Ka,aper Interview

 

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

Evgeny: Hey guys! Thanks for having us here! Timur (the guitarist) and Evgeny (the singer) are here.

Timur: We’re recording our new album, got a tour coming up, it’s a busy time now.

Evgeny: Timur is a very humble guy and doesn’t like to boast, but the truth is: the work on our new album, entitled "When Gods Walked the Earth", is coming to an end, and we’re gonna release it in April or May.

2.In April you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Timur: In the very beginning we got together to play some Swedish MDM, yet we played something darker, our songs were atmospheric and gloomy. We call it dark metal… because we had to call it somehow he-he

Evgeny: Yeah, it always happens like that. You plan something, then you realise it’s not really what you wanted, and you change your direction. As Timur said, we started from MDM, then added some doom, atmospheric black, some modern stuff. Everything for our music to sound dark yet very fierce.

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

Timur: We are still on our path through the endless desert of myths from ancient Egypt. Those myths have a lot about life, death, despair and eternal powers, a lot to admire, and to sing about.

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

Timur: Well, Ka’aper, or Sheikh el-Baled, is a man from ancient Egypt. Not that he is known for something big, but the name sounds cool.

Evgeny: You won't miss his statue if you're in the Cairo Museum, for sure! It's impossible to pass by not being captivated by those eyes. Neither did I one day! Kinda "What the hell is this? It's a fucking piece of wood with real human eyes". And yes, Ka'aper sounds really cool, doesn't it?

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

Timur: The cover for "While flows the Nile" is a picture that we generated using some AI tools and Photoshop. The idea behind it is simple - what could tear apart our perception of the world more than the sky that is "broken" and burning the land?

As for "Amenhotep" single cover, this one has much deeper concept. It is a scene of majesty and worship, where ancient gods are witnessed in modern culture. This is the first cover that was done not by us, but by an artist. You can tell that by deeper and more meaningful visuals.

6.The bands member are originally from Russia and Ukraine but now reside in Cyprus, how would you compare living in this country compares to the other countries you are originally from?

Timur: It’s completely different culture. We were lucky to join the very welcoming community, and sometimes absolutely crazy community in a good way.

Evgeny: And it's essential to add - the metal scene here is awesome! I know at least 40-50 active metal bands here, and if this number is not really big, just check the population of Cyprus on Wikipedia, it's a really small island. When I was leaving Russia for Cyprus, we had only 5-7 barely alive bands in my hometown (which has a population of almost one million)

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

Timur: There were a few to name. We had a warm welcome and awesome gig in Cairo, wild crowd and great atmosphere in Yerevan, insane shows in Limassol and Larnaca. Every time that the crowd is headbanging with us enjoying the show - it’s a good show, as we feel connected.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

Timur: Yup, we have a tour over Poland and Germany coming up in February. And we’re currently making up our plans for the Summer.

Evgeny: Before that, in January, we have a show in Dubai and a show here, in Cyprus, and yeah, we have lots of plans for spring and summer

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

Timur: I think it’s too early to tell. But every time that we visit a new country, we are coming back packed with great emotions and new connections overseas.

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

Timur: We’re not guessing that to be honest, the music always goes as it goes.

Evgeny: Completely agree with Timur! That doesn't mean we don't try to find new audience, on the contrary, we spend a lot of time planning and organizing new shows, shooting promo videos, participating in interviews, of course, and much more stuff that has to be done if you don't want to get lost among thousands of bands releasing their music in this exact moment

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

Timur: MDM of course, progressive metal, pop music, electronic music - many genres have some true gems.

Evgeny: A year ago Spotify surprised me by showing that my favorite artist of the year was Bob Marley and The Wailers, he-he, also some old jazz, and fucking tons of metal of course.

Timur: Since we mentioned, my top tracks in Youtube Music are by 21 Pilots, Agnes Obel and Neil Young

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

Evgeny: Thank you so much for your interest in our music, we really appreciate it. Stay kind, guys, stay open-minded, listen to good music and always support it. It's not a secret at all that metal music is a kind of music made by musicians for musicians - I guess, at least 90% of the crowd at any metal show are musicians from other local bands, so let's support each other and make as much good music as we can. Take care!

https://www.instagram.com/kaaper_official/#

Kalrog Naar/Archeogothik Vol. 1/Kalrog Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Kalrog  Naar  are  a  solo  project  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  form  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  album  "Archeogothik  Vol.  1"  which  was  released  by  Kalrog  Records.

  Programmed  beats  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  goth  metal  and  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  A  lot  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  clear  singing  style  mixed  in  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can b e  heard.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  most  of  the  album  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  more  of  dark  metal  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  there  are  also  some  Death  SS,  Savage,  Opus  and  In  Ketton  covers.  

  In  his  recording  Kalrog  Naar  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  goth  and  dark  metal  with  some  touches  of  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kalrog  Naar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Monster"  "The  Nightmare"  "Burning  Down  The  Hell"  and  "Verlassen".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TwYKhtGPvA  

  

W.E.B/Darkness Alive/Metal Blade Records/2026 Live Album Review

 

  Greece's  W.E.B  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  they  take  their  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  to  the  live  stage  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Darkness  Alive"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Live  audience  reaction  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  while  also  introducing  symphonic  and  orchestral  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  operatic  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Touches  of  gothic  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

   Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Armageddon  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  W.E.B  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crimson  Dawn"  "Into  Hell  Fire  We  Burn"  "Necrology"  and  "Eigios".  8  out  of  10.

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Kalrog Naar Interview

 

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

Hello to you and all the readers of ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine, here's Cesare "Kalrog Naar " Sannino speaking! Thanks for this great opportunity to make an interview for your 'zine. I activated the Kalrog Naar project again in 2021, after splitting up my previous one-man-bands Animae Capronii/Trust your Heart (2003-2014/2015-2021). The intention was to return to play old school underground heavy metal with an occult dark fantasy feeling and various influences. The first incarnation of the project (simply called Kalrog) appeared beetween 1999-2001, recording just some unreleased acoustic demo tapes.

2.Can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you have went for on the recordings so far/

Yes, of course! While i initially started to play a classic underground epic heavy metal with also some punk rock vibes in the two early albums (Shocking Dark & Fantasy Warrior), with the third one (A Curse Take Place Over Esperia) i embraced a more epic gothic/folk/black metal style. With the last album i mixed both the things all together.

3.Since 2021 you have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating?

I'm always in a costant process of creation. I have a lot of fantasy in my mind, and i feel the need to create in every moment. Its my life and my passion.

4.You refer to your music as being 'epic fantasy metal' and also write your lyrics in this genre, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

I was always influenced by fantasy/sci-fi literature. I wrote some short stories myself, and i also used to create role playing games/board games with the same topics in the past. I love to create fantasy stories with different characters created by myself, or to write lyrics inspired by books that i've read.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Kalrog Naar'

Anthoritan Kalrog was the name of my main character while i played Dungeons & Dragons in my youth. Naar was added later. Its the name of the Master Lord of Darkness in Joe Dever's Lone Wolf Roleplaying Books Series.

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

The cover artwork of Dark Metal represent the hero Lord Parias facing a horde of evil creatures in front of a dark tower. In the layout there's another drawing with the Warrior Princess Elbior searching for the Vampire Lord in his Castle's ruins.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience playing in other bands, do you prefer to work solo?

To work solo is a great advantage because you take all decisions by your own. With the other bands where i played/play is much difficult to choose every little decision, we must work together as a team and sometimes is not that easy at all.

8.Ove the years you also have done a great amount of cover versions, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands and songs you have covered?

I like to tribute both famous and also underground bands of almost every genre in beetween rock & metal, but also some darkwave/goth/synth-pop acts sometimes. I love to give my own interpretation of their songs in a very essential way. I covered too much artists to mention through the years with my various projects/bands, but my personal favs are the Celtic Frost & Dimmu Borgir covers.

9.Most of the albums are also released though your own label, are you interested in working with a different label?

I was, but i haven't found a serious label interested to release my music, probably because its too underground for actual standards.

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

Very poor, cause i'm not a great promoter. 

11.Are you currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Yes, i'm the vocalist of the thrash/crossover band Violent Shit since 2007 (check out the new album 'Infamous Monsters', out now!!). Its the most professional band where i play. I'm also the vocalist/guitarist of the black metal band Nocturnal Flame. We also have our 1st full length out in 2024, with also the official video of the song Power of the dying saviour out on Youtube! Give it a view if you're into True Black Metal.

12.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Hope to become always more professional and capable. Cannot wait to unleash more underground heavy metal upon the masses.

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?

Very interesting question. I'm always interested in very underground music, but i listen almost everything in metal (or rock or everything) which is epic and with feelings. 

I love bands like Enid, Celtic Frost, The Elysian Fields, The Sins of thy Beloved, Siebenburgen, Battlelore, Furia but also Sine Macula, Sarcofagus, Black Widow, Death ss, and also italian epic power metal stuffs like Pandaemonium, Shadows of Steel, Skylark, Projecto and many many others, too much to mention. And i don't open the argument Black Metal because we will have an overlong interview, eh eh!!

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

Thank you for reading this long interview!! All hails to you for this opportunity again, and check out my music, freely downloadable from my pages, but i invite you to ask physical copies of my albums writing at capronii@libero.it.  Stay underground my metal brothers, and stay true!! Eternal Hails. Kalrog Naar. 

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Kalrog Naar/Crimson Blade Crash/Kalrog Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Italy's  solo  project  Kalrog  Naar  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic form  of  dark  metal  and  the  album  was  released  in  2025  by  kalrog  Records  and  called  "Crimson  Blade  Crash".

   Programmed  beats  and  heavy  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  the  keyboards  bring  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  touch.  Clear  vocals  are  also  a  very  heavy  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  grim  black  metal  screams  and  the  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  rooted  in  the  90's  second  wave  tradition.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  one  song  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments.  Some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  cover  versions  of  tracks   from  Orcrist,  Emaciation  and  Peosphoros,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  

  On  this  recording  Kalrog  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  dark,  black  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  being  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  medieval  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kalrog  Naar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crimson  Blade  Crash"  "The  Night  Flyer"  and  "Revolt  Against  A  Twisted  World".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8fsOUWroKM

Kalrog Naar/Dark Metal/2025 EP Review

 

  Kalrog  Naar  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  form  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2025  ep  "Dark  Metal"  which  consists  of  re=recorded  songs  from  the  mid  90's  to  early  2000's.

  Heavy  guitars.  programmed  drum  beats  and  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  while  the  clear  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  style.  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  some  of  the  slower  riffing  adds  in  a  touch  of  doom  metal.

  A  lot  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  of  the  clear  vocals  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  power  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  a  later  track  also  adds  in  some  clean  playing.

  Kalrog  Naar  plays a  musical  style  that  takes  black, dark,  viking,  gothic  and  power  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kalrog  Naar  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic,  romantic  and  fantasy  themed  dark  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lost  Artic  Horizons"  "The  Pyramid  Under  The  Moon"  and  "Portal  of  Infinity".  8  out  of  10.

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

Ka,aper/While Flows The Nile/Satanath Records/The End Of Time Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Ka'aper  are  a  band  from  Cyprus  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "While  Flows  The  Nile"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath  and  The  End  Of  Times  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  emtal  screams.

  Elements  of  dark  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  spoken  words  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Clear  singing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  electronic  touches.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  violins  and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  brings  in  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.

  Ka'aper  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  atmospheric  forms  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Egyptian  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Ka'aper  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  dark  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reign!"  "The  Sun"  "Into  The  Hall  Of  Truth"  and  "Lullaby".  8  out  of  10.

  https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat386-kaaper-while-flows-the-nile-2025

Dark Solstice Interview

 

Answers by Michael “RISTRIDI” Woess

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

Sure! We are Dark Solstice from Munich, Germany, and we play Dark Metal! 

This band pretty much evolved out of my Solo Project “RISTRIDI”, with which I’ve released one Prog/Power Metal EP. There was one release gig in 2023, and we had no real lasting “Live-Lineup”. We were short a Bassist at the time and after our one and only gig, Guitarist Daniel moved to another city far away and Drummer Felix said he couldn’t do more live gigs, as he already was member of 4 bands at the time and also had a full-time-job. So Johnny and me are basically what’s left of that Live-Lineup.

Johnny and I were looking for new musicians to join us - we found Jakob Burde (Ex-Hailstone), Maurice Gerczuk and Alex Meyer (Ex-Engera) who were eager to make music with us. And after I’ve left Agathodaimon I felt the need to write and release more “dark music”, so I proposed that we - instead of continuing as a Solo Project - take the step and form a new band. As our name, we decided to take the name of the RISTRIDI EP - “Dark Solstice”.

2.You have a new ep coming out later in May, can you tell us a little bit more about he musical style that you went for on the recording?

Oh it’s a pretty diverse mixture actually. Basically we make Dark Metal with influences of Symphonic Black Metal and also Melodic Death Metal. The three songs on the EP are all examples of facettes which are to be expected in our coming work. 

“Pathways” has a lot of “Melo-Death” Vibes, “Open” opens with a Groove-Metal / Doomy kinda Main Riff and develops into some thrashy passages, leading into a Black Metal Ending - and the title track “Where Black Stars Beckon” is the one that mostly goes in to the direction of traditional “Dark Metal” - it has a recurring Synth-Melody with a Breakdown-ish kind of Main Part, which also goes into a Black-Metal-ish kinda Verse Part and then into a more melodic Chorus.

So there are a lot of influences which lead to these songs and I can’t pinpoint exactly where all of that comes from, as it’s not an all conscious process.

3.Some of the band members are veterans from other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Dark Solstice', that you have not been able to do with your previous groups?

I was deeply involved in the songwriting for the latest “Agathodaimon” record “The Seven” - and I can definitely be creative more freely without that big “Back Catalogue” of what the band has already done in the past. I think that a lot of the material that is about to come is going to be more on the melodic side, not necessarily abiding to the “cliché” of Dark Metal. 

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

The topics we tried to cover in our EP range from political topics like in “Where Black Stars Beckon” - which is inspired by the abhorrent Trump-led MAGA movement in the USA - to personal topics like the loss of love and also to deeply personal problems like Depression and losing the will to live.

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

Solstice, by definition, means the time when the sun reaches its maximum or minimum declination, twice a year. Dark Solstice we see as a metaphor for the times of crisis, in which we live - personally or also politically. So the question is: Have we already reached the maximum point of devastation? Are we on a tipping point of negative things to happen? Or will things become even worse? When will life and international crises start to shift into something positive again? That’s the question I ask myself regularly, so it seemed like a nice name for a band.

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

Sure. On the cover artwork we can see a devastated person who scourges himself in a city of ruins, with a lit hearth in front of him. This reflects pictures which are invoked through the lyrics of the songs on the EP. A person which has gone through severe stress because of his living conditions - a destroyed city which he lives in. It’s a kind of apocalyptic vision of where we might end up in on the verge of (nuclear) war and international crises

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

Our gigs in Freising and Munich were really something! In Freising we met a lot of old friends and the room was packed! And in Munich, despite the bad weather, the people were on fire!

Our stage performance is rather “classic” I would say. We don’t have any stage props or stuff like that yet. But it is always quite energetic!

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

We have some gigs lined up. After the EP Release we now had three gigs. In July we’re again playing in Munich - on 19th of July at Szenerie Drehleier - and then our next gigs are on 15th November in Nuremberg and on 13th December in Dorfen.

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

For our debut album we’re on the lookout for a label, we were already in contact with a label that was interested in releasing this EP. But we decided to release this EP on our own now and go join a label for our debut album.

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

I think it was received quite well, our videos and socials got quite some views. But we’re of course still at the very beginning of our journey.

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

We have already written quite some new material, but we can’t say yet when our first full length will be ready. The new music goes a bit more into the melodic and melancholic direction. I’m curious how that material will turn out - it’s still in a rather early state.

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?

I am a big fan of old-school metal, reaching way back to the origins of metal. I was always a big Megadeth fan for example. Nowadays, I like listening to all kinds of subgenres of Metal. Music I listened to a lot lately are Brymir’s “Voices in the Sky”, Assemble the Chariot’s “Unyielding Night” and Ghost’s “Skeletá”. So not stuff that is close to what we do actually, genre-wise.

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

First of all thank you for the interview! To everybody reading this, we’re looking forward to write and release new music for you. Also, if you’re attending one of our gigs, make sure to say hello!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darksolstice.official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darksolstice.official/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darksolstice.official
Bandcamp: https://darksolstice.bandcamp.com
Website: https://darksolstice.de

Dark Solstice/Where Black Stars Beckon/2025 EP Review

 

  Dark  Solstice  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Where  Black  Stars  Beckon"  which  will  be  released  on  May  23rd.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  songs  also  add  in a  lot  of  dark  metal  elements.

  Symphonic  sounds  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  when t hey  are  utilized  while  the  recording  mixes  in  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  also  being  introduced  into  on  one  of  the  tracks,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Dark  Solstice  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a very  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  dark  metal  and  a  touch  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  cosmic  darkness,  despair  and  emotional  turmoil.

  In  my  opinion  Dark  Solstice  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Where  Black  Stars  Beckon".  8  out  of  10.

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darksolstice.official/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darksolstice.official/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@darksolstice.official
Bandcamp: https://darksolstice.bandcamp.com

Website: https://darksolstice.de  

Nachtblut/Todschick/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nachtblut  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Todschick"  which  will  be  released  on  February  21st  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  symphonic  and  orchestral  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  and  rough  gothic  metal  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in a   small  amount  of  80's  style  synths.  Growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well elements  of  folk  metal  also  being  added  towards  the  end  of  the  album  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.

  On  this  recording  Nachtblut  brings  out  more  of  a  symphonic  and  mid  tempo  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  contemporary  societal  issues.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nachtblut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Von  Hass  Getrieben"  "Das  Leben  Der  Anderen"  "Gotterstille"  and  "Schneller  als  Der  Tod".  8  out  of  10.

  WEBSITE

 FACEBOOK
 INSTAGRAM

 NAPALM RECORDS    

Grey Skies Fallen/Molded By Broken Hands/Profound Lore Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  New  York's  Grey  Skies  Fallen  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  dark,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Molded  By  Broken  Hands"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Vocals  are mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  90's  era  dark  metal  influences.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  clean  sections  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  melodic  vocals  onto  the  album,  when  the  music  speeds  up  briefly  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair  and  bleakness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grey  Skies  Fallen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  dark,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Twisted  Place  In  Time"  "I  Can  Hear  Your  Voice"  and  "Knowing  That  You're  There".  8  out  of  10.

  https://greyskiesfallen.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/greyskiesfallen

https://www.instagram.com/greyskiesfallen

https://twitter.com/greyskiesfallen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZMyX5suao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q964xa-1Mt4            

Litosth/Cesariana/Personal Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Litosth  are  a  duo  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Cesariana"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Personal  Records.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  death,  doom  and  dark  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album,  one  track  also  adds  in  touches  of  80's  era  dark  pop.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  existence  themes

  In  my  opinion  Litosth  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Waves"  "The  Clay  Messiah"  and  "The  Vacuum  Extractor  Paradigm".  8  out  of  10.

  http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/litosth-cesariana

www.facebook.com/litosthofficial   .    

  

Moonskin/Lunar Ascendence/2023 EP Review

 

  Moonskin  are  a  band  from  British  Columbia,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  theri  self  released  2023  ep  "Lunar  Ascendence".

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  female  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  emtal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody as  well  the  mid  tempo  sections  also  adding  in  touches  of  groove  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  keyboards  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.  Clear  male  vocals  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  metal  elements  and  the  ep  closes  with  a  cover  of  Black  Sabbath's  "Paranoid".

  On  this  recordingMoonskin  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  symphonic  forms  of  black, d ark  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  a  touch  of  groove  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  supernatural,  horror,  lycanthropy,  high  fantasy,  exploration,  loss,  healing,  ascension,  power,  life  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Moonskin  and  if  you  are  a  fan    symphonic,  melodic  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  ,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Subjagation  And  Oppression"  and  "Altering  the  Entity".  8 out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/_Hx4AvMf-8U

https://www.facebook.com/moonskinofficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk71hQq9v4191YJDIX9212g

https://www.instagram.com/moonskinmetal/

https://www.tiktok.com/@moonskin_

https://moonskin.fanlink.to/Listen-Lunar-Ascendence

https://open.spotify.com/album/5afcZTY31Z0ZBKQgn3i6tc

https://music.apple.com/ca/album/lunar-ascendance-ep/1638347673

https://www.deezer.com/us/album/343480057

https://listen.tidal.com/album/240358341

https://www.amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0B7YWJRV9

https://music.amazon.ca/artists/B0787922VS/moonskin

https://www.moonskin.ca/lunar-ascendence-release-epk    

Lathebra Interview

 

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band members since the break up of the band?

After the first demo "Angels' Twilight Odes" released in 1997 and a second promo titled "Etra" and destined to label only released in 2000, all the members of the band went their separate ways for work or study and this obviously led us to distance ourselves considerably and in the end almost naturally the band ceased to exist. Some of us continued to play music in other projects and I started My Kingdom Music that now after more than 20 years is still active.

2. In the mid 90's and early 2000's you had released both a demo and an ep, musically how do they both differ from each other?

"Angels' Twilight Odes" released in 1997 is more direct, more influenced by the music of that period with its mixture of Black Metal, Doom and Dark. While "Etra" is probably more mature, with a more evident originality of the musical structures, and above all of the arrangements. Some acoustic elements started to appear and above all the use of the voice was more various giving to the songs more personality. The same element that is always present in both releases is that sense of magic and ethereal darkness that pervades the whole aspects of LATHEBRA as band and as music.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored on both of the releases?

The lyrics deal a lot with intimate aspects of life taken from the poetical side and with a Romantic vision of the same, in the literary sense of the word.

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

Latebra is an ancient latin word it literally represents a dark and hidden place. We have interpreted it as an intimate place of the human soul.

5. The band has been broken up for a couple of decades, what was the cause of the split?

Essentially, as I told you before, the distance between us. We all lived in different and distant cities and it was practically impossible to find a point of union and the possibility of being able to play together.

6. Did the band have any opportunities to live shows in the past, if so what where some of the best shows that the band played and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Oh yes, we played a lot during the early years of our existence. I remember with great pride a show in our city, Salerno, and another one in Naples together with the mighty UNDETAKERS and it was a blast!!!

7. What are some of the other bands or musical projects the band members joined after the split?

Francesco Galano created his own project call When The Clouds more into the Electronic and Ambient Music, Rosario Memoli, the drummer, played in Circle Of Witches and gave life to The Provincials more into Indie Rock. Bruno Villani plays now in a couple of projects (SEID, EFFESS).

8. One of the band members also done 'Vampiria Zine', is that zine still going on nowadays?

Vampiria Magazine was my own creature. It was active from 1996 till 2002 when I created My Kingdom Music, my own label.

9. Recently 'My Kingdom Music' re-issued your 1997 demo, can you tell us a little bit more about the newer version?

We received an offer to release a CD version of our demo by Sylphorium Records from Colombia.

We immediately accepted Nelson's offer but we wanted to release something different from the original version. So first of all I decided to release it with my own label too, so via My Kingdom Music, but above all we decided to give to the sound a new mastering and so we sent it to Davide Barbarulo at the 20Hz20kHz Mastering Lab. The result was great indeed, giving to the work a new life.

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

When the demo was released in 1997 we sold all the 1000 copies in less that 6 months, the result was great and the reaction of the media and the fans were fantastic. The demo had an incredible reception resulting in demo of the month in many magazines and fanzines of the time.

11. Would the band members ever be open to getting back together and finally releasing a full length?

During the years in some moments probably yes, but the conditions of life and our works have always prevented that from happening. I don't think it will happen in the future but I confess that it would be really great to be able to share again those moments with the rest of the band.

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

I do not know but of course we were in those years that Black Metal was having its maximum explosion with bands like Emperor, Arcturus, Cradle Of Filth, so I think those bands had in us a particular influences but also Doom Metal with early Anathema and My Dying Brid, some classical Heavy Metal above all in the guitar working and something from Dark Wave above all for what concerns the atmospheres.

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

Thanks a lot   to you and your readers. It would be great if you could listen to our music and share with us your opinion . Here is a link where you can do it: https://lathebra.bandcamp.com

Lathebra/Angels' Twilight Odes/My Kingdom Music/2023 Demo Re-Issue Review

 

  Lathebra  where  a  band  from  Italy  that  played  a  melodic  mixture  of  black, dark  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  1997  demo  "Angels;  Twilight  Odes"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  march,  2023  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  demo  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  dark  and  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  soloes  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody.  Spoken  word  parts  also  return  on  later  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful sound  to  them  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard.  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  are  also  utilized  briefly  and  keyboards  are  added  on  the  closing  track  which  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy,  yearning  and  loneliness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Lathebra  where  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of b lack,  dark  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Velvet  Dusk"  and  "Benighted  Embrace".  8  out  of  10.

  http://facebook.com/lathebra1996