Sick Sad World/Imago Clipeata/Atypeek Music/2019 CD Review

  Sick  Sad  World  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  sludge,  hardcore  and  post  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Imago  Clipeata"  which  was  released  by  Atypeek  Music.

  Spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  which  also  introduces  high  pitched  black  emtal  screams  onto  the  recording.  Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  music.

  The  songs  also  mix  in  elements  from  the  post  genres  of  metal,  hardcore  and  rock  while  the  riffs  also add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  piking  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  blast  beats  also  being  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up while  a    decent  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of the  guitar  riffing.

  One  track  also  introduces  clear  vocals  into the  music  as  well  as  clean  playing  also  making  a  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  spoken  word  parts  are  also  used  briefly  along  with  one  track  also  adding  melodic  shoegaze  influenced  guitar  leads  into  the  music  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  added  onto  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sick  Sad  World  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  sludge,  hardcore  and  post  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Battlefield"  and  "Market".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PUIxXevhLc      

Baradj/Hunnar/2019 Full Length Review

  Baradj  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  an  experimental  form  of  post  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Hunnar".

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  vocals  which  also  use  screams  at  times  that  also  gives  the  music  a  touch  of  black  metal  a  few  seconds  later  as  well as  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  folk  instruments  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  acoustic  guitars  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  feeling.  Elements  of  post  rock  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  As  the  album  progresses  the  music  gets  more  experimental  along  with  some  songs  also  showing  influences  of  shoegaze  and  ambient  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  instrumentals,  one  track  also  introduces  whispered  vocals  onto  the  recording  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a s elf  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  Tengrism,  Bulgarian  Folklore,  the  history  of  centuries-long  wars  and  the  reign  of  great  leaders  who  had  an  immense  influence  on  the  whole  world.

  In  my  opinion  Baradj  are  a  very  great  sounding  post  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  original  sounding,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hunnar"  "Attila"  "Tengri"  and  "Khiyal -  Boiek  Bolgar".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: baradj.bandcamp.com
Instagram: instagram.com/baradj
Youtube: youtube.com/c/Baradj
Facebook: facebook.com/baradjband/
VK: vk.com/baradj
Telegram: t.me/baradj_telegram       

Gorgonchrist Interview

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

Imagine the sensation of maggots eating your eardrums from the inside. No matter how many times you smash your head against the wall you can't get them out. You're desperate, wildly insane and there's nothing you can do but to keep viciously thrashing your head into a bloodied pulp. That's Gorgonchrist.

2.Recently you have released a new album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

The Blood of Endangered Species is a chaotic album, both in the blend of disparate noises and in its execution. We didn't set any goal of how it should sound, we just knew we wanted to create something different and of the moment we found ourselves in. Something fluid and without predefined form. The closest approximation we can think of for its eventual style is post-industrial black sludge. Make of that what you will.
It definitely stands outside of conformity and pisses on the Alamo of traditional song structure. We feel there's something for everyone in this, even those who enjoy maggots in their ears!

3.Both of the band members are also involved with other bands and musical projects, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Gorgonchrist', that you are not able to do with your other groups?

Being able to touch each other. There's a lot of touching going on during our latest album. You can really hear it in the mix. In reality though it's natural to bring elements of your past work with you, the question is whether you're able to use the past to inform process and progress or just stick with a known formula and let the past repeat itself in ever more dilute form. There are no boundaries in any of our bands or other projects that prohibit experimentation. We just felt the time was right for us to do this, it had been building in us for quite a while, and it wouldn't sit right being released under anything but Gorgonchrist.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

A lot of it really tries to get to grips with the thorny topic of crop rotation in the 14th century. We feel it has never been resolved despite the tireless efforts of school kids throughout the UK studying it for endless wasted years.
Beyond that this album is a snapshot of an angry disillusioned and lost populace. We're looking at the world here, not just the UK. We are so close to having global unity yet, through the rise of petty nationalism, we've never been in such danger of losing it all. The worldwide humanist revolution will never happen. Greed and stupidity will end the human race. The ferocious anger of this album feels a very rational response to something as senseless as that.

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

Gorgonchrist is an entity comprised of many things. The name suggests a smashing together of cultures: something that can make us, as a global community, stronger and will be the saviour of the ecological crisis we face and need to tackle cohesively. But there remains this fear of imagined monsters (terrorism, immigration, loss of national identities) which keeps us clinging to division. This will only lead us further into failure. Who imagines the monsters that divide us and to what ends? Sadly we all know the answer to that. Will it ever change? Again, we all know that answer too. We've already lost the paddles and the boat is quickly sinking. As such Gorgonchrist is entropy without brakes.

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

The Penny Black is an iconic image and represents what we were trying to achieve in many ways. It is a rarity and somewhat bleak in its appearance. The royal connection of all postage stamps in the UK only serves to remind the population that social divide continues to exist. This was an early representation of global communication and, in some ways, the beginning of the end….just like Gorgonchrist.

7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding your line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

Certainly for the writing and production of Gorgonchrist it will remain a duo. Whether we expand the live line up is another matter altogether. What form that might take we don't know yet but its doubtful you'll see this in the standard band format.

8.The new album was released on 'Clobber Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Yeah, Clobber is a great UK underground label that is really beginning to make its mark on the scene. They are fantastic people with a real hunger and drive to support bands in the extreme metal scene in particular. They approach things in a DIY but well organised way and show such passion about the projects that they invest in. Their roster is building fast and, for a band like Gorgonchrist, it seemed like the perfect fit at this point.

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

So far we've had a healthy reaction to a truly unhealthy product, much like cigarettes. We're fairly sure Gorgonchrist will be equally addictive but minus the carcinogenic downside. Some have suggested our album should feature health warnings but we'll wait for the government to intercede on that one.

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

Into further levels of decay, literally oozing its constituent parts into a black sludgey stain on the ground. How that decay sounds will remain unknown until it happens. This could go anywhere is the reality. Whether it will retain the seething anger of its outset, who knows. There might be more polka and flamenco on the next album though.

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

Harry Ramsden's fish shop quartet have been a huge influence along with bands such as Anaal Nathrakh, Ministry, Napalm Death, Blut Aus Nord, Fukpig, Subhumans, Voivod, Extreme Noise Terror, Primitive Man. Our current playlist heavily features the phenomenal rise of UK Black Metal, something we feel is growing into an ever more powerful scene. There really is a huge plethora of outstanding music being created over here at the moment.

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

If anyone has any internal organs for sale, get in touch.

https://www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist/

The Absense 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 mini album?
1 yes, the project initially had a songwriting way , I wanted to do everything by myself, but, then I realized that  the song needed many arrangements, so, I tried various components, and I lost a little, to find the current line-up, in the meantime , I recorded another mini-album , called "libido et melancholia"

2.Recently you have released a new mini album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
2I wanted the to be dirty but warm, it has always been the rule I imposed to myself. So many people told me that it seem like a lot of jam session , as far as I'm concerned , the "cellar effect" make the sound very intimate, let'say that I was traumatized by Doors "absolutely live", and I wanted created our own version,.
sorry for comparison..

3.The lyrics on the recording are a concept album about 'time', can you tell us a little bit more about the songwriting?

3.Yes, time is the master of everything, but the concept that turn beyond the figure of the father of all gods, is that music is the only art that need time to be enjoyed , after all , if you think about it , the music is an equation of time taken notes , or better , note between time , what you say?


4.A lot of your lyrics also deal with ancient gods and paganism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these subjects?
4.For me, mythology has been the purest form of metaphor to explain human life, since the beginning of the world , I don't want to do politics, but in my opinion , the problems of the world are largely due to monotheism's, in spiritism , or ancient cult there is more much democracy

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'The Absense'?
5.I don't remember , it's been created century ago.. sorry
but is cool is not true?

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
6 Yes , this is my drawing, I created this illustration for synthesize the shape of hourglass between the writing "the absense " and "khronocracy"and everything happens in the wood around the stoner girl , is over they hourglass, so if you want see my artwork you can visit my website www.lucasiri.it
thank you


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?
7.the most beautiful experience was as a one man band in kindergarten, where party of saint Lucia, I was drawing funny animal and optical sketch, and I played , changing the lyrics , for italian children, : no rain by blind mellon and doll by foo figthers...
I've never seen such a rapt audience..

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
 no , for  this moment, but I wait for a  response  from a record store and maybe small theater

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your new recording by fans of metal and other forms of hard music?
9 not bad , we had good reviews from many people , specially in the east- europe, I don't tell about evil reviews  , but I'm very happy for Khronocracy..
let the time work...

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
10 I don't know, I don't want speak about dream , I'd love to be sure going on national radio, but I like it too stay in my wanderful undergrond

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
11 My favorite band of my teenage past are smashing pumpkins, nirvana , soundgarden, but also metallica. dark throne ,  celtic frost, but I lie all music , the disc that I more listening is maybe "boris godunov" by Modest Mussorskji . .. I could not stop to write names of band.. now , for my opinions , are very good : solstafir, alcest, and florence + the machines, ... and darkthrone ,who are now punk, not black-metal ,but I still like them

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
12 as I have already said , I am engaged in painting and sculptures, but I believe that music are the highest art..
if you want ,you can see my sculptures on my youtube channel " the absense"

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13 I thank you for your kind attention , I wan't add anything, I will fall into philosophy and let us remember that music , apart from time taken notes, is above all fun, thank you very much

https://www.facebook.com/theabsense/?ref=br_rs

Latitudes/Part Island/Debember Morti Productions/2019 CD Review

  Latitudes  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  melodic  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  with  some  elements  of  indie,  folk  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Part  Island"  which  will  be  released  on  April  5th  by  Debembur  Morti  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  which  also  brings  in  elements  of  folk  music  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and   epic  in  length.  Clean  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  indie  rock  and  keyboards  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  songs.

  Once  the  music  gets  heavier  it  goes  for  more  of  a  post  metal  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  utilizing  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Traces  of  shoegaze  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  the  more  melodic  and  atmospheric  side  of  post  black  metal  without  ever  using  the  harsh  vocals  that  are  a  very  huge  part  of  the  genre,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  In  my  opinion  Latitudes  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  melodic  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  with  some  elements  of  indie,  folk  and  shoegaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Moorland  Is  The  Sea"  and  "The  Great  Past".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Latitudesmusic

https://twitter.com/LatitudesMusic

https://latitudesuk.bandcamp.com

Gorgonchrist/The Blood Of Endangered Species/Clobber Records/2019 Full length Review

  Gorgonchrist  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  industrial  and  blackened  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "The  Blood  Of  Endangered  Species"  which  was  released  by  Clobber  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  intro  starts  off  the  intro  and  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  and  elements  of  noise  onto  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  the  slow  riffs  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  metal  along  with  programmed  beats  bringing  in  more  of  an  industrial.

  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Godflesh  and  Ministry  style  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  some  touches  of  noise  rock  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards.  The  production  sound  very  dark and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  an  inevitable  and  nihilistic  dystopian  future.

  In  my  opinion  Gorgonchrist  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  industrial  and  blackened  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Banged  In  The  Face"  and  "Little  Bo  Satan".  8  out  of  10.   

https://www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist/

The Absense/Khronocracy/Sliptrick Records/2019 CD Review

  The  Absense  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black,  doom,  stoner  metal,  grunge  and  alternative  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Khronocracy"  which  will  be  released  in March  by  Sliptrick  Records.

  Clean  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  leads  to  elements  of  grunge  and  alternative  rock  being  added  onto  the  recording.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  riffing  along  with  some  female  vocals  also  being  used  at  times.

  Psychedelic  and  stoner  rock  influences  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  music  while  all  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  used  on  some  of  the  songs,  some  of  the  distorted  riffing  brings  in  more  of  a  lo-fi  style  of  black  metal  along  with  the  vocals  keeping  more  of  a  clean  style.

  The  Absence  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  alternative  rock,  grunge,  post  black,  stoner  and  doom  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  specific  passing  of  time  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Absense  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  alternative  rock,  grunge,  post  black,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Trip"  and  "The  Absence".  8  out  of 10. 

https://www.facebook.com/theabsense/

Siberian/Live At Studio Underjord/The Sign Records/2019 EP Review

  Siberian  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  and  progressive  mixture  of  sludge  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  ep  "Live  At  Studio  Underjord"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  the  Sign  Records.

  Avant  garde  style  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  melodic  riffing  being  added  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  great  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  sludge  style  screams.

  A  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  progressive  along  with  some  influences  from  the  more  atmospheric  side  of  black  metal  and  the  slow  riffs  also  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  songs  are  recorded  live  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  guitars  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  which  also  enhances  the  more  black  metal  side  of  the  bands  musical  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics cover  an  Orwellian  view  on  modern  society.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Siberian  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive,  post,  black  and  sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Axis  Mundi"  and  "Witness'.  8  out  of  10.

http://thesludgelord.blogspot.com/2019/01/track-premiere-swedish-post-metallers.html

  

Oldd Wvrms/Codex Tenebris/Cursed Monk Records/2019 CD Review

  Oldd  Wvrms  are  a  band  from  Belgium that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Codex  Tenebris"  which  will  ve  released  in  February  by  Cursed Monk  Records.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  slow  and  heavy  riffs  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  capturing  a  psychedelic  atmosphere  at  times.

  All  of  the  music  is  instrumental  with  no  lyrics  or  songwriting  while  their  previous  material  had  more  of  and  this  takes  their  sound  into  a  different  direction  but  spoken  word  parts  are  used  briefly  on  the  closing  song,  You  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  modern  post  metal  elements  throughout  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  presence  throughout  the  tracks.

  Modern  atmospheric  black  metal  elements  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music    which  can  be  heard  in  the  dark  and  melodic  riffing  that  band  creates  as  well  as  expanding  on  the  influence  and  making  it  a  more  powerful  part  of  the  sound  than  previous  recordings.  Clean  playing  is  also  utilized  on  some  of  the  later  tracks  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  diversity  while  guitar  leads  when  they  are  finally  added  into  the  music  are  one  in a  very  melodic  style  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive.  All  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  slow  direction  while  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Oldd  Wvrms  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  instrumental,  black,  doom,  sludge  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tenebres"  and  "La  vallee  des  tombes".  8  out  of  10.

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Yerusalem/The Sublime/Debember Morti Productions/2019 CD Review

  Yerusalem  are  a  duo  from  France  that  consists  of  a  member  of  Blut  Aus  Nord  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  post  punk,  new  wave,  electronica,  and  goth  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "The  Sublime"which  will  be  released  in  2019  by  Debembur  Morti  Productions.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  melodic  guitar  leads  and  programmed  beats  while  the  clean  vocals  gives  the  music  more  of  a  post  punk  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  avant  garde  and  experimental  at  times  and  the  heavy  riffs  also  add  in  touches  of  early  90's  industrial  metal.

  Elements  of  goth  rock.  psychedelia,  new  wave,  electronica  and  dreamgaze  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  synths  as  well  as  one  of  the  tracks  being  an  instrumental  and  some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  structures  of  mid  90's  to  early  2000's  era  experimental  black  metal  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Yerasalem  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  industrial,  new  wave,  electronica,  post  punk,  goth  rock  and  black  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Yeraalem  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  industrial,  new  wave,  electronica,  post  punk,  goth  rock  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  looking for  something  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Sublime"  "Joyless"  and  "Reverso".  8  out  of  10. 

https://www.facebook.com/Yeruselemprojekt/

Marsh Dweller/Wanderer/Eihwaz Recordings/2018 CD Review

  Marsh  Dweller  are  a  solo  project  from  Pennsylvania  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  moves  way  from  his  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  to  go  into  more  of  a  sludge/post  metal  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016  album  "Wanderer"  which  was  released  by  Eihwaz  Recordings.

  Distorted  noises  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  post  metal  direction  while  the  vocals  bring  in a  mixture  of  growls  and  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  slower  riffing  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  metal.

  Have  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  atmospheric  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  being  utilized  when  the  music  speeds  up  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  atmospheric  and  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  synths  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Marsh  Dweller  moves  way  from  his  melodic  style  of  black/death  metal  and  goes  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  post/sludge  metal  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  following  the  wanderer.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Marsh Dweller  and  while  some  black  and  death  metal  fans  will  not  like  the  new  style,  I  can  see  this  album  winning  a  fan  base  among  fans  of  sludge  and  post  metal.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wander  I"  and  "Fall".  8  out of  10.

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Myopic Interview

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

Aside from everything involved in putting the album out, we’ve been working hard to make sure we nail everything live, playing some shows, and working on new material.

2.In November you have a new album coming out, what are some of the things the band done different musically on this recording that you were not able to do on previous releases?

Clean singing. Something like half the vocals on this record are are sung (more or less) clean. Adding clean vocals wasn’t something we really set out to do, as much as it was something the songs we were writing were calling for.  We also spent time working out a conceptual soundscape through and between songs.

3.This is your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?

Working, traveling and moving. Our hardest problem for a while was making time for the band through all the different changes from work scheduling and vacation planning. We try to play gigs fairly regularly and spent a lot of time writing and working on the music on this album.

4.In the beginning the band played more of a death metal style but over the years have evolved more in a black, sludge or post metal direction, what was the decision behind the musical change?

We never really set out to play a particular style, so we’ve moved with our musical interests and our development as songwriters. Our music has been getting more complex through the years and so that often prompts changes in tone and aesthetic. We’ve always followed a more linear, narrative approach rather than a cyclical structure. It’s also hard to only write dark-sounding music, it’s nice to be adding more melody and colors to our palate.

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

Derived from the word “Myopia” meaning nearsightedness, in a literal sense, or lack of foresight, long term plans. We (most likely) chose it because it sounded cool, but it’s since become sort of a representation of the band’s unwillingness to define itself. We write what we want to hear.

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

The front cover is inspired by the lyrics and concept for the song Pillars of Time. The album follows a man wandering through a deserted world, having visions and memories of the past. It’s not entirely clear what killed the population and left the world barren, only hinted at in places. In Pillars of Time he finds these great monuments to an ancient civilization, still standing because of their great size.  The back cover is based on the lyrics to Resting Place and the conclusion of this story. The art was done by Casey Drogin, who also used to be in the band before Myopic released anything.

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?

Within the last year we played with Thantifaxath at Atlas Brew Works in DC, that was a great show and a great venue, especially since we work in the beer industry as well. After the release of Crawling Mountain Apogee we played a Grimoire Showcase at Metro Gallery in Baltimore. It’s always nice to play with all the talent on our label. In 2016 we played Shadow Woods Metal Festival with a ton of amazing bands. The whole weekend was incredibly fun. Our stage performance is all about playing as tight and perfect as we can while still putting as much energy and emotion in as possible. We’ve been working on making the set a cohesive whole as well, a lot of consideration goes into song order and how one song flows into the next.

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

We’re in the process of stringing together a small tour this winter with At the Graves.

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

Actually worldwide our biggest fan base might be in Russia. A few years ago we somehow found that a Russian torrenting website had stolen our EP ‘Vacuous’, uploading for download on their website, and even watermarking our album artwork. Shortly after, we had our biggest spike of listens ever on our bandcamp.

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

We’re a band that likes to change and go in new directions, it’s hard to predict, but I think we’ll see a continuation of our favorite aspects of this album as well as branching out and trying new things.

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

We tend to play with a lot of different genre blends based in blackened atmosphere and post-rock energy. Some influences over the past two years have been: Yob, Gojira, Meshuggah, ISIS, Emperor, High On Fire, The Chasm, Immortal...

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

We all have visual art hobbies as well, photography, design, painting. We homebrew beer, mead, and wine, and play Starcraft 2 as a team.

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

We hope our listeners enjoy the album and all the work put into it. We put a lot of thought into the track order and presentation, and hope people will listen to the whole album. It’s somewhat of a concept album, so it’s best experienced that way, as an album, and not just a collection of separate songs, which seems to be getting less common these days, and if you live around the Washington, DC area, come and see us live!

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Myopic/Self Titled/Grimoire Records/2018 CD Review

  Myopic  are  a  band  from  Maryland  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  post,  black, sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Grimoire  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  clean  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  at  times  as  well  as  the  fast  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking. 

  Myopic  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  post  black,  progressive,  sludge  and  doom  metal   and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Myopic  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  black,  post,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Earth's  Mantle"  "In  Exile"  and  "Resting  Place".  8  out  of  10.

https://myopicdc.com

https://www.facebook.com/MyopicBand

Norilsk/Weepers Of The Land/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2018 CD Review

  Norilsk  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Weepers  Of  The  Land"  which  will  be  released  on  October  12  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Clean  yet  distorted  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  slower  riffs  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals a re  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks are  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  samples,  elements  of  post  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction,  clean  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars  are  added  onto  the  closing  track.

  Norilsk  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  their  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  French  and  cover  History  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Norilsk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "No  Sacred  Ground"  and  "Weepers  Of  The  Land".  8  out  of  10. 

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Hesperian Death Horse/Ziv/2018 Full Length Review

  Hesperian  Death  Horse  are  a  band  from  Croatia  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  avant  garde  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "Ziv".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  avant  garde  elements  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  tracks are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Clean  vocals  and  spoken word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  slow  and  heavy  riffs  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  along  with  some  psychedelic  sounds  also  being  used  in  some  parts  of  the  music  and  the  songs  also  incorporate  post  black  metal  influences  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Hesperian  Death  Horse  expand  on  their  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  post  metal  by  adding  in  more  avant  garde  influences,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilistic  poetry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hesperian  Death  horse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  post,  sludge  and  avant  garde  metal,  you  should  check  out t his  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Elu  (Part  2:  Voda)"  and  "Liv(Part  4:  Horde)".  8  out  of  10.

https://hesperiandeathhorse.ba ndcamp.com

Flood Peak Interview

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

We are three friends who get together to enjoy music. We come from different musical backgrounds - Flood Peak is the product of it all.

2.In February you had recorded your first album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

Bleak, hopeless, ominous, dark, tired, and angry.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Religious beliefs and how they can be blinding. Hopelessness of living life while blindfolded.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Flood Peak'?

One of our members, Peter, lived through some flood peaks growing up in Portland, OR. This made an impression on him, and he felt it was a good name for the project.

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

Our second show (with Old Iron, Year of the Coyote, and Berator) was really fun. Our stage performance is heavy, energetic, and loud.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

We’ve talked about it with friends from Lament Cityscape and Sól, but nothing is set in stone at this time.

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

We’d love to have a label to support us in the future. So far we haven’t been contacted by any labels, so DIY is where it’s at until further notice.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and sludge metal?

90-95% of the feedback has been positive. Two reviews were negative - one reviewer actually said our music taste sucked. Regardless of their words, I appreciate that they listened to Plagued By Sufferers and wrote about it.

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

Dylan (drummer) plays in Sól (post-metal).

I (Pierre; bassist) have my own solo project (Juracán; modern composition; ambient) and play bass for Vohké (post-rock, progressive rock).

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

It’s hard to tell. It really comes down to the writing process: members involved, flexibility, and openness to experimentation.

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

Amenra, Yautja, Celeste, and Mare are bands we respect greatly.

I (Pierre) am all over the olace: from Nils Frahm to Mare; from This Will Destroy You to Juan Luis Guerra.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

I (Pierre) love anime, video games, downhill skateboarding, photography, videography, playing soccer, and hanging out with my pets.

Peter loves hockey, video games, his cats, and beer.

Dylan loves comics, camping, video games, his dog, and sports (hockey for sure... but football too, maybe?)

We all love hanging out with family and good food.

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

I’d like to end by saying that music has been a part of our lives since we were teenagers. It doesn’t matter where we play music - our practice space, a recording studio, or a venue - we always have a good time.

If you catch us live, we will do our best to transmit the same energy and feel we put into our record.

Thanks for reading!

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Flood Peak/Plagued By Sufferers/2018 Full Length Review

  Flood  Peak  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post   metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "Plagued  By  Sufferers".

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sludge  style  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks a re  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  great  amount  of  doom  metal  elements  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  utilize  black  metal  screams  at  times  along  with  some  clean  guitars  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of   the  recording  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  Flood  Peak  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  bleakness  and  hopelessness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Flood  Peak  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Scourge"  and  Veiled  By  Summoners".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/floodpeakband 
www.twitter.com/floodpeakband 

Torii Interview

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

Bill: We are eagerly waiting for everyone to hear what we have been working on for the last two years!
Other than that we have started working on our next album over the summer. It is going to be a cover
album, which will change things up a bit for us.

2.You have a new album coming out in June, how would you describe the musical sound that is
presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Bill: This album I really tried to slow things down. I have always listened to a lot of funeral doom and stoner doom, and I made an conscious effort to implement these influences. I would describe our sound as death/doom with some post metal mixed in, but I have noticed that listeners are really picking up on the black and death metal aspects of our music.

3.Your lyrics cover Conspiracy, Fantasy and Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Bill:  I have always been interested in fantasy and mythology.  Perhaps I am dissatisfied with the world asas we know it, so I like to imagine what the world was like during ancient times.

4.Your album artwork has a couple of followers of Cadmus being devoured by a dragon, can you tell us alittle bit more about why you picked this artwork for the new album?

Bill: I saw this painting when I was much younger and it has always stuck with me. The life of Cadmus was an inspiration for the lyrics on the title track, and some of the other tracks, although not quite so directly. A "Cadmean victory" is to win the battle but lose the war. Cadmus's life was quite successful, but he was cursed by the gods, and tragedies followed him and his family. His story of futility relates to alot of the sounds and themes that Torii explores.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Torii?

Bill: I would prefer to keep that private. Sorry.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, do you prefer working as a duo?

Bill: We have talked about getting a proper band together and playing shows. However, we both have
other careers, so it works for us now. I enjoy the process of composing and self-editing all of the music,and Eric likes to tie in his stories and lyrics.

7.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?

Bill: We have never played live but hopefully we can in the future. Although our music is quite morose at times, we can still bring some energy that I think would translate well in a live setting.

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

Bill: We are looking, but we haven't received much interest. Since we have other careers, this is fine for us.  However, if getting signed means more people can listen to our music, then we need to do everything we can to make that happen.

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

Bill: A lot of our fans are from European countries, which is great! We have heard good things from
reviewers and fans from England, Italy, Germany, Norway, and I'm sure there is more.

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

Bill: The second track on our upcoming album,  "Theory of Existence", was a bit of an adventure into
stoner metal for us. It is not as melodic as most of our other stuff, but it is a blast to play. So, you may
hear some more material like that in the future.

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

Bill:  I would say Ruins of Beverast, Esoteric, OM, and Swallow the Sun have probably
had some influence on our new stuff. They are all doom bands from various sub-genres, but most of
them are on the psychedelic side of things. More recently I have been listening to Cult of Luna, MournfulCongregation, and Summoning.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Bill: I just enjoy composing and creating things. I like creating art and building furniture and cabinets.

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

Bill: Thanks for your time.

https://torii.bandcamp.com/album/a-judgement-divine

Torii/A Judgement Divine/2018 Full Length Review

  Torii  are  a  duo  form  Arkansas  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  post,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "A  Judgement  Divine"  which  will  be  released  in  June.

  Heavy  yet  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  after  awhile  grim  black  metal  screams  start  to  make  their  presence  known.

  At  times  elements  of  post  metal  can  be  heard  in  the  music  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  death  metal growls  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  songs  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitar  playing.

  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  one  of  the  tracks  is  an  instrumental  and  also  introduces  synths  onto  the  recording  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Torii  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  sludge,  death  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  Conspiracy,  Fantasy,  Social  Issues  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Torii  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Army  Of  Sand"  and  "A  Judgement  Divine".  8  out  of  10.

torii.bandcamp.com/album/a-judgement-divine

  

The Canyon Observer/Noll/Vox Project/Kapa Records/2018 CD Review

  The  Canyon  Observer  are  a  band  from  Slovenia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  post.  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Noll"  which  will  be  released  on  April  20th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Vox  Project  and  Kapa  Records.

  Distorted  sound  drones  and  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  guitar  leads  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a mixture  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  bringing  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  elements  of  post  metal  along  with  a  small  amount  of  melody  also  being  used  at  times  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion,  elements  of  harsh  noise  and  experiemntal  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  crust  punk  influences  can  also  be  heard  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  playing  is  added  onto  the  recording  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  and  on  the  closing  track  the  vocals  go  into  more  of  a  melodic  sludge  direction.

  On  this  recording  The  Canyon  Observer  expands  on  their  mixture  of  black,  post,  sludge  and  doom  metal  by  adding  in  elements  of  crust,  experimental  and  noise  to  take  their  sound  to  a  different  level,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark and  disturbing  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  The  Canyon  Observer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  post,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Noll"  "Abstract"  and  "Circulation".  8  out  of  10.

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