Empty Throne/Unholy/Downfall Records/2024 Full Length Review

 
    Empty  Throne  are  a  band  from  the  United  States  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Unholy"  which  was  released  by  Downfall  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  clean  playing  is  also  used  briefly.  Some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  the  faster  riffing  as  well as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  demonic  voices,  clear  singing,  spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs.

  Empty  Throne  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  with  thrash  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Luciferian,  Thelema  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Empty  Throne  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Unholy"  and  "My  Flesh  The  Temptation".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/emptythroneband

https://emptythroneofficial.bandcamp.com/album/glossolalia

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6wz3wLAt8zu4zL7jImCIyJ

Project: Ultimate Satan Interview

 

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

Project: Ultimate Satan is an Australian east coast based Symphonic Death Metal band formed late 2019. Featuring Eschatonic Records alumni from Inhuman Remnants, Black Mountain, Terravorous, Unholy Vendetta and Somnium Nox. From its inception P:US has sought to push the sonic possibilities of our unique blend of Symphonic Blackened Death Metal; We focused on the inclusion of more symphonic elements, orchestrations and lyrical content that would suit our unique blend of eldritch sigillism and anti-abrahamic and stoic philosophy. ‘The Opus Satanas’ our debut album was forged amidst the fires and plagues of 2020 & 2021. Recorded at Studio Decay and Produced by JDecay, Mixed and Mastered by Gibb at Gibbenez Music. Featuring myself Scottanic on Vocals; Ashahalasin on Bass; JDecay on Guitars, Orchestration and Backing Vocals; Dazferatu on Keys, Orchestration and Backing Vocals; and Amorasche on Drums, Percusion and Backing Vocals. The album also features: Vocals from Jem, Rhythm Guitars by Calcifur (Terravorous), Lead Guitars by Nekros the Black (Ex-Inhuman Remnants) 

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

 We had a vision to create a band with female and male vocalists bringing both depth and harmony to the project. Whilst marrying the blackened death metal with the symphonic and orchestral elements. The goal was to try and create something just as heavy as the music black and death metal that we listen to, whilst incorporating clean keys and vocals in addition to rather than instead of. There are a lot of themes based around early-mid century Abrahamic religions, and we wanted to include chants and concepts that reflected heavy modern-day death metal, while tying in these concepts to our sounds. 

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

To understand the lyrical content of the album you have to understand the album's intent: ‘Opus’: meaning an artistic work, or a group of works on a large scale and ‘Satanas’: in our use case of Satan meaning the embodiment of the self. The Opus Satanas is made up of two movements comprising three figures each. Movement 1: Malleus Maleficarum This movement flows through concepts of persecution and the struggle it causes, while crafting self-affirmations that begin to seed the spiritual growth of the self to overcome the torment that has been visited upon them by external forces. - Figure 1: Symphony Es Infernus - An invocation of a powerful deity of satanic knowledge, and a form of modern-day patron-demon of women’s rights. - Figure 2: Humanity’s Last Breath - A discussion on the community and how it can betray you and the loss and devastation this can cause. - Figure 3: Is This How Freedom Dies - A reaffirmation of self to delve into what freedom and self-actualization in the modern world means. Movement 2. Lex Talionis The movement flows into concepts similar to Nirvana, with the ultimate goal of enlightenment being nothingness. The true power of revenge being to grow the self, and have the external effects be futile. - Figure 1: The Infallible Void - To find your own inner power sometimes you have to look into the darkest pits. - Figure 2: Footprints In The Sands of Time - This song follows the history of duality and the birth and rise abrahamic religion through the use of Egyptian lore - Figure 3: Nocturne Immortalis - Lyrically we wanted this song to retouch on all the different concepts expressed in the album, while packaged around pagan worship of eternal night 

4.How would the band members describe their views on Satanism or Occultism?

 There are many different takes on Satanism and/or the occult. Whether you want to look at it atheistically like LaVeyan Satanism, or more theistically like ToS or ONA etc, is up to the individual. There can also be many other forms of occultism and studies sprouted either directly or indirectly from the cult of Abraham, such Petit Albert, De praestigiis daemonum, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, The Three Magical Books of Solomon etc, et al. Our goal is neither to preach nor teach, but to use metaphor and metal to uplift and encourage transcendence to apotheosis. 

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

 The main album art was done by Ben Wrigley of Third Eye Visuals, created from models he made in Blender 3D. The composition consists of Lucifer’s skulls, wings, crown and halo on an altar with blood soaked white roses. Placed on a pile of gold covered human skulls and adorned with our Omega Satan sigil. As you look closer you’ll notice that the skulls appear to have been pieced back together and repaired with gold. This is a reference to the Japanese Kintsugi and is a metaphor for embracing imperfections and finding beauty in brokenness. It reminds us that life's challenges and setbacks do not diminish our worth but rather add depth and character to our journey. The bloodstained-red roses represent the personal sacrifice needed to overcome puritanical ideas. 

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

We’ve currently played 4 shows in Canberra and are traveling interstate to perform this December in Melbourne and Adelade. 2025 will see a significant increase in our show schedule as we promote the release of ‘the Opus’ with the finalisation of our second album and beyond. If there are any booking companies, or other bands that would like to work with us in the future, feel free to reach out to us at bookings@eschatonicrecords.com. 

7.The new album is coming out on 'Eschatonic Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

 Eschatonic Records is a Canberran based Independant label that focuses on putting out local bands and releases, helping grow and support local like minded musicians. ER is run by our bassist Ashahalasin and our guitarist JDecay, so putting out our debut release through the label just made sense.

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

So far, we’ve only released a few tracks with accompanying lyric/visualiser videos. The reaction from those who have heard the tunes, has been overwhelmingly positive, as well as from those within musical circles. We do also get a fair bit of backlash from god-botherers due to our name and imagery, but that’s all part of the fun. When the full album comes out on Nov 29, we’re hoping it will be positively received from the communities that enjoy symphonic black and death metal.

 9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days the band members are apart of? 

Terravorous are currently on a unannounced hiatus but are hoping to return back into the new year. Inhuman Remnants are currently undergoing a line-up change, but are also working on new music in the studio at the moment. There are also a few other bands in the process of formation with the band members working and exploring new avenues of sound and sonic violence.

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

We are currently recording our second album, with a larger push on our symphonic harmonies and tying them in with crushing guitars and bass with a lot of old-school death metal style drumming. Our goal is to take all the individual elements that we used to create the first album, ratchet them up to 11, and then create something even heavier, more layered, more symphonic and orchestral and symbolically relevant for the coming years. 

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? 

Bands that have had a lot of influence on our current upcoming album were: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, Humanity’s Last Breath, Apocalyptica and Vale of Pnath (Accursed). Bands that we’re listening a lot to while writing our next album would be: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Synestia/Disembodied Tyrant split, Oranssi Pazuzu, SunSpectre (Sunscourge/Oracle Spectre split), Vale of Pnath (Between the Worlds of Life and Death) 

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

Firstly, thanks for having us for the interview. There are many ways to transcend and to be the best version of yourself. Hopefully our release inspires in such a way. If anyone wants to hear more from us they can visit our linktree, which keeps track of all our updated releases as they come out: https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan Ave Satanas

https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan

King Satan/The Devil's Evangelion/Noble Demon/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  solo  project  King  Satan  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  industrial  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "The  Devil's  Evangelion"  which  was  released  by  Noble  Demon.

  Industrial  style  beats  and  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  angry  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  angry  shouts  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  one  song  also  introduces  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  word  samples  also  being  used  briefly,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  male  vocals  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  King  Satan  continues  to  expand  on  his  mixture  of  symphonic  black,  death  and  industrial  metal  from  his  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Philosophy  and  Dark  Humour  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  King  Satan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black,  death  and  industrial  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "New  Aeon  Gospel'  "Once  Upon  A  Shadow"  "The  Devils  And  Saints"  and  "The  Devil's  Evangelion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.kingsatan.net 

https://www.facebook.com/kingsatan616 
https://www.instagram.com/kingsatanofficial 

  

Project: Ultimate Satan/The Opus Satanas/Eschatonic Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Project:  Ultimate  Satan  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "The  Opus  Satanas"  which  will  be  released  on  November  29th  by  Eschatonic  Records.

  Spoken  word  parts  and  symphonic  elements  start  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast b eats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  clear  singing,  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

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

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  a  lot  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  choirs  onto  the  recording  as  well a s  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  keyboards  and  orchestration.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Religion  and  Political  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Project:  Ultimate  Satan  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Humanity's  Last  Breath"  and  "Footprints  In  The  Sands  of  Time'.  8  out  of  10.

  https://projectultimatesatan.bandcamp.com/album/the-opus-satanas

https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan

The Crown/Crown Of Thorns/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  The  Crown  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal,  grindcore  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Crown  Of  Thorns"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  brutal  thrash  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements.  When  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  the  faster  riffing  they  also  take  the  recording  into  more  of  a  black  metal  direction  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  80's  style  death  metal  growls.

  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  true  to  more  of  an  old  school  extreme  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  mixing  in  the  more  aggressive  side  of  thrash  metal  as  well  as  some  whispers  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  they  also  add  more  of  a  modern  approach  to  an  old  school  style,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti  Religion,  Satanism  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Crown  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Hunt  With  The  Devil"  "Gone  To  Hell"  "God  King"  and  "The  Storm  That  Comes".  8 out  of  10.

  http://www.thecrownofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thecrownofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/thecrownband

https://x.com/thecrownsweden

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

Warlust/Sol Invictvs In Vmbrae Satanae/Dying Victims Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Warlust  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Sol  Invictvs  In  Vmbrae  Satanae"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  angry  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and t he  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  One  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whisper  and  as  the  album  progresses  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Mythology,  War,  Devastation  and  Torture  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Warlust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Serpent  Crown"  "Forgotten  Cult  Of  Chronos"  and  "Black  SOuls".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kgI6bpDVfc

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/sol-invictvs-in-vmbrae-satanae    

Synopsis Interview

 

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

1. Yes, of course. We are SynopsiS, a Ukrainian group from the city of Kherson. In fact, we are more of a studio project than a group, because in almost 15 years of existence, we had only 3 live performances. I can also note that we are the first band in history in our city and district to play Sympho Black Metal. Cat (Igor Salivanov) is a permanent leader, band creator, musician, singer, bass guitarist, author of lyrics and music. The project also includes guitarist Andri Tomilov (nickname Funeral) and keyboardist Alexandr Ivanov (Alex). 

2.In 2023 you had released a new album, musically how it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2. First of all, our new album differs in the language of performance. The previous two SynopsiS albums were in Russian. Due to the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine and started the ongoing war, it was decided not to perform in Russian and therefore this album is already in Ukrainian which is now the national language of Ukraine. It can also be noted that in musical terms, our new third album is different in style. We started playing pure Sympho Black Metal again, like on the first album, but this time with Dark Metal elements. It contrasts with the second EP of the album, which was essentially performed in the Death Metal genre.

3.From 2013 to 2022 there as no music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

3. Yes, we've had an unannounced rather long pause, or even a crisis. It's hard to say. I had written future material for SynopsiS and actively thought about recording but there were some circumstances that prevented me from starting a new album. There were extremes, either a busy job or a total lack of funding for the studio. I had two more projects at that time: there was a studio Thrash-Punk Metal project "Infantry of Saboteurs", which existed from 2013 to 2019 and has 4 albums. There is also a fully functioning Industrial Gothic Rock band "Metameria", which has existed since 2015 to this day, has two albums, and many concerts played around the country, but now, because of the war, it has also become more of a studio project. Well, I also had two children, which also significantly affected the speed of my creative activity.

4.Some of your lyrics cover Satanism and Esotericism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

4. Since 2011, I began to study conspiracy and related sciences, and I also began to read a lot of esoterics. In fact, to date I have read most of the classics of esoteric authors. Also, at one time I was interested in various religions and beliefs. Maybe I was looking for myself because I was young and naive. In the end, I came to Satanism, studied the Bible of Satan and many other authors promoting Satanic teachings. Satanism turned out to be the closest and most suitable to me, from the inner and personal point of view of perception of the world. My texts in SynopsiS, in fact, are representation of all my life experience and worldview.

5.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

5. In addition to Satanism, esotericism and conspiracy, SynopsiS texts very often tell a lot about war, history, the Middle Ages, our days and the future, prophecies

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

6. In general, SynopsiS is the first history textbook in Kievan Rus. I couldn't help but catch on to it, because in our case, in our lyrics, as I said earlier, both the past and the future and the present are illuminated. I found some kind of conceptual connection in all of this. And so, SynopsiS just seemed to me a good and successful unique name from one word that sounds good and is easily remembered. For example, just like the legendary "Immortal". 

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

7. The cover depicts some kind of surrealism in a rough psychedelic form. From the very bottom we can see the underground world that exists under our earthly disk. It depicts a bunch of devils and its own separate sun of the underworld. From above, the bulk of the cover is occupied by our world, which on the cover depicts a scorched post apocalyptic desert. Well, from above we see a round aircraft of another intelligent race of architects.

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

8. During our 15 years of existence, we had only 3 live performances: one in 2012, the second and the third almost at the same time - in the winter of 2021. All the performances were under the drum machine.

In fact, I always wanted SynopsiS to be a live band, but with time I realised that this is not possible, because we lived in a provincial small town, where the black metal culture is not particularly developed and there are few musicians in general, especially in our style. Then I actually lost the desire to become a live group and there were no opportunities for this. Now, since there is war in the country, I live in another city. Guitarist Funeral and keyboardist Alex stayed in Kherson, besides, we have been having disagreements lately. Now, I have two children for a long time, not enough time and because of all this, I think that SynopsiS will remain a studio project. I don't think we'll ever become a live group unless we can leave Ukraine or the war finishes.

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

9. Yes, I wouldn't mind finding a label to cooperate with. I'm interested in promoting SynopsiS. I hope we can do something together. 

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

10. It's hard for me to judge because firstly I don't follow it too much and secondly we don't have too much popularity. But, based on what I saw, the comments on the Internet are mostly flattering, positive. Many found our music cool, dark and interesting. 

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

11. SynopsiS will continue to make music in the Sympho Black Metal genre, at least because I still have music in this style for the future. Maybe we will become a little more progressive and add elements of the industrial, but the general idea was and will be - Sympho Black Metal 

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

12. Styles: Sympho Black Metal, Sympho Black/Death Metal, Dark Metal, Black Metal. Groups: Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Hypocrisy, Immortal, Riul Doamnei, Carach Angren.

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

13. We take the best from our ideas, we make dark, daring, fierce conceptual and prophetic music. We don't issue an album every year or two years. We release albums like Mayhem - rarely but at the end of the creation process you will get a real darkness, a real true Sympho Black. SynopsiS is not going to stop, we have never thought so. The next few years we will bring surprises with our cool releases.

VKontakte | Bandcamp

Synopsis/Pontifex Maximus/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Synopsis  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Pontifex  Maximus".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  90's  influences  as  well  as  remaining  modern  at  the  same  time.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals  and  when t he  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Synopsis  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  symphonic  and  mid  tempo  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Ukrainian  and  cover  History,  War,  Esotericism  and  Satanism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Synopsis  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Діти  Із  Бруду"  "Земля  Скляних  Веж"  and  "Рефлексія".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOyX_o9-pKI

VKontakte | Bandcamp

Gorgonchrist/And Justice For Balls/Road To Masochist/2024 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Gorgonchrist  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of   their  2024  album  "And  Justice  For  Balls"  which  will b e  released  in  July  by  Road  To  Masochist.

  A  very  heavy  crust  punk  and  d  beat  orientated  style  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in with  some  shouts.  Tremolo  picking  can  also be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  the  album  progresses  a  lot  of  the  vocals  also  go  into  more  of  a  growling  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Gorgonchrist  takes  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  them together  to  create  a  very  diverse  yet  heavy  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness  and  Humor  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gorgonchrist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Toaster  Inferno"  "Legs  of  A  Penguin"  "Satanic  Cunt  Slicer"  and  "Dr-Lovefire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist

https://gorgonchrist.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/IN_DQuTKdms   

Necrophobic/In The Twilight Grey/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Necrophobic  are  a  band  from  Sweden t hat  has  a  history  that  goes  as  bar  back  as  the  mid  60's  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "In  The  Twilight  Grey"  which  will  be  released  on  march  15th  by  Century  media  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  melodic  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  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  also  returns  on  some  of  the  later  songs  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  synths  are  added  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Necrophobic  remains  true  to  the  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Darkness  and  the  poetry  of  W.B  Yeats.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Necrophobic  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grace  Of  The  Past"  "Storm crow"  "Cast  In  Stone"  and  "In  The  Twilight  Grey".  8 out  of  10.

  NECROPHOBIC online:

https://www.necrophobic.net/
https://www.instagram.com/necrophobic.official/
https://www.facebook.com/necrophobic.official
https://twitter.com/necrophobic_666
https://www.youtube.com/necrophobicofficial

https://shop.necrophobic.net   

Ravenoir Interview

 

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

Very briefly. Since the music publisher Gothoom Productions failed to provide the necessary promotion for the second album "In the Womb of Sin" and it was also obvious that they would have nothing more to offer RAVENOIR band in the future, I decided to end my cooperation with this label. It didn't take long and mutual sympathies crossed with Black Barn Music. Under the auspices of this label, both of the current albums will be released on gatefold vinyl in early 2023. Both the debut "The Darkest Flame of Eternal Blasphemy" and the second full-length opus "In the Womb of Sin" will be available on individual LPs separately, as well as a limited edition of both albums in a classy, obscure box, limited to 100 copies. At the moment, each of us is individually absorbing the setlist for live shows. And since I personally can't stand to be idle as a composer for long, I'm already slowly working on new material for the next RAVENOIR album. However, I would like to realize this during 2024. The release of both albums in vinyl form will in a way perfectly fill the time parallel for the upcoming third album. Now the band wants to focus mainly on concert activity.

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

The connection between the two albums is the darkness and rawness that is woven through the various soundscapes, enhancing the dark mood of the entire album. The fusion of darkness, rawness, predation with melodic elements will always be a hallmark of RAVENOIR's work.

What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on both of the albums and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Of course, the lyrics are just as important to me as the music and always accompany the atmosphere of the song. The content of the lyrics focuses on the themes of life, death, dark mysticism, Satanism and a good dose of Blasphemy. I have been primarily a music composer and producer for years. I have always had a dark feeling deeply rooted in me and I always try to use it when writing music. I have the advantage and ability to hear the final form of songs before they are finished. When I close my eyes the arrangements of all the instruments flow in my head.  I write lyrics very sporadically. Most of the time I share the writing of lyrics with my colleague, bassist Igor Hubik. 

The band was formed during the COVID19 pandemic, did that give you a lot of time to work on the musical style more since there was nothing really on back in that year?

The idea to start a new band had been growing in me for a long time, but the truth is that the coronavirus situation at the beginning of 2020 was very helpful for the creation of RAVENOIR. All the concerts we had planned with the band Root, where we worked together with bassist Igor, were cancelled or postponed. Suddenly I had a lot of free time. So I devoted it to composing material for Raven's debut. So the formation of the band, the writing of the material and the recording of the first album took place during the first wave of the Covid epidemic. Everything came about very slowly and naturally.

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

I am the author of the motif for the cover. Let's say that it is purely my personal depiction of the image of that paradise, where the main character of the cover is a kind of ethereal being, representing the goddess of pleasure, lust, sex, desire, excitement and lechery. As is known according to Christian theology, these very natural sexual urges bring man into this world through original-inherited "sin". Personally, instead of renouncing anything, I am very happy to indulge in all the pleasures that life has to offer, so "original sin" is a completely absurd thesis to me. Several artworks by an Indonesian artist, whose artistic name is Jenglot Hitam, have come to my attention. I outlined my visions to him in a few sentences and he aptly portrayed them. The author of the back cover was the very well-known Mexican artist Néstor Avalos. The collaboration with both artists went smoothly, through an exchange of a few emails. However, I would very much like to work with Néstor Avalos in the future. I absolutely admire his artwork.

So far the band has not been able to do any live shows, what can we expect musically when you are finally able to hit the live stage?

As I mentioned above, RAVENOIR now has to prepare a programme for live performances in the next few months, which will most likely take place in 2023. I am very much looking forward to it. I miss standing on stage and performing a lot right now. We will offer RAVENOIR fans a good portion of dark death metal through a cross section of both albums.

Most of the band members are veterans that have also played in other bands, do you feel extreme metal has made plenty of changes over the last couple of decades?

Personally, I hardly follow the music scene at all with a few exceptions, so it's hard to answer this question.

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

Both the first and the second RAVENOIR albums have reached a large number of metal followers all over the world and all the criticism on this work has been and so far is more than favorable and I am duly proud of both albums. The interest in RAVENOIR is gradually growing and this is my motivation as well as my greatest satisfaction.

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

My favourite bands for many years are Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Bathory and Slayer. From other genres I really like Depeche Mode, The Cure, Nine Inch Nails or David Bowie.

Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?

In the lyrical themes, definitely yes. Satanic philosophy is very close to me personally.

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

Thank you for your kindness and also your time. Have a great time everyone and keep an eye out for more Ravenoir´s exploits.

www.gothoomproductions.com/ravenoir
www.facebook.com/RavenoirOfficial

Ravenoir/In The Womb Of Sin/Gothoom Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Ravenoir  are  a  band  from  Czechia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "In  The  Womb  Of  Sin"  which  was  released  by  Gothoom  Productions.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast b eats. 

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  elements.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style  when  they  are  utilized,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  movie  samples.  and  the  album  also  closes  with  an  instrumental  before  adding  in  a  bonus  track  which  is  a  cove r of  Mercyful  Fate's  "Black  Funeral"..

  Ravenoir  plays  a  musical  styles  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  blasphemy  themes.     

  In  my  opinion  Ravenoir  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  The  Womb  Of  Sin"  "Stigma  Infernoir"  and "Lunar  Choir".  8  out  of  10.

  www.gothoomproductions.com/ravenoir

www.facebook.com/RavenoirOfficial   

Condra/Aeonic Tempest From The Abyss/Tragedy Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Condra  are  a  band  from  Chile  that  plays  an  anti  cosmic  and  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Aeonic  Tempest  From  The  Abyss"  which  will b e  released  in  October  by  Tragedy  Productions.

  Rain  sounds  and  classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  direction  while  also  introducing  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  speed s up a   decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can b e  heard  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style.

  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  melodic  death  emtal  elements.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  showing  an  influence  of  the  early  Dissection  era   as  well  as  the  classical  guitars  also  making  a  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with a  couple of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals  instrumentals.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  a  couple  of  the  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Anti  Cosmic  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Condra  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  anti  cosmic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Aeonic  Tempest  From  The  Abyss"  "Spectres  of  A  Dying  Soul"  and  "The  Omen".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.instagram.com/condrablackmetal/

https://youtube.com/channel/UChVFwy6ULNY5I21Xo7Kb94g

Medieval Demon/Black Coven/Hells Headbangers Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Greece's  Medieval  Demon  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  melodic  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from t heir  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Black  Coven"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Hells  Headbangers  Records.

  Evil  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  as  well  as  giving  the  recording  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  a  few  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling,  saxophones  are  also  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Witchcraft,  Greek  Sorcery  and  Death  Magick  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Medieval  Demon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Witches  Dwell  And  Labyrinths  Confuse"  "Baptismal  Blood"  and  "The  Grave  Dwellers".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/6Ae9Q70_A7s

Grimorium Verum/REALL/Symbol Of Dominion Productions/2022 CD Review

 

  Russia's  Grimorium  Verum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "REALL"  which  was  released  by  Symbol  Of  Dominion  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Symphonic  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  influences  of  death  and  doom  metal  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  instrumentals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grimorium  Verum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Through  The  Labyrinth  Of  Times"  "Last  Ritual"  and  "A  Slave  Of  The  Lamp".  8  out  of  10.

https://symbolofdomination.bandcamp.com/album/sodp150-grimorium-verum-reall-2022   

Arktotus/Black Veins/Kvlt und Kaos Productions/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Arktotus  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Black  Veins"  which  will  be  released  on  April  29th  by  Kult  und  Kaos  Productions.

  Synths  and  classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  songs  are  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Synths  also  make  a  return  on  one  of  the  later  tracks  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  introducing  acoustic  guitars  into  the  music  and  when  spoken  word  parts  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling.    

  Arktotus  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  classic  and  melodic  era  of  Swedish  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Evil,  Darkness,  Hatred  and  Satanism  themes

  In  my  opinion  Arktotus  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Plague"  "Your  Dictator"  and  "Wind  of  Death".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook.

King Satan/Occult Spiritual Anarchy/Blood Blast Distribution/Electric Spark Records/Hemelvlam/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  King  Satan  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  industrial,  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Occult  Spiritual  Anarchy"  which  will  be  released  in  April  as  a  joint  effort  between  Blood  Blast  Distribution,  Electric  Spark  Records  an d  Hemelvlam.

  Elements  of  industrial  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  When  keyboards  and  synths  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  some  symphonic  touches  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Shouting  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  a  traditional  rock/metal  style  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  a  few  tracks also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  occultism,  paganism,  Philosophical,  Blasphemy,  Dark  Humour  and  Nihilistic  Absurdism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  King  Satan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  industrial,  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Left  Hand  Path  Symphony"  "Human  Sacrifice"  "Beyond  God"  and  "Spiritual  Anarchy".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/_TlMZnYK5cw

https://youtu.be/a1DUdHQHd4k

    

    

Hierarchy/2022 Promo Review

 

  Hierarchy  are  a  band  from  new  York  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  promo.

  Spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  promo  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction,  synths  can  also b e  heard  briefly  on  the  closing  track.

  On  this  recording  Hierarchy  remain  true  to  the  melodic  and  blackened  style  of  death  metal  that  they had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Ritual  Magick  and  Spiritual  Enlightenment  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hierarchy  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  blackened  death  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  promo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Heretic  Within"  and  "Ave  Satanas".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/a7A-BmanZ0c

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AvFvB8bFq6DgyP0Dec1jG

https://hierarchyband666.bandcamp.com/album/2022-promo

www.facebook.com/hierarchybandofficial

www.instagram.com/hierarchybandofficial

www.twitter.com/hierarchyoffic1

www.youtube.com/channel/UChJC3_6d7GaRIQ_v7a2OfT