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 b e  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​

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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)  

Wandering Oak Interview

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Borknagar/Fall/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Borknagar  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  a  history  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  and  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Fall"  which  will  be  released  on  February  23rd  by  Century  Media  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  TA  couple  of  the  songs  also  add  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  a  more  progressive  direction.

  Psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Chants,  choirs  and  percussion  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  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  the  change  of  seasons  and  universal  struggle.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Broknagar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Summits"  "Stars  Ablaze"  and  "Northward".  8  out  of  10.

  www.borknagar.com   

www.facebook.com/borknagarofficial 
https://www.instagram.com/borknagar 
http://twitter.com/borknagarHQ 

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

   Wandering Oak       

Satarial/Dance Of Steel: Invocation Of Dragon/Sleaszy Rider Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Russia's  Satarial has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Dance  Of  Steel:  Invocation  Of  Dragon"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

  Throat  singing  and  clear  vocals  start  off  the  ep  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Folk  instruments  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks   along  with  the  guitar  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Satarial  brings  in  a  very  ritualistic  style  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Slavic  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Satarial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  and  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  the  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Dance  Of  Steel:  Invocation  Of  Dragon". 8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/satarialofficial/  

Hand Of Kalliach/Corryvreckan/Prosthetic Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Scotland's  duo  Hand  Of  Kalliach  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  Celtic  form  of  folk  metal  with  elements  of  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Corryvreckan"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Prosthetic  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  synths  are  introduced  onto  the  recording   a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  harsh  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  touches  of  Scottish  folk  music,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  most  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Hand  Of   Kalliach  takes  their  Celtic  folk  metal  style  into  more  of  a  modern,  melodic  and  progressive  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  inspired  by  an  ancient  Irish  text  "Cormac's  Glossary".

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Hand  Of  Kalliach  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  Celtic  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Three  Seas"  "Cirein-croin"  "Unbroken  You  Remain"  and  "Of  Twilight  And  The  Pyre".  8  out  of  10/.

  https://www.facebook.com/HandOfKalliach

       

Iterum Nata/From The Infinite Light/Nordvis Produktion/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Iterum  Nata  is  a  solo  project  from  Finalnd  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal,  neo-folk  and  progressive  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "From  The  Infinite  Light"  which  will  be  released  in  2024  by  Nordvis  Produktion.

  Spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  and  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  ritualistic  atmosphere  before  going  into  more  of  a  neo-folk  direction.  Synths,  folk  instruments  and  percussion  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  slower  heavier  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  acoustic  guitar  sections  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are utilized.

  Most  of  the  vocals  are  done  in  a  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other..  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Darkness  and  Death  with  some  inspiration  from  the  Qabbalah  to  explain  cosmic  genesis.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Iterum  Nata  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  metal,  neo-folk  and  progressive  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Gleaming  Eternity"  "The  Drifter"  and  "The  Crown  of  All".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/se/artist/iterum-nata/1316451649

https://iterumnata.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/IterumNata93/

https://www.instagram.com/iterumnata/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2haCAnM4Yi8B2lhUTT0rbY?si=sWEfeLy5TJ2KpoUr8R29qQ&nd=1&dlsi=6b2bc79102d841cc

    

  

Dawnwalker/Human Ruins/Room 312/2023 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Dawnwalker  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine and  on  this  recording  played  a  progressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  folk  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Human  Ruins"  which  was  re-issued  in  2023  by  Room  312.

  Nature  sounds  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  A  lot  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  clear  style  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.

  The  slower  sections  of  the album  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  Black  metal  screams  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  folk  music  touches  onto  the  recording,  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  

Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  are  also  utilized  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  seasons  guided  by  myth  and  magick.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dawnwalker  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black,  doom,  death,  folk  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pagan  Plains"  "Horus"  "Into  The  Night"  and  "Between  Worlds".  8  out  of  10.

  https://dawnwalker.uk

https://dawnwalker.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/dawnwalkeruk
https://instagram.com/dawnwalkeruk

     

Swansong 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?

Yes, thank you! We released our debut album “Awakening” 1st of December 2023 and the welcoming support this album has received has amazed us all. We have been enjoying the ride, training, playing music and planning next year, also doing some interviews. Topi already started to compose the second album. We also just made a deal with a new awesome booking agent Kallo Agency, many awesome death metal bands in his roster. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep? Well our EP was like our first demo as a band and we were trying things. On the album we evolved and added for example some thrash elements into some songs and also grew more versatile. The album is heavier than our EP, still retaining the beautiful melodies and guitar harmonies. On this album, the vocals are also more extreme, more versatile and there is no clean singing.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music? Lyrical themes are wide: mythologies, creatures, tales from the dark forests and from the sea. Witches, guardians of the realm of the dead, femme fatales, death, love, anger, sorrow, adventure, battle, nature, winter and everything in between. It is a Swansong world and there are no limits.

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

Jemiina lives in the countryside in a lake house. Every year the same swans return to Jemiinas beach cottage, so she loves swans. That image is inspiring. Also death is a natural and interesting theme in songwriting and swansong stands for that in a beautiful way. And ofcourse Carcass has a killer album called “Swansong” so many things led us to this name.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover? Finnish artist Timo Kokko designed the cover, like our other covers also. He designed it based on our song “Awakening” that is also the album title. Under the full moon, in the forest, in the darkness of the night, you can hear the ancient trees whispering. In the old days, people believed in the power of the forest spirits and went to the forest to ask the spirits for many things. It is a tribute to the beautiful forest, which has aroused many feelings and hopes, as well as fear, over the years. He painted beautiful moon mist around the moon.

6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance? All audiences have been so awesome and we are very happy with every place we have been to! It's so awesome that people want to hear our music live. If we have to pick one, it must have been the “Bloodred Hourglass” gig since those guys are so talented and super nice, they play hard and make awesome music. Also the crowd was amazing and there was a moshpit! Guys play emotionally and they are also very technical experienced players. Jemiina sounds brutal and we just want to enjoy the music and have fun, also we talk to the audience like we talk to friends, because that is what every listener truly is to us. We love gigs and can’t wait to do more next year! Feels very special to perform the album songs!

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

We have gigs coming up next year but we can’t announce them yet.

8.The new album was released on 'Noble Demon', can you tell us a little bit more about this label? Noble Demon is a newer hungry label with an awesome lead man Patrick Laureano Walch. He is very passionate about music and he is very experienced and wise, but also like good friend you can message anytime. Amazing people at the label, we are very happy with them. Also amazing bands and releases! For example our label mates Night Crowned and their just released new album! Wow what an honor to be in the same label with them and so many more.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of melodic and extreme metal? It has been amazing and we are so grateful and happy! The album has had awesome reviews around the world and new awesome people have discovered us.  We could have not even imagined this. Extreme people have found something for them in our music according to the feedback and also melodic music fans have welcomed us.

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

Active projects: Lauri plays bass and takes care of vocals in Bad Baron. Plus he has a solo project, dark symphonic rock thing called Late_Lokakuun.  Tuomas also plays the guitar in Bad Baron. Jimi plays drums in Sadistik Forest, Kaera, Se Josta Ei Puhuta. 

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future? We want to create music emotionally. So nothing calculated or too planned. Evolving is the biggest goal: more melodies, more stories, more brutal vocals, lower and higher. 

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

Jemiina: I listen to many metal genres, old and newer bands. But my latest big crush is Shadow Of Intent and their “Elegy” album. That is the direction I am drawn into: awesome guitar melodies and variable super cool brutal vocals.

Topi: I listen mostly 80’s and 90’s heavy metal!

Lauri: Almost all music is good, but metal in its various forms is currently going thru my ears. This year I found out about Lorna Shore. Fell in love with their latest album immediately.

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

Jemiina: Thank you for this interview and for the review also! Great thoughts and bands in your blog. Big thank you for everyone listening to our music, hope to see you soon! Have a great next year everyone, pedal to the metal!

Lauri: Thanks for all support. Keep on supporting metal.

https://www.facebook.com/officialswansong

Burden/Bidh mi mo dh​ò​chas fh​è​in/Fiadh Productions/2023 EP Review

 

  Burden  are  a  solo  project  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  on  previous  rleeases  and  goes  for  more  of  a  traditional  folk  music  direction  on  this  release  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  ep  "Bidh  mi  mo  dh​ò​chas  fh​è​in"  which  was  released  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  lot  of  elements  of  Scottish  folk  music.  All  of  the  songs  on  this  recording  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  a  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Burden  moves  away  from  the  metal  elements  of  previous  releases  and  does  covers  of  classic  Scottish  folk  tunes  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Burden  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  metal  and  traditional  Scottish  folk  music,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Loch  Laomainn"  and  "Am  pìobaire  air  mhis".  8  out  of  10.

   Burden      

Quiet River/Echo Chamber/Broken Bones Promotion/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Quiet  River  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Echo  Chamber"  which  was  released  by  broken  Bones  Promotion.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  70's  and  80's  metal.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  elements  of  speed  metal  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while blast  beats  are  also  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up.  A  lot  of  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  modern  and  melodic  folk  metal  style  which  also  updates  the  old  school  approach  of  the  recording  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Quiet  River  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  psychology,  fantasy  and  inner  struggles.

  In  my  opinion  Quiet  River  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  black,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Octane  Overload"  and  "Mirage".  8  out  of  10.

  https://quietriver.bandcamp.com/album/echo-chamber

 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088354898901    

    

From North/Raven Banner/At Dawn Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  From  North  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  viking  and  death  metal  and  this  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Raven  Banner"  which  will  be  released  on  November  24th  by  At  Dawn  Records.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  viking  metal.  Clean  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  aggressive  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  as  well a s  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  touches  of  folk  music  are  also  added  into  certain sections.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  influences  from  the  more  melodic  side  of  death  metal.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  back  up  shouts  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  synths,  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  From  North  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk,  viking  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Raven  Banner"  "The  Queen"  "Rune  Stones"  and  "Winter  Blot".  8  out  of  10.

  Website:https://www.fromnorth.se

Bandcamp:https://atdawnrecords. bandcamp.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ fromnorthsweden
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UC_ QcGv1QS5NPE3ryqpENgTQ
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/ artist/3uHD6BHJ6mC0HKzHCi77wV? si=eQp6JAovTouA1f2RUfW9Ng

  

    

Swansong/Awakening/Noble Demon/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Swansong  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  melodic  death  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Awakening"  which  will  be  released  in  December  by  Noble  Demon.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  80's  and  90's  traditional  metal  influences.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  brings  in  a  more  modern  day  aggression  along  with  the  clean  sections  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  when  they  are introduced  onto  the  recording  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  

 Swansong  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  folk,  melodic,  black, death  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  nature  and  witchcraft  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Swansong  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  melodic  black,  death  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Burning  Flames"  "Frost  Of  Winter"  "Awakening"  and  "Fury  Of  The  Witch".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Swansong/3540502242 

  

    

Ūkanose/Šiaurum V​ė​jum/Art Of The Night Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

   Ūkanose  are  a  band  from  Lithuania  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album "Šiaurum  V​ė​jum"  which  was  released  by  Art  Of  The  Night  Productions.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  flutes  and  folk  music  elements.  Clear  pagan  male  and  female  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of t he  songs  also  adding  in a  decent  amount  of  blast beats  and  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Back  up  shouts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also   being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  most  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

   Ūkanose  plays  a  style  of  pagan  folk  metal  that  is  very  melodic  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  some  touches  of  black  metal  without  having  to  revert  to  the  use  of  harsh  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  profesisonal  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Lithuanian  and  cover  folklore  themes.

  In  my  opinion   Ūkanose  are  a  very  great  sounding  pagan  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ten  už  marių"  "Iš  prūsų  žemės"  "Samagonas "  and  "Plėšikėliai ".  8  out  of  10.

  https://ukanose.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Ukanose/
https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/6XLkLWpBGa5M7KSPuvqjIu
https://www.youtube.com/user/ukanose

    

Zornheym/The Forgotten Inmates/Noble Demon/2023 EP Review

 

  Zornheym  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  acoustic  form  of  black  metal  with  soem  symphonic  touches  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  ep  "The  Forgotten  Inmates"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Noble  Demon.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  ep  while  symphonic  sounds  are  also  added  into  the  background  while  clear  vocals  are  a  very huge  part  of  the  recording.  Grim  black  metal  screams  can  also be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Elements  of  folk  music  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  acoustic  sections  while  acapella  choirs  can  also are  also  utilized  briefly  and  the  music  also  avoids  the  heaviness  that  was  a  very  huge  part  of  previous  recordings.

  On  this  recording  Zornheym  takes  songs  from  their  previous  album  and  takes  them  into  more  of  an  acoustic  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  horror  of  a  mental  institution.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Zornheym  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal  or  folk  music,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Keep  The  Devil  Away"  and  "Whom  The  Night  Brings".  8 out  of  10.

  

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