Norskald/The Laughing Bird/2020 EP Review

 

  Norskald  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  pagan  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  20220  ep  "The  Laughing  Bird".

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of t he  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  folk  instruments  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can b e  heard.

  Spoken  word  parts  and  clean  playing  can  also b e  heard  briefly  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  clear  pagan  vocals  into  the  music  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  Swedish  influences,  back  up  shouts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Norskald  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk,  pagan,  melodic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  Vikings  and  War  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Norskald  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  pagan,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Laughing  Bird"  and  "Contemplation".  8  out  of  10.

  https://norskald.bandcamp.com/album/the-laughing-bird       

Fjørdal/Prolog/2020 EP Review

 

  Fjørdal  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  pagan  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  20220  ep  "Prolog".

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  whispered  vocals  when  they  are  utilized  briefly  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling.  Back  up  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  one  song  is  also  a  brief  instrumental.  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also b e  heard  briefly

  Fjørdal  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  German  and  English  and  cover  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Fjørdal  are  a  very  great  sounding  pagan  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Trash"  and  "Old  Enemy  Arises".  8  out  of  10.

https://fjordal.bandcamp.com/album/prolog  

Eldfaerd/Skymningsland/2022 EP Review

 

  Eldfaerd  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  pagan,  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Skymningsland".

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  battle  horns  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  symphonic  elements  and  clear  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  introducing  folk  instruments  onto  the  recording  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also be  heard.

  Eldfaerd  plays  a  musical  style  that  mixes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  with  pagan  and  folk  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Norse  Sagas  and  Folk  Tales.

  In  my  opinion  Eldfaerd  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  pagan,  folk  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sjalafrid"  and "Huldran".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/UzzUvZBNqoc

https://ditto.fm/skymningsland    

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4H5wNMPpNJMPMtZxYwhBb4

https://eldfaerd.bandcamp.com/track/ur-elden

https://music.apple.com/se/album/ur-elden-single/1577544030     

Vorgrum/Nature Emerge/2022 EP Review

 

  Vorgrum  are  a  solo  project  from  Argentina  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  fantasy  orientated  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  ep  "Nature  Emerge".

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.  Elements  of  folk  music  are  also   mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  along  with  one  also  adding  in  some  clear  pagan  chants   and  accordions  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.

  Most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  style  while  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  On  this  recording  Vorgrum  takes  hid  music  into  more  of  a  mid  tempo  folk  metal  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  and  paganism  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vorgrum   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  and  fantasy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Path"  and  "Nature  Emerge".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://vorgrum.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vorgrum
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/vorgrum
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6hWSGko9tpuN1ReyF8YxPh?si=fHCSafWAR9S_eG5G0QE4wg

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

The Wolves Of Avalon/Y Gododdin/Godreah Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

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  The  Wolves  Of  Avalon  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Y  Gododdin"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Godreah  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  elements  of  folk  music  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also b e  heard  briefly  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  done  in  a  very  aggressive  blackened  metal  style  while  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Clear  pagan  vocals are  also  utilized on  a  lot  of  tracks  along  with  some  blast  beats  also  being  added  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  times  as  well  as  the  music  also  having its  progressive  moments.  Session  work can  also  be  heard  from  members  of  Venom  Inc,  Drudkh,  Taake,  Forefather  and  Aklash  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  style.

  On  this  recording  The  Wolves  of  Avalon  takes  their  pagan  style  of  folk  metal  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  ancient  battles  described  in  the  ancient  Welsh  poems  written  by  the  bard  Aneirin.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Wolves  Of  Avalon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  pagan  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Men  Of  Gododdin"  and  "Dead  mans  Cloak's"
.  8  out  of  10.

  www.thewolvesofavalon.co.uk

www.facebook.com/thewolvesofavalon

https://youtu.be/McD2wn1QkxI  

In The Woods... Interview

 

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

Nils: Covid happened. And James split. Which led us to Bernt taking over the microphone. We had already recorded lots of the songs, and Bernt got "thrown into it". We received vocals pretty quickly, and we were amazed. It was like In The Woods… became more ITW than ever before. And thats where we are at.

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

Nils: Good question. ITW have always progressed, not "stopped" in one type of style etc… But you know, making music it should be about making what you like, not about what you think others will like. And thats what we do, and have in the past.

3.The band was broken up for 14 years, what was the cause of the split and the decision to reform?

Nils: I was not in the band when they split, but Anders had an injury where he thought he never could perform again. And then he found out he could. He then had an "awakening", where he got a clear vision that he had to start up ITW again in honour of Oddvar AM. I also knew Oddvar, and i know he would have wanted ITW to continue.

Kåre: Well, I joined the band in 2015, but these stories have come up a few times over the years in conversations with both Anders Kobro and former members. I think the easiest way to explain the split back in the early 2000s was that each character of the band was floating their own way, wanting to explore other things in life, while the opportunity still was there.

4.After the release of the first full length in the 90's you stopped using the black metal screams and harsh vocals but they have returned on your current releases, what was the decision behind bringing back this vocal approach?

Nils: What suits the songs should be used vocally i think. Bernt can do all sorts of things, and so he use it where it fits in. He probably have the best answer to it.

I scream and growl myself, and being in a metalband, it is a cool thing to add. Personally i listen to bands that use both clean/growl and shrieks. I love stuff that is more than "one style", both musically and vocally.

Kåre: As Nils stated above, its about what suits the songs and not what we need or should use. With the former vocalist James Fogarty and current vocalist Bernt Fjellestad, the screams and harsh vocals comes more naturally than the original singer. Also they can do it without hurting their throat.

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

Bernt Fjellestad: Most of the topics are totally random. They cover everything from the political wiev to more....carnal desires. I was given full freedom over the lyrics and what to sing so I experimented a lot with different styles. Personally I (Bernt Fjellestad) were not that involved in the songwriting due to most of the songs were completed when I joined. We are already writing together new material as we speak by the way.

6.A lot of your lyrics over the years have also covered Paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about what this path means to you?

Anders: Back in the days we where hugely influenced by nature, philosophy and norse culture/mythology. So obviously we where in a realm of paganism. We called our music in early days Pagan Metal. 

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork tha tis presented on the new album cover? Kåre: Max Winter did the artwork, he also did Pure and Cease the Day. Max likes to read the lyrics for the album and sit down and start with a sketch. This one turned out very different from previous ones, and is done in a different type of style compared to the two earlier ones. It is up to each one of us to say what it means and gives, but you can see that all hope is out, but if you try to focus on the smaller things and leave the big picture out of things for a while, somewhere in the vast, there is hope. 

8.In the 90's when you first came out you where very different from the rest of the Norwegian scene and there seemed to be mixed reviews back then, do you feel you where ahead of your time and also influenced the newer bands that started stretching the black and pagan metal genres into different musical territories?

Kåre: Well as a music fan I must say that HEart of The Ages was ahead of time, the structure in the songs and the brilliant mystique that lies all over the record. They way vocals where switched between very harsh screaming and then to the soft beautiful voice. You can see this in In The Woods… today and many other bands. I think In The Woods… have influenced other bands to go a little more out of those typical border lines you find in metal genres, which can get to a point where it gets boring. Some bands do it very very well, and all honor to them. For us its again, to make a song we want to make. 

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

Nils: Our two recent ones actually (Cosmic Void London and Summer dying loud in Poland). We have fun. We like what we do. And we function in our dysfunction haha.

Kåre: Well thats a hard question for me to answer, because all the shows I’ve played with this band has had their own little things that I want to remember. Some crowds are wild, some are quiet, but never boring. The two last one we had where phenomenal and ranks up there with the absolute best ones. I always say that I really want to go back to Greece to play. On stage we try to have fun, and try to mend our energy and adrenalin with the crowds energy and adrenalin. 

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

Nils: European tour in March/April i think/hope. We hope to play as much as we can. We are back on Redback promotion, and are eager to play…

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by your long time fans?

Nils: Only positive reaction i guess. There will always be the ones that wants the old stuff, but you cant bring back the past like that, and we as a band want to progress, not copy what has been…

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

Nils: Kåre is writing new music for his solo moniker KAS, and me and Anders have an album with My solo moniker Drivdal.

We all have the love for music, we breathe it, and cant simply stop making it.

Kåre: Yes I’m working on the follow up to my first album under the alias KAS. Other than that, its about time to sit down and write some new In The Woods… songs for the next album. 

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

Nils: We evolve together, so its hard to say really. But we progress, and we play ball musically, and so we try to mold the songs together to make it better.

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

Nils: I listen a lot to Wormwood, Tribulation and Witchery. Also i listen to Edge of Sanity, as always. Fucking brilliant. I think Bernt actually worked with Dan on some musical project of his.

Kåre: On repeat the last weeks has been Guy Clark and I just discovered a brilliant band when we played in London.. Make A Change… Kill Yourself. Brilliant band! 

Bernt: Nowadays I listen to a lot of synthwave and folk music, but I always come back to good ol’ Edge Of Sanity, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Amorphis and, of course, Judas Priest.

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

Nils: Just want to Thank you so much for showing interest in us, it means a great deal to us…

Kåre: Cheers for your time! Album pre-orders are available at the links below:

World (physical): https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com 

Americas (physical): http://soulsellerrecords.aisamerch.com

Digital: https://orcd.co/diversum 

In The Woods.../Diversum/Soulseller Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  In  the  Woods...  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  a  history  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  progressive  rock  and  avant  garde  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Diversum"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Soulseller  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  avant  garde  approach  to  metal  and  black  metal  screams  and  growls  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  progressive  elements  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  one  song  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  album.

  Most  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  more  modern  style  which  is  also  different  from  their  earlier  releases  as  well  as  being  aggressive  than  what  was  released  towards  the  end  of  the  90's  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  most  of  the  music  also s ticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  Philosophy  and  Nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  In  The  Woods...  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  rock  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Coward's  Way"  "A  Wonderful  Crisis"  and  "Your  Dark".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Gales Of Avalon/Oblivion/2022 EP Review

 

  Gales  Of  Avalon  are  a  band  from  Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  pagan  black  metal  and  death''n'roll  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Oblivion"  which  will  be  released  on  September  23rd.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are mostly  death  metal  growls and  influences  of  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Elements  of  death'n'roll  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  clear  pagan  vocals  can  also are  also  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  Some  of  the  music  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  classic  rock  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Gales  Of  Avalong  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black,  pagan  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  death'n'roll  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Celtic  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Gales  Of  Avalon  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  pagan  black  metal  and  death'n'roll  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "No  Going  Back"  and  "Purgatory".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/zJdCirHA03c

https://www.facebook.com/galesofavalon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrl933ulYmmHoz8iK5NDiQg/about

https://galesofavalon.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3HcJFK2G9Y3g6EmV6hhhiw  

        

  

Brymir 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?

Since release we have been practicing the new material and started general preparations for our upcoming shows. Even though the band has performed the new songs in the studio it is, however, a quite different beast adapting them to a live setting. Other than that, it’s just been an absolute pleasure to see our new creation take flight and follow the positive response to the new album.

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

In the past we had a sound that leaned even more on synthesizers and orchestral elements, this time we wanted to focus on getting the most out of our own instruments and voices. Thus, we reinvented our sonic identity and came out with a heavier sound than ever before!

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

Most of our lyrics are based on personal and real world issues, for example Fly With Me discusses the dark side of social media, Heral of Aegir is about pollution and destruction our waters and Borderland is a stance for the Ukrainian people suffering under Russias invasion. Other than that, many songs are about travel and conquest – things we missed dearly during the depths of the Covid pandemic.

Our process of writing for this album was altered by Covid restrictions as it forced us to work apart and alone. I used to write by programming my melodies and ideas directly into the recording software and have our guitarist Joona Björkroth adapt the riffs to work for a real guitar, but as we couldn’t meet for months I started learning more guitar myself and thus established a new method for composing directly with a guitar in my lap – hence the new, guitar-heavy approach on our songs. Lyrically we used to base lyrics purely on mythological concepts and personal issues but as the world feels like its falling apart around us I’ve had a stronger need to write about current issues plaguing humanity and this blue oasis of life we live in.

4.Over the years you also have covered Norse/Finnish mythology and the Nephilim with your lyrics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

As we are from the North, we have always identified strongly with our mythologies and draw a lot of inspiration from that realm. As the actual subjects of our lyrics have evolved, we still like to dress them up in mythological themes or use mythological concepts as metaphors.

5.Orignally the band was called 'Lai Lai Hei', what was the cause of the new change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Brymir'?

We actually only went under the name Lai Lai Hei for a few weeks, it was just a hastily picked name as we performed one Ensiferum cover in a competition when we were 16 years old. Soon after that we decided that we want to keep playing together and after some consideration landed on the name Brymir, which is a combination of two words or concepts from Norse mythology: Brimir is a table or hall in Valhalla where the heroes of Ragnarök feast forever after the end of the world, and Ymir is an ice giant from whose flesh the world of men was created. So in short, Brymir equals to somethin akin to Alpha-Omega – before the beginning and after the end.

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

We wanted the colors and themes of the cover art to reflect the dark times of the past years which strongly influenced the tone of the album. There is also the image of sacrificing yourself at the altar of creation – making, releasing and performing music is often emotionally very demanding and requires immense personal sacrifice.

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?

I think our best memories from shows are our 2019 appearance at Tuska Festival in our home town Helsinki, and our first tour in Japan. However, there have been so many epic adventures, like touring with Children of Bodom, that it’s difficult to choose which ones meant the most.

Brymir is definitely a live band and in my opinion you haven't truly heard Brymir before you’ve seen us on stage! We bring such a relentless onslaught that the crowd is left shell-shocked after our performance.

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

Yes! We finally have a big European tour opening for Finntroll scheduled for November-December. We’ve dreamt about this moment our whole career and couldn’t have hoped for a better slot to kick off touring with our new record. We also have a big bunch of shows in Finland for 2022-2023. Touring is what we missed most during lockdown and we are so excited to head out again.

9.The new album was released on 'Napalm Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?

Our signing with Napalm Records is our first proper partnership with a label and it has opened up so many opportunities that we’re inaccessible before. Previously we have done everything ourselves with labels only really releasing the music once completed. With this new ally in Napalm Records we feel that we can finally unlock the true potential of Brymir.

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

We’ve been quite stunned by the positive feedback and it feels as if we managed get our musical message across. It’s also very rewarding to see that our renewed sound and style has been recieved so well!

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

Our music is very diverse and I think that will always be a part if Brymir. We had several very heavy, fast and dark songs that didn’t get quite finished for this album so it might be that our next release has some more black metal vibes! We also successfully integrated power metal into our new sound and I’m sure that aspect will also evolve to new heights.

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

I’ve been listening to a lot of pretty brutal stuff, such as Decapitated and Aborted. But our musical tastes range from classical music through metal all the way to psychedelic trance.

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

Thanks for the interview! We really hope to make it over to the United Kingdom during this album cycle for some shows and when we do… hold on to your hats!

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Syn Ze Sase Tri/Ultimal Lup/Code666 Records/2022 Full length Review

 

  Syn  Ze  Sase  Tri  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Ultimal  Lup"  which  will  be  released  on  September  30th  by  Code666  Records.

  A  very  nature  and  tribal  sounding  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Symphonic  sounds  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  deep  shouting  style  at  times.

  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  clear  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  battle  chants,  gothic  choirs  and  operatic  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Ancient  Dacian  Legends. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Syn  Ze  Sase  tri  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  and  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hatri"  "In  Chip  Hain"  "Osanda  procletenie"  and  "Negru".  8  out  of  10.

  

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Wolfheart/King Of The North/Napalm Records/2022 Full length Review

 

  Finland's  Wolfheart  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  amelodic  death  emtal  style  with  some  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "King  Of  The  North"  which  will b e  released  on  September  16th  by  napalm  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  into certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

   At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  and  symphonic  sounding  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   great  amount  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Northern  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  form  Wolfheart  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDE D TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Skyforger"  "Desolated  Land"  "Cold  Flame"  and  "Eternal  Slumber".  8  out  of  10.

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Diabolical Raw Interview

 

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

Hello everyone, Ozan Erkmen here (All Vocals)!

After the recordings were completed, we looked for a label for a while and agreed with Base Record Production. The album will be released in September. We have been working hard on PR work lately. Exciting process. Besides we are in touch for possible concerts after the summer season.

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

The new album has more catchy riffs than the first album. Orchestration is like the trademark of our music, we worked on it in more detail on the new album. We simplified the chaotic structure in the first album a bit, I can say that the orchestration is at a more digestible level. There are parts that can be accompanied more in vocals. I am sure that the fans will join us in the performance of these parts at the concerts. Lastly, there are very nice guitar and violin solo performances. Apart from that, I am sure that those who listen to the album will find details that surprise them every time.

 

3.From2005 to 2019 there was no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame? 

There was a member changing problem that we couldn't avoid until 2005. At that time, we were working on the compositions of the first album, and each member change prolonged this process, carried the songs to a point that was very different from where we started and actually did not satisfy us. After the accumulation of different minor problems besides this main problem, the band split up. During that time, I moved to Germany, each band member continued his life in different ways. After a long time, we got in touch with our composer Ozan Tunc (We have the same names:) at the beginning of 2019, we talked a while about the past, after that we encouraged each other and finally we started to produce new songs again.

 

4.A lot of your lyrics cover Central Asian Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Central Asia is the region where Turks stepped into the world history scene. The first documented Turkish presence is in Central Asia. There are many known historical details such as the Great Hun Empire, Attila's invasion of Europe. There is an age between me and Ozan, our education started and ended in the same period. We have already learned Central Asian Turkish history at school, a subject that is not foreign to us. Although the religious form of the Central Asian Turks seems very simple, in fact, when you dig deeper, you find many exciting details. In addition to having similarities with the most known Greek and Scandinavian Mythological and religious forms, there are also unique sections. It has a fantastic form and I can say that it is an untouched area in the Metal music scene. As I know the Black and Folk Metal bands that write lyrics on this theme, such as Gökböri, Yaşaru, Yabgu. Apart from these bands, there is no other Metal band that comes to my mind, if there is, I haven't heard it. It is probably easier to continue with familiar lyrical themes. It is definitely not easy to produce Metal Music on this theme. And we're glad we made it

 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Diabolical Raw'>?

When the band was formed it was called "Diabolical" and after we started writing songs again, we found that the resulting songs were completely different from what the band produced in 2005. We thought it would be unreasonable to claim that the band that produced music again after 12 years was the same band. On the other side, the past of the band dates back to 1998, which is also a fact. We didn't want to break away from the band's past, and also we wanted to emphasize a new beginning. Another reason is that there are many bands called "Diabolical". Thus, we have prevented the problems that may arise from the band name confusion.

 

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

Before I started writing the lyrics for the new album, I wanted to write a short Story entirely of our own and to have the lyrics come out of this Story. And so a unique concept was born. Artwork creator Mukadder Karaoglan (Muko) listened to all the songs and read this short Story. And before she started painting the Artwork, she chose the final battle part of the story. She created the main character Kaygun, her fierce enemy Erlik, the last battle and the battlefield in perfect harmony.

 

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band but you have had a full line up in the past, are you open to expanding your line up again in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?

We will continue to be a duo because we are both very perfectionist people and working with us could be hard time to time. We are not hesitate to criticize each other harshly. And we work on songs in detail for a long time. If someone wants to work with us who can both put up with us and keep up with our discipline, we are open to it :) But for now, we are happy to continue on the road as duo. We also know musicians for gigs, it is not a problem for us to take the stage, everything is fine as it stands.

 

8.Had the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

We both live in separate countries; but this does not prevent us for play. After the first album came out, as you know, the Pandemic started and many concert possibilities have already disappeared. The new album will be released soon and we are very excited for it. After the summer season, we want to play as many shows as possible both in Turkey and in Europe.

 

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

Everyone we could reach loved our music, But it is a fact that we couldn't reach as many people as we want. After the release of the first album, we were weak in PR. That's why we're working hard on PR for the second album. We get professional help from Grand Sounds Promotion and they are very good at it. As I said, the fans we reached liked it very much, as a cliché many guys said that our music sounds like Septicflesh or Dimmu Borgir, but it definitely does not bother us. We have not heard anything negative about the sound, which makes us very happy.

 

10.What is going on with the other bands these days that both of the band members are a part of?

Other projects that I am currently involved in are not active. We are still working on the songs with the Death Metal band Human Harvest, which Ozan and I are in, but the recording process has not started. Ozan's own project Amras Numenesse is active and will even take the stage in Istanbul on August 24.

 

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

I don't think that our way of writing songs will go through a big change, but we are open to new stuffs and we like to blend new elements with our music without breaking the balans. Guitars may be more intense in the third album. A little spoiler:)

 

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

The bands that have influenced our music are definitely Septicflesh and Fleshgod Apocalypse. As for our personal playlists, we're not obsessed with a few styles. We listen to almost all of the metal music genres except for a few. But Black and Death Metal come first for both of us. Bands such as Emperor, Marduk, Nile, Suffocation have deeply influenced me. Of course, I listen to many more bands than I can count right now. These are just the first names that come to mind. Apart from that, I've been listening to ethnic music, classical music and Hard Rock classics lately.

Ozan is also a big fan of bands like Emperor, Gorgoroth, Mayhem, Devourment, Deeds of Flesh. Apart from that, he loves to listen to classical baroque music.

 

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

The questions were very good, thank you very much for your time. Thank you in advance to everyone who will read this interview. Be sure to listen to the album, it will be worth your time. Open your mind to Symphonic Extreme Metal madness.

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Diabolical Raw/Elegy Of Fire Dusk/Base Record Production/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Diabolical  Raw  are  a  duo  from  Turkey  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Elegy  Of  Fire  Dusk"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Base  Records  Production.

  A  very  dark,  ritualistic  and  nature  orientated  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  symphonic  elements  into  the  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  side  of  the  songs.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Vocals a re  a  mixture  of g rim  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a   decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  stringed  instruments  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  being  an  instrumental  and  when  solos  and  leads  are  finally  introduced  on  the  album  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Diabolical  Raw  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  sympho0nic  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Central  Asian  Turkish  Mythology. 

  In  my  opinion  Diabolic  Raw  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Commands  Of  The  Gods"  "Tilgen's  Fall"  "The  Last  War  With  Evil"  and  "The  Council  At  the  Asar  land".  8  out  of  10.

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Brymir/Voice In The Sky/Napalm Records/2022 Full length Review

 

  Brymir  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  folk,  pagan  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Voice  In  The  Sky"  which  will b e  released  on  August  2gth  by  Napalm  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  which  also  return  on  later  songs.  Symphonic  sounds  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Clear  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  black  emtal  style  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.

  Brymir  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk,  pagan  and  melodic  death  emtal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover   Norse  mythology,  freedom,  society,  nature  and  humanity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Brymir  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  folk,  pagan  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Voices  In  The  Sky"  "Herald  of  Aegir"  "Far  From  Home"  and  "Diabolis  Interium".  8  out  of  10.

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Oak, Ash & Thorn/To Gaze On Stars Of Frost/2021 EP Review

 

  Oak,  Ah  &  Thorn  are  a  band  from  Colorado  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black, death,  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "To  Gaze  On  Stars  of  Frost".

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  clean  pagan  vocals  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  while  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  leads  are  finally  introduced  and  the  recording  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Oak,  Ash  &  Thorn  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black,  death,  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  old  world  paganism,  death,  isolation,  addiction  and  heartbreak  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Oak,  Ash  &  Thorn  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Praise  Unto  The  Immortals"  and  "Suspended  And  Frozen".  8  out  of  10.

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Evoking Winds/The Heroes/2022 FUll Length Review

 

  Evoking  Winds  are  a  band  from  Belarus  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  takes  an  atmospheric  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  metal  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "The  Heroes".

  A  very  heavy  yet  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  atmospheric  touches.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  blast  beats  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  black  and  folk  metal  elements.  On  some  of  the  tracks  the  music  also  brings  in  more  of  a  dungeon  synth  an d  fantasy  movie  soundtrack  music  style  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  On  this  recording  Evoking  Winds  takes  an  atmospheric  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk,  dungeon  style  and  fantasy  soundtrack  music  to  create  something  very  different  sounding  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Evoking  Winds  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  symphonic  black,  folk  metal  and  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Arms"  "Echoes  of  battles"  "Warlock's  Power"  and  "Elemental  magic".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/FIf4ApdLJ1s

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