Asgaard/Lullabies For Harlots/Via Nocturna/2024 EP Review

 

  Asgaard  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  started  out  as  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  acoustic  prog  rock  and  electronic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Lullabies  For  Harlots"  which  will  be  released  on  November  29th  by  Via  Nocturna.

  Synths  and  electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  ep  while  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  programmed  beats.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  clean  style  close  to  goth  rock  an  industrial  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  progressive  moments.

  One  of  the  songs  is  also  a  Behemoth  cover  which  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  and  also  adds  in  some  symphonic  touches  mixed  in  with  some harsh  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  and  they  also  bring  in  3  acoustic  guitars  which  also  moves  away  from  the  electronic  elements  of  the  earlier  tracks,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Asgaard  move  away  from  the  symphonic  black  and  gothic  metal  style  of  previous  releases  and  brings  in  more  of  a  mixture  of  electronic  music  and  acoustic  progressive  rock  with  only  the  Behemoth  cover  going  back  to  their  earlier  roots.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Polish  and  cover  suffering,  romance  and  death  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Asgaard  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  acoustic  prog  rock  and  electronic  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mother  Of  Harlots"  and  "What  If...".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/9TIOl2eG3qQ

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Ensiferum/Winter Storm/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Ensiferum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  controls  the  epic  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Winter  Storm"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clear  vocals  mix  pagan  and  power  metal  together.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  introduces  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Shamanism,  Magick  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ensiferum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winter  Storm  Vigilantes"  "Scars  In  My  Heart"  and  "Victorious".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.ensiferum.com

https://www.facebook.com/Ensiferum
https://www.instagram.com/ensiferummetal/

  

Alkonost 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?

Not much time has passed yet - so far we're excited and in disbelief that it's finally happened, actively promoting it on the web, monitoring the reactions of listeners and gathering feedback.

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

On the one hand, in some sense we continue the course we took about ten years ago. On the other hand, the album is different from our previous records - we can say that it turned out to be heavier and more diverse in sound. On it you can hear both classic folk moves and alternative metal, which is not quite typical for us. Sympho, doom, leisurely rhythms and some fast ones - in general, it's a fiery cocktail.

3.The lyrics on the new album cover the various aspects of fire, can you tell us a little bit about about the songwriting that is presented on the new recording?

‘’Fire‘’ concept was the starting point, it was invented and proposed by our lyricist Mare Mirkie. First of all, each song's theme was worked out, what it is about, what it should have emotional colouring, sound, etc. After that we started to work: our guitarist Andrey Losev brought the arranged music, and then each member finalised his parts and added the final touches to the canvas. Some songs were composed by third-party composers. The lyrics were traditionally written to the arranged music.

4.A lot of your lyrics and the bands name comes from Slavic Paganism and Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

As far as paganism is concerned, we can say that we are not adherents of it, if you can catch motives consonant with it, it is only in our early songs. The themes of our songs are fantasy, fairy tales and a little bit of folklore, so mythology is closer, because all this is closely intertwined with each other. In general, we don't rely on something specific, but create our own universe with our own characters and stories.

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

The author of the cover art is artist Marina Potovichenko, whose works can also be seen on the releases of other famous russian artists. We can't say that there is any special story behind the cover art - we just thought over the variants and decided to choose this one, bright and minimalistic. By the way, the most attentive will notice that this lizard doesn't quite look like a real salamander, but that was the idea - it's primarily about a deity, a spirit of fire.

6.The band has been around since 1996, what is it that motivates you to keep going after almost 3 decades?

During this time we have changed our approach to music and band work several times to refresh our sound, and each time the result has given us confidence in our chosen path. We went through some serious crises when it seemed to be over, but we always found new incentives to continue. Also some new members gave the band a new breath. And in general, the more diverse things happen around us, the more incentive for growth and creativity.

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?

For a long time we only played at festivals, and they all seemed cool. The ones that have forever remained history are, for example, the legendary russian ‘Folk Summer Fest’. Of the modern ones - ‘Bylinnyi Bereg’, ‘Uletai’, ‘Imandra Viking Fest’. From the touring life we can remember a joint European tour with Arkona band in 2007, and also a big tour 2018-19 with the presentation of the album ‘Octagram’, when we travelled through the whole Russia from Lake Baikal, finishing in Central Europe.

As for our performances, we always try to make the show bright, dynamic and catchy - in this case we are helped by smoke, light, aggressive feeding and, of course, synchronised headbanging!

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

We are not planning any big tours. Next year, perhaps, we will play a few presentation concerts in major cities of our country - Moscow, St. Petersburg and some others.

9.The new album was self released while the band has worked with plenty of labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

The music industry has changed quite a lot since we were working with labels. And today, as an independent underground band, we do not see any reason to ask for support from labels again. Although, of course, everything depends on the terms and details of co-operation - we are open to suggestions.

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

We have quite a lot of fans all over the world, and if you believe the statistics of the streaming platforms, their number is constantly growing. For example, Spotify says that last year we were listened to in 137 countries. Foreign fans often write to us with words of gratitude and support, and some of them we know personally and communicate with. All in all, we like what we see. 

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

It's hard to say now, because we discuss such moments at the beginning of each album's production. The sound is also strongly influenced by the general theme of the songs and the chosen concept. So we never know where our experiments will take us next, but the signature features will certainly always be in our music!

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

Our tastes are very diverse. We listen to music ranging from electronica and 70s heavy rock to hip-hop, post-punk and extreme metal. In our headphones, ABBA can be next to Gojira, and J-M Jarre and Metallica to Death and Billie Eilish. Of course, we try to follow the trends, not only in metal, but in general.

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

Take care of yourself and your family, listen to more good music and, of course, the new Alkonost album! \m/

 

 http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Alkonost/Salamander's Gift/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Alkonost  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Salamander's  Gift".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clear  singing  is  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  stlye.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  throughout  all  of  the  songs.

  Alkonost  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  the  different  faces  of  fire  with  some  inspiration  from  Slavic  Paganism  and  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Alkonost  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Искра"  "Оберег"  "Северное  сияние"  and  "Маяк".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Forsaken Rite/The Forgotten West/2024 EP Review

 

  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  band  from  Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "The  Forgotten  West"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Folk  instruments  and  symphonic  elements  start  off  the  ep  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  medieval  atmosphere  at  times  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Forsaken  Rite  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  lore  and  heroic  feats.

  In  my  opinion  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Forgotten  West"  and  "Call  To  War".  8  out  of  10.

   Facebook.com/ForsakenRite | Instagram.com/forsaken_rite

yric Video - https://youtu.be/o8qp-l83nAI​

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4a3a8zS  

Wolfhorde/Bloodmoon Symphonies/Inverse Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

    Finland's  Wolfhorde  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2024  album  "Bloodmoon  Symphonies"   which  will b e  released  in  August.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

 T he  album  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  folk  metal  elements  along  with  some  acoustic  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  an  inexorable  journey  into  madness.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wolfhorde  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Forsaken  Shrine"  "Phantom  Queen"  and  "Bloodmoon  Symphony".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.wolfhorde.fi

https://www.facebook.com/WolfhordeBandOfficial 
https://www.instagram.com/wolfhorde 
https://twitter.com/wolfhordeband 
https://wolfhorde.bandcamp.com 

 https://youtu.be/W2lI0q65z-E

https://youtu.be/HYIOgIj1gLA  

       

Paradise In Flames/Blindness/Xaninho Discos/Demoncratic Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Paradise  in  Flames  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  Brazilian  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Blindness"  which  will b e  released  in  July  as  a  joint  effort  between  Xaninho  Discos  and  Demoncratic  Records.

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  clear  female  operatic  singing  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts   

  Tremolo  picking  and  also  be  heard  in  a  lot  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  touches  of  Brazilian  bossa  nova.  Clear  male  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  philosophical  work  that  describes  religions  as  a  psychological  illness.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Paradise  In  Flames  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Wings"  "The  Cure"  and  "Angels  And  Devils".  8  out  of  10.

  Online Store - https://paradiseinflames.loja2.com.br/​

Bandcamp - https://paradiseinflames.bandcamp.com/​

Spotify - https://sptfy.com/QZRx         

Drunkelweizen Interview

 

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

Being our debut album, I would assume we fall into the "never heard of before" category for most! Haha. Drunkelweizen is what we are proud to call "Drunken Folk Metal" and is a blend of metal styles along with classical and folk influences. The name itself was brewed from an inside joke between  founding members/life long friends, and our love of beer.

2.You have an album coming out in September, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

We were really inspired by some of the pioneers of folk metal such as Korpiklaani, Trollfest, and Ensiferum, to name only a few, that made us want to play a similar style of music. However, we also wanted to incorporate our backgrounds being classically trained to our black/death metal roots. We really wanted to blend havey metal with big orchestral arrangements, and varying vocal styles to ensure each track stands apart while being cohesive as an album.

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

Our debut album is an ode to those in history whose life was ever entwined with the godly nectar, alcohol. From legendary poet to notorious outlaw turned folk hero, spectacular miracles or a death that coined an unfortunate phrase, these songs are an homage to the legacy they brewed. Our opening songs tell the tale of such individuals throughout history, whereas the final songs are offered in tribute to those we did not recount, and fueled by their memory and more than a few drinks of our own.

4.I know that the bands name is related to alcohol, can you tell us a little bit more about the types of alcohol the band members consume?

We are primarily beer connoisseurs, however we appreciate most forms of alcohol. Except for gin. Never gin. Here in Portland Oregon we have quite a few craft breweries offering up a wide selection from hefeweizens (though we are partial for the true German imports), IPAs, or barrel aged stouts.  Honorable mention goes out to mead and bourbon!

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

Similar to our music, the artwork is a bit out of the norm for your standard metal album. It depicts our Beer Guarding Gnome - who as you would guess, guards our beer - on his own voyage through the ages as a Pioneer of Alcohol.

6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

Drunkelweizen has yet to hit the stage but are open to the possibilities. Currently, we would love to find potential members for live violin, brass, woodwinds, or other unique/interesting instruments we could incorporate with our music both live and on future releases.

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

Thus far we are enjoying drinking some beers and making whatever we feel like musically. If an opportunity came around, we would certainly be interested in the possibilities.

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

Folk metal is interesting here in the states, as it isn't quite as common for the general metal population. For an older folk metal project of ours, it wasn't uncommon for new fans to think we were from some far distant land. As for Drunkelweizen and on a worldwide level, we are still waiting to see how exactly it is received. Here's to hoping listeners will lift up a glass for a toast with us!

9.Do any of the band members have experience playing in other bands or groups?

All the current members have played both together and with other projects in the past. I would say the more interesting tale would be for our upright bassist who is also part of a bagpipe ensemble. I hope to never be in the room while they are performing, but kudos to them and any that endure it.

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

We are already digging into our sophomore album and want to continue to feature a variety of various metal styles. Some tracks will be the heaviest to date, while others will have even more melodic and orchestral elements. Lyrically we will be venturing into a wide variety of topics where nothing is off limits.

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?

All forms of metal from black, death, folk, power, and every conceivable sub-genre that exists these days. Between members, there likely isn't a style of music (non-metal) that at least one of us listens to, and we hope to find ways to tie it to our music in future releases.

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

We have an initial teaser track (Pioneers of Alcohol Medley) live now on most streaming platforms and will be releasing photos, lyrics, songs, and more info as we near the debut album release. We would like to lift our steins to you and your readers for the time and hope everyone enjoys the music! Cheers!

Cheers!

Chris (Lead vocals/guitar for Drunkelweizen)

facebook.com/drunkelweizen

https://twitter.com/drunkelweizen

https://www.instagram.com/drunkelweizen/

www.youtube.com/@Drunkelweizen

https://drunkelweizen.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/62dZbLDdYy8BYzktXD27E1

https://soundcloud.com/drunkelweizen

Drunkelweizen/Pioneers Of Alcohol/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Drunkelweizen  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  a  drunken  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Pioneers  of  Alcohol"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Ocean  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  the  harsh  vocals  also  bring  in  more  of  a  grim  black  metal  style.

  Clear  pagan  metal  style  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Drunkelweizen  plays  a  style  of  folk  metal  that  also  mixes  in  elements  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  alcohol  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Drunkenlweizen  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Robinhood  Of  Moonshine"  "Pioneers  Of  Alcohol"  and  "Ein  Frosch".  8  out  of  10.

  facebook.com/drunkelweizen

https://twitter.com/drunkelweizen

https://www.instagram.com/drunkelweizen/

www.youtube.com/@Drunkelweizen

https://drunkelweizen.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/62dZbLDdYy8BYzktXD27E1

https://soundcloud.com/drunkelweizen    

Piah Mater/Under The Shadow Of A Foreign Sun/Code666 Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Piah  Mater  are  a  duo  Form  Brazil  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  progressive  form  of  blackened  death  metal  with  elements  of  jazz  fusion  and  Brazilian  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Under  The  Shadow  Of  A  Foreign  Sun"  which  will b e  released  in  July  by  Code666  Records.

  Synths  and  clean  playing  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  heavier  riffing  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  elements  of  jazz  and  folk  music.

  Saxophones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  feelings  of  inadequacy  towards  one's  own  homeland,  and  the  inevitable  ambition to  escape  that  place.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Piah  Mater  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Islands  Sink"  and  "Terra  Dois".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/piah-mater/986924399

https://piahmater.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-shadow-of-a-foreign-sun

https://www.facebook.com/piahmater

https://www.instagram.com/piahmater/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vPXZZ7no2PKvWOVUUn3xL?si=775f22fe1d46472d&nd=1&dlsi=3244cd797a074a5c  

Juha Jyrkas/Vainamoinen/Earth And Sky Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Juha  Jyrkas  is  a  solo  artist  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  epic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Vainamoinen"  which  was  released  by  Earth  And  Sky  Productions.

 Keyboards  and  percussion  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  pagan  metal  style  and  the  bass  kantele  is  used  as  a  lead  instrument.

  The  grim  harsh  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  whispered  vocals  also  being  utilized  at  times,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  on  only  a  couple  of  tracks  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Juhs  Jyrkas  takes  traditional  Finnish  folk  music  and  mixes  it  with  extreme  metal  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  the  poetic  tradition  of  the  Kalevala.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Juha  Jyrkas  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Syntysanat"  "Ukkosloitsu"  and  "Metalikantele".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/juhajyrkas/

https://www.facebook.com/juhavaltteriilmarijyrkas

https://juhajyrkas.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VtIyhtoyU57AucJJHfEih

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/juha-jyrkäs/408509154     

Valfreya/Dawn Of Reckoning/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Montreal,  Quebec's  Valfreya  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  moving  away  from  the  folk  metal  style  of  earlier  releases  and  going  for  more  of  a  symphonic  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Dawn  Of  Reckoning".

  Symphonic  sounds,  choirs  and  violins  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  are  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  growls  can  also b e  heard  at  times.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  pars  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.    

  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  one  a  couple  of  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  A  couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Nose  Goddess  Hel  as  she  brings  malice  and  justice  to  humanity.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Valfreya  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Rise"  "The  Fall"  "The  Fallen  Keys"  and "Reus  Es".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/valfreyaofficial

Lyric Video - “The Rise” - https://youtu.be/2Y8VIg37iMg​

Lyric Video - “Le Périple” at https://youtu.be/vRHbtl3o1OQ  

Pantheon Omega/Harmonizing The Death Essence/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Pantheon  Omega  are  a  solo  project  from  Ontario.  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black, death  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Harmonizing  The  Death  Essence".

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  keyboards  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  and  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  clear  vocals  into  the  music,  some  of  the  tracks  also  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  pantheon  omega  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  enlightenment  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Pantheon  Omega  are  a  very  great  sounding melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Journey  Alone"  "Harmonizing  The  Death  Essence"  and  "I  Release  Thee".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556967957143

https://pantheonomega.bandcamp.com/album/harmonizing-the-death-essence-2

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd5ZZ0ty8PpXC3Ryp7e_OUQ

  

  

  

Moisson Livide/Sent Emperi Gascon/Antiq/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Moisson  Livide  are  a  duo  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Sent  Emperi  Gascon"  which  will be  released  in  may  by  Antiq.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  good  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in a   very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  power  metal  style  singing.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

 All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  of  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  influences  of  punk  rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Gascon  and  cover  everyday  life  and  old  legends.

  In  my  opinion  Mossson  Livide  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  sèrp  d’Isavit"  "Sent  Empèri  Gascon"  and  "Caçaire d’eternitat".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook          

Folkrim/Embers/Rockshot Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Folkrim  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Embers"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Rockshots  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  harsh  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  female  vocals  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards,  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  One  song  also  introduces  spoken  words  and  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  a  twisted  tale  of  descent,  from  a  shipwreck  through  decaying  marshlands  to  a  grand  epic  of  destruction  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  written  in  Finnish.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Folkrim  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bottle  Of  Poison"  "Swamp  Brew"  "Raven's  Cry"  and  "Embers".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook.com/Folkrim | Instagram.com/folkrimband​

​    

Riitasointu/Pedon Leikki/Naturmacht Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Riitasointu  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Pedon  Leikki"  which  will b e  released  in  March  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clean  pagan  vocals  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  folk  music  elements  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.

   When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  tales  from  the  Tavastia  region  and  the  writings  of  Aleksis  Kiva.

  I{n  my  opinion  Riitasointu  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "1050"  "Pedon  Leikki"  and  "Impivaara".  8 out  of  10.

  https://riitasointu.bandcamp.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/riitasointu.official/

 https://www.instagram.com/riitasointu.official/

  

Ydolothytum/Conjuring The Primaevil Creatures/Crush The Desert Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ydolothytum  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from  Italy  and  Poland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Conjuring  The  Primaevil  Creatures"  which  was  released  by  Crush  The  Desert  Records.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  brings  in  more  an  ancient  pagan   atmosphere  as  well  as  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  lot  of  the  vocals  also  being  done  in  a  clear  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  more  aggressive  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal.  When  keyboards  are  utilzied  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  touch  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Ydolothytum  remains  true  to  the  old  school  black/folk  metal  style  they  had  established  on  their  demo.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  are  based  upon  Maciej  Bogusz  Stęczyński's  work  "Tatra  Mountains  in  twenty-four pictures" from  1860  with  their  own  version  of  the  primeval  creatures  mentioned  there..

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ydolothytum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black/folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dziwożona  -  Mara  i  straszydło"  and  "Żmijoloki  -  Dusz  przekleństwo".  8  out  of  10.

  Listen a song HERE (Youtube)