Ravenoir/In The Womb Of Sin/Gothoom Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Ravenoir  are  a  band  from  Czechia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "In  The  Womb  Of  Sin"  which  was  released  by  Gothoom  Productions.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast b eats. 

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  elements.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style  when  they  are  utilized,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  movie  samples.  and  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental  before  adding  in  a  bonus  track  which  is  a  cove r of  Mercyful  Fate's  "Black  Funeral"..

  Ravenoir  plays  a  musical  styles  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  blasphemy  themes.     

  In  my  opinion  Ravenoir  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  "In  The  Womb  Of  Sin"  "Stigma  Infernoir"  and "Lunar  Choir".  8  out  of  10.

  www.gothoomproductions.com/ravenoir

www.facebook.com/RavenoirOfficial   

Hedon/Year Of The Witch/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Hedon  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  bene  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Year  Of  The  Witch"  which  will  be  released  in  November.

  Victory  chants  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can b e  heard.  The  riffs  also  ad d in  a  lot  of  melody  while t he  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  tremolo  picking  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  ad d in  a  decent  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  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.

  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  word  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Witchcraft,  Blasphemy  and  Black  Magick  themes..  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hedon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  Tale"  "Witchfinder"  and  "Digerdol  Den".  8  out  of  10.

  

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A.C.OD/Fourth Reign: Over Opacities And Beyond/Les Acteurs de' L'Ombre Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  A.C.O.D  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  melodic  blackened  death metal  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Fourth  Reign:  Over  Opacities  And  Beyond"  which  was  released  by  Les  Acteurs  de'  L  Ombre  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  while  percussion  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a   faster  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.    

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  music  also  has  its  symphonic  moments  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  songs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffing  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism and the writings of Dante.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  A.C.O.D  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Genus  Vacuitatis"  "Artes  obscurae"  and  "Through  The  Astral  Door".  8  out  of  10.

   Facebook // YouTube // Web // Instagram // Bandcamp // Spotify

The Magik Way/Dracula(25 Years Anniversary/My Kingdom Music/2022 Full length Review

 

  Italy's  The  Magik  Way  has  returned  with  a  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of   ambient,  ritual,  experimental,  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Dracula(25  Years  Anniversary)"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  A  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  darker  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  female  vocals.  

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  the  atmosphere  of  a  horror  movie  soundtrack.  Touches  of  ambient  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  male  vocals  also  adding  in a  mixture  of  clear  singing  and  grim  black  metal  screams  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  as  the  spoken  word  parts  also  enhancing  the  occult  side  of  the  music  when  they  are utilized,  melodic  guitar  leads  can  also b e  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  The  Magik  Way  takes  ambient,  ritual,  experimental,  black  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  Bram  Stoker's  "Dracula'.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Magik  Way  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  ritual,  experimental,  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Castel  Dracula"  "Lucy"  and  "Van  Helsing".  8  out  of  10.

  ttp://facebook.com/themagikway

Defacing God Interview

 

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

I founded Defacing God back in 2015 with a clear vision.

I´ve been a singer most of my life and I always knew that this was the way I wanted to go but I also knew beforehand that I needed to meet the right people to work with to make my vision come true. 

It happened when I met my drummer (Michale Olsson) more or less a decade ago. He lives and breathes for music as well and always had the same attitude towards things as myself. ´´If we do this, we do it properly. Whatever it takes, whatever it costs´´.

It took us some years to complete the constellation of the right band members though. Around 2017 we had our lineup complete as you see it nowadays. It just clicked and we were lucky in that.

We started out with experimenting with several styles, but mainly focused on the melodic death genre, to find a style of sound and expression that we personally felt complete with and the creative process has been long since then. You can have a vision and a goal, but that´s the fun thing about creativity. You never know where it goes and sometimes things take a turn. I guess my personal interest for the dark and occult shines very much through in our sound and visuals that we have, but it is hard to put us in a specific box since each our personal taste and style are different from each other’s in the band but I think we found mutual ground after years of experimenting with our creativity. Defacing God is not just about the music, but the whole package. The theatric and cinematic aspect is a big part of it for us as well. 

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

Yes, that´s correct. 

If I should put a simple label on our sound or style, then I’d say we play melodic death metal. A very darkened version of it! Very atmospheric with a lot of layers and details due to the symphonic parts. We like to span the arc between raw death metal, symphonic grandiosity and the massive Scandinavian metal traditions. We are completely aware that melodic death metal isn´t a new genre at all, nor did we intend to try to invent one. We simply wanted to create something personal and twisted, out from some old traditions. 

We are very proud of the Scandinavian metal traditions so the intention has always been to play a genre that we love and adore but then put our own personal touch on it. We do mix our music with different styles. For example, you´ll hear a lot of black metal influences, some progressive inspiration and even classical components. Luckily creativity has no limits so with the experimenting and mixing in your own interests and influences- that´s the way you can create something that is very personal and unique. I think we hit something more unusual by mixing styles the way we did.

All the symphonic and atmospheric parts are mostly seen in the modern black metal and not that much in melodic death metal. Personally, I think that many tend to over-use the symphonies or keyboard parts. I wanted to challenge that and find a fine line and create some more balance in the use of it, so that one thing doesn´t take over the other. Our guitars doesn´t drown in keyboard parts for example and the groove is still to be found. At the same time, the orchestrations remain very clear in the sound collage. That is a hard balance to find, really! But if you ask me, I think we found especially on our latest album. The personal mark on the expression is there, also without being bound to certain rules. Our sound is what came out of this experimenting so far but I am definitely not done with the experimenting part and the development of our sound. Let´s see what the future brings. 

3.A lot of your lyrics also cover Occultism and Witchcraft themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

Do you mean THE dark arts or just ´´dark´´ art in general? Cause the dark arts refer more to black magic, which is any type of magic, mainly used to cause harm. I´ll go with the second one – I´d only use black magick when I am really pissed! 😉 

Anyway, I´ve always just been drawn or intrigued by darkness, the occult, horror or unusual things as long as I can remember. I can´t really tell you necessarily why. I like the adrenaline rush you feel when watching some really creepin´ horror. I guess from a psychological aspect, it can be explained with that it is stimulating, cause it triggers different kinds of emotion; fear, sadness but also excitement (in my case) it somehow makes me feel more alive. Horror or dark art can make you escape your own reality for a moment (every form of art can) but when you are exposed for some real terrifying horror or whatever form of darkness, it makes you think and reflect. Maybe you even appreciate your own reality a bit more after you come back from it? Or maybe you can identify some of your own inner feelings in the horror, which makes you feel safe in a freaky way? It´s hard to say what exactly does it for me. Somehow darkness in any form just feels honest, raw and vulnerable to me. It is not some kind of fake, glossy, shimmering image so to say. The world does that enough already. Covering up for all the horror that happens out there but most of us like to paint our existence in pink and rainbows and then refuse to deal with what reality also looks like underneath. Dark art is a reminder of how the real world is out there and I believe it´s healthy to deal with both sides of life. We need the contrasts to create a better understanding. 

Especially the occult and witchcraft have always been a thing for me. I think I was influenced by my mom from a young age. She has always been a ´´real´´ witch and taught me the importance of our nature and how much we can seek and use nature itself for healing. She learned me how to make tea of the beautiful herbs we can find in our own garden and how everything is very much alive out there and vital to us. She also learned me about spells and the importance of mindset if you practice them and last but not least, to read tarot cards which is a little silly and cozy ritualistic tradition I still have nowadays when I sit in solitude with my coffee. When it comes to the paranormal or super-natural beings, then I must say that I do not believe in it… as such. I do believe that there is things that we humans can´t explain. I also don´t believe in any religions or celestial beings in general. Not at all. But I think if you would call me something, i think you maybe could call me some kind of spiritual maybe? I believe very much in science first of all, but I do also believe in the law of attraction for example, even though it is considered as a form of pseudoscience, without any empirical scientific evidence to support it. Well.. Our universe is a giant pit of pure energy. Everything consists of these energies and we are surrounded by it, so I really believe everything that we send out comes back to us somehow. What we give our time and focus, we give life. I just experienced that so many times in my personal life so it is hard for me not to believe. Maybe it was just pure luck, who knows? I just know I strongly believe in the power of our own mindset and what kind of energy we send out. It never failed me.

I also believe that there is so much that us simple humans can not even comprehend and never will. We are not the center of the universe even though we like to believe that we are that important. Compared to the size and power of the universe, we are nothing.. So, yes.. not everything can be explained from the minds of a simple human creature. That is why I believe that we can´t and never will be able of explaining everything or completely get the big picture which is fine I guess. 

But it is interesting indeed. I easily get ´´lost in space´´if I think about it.  

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

The name Defacing God simply just stuck to me. You can analyze it into many things. Mostly offending, I guess. For me it litterally means that we remove the mask from the so called "God" and behind that mask, you'll find humanity exposed. It´s like defacing the image of God, remove the mask and smash it into a wall to reveal what´s behind it so to say. Destroy it or write over it you know.

Religion and the term "God" is by fact created by humans and the name of God has been used in many cultures to cause fear, to manipulate or control a certain group of people and humanity has even killed and justified it in the name of the so called God many times throughout history. The name "Defacing God" is for me a term used to destroy that cover up and expose people and hold humanity responsible for their own deeds and behavior, not hiding behind some celestial being or creature. That is what the name means to me.

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

We worked together with Peter Sallai from Mortpaintgraphics on the cover artwork and it simply symbolize a woman held down by people, most likely servants of the church but also all the expectations from the society that surrounds her. Out of her chest you see the hand of her inner Lilith breaking free from her chains. What actually happens is a kind of revolution inside her. She breaks free from the invisible chains that held her down, her own negative thoughts and self-restrictions and she will rise as a new, stronger version of herself and we wanted to visualize that in the whole picture of the album.

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

This is a hard question. I barely remember shows anymore because of the pandemic, haha. Things have been a bit slow post corona and we just focused on making the album the last 2 years. 

One specific show stands very clear in my mind though, now you ask about it.. We played a show on a new festival in Copenhagen called Copenhagen Metal festival. That show was so intense and the big hall packed to the breaking point. So many came to see us that the security had to close the doors for more visitors because it wasn´t allowed to squeeze more people in there. They were hungry and in the middle of our witchy ritual everything got so heated (we like to think it was because of that at least, haha) that the fire alarm goes off and everyone had to evacuate and leave the place. The situation got under control and we could return to the stage after a while. Rest of the show was even more intense. I could taste the sweat from the whole front row during the show. Damn, I miss that feeling.

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

We are in the brewing process of a tour, but as said; Things have been slow post corona because every band wants to go on tour again so it has been hard to plan anything. Next year we have a tour in my home country (Denmark) and I think we will have a few single shows after the album release. We count on 2023. That´s the year live music comes back full force and the touring will start. 

8.The new album is going to be released on 'Napalm Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

Yes, that is correct. 

After the release of the official video of our track ´´Succumb the Euphoria´´ we got in contact with Napalm Records. They liked our concept and found the expressions of the topics and theme very strong and that is how our collaboration started. We are very grateful for that opportunity. Napalm Records have shown us such professionalism since day one which is very good for a control-freak like me, so that is how and why I know they are the right label for us to support my visions.

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

It has been great so far. Things went faster than I expected so I just can´t wait to get out there on the road. Nothing more to add.  

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

As said; We are not done with experimenting and developing our sound. 

You can never know what the future brings and you never know exactly what comes out of it when it comes to art. That´s what makes the process exciting! I will not follow any ´´rules´´ so to say so I´ll just wait and see what happens in the work process. If I get inspired and want to try out something else, then I´ll do it. I think especially it is important to leave your comfort zone as an artist. So, there is no limits of what you can do.

From each album we´ll try to push ourselves even harder and see what we are capable of. 

11.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?

This is not a question I can answer on behalf of the whole band since we are very different from each others in style and personal taste. We tried to find mutual ground and meet in the middle on this and what we sound like nowadays is what came out of that process. 

I am personally drawn to and influenced by especially black metal, darkness and the occult in general. I guess that is very obvious in our expression as a whole.

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

Thank you so much for having me. Take care and I´ll see you all on the road hopefully!

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Condra/Aeonic Tempest From The Abyss/Tragedy Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Condra  are  a  band  from  Chile  that  plays  an  anti  cosmic  and  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Aeonic  Tempest  From  The  Abyss"  which  will b e  released  in  October  by  Tragedy  Productions.

  Rain  sounds  and  classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  direction  while  also  introducing  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  speed s up a   decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style.

  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  melodic  death  emtal  elements.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  showing  an  influence  of  the  early  Dissection  era   as  well  as  the  classical  guitars  also  making  a  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with a  couple of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals  instrumentals.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti  Cosmic  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Condra  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  anti  cosmic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aeonic  Tempest  From  The  Abyss"  "Spectres  of  A  Dying  Soul"  and  "The  Omen".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.instagram.com/condrablackmetal/

https://youtube.com/channel/UChVFwy6ULNY5I21Xo7Kb94g

Medieval Demon/Black Coven/Hells Headbangers Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Greece's  Medieval  Demon  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  melodic  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from t heir  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Black  Coven"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Hells  Headbangers  Records.

  Evil  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  as  well  as  giving  the  recording  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  a  few  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling,  saxophones  are  also  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Witchcraft,  Greek  Sorcery  and  Death  Magick  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Medieval  Demon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Witches  Dwell  And  Labyrinths  Confuse"  "Baptismal  Blood"  and  "The  Grave  Dwellers".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/6Ae9Q70_A7s

Manic Abraxas Interview

 

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

Basically solidifying our live lineup and arranging material for shows.

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

To us it’s a progression from the last time.  We spent more time on details, nuances and getting tone dialed.  That’s not to say this is overly produced, the emphasis is still on a raw sound.

3.Some of your lyrics cover occultism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

To us the occult simply means hidden from the public, which describes a lot of our themes.  We aren’t a Satanic band, that shit is pretty much mainstream these days.  Where we’re coming from has no constraints.

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

There’s one song on the new album about a paranormal experience one of us had.  Overall the lyrics tend to be impersonal.  We have plenty of songs heavily influenced by some of our favorite fiction writers…SciFi, Fantasy, Horror etc.  Others can be about how peculiar it is to be alive.

5.I know that the band's name came from 'Gnosticism', can you tell us a little bit more about your research into this topic?

It’s just an interesting topic for us.  Abraxas seemed to be a clouded & unpredictable figure of unknown alignment and that’s the perfect umbrella for our music.

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

We are very proud to have album art by the amazing Gage Lindsten.

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

At this moment in 2022 playing shows seems like a distant memory.  Live is a barely contained torrent - we have forgotten all about society and being human summoning Abraxas in our own primitive way.

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

We have a handful of shows lined up for the fall.  We’ll probably never do real tours but weekends and the odd week now and then as we grow would be cool.

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

Unsigned - we have garnered no interest.

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

Overall it’s been positive but we’ve also had plenty of hate.  We don’t fit in any boxes so that excites us.

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

That’s hard to say.  RIght now we have a huge backlog of unreleased & unrecorded songs all the way back to our beginning so that may be our next release, a regression of sorts.  

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?

Saturnalia Temple, Darkthrone, St Vitus, early High On Fire, Celtic Frost, Bolzer, Venom, Blue Oyster Cult, Unearthly Trance, ZZ Top - it’s endless really.

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

Thanks for having us.

https://manicabraxas.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/manic69abraxas

https://www.facebook.com/manicabraxas

Manic Abraxas/Foreign Winds/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Manic  Abraxis  are  a  band  from  Maine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Foreign  Winds"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

 

 A  very  hard  and  heavy  stoner  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Synths  can  also be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  also b ringing  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  mixing  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  is  also  added in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  while  growls  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  vocals.  Touches  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  one  the  tracks  along  with  some  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording,  some  of t he  riffing  adds  in  touches  of  classic  metal  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Manic  Abraxis  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Red  Camo  Rock"  "Foreign  Winds"  and  "Black  Destrier".  8  out  of  10.

  https://manicabraxas.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/manic69abraxas

https://www.facebook.com/manicabraxas  .  

  

Defacing God/The Resurrection Of Lilith/Napalm Records/2022 Full length Review

 

  Defacing  God  are  a  band  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "The  Resurrection  Of  Lilith"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Napalm  Records. 

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in a  brief  use  of  chants  before  going  into  a heavier  direction.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  melodies  are  also  added  into a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing. 

  Vocals a re  a mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in a   good  amount  of  tremolo  picking,  one  song  also introduces  choirs  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Defacing  God  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  symphonic  black  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  Occultism,  Witchcraft  and  the  female  demon  Lilith.

  In  my  opinion  Defacing  God  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  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  "The  Invocation  Part  I  Lilith"  "Rise  of  The  Trinity"  "Death  Followed  Like  A  Plague"  and  "Into  the  Mist  Of  Memories".  8  out  of  10.

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Napalm Records

https://youtu.be/8qJFWXVvR44  

Nazgul Rising Interview

 

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

The album was released in late March on digital platforms, collecting a good number of listening's and interest, despite being promoted only on social media. With the help of promotion agencies between reviews and interviews interest has increased, hoping to have contacts with some label interested. 

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

Surely songwriting and production that has improved.

From the 2005 Ep "Let Evil Arise" it was a home recording. After years of silence I wanted to take back some old tracks that had never been completed, but still had a good potential. In 2014, "Orietur in Tenebris Lux tua" was released. In recent years I dedicated myself to writing the new album, I felt that the path with the previous album had not yet ended. So I found the collaboration of Lord Trevius for the orchestral arrangements, but I didn’t have the participation of Borius on vocals, so the songs were all sung by me.

3.This is also your first album in 8 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

I played for other projects and other bands, so I had left out writing for new songs, which at the beginning were in an embryonic state and I was not satisfied. I was just waiting for the right moment to write something new and it finally came. For realization it took another 2 years.

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

“Orietur in Tenebris Lux Tua” and “Cycles of Primal Chaos” are concept albums about life, death and

rebirth. A journey rites and cults; a journey between darkness and light. The inspiration came from

ancestral chronicles: the legendary founders of the first human civilizations, who were called “the

Serpent of Wisdom”, are represented in many ancient myths. The priestly lineages that presided and

guided the birth and development of civilizations, a head of mysteries and initiatic traditions, recalling the etymology of the serpent.

5.In one interview you also mentioned an interest in history, what are some of the historical events that you take interest in?

There are several, but more than anything what struck me reading the “Laments of Ur“, a text written more than 5000 years ago, attributed calamities to an evil wind blowing from the west, a deadly cloud that caused an atrocious death to all living beings, people and animals alike, that shriveled plants and poisoned the waters, unleashed by the use of “Weapons of Terror” in a conflict between opposing clans of the Anunnaki. So I took inspiration to write "Evilwind".

6.I know that the bands name comes from the writings of J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his writings and also do you have any interest in other fantast authors?

The name "Nazgul Rising" is a metaphor for the evil that comes within us, the dark alter ego wants to get out and take over. Corruption, lust for power and submission in exchange for

something, has always reflected the vulnerability of man.

In addition to Tolkien, which is my favorite, I am also passionate about fantasy, sci-fi and horror literature. I can also mention H.P. Lovecraft, Clark A. Smith, E.A.Poe, Barker, G.R.R.Martin, A. Machen, Philip Dick, Asimov, Ballard, Matheson, Robert E. Howard. Did I forget any?

7.On the album cover you show the battle between Marduk and Tiamat, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Sumerian Mythology and what are also some of the other mythologies that you have studied?

We wanted this cover, made by Nestor Avalos, because it contains the whole concept of the album. I wanted two primordial entities representing the clash of light and darkness. 

I have always found Sumerian mythology interesting, the legends are somehow connected with other civilizations including Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Norse. I am not a scholar but just passionate about history, and I am lucky to live in Rome that has a lot to offer.

8.So far the band has not done any live shows but you have mentioned you would be interested in doing a live show if you had an orchestra, what kind of orchestra do you feel would be suitable for the musical style that you play?

In that interview I said that it would be a dream to be able to play live with a real orchestra. I don’t know in reality how much you can make it happen. Already some great bands have played with orchestras, Septic Flesh, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, but these are bands with great productions and big budgets. We still have to keep on grounded.

9.In August 'Old Metal Rites' is going to release the physical version of the new album, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Despite the different offers of some labels, we were looking for those that were interested in releasing our album. Besides Old Metal Rites, Misantropia Records has also offered to print CDs. We chose them because they are labels without exclusive products, and above all to expand the distribution both in America and in Europe being the Brazilian Old Metal Rites and the Finnish Misanthropy. Anyway I found a lot of willingness on both sides.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of symphonic black metal>

The reactions are good, not only from symphonic black metal listeners but also from those who listen to different sub-genres of black or extreme metal. In particular, orchestral arrangement was appreciated, different from the usual baroque and gothic tracks. We focused more on recreating dark atmospheres of mythology and fantasy,  at the same time giving power and impact.

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

We have material to write another album, but how it will sound and the direction it will take we don’t know yet, maybe we could experiment with something new.

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

I listen to tons of music, mostly metal, but lately there are few bands that surprise me with something new, so I prefer old bands that make new records. I really enjoyed the last of Blut Aus Nord, they always manage to innovate and evolve.

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

We want to thank ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine for this interview especially to you who read it to the end.

Grimorium Verum/REALL/Symbol Of Dominion Productions/2022 CD Review

 

  Russia's  Grimorium  Verum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "REALL"  which  was  released  by  Symbol  Of  Dominion  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Symphonic  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  influences  of  death  and  doom  metal  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  instrumentals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grimorium  Verum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  The  Labyrinth  Of  Times"  "Last  Ritual"  and  "A  Slave  Of  The  Lamp".  8  out  of  10.

https://symbolofdomination.bandcamp.com/album/sodp150-grimorium-verum-reall-2022   

Nazgul Rising/Cycles Of Primal Chaos/2022 Full Length Review

 

   Nazgul  Rising  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Cycles  Of  Primal  Chaos".  

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  modern  and  old  school  influences.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Mysticism,  Occultism,  Paganism  and  Darkness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Nazgul  Rising  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seed  Of  The  Serpent"  "Visions  Of  The  Nightside"  "Father  of  Les"  and  "From  The  Depths  Of  Hades".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/K6p7gIe4q3g

https://open.spotify.com/album/56yP0V4wcBcEiw1GSQqMNH

https://www.facebook.com/nazgulrising/

https://www.instagram.com/nazgulrising/

https://nazgulrising.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/nazgulrising 

  

Devils Architect/Baptized In Blood And Blasphemy/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Devils  Architect  are  a  duo  form  Milwaukee,  Oregon  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Baptized  In  Blood  And  Blasphemy".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.  Symphonic  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  industrial  touches.

  Devils  Architect  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  hauntings,  demon  possessions,  demonic  entities,  evil  spirits,  monsters  and  blasphemy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Devils  Architect  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Father  of  Darkness"  "Manifesting  Terror"  "Unholy  Divine"  and  "Summoned  By  Burning  Light".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: https://devilsarchitect.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevilsArchitect666/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCFICLeoiKFLs5u3Rlm-lEfQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7m9PiI2Aqrn2jLI42IvR1H?si=j3EczUGoR96ecWLqBLAsOg&utm_source=copy-link

Instagram: https://instagram.com/devils_architect666?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=    

VĀMĀCĀRA/Cosmic Fires: The Enlightenment Reversed/MDD Records/2022 CD Review

 

  VĀMĀCĀRA  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  stoner  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Cosmic  Fires:  The  Enlightenment  Reversed"  which  will  be  released  on  April  29th  by  MDD  Records.

  &0's  influenced  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  psychedelic  elements  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  touches  of  stoner  rock,  oriental  and  western  music  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Clear  vocals  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks,  whispers  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English,  Greek,  Polish  and  Turkish  and  cover  Left  hand  Philosophy  and  Illumination  themes.

  In  my  opinion  VĀMĀCĀRA  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  metal  and  stoner  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Alchemical  Symbolism"  and  "Brought  Up  By  The  Moon".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Cadaveria/Emptiness/Time To Kill Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Italy's  Cadaveria  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  horror  orientated  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album    "Emptiness"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Time  TO  Kill  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clean  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  gothic  metal  into  the  music  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  dark,  death  and  traditional  metal  touches  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  also  showing  an  influence  of  doom  metal,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  whispers  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  and  the  album  also  closes  with  a  cover  of  Deine  Lakaien's  "Return".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Horror  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cadaveria  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Great  Journey"  "The  Woman  Who  Fell  To  The  Earth"  "Live  After"  and  "Return".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/cadaveria

https://www.instagram.com/cadaveriaofficial/

https://twitter.com/_Cadaveria

https://www.cadaveria.com/