Ren Marabou And The Berserkers/Helgafjell/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  are  a  band  from  Ireland  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  aggressive  form  of  viking/pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Helgafjell"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Viking  horns  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while the  vocals a re  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  at  times.  Clear  pagan  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments,  clean  playing,  spoken  word  parts  and  synths.  A  lot  of  the  album  brings  in  more  of  a  modern  metal  style  along  with  some  old  school  touches  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  and  vocals  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  most  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  

   Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  plays  a  musical style  that  takes  viking,  pagan,  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Mythology,  History  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  pagan,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Journeys  Of  Rig"  "Curse  Striker"  "The  Duel  of  Flint  And  Steel"  and  "Holy  Mountain".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/renmarabou

www.instagram.com/renmarabouandtheberserkers

www.youtube.com/@RenMarabouandtheBerserkers    

72 Legions/What A God Could Be/2024 Full Length Review

 

    Cleveland,  Ohio's  72  Legions  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "What  A  God  Could  Be"  which  also  consists  of  songs  from  the  ep  of  the  same  name  and  newer  songs.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  touches  of  slam  death  metal  along  with  the  recording  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  72  Legions  brings  out  a  more  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  anti  religion,  darkness  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  72  Legions  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  brutal  and  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "What  A  God  Could  Be"  "Downfall  of  A  Man"  "Beautiful  In  Sin"  and  "Lamentation  Of  The  Woman".  8 out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/72-legions/1669580353

https://72legions.bandcamp.com/?mibextid=NOb6eG

https://www.facebook.com/72Legions?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.instagram.com/72legionsband/?igsh=aTB3cGE2YjZzbHdt

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TlavEuQFHlPiB4ElR8V5d?si=NZUqeGYkSb62NGpmST2wtA&nd=1&dlsi=9e1e916b2d7b4ae6

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYjxmF76u1E0j5WcfplRl1w?si=NDII2W03hYXdpWrH  

Wandering Oak Interview

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bloody Falls/Amartia/Art Gates Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Bloody  Falls  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Amartia"  which  was  released  by  Art  Gates  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  groove  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also b e  heard.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  synths,  spoken  word  parts  and  back  up  shouts  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

   Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  another  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length,  elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness,  Evil,  Violence  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bloody  Falls  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  groove  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sorrow  Is  My  Name"  "Mand  Undying"  and  "I  Met  My  Death".  8  out  of  10.

  https://artgatesrecords.com/artists/bloody-falls

https://youtu.be/LbsW2fdOYso     

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

   Wandering Oak       

Eye Of Fenris/The House Of Hades/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Eye  Of  Fenris  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Denmark,  Portugal  and  the  United  States  that  plays  viking  metal  with  elements  of  black  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "The  House  Of  Hades"  

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Elements  of  thrash  and  groove  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  which  also  adds  in   touch  of  industrial  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  folk  instruments.

  Eye  Of  Fenris  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  viking,  black  and  melodic  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Eye  of  Fenris  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spartans  Rise"  "The  Labyrinth  Of  Minos"  {"Medusa's  Lair"  and  "All  Hail  Hades".  8  out  of  10.

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

https://www.tiktok.com/@eye.of.fenris

https://www.facebook.com/eyeoffenris

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4mMRnBBJgh1qfHh0Qm1YqO

https://eyeoffenris.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/eye-of-fenris

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/eye-of-fenris/1697536262

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/221726425

https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B0CBW5R18S/eye-of-fenris  

  

Gates Open Interview

 

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

Greeting!

We are constantly working on new songs.

We already have a handful of new songs with lyrics waiting for final recordings and arrangements, which means more material is being created all the time.

We train and work on/record our songs at home, at the moment both working alone.

So we are working remotely in our band for at the moment.

So far, it has worked well that way.

We live 170 km from each other, so we don't see each other often.

We work on our material by exchanging messages and changing tracks via Google Drive.

We update social media almost daily, as news about our upcoming album keeps coming from all over the world.

Our songs are played on smaller and medium-sized internet radio stations around the world.

And this is the fourth interview this month, so there is action.

2.You have your first full length coming out in February, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Our musical style is full metal, with a very dark tone.  In our opinion, our style is mostly blackened death/thrash metal, but there are nuances from other genres, also outside of metal music, for example from punk.

3.Both of the band members where previously in 'Down In Silence', what was the decision behind splitting up the group and forming a new project?

Tommi:

I was in the ranks of Down into Silence from 2007 to 2020.

I have great memories from those years.

I got gigging experience and became familiar with studio recording.

In 2020, I moved to another town, 170 km away from the other band members.

I tried for a while to continue and go to training, but that year there were a lot of unpleasant things in my personal life, so my motivation dropped a bit in regards to everything.

And the distance to that as an equation, I could no longer continue in that life situation and decided to leave the band.

The band finally stopped its activities in 2022.

Jere:

Down into silence was stopped due to lack of motivation and time of the members.

A few years later, we decided to start a new band with Tommi in a new style.

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

Some of the album's lyrics are written by external authors.

For example, the author of the song "The Awakening" was inspired for the lyrics when he had read Jordan Peterson's writings and watched his Biblical series lectures on YouTube.

The inspiration for the lyrics of the song writer A Place Called Home came from her own real personal experiences at a young age.

The lyrics, which are our band's own handwriting on the album, were inspired by e.g.  The Gates Open title song is about people's selfishness, the evil of the world, the current way the world is going.

The song about death was inspired by the loss of a loved one.

But we also live in the Nordic countries, this northern dark season inspired us to make a song about that topic on the album.

But all the unpleasant things, bad events, etc. read daily inspire us.

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

Gates Open tells stories about the world's darkness, evil, life and death.

Part as fiction, part based on reality.

The gates are open, but where, you decide.

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

We have created the cover art of the album using artificial intelligence.

The picture was made based on the phrase "voice after silence", I probably wrote something else to it.  The picture chosen for the cover of the "Voice After Silence" album was just perfect for the cover of our debut album, there were a few other options.

The person in the picture, presumably a woman, looks into the distance and presumably hears a voice from somewhere far away.

That's how we see the picture ourselves.

And if we open up the idea of ​​the name of the album, we came up with it as a continuation with our new band Gates Open from our old band Down into Silence.

It was a few quiet years after the Down into Silence band broke up and as old members of that band we founded a completely new band Gates Open, so the name of the debut album was perfectly suited "Voice After Silence".

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

Yes, that has been the idea, as long as we get a good line-up together.

Live gigs could certainly be offered soon, it would be great to also perform our songs live in the future.

We both have some live performance experience from our old band days.

8.The new album is going to be released on 'Inverse Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

Inverse Records approached us with a message last spring thanks to our own active promotion.

We don't know exactly where they did spotted us, but I assume it was from the conversations/broadcasts of the Swedish Veckans Band Metal Radio.

In this case, it was ideal that we didn't approach them, but they approached us, so somehow we immediately aroused interest.

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

All the feedback we have received has been nothing but positive.

It feels really great.

We hope that the general public, especially in metal community, will discover our band and find something for themselves in our songs, whatever that may be.

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

It very much depends on what Jere's note pencil turns out to be in terms of style.

Jere composes, Tommi sings.

Lyrics are created from both sides, partly together.

And if we get hold of great lyrics, we'll of course turn it into a song.

Together we fit the pieces to its final form.

Lets see what the future holds.

In any case, we would think that we will stay largely on the lines given by our first album, musically and stylistically.

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?

Tommi:

My own singing style at the Gates Open was largely influenced by the singing styles of Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho, Cradle of Filth's Dani Filth, Dimmu Borgir's Shagrath, and Turmion Kätilöt's Spellgoth and Mc Raaka Pee.  Norther's Petri Lindroos should also be mentioned.

I listen to music everywhere, different genres, depending on my mood.

But mostly I listen to metal and nowadays I listen to a lot of all new bands and songs from various lists.

But Pantera, of course, is the world's best metal band of all time.

Currently, among Finnish bands, I recommend Warmen and Bloodred Hourglass.

But I also recommend checking out Inverse Records' wide range of music, there are really good bands there.

Recently, I've been listening to Inverse Record's Spotify list, a really hard set can be found in our own stable. 

I recommend getting to know, without mentioning more than one band.

Jere:

The first bands that made me pick up the guitar were Metallica, Sepultura, Pantera, Testament and so on.

Then came Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Dissection, Children of Bodom, Cannibal Corpse to name a few, with whom I started listening to more Brutal metal.

From Finland, I recommend the Stam1na band if you are interested in Finnish-language metal and the Swedish Orbit Culture is currently being listened to.

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

Thanks for the interview!

It was great answering your questions.

Keep on rocking, stay metal!

https://www.facebook.com/gatesopenband 
https://www.instagram.com/gatesopenband 
https://gatesopen.bandcamp.com 

Gates Open/Voice After Silence/Inverse Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Gates  Open  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Voice  After  Silence"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  riffs.  

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  while  a  few songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  recording  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Gates  open  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover the  darker  side  of  the  world  and  mankind,  life  and  death.

  In  my  opinion  Gates  Open  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Awakening"  "A  Place  Called  Home"  "We  Are  No  More"  and  "Northern  Dark".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/gatesopenband 

https://www.instagram.com/gatesopenband 
https://gatesopen.bandcamp.com 

 

https://youtu.be/aJiwCXSQaW0

https://youtu.be/pUxw7F8ZdOQ

https://youtu.be/KcgtVqrLHsQ         

     

72 Legions/Self Titled/2023 EP Review

 

  72  Legions  are  a  band  from  Cleveland,  Ohio  that  plays  a  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  and  self  released  2023  ep.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  direction.

  72  Legions  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  brutal  and  melodic  forms  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes   them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  the  Ars  Goetia.

  In  my  opinion  72  Legions  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  brutal  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Paradise".  8 out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/72legionsband 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TlavEuQFHlPiB4ElR8V5d

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/72-legions/1669580353

https://www.youtube.com/@72legions

https://www.instagram.com/72legionsband/

https://www.facebook.com/72Legions/   

Executus Interview

 

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

(Adrian)

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

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

 

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

 

(Adrian)

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

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

(Kym)

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

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

 

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

(Grant)

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

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

(Grant)

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

 

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

(Grant)

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

 

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

(Kym)

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

 

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

(Adrian)

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

So the closer you are, the better. 

 

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

(Grant)

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

 

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

(Kym)

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

 

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

(Adrian)

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

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

 

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

(Grant)

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

 

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

(Adrian)

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

 

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

(Grant)

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

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

Hellfrost/Self Titled/Curtain Call Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Hellfrost  are  a  band  from  Florida  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2023  album  which  was  released  by  Curtain  Call  Records.

\

  Apocalyptic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  thrash  metal  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  old  school style  and  the  vocals  also  bring  in a  mixture  of  black  metal s creams  and  death  emtal  growls.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in t he  80's  and  90's  era.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and the  soundscapes  also  return  on  the  closing  tracks

  On  this  recording  Hellfrost  introduces  elements  of  thrash  metal  into  their  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  and  fictional  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hellfrosr  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bloodshot"  "Frozen  Soul"  and  "Artificial  Intelligence".  8  out  of  10.

  Website: https://hellfrostband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hellfrostband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HellfrostOfficial
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/09mIrEFzEgYIjEeCwrwBZO?si=qjpAYLxRRfODi9MCDDQ92Q&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A09mIrEFzEgYIjEeCwrwBZO
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellfrost_naplesfl/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hellfrostband

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://executus.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/executus

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

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

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

  

Hudič Interview

 

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

 

We played some shows to save up some money again after the recording and we created new merch for the album.... While doing that we also played in Germany which was very cool. We have met some nice people in the process of it all.

 

2.In 2024 you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

 

We stepped it up a level, I think. The songs are harder and faster and with David on vocals it all sounds different, but he was the missing link that we were looking for.

 

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

 

We had some problems with the lineup and then covid had hit us... After that we started to get back on track slowly. When the lineup was stable again after Covid, we played quite some shows, mostly in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release?

 

Some of the lyrics are about ideas David had in his head for some time already and was now able to bring them to paper when joining Hudič. Topics range from losing the will to live, to some H.P. Lovecraft inspired mystical settings to desperate situations we or people around us are faced with. Some ideas also revolve around theological topics.

 

5.I know the band’s name means 'devil' in Slovenian, how does this name for in with the musical style that you play?

 

The name wasn’t chosen to go along with a lyrical concept, in the first place. The story behind it is, that the founding members attended a festival in Slovenia and because they came up with the idea to form the band there, they wanted a Slovenian name.

However, you can find similarities in the band’s name, the music, the live show, and the lyrics, which are all kept dark and somewhat nebulous.

 

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

 

We got kind of lucky with the artwork. We found an artist who designed it and since everyone liked it so much, we just decided to choose it for the album cover. There is really no big story behind it.

 

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

 

Last December we had the huge honor to open for Mayhem at a sold out Muziekgieterij in Maastricht in the Netherlands, which is on top the list I would say.

 

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

 

We want to play as much as we can to promote the new album and there will be some weekend tours that we are working on. And of course, we plan on making a release show for the album.

 

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

 

We have received interest of a label named “cult of chaos” after our show with mayhem but until now we are still working hard on our own and we keep doing that until something comes along.

 

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

 

Overall, we get good reactions, I like to think that is because we don’t hold on to one genre. There is something in there for everyone to enjoy, may it be death/doom/black/thrash/hardcore/melodic/....

 

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

 

Everyone is doing their best to play some gigs and have a good time.

For me and my other band we have been on tour this summer with thrash legends EvilDead which was really cool to be on the bus with those guys touring through Europe for 2 weeks.

 

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

 

Just growing overall, wish we could see where things are heading to... Now where would be the fun in that right?

 

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

 

We all listen to most of the subgenres, bands like Exodus, Kalmah, Cannibal corpse, Lamb of god, Cradle of filth, Mayhem.... The list is just way to long…

Some of us also listen to other genres, like Rock, Pop or Classic. We try not to be limited by any genre borders.

 

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

 

We have been working hard on improving our live show with new light, smoke and lasers and fire to come out with a bang in 2024.

So don’t miss the opportunity to attend a Hudič show. Thanks to everyone out there supporting us and thank you for your interest in Hudič.

 

https://www.facebook.com/HudicBE/

Hudič/Into The Abyss/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Hudič  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "Into  The  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  2024.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  faster  sections  of t he  songs  also  adding  in  some  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  thrash  metal  influences,  synths,  clean  playing  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  

  Hudič  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black,  death,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and esoteric  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Hudič  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "When  The  Stars  Align"  "Born  Blind"  and  "Seven  Deadly  Sins".  8 out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/HudicBE/

Wratheon/Becoming Nil/Seek And Strike/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Wratheon  are  a  band  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Becoming  Nil"  which  was  released  by  Seek  And  Strike.

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Shouting  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  whole  album  also  always  sticking  to  a  heavier  and  aggressive  musical  direction,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Wratheon  takes  their  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  into  more  of  a  melodic  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilism  and  horror  movie  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wratheon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Horde"  "Bathory"  and  "Becoming  Nil".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wratheon/1526904792

https://wratheon.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WratheonOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/wratheonofficial/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2gHr1QhqdYhG5xikeSjHXm?si=WT8nI8NBQVSej7HRMdKJNw&nd=1  

Onheil/In Black Ashes/Black Lion Records/;2023 Full Length Review

 

  Onheil  are  a  band  from t he  Netherlands  that  plays  a  melodic  and  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "In  Black  Ashes"  which  was  rleeased  by  Black  lion  Records.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Melodies  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and t he  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Angry  shouts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  death  metal  growls,  a  few  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks t o  a  heavier  direction.

  Onheil  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  and  thrash  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  apocalypse,  misanthropy  and  self  destruction  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Onheil  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Night  Terror" "Beneath  A  Steel  Sky"  and  "Master  of  Disease".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.onheil.com 

https://www.facebook.com/ONHEILMusic 

https://www.instagram.com/onheil_metal/   

Machinations Of Fate/Celestial Prophecies/Redefining Darkness Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Machinations  Of  Fate  are  a  band  from  Kentucky  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this recording  plays  a   melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Celestial  Prophecies"  which  was  released  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  song  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars,  clean  playing  and  stringed  instruments  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  of  the  heavier  riffing  also  bringing  in  elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal  as  well  as couple  of  songs  also  being   instrumentals.

  On  this  recording  machinations  Of  Fate  remain  true  to  the  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  scientific,  philosophical  and  esoteric  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Machinations  Of  Fate  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Split  Second  Of  Divinity"  "Cosmic  Womb"  "Void  Indoctrination  Ritual"  and  "Demise".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/machinations-of-fate/1494336487

https://machinationsoffate.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-prophecies

https://www.facebook.com/machinationsoffate

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4B75FZTL7Xk4eS1ZeLVVuC?si=lNlXjvINRB6rqzXi3PJn8g&nd=1