Demande A La Poussière, but we are still in the crossroads of different music genres. The main difference is the vocals done by Simon, our new singer, who brings something new for Demande A La Poussière. 

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrics that are present on the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Simon: the lyrics are mainly about negative feelings from start to finish. The overall theme is about rebuilding yourself after having been destroyed by life itself, which can be viewed as optimistic, but every song is about all the excruciating mental pain you have to go through. Pain of loss, frustration, despair, … Neil wrote half of the songs, and I wrote the other half. My writing is more like, angry, coarse, straightforward. His style is more into metaphors, contemplation. There’s a duality, where one side tends to have some hope, and the other side denies every form of hope.

Over the years, my songwriting has improved quite a bit. Since I’m part of multiple bands, this is hard work all the way, but I’m having so much fun I often have trouble considering this as “work”.

4.I know the band's name means 'Ask (to) The Dust', in French, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Vince : This name was a kind of inspiration for the recording of the first album “Demande A La Poussière”, some lyrics directly come from the book of John Fante. It made sense back in the time to relate to this book. For the next ones the lyrics has been written by ourselves, talking about life and human sorrows. 

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

Vince : The artwork of Kintsugi is done by Vade Retro, two french, very talented guys. We really like their work for bands but also different festivals. They agreed to work with us for this new record and we are truly grateful. 

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

Vince : We played a couple years ago with two great french bands, Svart Crown that sadly doesn’t exist anymore and Regarde les Hommes Tomber who recently opened for Behemoth. It was such a great moment for us. Our first gig was also with Decline Of The I, this one is a very special one too. 

We try to give the best experience for the public in our live shows, even in small venues, in terms of sound but also with a special light synchronized show and background video. I am personally a big fan of live music, especially in metal, we all  come to the show to see a special moment. That’s what we try to do each time. 

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

Vince : Yes we are currently working on it. It’s not finalized yet, but we want to promote this album as much as possible. We are proud of what we achieved with the work we did on the show, so let’s hope we will manage to be booked in France and elsewhere.

8.The last 2 albums where released on 'My Kingdom Music', how would you compare working with this label 'Argonauta Records'?

Vince : The work of My Kingdom Music is beyond our expectation, we are truly grateful to be supported by Francesco. Without him, it would not be the same. We have a great confidence on his judgment.  And he does a huge work on the promotion coupled with the work of Agence Singularité our press agency. 

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

Simon: lots of people loved it. We had loads of positive feedback during our promotional tour.

On a worldwide view, I bet we fell in quite a number of foreign ears!

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

Simon: My black metal project, Anthropovore, released two albums in February, and my other black metal band, Supplices, will release its second album this year. My thrash/death metal band, Muertissima, is currently working on its second album after a line-up change. My post-stoner band, Smoke, is working on its second album. My rock band, Circle of trust, is looking forward to record its first album. My punk/rock band, Dready, is aiming to do their first gigs very soon. I am also part of a deathcore project with a friend of mine, called CHAGS. I also have a solo post-black metal project called Arachnotrone, the first EP will be released this spring.

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

Simon: more doom, more despair, more violence, more sludge, more grunge, and above all… More nasty riffs!

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

Simon: I’ve always been a huge fan of bands like Midnight Oil, and I still listen to them from time to time. I also listen to a lot of hardtek, rap, stuff like that. In terms of metal, I’m more of an early 2000’s guy. But I always enjoy listening to something new!

Vince :  I listen to a lot of different music styles myself. I go from metal to jazz, I won’t list all the bands but it could be famous bands or upcoming ones. 

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

Vince :  We would like to thank all the people following us on shows, the people we buy our record, all of this wouldn’t be possible without their support.

Simon: always remember, in dire times, there is always a light, whatever you name it.

https://www.facebook.com/DALPdoom

Gorgonchrist/And Justice For Balls/Road To Masochist/2024 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Gorgonchrist  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of   their  2024  album  "And  Justice  For  Balls"  which  will b e  released  in  July  by  Road  To  Masochist.

  A  very  heavy  crust  punk  and  d  beat  orientated  style  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in with  some  shouts.  Tremolo  picking  can  also be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  the  album  progresses  a  lot  of  the  vocals  also  go  into  more  of  a  growling  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Gorgonchrist  takes  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  them together  to  create  a  very  diverse  yet  heavy  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness  and  Humor  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gorgonchrist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Toaster  Inferno"  "Legs  of  A  Penguin"  "Satanic  Cunt  Slicer"  and  "Dr-Lovefire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist

https://gorgonchrist.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/IN_DQuTKdms   

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_

Demande à la Poussière/Kintsugi/My Kingdom Music/2024 Full Length Review

 

     Demande  à  la  Poussière  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  an  apocalyptic  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Kintsugi"  which  was  released  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Angry  shouts  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  clean  sections  also  returning  on  some  of  the  later  tracks.  Apocalyptic  orientated  soundscapes  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.,  spoken  words  are  also  utilized  at  times,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  French  and  English  and  cover  resilience  and  the  violent  energy  that  one  can  find  beyond  the  depths  of  his  own  despair.

  In  my  opinion  Demande  à  la  Poussière  are  a  very  great  sounding  apocalyptic  mixture of  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Inapte"  "Ichinawa"  "Atrition"  and  "Brise".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalpdoom

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d_a_l_p  

Apes/Penitence/Secret Swarm Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Quebec,  Canada's  Apes  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Penitence"  which  will b e  released  on  June  14th  by  Secret  Swarm  Records.

  Static  sounds  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into a   very  fast  and  brutal  grindcore  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.

 

 A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Apes  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  grindcore  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilism  and  misanthropy  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apes  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'The  Great  Fire"  "Echoes"  and  "Pillars".  8  out  of  10.

  https://instagram.com/apesqc

https://facebook.com/apesqc 

Amarok/Resilience/Vendetta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Amarok  are  a  band  from  Chico,  California  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Resilience"  which  will  be  released  on  June  28th  by  Vendetta Records.

  Nature  orientated  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  distorted  drones  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  sludge  metal  direction.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while t he  vocals  bring  in a   mixture  of  black  emtal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  most  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  melancholic  style.

  Clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  primal  forces  of  nature.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Amarok  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Charred"  and  "Penance".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/amarokdoom

https://amarokdoom.bigcartel.com

https://amarok.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/amarokdoom

https://www.facebook.com/amarokdoom

Pthumulha/Tungumal svarthola/Kvlt und Kaos Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Phthumulha  are  a  band  from  Iceland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Tungumal  svarthola"  which  was  released  by  Kvlt  und  Kaos  Productions.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  drones  and  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  leads.  Elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  guttural  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  when  the  music  speeds  up  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  ambient  orientated  instrumentals  which  also  add  in  small  amount  of  synths

  Phthunulha  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal  and  drone  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  cover  dark  poetry,  existential  dread,  cosmic  insignificance  and  the  beauty  found  within  the  embrace  of  oblivion.  

  In  my  opinion  Phthumulha  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  metal  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Multhulu"  and  "Phthumulha".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/pthumulhu/

https://kvltundkaosproductions.bandcamp.com/album/tungum-l-svarthola

https://youtu.be/vJbJh1xrSCU  

        

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