Burning Creation/Sea Of Dead Bodies/Via Nocturna/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Burning  Creation  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Sea  Of  Dead  Bodies"  which  was  released  by  Via  Nocturna.

  Water  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  epic  sounding  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  A  lot  of  the  album  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  closing  track  is  an  Amon  Amarth  cover.

  Burning  Creation  plays  a  viking  themed  form  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal  in  the  Swedish  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Nordic  Mythology,  Vikings,  Scandinavian  Folklore  and  Historical  Events.

  In  my  opinion  Burning  Creation  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eaten  By  Hulder"  "The  Einherjer's  Return"  "Under  The  Fading  Sun"  and  "As  The  ocean  Takes  us  Down".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/4b3kDcdS9rM

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Kromlek/- III - III/Trollzorn Records/2024 Double Album Review

 

  Kromlek  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  folk,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "-  III  -  III"  which  was  released  by  Trollzorn  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  synths  and  keyboards  also  give  the  album  more  of  an  epic  atmosphere  when  they  are  utilized.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  songs  also  add  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  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  folk  metal  elements.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  viking  chants,  the  album  also  has  its  symphonic  moments  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  the  cosmos  of  pre-Christian  philosophy.  and  worldview  and  its  beginnings  and  origins.

  In  my  opinion  Kromlek  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  folk,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Þursöld  III  Nunatak"  "Totem  Tales  II  aRktur"  and  "Moritvrvs  Immortalis".  8  out  of 10.

  https://youtu.be/grm92sBnGOU

https://www.facebook.com/kromlekofficial  

Warfarer/A Tale Beyond The Pale/Inverse Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Warfarer  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "A  Tale  Beyond  The  Pale"  which  was  released  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  bring  in a   mixture  of  clean  singing,  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

 

 When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  introducing  spoken  word  pars  onto  the  album  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  choirs  and  shouts,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Warfarer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  symphonic  forms  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Finnish  Myth  of  the  Brotherslayer.

  In  my  opinion  Warfarer  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Heir  Uncrowned"  "Betrayer"  and  "The  Gates  To  Realms  Beyond".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/warfarer   

Mythbegotten 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?

We’ve taken a bit of time to bask in finally having the album out, but we’ve pretty quickly moved onto the process of making plans for our next releases and writing and revising songs. The album release and the reception from friends, peers, and fans has been really invigorating and inspiring for us, and has us eager to continue our journey and see what's next.

2.A couple of months back you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that is presented on the recording?

We’ve been referring to the style as “Epic Folk Metal” since it seems to get across the general sense of what we sound like. On a more granular level, our sound is a combination of elements of Power Metal, Folk Metal, Symphonic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and Progressive Metal, but there's also bits of Black metal, Gothic Metal, and Doom Metal in there if you dig into our sound. Ultimately, while genres are useful as a point of reference, we really just make Mythbegotten: the music we want to hear and which comes naturally through our collaboration. 

3.A lot of your lyrics cover the mythology and legends of the British Isles, can you tell us a little bit more about the stories you have covered from this topic so far?

Mythology and folklore (especially that of the British Isles) has always been a point of interest for us and a source of musical and lyrical inspiration. Specifically, the Dullahan, the Welsh iteration of the wild hunt, the legend of Sawney Bean, and the story of Merlin and the dragons were each picked due to fitting the vibe of the music for the songs they were used for in addition to being topics that inspired us. The Welsh wild hunt was also the source for our original band name, Hounds of Annwn, so it was nice to be able to include an allusion to that as a sort of easter egg. The story of Merlin and the Dragons was also a favorite of mine and Connor’s as kids so it was delightful to bring it to life musically.

4.You also have some lyrics inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, John Milton and J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in their work?

Dan - All three of us are big Tolkein fans, and as Tolkein intended the Lord of the Rings to be a sort of origin story or new mythology for Britain, it seemed fitting to include. As a big Blind Guardian fan I had also always been disappointed they never got around to doing a grand LOTR concept album or a followup to Nightfall in Middle Earth, so this felt like us taking a bit of that task into our own hands. Lovecraft has also been a point of interest for us all at various points; Joe and I have been in campaigns of the TTRPG “Call of Cthulhu”, and for myself at least he was a big gateway for me getting interested in horror and weird fiction. While taking a Milton class back in college, I wrote the original acoustic version of “The Fall” after being particularly struck by the beginning of Book 4 of “Paradise Lost”. It's such a mournful and bittersweet depiction of Lucifer and his conflicting motivations, and it really resonated with me. Connor and Joe dug it and did a truly fantastic arrangement of it that does the story and song justice as a melancholy yet fiery power ballad, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it came out.

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

After deciding we wanted to change our name from “Hounds of Annwn”, we compiled a huge list of possible band names and ran them by each other and our friends before finally landing on Mythbegotten. We felt it was memorable and rolled off the tongue well, while also really representing our thematic ethos of being shaped and inspired by myths, legends, fantasy and history, and bringing them to life with our music.

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

The artwork was done by the wonderful and immensely talented Nathan Kwon of Haeun Creative, who also did our band logo. It’s meant to invoke the idea of sitting around the fire with a manifestation of the Unseelie Court and listening to the stories told there, as referenced in “The Heedless Horseman”. Figures from several of the songs are around the fire, as well as two central figures who are meant to be a sort of inverse or Unseelie version of Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

We are definitely open to the idea and it is something we would like to do when the time is right. Currently it's just the three of us, so in addition to recruiting live members, we’d also have to figure out the logistics of rehearsing when we live in different parts of the Northeast. But its definitely something we all want to get to eventually, so stay tuned!

7.On the new album you also have a few guests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and their contributions to the recording?

We’re lucky to have some immensely talented friends whom we were able to bring in for this album. Dan’s bandmate Peter from Goblin Hovel is an awesome folk musician, and provided banjo on “Of Wrath and Ruin” and mandolin and banjo on “Twa Corbies” to help create that perfect spooky Celtic campfire song vibe. Andy “Hellskald” McGirr is a veteran of the Buffalo NY metal scene who shreds the violin on several songs on the album. While he is best known for his blistering guitar playing in the awesome black metal bands Hubris, Ferus Din, and Helianthus, we first met him lending his fiddling skills to Throne of Wilderness at the same show where Hounds of Annwn performed our one and only set. That’s where we also met the multitalented nameless goblin who fronts Goblin Hovel, another band Dan is in, and who lends his cello chops to “Beneath Exham Priory”. Rob Pollard, guitar wizard and frontman of the mighty Wandering Oak (and also of Helianthus and Goblin Hovel), engineered Dan’s vocals for the album. He also provides some guest harshes and gang vocals on the track “Mallt-y-Nos”, along with bassist Justin Martelo Montione of WNY prog outfit Haishen. In addition to the rogues’ gallery of colleagues from the Western New York metal scene, Joe brought in friend and trained opera singer Corinne Cotta to lend her powerful vocals throughout the album. Ultimately this all served to make the album the best it could be while also allowing us to showcase the myriad skills of the friends the band has made over the years.

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

We haven't been approached so far but are certainly open to the idea. That said, we’ve done this all so far with nothing but our wits and the support of our families, friends, and community, so carrying on as we have been is far from a tragic outcome!

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

Dan - So far the reaction has been great! In addition to a healthy North American listenership, we've been getting lot of listeners in Europe and China, so we're thrilled our music is resonating with a global audience. One of my favorite things about metal is its ability to serve as a bridge and point of unification across cultures and continents, and it’s lovely to be part of that.

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

Dan - Were all excited to forge ahead and see whats next musically. We have a few more songs “in the tank”, so to speak, that have already been written and will be part of an EP we plan on releasing next, but for our second album we will be breaking entirely new ground. Our sense of collaboration and musical identity really came together over the process of this recording so it will be great to see what an album of all-brand-new material looks like for us. Sound-wise I think the influences we’ve previously mentioned will continue to be our primary touchstones, but the three of us all have eclectic musical palettes and interests so I don't see things getting stale.

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

Dan - For me personally I think my most relevant influences are Blind Guardian (my favorite band), the folk metal boom of the mid-2000s and the many bands who played on the Pagan Fest tours between 2007 and 2014, Cradle of Filth and Dani’s harsh vocal virtuosity and originality, Stan Rogers and his beautiful baritone vocals and expressive folk songwriting, and the wealth of traditional folk music that we draw from (particularly from Ireland and Scotland). Lately I’ve been listening to a few more experimental bands, including Tropical Fuckstorm, Troldhaugen, and Flummox in heavy rotation. I’ve been really digging the latest Ensiferum album, and like pretty much every power metal fan I adore Fellowship and have been listening to their new record quite a bit.

Connor - In terms of guitar arrangements I draw a lot of inspiration from classic melodeath and power metal, as well as a range of progressive acts such as The Ocean, Ne Obliviscaris, and Haken. Lately I've been listening a lot to the recent releases by MakeMake, The Warning, Kenshi Yonezu, Poppy, Fourth Dominion, and unpeople.

Joe - For me, acts like Equilibrium, Nightwish, and Eluveitie will always have a dominant role in my playlist, and I think one needn’t look too hard to see their influence in our release. But coming from a more classically-oriented background, greats like Chopin, Beethoven, and JS Bach have also played a huge role in shaping my tastes, and more modern idols would certainly include John Williams, Howard Shore, and Danny Elfman. Which makes for a hard pivot when I say that recently, I’ve mostly been listening to Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan. But hey, if variety is the spice of life, I guess I’m just a spicy lad. 

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

Dan - The era of Mythbegotten is only beginning. The chaotic state of the world has redoubled our drive to create art and share old tales to provide inspiration, catharsis, and comfort as best we can. We’ll be continuing to post and share updates as things progress, and can't wait to regale our listeners with more tales.

 mythbegotten.bandcamp.com

 youtube.com/@Mythbegotten

Twisted Mist/Gehenna/M.U.S.I.C Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Twisted  Mist  are  a  duo  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  pagan  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Gehenna"  which  was  released  by  M.U.S.I.C  Records.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  along  with  some  clear  pagan  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.  One  song  also  introduces  female  vocals  onto  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  as  well  as  adding  in  an  instrumental  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  In  this  recording  Twisted  mist  take  a  pagan  form  of  folk  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  heaviness  and  harsh  vocals  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  very  heavy  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  are  inspired  by  Dante  Alighieri's  "The  Divine  Comedy".

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Twisted  Mist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  death,  pagan  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Gehenna  Pt.  2"  "Cerbere'  "Styx'  and  "Trahison".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/twistedmist2014/

https://www.instagram.com/twisted.mist/  

Mythbegotten/Tales From The Unseelie Court/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Mythbegotten  are  a  band  with  embers  from  Central  new  York  and  New  England  that  plays  an  epic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Tales  From  The  Unseele  Court".

  Field  recordings  and  distorted  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  and  symphonic  sounds  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Power  metal  style  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  album  also  adds  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  songs  also  adding  in  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.  One  song  also  introduces  black  metal  screams  onto  the  album  as  well  as  some  female  vocals  also  being  utilized  at  times,  the  recording  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  mythologies  of  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  Arthurian  Legends  and  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft,  John  Milton  and  J.R.R  Tolkien.

  In  my  opinion  Mythbegotten  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Headless  Horseman"  "The  Fall"  and  "Of  Wrath  And  Ruin".  8  out  of  10.

    mythbegotten.bandcamp.com

 youtube.com/@Mythbegotten

Suidakra/Darkanakrad/MDD Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Suidakra  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  Celtic  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Darkanakrad"  which  was  released  by  MDD  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  back  up  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing, one  song  is  an  instrumental  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments  and  they  close  the  album  with  an  At  The  Gates  medley.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Celtic  Mythology  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Suidakra  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Heroes  Abide"  "A  Tainted  Dominion"  and  "The  Last  Guardian".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/F8uVvq80EHk  

TrollWar/Tales From The Frozen Wastes/2024 EP Review

 

  TrollWar  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Tales  From  The  Frozen  Wastes".

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  parts  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Shouts  and  choir  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitars  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  power  metal  vocals. 

  On  this  recording  TrollWar  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  and  symphonic  metal  to  create  a  very  epic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  TrollWar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The   Unseen  One"  and  "The  Offering".  8  out  of  10.

  ​Trollwar.wixsite.com/trollwar | Facebook.com/Trollwar | x.com/trollwarqc | Instagram.com/trollwarmetal/   

Vorgrum/Summit Of Dreams/2024 EP Review

 

  Argentina's  solo  project  Vorgrum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  fantasy  and  pagan  orientated  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  ep  "Summit  of  Dreams".

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats.  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  mixed  with  some  clean  pagan  vocals.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  Elements  of  folk  music  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  soundtrack/

  On  the  release  Vorgrum  takes  fantasy  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  it  with  pagan  metal  to  create  a  very  epic  yet  heavy  sounding  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy,  Folklore  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vorgrum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  fantasy  and  pagan  orientated  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Summit  Of  Dreams"  and  "The  Goblin  Of  The  Depths,  With  Eyes  of  Dew".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/vorgrumfolk

https://www.facebook.com/vorgrum
https://vorgrum.bandcamp.com

  

Antipope/Doors Of The Dead/Moribund Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Antipope  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  them  moving  away  from  the  black  and  death  metal  elements  of  earlier  releases  and  focusing  more  on  a  shamanistic,  psychedelic  and  progressive  form  of  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2024  album  "Doors  Of  The  Dead"  which  will  be  released  on  october  25th  by  Moribund  Records.

  A  very  ritualistic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  while  shamanistic  chants  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  adds  in  touches  of  black  and  death  metal  while  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  power  metal  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  harsh  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  album  also  has  its  psychedelic  moments,  synths  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  songs.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Ancient  Greek  Myths.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Antipope  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  power  metal  with  touches  of  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Magisteria"  "A  Ritual  Of  Snake  And  Dance"  and  "Doors  OF  The  Dead".  8  out  of  10.

  www.antipope.info

https://www.instagram.com/ antipopeofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/user/ antipopeband
www.facebook.com/Antipope/

twitter.com/antipope_band  

Ensiferum/Winter Storm/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Ensiferum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  controls  the  epic  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Winter  Storm"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clear  vocals  mix  pagan  and  power  metal  together.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  introduces  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Shamanism,  Magick  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ensiferum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winter  Storm  Vigilantes"  "Scars  In  My  Heart"  and  "Victorious".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.ensiferum.com

https://www.facebook.com/Ensiferum
https://www.instagram.com/ensiferummetal/

  

Alkonost 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?

Not much time has passed yet - so far we're excited and in disbelief that it's finally happened, actively promoting it on the web, monitoring the reactions of listeners and gathering feedback.

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

On the one hand, in some sense we continue the course we took about ten years ago. On the other hand, the album is different from our previous records - we can say that it turned out to be heavier and more diverse in sound. On it you can hear both classic folk moves and alternative metal, which is not quite typical for us. Sympho, doom, leisurely rhythms and some fast ones - in general, it's a fiery cocktail.

3.The lyrics on the new album cover the various aspects of fire, can you tell us a little bit about about the songwriting that is presented on the new recording?

‘’Fire‘’ concept was the starting point, it was invented and proposed by our lyricist Mare Mirkie. First of all, each song's theme was worked out, what it is about, what it should have emotional colouring, sound, etc. After that we started to work: our guitarist Andrey Losev brought the arranged music, and then each member finalised his parts and added the final touches to the canvas. Some songs were composed by third-party composers. The lyrics were traditionally written to the arranged music.

4.A lot of your lyrics and the bands name comes from Slavic Paganism and Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

As far as paganism is concerned, we can say that we are not adherents of it, if you can catch motives consonant with it, it is only in our early songs. The themes of our songs are fantasy, fairy tales and a little bit of folklore, so mythology is closer, because all this is closely intertwined with each other. In general, we don't rely on something specific, but create our own universe with our own characters and stories.

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

The author of the cover art is artist Marina Potovichenko, whose works can also be seen on the releases of other famous russian artists. We can't say that there is any special story behind the cover art - we just thought over the variants and decided to choose this one, bright and minimalistic. By the way, the most attentive will notice that this lizard doesn't quite look like a real salamander, but that was the idea - it's primarily about a deity, a spirit of fire.

6.The band has been around since 1996, what is it that motivates you to keep going after almost 3 decades?

During this time we have changed our approach to music and band work several times to refresh our sound, and each time the result has given us confidence in our chosen path. We went through some serious crises when it seemed to be over, but we always found new incentives to continue. Also some new members gave the band a new breath. And in general, the more diverse things happen around us, the more incentive for growth and creativity.

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

For a long time we only played at festivals, and they all seemed cool. The ones that have forever remained history are, for example, the legendary russian ‘Folk Summer Fest’. Of the modern ones - ‘Bylinnyi Bereg’, ‘Uletai’, ‘Imandra Viking Fest’. From the touring life we can remember a joint European tour with Arkona band in 2007, and also a big tour 2018-19 with the presentation of the album ‘Octagram’, when we travelled through the whole Russia from Lake Baikal, finishing in Central Europe.

As for our performances, we always try to make the show bright, dynamic and catchy - in this case we are helped by smoke, light, aggressive feeding and, of course, synchronised headbanging!

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

We are not planning any big tours. Next year, perhaps, we will play a few presentation concerts in major cities of our country - Moscow, St. Petersburg and some others.

9.The new album was self released while the band has worked with plenty of labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

The music industry has changed quite a lot since we were working with labels. And today, as an independent underground band, we do not see any reason to ask for support from labels again. Although, of course, everything depends on the terms and details of co-operation - we are open to suggestions.

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

We have quite a lot of fans all over the world, and if you believe the statistics of the streaming platforms, their number is constantly growing. For example, Spotify says that last year we were listened to in 137 countries. Foreign fans often write to us with words of gratitude and support, and some of them we know personally and communicate with. All in all, we like what we see. 

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

It's hard to say now, because we discuss such moments at the beginning of each album's production. The sound is also strongly influenced by the general theme of the songs and the chosen concept. So we never know where our experiments will take us next, but the signature features will certainly always be in our music!

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

Our tastes are very diverse. We listen to music ranging from electronica and 70s heavy rock to hip-hop, post-punk and extreme metal. In our headphones, ABBA can be next to Gojira, and J-M Jarre and Metallica to Death and Billie Eilish. Of course, we try to follow the trends, not only in metal, but in general.

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

Take care of yourself and your family, listen to more good music and, of course, the new Alkonost album! \m/

 

 http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Alkonost/Salamander's Gift/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Alkonost  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Salamander's  Gift".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clear  singing  is  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  stlye.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  throughout  all  of  the  songs.

  Alkonost  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  the  different  faces  of  fire  with  some  inspiration  from  Slavic  Paganism  and  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Alkonost  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Искра"  "Оберег"  "Северное  сияние"  and  "Маяк".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Black Aeons/Entering The Shadows/Silent Watcher Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Black  Aeons  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Entering  The  Shadows"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Silent  Watcher  Records.

  

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  melodic  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  Swedish  style.

  

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Death,  War,  Greek  Mythology  and  Nordic  History.

  

  In  my  opinion  Black  Aeons  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  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dawn  Of  A  New  Time"  "Relentless  Fire"  "Shadows  of  A  Dying  Light"  and  "We  Are  The  Dead".  8  out  of  10.

  https://blackaeons.bandcamp.com/album/entering-the-shadows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3KSz2MK4wU

Asenblut/Entfesselt/Massacre Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Asenblut  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  viking  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Entfesselt"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Massacre  Records.

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  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  Swedish  influences.  

  Throughout  the  recording  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  song  also  adding  in  viking  back  up  shouts.  

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly, tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  a  couple  of  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  orchestral  sounds.  and  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Vikings,  Paganism  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Asenblut  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  viking  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Das  Ende  der  Gotter"  "Wie  ein  Berserker"  "Hexengericht"  and  "Nox  Nostra  Est".  8  out  of  10.

  https://lnk.to/entfesselt

Kvaen/The Formless Fires/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Kvaen  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  pagan  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Formless  Fires"  which  will  be  released  on  June  21st  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can b e  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  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  riffs  also  adding  in  elements  of  death  and  speed  metal.

  Keyboards  are  also  added  into  the  background  briefly  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  as  well  as  some  clear  pagan  vocals  also  being  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Paganism  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kvaen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  pagan  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Formless  Fires"  "The  Ancient  Gods"  and  "The  Wings  of  Death".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/officialkvaen  

https://www.instagram.com/officialkvaen 

Juha Jyrkas/Vainamoinen/Earth And Sky Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Juha  Jyrkas  is  a  solo  artist  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  epic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Vainamoinen"  which  was  released  by  Earth  And  Sky  Productions.

 Keyboards  and  percussion  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  pagan  metal  style  and  the  bass  kantele  is  used  as  a  lead  instrument.

  The  grim  harsh  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  whispered  vocals  also  being  utilized  at  times,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  on  only  a  couple  of  tracks  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Juhs  Jyrkas  takes  traditional  Finnish  folk  music  and  mixes  it  with  extreme  metal  to  create  something  very  different.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  the  poetic  tradition  of  the  Kalevala.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Juha  Jyrkas  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Syntysanat"  "Ukkosloitsu"  and  "Metalikantele".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/juhajyrkas/

https://www.facebook.com/juhavaltteriilmarijyrkas

https://juhajyrkas.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VtIyhtoyU57AucJJHfEih

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/juha-jyrkäs/408509154