Valhalore 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?

Firstly, thanks for having us! Since finishing Beyond the Stars mid-2021, we have been fortunate to support a number of amazing bands across Australia: Alestorm in 2022, Arch Enemy in 2023, Blind Guardian in 2024, and Hammerfall in 2025. We have also signed with ROAR, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music, and released Beyond the Stars through them a few days ago. The band is keeping very busy preparing for our Australian tour in May in support of Beyond the Stars, and we are looking to tour overseas toward the end of 2025.

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

Voyage into Eternity, our first album, was written well before the band was formed, so it was more of a studio project that had many ideas and experimentations. With Beyond the Stars, it was a much more collaborative approach to the music, and we really leaned into our own ‘sound’ this time with what came out naturally, rather than trying to sound like other bands.

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

Sure! So we did a few Australian main support runs, and had to take some time to really organise the release of Beyond the Stars. The label process can take some time, and this in particular took around 2 years to come to fruition. If not for the pandemic, this album would have come out a lot sooner, but fortunately there are many songs and ideas already written for our third album. We do not want another 8 years to wait for our next release!

4. lot of your lyrics cover Vikings and paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

On Voyage into Eternity there is a lot of these themes. On Beyond the Stars, we strayed from the Viking theme and focused on what resonated with us at the time: exactly what makes us who we are? Beyond the Stars deals with the highs and lows of the human experience and ultimately dares to answer what happens after we pass on. Do we become nothing or do we become something far greater? These topics resonate a lot more with us nowadays as opposed to ‘literal’ topics we have sung about on Voyage into Eternity.

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

‘The Storm’ for example, deals with the following: "Being a musician (or just a human, really) is a constant battle with self-doubt, depression, and inner demons. This all became even more prominent during the pandemic when everything you’ve spent your life working towards seemed to disappear overnight. ‘The Storm’ asks the questions; will you give up and succumb to the inner darkness, or will you rise above?" We feel that this is a topic that resonates with us and many people these days, and is an important topic to bring to the foreground.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Valhalore'?

“Valhalore” came about around 2014 – being a portmanteau of the words ‘Valhalla’ and ‘folklore’. It was a combination of words that we thought sounded cool, so it stuck!

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

Certainly. The artwork demonstrates a person or figure who has passed on and is becoming ‘greater’ than themselves by expanding through space and time. The song ‘A Walk Among the Stars’ deals with this concept and theme.

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

One of our most memorable shows would be when we played Melbourne with Arch Enemy in 2023. The venue was called The Forum and it was an absolutely beautiful space; it was a pleasure to play there. Our Japan tour in 2018 with Ensiferum, Wind Rose, and Trollfest was also very memorable. Our stage show, we like to say, is a high energy and emotional experience. Our aim is to take listeners on an amazing journey, full of aggression, dynamics, and fun!

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

Yes – we are touring Beyond the Stars in our home country of Australia in May 2025, and hope to tour Beyond the Stars overseas later in the year.

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

We have been inundated with support for Beyond the Stars across the globe. Currently, the album has already had 100,000 total plays on Spotify in just a few days. We also have received a lot of genuine and amazing feedback showing love for the album. Many people have said the long wait has been totally worth it, which is so awesome to hear!

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

We deal with many dark themes on Beyond the Stars. Considering the new material that’s currently written, I can see the band heading into a darker direction in the future.

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

Overall for the band: melodic death, power, prog, symphonic, folk, core, rock, and atmospheric are some of the genres we all like to listen to!

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

Thanks for having me! We really appreciate you taking the time to ask us these questions and support Valhalore and Beyond the Stars. We hope you love the album just as much as we loved making it, and we hope to perform for you wherever you are reading this from very soon!

Anthony

https://www.valhalore.com
https://www.facebook.com/valhalore
https://www.instagram.com/valhalore 

Valhalore/Voyage Into Eternity/ROAR/2025 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Australia's  Valhalore  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic  and  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Voyage  To  Eternity"  which  will  be  re-issued  on  April  11th,  2025  by  ROAR.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  a  few  seconds  later  while  also  introducing  folk  instruments  on  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  symphonic  sounding  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.

  Some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  harsh  vocals  bring  in a   mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  all  of  the  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  a  combination  of  pagan  and  power  metal  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  adventure,  death,  battle  and  Vikings

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Valhalore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  and  symphonic  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Malice  Of  Illusion"  "Upon  The  Shore"  and  "Voyage  To  Eternity".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/valhalore  .

Valhalore/Beyond The Stars/ROAR/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Valhalore  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  very  epic  and  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  with  elements  of  melodic  death  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Beyond  The  Stars"  which  will  be  released  on  April  11th  by  ROAR.

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  has  its  symphonic  moments  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  mostly  death  metal  growls.

  Clear  pagan  vocals  which  also  mixes  in  a  touch  of  power  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  screams  also  adding  in  elements  of  black  metal  when  they  are  utilized,  when  the  music  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  tracks  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  female  vocals  are  also  added  one  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  adventures,  death,  battles  and  Vikings.  

  In  my  opinion  Valhalore  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  and  symphonic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Edge  Of  Forever"  "Wayfinder"  "Horizon"  and  "A  Walk  Among  Stars'.  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/valhalore  

  

Aexylium/Myth Of Mankind/Rockshot Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Aexylium  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Myth  of  mankind"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Rockshot  Records.

  A  very  epic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Symphonic  orchestration  and choirs  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  folk  instruments  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  the  tracks.

  A  lot  of  the  harsh  vocals  also  bring  in black  metal  screams,  death  metal  growls  and  angry  shouts  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  Clear  female  and  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  are  also  introduced  on  a  later  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Celtic/Norse  Mythology,  Folk  Tales  and  legends.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Aexylium  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Queen"  "In  Sorrow"  "Wild  Hunt"  and  "Eternity".  8 out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/aexylium_official​

​https://www.facebook.com/aexylium

     

Selvans/Saturnalia/Avantgarde Music/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Selvans  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  progressive  and  folk  influenced  mixture  of  black  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Saturnalia"  which  will  be  released  on  January  31st  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Keyboards  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  adding  in  some  symphonic  touches  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style  and  a  lot  of  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  an  80's  metal  style.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album.

  

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  of  the  album  also  adding  in  elements  of  folk  music,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  folk  and  horror  tales  from  their  home  country.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Selvans  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  folk  influenced  black  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Il  mio  maleficio  v'incalzera!"  and  "Fonte  dei  diavoli".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.selvans-official.com

https://www.instagram.com/selvanstherealone

https://www.facebook.com/selvansofficial

https://www.youtube.com/user/templeofselvans        

Burning Creation Interview

 

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

1. First, I want to say hello to everyone reading this interview. Burning Creation is a band we've been playing together since early 2022. Our music is a mix of melodic death metal, and our lyrics are mostly about Vikings and their beliefs. So far, we've released an EP "Never Dead Nation" and a full album "Sea Of Dead Bodies".

2.So far you have released an ep and a full length, musically how do they both differ from each other?

2. Never Dead Nation was our first release, and at that time we were still figuring out our sound and style. With Sea Of Dead Bodies, we knew exactly what we wanted. We decided to go for a rawer sound, more towards death metal. I think that’s the main difference between the two releases.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Nordic Mythology and Vikings, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

3. We got interested in Vikings and Norse mythology mainly from listening to bands like Amon Amarth, Unleashed, Ensiferum, etc., and also from watching the show "Vikings". Later on, this interest grew after reading book "Mitos Nordicos" by Neil Gaiman .

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Burning Creation'?

4. The name of the band was thought up by our guitarist Marek. In the beginning, we played a lot of Amon Amarth covers, and one of them was Burning Creation. The name represents the start of something new for us, leaving behind the past.

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

5. The artwork for the album, made by Damian Bydliński, shows four Vikings who crossed the "Sea of Dead Bodies," and now they're ready to continue their conquest. It’s a continuation of the story from Never Dead Nation, where we introduced the Viking army coming back from the afterlife.

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

6. The concert I remember the most was at Leśniczówka in Chorzów in 2023. Even though it was cold, because it was December, the crowd was big and we had a lot of energy on stage.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2025?

7. Next year, we plan to play three concerts with All Sars, and also take part in "Brutal Valentine’s" in Garage Pub in Kraków.

8.On the new album you also had done an 'Amon Amarth' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of once of their songs?

8. This song is really special to us. It represents the beginning of our band. We owe not only our name to it but also the style we’ve developed through these two releases. Another reason for this cover is to show that we’re not afraid to admit we’re inspired by Amon Amarth. It’s a kind of tribute to them for the inspiration their music gave us.

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

9. The reactions were mixed, but this mix of melody and brutal playing has been accepted quite well. The main criticism we got with the EP was that we were copying Amon Amarth, but with the second release, I think we’ve created our own style.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

10. Our drummer, Jarosław also plays in a thrash metal band called Consumer, which existed long before Burning Creation. That’s all.

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

11. On our next album, we plan to focus less on melodies and more on heavy riffs. We want to sound more like Unleashed than Amon Amarth. We’ve already written four songs, and two of them have lyrics. So, the work on the new stuff is going pretty smoothly.

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?

12. Most of our inspiration comes from Swedish bands that follow the Viking theme, but not only that. On the way to our concerts or other band’s gigs, we listen to all kinds of bands like Dark Tranquillity, Six Feet Under, Sylosis, Virgin Snatch, Septicflesh and a lot of  thrash metal.

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

13. Thanks to everyone for reading! Check out our social media and of course, listen to our music on streaming platforms! Cheers!

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Nefalem/A Realm Beyond/2024 Full length Review

 

  Nefalem  are  a  band  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "A  Realm  Beyond".

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody. When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  mixed  in  with  some  modern  touches.  Some  of  the  vocals  also  bring  in  a  more  melodic  yet  aggressive  thrash  metal  approach  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  false,  gods,  pagan  legends  and  the  afterlife.  

  In  my  opinion  Nefalem  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Breaching  The  Gates"  "The  Seer"  "Legend"  and  "They  Bleed  Back".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/nefalem

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