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        

  

Sardonic Allegiance/Coast II/2025 EP Review

 

  Sardonic  Allegiance  are  a  duo  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  ep  "Coast  II"  which  will  be  released  in  2026.

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  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  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  songs  also  add  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  along  with  the  vocals  also  going  into  more  of  a  deeper  and  angrier  direction  at  times.,  one  song  also  adds  in a   brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

   Sardonic  Allegiance  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  symphonic  in  the  mid  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Sardonic  Allegiance  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Your  God  Now"  and  "Prodigious  Night  (The  Sorceress)".  8  out  of  10.

  Spotify - Bandcamp - Deezer - Apple Music 

  

          

Obscurity/Ascheregen/Trollzorn Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Obscurity  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  viking  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Ascheregen"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Trollzorn  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  shouts,  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  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  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words,  clean  playing  also  returns  on  later  songs  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals.  

  On  this  recording  Obscurity  remains  true  to  the  melodic  mixture  of  black,  viking  and  death  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Old  Norse  Mythology,  the  violent  shades  of  Christianization  and  the  fractures  of  our  modern  world.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Obscurity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  viking  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Intium  Dekadentiae"  "Dreifaltigkeit"  "Bekehrung"  and  "Dystopie  und  Schwanengesang".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.obscurity-online.de

https://www.facebook.com/obscuritybergischland

https://www.instagram.com/obscurity_official

https://obscurity.bandcamp.com

https://youtu.be/9hrsNf6K1Q4      

Dimension Of The Abandoned/Self Titled/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Dimension  Of  The  Abandoned  are  a  band  from  Sacramento,  California  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  form  of  blackened  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  and  self  titled  2025  album.

  Clean  playing  and  synths  start  off  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  progressive  feeling  while  also  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times..  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  elements  of  traditional  metal.

  Clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  introspective  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Dimension  Of  The  Abandoned  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  heavy  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Journey  To  The  Ethereal"  and  ""The  Abandoning".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp

YouTube      

Voragoth/Storm Obey No Masters!/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Voragoth  are  a  band  form  Croatia  that  plays  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Storm  Obey  No  Masters".

  Synths  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  which  also  returns  on  later  tracks  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  clear  singing  is  utilized  it  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  pagan  metal  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

    Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some spoken  words  and  whispers  also  utilized  briefly,  back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  of  the  vocals  also  going  into  an  angry  shouting  direction  on  a  few  tracks,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  th e lyrics  cover  Nature  and  Dark  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Voragoth  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  folk  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Chaos  We  Reign"  and  "The  Last  Day  Of  Night".  8  out  of  10.

  https://fanlink.tv/wdfk

https://www.instagram.com/voragothkvlt/

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

https://voragoth.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6WVeRfR5ZfaBU80OigVMLJ

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/voragoth/storm-obey-no-masters

https://voragoth.bandcamp.com/album/storm-obey-no-masters 

Aduanten/Apocryphal Voice/Nameless Grave Records/2o25 EP Review

 

  Aduanten  are  a  band  from  Austin,  Texas  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Apocryphal  Voice"  which  was  released  by  Nameless  Grave  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  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  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  progressive  moments  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Aduanten  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  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  decay  and  despair  with  profound  sorrow.

  In  my  opinion  Aduanten  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic  and  progressive  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  "Cerulean  Dream"  and  "The  Weakening  Sovereign".  8  out   of  10.

https://youtu.be/sR2DwsbrEgM

    

Eshtadur/Symphonic Crows - Live At The Santiago Londonos Theater/2025 Live Album Review

 

  Columbia's  Eshtadur  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic,  symphonic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  live  album  "Symphonic  Crows  -  Live  At  The  Santiago  Londonos  Theater"  which  will   be  released  in  December.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  mixing  in  with  the  symphonic  and orchestral  sounds.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  death  metal  growls  as  well  ad  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Live  audience  reaction  can  also  be  heard  in  between  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  incorporating  elements  of  black  metal  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  throat  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  On  this  recording  Eshtadur  introduces  symphonic  and  classical  music  orchestration  to  their  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  despair  through  the  decay  of  humanity.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eshtadur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  symphonic  and  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lowborn  Bastard"  "The  Red  Door"  and  "The  Fall".  8  out  of  10.

  

• Official Website: https://www.eshtadur.com
• Bandcamp: https://bandcamp.com/eshtadurmusic
• Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/EshtadurOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eshtadur/
• Twitter/X: https://x.com/eshtadur
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUCNspfTmYc11cx-DlpFCfFSIbZ-nJ98i&si=nkVZ97ee4akIbeB0
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/artist/0IdWx63RAlOm5W5iOKPesn?si=uDyPtTm9TOO0E_IiGkBM7A
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ve/artist/eshtadur/1116355501
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eshtadur

Avdagata/The Apocalyptic Aeon/At Dawn Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Avdagata  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Apocalyptic  Aeon"  which  will  be  released  on  November  29th  by  At  Dawn  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  mixed  in  with  some  old  school  extreme  metal  aggression  while  the  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  at  times  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  female  vocals  onto  the  album,  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  some  spoken  words  also  being  utilized  briefly  

  On  this  recording  Avdagata  expands  on  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal  which  they  introduced  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Swedish  and  cover  an  apocalyptic  future.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Avdagata  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Humanity  Falls"  "The  Apocalyptic  Aeon"  "Regnum  In  Tenebris"  and "Luciferian".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Avdagata218/

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzwPmvQrFCE  

Withering Soul/Passage Of The Arcane/Liminal Dread Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Chicago,  Illinois's  Withering  Soul  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Passage  Of  The  Arcane"  which  was  released  by  Liminal  Dread  Productions.

  Wind  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  some  symphonic  touches  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a b rief  use  of  clean  playing.

  On  this  recording  Withering  Soul  brings  in  a  symphonic  touch  to  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal,  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ghosts,  horror, paranormal  and  death  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Withering  Soul  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Attrition  Horizon"  "Gallery  Of  The  End"  and  "Burden  Of  The  Variant".  8  out  of  10.

  https://witheringsoul. bandcamp.com/album/passage-of- the-arcane  

    

Xaemora/Carnivores In Heaven: Chapter 1: Of Serpents And Vultures/2025 EP Review

 

  St.  Louis,  Missouri's   Xaemora  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Carnivores  In  Heaven:  Chapter  1:  Of  Serpents  And  Vultures".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  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  along  with  the  keyboards  also  taking  the  music  into  more  of  a  symphonic  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Xaemora  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  symphonic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy,  chaos  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Xaemora  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "From  A  Western  Sky".  8  out  of  10.

  Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/0uHqGtyythgs7SALa4D3AT

https://youtu.be/TKYnyYaGR1E

https://xaemora.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/xaemora/

https://www.facebook.com/Xaemora/ 

Lycantrophilia/The Tyranny Of Decay/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Lycantrophilia  are  an  international  duo  with  members  from  Germany  and  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "The  Tyranny  Of  Decay".

  Spoken  words  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  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  while  symphonic  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.

  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  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  angry  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  clear  singing.

  On  this  recording  Lycantrophilia  goes  for  a  very  aggressive,  modern,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  nature  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Lycantrophilia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carnivorous  Forest"  "Sung  Through  The  Maw  Of  Nothingness"  and  "Sanctum  of  Silence".  8  out  of  10.   

 https://lycantrophilia.bandcamp.com

Numenor/Runes Of Power/Elevate Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Serbia's  Numenor  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Runes  Of  Power"  which  will  be  released  on  November  21st  by  Elevate  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Clear  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  power  metal  style  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  sounding  very  powerful  and  symphonic  sounds  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  song  also introducing  death  metal  growls  onto  the  album.

  Back  up  shouts  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  keeping  the  main  focus  on  a  mid  tempo  direction  for  most  of  the  album  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  spoken  words  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  inspired  by  fantasy  literature  and  mythology.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Numenor  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic,  melodic,  symphonic  black,  death  and  power  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Arioch"  "The  Nine"  Morgana  LeFay"  and  "Dragons  Of  Erebor".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063626564979#

  

Haimad/When Night Rode Across The North/Northern Silence Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Haimad  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "When  Night  Rode  Across  The  North"  which  will  be  released  on  November  8th  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  and  orchestral  sounds  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  of  the  genre.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing.  

  Haimad  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  melodic  and  symphonic  in  the  mid  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  covers  the  writings  of  J.R R  Tolkien.

  In  my  opinion  Haimad  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "When  Night  Rode  Across  The  North"  "Naur"  and  "The  Key  To  The  First  And  Final  Day".  8  out  of  10.

  https://haimad.bandcamp.com

https://haimad-northernsilence.bandcamp.com/album/when-night-rode-across-the-north

https://www.facebook.com/HaimadSweden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CT1zoNRQ7w  

Mystic Circle/Hexenbrand/ROAR/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Mystic  Circle  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  2025  album  "Hexenbrand"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  ROAR.

  Horror  movie  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  symphonic  elements  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  recording.

  

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  clear  male  and  female  vocals.

  A couple  of  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  along  with  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of   clean  playing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Luciferian,  Black  Magick,  Occultism,  Witchcraft,  Horror  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mystic  Circle  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Luciferian"  "Ghost  Of  Whitechapel"  and  "Dance  On  The  Wings  of  Black  magic".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/MysticCircleOfficial

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mystic_circle_official

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@mystic_circle_official

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWjsdNlz2HHPJ6Gv1LpwbZg