Vanaheim Interview

Mike Seidel: First of all we want to thank you for giving us the chance to present our new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” in your magazine. We truly appreciate that! 

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? 

Mike Seidel: Our new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” was released on the 4th of September 2026. We are simply overwhelmed by the sheer amount of positive feedback we have received so far from genre veterans, metal critics and our fans. We had a different approach for this album, also because the whole team behind the band had grown since the release of our previous album “Een Verloren Verhaal”, which was our self-released debut album. We signed a record deal with Fireflash Records, joined the artist roster of Rock The Nation, who took over the bookings and, additionally, we now work closely together with Mastermold Music as our management team. Soon we will go on our first ever European tour, together with TYR, Twilight Force and Dragonland. The tour carries the name “Valhalla Calling Europe”. It will bring us to many countries we have never performed in before, with a total number of 25 shows in 15 countries. Exciting times ahead! 

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

 Mike Seidel: “Roede voor de Borst” is a concept album. It tells a completely different story than our previous album, “Een Verloren Verhaal”. While the story for our debut album was grand, epic and fantastical, the story of “Roede voor de Borst” is more down to earth, more emotional and relatable. The sound of the album reflects this aspect as well. While we are using the orchestrations in the album more focused, we shifted the epicness factor towards the use of different elements this time. For example, we recorded a real choir of thirty people in the studio. This is pretty unique nowadays, because it is common to use simple plug-ins and VTS or samples for your music and everything seems to be becoming more and more digital. Especially in the time of artificial intelligence, where everything becomes so easy and generic, it is even more important to bring back real instruments into music. All the songs on the new album are connected through the story, but still every song works on its own. Every song has its own flavor and that makes the album interesting and raises the replay ability a lot! We widened the dynamics between hard pounding metal riffs and soft melodic parts cohesive to the story of the album to deepen the feeling of the story.

3.The lyrics on the new release is a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you covered with this recording?

 Mike Seidel: The story takes place in a fictional Dutch village from the 19th century, surrounded by wetlands. Our main protagonist is the miller of the village. An old man who has seen ghostly figures around the wetlands and who thinks they are a potential threat to the village and its inhabitants. Nobody believes him when he tries to warn the villagers every night. They think that he is just a bitter and crazy old man. One night, he goes on an unexpected journey which makes him reflect on his life choices. I don't want to spoil it too much, but it is a thrilling story full of emotions, regret and hope. It supports the music really well and if you read the lyrics while listening to the album, it deepens and enhances the whole experience. We are aware that not everyone in this world understands Dutch. That is why we offer translations in three other languages (English, German and French) on our website for the lyrics. We are still working on it but the translations will be finished soon. Just go to vanaheim.nl and follow us to the lyrics section. 

4.Your earlier lyrics covered Folklore and Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

 Mike Seidel: As a folk metal band we bring stories around the world. Stories of our heritage but also stories of our own. We love to write our own stories. That is the reason why we write a complete concept for an album, before we even start writing the music. The concept is a guideline for the music, the lyrics and the visuals that accompany the album. Folklore and mythology are a part of almost every band in this genre. With us the difference is that we like to create our own stories, which are inspired by different aspects but also by local stories, myths and urban legends. Historic happenings, culture and ethics are a big influence as well. 

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

 Mike Seidel: The album artwork is made by Julian Bauer. We had already worked with him on our debut album ”Een Verloren Verhaal” and we were so blown away by his work, that we had to work with him again. His style fits perfectly with our music. It represents epicness, displays the thrilling aspects of our music and the liveliness of his paintings tells a story. Julian can transform our music into a painting. What you see displayed in the artwork is a scene from the story of “Roede voor de Borst”. It shows a specific and tragic moment of the story and if you watch closely, you can already understand a part of the album’s story, only by watching and understanding the artwork. There is even a secret message hidden in the artwork. We are curious if you can find it. 

6.The band members live in different parts of Europe, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?

 Mike Seidel: I wouldn't say that our location has a direct influence on the Vanaheim sound or style. We do have a very wide range of influences on our music, but even though we are split over three countries, our ethical and cultural backgrounds are very similar. Most members live in the Netherlands, our guitar player in Belgium and I live in Germany. The cultural difference is actually not that big. The fact that we live that far apart, doesn't make it easier to write music. Most of the songwriting happens online, where we exchange ideas in meetings. Towards the end of the writing phase, we meet up in person to finalize song structures, melodies or lyrics. Being in the same room while writing, makes the whole process much faster in our experience.

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

 Mike Seidel: I guess every band member would give you a different answer to this question. For me personally, the Seafarer's Dream Tour with Ensiferum was one of the big highlights. Being able to be the support act for one of your childhood heroes is a moment that I will never forget. Back in the day, when one of my best friends gave me a USB stick with music on it, I discovered folk metal with Ensiferum. About 15 years later, I am sharing the stage with Ensiferum while supporting them with my own band. This is a dream coming true. When I discovered their music, I didn't even dare to think about this happening in a couple of years. Unbelievable! 

8.What are the touring plans for the new album?

 Mike Seidel: Soon we will embark on the “Valhalla Calling Europe” tour across 15 countries, with 25 shows, together with TYR, Twilight Force and Dragonland! Then we do have some ideas for possible tours in 2027, but nothing we can talk about yet. There are some big festivals in the pipeline, and we are looking forward to conquering the stage in countries we have never performed in before. We want to play as much as possible to bring “Roede voor de Borst” to as many countries as possible! It is so exciting to have a new album under the belt, which we can finally perform live with an energetic performance and a lot of crowd engagement.

 9.The new album was released on 'Fireflash Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

 Mike Seidel: We got in contact with Markus of Fireflash Records through someone we met after our performance at Wacken Open Air 2024. It was a total coincidence that we got in touch that day. We got offers from other labels for “Roede voor de Borst” as well, but none of them felt like a good fit for us. We almost decided that we wanted to release this album independently, like our debut album “Een Verloren Verhaal”. When we started talking with Markus, we were sure that he was the right guy to bring us forward. The collaboration with Fireflash Records has been nothing but great so far. They truly understand the vision of our band, our music and our intentions. It was a match we were missing with other labels, and we are happy that we found our way to Fireflash Records now

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

Mike Seidel: The reactions to “Roede voor de Borst” are overwhelming to be honest. It is great to see that we have created a worthy follow-up to our debut album, “Een Verloren Verhaal”. The album has received many great reviews and high album ratings so far and our fans are very happy with our new music. Some even say that we are the ones who can bring back “the golden era of folk metal”. It is not my task to judge if that is true or not, but we take these words as a big compliment! You must know that we do not simply write music for a new album and then we release it. We are making a whole story around the album with fitting lyrics, visuals, themes and so on. Everything has to be right. We want to create an immersive story or world for us and our fans. A story that they can live through while listening to the album or watching the music videos. It has to be authentic. 

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

 Mike Seidel: Since our debut album we have found our own style. We want to keep it this way but still fresh it up from time to time. Here and there we implement some new elements or influences. That keeps it interesting. We don't want to create the same album repeatedly.

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

 Mike Seidel: We do listen to a lot of different styles and music with some parallels. Three of us are big folk metal lovers. It is the music that we grew up with. Nightwish also always plays a big role in our playlists. Some others are more oriented towards folk or traditional music, while I also listen to a lot of heavy rock or black metal. It is the mixture of all these influences that creates the Vanaheim sound. 

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

Mike Seidel: We want to thank you for this great interview and all readers of the ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine. If you want to support us, buy our album in a physical format or come to our shows all around Europe. The Valhalla Calling tour is starting soon and we are so much looking forward to present our brand new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” together with an energetic performance and many crowd engaging elements. You are in for a real treat on this tour. We hope to see you on the road!

 -:𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫:

- 24.11 | SE | Malmö | Babel 

25.11 | DK | Aarhus | Voxhall 

26.11 | DE | Bochum | Matrix 

27.11 | DE | Regensburg | Eventhall Airport 

28.11 | CZ | Zlin | Masters Of Rock Café 

29.11 | DE | Leipzig | Hellraiser 

01.12 | DE | Saarbrücken | Garage

 02.12 | AT | Wörgl | Komma 

03.12 | DE | Berlin | Musik Brauerei 

04.12 | NL | Drachten | Iduna

 05.12 | BE | Brugge | Het Entrepot 

06.12 | NL | Uden | De Pul

 07.12 | DE | Stuttgart | Im Wizema

09.12 | AT | Vienna | Viper Room

 10.12 | DE | Weinheim | Cafe Central 

11.12 | DE | Geiselwind | Strohofer 

12.12 | CH | Pratteln | Z7 

13.12 | IT | Milan | Legend Club 

14.12 | HR | Zagreb | Boogaloo

 15.12 | HU | Budapest | Barba Negra

 16.12 | PL | Krakow | Hype Park 

17.12 | PL | Warsaw | Proxima 

18.12 | LV | Riga | Melna Piektdiena 

19.12 | EE | Tallinn | Helitehas 

20.12 | FI | Helsinki | Ääniwalli 

-:𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘:-:𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒:-:𝐔𝐒:-:𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆:-

https://vanaheim.nl/

https://www.facebook.com/VanaheimBand/

http://instagram.com/vanaheimofficial/

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

https://vanaheim-official-merch.myshopify.com/

Zornheym/Descending Into Madness/Noble Demon/2026 Full Length Review

  Sweden's  Zornheym  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and death  emtal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Descending  Into  Madness"  which  will be  released  on  October  2nd  by  Noble  Demon.

  A  very  dark  sounding  prologue  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  the  symphonic  and  orchestration  sounds  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Clear  singing  and  choirs  are  also  utilized  at  times 

  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  emtal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can be  heard  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Zornheym  expands  on  their  symphonic  black  metal  style  by  adding  in  elements  of  melodic  death  metal  and  classical  music to create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Zornheim  Asylum.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Zornheym  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deus  Rex"  "Anneliese"  "The  Funeral  march"  and  "Come  Sweet  Death".  8  out  of  10.  

https://www.instagram.com/zornheym_official/ 
https://www.facebook.com/zornheym  
https://zornheym.bandcamp.com/ 

     

Forsaken Eternity/Shades Of Existence/Rottweiler Records/2026 EP Review

  Forsaken  Eternity  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Shades  Of  Existence"  which  was  released  by  Rottweiler  Records.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in with  some  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.

  Throughout  the  ep  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  words  can  also be  heard  briefly  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Forsaken  Eternity bring  out  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic,  symphonic  and  technical  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Forsaken  Eternity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  atmospheric, technical  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Adrift  In  A  Twisted  Ethereal"  and  "Celestial  Witch".  8 out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/forsakeneternityband
https://www.instagram.com/forsakeneternitymetal
https://forsakeneternityrr.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/XGfw1b-py3s?si=QPA9vcP8VBh7V2MB

            

Vanaheim/Roede voor de Borst/Fireflash Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Vanaheim  are  a  band f rom t he  Netherlands  that  plays  an  epic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2026  album  "Roede  voor  de  Borst"  which  will  be  released in  September b y  Fireflash  Records.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Harsh  vocals  bring  in  a  style  similar  to  black  metal  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  symphonic  style  orchestration  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody.

  Elements  of  death  metal are  also  utilized  at  times  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Choir  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  introduced  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Dutch  and  is  a  concept  album  based  on  untold  legends  from t he  19th  century.  

  In  my  opinion  Vanaheim  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Geestenmist"  and  "Roede  voor  de  Borst".  8  out  of  10.

  https://vanaheim.nl/

https://www.facebook.com/VanaheimBand/

http://instagram.com/vanaheimofficial/

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

https://vanaheim-official-merch.myshopify.com/

Hrafnablót/Guðlaugar Saga/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Hrafnablót  are  a  band  from  Iceland  that  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  2026  album  "Guðlaugar  Saga"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Nature  sounds  and  whispers  start  off  the  album  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into a   heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  clear  female  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Folk  instruments  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  album  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  clear  male  vocals.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  harsh  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in a   mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

 One  song  also introduces  acoustic  guitars  and  keyboards  into  the  music  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction  with  some  symphonic  touches  along  with t he  closing  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Sagas,  Magick  and  Folklore  of  their  homeland.  

  In  my  opinion  Hrafnablót  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Dísablót "  "Nornarheimt"  and  "Örlagavegur".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hrafnablot.is/​

​https://www.facebook.com/hrafnablot/  

      

Ka'aper/When Gods Walked The Earth/Satanath Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Ka'aper  are  a  band  from  Cyprus  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "When  Gods  Walked  The  Earth"  which  was  released  by  Satanath  Records.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  dark  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing  along  with  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  also  being  added  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  female  vocals  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction,  clean  playing  can  also be  heard  at  times.

  On  this  recording  Ka'aper  goes  for  a  very  modern  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  mythology  and  modern  decay.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Ka'aper  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  melodic  black,  dark  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUIDE  "Of  Chaos  And  Destruction"  "Eternity  in  Stone"  "Lament  For  Osiris"  and  "Hiding".  8  out  of  10.

  https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat419-kaaper-when-gods-walked-the-earth-2026  

  

Litosth/Dreaming/Personal Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Litosth  are  a  duo  form  Brazil  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Dreaming"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Personal  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording ,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  introduced  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  faith,  morality,  purpose  and  the  illusion  of  ascent.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Litosth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Defy"  "Abyss"  and  "Golgota".  8  out  of  10.

  http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/dreaming

facebook.com/litosthofficial        

Shroud/Pax Nocturna/2026 Full Length Review

  Shroud  are  a  band  from  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Pax  Nocturna".

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilzied  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanic  Gnosticism,  existential  dread,  anti0-religious  critique  and  the  darker  corners  of  human  nature. 

  In  my  opinion  Shroud  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Eternal  Void"  "Darkest  Night"  and  "Abaddon".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086688022343​

​https://www.instagram.com/shroud.mtl

Hecate Enthroned/The Corpse of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried/M-Theory Audio/2026 Full Length Review

  United  Kingdom's  Hecate  Enthroned  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Corpse  Of  A  Titan"  which  will  be  released  on  May  29th  by  M-Theory  Audio.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts ,  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  On  this  recording  Hecate  Enthroned  remain  true  to  the  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  that t hey  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  British  Myths  and  Legends.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hecate  Enthroned  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spirits  Stir  Within  Our  Ancestors  Tombs"  "Pwca"  and  "Into  A  Vale  of  Endless  Snow".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music    

 

Kosmogonia/Aella/Rockshot Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Kosmogonia  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  pagan  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Aella"  which  was  released  by  Rockshot  Records.

  Keyboards  and  spoken  words  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  folk  instruments  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  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  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some clear  male  vocals   and  spoken  word  also  being  used  on  a  few  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Kosmogonia  remain  true  to t her  mixture  of  folk,  pagan  and  melodic  death  metal  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  encounter  between t he  Scythian  princess  and  the  Greek mercenary  Lykkon.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kosmogonia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk,  pagan  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Rise"  "Scheme  And  Rebirth"  "Elixer"  and  "Oblivion".  8  out  of  10.

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosmogonia_official/​

​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kosmogoniafolk  

Emergenz Interview

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

Emergenz formed in December of 2024 from the fragments of different bands. We define our music as Franconian Black/Death Metal. This is not a strict definition rather a kind of scaffold to give some idea where we come from and what to expect when tuning in. We are a small band with small following. We are happy share our thoughts and listen to yours. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous demo’s?

The demos we released earlier were self-produced songs from our album ‚becoming none‘. During 2025 our vocalist and lyricist assembled existing songs into a concept album. In this form we presented the album live at Witchrites 2025 where we received good feedback. Therefore we made the decision to produce the album professionally with Andy Claßen at Stage One studio.

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

‚'becoming none' is a concept album. From the first song to the last, we tell stories about life, memories, self-doubt and inner conflict, unfolding metaphorically through the journey of a protagonist wandering through a Franconian forest in autumn, until he ultimately accepts his own inevitable finitude and fades away. 

In this sense, becoming none stands for the realization that life, reflected through the forest, simply continues without the actions of the individual. This also carries a comforting element. One can find peace in the knowledge that one does not have to be special, and that in the end, one’s own transience is simply part of existence, and that this is okay.

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

‚Emergenz‘ (engl.: emergence) is a phenomenon known from different fields in science. It roughly describes a system showing behavior which is not deducible from the properties of the different components in the system. The phrase ‚the whole is more than the sum of its parts‘ could be referred to here. Only through the interaction between the different components with their respective properties an emergent system can be described. This is also true for our music. Our guitarists have been playing and composing together for more than 15 years. Their ideas are unleashed by the skills of our drummer and bassist while our vocalist and lyricist gives a unique touch to every song, works out the concept and arranges each song within the album.

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

We worked together with a wonderful artist creating aquarelles for each song. These paintings reflect the most relevant scene described in each of the songs. From the beginning of the journey to the end the protagonist enters the Franconian forest and, step by step, fades into nothingness, becoming none. 

We invite anyone, while listening to the music, to read the lyrics and glance at the paintings. It might be a unique experience. This  journey through the forest is also reflected in the rooted style of the logo and the album cover. 

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

With Emergenz, thus far, we have performed two shows. 2025 we focused on creating and rehearsing the album and since the end of 2025 until April of 2026 we have been producing becoming none. Both concert were unique and memorable in their own right. The first gave us the confidence to produce our album, the second was a confirmation of the path we’re on. We’re working on more.  

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

Organizationally we went into the release quite naively. We pushed our music to many common streaming platforms, however things  like a release show, tour, etc. are not planned. Seeing how the music industry works and how venues are booked, we probably should have planned this mid last year, where the decision to produce the album was not yet even made.

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

Currently, we are not actively searching for a label. We did receive interest, however we declined thus far. Being a small band the contracts offered do not really make sense. For now, most of what we do is done by ourselves or direct contractors we collaborate with for a limited amount of time. That being said, we are open for collaboration with a label should a good opportunity arise.

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

As mentioned above, we are a small band. We did not receive a lot of feedback outside of our small following and direct feedback on the concerts. There are some blogs with reviews of becoming none and the feedback we get on Bandcamp. Usually the feedback we get is quite positive. The coolest part is when you really feel people taking the time, listening through the music and telling you their favorite song.

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?

All former bands are part of the past. We grew up with these bands. People parted, moved and started lives elsewhere, which is fine. 

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

We are already working on our next concept album. For becoming none, most music already existed from one of the former bands. Our vocalist and lyricist created the story around the atmosphere in the music and arranged the songs within the album. For our next album, we already have a concept. The music will be composed along the concept entirely. We’re curious where this journey will go. 

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

Agrypnie, Immortal, Empyrium, Darkthrone, Gorgoroth

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

Thank you for the opportunity. Should readers have more questions, they can reach out any time. 

1. Instagram

 

Madvice Interview

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

.We finished the recording in late spring/early summer of 2025 and we spent the months later to search for a label to release it and, at the same time, we played live in some festivals like the first edition of Southammer Metal Fest and Chania Rock Festival 2025.

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

.It’s definitely heavier and darker than our previous albums: everything is more extreme, both in aggression and atmosphere.

3.This is also going to be your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about the long wait for the new release?

.Due to personal reasons, we’ve been on hold for the whole 2024. In early 2025 we started to work on “L'Ottavo Giorno" and in six months we wrote and recorded the album.

We've been searching for a label until the end of the same year and in early 2026, thanks to Art Gates Records, we started to share news and release singles taken from our forthcoming work. If you are an underground band, nothing is easy: and time flies…

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?

.I always write the lyrics, so they are about my personal struggles, a way to exorcise my demons. Even the lyrics apparently simple (for example about anti-religion) have always to be read in an allegoric way: nothing is as it appears and nothing appears as it is!

About our progress as songwriters, I have to say that, in my opinion, “L'Ottavo Giorno" is our more mature album, there was a sensible step forward towards the best expression possible of what Madvice is: but of course the listeners will confirm or not what I’m saying.

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

.We searched for an original name, possibly of just one word, easy to remember: so we thought of mix two words, "mad” and “advice”, and “Madvice” was born.

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

.The artwork of our new album, created by Roberto Toderico, is an evolution of our old logo: a new darker logo for a new more extreme beginning.

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

.I have no doubt: Southammer Metal Fest and Chania Rock Festival (with Rotting Christ and Kreator) last year and the two shows supporting the Finnish black metal Masters Horna in 2023.

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

.We are working on it with our agency, Rock On Agency: we have several shows already confirmed, so far, but I can't talk about ‘em yet.

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

.We always had good feedback from our fans and in these last months, thanks to the good work of our new label, we made an notable upgrade, reaching more people and gaining a bigger fanbase.

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

.We don't know how far we can go, but for sure we'll be here, kicking asses and taking souls for many more years to come!

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

.We have very different backgrounds: Maddalena (guitar) and Raffaele (bass) are U.S. thrash metal oriented: I am a blackster and Marco (drums), the younger of us, listen to old stuff but also to modern extreme metal bands. We try to put in Madvice music all our influences without compromises, hoping to create something unique.

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

.We’d like to thank Art Gates Records and Rock On Agency for helping us in our musical growth. 

Many thanks to you for this interview, in my opinion is really important for an underground band to have the chance to talk about its music.

And, last but not least, thanks to everyone who supported, supports and will support us in this journey, stay extreme!

https://artgatesrecords.com/artists/madvice

 

Emergenz/Becoming None/2026 Full Length Review

  Emergenz  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Becoming  None".

  Fire  sounds,  synths  and  classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  brings  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  ad  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style ,  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a brief  use  of  clean  playing,  clear  singing  and  spoken  words. 

  Emergenz  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album and  cover  the  journey  of  a  protagonist  waking  through  a  forest. 

  In  my  opinion  Emergenz  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Serenity"  "Tradfall"  "Wanderers"  and  "Footsteps".  8  out  of  10.

  https://emergenz.bandcamp.com/album/becoming-none     

Wooden Shadow/Age of Tree/Inverse Records/2026 EP Review

 
  Wooden  Shadow  are  a  solo  project  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  ep  "Age  Of  Tree"  which  will  be  released  on  April  29th  by  Inverse  Records.

  Spoken  words  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  ep  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  dark  metal  growls and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a  great  amount  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

\

  On  this  recording  Wooden  Shadow  takes  the  melodic  and  symphonic  forms  of  death  and  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  metal  to  create  something  different.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  different  emotional  levels.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wooden  Shadow  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "We  Are  The  North"  and  "The  Great  Feast".  8  out  of  10.

   https://push.fm/fl/wooden-shadow-age-of-tree

https://www.facebook.com/Tormentius
https://www.instagram.com/woodenshadowofficial
https://woodenshadow.bandcamp.com

Old Moon/Home To Nowhere/M-Theory Audio/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Old  Moon  are  a  band  from  Oregon  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  post  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Home  To  Nowhere"  which  will  be  released  on  May  8th  by  M-Theory  Audio.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  along  with   the  synths  also  adding  in  an  atmospheric  touch  when  they  are  utilized.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Old  Moon  brings  out  a  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  post  black  and  death  metal.  The    production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  life's  sorrows.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Old  Moon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  atmospheric  post  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Between  The  Stars"  "A  Rest  To  My  Name"  and  "Creations  Undone".  8  out  of  10.

  https://oldmoonmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/oldmoon.om

https://www.instagram.com/oldmoon.om/

https://oldmoonmusic.bandcamp.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=5oBIPSJoMXYMCix1&v=Rb99B9_IHhw&feature=youtu.be  

Hrothgar/Tales Of Valhöll/2026 Full Length Review

  Hrothgar  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  viking  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Tales  Of  Valhöl'  which  will  be  released  in  July.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  Swedish  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  screams  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  when  they  are  utilized  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  synths.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along with  some  chants  and  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times,  blast beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  words  onto  the  recording.

  Hrothgar  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  viking  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Mythology  and  Viking  History.

  In  my  opinion  Hrothgar  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are   a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Face  To  Face"  "Blazing  Stones"  "The  Voyager"  and  "The  Kraken".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hrothgarmetalband.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/HrothgarMetalBand

https://www.instagram.com/hrothgarofficial

https://youtu.be/fhy1wagUyIo?si=Qu5Wu2sbZKAv4t9T