Showing posts with label psychedelic black metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psychedelic black metal. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

St. Unholyness Interview

 

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


Of course! We are a band from Pfarrkirchen, Germany. We are searching for a drummer, because for live gigs we play as a power trio. Atm we are a two-piece with Mac Carrigan on Bass and me, Christina Earlymorn on Guitar & Vocals. We play an unique mixture of Stonerdoom, Black Metal & Blues Rock, because we are so fed up limiting ourselves to only one genre forever. We try to play every style we like and make it our own. We label our music with this debut as "Chromed Stoner Doom with Groove & Style" , because our guitars are chromed, our clothing is stylish and our riffs are heavy grooving with HM2 (classic swedish death metal) growl.


2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of December, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?


As I stated earlier, that we are so fed up in only being at home in one genre, I started back in 2017 to collect some of these odd riffs that didn't properly fit in my previous black metal only - projects. On and off (from 2017 until 2025) I did write for the album in between life situations that happened. (Covid, Loss of Job, My dad died) In that period of time I crafted my own personal style for our band, St. Unholy which Mac and I now run.


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


As a bullying & sexual abuse survivor back in my childhood when I was 6, of course it is very important to me to be very vocal against bullies & pedophiles. A nun raped me every Thursday from 1996-1998 we had in school as an handicraft teacher for she wanted to know what's in my pants, because of me being a trans child back then. Because of that I am not very religious anymore, because I still get so much hate from religious people claiming to be good people, but showing otherwise. So, because of that we have the subject of anti religion in our lyrics, BUT! We clearly differentiate between in blindly hating the religious people and hating the religious organizations backing its predators, which we set our focus onto. We don't fight decent people who believe in god. We fight against evil people who hide behind a religious power structure. Then, we also wanna focus on positive topics like enjoying life to the fullest, being proud of oneself and even stretching into Carl Jung's psychology topics or into the interesting electronic frequency works of Nikola Tesla. Basically, we sing about topics that either have something to do with our past personally, or we sing about stuff that interests or inspires us of which we think could also be interesting for the listener to broaden up his/her horizons.


4.You have mentioned an interest in Carl Jung and Nikola Tesla,  can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in their work?


When I was reading about Carl Jung, I was introduced by his shadow work technique in which the shadow (Your repressed dark side) gets integrated without causing destruction to oneself or others. I like his theory, because due to the sexual abuse, the hate I get and bullying I had to endure in school I carry a massive amount of hate & desire for revenge deep in my stomach. Alot of so called "Good vibes only" people often snap someday, because they completely suppress their shadow-self every day. It's like a barrel that over time explodes. I learned with Carl Jung to dance with my shadows, to recognize them and to release them into something constructive that I call healthy agression. Playing music is one of the methods I use. Nikola Tesla on the other hand fully inspires me, because he says that everything is energy, vibration & frequency. If I am depressed I have to have low energy. I don't vibe (vibrate) very much and my frequency to be interesting for other people is very low. If I am happy however, I got a high energy, so I vibrate stronger and people will be drawn at me, because of my frequency. I personally find this very interesting if you personally examine your past and see how it over time has influenced you. Alot of adult people carry their childhood wounds / childhood traumas still around with them which completely dominates their every day life & fucks up their future, because these poor people act out of the energy from the past when the trauma in childhood took place. That's what I experienced, too. It bothered me so much that I wanted to dominate my life again killing that invisible force which held me back.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'St. Unholyness"?


Since 20 years I am a devoted satanist walking my way through life. That is my very personal (for me) healthy way of spirituality. The name St. Unholyness came like an lightning bolt into my head as I thought to myself, that I, as a person are loved by many and hated by others for being myself. Because of me being a long time satanist who worked for 10 years as a nurse and sometimes donates some of my spare money to homeless people, I feel more christ like as I can see in other so called "christian" people. Basically in other words I am a "Saint" to many & considered as "Unholy" by strangers. That's what St. Unholyness means. Basically someone who does look like a villain, but does good onto others.


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


The original artwork was actually me as an baphomet figure posing on the cover. But as I listened to the tracks and looked at the cover it didn't match properly with the sound of the debut album. So I creARTed the actual cover artwork and postponed the one with me as baphomet on it for another album in the future. As a debut album I wanted something simple but with a clear message. The cross of peter already says it what "Through High Holy Haze" is about. We oppose unconscious religious herd mentality and support individuality that is aware of oneself.


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


No shows yet, because I didn't think that I would ever be able to find people who wanted to join a band where a "tranny" is fronting the band with a weird sound that isn't anything near mainstream. We still search for a drummer, because of course we would love to play live shows in the near future!


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


Not yet.


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


We did receive interest, but I am not yet sure if I should sign my life away.


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


Well, to my surprise the comments on our two on YouTube released music videos are positive. I received messages on my Facebook page & Instagram account of people telling me that they like it alot. Personally I am always very critical of myself, because when I learned to play music my environment wasn't supportive and made fun of me. See, that's one of my childhood wounds that still controls me, BTW. Thank you for making me realize this with this interview Mr. Larson! I will have some self work to do :)


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


I would love to build the band up, gaining international reputation and forming a fanbase where everyone regardless of how they dress, looks like is welcome. I hate gatekeepers and I would love as a band leader, to have a community that has glued together many walks of fans, just like Motörhead managed to untite Rockers, Punks & Metalheads. That's why my guitars are chromed. I hope the audience can mirror themselves into the guitars to make them realize that we are all part of this as a whole!


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


Nowadays I don't really listen to much music. After finishing an album I am drained & need silence to recharge my creativity. But bands like ZZ Top, Pantera, Goatwhore, Crowbar, Megadeth and artists like BB King, S.R.V., Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa & Yngwie Malmsteen do influence me still.


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


My father passed away this may 2025 at the age of 61. What I wanna say to finish this interview off is the following: Say "I love you" more often to your loved ones, because no one knows when time's up.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StUnholynessOfficial
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@st.unholynessofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st.unholyness.official
Bandcamp: http://www.stunholyness.bandcamp.com/
More info: https://www.christinaearlymorn.com/St.Unholyness/

Sunday, November 30, 2025

St. Unholyness/Through High Holy Haze/2025 Full Length Review

 


  St.  Unholyness  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  blues  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Through  High  Holt  Haze"  which  will  be  released  on  Christmas.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  some  psychedelic   touches  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Elements  of  doom  and  stoner  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  blues  rock,  proto  metal  style.


  Vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  clear  stoner  rock  style  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Whispers  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  lot  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  also  bring  in  the  aggression  of  thrash  metal,  synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  some  of  the  vocals  also  add  in  shouts  and  death  metal  growls.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  survival,  empowerment  and  resilience.  


  In  my  opinion  St.  Unholyness  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom,  stoner,  thrash  metal  and  blues  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Heaven's  Harem"  "Alchemist  Blues"  and  "St.  Unholyness".  8  out  of  10.


  

      

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Agenbite Misery/Remorse Of Conscience/2026 Full Length Review

 


  Agenbite  Misery  are  a  band  from  New  Hampshire  that  plays  an  experimental  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "Remorse  Of  Conscience"  which  will  be  released  in  2026.


  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  words  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  emtal  screams,  death  metal  growls  and  sludge  style  shouts  and  a  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  Influences  of  hardcore  and  power  violence  can  also b e  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  album  also  having  its  experimental  moments  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  ambient  style  textures  also  being  utilized  at  times,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing.  


  Some  of  the  riffing  also  brings  in  the  classic  noise  rock  style  as  well  as  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  Synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  one  song  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  industrial  and  post  punk  style  mixed  in  with  a  touch  of  blackgaze,  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  and  some  tracks  also  adds  in  touches  of  noise,  drone,  indie  rock,  dungeon  synth  and  psychedelia.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  James  Joyce.


  In  my  opinion  Agenbite  Misery  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cascara  Sagrada"  "Circe"  and  "Mnesterophonia".  8  out  of  10.


  

  


  


  

Friday, February 14, 2025

Midryasi's Kult/Mountain Devil/Caligari Records/2025 EP Review

 


  Midryasil's  Kult  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Mountain  Devil"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Caligari  Records.


  A  punk  rock  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  which  are  done  in  more  of  an  early  80's  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  synths  also  add  in  psychedelic  touches  when  they  are  utilized  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal/rock  style.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black metal  elements  can  also  be  heard.  All  of  the  musical  instrument  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  influences  from  the  70's  and  mixing  them  in  with  the  modern  era  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Midryasil's  Kult  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  first  wave  black  and  traditional  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  with  punk  and  psychedelic  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occultism  themes


  In  my  opinion  Midryasil's  Kult  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Mountain  Devil".  8  out  of  10.


  http://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/mountain-devil  


  

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Summoning Saturn Voids/Self Titled/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from  Norway  and  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  album  which  was  released  by  Argonauta  Records.


  Synths  and  atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a 70's  rock  style.


  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  and  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  doom  and  stoner  metal  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  aggression  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Lovecraftian,  Cosmic  Horror,  Science  Fiction  and  Space  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Summoning  Saturn  Voids  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  doom  and  stoner  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cosmic  Sabbath"  "Technical  Heresy"  and "Siggy  Starsmoke  And  The  Bongsters  From  Mars".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/ summoningsaturnvoids

Monday, October 14, 2024

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

 


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


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


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


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


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


  www.antipope.info

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

twitter.com/antipope_band  

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Lares 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?

Recording our latest album in our studio/rehearsal room was a completely different beast compared to our previous two albums, which were recorded in a professional studio. We had to rearrange the space and experiment extensively to capture the entire song in one take, without a click track. We wanted a cinematic feeling, so we took our time working with Luca Leprotti (David di Donatello winner for best sound in "Volevo Nascondermi" by Giorgio Dritti) for the mixing. Once we had a version we liked, we sent everything to our label, Argonauta Records. While waiting for the album to be pressed and released, we worked on new material and went on a small tour in Germany.

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

Our first album, “Mask of Discomfort” (2017), was more of a stoner doom album, but it already hinted at elements that became more prominent in our next album, “Towards Nothingness” (2020) – black metal parts, ethereal post-rock guitars, ambient drone, and slow doom sections. With our latest release, we continued on this evolutionary path, adding more elements and focusing on the dynamics of various sections. We recorded it ourselves in our studio to maintain the freedom of not having time limits due to budget constraints. “Et in Arcadia Ego” was born from our first session together after a long pandemic break. We captured the energy of that day, playing the whole 27-minute track repeatedly without a click until it was perfect.

3. This is also your first release in four years. Can you tell us a bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

We had a complicated period after releasing our previous album, which coincided with our first major tour in June 2020. But everyone knows what happened then. Lockdowns and health concerns led to a period of inactivity. Depression set in, and we wrote parts at home. When we finally met again, we played for hours, jamming on what we had. We decided to create a long song representing the long wait, mixed emotions, and static floating of time, along with themes of death, apocalypse, and the dawn of humanity. After recording “Et in Arcadia Ego,” Simone left the band, and Giovanni joined as a second guitarist and synth player. We wanted to be ready as a new force before releasing the album.

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

We explore themes like the contrasts within the city and nature, occultism, paganism, death, depression, oblivion, abandonment, and psychedelics. Our music and lyrics are heavily influenced by the current political situation in Germany and globally.

5. I know the band's name comes from Roman and Etruscan mythology. Can you tell us a bit more about your interest in this topic?

We liked the idea of an Etruscan/Roman faceless god, an entity that can be molded into any desired shape, believed to observe, protect, and influence fate. Some members come from the Etruscan volcanic areas of Italy, and the constant touch with catacombs, unholy temples, and the ghosts of an ancient civilization worshiping nature, their forces, and powers, as well as the inner self, has always fascinated us.

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

Choosing that artwork was spontaneous and connected with the concept of the new album. After one of the first times we played the long song entirely, our ex-synth player Simone instinctively suggested the title “Et in Arcadia Ego” and showed us the painting by Guercino with the same title. We officially asked the National Gallery Museum in Rome for permission to use the image, and to our surprise, maybe a metalhead was working the office desk, they gave us the ok.

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

Recently, we played a small release tour in Germany, which was our most intense experience to date, with the best show in Dresden headlining the last day of the Gockel Scream Festival. Lares has no form or shape, so we like to create a blurry and ethereal atmosphere on stage. Seeing people with eyes closed, completely lost in the sound and shaking – more than us after the concert – is the most important reward we’ve achieved. We are grateful that our experimental “monster” track album touched so many souls deeply.

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

Yes, we are working on a second tour outside of Germany for the end of the year or 2025.

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

We’ve had a lot of responses from the States, South America, and Northern Europe. Since the release of our second album, we’ve noticed a small but dedicated following. We know our music isn’t easy to digest for genre purists. We don’t believe in subgenre categories; it’s cool nowadays that there are no boundaries with music. Somewhere out there, there’s a trve black metal guy secretly listening to Mitski.

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

We’re in a constant jamming process. An album always represents the past for us. When you hear it, we’ve already moved on to another chapter. Our next goal is to experiment in fields we’ve never been before – maybe with more electronic elements, maybe with shorter, aggressive songs. For now, we might have had enough of concept albums and will surely do something different in the future.

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

Thanks for giving us this space, and thanks for reading. I hope you find new tunes today. Spread the evil. Cheers!


https://www.facebook.com/ laresband
https://www.instagram.com/ laresmetal/

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Mycena 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?


Currently, we are still promoting our latest album "Serendisarray" and brainstorming concepts for our next album. I've also switched focus to my other musical projects (Vrhovec, Grinded Grin, Acid Hags). We've started collecting ideas, riffs, and themes for the new album. Once we gather a good number, we'll begin compiling and arranging them into a concept that best suits the new album. We plan to start working on the album this fall, and the writing and recording process is expected to take about six months.


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


On our previous albums, we relied heavily on improvisation. We didn't have finished themes, and they were recorded spontaneously when we all got together without prior arrangements or rehearsals. It was classic jamming. Our new album "Serendisarray" took about a year to record, spread across 10 sessions, with constant work on the concept. Every riff was tested and refined to fit the concept. Some songs started with a guitar riff, while others began with a drum pattern.


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?


Some of the lyrical themes include Nostradamus' predictions, Pythagoras and Pythagorean teachings, cosmic chaos and serenity, and emotional disturbances and passions. Progress as a songwriter is very evident in Mycena. However, since Mycena isn't the only band I'm in, the writing styles intertwine and improve through my other projects, making everything look different when I return to Mycena. With each album, the writing style evolves, and the art of songwriting is honed into the unique expression that each of us possesses.


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


The name Mycena was taken from a hallucinogenic mushroom, which perfectly fit the initial concept of a psychedelic band. An added bonus is that no one had used this name for a band before. Nowadays, it's challenging to find a super cool band name that hasn't already been taken.


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


The artwork for the album was created by the phenomenal artist Vhan. It perfectly represents the album, which has chaos as its main theme, with a psychedelic touch, space, mantra, the human in the center, and the third eye—everything you can hear and feel on the album.


6. Currently there are onyl 2 members in the band. are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?


Currently, we are a duo when creating the album, but for concerts and recording, we have several musicians who join us depending on the concept of the concert or album. Moving forward, we will continue writing and recording as a duo, serving as the core idea center, and then we will use session musicians to enrich the album's sound.


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


The best concert, in my opinion, was in Koprivnica at FUNK Day when the festival was held outdoors. There were six of us on stage, and we created quite a scene with tons of smoke. I wore a white rabbit mask while playing the synth.


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


No, we don't tour; we only play occasional concerts at local festivals. We don't have that obligation or need because we are on our own label, and we don't make a living from music. But we live for music.


9. Currently the band is singed to 'Olde Scratch Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?


Olde Scratch is my label, covering all my bands and allowing me to keep everything under one umbrella. It's easier to reach journalists and promote our music, and the audience knows what to expect when they see an Olde Scratch release.


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


With the exception of one of my black metal project, Mycena has reached the furthest of all my endeavors. The response has been phenomenal and very surprising. Both journalists and the audience have reacted excellently. It's a great motivation for us to continue our work.


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


I think we'll be moving towards less improvisation in the future and aim to work more on concept and arrangement. Our goal is also to ensure each song has vocals and melody, while still embracing tension through dissonance. That's our current plan, and we'll see in a few months how much of it we can achieve and how well our current ideas will come to life.


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


My all-time favorites are Croatian Seven That Spells, Oranssi Pazuzu, Deathspell Omega, King Crimson, and Master Musicians of Bukkake. They embody that psychedelic dissonance with a unique atmosphere that I crave when listening to and creating music.


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


Nothing more, thank you very much for the interview, and thanks to everyone for listening to the "Serendisarray" album :)


(Aleksandar Vrhovec, Mycena)

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Mycenia/Serendisarray/Olde Scratch Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Mycena  are  a  duo  from  Croatia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  stoner  rock,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Serendisarray"  which  was  released  by  Olde  Scratch  Records.


  Psychedelic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clean  sections  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction  when  they  are  added  in  the  music.


  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  can  be  heard  briefly  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  stoner  metal.  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  a  lot  of  the  vocals  adding  in  more  of  a  spoken  demonic  style,  saxophones  and  clarinets  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.


  The  album  also  adds  in  a  few  instrumentals  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric  themes.


  In  mu  opinion  Mycena  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  stoner  metal,  jazz,  avant  garde,  experimental,  psychedelic  and  prog  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lacrima  Futurum"  "Erato"  and  "Apatheia".  8  out  of  10.


  https://mycena.bandcamp.com/album/serendisarray

https://youtu.be/STyy8PQ-fvc?si=eZm794NnY5bnSmK1 

Octoploid/Beyond The Aeons/Reigning Phoenix Music/2024 Full length Review

 


  Octoploid  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  psychedelic  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Beyond  The  Aeons"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Reigning  Phoenix  Music.


  Nature  sounds ,  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  psychedelic  and  70's  progressive  rock  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in    small  amount  of  clean  playing.


    When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  humanity  and  mythology  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Octoploid  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  with  elements  of  progressive  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Dawns  In  Nothingness"  "Shattered  Wings"  and  "A  Dusk  Of  Vex".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/octoploidmusic

https://www.instagram.com/octoploidmusic
https://twitter.com/octoploidmusic
https://www.tiktok.com/@octoploidmusic

https://www.reigningphoenixmusic.com/artists/octoploid        

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Haunted Plasma/I/Svart Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


   Haunted  Plasma  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  psychedelic  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  techno  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "I"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Svart  Records.


  Sci-fi  orientated  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  adding  in  some  spoken  word  parts.  Touches  of  techno  and  krautrock  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  


  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  programmed  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  and  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  black  metal,  clean  playing,  harsh  screams  and  noises  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Haunted  Plasma  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  techno,  krautrock,  noise  and  psychedelic  black  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  William  Gibson  and  Phillip  K.  Dick.


  In  my  opinion  Haunted  Plasma  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  techno,  krautrock,  noise  and  psychedelic  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reverse  Engineer"  and  "Echoes". 8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/p/Haunted-Plasma-100064487333162

https://www.instagram.com/hauntedplasma/        


      

Friday, April 5, 2024

Lares/Et In Arcadia Ego/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Lares  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  psychedelic   mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Et  In  Arcadia  Ego"  which  will  be  released  on  April  12th  by  Argonauta  Records.


  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  noises  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  slower  sections  of t he  album  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom metal.


  The  only  track  that  is  present  on  the  album  is  also  over  27  minutes  in  length  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Synths  and  clean  playing  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  also  takes  the  song  into  more  of  a  psychedelic  direction  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well a s  the  music  also  adding  in  some  90's  era  grunge,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  more  of  a  mid  60's  rock  style. 


  Lares  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  mixes  it  with  elements  of  grunge,  noise  and  psychedelic  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Lares  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/ laresband

https://www.instagram.com/ laresmetal/     

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Borknagar/Fall/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Borknagar  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  a  history  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  and  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Fall"  which  will  be  released  on  February  23rd  by  Century  Media  Records.


  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.


  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  TA  couple  of  the  songs  also  add  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  a  more  progressive  direction.


  Psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Chants,  choirs  and  percussion  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  change  of  seasons  and  universal  struggle.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Broknagar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Summits"  "Stars  Ablaze"  and  "Northward".  8  out  of  10.


  www.borknagar.com   

www.facebook.com/borknagarofficial 
https://www.instagram.com/borknagar 
http://twitter.com/borknagarHQ 

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Nothing Is Real/Acts of Despair And Faith/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Los  Angeles,  California's  solo  project   Nothing  Is  Real  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  progressive,  psychedelic  and  technical  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  experimental  noise  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "Acts  of  Despair  And  Faith"  which  will  be  released  in  April.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  distorted  and  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  blast  beats.


  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical,  progressive  and  experimental  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  noise  rock  touches.  All  of  the  songs  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction   and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  adds  in  more  of  an  improvised  atmosphere  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  professional.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nothing  Is  Real  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive,  psychedelic, technical  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  experimental  noise  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Block  The  light"  and  "Split".  8  out  of  10.


  

Bandcamp
Facebook


      

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Hexvessel/Polar Veil/Svart Records/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Hexvessel  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  doom  rock,  goth,  ritual,  folk  and psychedelia  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2023  album  "Polar  Veil"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Svart  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  avant  garde  moments  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  synths  also  add  in  some  psychedelic  touches  when  they  are  utilized.  Pagan  folk  metal  vocals  are  also  introduced  on  one  of  the  songs  along  with  the  shouts  also  giving  the  music  more  aggression  when  they  are  utilized  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  added  on  one  of  the  tracks.


  On  some  of  the  songs  the  synths  also  add  in  more  gothic  overtones  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized,  acoustic  guitars  can  also b e  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  personal  spiritual  transcendence  and  nature  mysticism  themes.    


  In  my  opinion  Hexvessel  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  doom  rock,  goth,  ritual,  folk  and  psychedelia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Older  Than  The  Gods"  "Eternal  Meadow"  and  "Homeward  Polar  Shift".  8 out  of  10.


  Hexvessel website

Hexvessel Facebook
Hexvessel Instagram
Hexvessel YouTube
Hexvessel Spotify


    

Sunday, July 23, 2023

Karavan/Unholy Mountain/Evil Noise Recordings/Vinyltroden/2023 Full Length Review

 


  Karavan  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Unholy  Mountain"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Evil  Noise  Recordings  and  Vinyltroden.


  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  psychedelic  soundscapes  are  also  utilized  at  times.


  Stone r metal  style  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  bring  in  more  of  a  retro  proto  metal  style  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  Karavan  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  the  mysteries  of  the  universe. 


  In  my  opinion  Karavan  are  a  very  great  sounding  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Throne"  "demon  Slime"  and  "Unholy  Mountain"{.  8  out  of  10.


  


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karavandoom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karavandoom
Bandcamp: https://karavandoom.bandcamp.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/karavandoom