Exiled Hope Interview

 

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

 I have the 4th album pretty much done, the 5th album is in progress, and I have a bunch of covers that might make their way onto a separate album or EP. I also just released some new merch designs (which you can find in my online merch store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/). There's always a lot going on behind the scenes.

2.You have a new full length coming out early in 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It's at a much higher quality than my previous releases in terms of production and performances. Before finishing the album, I took several months off of working on original music to take lessons and work on covers in order to develop my skills, because I felt like I had plateaued and wasn't able to make the music I wanted to make. I'm a much better musician than I was on the first 2 albums and EP, and I had a professional mix engineer work on Apocrypha as well. Stylistically, this album strays a bit from the folk and progressive influences that were on the first Exiled Hope albums and plays up the black metal and power metal influences; it feels more like Kamelot and Cradle Of Filth than Eluveitie and Ensiferum.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit about your interest in this genre?

I love this genre because it uses escapism as a vehicle for working through real, personal emotions. When you take a feeling and turn it into something concrete in the form of music and/or lyrics, it's easier to process, understand, and work through that feeling. It becomes something you can choose to perceive instead of something that's vaguely perceptible and always there. As a result, my fantasy-inspired lyrics serve a purpose similar to that of fables or fairytales: they impart life lessons through storytelling.

4.You have also done soundtracks for films, what type of films have you contributed music to so far?

. I've done a vast array of short films for YouTuber John H. Shelton, generally in the urban fantasy or thriller genre. Most recently, I released a soundtrack album for the indie horror film What Happens After Midnight. I also recorded a folk-inspired soundtrack for Hallowed Paths (still in development), which is a loose retelling of a Finnish folktale. I would love to continue doing soundtrack work!

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Exiled Hope'.?

On a surface level, Hope is the name of the main protagonist of the first album, and she is exiled from her city after she learns dark secrets that the city's corrupt leaders would rather keep hidden. On a deeper level, the name Exiled Hope represents the hope for a better world that the fantasy genre instills in us, and reminds listeners that too often, we "exile" this hope from our spirits when we grow up and are forced to abandon things that inspired us as kids. The name is a reminder to keep pursuing the hope that society exiles from us, and to hold onto our passions.

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

 The cover artwork is The Deluge by John Martin (1834). I chose this piece to represent the turmoil that defines the protagonist's journey on this album, as he strives to find his own path in a world where he feels forced to choose sides and abandon different parts of himself.

7.You have worked both solo and with other musicians, do you prefer to work by yourself?

Generally, working by myself is easier because I'm fully in control of the project and can get the work done more efficiently. Working with other musicians requires compromise, discussion, scheduling, and waiting on everyone to send their parts over. I love working with other musicians, but I need my own personal outlet where I can work at my own pace and control the direction of the project. I also enjoy challenging myself to learn different parts, different skills, and different instruments, as I do in Exiled Hope; even though finishing a project is rewarding, the journey of creating the music is the fun part.

8.You have also collaborated on a few recordings with 'Steel Forge', musically how do you feel their style differs from yours?

Their style leans much harder in the melodeath direction than Exiled Hope has so far. It's a style that I've wanted to explore for a while, but that never really found its place in Exiled Hope. Working with Steel Forge and catering more to their members' skillsets and interests has given me the opportunity to tap into that creative energy. I wasn't just composing for myself, I was composing with other musicians and another vocalist in mind, and I think the challenge of building that seamless synergy between us resulted in some of my best work yet.

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

I am not looking to sign with a label. I am happy to create at my own pace, and I've built up a solid team and support system that cannot be easily replaced. There are many more paths to success in the music industry than there once were, and I think the metal scene in particular leans too hard on legacy thinking instead of taking advantage of the new opportunities that are available to musicians in the 21st century.

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

Extreme metal fans seem intrigued for the most part. Some people don't really understand the intent behind my genre blend, but that's ok; I'm not trying to appeal to a broad, general audience. My music is more for nerds (I say this lovingly, as a fellow music nerd) who like hearing unexpected twists and puzzle pieces in their music; I try to make it interesting to listen to. The people who get it, really do seem to get it. I've read multiple positive reviews that appear to perfectly understand my vision and ideas. I love seeing various interpretations of my music that, while all different, are often all correct at the same time. The emotional core of my music and the joy of creating something multifaceted and ambitious seem to resonate with people, and that's what matters to me.

11.What is going on with 'Forgotten Shrine' these days?

We're working on some new music, but we're still a bit unsure whether it will lead to an EP or a full album this year. We've both contributed songs to the project, and we're very excited to show them all off in one format or another.

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

I see myself: 1) making a decent side income from my royalties, album sales, and merch sales; and 2) licensing my music to and recording original soundtracks for TV, film, and game producers. I'd say those are my main goals at the moment.

13.What are some of bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?

I've been listening to a lot of early-2000s post-grunge and alt-metal (such as Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Daughtry), and some more recent power metal (such as Arion, Frozen Crown, Kalidia, and Visions Of Atlantis)

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

Thank you for your thoughtful questions and your positive reviews! I appreciate you taking the time to check out my music and put this interview together.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

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

Shores Of Null/The Loss Of Beauty/Spikerot Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Shores  Of  Null  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "The  Loss  Of  Beauty"  which  was  released  by  Spikerot  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  clean  vocals  also  add  in  more  of  a  gothic  metal  style.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  keyboards,  spoken  words  are  also  introduced  briefly  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  Shores  Of  Null  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  doom  and  gothic  metal  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  life,  death  and  sorrow  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Shores  Of  Null  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death,  doom  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Destination  Woe"  "Nothing  Left  To  Burn"  "My  Darkest  Years"  and  "Underwater  Oddity".  8  out  of  10.

  YouTube - https://youtu.be/vWOcwJYjhq8​

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3ZckbMW​

Album order (Digital, CD, Vinyl) - https://linktr.ee/thelossofbeauty 

Exiled Hope/Apocrypha/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  album  from  Maryland's  solo  project  Exiled  Hope  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  album  "Apocrypha"  which  will  be  released  in  2025.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  symphonic  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  add  in  touches  of  gothic  and  power  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard along  with  one  song  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Exiled  Hope  takes  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death,  gothic  and  power  metal  to  create  something  very  original.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Exiled  Hope  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death,  gothic  and  power  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Day  Will  Come"  "Altar  Of  Moloch"  "Deathslayer"  and  "Forbidden  majesties".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

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

Exiled Hope/Steel Forge/Realm Of the Exiled/2025 Collaboration EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  ep  between  U.S.A's  Exiled  Hope  and  United  Kingdom's  Steel  Forge  who  team  up  together  and  bring  out  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death,  power  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  ep  "Realm  of  the  Exiled"  which  will  be  released  in  2025.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  clean  sections  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  folk  music.  One  of  the  songs  also  introduce  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  that  are  more  rooted  in  power  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length, the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  mix  their  two  different  styles  to  create  something  very  heavy,  melodic,  symphonic  and  epic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  doom,  death,  gothic,  power  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Light  In  the  Darkness"  and  "Beyond  The  Veil".  8  out  of  10.

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdZNNjK9ieVITFmcplPs1hA 

Bandcamp: https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth 

Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/

Bandcamp: https://steelforge1.bandcamp.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/steelforgeband/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steelforge_band/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/steelforgeband?lang=en-GB

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steelforge8934

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CNLoVLW2SVhYxd6aZsGyR

      

Master Dy/FRUCTUS : The Master's Zodiac/DMG /2024 Full Length Review

 

  Master  Dy  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  very  dark,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic,  pop  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "FRUCTUS  :  The  Master's  Zodiac"  which  was  released  by  DMG.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in a   very  melodic  style  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  power  and  gothic  metal  while  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  more  of  a  mainstream  style  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  adding  in  touches  of   black  and  death  metal  when  they  are  introduced  on  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  male  vocals,  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Master  Dy  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  more  rooted  in  the  melodic  symphonic  and  gothic/power  metal  style  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  resilience,  self-reliance  and  the  human  spirit's  will  to  overcome.

  In  my  opinion  Master  Dy  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic,  pop  and  power  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bad  Omens  Of  January"  "Ephermal  Void"  "Regel  Eclipse"  and  "Nocturnal  Veil".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/@MasterDyBand
https://sptfy.com/MasterDy
https://master-dy.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/masterdy_band/
https://www.tiktok.com/@Master.Dy
https://www.facebook.com/masterdy.band/
https://www.masterdy.com

      

Terramorta Interview

 

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

 

Hello, at the moment we are in the recording phase of our second album, which we can say is already recorded. We are now in the process of trying to make our work known and to reach beyond Portugal, aiming to share it with as many people as possible.

 

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

 

We know that humans tend to categorize and label everything, but we’ve never even thought about a specific musical style for the band. For us, it's just metal. Of course, we can say that our music relates to the symphonic black/death metal sub-genre.

 

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

 

            Seer - The concept itself arose from a disorder that has always tormented me, chronophobia precisely, that is, the fear of time and its passing through our miserably ephemeral and empty lives. I suffer from F.O.M.O., getting older kills me inside, I have a lot of difficulty facing, understanding and accepting the passing of time, not only in myself, but also in my loved ones, family and friends, and I honestly think that with each passing day we are becoming less happy, more vulnerable to isolation, depression, lack of motivation to continue, to blackness that accelerates this path until the inevitable and certain end. At the time we were looking for coherent themes for the album, something that we could unfold and continue, trying to avoid clichés, and behold, adapting this disorder made perfect sense. We've all been through bad times, we've lived a lot, enough to put a lot of ourselves into the album, which is why we think it's very coherent and sincere, because it literally shows our fears and problems.

 

 

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

 

            First of all, Terramorta means Deadland. And it’s a place that we created and invite the listeners to visit. A place where bad things happen, a place of sorrow, deception and grief like everything that we as humans must endure in our day-to-day life. But also, a place where in the end you can find hope and strength to continue the journey.

 

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

 

To be honest, the artwork was changed numerous times until the image director, Oliver Jackson, presented us with the version that's now released. The decision was unanimous, as the image perfectly illustrated the concept of the album chronophobia. Regarding the new album, we are not in that phase yet.

 

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

 

            For us, every show has been special, from the launch show to the one with Benighted. Some of us have over 20 years of experience. Seer and Helvigario used to play in a band together, and Nero has been part of numerous projects, having recorded bands like Enthroned. We can say we’ve felt comfortable on stage, but you can check out some of our performances on our YouTube channel.

 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2025?

 

            Yes, announced shows are already in our website www.terramorta.com and we are working to make possible a European tour during 2025. We also announce future shows in our social media pages.

 

8.The last album was released on 'Magnus Pike Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

 

            The label was created by Nero, because after facing so many "NOs," we decided to launch the project on our own, at our own risk. We can say that no one, outside of our close circle, believed in TERRAMORTA.

 

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

 

            It's hard to say, as we are a small band, but we can share some of the statistics from our album sales, which, surprisingly, sold out quickly. We sent them to almost all of Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, etc. On social media, fans from all corners of the world are starting to appear, and we are very grateful for the acceptance.

 

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

            Some of them yes, but at the moment nothing is really going on regarding other musical projects. We are all fully committed to TERRAMORTA.

 

11.The next album is going to be released sometime in 2025, what can we expect musically once it is released?

           

            You can expect the same musical language as the previous album, but due to personal events and life's circumstances, the album has become more frantic and chaotic. We want to take a bold approach with the production. We know the market's rules, but don't expect a modern sound or something that follows current trends.

 

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

 

            It depends from the band member, but what we hear is a mix of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, KXM, Korn, Pantera, Carcass, Rammstein, Arcturus, Symphony X, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Death, Dissection, etc.

 

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

 

            We hope you enjoy our work, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the world.

So you can check our social media pages, streaming platforms. And on YouTube you will find videoclips, the full album and live videos. And guess what, it’s for free, so what are you waiting for?

Cheers and see you on the road. \m/

https://terramorta.com/

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

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

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

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/45tDH8c6Lgm2hnsOqRV1O9

https://music.apple.com/pt/artist/terramorta/1728551178

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/253888602

Apocalypse/Pandaemonium/MiMi Sound Records & Publishing/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Apocalypse  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  viking,  death,  thrash and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Pandeaemonium"  which  was  released  by  MiMi  Sound  Records  &  Publishing.

  Keyboards  and  classical  music  elements  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.

  A  lot  of  the  riffing  mixes  in  touches  of  death  and  thrash  metal  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  and  gothic  metal  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style.

  Clear  viking  metal  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  demonic  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  as  well  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  time,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and a  few songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  witchcraft  burnings  and  darkness  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apocalypse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  black,  viking,  doom,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hanged,  Drawn  And  Quartered"  "The  Well  Of  Deception"  and  "Pandeaemonium".  8  out  o  10.

  Bandcamp

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Terramorta/Chrronophobia/Magnus Pike Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Terramorta  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Chronophobia"  which  was  released  by  Magus  Pike  Records.

  

  A  very  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  death  emtal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  

   Elements  of  classical  music  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  song  also  introduces  operatic  female  vocals  onto  the  album  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Terramorta  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  classical  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  human  condition,  dissent  and  existence.

  

  In  my  opinion  Terramorta  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  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  "Chronophobia"  "Burnout  Looms"  "Night  Maere"  and  "Post  Mortem".  8  out  of  10.

  https://terramorta.com/

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

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

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

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/45tDH8c6Lgm2hnsOqRV1O9

https://music.apple.com/pt/artist/terramorta/1728551178

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/253888602  

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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Les Chants Du Hasard/Livre Quart/2024 Full length Review

 

  France's  Les  Chants  Du  Hasard  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  orchestral  and  operatic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Livre  Quart"  which  will  be  released  in  June.

  Orchestra  sounds  and  chants  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  emtal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  operatic  vocals  and  choirs  while  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  symphonic  and  classical  music  elements  and  at  times  the  recording  also  brings  in  a  very  ritualistic  atmosphere.

  The  whole  album  also  avoids  the  use  of  any  traditional  instruments  except  for  the  harsh  vocals  bringing  that  style  onto  the  recording.  Female  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times   as  well  as  one  of  the songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Les  Chants  Du  Hasrd  focuses  more  on  a  extreme  and  orchestral  style  of  opera  as  well  as  mixing  in  black  metal  vocals to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  the  writings  of  Charles  Baudelaire.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Les  Chants  Du  Husard  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal,  orchestra  and  opera  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Parmi  Les  Poussieres"  "Sous  La  Mitre  De  Fer"  and  "Les  Ombres  Vagabondes".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/leschantsduhasard

https://www.instagram.com/hasard_malivore

https://leschantsduhasard.bigcartel.com

https://leschantsduhasard.bandcamp.com      

Reverb On Repeat/Self Titled/These Hands Melt/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Reverb  On  Repeat  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a mixture  of  blackgaze,  shoegaze ,  goth,  post  punk and  post  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2024  album  which  was  released  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  Melodic  shoegaze  style  guitar   solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  clean  sections  of  the  songs  are  heavily  rooted  in  post  rock.  The  clear  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  gothic  rock  style  along  with  synth  also  being  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic   in  length.  When  the  music  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  songs  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Reverb  On  Repeat  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  blackgaze,  shoegaze,  punk,  gothic  and  post  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  romanticism  and  isolation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Reverb  on  Repeat  are  a  very  decent  sounding  mixture  of  blackgaze,  shoegaze,  goth,  punk  and  post  rock  and  if  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aurorean  Dreams"  and  "Spawning",  7/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/reverbonrepeat

https://www.instagram.com/reverbonrepeat

https://reverbonrepeat.bandcamp.com

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Keygen Church/Nel Nome Del Codice/Metal Blade Recordfs/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Keygen  Church  are  a  solo  project  from  italy  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Nel  Nome  Del  Codice"  which  will b e  released  on  March  22nd  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Choirs  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  electronic  while  the  symphonic  side  of  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  avant  garde  and  classical  music  elements  and  some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  songs  also  avoid  the  use  of  traditional  extreme  metal  vocals  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  album   also  add  in  influences  of  doom  and  gothic  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  gets  more  aggressive  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Keygen  Church  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  symphonic  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  doom,  gothic  metal  and  classical  music  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Keygen  Church  is  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  avant  garde  mixture  of  black,  doom,  gothic  metal  and  classical  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Se  hal  Timore  Del  Vero"  "Nel  Nome  Del  Codice"  "La  VOce  Del  Destino"  and  "Sempre  Nel  Mio  Pensiero".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/keygenchurch

https://keygenchurch.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHgbw5cuDIas28eMvbI8Nqg

https://twitter.com/keygenchurch

https://open.spotify.com/artist/49yTs5PHrOjyslAqSF2iCG

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/keygen-church/1450170610    

  

Moonoises/She - The Void/These Hands Melt/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Moonoises  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "She  -  the  Void"  which  will  be  released  on  march  8th  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  clean  sections  also  mix  in  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  some  of  the  clear  vocals  add  in  touches  of  80's  deathrock.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  and  doomgaze  while  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  lot  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze  touches.  Synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are introduced  into  the  music.

  Some  of  the  music  also  captures  the  dark  atmosphere  of  black  metal  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  most  of  the  album  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Moonoises  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Beyond"  "Creepy  31"  "Cold  Grey"  and  "Mirror".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/moonoisesband

https://www.instagram.com/moonoises

https://moonoises.bandcamp.com    

Cruxis Interview

 

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

Since we’re new, I don’t think many people have heard of us. We are two, the Dok-tor and myself. He makes the music and I sing the words. 

2.You have your first album coming out towards the end of January, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

The Dok-tor is responsible for all the music here, but I think it’s safe to say he wasn’t trying to emulate someone else’s sound when recording these songs. I’m sure some of the genres and bands we’re both fond of had some influence on the sound. There’s some crust punk, some industrial, a bit of black metal, even some post-punk and deathrock. In the end, though, I think it sounds like itself more than a patchwork of bands and genres either of us enjoy.  

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

Some are more abstract impressions and representations of a place, a time, ideas. Lyric writing, all of music making, is a bit like Debord’s dérive in that it requires some disorientation or, like Breton said, psychic automatism. Fāl-gūsh came out of overheard, misheard conversations. Fāl-gūsh is a type of divination usually associated with young girls. You would stand in a dark corner or concealed spot behind a fence, maybe a garden wall, and listen to the conversations of passers-by. The words you hear, the subjects being discussed, would provide answers to your questions. 

Unquiet, the last song on our album, was also the last song I wrote words for and sang. I had been talking with a couple friends who have family in Gaza and elsewhere in Palestine about the ongoing destruction happening there. About how their family’s homes were destroyed or had been seized decades ago, about what the long history of colonialism and efforts to demoralize and oppress the people there have done to them, their family and friends in Palestine. About what living with colonialism and racist oppression does to you, both personally and how it reveals power to be the inherently abusive, extractive, violent force it is. Though lyrically as abstract as anything else I write, Unquiet is fiercely anticolonial, antifascist, and an oppositional force to all forms of oppression.

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

There’s a constellation called Crux, or Crucis, the Southern Cross. The brightest star in Crux is Acrux, the 13th brightest star in the night sky. You could think of Cruxis as drawn from those stellar names.

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

That’s the Dok-tor again. I’ll say that, as in our sound, there’s a confluence of influences. Let’s call it a lo-fi, diy, analog, photocopied zine aesthetic combined with an enigmatic mysticism. 

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

I can’t really imagine we’d need to add more people. It worked well like this and if we do it again, we already have everything covered between us.

7.Are there any plans for live shows in the future or is this strictly a studio project?

There’s an ocean in the way of live shows.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme and underground musical styles?

Since we’re quite new, and I’m answering these questions before our album is out, we haven’t really gotten a lot of reaction yet. The messages I’ve received from people who have heard it so far have been positive, which is nice. I know we’re both really happy with what we did here and hope that when it’s more widely available that other people will enjoy it, too.

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?

The Dok-tor is always making new music, which you’ll hear in time whether you realize it or not.  

I have a new project, Deep Fade, which is a sort of noisy, blackened pastoral industrial experiment. The first album will be out in late February, and, like Cruxis, will be on Fiadh Production. Then I have several other things coming, more Deep Fade, a few new collaborations with old friends, a final album from my old project, The Floating World. I’m sure there will be more as the year wears on.

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

I think it’ll go where it goes, there isn’t a definitive plan for it. It’s easier to make music when it happens because there’s something you want to hear that you aren’t hearing, maybe don’t even realize that’s what you’re creating when you start, but as you get into it what you create coheres around some idea that becomes central through the act of making songs. The map draws itself as you go.

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

I can, again, only speak for myself here, but some of it I’m sure overlaps with the Dok-tor. Over the years, I’ve listened to a lot of Killing Joke, Godflesh and Godflesh-y industrial-esque stuff, Amebix and Rudimentary Peni (I’m finally reading Nick Blinko’s Primal Screamer right now), some black metal, some post-punk, deathrock. Of course, then there are artists like Anita Lane, who has always been a huge influence of mine. Her uneven and wavering, haunted singing hovers around the edges of anything I do. Rowland Howard had a gorgeous shimmer, too.

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of JK Flesh, another Justin Broadrick project. He had an album out this past fall, NO EXIT, which is incredible and disorienting and I’m still hearing new things in it. Same for Darkthrone’s Eternal Hails, which passed me by when it came out a coupe years ago, but got drawn in by Fenriz’s description of it as “heavy like a dinosaur.”

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

https://cruxis-13.bandcamp.com/

Cruxis/Self Titled/Fiadh Productions/2024 EP Review

 

  Cruxis  are  a  duo  from  Providence,  Rhode  Island  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal,  crust  punk,  deathrock  and  industrial  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  titled  2024  ep  which  will  be  released  on  January  26th  by  Fiadh  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  mix  in  touches  of  deathrock.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  slower  parts  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  sludge  metal  and  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  recording  are  heavily  rooted  in c rust  punk  and  d  beat.

  Melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  Black  metal  elements  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  drum  beats  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  industrial  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  most  of t he  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Cruxis  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge  metal,  crust  punk,  deathrock  and  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  mysterious  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cruxis  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal,  crust  punk,  deathrock  and  industrial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ruby  Throat"  and  "Unquiet".  8  out  of  10.

  Cruxis    

    

  

Hexvessel/Polar Veil/Svart Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Hexvessel  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  doom  rock,  goth,  ritual,  folk  and psychedelia  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2023  album  "Polar  Veil"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Svart  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  avant  garde  moments  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  synths  also  add  in  some  psychedelic  touches  when  they  are  utilized.  Pagan  folk  metal  vocals  are  also  introduced  on  one  of  the  songs  along  with  the  shouts  also  giving  the  music  more  aggression  when  they  are  utilized  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  added  on  one  of  the  tracks.

  On  some  of  the  songs  the  synths  also  add  in  more  gothic  overtones  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized,  acoustic  guitars  can  also b e  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  personal  spiritual  transcendence  and  nature  mysticism  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Hexvessel  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  doom  rock,  goth,  ritual,  folk  and  psychedelia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Older  Than  The  Gods"  "Eternal  Meadow"  and  "Homeward  Polar  Shift".  8 out  of  10.

  Hexvessel website

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