Speglas/Endarkenment, Being & Death/Trust No One Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Speglas  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Endarkenment,  Being  &  Death"  which  will  be  released  on  February  27th  by  Trust  No  one  Recordings.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds  and  spoken  whispers  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  few  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  heavier  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

   Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  both  the  riffs  and  solos  also  showing  an  influence  of  classic  metal  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  Nietzsche  and  cover  his  philosophies.

  In  my  opinion  Speglas  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Endarkenment"  "The  Spirit  Postmortem"  and  "Rage  Upon  The  Dying  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/speglas 

https://www.facebook.com/SPEGLAS/ 
https://www.instagram.com/speglas /

https://speglas.bandcamp.com   

  

Against I/Anti Life/Twisted Flesh Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Against  I  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Anti  Life"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Twisted  Flesh  Recordings.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Vocals  are a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  black  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Dark  soundscapes  are  also  added  in  between  a  few  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing  as  well  as  the  album  also  mixing  in  some  elements  of  electronic  music  and  samples.

  On  this  recording  Against  I  add  more  electronic  music  elements  in  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal  to  create  a  very  heavy  yet  modern  sound.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  hateful  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Against  I  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Built  To  Destroy"  "Tempel  Of  Greed"  "Sacrifice"  and  "All  Hope  Is  Gone".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/againstIband

https://www.instagram.com/againstiband/
https://www.youtube.com/@againsti

      

Blood Of Angels/Les Angst ov Thanatous/2026 Full length Review

 

  Florida's  Blood  Of  Angels  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Les  Angst  ov  Thanatous".

  Cinematic  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  onto  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  an  aggressive groove  metal  approach  mixed  in  a  few  death  metal  growls.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  mix  in  elements  of  thrash  metal.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Blackened  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  clear  singing,  spoken  word  samples  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  emotional  and  psychological  aftermath  of  death.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Blood  Of  Angels  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beating  You"  "The  Pain  Inside"  and  "Nevermore".  8  out  of  10.

  Official Website: http://www.bloodofangels.net

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kq6q6hYYdNgk0ZSvgQPzF
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloodofangels1
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bloodofangels
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/bloodofangels
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/bloodofangels1
Merch / E-Shop: https://merchbooth.com/pages/blood-of-angels-battle-gear

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blood-of-angels/1195719891      

Apolaustic/No Plentitude Without Suffering/Transcending Obscurity Records/2026 FUll Length Review

 

  Apolaustic  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "No  Plentitude  Without  Suffering"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Transcending  Obscurity  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  keyboards  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  Apolaustic  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  cover  Darkness  and  Suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Apolaustic  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  "Devouring  The  Past"  "Shining  Amidst  The  Lights"  and  "Peregrination  Towards  Childhood  Memories".  8  out  of  10.

 Apolaustic Bandcamp

Apolaustic Instagram

    

Mývalyĭr/The Past Tales/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Mývalyĭr  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "The  Past  Tales"  which  will  be  released  in  February.

  Stringed  instruments  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Elements  of  folk  music  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls,  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  screams  also  adding  in  touches  of  black  metal  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  history,  war  and  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mývalyĭr  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  melodic  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Recollection"  and  "The  Mighty  Never  Fail".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/myvalyir

https://youtu.be/bE1xFsfFZqY

Battlesoul/The Wheel/2026 EP Review

 

   Battlesoul  are  a  band  from  Ontario,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  pagan  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "The  Wheel".

  Battle  sounds  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  the  brutality  of  death  metal   and  the  clear  singing  adds  in  influences  of  pagan  and  power  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  folk  instruments  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Battlesoul  takes  melodic  black,  death,  folk,  pagan  and  power  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  aggressive  and  diverse  sounding  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  pagan  mysticism,  mythology,  history  and  the  eternal  cycle  of  conflict  and  renewal.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Battlesoul  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  pagan  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "No  Legacy"  and  "The  Wheel".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/BattlesoulOfficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGLXfzKsKSOm1xUpWSYWtwQ

https://battlesoul.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4P1Uy9C866snVJngOauZPl

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/battlesoul/659846013

   

Evoked Eclipse/The Cries Of Evil/Club Inferno Ent./2026 Full Length Review

 

  Evoked  Eclipse  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  gothic  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Cries  Of  Evil"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Club  Inferno  Ent..

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  and  also  adds  in  a  gothic  touch.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  Swedish  style  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  influences  from t he  more  melodic  style  of  death  metal.

   Clean  playing  is  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  being  instrumentals  and  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  growls  are  also  introduced.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness  and  Evil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Evoked  Eclipse  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  gothic  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are a   fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Cries  Of  Evil"  and  "Illusions  Of  The  Lie".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/evokedeclipse     

Ka,aper Interview

 

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

Evgeny: Hey guys! Thanks for having us here! Timur (the guitarist) and Evgeny (the singer) are here.

Timur: We’re recording our new album, got a tour coming up, it’s a busy time now.

Evgeny: Timur is a very humble guy and doesn’t like to boast, but the truth is: the work on our new album, entitled "When Gods Walked the Earth", is coming to an end, and we’re gonna release it in April or May.

2.In April 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?

Timur: In the very beginning we got together to play some Swedish MDM, yet we played something darker, our songs were atmospheric and gloomy. We call it dark metal… because we had to call it somehow he-he

Evgeny: Yeah, it always happens like that. You plan something, then you realise it’s not really what you wanted, and you change your direction. As Timur said, we started from MDM, then added some doom, atmospheric black, some modern stuff. Everything for our music to sound dark yet very fierce.

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

Timur: We are still on our path through the endless desert of myths from ancient Egypt. Those myths have a lot about life, death, despair and eternal powers, a lot to admire, and to sing about.

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

Timur: Well, Ka’aper, or Sheikh el-Baled, is a man from ancient Egypt. Not that he is known for something big, but the name sounds cool.

Evgeny: You won't miss his statue if you're in the Cairo Museum, for sure! It's impossible to pass by not being captivated by those eyes. Neither did I one day! Kinda "What the hell is this? It's a fucking piece of wood with real human eyes". And yes, Ka'aper sounds really cool, doesn't it?

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

Timur: The cover for "While flows the Nile" is a picture that we generated using some AI tools and Photoshop. The idea behind it is simple - what could tear apart our perception of the world more than the sky that is "broken" and burning the land?

As for "Amenhotep" single cover, this one has much deeper concept. It is a scene of majesty and worship, where ancient gods are witnessed in modern culture. This is the first cover that was done not by us, but by an artist. You can tell that by deeper and more meaningful visuals.

6.The bands member are originally from Russia and Ukraine but now reside in Cyprus, how would you compare living in this country compares to the other countries you are originally from?

Timur: It’s completely different culture. We were lucky to join the very welcoming community, and sometimes absolutely crazy community in a good way.

Evgeny: And it's essential to add - the metal scene here is awesome! I know at least 40-50 active metal bands here, and if this number is not really big, just check the population of Cyprus on Wikipedia, it's a really small island. When I was leaving Russia for Cyprus, we had only 5-7 barely alive bands in my hometown (which has a population of almost one million)

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

Timur: There were a few to name. We had a warm welcome and awesome gig in Cairo, wild crowd and great atmosphere in Yerevan, insane shows in Limassol and Larnaca. Every time that the crowd is headbanging with us enjoying the show - it’s a good show, as we feel connected.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

Timur: Yup, we have a tour over Poland and Germany coming up in February. And we’re currently making up our plans for the Summer.

Evgeny: Before that, in January, we have a show in Dubai and a show here, in Cyprus, and yeah, we have lots of plans for spring and summer

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

Timur: I think it’s too early to tell. But every time that we visit a new country, we are coming back packed with great emotions and new connections overseas.

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

Timur: We’re not guessing that to be honest, the music always goes as it goes.

Evgeny: Completely agree with Timur! That doesn't mean we don't try to find new audience, on the contrary, we spend a lot of time planning and organizing new shows, shooting promo videos, participating in interviews, of course, and much more stuff that has to be done if you don't want to get lost among thousands of bands releasing their music in this exact moment

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

Timur: MDM of course, progressive metal, pop music, electronic music - many genres have some true gems.

Evgeny: A year ago Spotify surprised me by showing that my favorite artist of the year was Bob Marley and The Wailers, he-he, also some old jazz, and fucking tons of metal of course.

Timur: Since we mentioned, my top tracks in Youtube Music are by 21 Pilots, Agnes Obel and Neil Young

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

Evgeny: Thank you so much for your interest in our music, we really appreciate it. Stay kind, guys, stay open-minded, listen to good music and always support it. It's not a secret at all that metal music is a kind of music made by musicians for musicians - I guess, at least 90% of the crowd at any metal show are musicians from other local bands, so let's support each other and make as much good music as we can. Take care!

https://www.instagram.com/kaaper_official/#

Deos/Augustus Omnipotens/WormHoleDeath Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Deos  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Augustus  Omnipotens"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  epic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Chants  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  some some  clear  singing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album,.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  Octavian,  later  Augustus,  the  first  emperor  of  Rome.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Deos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Octavianus"  "Triumvirat"  "Mylae  Invicta"  and  "Pax  Romana".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/deos.legio

instagram.com/deos_official
deos-official.bandcamp.com/releases

www.youtube.com/@deos-official9793/  

Sorrow Enthroned/Sorrow Enthroned (2025 Re-Recordings)/EP Review

 

  Connecticut's  solo  project  Sorrow  Enthroned  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  where  he  re-records  some  of  his  older  melodic  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal  for  the  modern  era  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2025  re-recordings.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  brutal  blast beats  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Sorrow  Enthroned  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  style  of  blackened  death  metal  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  era.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Thelema,  Occultism  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sorrow  Enthroned  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Submerged  In  Slithering  Serpents"  and  "Upon  Angelic  Ash".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/sorrowenthroned666/

https://www.instagram.com/sorrow_enthroned/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutRpqon7N59zCUwLr09oNA

https://sorrowenthroned.bandcamp.com/album/sorrow-enthroned-2025-re-recording  

Cruentus/End Without End/Kult und Kaos Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Cruentus  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "End  Eithout  End"  which  was  released  by  Kult  und  Kaos  Productions.

    A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  and  spoken  words  and  melodic  guitar  leads  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Cruentus  goes  for  a  very  aggressive,  modern  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  human  emotion  and  the  complexities  of  existence,

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cruentus  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shades  Of  Thiea"  "Limitless  Conjuring"  ""M.I.A"  and  "As  My  Senses  Collide".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/FGkP6zZ4Nv

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cruentus-SWE-101581451696691

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

  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cruentusswe4585

  Bandcamp: https://cruentus1.bandcamp.com/

  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0S5fJ4mSuFJOOXiqf0nbcI?si=mjfEUjBGTDmyQ_8IXygQew

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/se/artist/cruentus/416008378

Bloodred/Colours Of Pain/Massacre Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Bloodred  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  brutal  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Colours  Of  Pain"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  massacre  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  ver4y  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  atmospheric  touches,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Bloodred  takes  their  melodic  and  brutal  style  of  blackened  death  metal  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  betrayal,  censorship,  environmental  collapse,  societal  decay,  pandemic  devastation  and  global  resistance.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bloodred  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  brutal  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ashes"  "Heretics"  and  "Resist".  8  out  of  10.

  www.bloodredband.com 

www.facebook.com/Bloodredofficial 

www.instagram.com/bloodred.band 

https://youtu.be/rxKVHDRhdC0  .    

Starscourge Interview

 

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

Zul: Currently, we are awaiting for the reception that the album will receive upon release. I have already commenced with some songwriting concepts for new tracks. Mithun: As Zul mentioned, we are curious as to how the record will be perceived. Some lyrical ideas already exists for the upcoming songs. 

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

Zul: Regarding musical direction we decided on an epic Blackened Death concept, with emphasizing melody and a cinematic scope. We also wanted to encapsulate a classic Metal vibe. I began writing the tracks that were not bound to specific genre rules and limitations, and went along the path of the various riffs and melodies, concluding in each song’s completion. Mithun: I aimed to do justice to the fantastic riffs and melodies that Zul had concocted, and opted for a theatrical and diversified vocal approach. Each track had to feel different and adhere to the various lyrical themes.

 3.Both of the members are also in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Starscourge', that you have not been able to do with your other groups? 

Mithun: When Zul and I started discussing this venture, I was playing in the punk band, Nedtur. I hadn’t involved in anything within Metal since 2020, and naturally I was drawn back to my roots. We both wanted to do something different from what we had previously played in our various projects. 

4.Your lyrics cover the Elden Ring, dark fantasy and mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics? 

Mithun: Well, before Silent Images disbanded, we were in the process of a Bloodbornethemed concept album. I have always sought to lyrically compose something based off FromSoftware’s titles, and Elden Ring released at the perfect opportune moment.

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

Zul: Mithun and I started talking about starting the band and after planning out the musical and conceptual aspect we started brainstorming potential names. Eventually we decided on Starscourge. Mithun: Starscourge is the title of one of Elden Ring’s prominent characters, General Radahn also known as Starscourge Radahn during his boss fight. 

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

 Zul: Seven Kings Productions handled the artwork for all the singles as well as the album cover, and we attained permission from Maciej Wituski to utilize his excellent rendition

7.The band members live in Sweden and Singapore, what impact does the long distance in between members have on the musical style that you play? 

Zul: It would have been great if we could jam and rehearse together. Thankfully, the internet has provided a excellent medium for communication. Mithun: Indeed, Whatsapp has been a great friend. I think I correspond with Zul more than I do with my own family. Haha!

 8.On the album you also did a 'Slayer' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

 Mithun: I’ve never been too much of a Slayer or Thrash fan to be honest. I do enjoy Reign in Blood, Seasons of the Abyss and Hell Awaits. When Zul sent over this rearranged version I thoroughly enjoyed the new atmosphere and increased melodies, and went about throwing in more Thrashy vocals. We gave it the Starscourge treatment! 

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

 Zul: We are keeping our options open. It would be great to license out these tracks for physical releases. Mithun: It all depends on the deal and the possibilities at the day’s end. 

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

 Zul: It is still too early to gauge since the album has yet to launch, but we have had a decent amount of support from the singles. 

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

 Zul: We both play in Chaos Imperium, a Black Metal project that I started a few years ago before I roped in Mithun this year. I am still part of Death Metal act Oshiego, and I have a few other projects underway. Mithun: Apart from Chaos Imperium, I sing with Avantgarde/Experimental Black Metal act Andharu, who’re also recording our debut as we speak. 

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

 Zul: Depending on the album’s response, we would be honoured to play live. Regardless, I’m already brewing up some new material for the next record. Mithun: The live stage would be fantastic, but we are very eager to continue making more music. 

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

 Mithun: Classic Metal will always be there, though I’ve listened to lots of epic scores as well. This year’s favourites are quite the strange bag - Afsky, Team Anarchy, Rudra, KLPS, Metaphor: Refantazio’s soundtrack, Sleep Theory, Alice Cooper, Bloody Valkyria, Nemophilia, Katla 

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

Mithun: Thank you for this interview, and for the lovely review as well. We should keep in touch! 

https://www.facebook.com/Official.Starscourge/
https://www.instagram.com/starscourge.official/

Atavistia/The Winter Way(Reforged)/Blood Blast Distribution/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada's  Atavistia  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black, death  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Winter  Way  (Reforged)"  which  will be  released  on  December  12th  by  Blood  Blast  Distribution  and  is  also  a re-recorded  version  of  their  2020  album.

  Nature  sounds  and  symphonic  orchestration  starts  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  the  songs  also  mixing  in  elements  of  folk  music.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  winter  and  Scandinavian  Mythology. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another4  great  sounding  recording  from  Atavistia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "From  The  Ancient  Stones"  "Eternal  Oceans"  and  "The  Winter  Way".  8  out  of  10.

 

1. linktr.ee

     

Starscourge/Conqueror Of The Stars, Betwixt Sundered Seraphim, The Lands Between Bleed/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Starscourge  are  an  international  duo  with  embers  from  Sweden  and  Singapore  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2025  album  "Conqueror  Of  the  Stars,  Betwixt  Sundered  Seraphim,  The  Lands  Between  Bleed"  which  will  be  released  on  December  19th.

  Spoken  words  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast   beats  can  be  heard.

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  clear  vocals  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  power  metal  when  they  are  utilized.

  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  some  symphonic  touches  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  closing  tracks  also  being  a  Slayer  cover.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantast,  mythology  and  the  epic  grandeur  of  the  Elden  Ring.

  In  my  opinion  Starscourge  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  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blessings  Upon  the  Golden  Throne"  "Destiny's  Dastardly  Dynasty"  "Together,  My  Serpentine's  Valentine"  and  "Spirit  in  Black".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Official.Starscourge/

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

Sardonic Allegiance Interview

 

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

Yes, so Sardonic Allegiance was formed in 2009 as a duo black metal project. It was basically an idea of me and drummer Griendhakker to get together and write black metal songs. It all went pretty quick. We wrote 5 songs in a rehearsal room together and then recorded them and released the EP ‘Germania Inferior’ in 2010, the title being a reference to the history of our native country, The Netherlands.

After we released the first EP, I had written several new riffs and song ideas. However, the project went on hold around 2011 as Griendhakker was too busy with other projects. So I put the new music away. Years later I went through the material again and realized: ‘This is too good not to release’. So I started to compose a proper full-length album based on that material plus new parts. That material became Coast I, released April 2025, and Coast II, to be released in January 2026.

  

2.In 2026 you have a new ep coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I think you can still hear it’s the same band, but the ‘Coast’ material is more mature. Although still very aggressive, the compositions are more sophisticated, more melodic and the arrangements more layered, with added keyboards for example. I also play more leads and guitar solos on the new albums. Also, on ‘Germania Inferior’ Griendhakker took on vocal duties. He did a fine job, but he is not a real singer. On ‘Coast I’ I hired a proper vocalist, Dictator, who did a superb job. Lastly, the overall production is of a higher quality. I have my own personal studio now where I track all the music, and much of the engineering was done with help from professional producer Sebastiaan de Rooy (Signs of Life Audio) who also mixed and mastered the album. You can really hear the time and effort that Sebastiaan put into it because this is not easy music to produce, given all the layers and arrangements, but he did a fantastic job. 

3.From 2010 to 2025 there was no new music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about the 15 year break?

Well, first of all, as I mentioned, Griendhakker did not have time anymore to continue his participation in the project. At the same time, my own private life got busier with work so I also did not pursue new music for a number of years. Also, you have to understand that Griendhakker is a good friend of mine, so when he kind of quit, I wasn’t very motivated to continue the project at first. Then it took even longer because when I finally did pick up the production for ‘Coast’ I suffered a nasty injury in the middle of the pre-production stage - I had to put the project on hold once again for another couple of years because of that.

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

My lyrics are a mix of personal subjects and social critique. They deal with topics such as not finding your way in life and mental resilience. There are also many political topics that I address though in a lyrically poetic and obscured way. 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Sardonic Allegiance’?

I think cynicism (= ‘sardonic’) is a part of life and definitely a part of black metal as a state of mind and subculture. The name reflects that and it also shines through my lyrics which are a mix of personal issues and social critique, not the typical ‘dungeons and dragons’ stuff you hear a lot or satanic subjects.

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

The cover art was done by Gustavo Sazes who did an amazing job. If I remember correctly, it kind of represents the meaning of the third song on Coast I, ‘Delusions Cataclysmic’ where higher forces pour their poisonous and delusional ideas into the heads of the common folk.   

7.The last 2 releases were self released while you have worked with a label in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

Well, never say never, but at this point I don’t see the added value of a deal with a record label to be honest. I am open to everything but a record deal comes with obligations and you give away the rights to your music. Besides, I doubt any record label would have interest in a band that doesn’t have a structural fan base and doesn’t play live. 

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

Very favorable actually. In black metal, there will always be negativity but reactions I get personally or on the internet are mainly positive. People dig the mix I present between aggression and melody. I think many bands now have specialized in one or the other but I am very much inspired by the scandinavian black metal scene that emerged in  the 1990s. A lot of those bands had that perfect mix of evil atmosphere, aggression and melody. This is also something I strive for with Sardonic Allegiance added with some cinematic ingredients.

 

9.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

For now, I am happy with releasing EP’s. I do everything myself and producing this kind of music is not easy and takes a lot of time and effort. I do have a lot of new material which I will be working on next year. But you never know, maybe there will be a full-length in the future. 

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

Like I said, I am very much inspired by the 90s black metal scene. But that is not sto ay I simply copy that style. Sardonic Allegiance also had more modern influences, though maybe those are not coming from black metal music as such. The layered sound and cinematic feel I create also comes from an inspiration of classical music. I must say I still listen mainly to bands that emerged in the 90s- and not just black metal. 

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

Many thanks for your interest in Sardonic Allegiance and I hope your readership will enjoy both Coast I and II. Hails!!

Spotify - Bandcamp - Deezer - Apple Music

Malefic/Impermanence/Terminus Hate City/2026 Full length Review

 

  Malefic  are  a  band  from  Atlanta,  Georgia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Impermanence"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Terminus  Hate  City.

  A  very  heavy  thrash  metal  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats   can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  evil  laughter  and  spoken  words  as  well  as  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  Malefic  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  thrash  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  politics,  drug  use,  existentialism,  perseverance,  and  the  lasting  consequences  of  one's  own  choices.

  In  my  opinion  Malefic  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  "Blood  Of  The  Throne"  Idiocracy"  "Obsidian  Earth"  and  "It  Haunts".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/malefic/1556441523

https://malefic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MaleficBandATL

https://www.instagram.com/maleficbandatl/?hl=en

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5kweC07PzBJUbWckfscSwW

https://x.com/maleficband

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24rSZ2-PwPBwtjyibsmluw