Mycena 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?

Currently, we are still promoting our latest album "Serendisarray" and brainstorming concepts for our next album. I've also switched focus to my other musical projects (Vrhovec, Grinded Grin, Acid Hags). We've started collecting ideas, riffs, and themes for the new album. Once we gather a good number, we'll begin compiling and arranging them into a concept that best suits the new album. We plan to start working on the album this fall, and the writing and recording process is expected to take about six months.

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

On our previous albums, we relied heavily on improvisation. We didn't have finished themes, and they were recorded spontaneously when we all got together without prior arrangements or rehearsals. It was classic jamming. Our new album "Serendisarray" took about a year to record, spread across 10 sessions, with constant work on the concept. Every riff was tested and refined to fit the concept. Some songs started with a guitar riff, while others began with a drum pattern.

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

Some of the lyrical themes include Nostradamus' predictions, Pythagoras and Pythagorean teachings, cosmic chaos and serenity, and emotional disturbances and passions. Progress as a songwriter is very evident in Mycena. However, since Mycena isn't the only band I'm in, the writing styles intertwine and improve through my other projects, making everything look different when I return to Mycena. With each album, the writing style evolves, and the art of songwriting is honed into the unique expression that each of us possesses.

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

The name Mycena was taken from a hallucinogenic mushroom, which perfectly fit the initial concept of a psychedelic band. An added bonus is that no one had used this name for a band before. Nowadays, it's challenging to find a super cool band name that hasn't already been taken.

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

The artwork for the album was created by the phenomenal artist Vhan. It perfectly represents the album, which has chaos as its main theme, with a psychedelic touch, space, mantra, the human in the center, and the third eye—everything you can hear and feel on the album.

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

Currently, we are a duo when creating the album, but for concerts and recording, we have several musicians who join us depending on the concept of the concert or album. Moving forward, we will continue writing and recording as a duo, serving as the core idea center, and then we will use session musicians to enrich the album's sound.

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

The best concert, in my opinion, was in Koprivnica at FUNK Day when the festival was held outdoors. There were six of us on stage, and we created quite a scene with tons of smoke. I wore a white rabbit mask while playing the synth.

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

No, we don't tour; we only play occasional concerts at local festivals. We don't have that obligation or need because we are on our own label, and we don't make a living from music. But we live for music.

9. Currently the band is singed to 'Olde Scratch Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Olde Scratch is my label, covering all my bands and allowing me to keep everything under one umbrella. It's easier to reach journalists and promote our music, and the audience knows what to expect when they see an Olde Scratch release.

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

With the exception of one of my black metal project, Mycena has reached the furthest of all my endeavors. The response has been phenomenal and very surprising. Both journalists and the audience have reacted excellently. It's a great motivation for us to continue our work.

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

I think we'll be moving towards less improvisation in the future and aim to work more on concept and arrangement. Our goal is also to ensure each song has vocals and melody, while still embracing tension through dissonance. That's our current plan, and we'll see in a few months how much of it we can achieve and how well our current ideas will come to life.

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

My all-time favorites are Croatian Seven That Spells, Oranssi Pazuzu, Deathspell Omega, King Crimson, and Master Musicians of Bukkake. They embody that psychedelic dissonance with a unique atmosphere that I crave when listening to and creating music.

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

Nothing more, thank you very much for the interview, and thanks to everyone for listening to the "Serendisarray" album :)

(Aleksandar Vrhovec, Mycena)

https://mycena.bandcamp.com/album/serendisarray
https://youtu.be/STyy8PQ-fvc?si=eZm794NnY5bnSmK1

Mycenia/Serendisarray/Olde Scratch Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Mycena  are  a  duo  from  Croatia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  stoner  rock,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Serendisarray"  which  was  released  by  Olde  Scratch  Records.

  Psychedelic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clean  sections  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  when  they  are  added  in  the  music.

  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  can  be  heard  briefly  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  stoner  metal.  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  a  lot  of  the  vocals  adding  in  more  of  a  spoken  demonic  style,  saxophones  and  clarinets  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  The  album  also  adds  in  a  few  instrumentals  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric  themes.

  In  mu  opinion  Mycena  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  stoner  metal,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lacrima  Futurum"  "Erato"  and  "Apatheia".  8  out  of  10.

  https://mycena.bandcamp.com/album/serendisarray

https://youtu.be/STyy8PQ-fvc?si=eZm794NnY5bnSmK1 

Acid Throne/Kingdom's Death/Trepanation Recordings/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Acid  Throne  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  stoner  rock  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Kingdom's  Death"  which  was  released  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction.  The  slower  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  sludge  metal  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  stoner  rock  style  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  and  hardcore  influences  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.

  Acid  throne  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  stoner  rock  and hardcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy  and  anti  establishment  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Acid  Throne  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  stoner  rock  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  Is  Not  The  End"  and  "Last  Will  And  Testament".  8  out  of  10.

   https://acidthroneband.bandcamp.com/album/kingdoms-death

   

      

Wizards Of Wiznan Interview

 

Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Yes, of course, we are currently in a creative phase, working on new songs! As for upcoming shows, we have a few planned in the next months, abroad in Germany and Belgium but also in our area. 

Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

Our way of composing songs has been refined since the release of our EP. Musically “No Light Has No Shadow” is more intense and darker. We looked deep in our guts in order to best express it through our music. This album leans more towards the Sludge and Post Black style, unlike our EP which combined more Stoner and Doom influences.

A lot of the band members have also participated in black and death metal bands but with this group go for more of a blackened sludge metal direction, do you feel having a background playing different genres makes you music stand out a lot of more?

True, having musicians from different backgrounds allows us to explore more deeply and reach a wider range of listeners. It also helps us create atmospheres and textures blending different styles. We particularly received a lot of positive feedback regarding the mix between Black Metal and Sludge influences. This can create atmospheres that are both heavy and threatening, add to that nebulous melodies and you can build a sonic experience that envelops the listeners.

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

We drew inspiration from local history but also from human emotions. Concerning the local historical dimension, one event in particular touched us. It’s the annihilation of a local hamlet by the Black Death which ravaged our lands long ago. The hamlet in question was called “Le Végenand”, our band name is directly inspired by it as well as many of our lyrics. The themes of death and loss are very present in the album. Some songs are more focused on human suffering, depression and the specter of death that floats among the living.

Concerning our songwriting process, it has been refined over time. We learned to better combine our different musical influences, allowing us to create an immersive album that is more focused than our first EP. The latter was called “Experimental Brew” because at that time we were still in a discovering / experimental process. With 'No Light Has No Shadow', we worked more deeply on our musical approach and found a sound that more closely resembled our own. Working more regularly and assiduously has developed new skills in all the members.  The process is becoming more refined and more in tune with our respective experiences, enabling us to convey our condition as best we can and share an even more immersive and authentic experience with our audience.

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

The artwork on our album cover was created by the talented Inken Stabell whom we discovered on Instagram. You can see observe a silhouette standing in the immensity of the mountains that surrounds him. Alone in the middle of this desolate landscape, this silhouette symbolizes the doubts and the loneliness that we all sometimes have to face.

Out of all the shows the band has played so far, which one stands out the most?

Of course! One show in particular comes to mind. We played in August in the PALP Festival. It’s a festival in our area that is kind of specializing in the Stoner – Doom and Psychedelic Rock scene. It was an incredible experience for us, to be able to plan in this festival that we had been attending as spectators for several years. In addition, being able to play outdoors in the mountains makes it an almost mystical experience ahah!

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

We haven’t currently planned a release party for the album. However, we will be performing the album as part of the “Argonauta Fest”, organized by our label Argonauta Records. The shows are scheduled on November 17th and 18th, respectively in Ghent (Belgium) and in Eisenhüttenstadt (Germany). We’re really looking forward to share the songs on stage with the public and our fellow friends from Argonauta Records.

  

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

It's not a simple question. It's clear that by mixing several influences, you expose yourself to a lot more criticism, positive or negative, from your audience. Above all, we want to offer something innovative, authentic and, above all, something that suits us. We regularly rub shoulders with all the different styles you mentioned, and I honestly think that people are receptive to this kind of concept. Personally, I'm extremely eclectic and I find this approach nourishing and enriching. But there's no doubt that for the purists, it's different, our style is less appreciated, but we're also aware that we can't please everyone. Overall, the feedback has been very positive about our choice of design, and we'll continue in this vein.

Recently one of the band members released a solo album under the name ' Félonie', can you tell us a little bit more about this solo project?

Yes! It’s the side-project of Marc, our rhythm guitarist and co-singer. Félonie is a one-man black metal band that he created at the end of 2022. To quote him:

“You know, the band songwriting process can be a bit tricky, it’s often a matter of compromise, especially when our respective horizons are so eclectic. Some guitar riffs were perhaps too much black metal or too many blast-beats for the direction we wanted to take with Wizards of Wiznan. I then said to myself, why not create a dedicated project for that kind of songs? And Félonie was born. It was also an great opportunity to bring music to some of my lyrics, all written in French. The album, named “De Sève et Sang” (Of Sap and Blood) draws inspiration from local history, tales and legends. Release date: October 13th through Aural Music / Code 666!”

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

Following the latest discussions we've had, our aim is to preserve this richness and its influences. Apart from the styles mentioned in your questions, we still have a huge number of external influences that we could incorporate into our compositional process. I don't think we want to impose any limits on ourselves, but the guiding principle for the future is to continue to perfect our style and find an even more intense harmony in the conception of an album. We want to offer an even more immersive experience for the listener and develop a raw, violent and coherent style that allows the natural expression of our condition through our music.

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

Here's a list of the current state of play: 

-Gaerea, Colour Haze, Mantar, Aset, King Buffalo, Amelie Lens, Aorlac, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Sleep Token, Amenra, Amon Amarth, OM, Dissection, Alcest

That says a lot about the direction our compositions are going to take... We'll let you be the judge.

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

To begin with, we'd like to thank you for the time and opportunity you've given us, and we're very grateful.

 And to conclude, it's important for us to value our music and share it with everyone. It's through music that we transcend our condition and give the best version of ourselves.

Thank you.

Marc and Ludovic WoW

https://www.facebook.com/ wizardsofwiznan

Wizards Of Wiznan/No Light Has No Shadow/Argonauta Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Wizards  Of  Wiznan  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "No  Light  Has  No  Shadow"  which  will  be  released  on  September  29th  by  Argonauta  Records.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  more  of  an  atmospheric  stoner  rock  style  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  more  of  a  retro  proto  metal  style.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  are  also  utilized.

  Wizards  of  Wiznan  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  death,  sludge  and  stoner  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  dark  and  misanthropic  exploration  of  the  human  condition.

  In  my  opinion  Wizards  of  Wiznan  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom,  sludge  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeds  Of  Light"  and  "Reign".  8  out  of  10.

   https://www.facebook.com/ wizardsofwiznan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l5xe1nZiNk&ab_channel=ArgonautaRecords  

  

Karavan/Unholy Mountain/Evil Noise Recordings/Vinyltroden/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Karavan  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Unholy  Mountain"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Evil  Noise  Recordings  and  Vinyltroden.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  psychedelic  soundscapes  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Stone r metal  style  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  bring  in  more  of  a  retro  proto  metal  style  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Karavan  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  the  mysteries  of  the  universe. 

  In  my  opinion  Karavan  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Throne"  "demon  Slime"  and  "Unholy  Mountain"{.  8  out  of  10.

  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karavandoom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karavandoom
Bandcamp: https://karavandoom.bandcamp.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/karavandoom  

Exdestrier/Glorious Barbarism/2023 EP Review

 

  Exdestrier  are  a  band  from  Scotland  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  ep  "Glorious  Barbarism"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  A  very  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  heavy  and  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.  The  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  an  instrumental.

  Vocals  are  mostly  done  in  a  blackened  metal  style  along  with  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  while  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  On  some  of  the  tracks  the  riffing  goes  into  more  of  a  technical  direction  as  well  as  a  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  stoner  vocals  and  shots  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Exdestrier  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge  and  progressive  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  realms,  tales  of  medieval  landscapes, gruesome  warriors  and  a  looming  gloom.

  In  my  opinion  Exdestrier  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Glorious  Oblivion"  and  "The  Place  Of  Grim  Reckoning".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Exdestrier  

    

        

Born A Ghost/Stairway To An Empty Room/2023 EP Review

 

  Born  A  Ghost  are  a  band  from  Tacoma,  Washington  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  sludge,  doom,  stoner  metal  and  electronica  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  ep  "Stairway  To  An  Empty  Room"  which  will b e  self  released  in  2023.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  drum  beats  and  bass  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  while  electronic  sounds  can  also be  heard  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  touches  of  stoner  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  drones  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  elements  from  that  genre  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals.

  Born  A  Ghost  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death,  doom,  sludge,  stoner  metal  and  electronica  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  drug  addiction,  suicide  and  faith  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Born  A  Ghost  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  sludge,  doom,  stoner  metal  and  electronica  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Halls  Of  Disrepair"  and  "When  The  Last  Light  Fades".  8  out  of  10.

  https://born-a-ghost.bandcamp.com/album/stairway-to-an-empty-room

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5gC4ZGHswB6RoyytmbFa9y

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/born-a-ghost/659880804

https://www.facebook.com/bornghost

https://www.instagram.com/bornaghostofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFOsF67RMhfogNSfnXnrG-w

https://bornaghost.com/   

Manic Abraxas Interview

 

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

Basically solidifying our live lineup and arranging material for shows.

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

To us it’s a progression from the last time.  We spent more time on details, nuances and getting tone dialed.  That’s not to say this is overly produced, the emphasis is still on a raw sound.

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

To us the occult simply means hidden from the public, which describes a lot of our themes.  We aren’t a Satanic band, that shit is pretty much mainstream these days.  Where we’re coming from has no constraints.

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

There’s one song on the new album about a paranormal experience one of us had.  Overall the lyrics tend to be impersonal.  We have plenty of songs heavily influenced by some of our favorite fiction writers…SciFi, Fantasy, Horror etc.  Others can be about how peculiar it is to be alive.

5.I know that the band's name came from 'Gnosticism', can you tell us a little bit more about your research into this topic?

It’s just an interesting topic for us.  Abraxas seemed to be a clouded & unpredictable figure of unknown alignment and that’s the perfect umbrella for our music.

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

We are very proud to have album art by the amazing Gage Lindsten.

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

At this moment in 2022 playing shows seems like a distant memory.  Live is a barely contained torrent - we have forgotten all about society and being human summoning Abraxas in our own primitive way.

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

We have a handful of shows lined up for the fall.  We’ll probably never do real tours but weekends and the odd week now and then as we grow would be cool.

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

Unsigned - we have garnered no interest.

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

Overall it’s been positive but we’ve also had plenty of hate.  We don’t fit in any boxes so that excites us.

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

That’s hard to say.  RIght now we have a huge backlog of unreleased & unrecorded songs all the way back to our beginning so that may be our next release, a regression of sorts.  

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

Saturnalia Temple, Darkthrone, St Vitus, early High On Fire, Celtic Frost, Bolzer, Venom, Blue Oyster Cult, Unearthly Trance, ZZ Top - it’s endless really.

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

Thanks for having us.

https://manicabraxas.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/manic69abraxas

https://www.facebook.com/manicabraxas

Manic Abraxas/Foreign Winds/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Manic  Abraxis  are  a  band  from  Maine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Foreign  Winds"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

 

 A  very  hard  and  heavy  stoner  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Synths  can  also be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  also b ringing  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  mixing  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  is  also  added in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  while  growls  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  vocals.  Touches  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  one  the  tracks  along  with  some  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording,  some  of t he  riffing  adds  in  touches  of  classic  metal  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Manic  Abraxis  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Red  Camo  Rock"  "Foreign  Winds"  and  "Black  Destrier".  8  out  of  10.

  https://manicabraxas.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/manic69abraxas

https://www.facebook.com/manicabraxas  .  

  

Nothing Is Real/The End Is Near/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Nothing  Is  Real  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  ":The  End  Is  Near"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween.

  Distorted  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  more  of  a  stoner  vibe.

  Psychedelic  touches  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  drones  also  returning  on  a  couple  of  the  later  tracks  as  well  as  one  song  also  showing  the  music  also  adding  in  more  mid  tempo  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  covers  the  end  of  the  world  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nothing  Is  Real  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "THE  (Pt.  1)"  "END"  and  "NEAR  (pt.  2)".  8  out  of  10.

  

Bandcamp

Facebook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr1AK2TAlqY&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=promo_invitation_nothing_is_real_the_end_is_near&utm_term=2022-08-15

 

VĀMĀCĀRA/Cosmic Fires: The Enlightenment Reversed/MDD Records/2022 CD Review

 

  VĀMĀCĀRA  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  stoner  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Cosmic  Fires:  The  Enlightenment  Reversed"  which  will  be  released  on  April  29th  by  MDD  Records.

  &0's  influenced  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  psychedelic  elements  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  touches  of  stoner  rock,  oriental  and  western  music  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Clear  vocals  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks,  whispers  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English,  Greek,  Polish  and  Turkish  and  cover  Left  hand  Philosophy  and  Illumination  themes.

  In  my  opinion  VĀMĀCĀRA  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  metal  and  stoner  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Alchemical  Symbolism"  and  "Brought  Up  By  The  Moon".  8  out  of  10.

  

Bandcamp

Facebook

    

Nothing Is Real/Transmissions Of The Unearthly/Cave Dweller Productions/2021 Double CD Review

 

  Nothing  Is  Real  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  psychedelic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of their   2021  double  album  "Transmissions  Of  The  Unearthly"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  Cave  Dweller  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  elements  of  stone r rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  retro  orientated  style.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  some  psychedelic  touches.

  Growls  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals,  as  the  album  progresses  a  couple  of  instrumentals  can  also  be  heard  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Nothing  Is  Real  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  and  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tyrant  of  The  Unreal"  "Sickened  Samsara"  "King  Of  The  Wastelands"  and  "A  Passion  Greater  Than  Life  And  Death".  8  out  fo  10.

  

Bandcamp

Facebook

SoundCloud

    

Ghorot/Loss Of Light/Inverse Records/Transylvanian Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Ghorot  are  a  band  from  Boise,  Idaho  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  sludge,  stoner,  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Loss  Of  Light"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Inverse  and  Transylvanian  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  more  stoner  and  70's  influenced  proto  style  along  with  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  death  metal  growls.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album  as  well  as  the  music  also  stickling  to  mostly  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Ghorot  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  stoner,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Charioteer  Of  Fire"  and  "In  Endless  grief".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/ghorot

https://ghorot.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ghorotdoom/

https://youtu.be/JMKmcpO8lqc

https://youtu.be/dTN_S4_z6PQ  

Moribund Mantras/Golden Void/Rain Without End Records/2020 CD Review

  Moribund  Mantras  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  stoner  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Golden  Void"  which  was  released  by  Rain  Without  End  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  black  metal  elements   tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  done  in  an  angry  screaming  and  shouting  style.

  Elements  of  stoner  doom  metal  can  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.

  Clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow  and  mid  tempo  parts as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  ritualistic  soundscapes  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Moribund  Mantras  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  stoner  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fragments"  and  "Ascension".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF93Ga85V0 

Mary & The Highwalkers/Hounds/2019 CD Review

  Mary  &  The  Highwalkers  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Hounds".

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  stoner  style  melodies.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clean  vocals  also  being  utilized  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  70's  rock/metal  but  mixing  it  with  a  more  modern  day  heaviness.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  evil  and  sorrow  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mary  &  The  Highwalkers  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hounds"  "..What  Sinners  Pay  For"  and  "Feast".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/maryandthehighwalkers/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNSLdAd0PObme2E7jjBLAQ
https://maryandthehighwalkers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/maryandthehighwalkers/

  

Goblinsmoker/A Throne In Haze, A World Ablaze/Sludgelord Records/2020 EP Review

  Goblinsmoker  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  ep  "A  Throne  In  Haze,  A  World  Ablaze"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Sludgelord  Records.

  Drum  beats  and  atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  gets  very repetitive  sounding  at  times  along  with  the  same  riff  also  being  utilized  for  a  few  minutes.  Touches  of  stoner  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Goblinsmoker  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black, sludge  and  doom  metal t hat  has  been  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Toad  King.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Goblinsmoker  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Let  Them  Rot".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp - https://goblinsmoker.bandcamp.com
 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/goblinsmoker     

Golden Core/Fimbultyr/Fysisk Formt/2019 Full Length Review

  Golden  Core  are  a  duo  from  Norway  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Fimbultyr"  which  was  released  by  Fysisk  Format.

  A  very  dark  stoner  rock  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic in  length.  Vocals  are  done  in  most  of  an  angry  shouting  or  screaming  style  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also being  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Black  metal  screams  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  while  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  progressive  structures.  a  touch  of  psychedelic  and  70's  rock/metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  semi  melodic  yet  rough  approach  at  times  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  early  90's  vibe.

 As  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  be  heard  on a  few  songs  and  a  later  track  also  introduces  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  onto  the  recording  before  returning  back  to  the  slower  stoner  doom  style  on  later  songs,  clean  pagan  chanting  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Norse  god  Odinn,  the  mythology,  rune  magick,  knowledge,  curses,  death  and  war  with  some  inspirations  from  the  Poetic  Edda  and  Old  Norse  Scaldic  Poetry.

  In  my  opinion  Golden  Core  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fimbultyr"  "Runatal"  and  "Buslubaen".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/goldencoreband