Upon Shadows/Modern Obscurantism/Ground Media Group/2019 CD Review

 

  Upon  Shadows  are  a  duo  originally  from  Uruguay  but  now  resides  in  Finland  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  dark,  gothic  metal  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Modern  Obscurantism"  which  was  released  by  Ground  Media  Group.

  

  A  very  dark  and  avant  garde  style  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  dark  and  heavier  musical  direction.  Gothic  style  keyboards  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  lyrics  are  mostyl  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of   blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.

  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  metal  elements  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  keyboards  also  add  in  touches  of  ambient  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  parallelism  between  the  obscurantism  of  the  Middle  Ages  and  the  new  forms  of  censorship  and  control.

  In  my  opinion  Upon  Shadows  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  dark,  gothic  metal  and  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vanity's  Bonfire"  "Dogma  The  Infinity  Of  Fire"  "Illusion  Of  Freedom"  and  "Out  Of  The  Blue  Comes  The  New  Plague".  8  out  of  10.        

    

Mirzadeh/Sauna/Inverse Records/2021 EP Review

 

  Mirzadeh  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  dark  mixture  of  melodic  black,  goth  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Sauna"  which  was  released  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  music  also  brings  in  a  lot  of  gothic  and  dark  metal  elements  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  also  being  added  on  a  couple  of  the  tracks  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

 A  couple  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  a  brief  use  of  clear  pagan  vocals  onto  the  recording  along with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and fast  parts  as  well  as  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences  and  as  the  ep  progresses  a  brief  use  of  stringed  instruments  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Finnish  Mythology,  Local  History  and  stories  from  the  Kalevala.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mirzadeh  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  dark,  goth  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "When  The  Deep  Silence  Signs"  and  "Sauna".  8  out  of  10.

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Brokdar Interview

 

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

Loki: If you have never heard of us, you should listen to our new album «The legend of undying knights» first I think. We are here because of music and let our music tell about us!

2.In 2020 you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Loki: I don’t know what especially I can say)), because this staff except band’s founder Ranunk didn’t take a part in last releases. But only one thought comes to my mind that the songs have become mature!

Ryttaren: This is definitely a more thoughtful and conceptual work. The guys put a lot of effort into creating of compositions and sounding in general. Besides, this album has a new vocals in my person.

3.Your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Loki: To be honest, I have read a few fantasy books)), in the beginning (before me) band choose this way of lyric. But for new album almost all lyric was written by me, except “hateful gift ” which was written by Ryttaren. Ranunk who read a plenty of different fantasy books very often told me about his favorite book series “Eleven Legion” written by Russia writer. And once I got inspired with his stories which were told under his great impression)))). I didn’t write lyric based on these books, I made it with my own vision. I wanted to make the conceptual album from the beginning.

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

Loki: As I know this name was taken from a well known computer game Gothic.)))

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

Loki: Nothing more that I saw it in my mind inspired by mix of music and atmosphere of lyric in album. And yes))) I liked Dark Soul concept arts))). Ahhh one interesting thing)))), the artist who made an art read “Eleven Legion” book series too!

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

Ryttaren: Great performance was in support of Arkona and Tyr. It was very pleasant to share the stage with such professionals, it is memorable. We also had cool performance with Second to Sun band, when they played in our city, we were able to fully convey the energy and dynamics to the audience. Our show can be described as a kind of mixture of ceremony with stage presentation and game with the audience. In the future, I would like to purchase stage equipment for the complete recreation of the mysteries.

7.The new album was self released while the band was on a label in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

Loki: Why not)))

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

Ryttaren: So far we have received positive feedback from both fans of the genre and from random people. We are very glad that our work is warmly received.

Loki: To get correct answer you should ask black and death metal fans))) about their opinion, I think!

9.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?

Ryttaren: I am recording vocals for one powerful instrumental group, it will be strong. Release is planned by the end of winter or early spring.

Loki: I and bassist Jorr take a part in one power metal project Save My Name. Ranunk has his own one man piano dark ambiance project.

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

Ryttaren: Creation of richer and deeper compositions, as well as a greater twist towards black metal.

Loki: to march along the border of melodic black and death metal))). Music, power and deep atmospheric music!

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?

Ryttaren: I am mainly a big fan of black metal and northern folk music. Interestingly, my favorite composers also belong to the Scandinavian culture, these are Wagner and Grieg. There are a huge number of good bands, so I will single out those that had the strongest influence on me at one time. Watain, Emperor, Falkenbach, Eluveitie, Fejd, Finsterforst, Moonsorrow, Septic Flesh, Type O Negative.

Loki: A lot to enumerate, Scandinavian music what can be better?

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

Ryttaren: Listen to more music and discover something new! Music is a universal language for people, which allows us to communicate not only at a distance, but also through the centuries. And if you haven't heard Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, then listen today. You will not regret

Loki: If the music which you hear doesn’t create images in your mind and doesn’t takes you to another world. it's probably bad music or isn’t art at all!

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Brokdar/The Legend Of Undying Knights/2020 Full Length Review

 

  

 

 Brokdar  are   a  band  from   Russia   that  plays  a  dark  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "The  Legend  Of   Undying  Knights''.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going   into  a  heavier   direction   which  also  introduces   black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great   amounts  of  melody  while   the   faster   sections   of  the  songs   also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  solos   and  leads  are  also  done   in  a  melodic   style.

  Throughout   the  recording   you   can  also  hear   a  decent    mixture   of  slow ,  mid   paced  and  fast  parts  while  death   metal   growls   can  also   be  heard   at  times.  A  great  portion   of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  tremolo  picking   being  added  into  the  faster  sections   of  the  songs  as  well  as  synths  also   being  at  times.  

  Brokdar  plays   a  musical   style   that  takes  the  melodic   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  dark   fantasy   themes.

  In  my  opinion  Brokdar  are  a  very  sounding   dark   and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death   metal   and  if  you are a   fan of   those  musical   genres ,  you   should   check   out   this   band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS   INCLUDE   The  Legend  Of   Undying  Knights''  "No  Hate  For  Fate''  and  "No  More".  8  out  of  10.  

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Moonskin/Lycanthropy/2020 Single Review

 

  Moonskin  are  a  band  from  Kelowna,  B.C,  Canada  that plays  a  dark  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  single  "Lycanthropy".

 Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  single  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  The  music  also  brings  in  elements  of  dark  metal  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  riffing.

  Keyboards  are  also  utilized  at times  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  symphonic  touch  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  second  track  is  also  a  cover  of  HIM's  "Soul  On  Fire"  which  also  introduces  clean  goth  style  vocals  onto  the  recording  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow   or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Moonskin  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark,  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  the  supernatural,  lycanthropy  and  high  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Moonskin  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  8  out  of  10.

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Kaamos Warriors/Kirous/Inverse Records/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Kaamos  Warriors  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Kirous"  which  was  released  by  Inverse  Records.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards   start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  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  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  adding  in  some  elements  of  black  metal.

  On  this  recording  Kaamos  Warriors  remains  true  to  the  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  metal  that  was  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  Darkness,  Winter,  Night  and  Chaos  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kaamos  Warriors  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kuilu"  "Kirous"and  "Usva".  8  out  of  10.

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Nachtblut Interview

 

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

Skoll: Since we recorded Vanitas we spend a lot of time to prepare the release - photo-, video shoots, planning the promotion etc. Unfortunately, due to the Corona pandemic, all festivals and shows for 2020 have been postponed. Regarding shows, we're just hoping for better times, crossing fingers for 2021 and waiting. 

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

Skoll: I believe with Vanitas we offer a lot of facets and variety, but still managed to have a homogenous sound, upholding the fundamental vibe. It’s exciting to have such a diverse album and the feedback from fans and critics approves that. Regarding the sound, I think we found what we were aiming for. 

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

Skoll: As diverse as songs on the album, so are the lyrics. Of course, we are dealing with transience, mortality and death, but we didn’t stop there. Further the Vanitas art is also about deliberate, reflecting your lifestyle, your present and what choices you make. So, from the kind of moral dogmas nowadays, gathered in “lifestyles”, in which each thinks it’s superior to the others, to the question of who is in charge of your knowledge, point of view on things or your definition of happiness, dictatorship and unusual bonds between people, you will find a whole range of topics on Vanitas. 

4.I know that the bands name means 'Night blood' in German, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Skoll: There are several rumors out there, stating why we chose the name or what it means actually. I won’t comment on this ;-). But for sure, the name itself has something dark and sinister, so is our music.

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

Skoll: As the record is called Vanitas and deals with aspects of this art, it was obvious to include the Vanitas-still-life-art at our artwork for the album. Inspired by the paintings of the 16th and 17th century you will notice certain symbols on the cover. They are not randomly chosen. Every object has a symbolic meaning. It’s like a code, which gives you a detailed picture of the thoughts of the artist, or the issues addressed. What the several objects are representing, is to figure out by everyone by himself. I won’t spoil this, it would take away all the fun. 

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

Skoll: For me personally the very first show in China was a highlight. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was touched by the energy and emotions of the people. Over the last years there are many great concerts and experiences. Of course, playing Wacken for the first time is very special, so are small club shows in which the crowd goes nuts and water/sweat is dripping down the ceiling. I would say our shows are full of energy. It’s always have been part of our shows to have a lot of movement on stage and in front of it. So for example we stage dive and having moshpits with the fans. Nothing for a quiet and comfy evening. 

7.Since 2012 all of your albums have been released on 'Napalm Records', do you feel they have been very supportive when it comes to getting your music out there heard?

Skoll: Yes! It’s great to be with Napalm Records, they are always supportive. You hear a lot of stories about other labels and bands not getting along. Even sometimes labels interfere into the music or artistic decision. I can’t say anything like that about Napalm, it’s always have been a cool with and never an against each other. Over the years, a certain bond manifests. 

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

Skoll: Very good, almost overwhelming. Fans as critics like the record. Of course, you will always find one that isn’t convinced or the old stuff in general is better. But for those people it doesn’t matter what you do, they will always find something to moan about. It also seems that the international interest grew compared to Apostasie. So all in all a very well-received album! 

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

Skoll: I don’t know. Like I said, for me we found the sound we were aiming for. Regarding songwriting, we never sat down and brainstormed like “the next record needs to be like this and this, because it’s a trend”. Things are developing naturally, call it evolution. So the direction will depend on what we are into at the very moment the songs are written. But no worries we will stay true to ourselves. 

10.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?

Skoll: I think every one of us listened or still listen to Rammstein and Cradle Of Filth. Also, we all enjoying Black Metal. But as we are 4 individuals everyone brings in another backstory. Speaking for myself, I don’t care too much about the label put on the music. I listen to all kinds of genres, depending on the mood. Probably if I would turn on the music right now, it would be Ghost. 

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Skoll: I like to do sport, like to read, mainly scientific books, or books about a certain topic. There are just a few fictional, storytelling books I really like. But to be honest, most of the time, it's about music. Drumming, bands, touring, you name it. 

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

Skoll: Famous last word of every band in an interview - listen to our new album Vanitas, out now! Enjoy and in those times, stay safe and stay healthy. Thanks for having me, thanks for the interview!

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Nachtblut/Vanitas/Napalm Records/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Nachtblut  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  very  melodic,  symphonic  and  gothic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Vanitas" which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  one  track  also  introduces  stringed  instruments  into  the  music  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while the  vocals  also  get  very  deep  sounding  at  times.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  one  track  also  adding folk  instruments  and  touches  of  goth  rock  onto  the  album  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  dark  metal  as  well  as  all  of  the  songs  also  sticking  to  a  mid  tempo  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  death  metal growls and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nachtblut  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  goth  metal and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vanitas"  'Kaltes  herz"  "Meine  Grausamkeit  Kennt  Keine  Grenzen"  and  "Die  Toten  Vergresson  Nicht".  8  out  of  10.

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Aeons Confer 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?

Bernhard: Hi there, thanks for this interview. Of course, we had a lot of stuff to do, since we have released our self-recorded, self-produced and self-mixed and -mastered album ZERO ELYSIUM. The main task was to spread the new album all around the world and reach so many metal fans and fans of the dark scifi genre as possible. It is not only that meanwhile we worked on a number of high energetical videos that feature songs from the album. We also extensively prepared a European tour in order to promote the new material also live, as it is imperative that people have to experience AEONS CONFER live and ruthless. Unfortunately, suddenly Covid-19 deleted our plans temporarily. What we now do is creating further videos to follow to give all the metalheads our there a maximum idea of what AEONS CONFER is about in 2020. By the way, we already gave birth to several new songs, in my opinion they are very innovative and brute, while they march on our path you can listen on SYMPHONIES OF SATURNUS as well as on ZERO ELYSIUM, I expect and know they reach at least the same legendary level. So, the direction is clear: heading forward with strength, independence and conviction.

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

Simon: ZERO ELYSIUM is a tight, massive, and focused bolide and it is different in so many ways than its predecessors. Although, we´ve used the same components but the approach and usage in terms of songwriting, arrangements & riffing style is quite different. This time, you will find less but well considered keyboards, more crushing and rousing grooves and even some djenty banger riffs.
Soundwise the album has a straightforward point-blank and minimalistic approach with a crystal clear and weighty production.It is also a great showcase that we are able to write and produce killer atmospheric music without the need of using 300+ tracks but only 60 tracks per song.

3.This was also your first album since 2013, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Nils: Until the end of 2015 we were mainly busy presenting `Symphonies Of Saturnus´ live on various club and festival stages in Europe, such as Summer Breeze, Metaldays, Tuska. After that we got down to writing, rehearsing and recording the songs for Zero Elysium. Our bass player at the time decided to leave the band, which made us wonder who could take over this job in the future. After careful consideration, our singer Bernhard picked up his 5-string again and from then on he felt extremely comfortable in the double role as a bass-playing singer. At the same time, we took care of the automation of our light show, created the artwork and merch from ZERO ELYSIUM and shot the video for IMPACTORS.

4.A lot of your lyrics also cover science fiction and dystopian themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

Bernhard: We intend to transfer the special scifi atmosphere also on the lyrical side. All our lyrics treat deepest space and dystopian, apocalyptic, dark worlds. It is proper to the times we live in and I guess that is exactly the reason why people understand what we want to say. While the level of knowledge that mankind reached grows on every day at the same time we keep on destroying the ground we stand on. On ZERO ELYSIUM a protagonist recognizes that fact, this obviously human conflict, in the delicate situation facing numerous large objects on collision course towards planet Earth. He belongs to a minority that searches for a solution. To sum it, mankind is too weak and interests are too selfish to use our scientific knowledge and techniques to prevent this planet from the worst case, which finally happens: Dozens of impacts devastate the surface and eliminates greatest amounts of all life. Just some beings try to survive in the depths of the underground. Going down - that is the way humanity will have to go, we all know.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name ;Aeons Corner'?

Alex: I am sorry to correct you, however the band name is AEONS CONFER ;-) The name for the band obviously had to have some meaning behind it, and it would be quite interesting to hear how the fans come up with their own concepts on it. When we started out as a band, we wanted to have a name which reflected something so vast and massive it is almost impossible to fully grasp it. Aeons are the highest-ranking units in the subdivision of geological history and may span several hundred million to well over a billion years. Our life span as human beings are nothing more than a blink of an eye in this context, so this concept felt so right to utilize in the band name. The universe is huge beyond imagination, and all this incomprehensible interplay between space and time is something the name AEONS CONFER resembles to its fullest.


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

Alex: With the artwork, our goal was to visualize the concept we had behind the music and lyrics offered on ZERO ELYSIUM. Having the destruction of our earth as we know it imminent is obviously something eerie and dark. Those vibes which come across with our music certainly had to find way into the artwork. AEONS CONFER is known for sci-fi based topics, so this had to be considered as well, obviously. The cover and overall artwork also had to give some room for interpretation, and in the aftermath, it is quite interesting to hear what feedback fans give. We took a lot of time working on the visuals for ZERO ELYSIUM and had numerous revisions until everyone in the band was pleased with it. Overall, we believe that it fits perfectly and is well executed, so that the listener would have this overall experience when putting on the record and going through the pages of the booklet or checking out the sleeve of the LP. Armageddon is close, and this is THE soundtrack for it.

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?

Nils: Walpurgisrock, Apes Enraged and Meltdown were festivals where we had a lot of fun, a good show and an excellent time. We fired first-class club gigs in the Logo, Knust, Fundbureau and Kaiserkeller in Hamburg. We like a lot of fog at our gigs so that you can see our self created light show at it´s best. Personally, I refer to our stage performance as a neck-breaking-laser-steamroller, which invites every metalhead to headbanging. Take a look at our videos Impactors / Wise Deflector to see what we have prepared for you.

8.Currently the band is unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Alex: Of course, we did receive numerous offers in the past, but we had mixed feelings when looking at the conditions we got offered. On one hand, working with a label could result in more financial possibilities, and could provide opportunities in marketing which you would not have access to under other circumstances. On the other hand, right now we only must justify to ourselves and must measure our current success on our own actions. The way it works up to now is we have full creative and business control, which obviously something which is valuable and endeavored by us as artists. So, if we would choose signing with a record company, we would have to take all this into account and determine what we would take away from us in terms of self-determination. We achieved quite a lot with our very own hands, from producing albums, artwork, merchandising, marketing campaigns to playing shows worldwide. Working with an exterior company really should bring an extra push and surpass everything we already have achieved by ourselves.

9.The band has been around since the mid 90's, what is it that motivates you to keep going after a couple of decades?

Simon: To me, it is the urge to explore and expand my musical horizon and create something unique while becoming a better musician and songwriter and i think this journey will go ad infinitum. Another huge and essential component is that this band is greater than the sum of its parts. I mean, my brother and me play together now for 26 years and we are four musicians in this band with a collective vision and mindsetting. Last but not least, it´s simply just fun to play music together! So the rack-wheels keep going unstoppably!

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

Nils: The reactions were mostly positive, so we got the impression that we were welcomed with our music in the extreme metal community worldwide. Although our two longplayers `Symphonies Of Saturnus´ &` Zero Elysium´ differ from each other musically and technically in terms of production and sound, it was possible for us to attract and inspire fans already won with our new output. That made us very proud and at the same time showed that we are on the right track with our musical progress and that we are still accepted for that reason.

11.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

Bernhard: In former times it could happen, that members of the band were more or less active in several projects apart from AEONS CONFER. But actually, AEONS CONFER is too versatile and interesting that one of us would intend to have further projects or bands. We keep us focused and work with highest priority and I am convinced that people hear and see to which results this attitude leads. Parallel to our private life we use our synergy in the best and intensive way we can effort. If our energies would spread too far away, our albums would not sound as fulminant and mighty as they do.

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

Simon: Our agenda for further releases is filled with many different ideas and genres and what i can say for now, there surely will be some unexpected stuff to come. If you follow our musical background from the very beginning, you will notice a steady improvement of the course musically and that we are not disaffected by switching or blending different genres. Everything is possible, there is nothing to rule out.

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?

Simon: At the outset, we were heavily influenced by bands like Emperor and Arcturus. Emperor´s „Anthems to the welkin at dusk“ had the biggest impact on our musical direction, that album was a game-changer for us back then. Our all-time favorites are bands like Strapping young lad, SepticFlesh, Slipknot, Textures, Korn and Fear Factory, just to name a few. I´ve got a passion for movie soundtracks and game-music but i also can listen to celestial white noise for a couple of hours!

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

Alex: First and foremost, our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported AEONS CONFER so far, checked out ZERO ELYSIUM and gave us their feedback. We are grateful to have fans all over the world who really dig what we do, keep in touch with us and help spreading the word. It means everything to us, so THANK YOU and keep going! Also, thanks for the opportunity doing this interview! See you soon and keep an eye on the sky!

https://de-de.facebook.com/AeonsConfer
https://www.instagram.com/aeonsconfer
https://www.youtube.com/AeonsConferChannel

Juodvarnis/Nerimo Dienos/Dangus Productions/2020 CD Review

  Juodvarnis  are  a  band  from  Lithuania  that  plays  a  progressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  pagan,  black  and death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Nerimo  Dienos"  which  was  released  by  Dangus  Productions.

  Viking  war  battle  sounds  start  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  are  also a dded  into  some  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  thrash  style  bordering  on death  metal.

  Clean  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  dark,  black  and  pagan  metal  elements, sitar's  and  percussion's  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  the  album  closes  with  a  cover  A.M's  "Trys".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Lithuanian  and  cover  Paganism  and  Nature  themes,.

  In  my  opinion  Juodvarnis  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  and  melodic  mixture  of d ark,  black,  pagan  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Is  Amziu  Saknu"  "Tik  Dulkes"  and  "Sielos  Dugne".  8  out  of  10.

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Aeons Confer/Zero Elysium/2019 Full Length Review

  Aeons  Confer  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  dark,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Zero  Elysium".

  Sci-fi  and  cinematic  orientated  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  symphonic  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  industrial  and  dark  metal  can  also  be heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Aeons  Confer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  industrial,  dark,  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction  and  dystopian  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Aeons  Confer  are a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  dark, black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out t his  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Impactors"  "Plasmoid"  "Nemesis"  and  "Pandemonium".8  out  of  10.

https://de-de.facebook.com/AeonsConfer
https://www.instagram.com/aeonsconfer
https://www.youtube.com/AeonsConferChannel

https://youtu.be/HaECHYqU1G4    

Baron SAMEDI/The Priest Devar/Nailed Nazarene Industries/2020 Full Length Review

  Russia's  solo  project  Baron  SAMEDI  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "The  Priest  Devar"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Nailed  Nazarene  Industries.

  Programmed  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  industrial  elements  and  demonic  growls  a  few  seconds  later.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  while  the  keyboards  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  gothic  touch  as  well  as  some  melodic  singing  also  being  used  at  times.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  blackened  screams  also  being  utilized  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences.

  One  track  also  introduces  Gregorian  chants  onto  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  at  times.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  mostly  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Baron  SAMEDI  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  black,  doom  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aryan  Golem"  "Rage"  "Kammala"  and  "Mass  Graves".  8  out  of  10.

https://nailednazareneindustries.bandcamp.com/album/the-priest-devar  

Thy Despair/The Song Of Desolation/Rockshots Music/2020 CD Review

  Thy  Despair  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  dark  mixture  of  black,  gothic,  doom,  symphonic  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "The  Song  Of  Desolation"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Rockshots  Music.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Female  goth  metal  style  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  some  blackened  metal  screams  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  songs.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  keyboards  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly.

  Touches  of  melodic  death  metal  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  goth  male  vocals  and  growls  onto  album  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of clean  playing  can  also  be  heard,  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The   production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Ukrainian  and  English  and  cover the  war  in  Eastern  Europe.

  In  my  opinion  Thy  Despair  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark  mixture  of  black,  gothic,  doom,  symphonic  and  melodic  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sabbath"  "War' "Army  Of  Dead"  and  "Ghost  Rider".  8  out  of  10.

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2xr4gDj
YouTube - https://youtu.be/oiH0ATAy_Y4 

Facebook.com/thydespairInstagram.com/thydespair   

Kaamos Warriors/Shadows Of Northern Chaos/Inverse Records/2019 Full Length Review

  Kaamos  Warriors  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  dark,  melancholic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Shadows  Of  Northern  Chaos"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Inverse  Records.

  Melodic  guitar  leads  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  The  riffs  also  utilize  a  lot  of  melody  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  while  one  song  also  introduces  black'n'roll  style  riffing  onto  the  album.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  short  in  length  with  the  average  being  under  3  minutes  along  with  the  death  metal  influences  being  utilized  a  lot  more  than  the  previous  release  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy,  darkness,  winter  and  night  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Kaamos  Warriors  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark,  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chaos  Walks  The  Earth"  "Shadows  Of  Northern  Cross"  and  "Moon  And  Stars".  8  out  of  10.   

https://youtu.be/1dhrWNVmXsI 

  

Allone/Allone.../Aesthetic Death/2019 CD Review

  Allone  are  a  duo  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  avant  garde  black,  dark  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Allone..."  which  was  released  by  Aesthetic  Death.


  Wood  burning  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  slow,  melodic  and  heavy  musical  direction  which  also  introduces  elements  of  dark  and  doom  metal  onto  the  recording.  Synths  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  and  all  of  the  instruments  sound  very  powerful.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  clean  vocals  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  closes  with  an  instrumental,  towards  the  end  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  isolation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Allone  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  avant  garde  black,  dark  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out t his  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Challenge  To  The  Dark"  and  "Ruins".  8  out  of  10.

https://allone2018.bandcamp.com/releases

Embrace Of Disharmony/De Rervm Natvra/My Kingdom Music/2019 CD Review

  Embrace  Of  Disharmony  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  avant  garde  form  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "De  Rervm  Natvra"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling. At  times  the  songs  also  mix  the  avant  garde  and  heavy  parts  together  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  male  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  has  its  symphonic  and  orchestra  moments,  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.

  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  and  experimental  sounding  as  well a s  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Elements  of  goth  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  used  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.  Some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  stringed  instruments  and  one  track  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  poetic  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Embrace  Of  Disharmony  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "De  Primordiis  Rervm" "De  Mortalitale  Animae"  and  "De  Formatione  Orbis".  8  out  of  10.

http://facebook.com/EmbraceOfDisharmony  

Kaamos Warriors/Ikuisen Talven Sarastus/Inverse Records/2019 CD Review

  Kaamos  Warriors  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  dark,  melodic,  symphonic  and  melancholic  form  of  black  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Ikuisen  Talven Sarastus"  which  will  be  released  on  February  15th  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavier  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  also  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  symphonic  elements  are  also added  into some  parts  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  classical  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  You  can  also  hear  a  more  modern  style  of  melody  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  most  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other.

  When  growls  are utilized  they  bring  elements  of  death  metal  onto  the  recording  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  brings  in  elements  of  Nordic  style  black'n'roll  which  also  gives  the  music  a  lot  more  diversity.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Finnish  and  cover  dark,  melancholic,  winter  and  coldness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kaamos  Warriors  are  a  very  great  sounding  melancholic  and  melodic  dark  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  that  is  very  different,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kaamos  Warriors"  "Immortals"  and  "Secrets  Of  the  Stars".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.facebook.com/Kaamos-Warriors-224268018275265

https://spoti.fi/2B5wCB2 

  

Jason Aaron Wood/Emanations/2017 Full Length Review

  Jason  Aaron  Wood  is  a  solo  artist  from  Washington  D.C  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark,  symphonic,  neo  classical,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2017  album  "Emanations"

  Distorted  yet  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  neo-classical  style  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later  while  clean  vocals  are added  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later  as  well  as  mixing  in  some  death  metal  screams  and  black  metal  screams  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  progressive,  atmospheric  and  doom  metal  elements  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clean  playing  can  also be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  synths  are  utilized  they  give  the  songs  more  of  an  symphonic  feeling  while some  songs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  being  an  instrumental.

  Jason  Aaron  Wood  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark,  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  with  a  more  clean  vocal  approach  as  well  as  some  progressive,  symphonic  and  neo-classical  elements  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  sorcery,  darkness,  and  mysticism  themes.

  In  my  opinmion  Jason  Aaron  Wood  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark,  symphonic,  neo  classical,  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Enchanter,  Destroyer"  and  "The  Great  Pestilence".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.jasonaaronwood.com/emanations