IATT/Etheric Realms Of The Night/Black Lion Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Pennsylvania's  IATT  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Etheric  Realms  Of  The  Night"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Black  Lion  Records.

  Clock  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  flutes  a  few  seconds  later  and  spoken  words  which  also  return  on  later  songs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  lot  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Synths  and  clear  singing  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  at  times  the  recording  also  goes  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  technical  style.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  symphonic  and  ambient  sounding  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  orchestration,  the  album  also  has  its  dissonant  moments.   Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  some  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  jazz.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  fragile  boundary  between  sleep,  oblivion,  consciousness,  life  and  illusion.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  IATT  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "To  Lie  Beneath"  and  "Walk  AMongst".  8  out  of  10.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamthetrireme
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iatt_official
• X: https://x.com/iamthetrireme
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@iatt_official
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6EeKkHWc1PQO7vGUnyWNdr
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/iatt/1780562884
• Bandcamp: https://iamthetrireme.bandcamp.com
• Official Website: https://linktr.ee/IATT_Official
• Merch Store: https://merchbooth.net/iatt
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iatt_official

     

Bryan Eckermann/The Haunting At Helmbrook/Bonespill Records/2026 FUll Length Review

 

  San  Antonio,  Texas'  solo  artist  Bryan  Eckermann  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "The  Haunting  At  Helmbrook"  which  was  released  by  Bonespil  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  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.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clear  singing  and  spoken  words  also  being  used on  some  of  the  songs.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clean  playing   also  being  added  on  a  few  songs  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  symphonic  moments,  one  track  is  also  an  instrumental.  The   production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a  horror  story  written  involving  a  haunting.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bryan  Eckerman  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Victoria"  "Flames  Of  Hell"  "Suicidal  Angel"  and  "Aftermath".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/bryan-eckermann/1404178501

https://bryaneckermann.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bryaneckermannofficial

https://www.instagram.com/bryaneckermann/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3iQEgy9ZJDdYbCvlsAyM12?si=pmBjLEGUQ0CRb6eV-bcxdw&nd=1&dlsi=5ac8c6daf2284517

https://www.youtube.com/@bryaneckermannofficial

  

Thy Sanitorium Interview

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

Greetings! There has been so much going on and so fast it has all been a whirlwind and we are taking it all in one day at a time. Thy Sanatorium has only existed since October 2025 and we originally had no plans to make a full album. We originally intended to release one song at a time as singles at a more spread out pace but when we released "Torment" it was received very well and news spread quickly. Then we released "The End Consumes" and the reaction was so positive we knew we had something special so we dove into writing and recording more songs and ended up with a full length album. We didn't know this would become a band with a full album and as that solidified and we started talking about future plans Nyx, Remus and Pyxis expressed they would prefer to be more contributors to the band but not permanent band members. It was nothing dramatic, we are already working on ideas for the next album and they will still be involved but moving forward Ra, Crux and myself will be the main core (which it's how it's always been really) with other musicians listed as guests.

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

We take inspiration from some of our favorite bands and albums and blend them together the same way a chef would and hopefully come up with a dish that is unique yet familiar. 

The obvious ones are Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Children of Bodom and alike, but then I also enjoy indie rock, goth and punk so you'll find snippets of The Cure, The Hives and more.

I personally write very naturally. I usually come up with a guitar riff and then let whatever comes next flow naturally. Lyrically and vocally Ra and Crux add their own spice and that adds even more to the mix. Ra has a strong background in death metal while Crux doesn't have much of a metal background at all and the combination of it all takes our music to interesting places.

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

A lot of psychological horror ranging from anxiety to depression, the horrors of war, the horrors of social media, the realization that we all have a monster within us, hypocrisy, narcissism, power and more. I'm a big fan of horror movies and I've found that even the scariest ones don't come close to the horrors we live everyday in our world. But as dark, gloomy and depressing as that may sound it's a reminder to cherish life to the fullest. It's an ode to the philosophy of memento mori.

4.You have also mentioned an interest in classic horror movies, which films have had an influence on the music and songwriting?

Some of my favorite horror movies are the ones without big special effects and are very sound driven. Take the original 1931 Dracula for example which is one of my favorite movies of all time. The original has no music other than "Swan Lake" in the opening credits. But the white noise and hiss adds so much vibe to that movie that visually isn't gory or that scary at all, but the overall vibe of it all just permeates and gets under your skin. Love all the universal monster series, Hammer, Italian movies from Mario Bava and Dario Argento.

The Exorcist is still to me the scariest movie of all time, and not for it's effects, but it's just brutal psychologically. Stephen King, The Conjuring series, the latest Invisible Man was anxiety on film and I'm a sucker for 'found footage' movies. The lower the budget the better! Not an influence music-wise, but thematically and how I approach the music itself. 

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

Sanatoriums were originally intended to be health spas. Places where people went to get better but historically and in reality they became institutions where they sent people with terminal illnesses with no cure to die. I was drawn to the juxtaposition of a place created for healing that in reality was a place you went to die. The word Thy means "Your" so it's "Your Sanatorium". We are inviting you to Thy Sanatorium to face your horrors...we just don't promise you will ever be able to leave.

6.How would you describe the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?

Very old school. King Diamond, Metal Church...the classic album covers from the 80's that would want to make you by the album without even knowing what it sounded like and you'd put it on your record player or in your CD player and go "Holy shit!". It's also kind of like a "Here we are!" statement introducing Thy Sanatorium and the sanatorium that they are standing in front of.

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the masks you wear in the promo pics?

What's the quote from Karate Kid? "A belt only holds up pants. $3.98. J.C. Penny." in the same way the masks are to cover our faces. They do have a very "Roman/Venetian/Greek" inspiration to them which ties in with our pseudonyms. Ra being the sun god, Aries, Crux, Nyx, Remus and Pyxis all being constellations. But i'm going to give a little tease that how we present ourselves may change so don't read too hard into things. The focus is Thy Sanatorium as a place you go to face your horrors, not each individual member which could also change over time.

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

Haha, we haven't played any shows yet! As mentioned, this has all happened so quickly so we'll have to see.

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

No not yet at least. We are truly a multinational entity spread across the globe and with the current state of the world, getting us all one place would require multiple visas and a lot of coordinating. Which is ironic when you think that social media brags about bringing the world and people together but we seem to be more and more isolated from each other since it's conception.

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

We are not signed at this time and we have received a few offers, but nothing that offered anything we can't do ourselves.

I believe in the old school way of spreading our music, one person at a time sharing it with another person. It. may take longer but we are not in any hurry. We're not interested in social media numbers, in fact we just deleted our Bluesky account and will most likely delete our instagram account soon too. We don't have Facebook either and will probably just keep our YouTube channel for our music videos. We're going to let others talk about us and share our music. I see too many artists and bands trying to blow their own horn, desperately going "look at me! look at me!" and trying to get some viral video that has nothing to do with the music. I'm not into that. If people discover Thy Sanatorium it will be because someone listened to the music, liked it and recommended it to someone else. We're not doing this for fame or to get a big following. If we do cool, but that's not why we are doing this. Thy Sanatorium exists because of our love of metal, our love of making music and selfishly we are doing it for ourselves to satisfy our creative hunger. If others like it and share it that's a bonus.

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

One day at a time lol. Right now we're excited to get the album out on April 24 and see what happens. We've been doing a lot of interviews and reviews have started popping up and it's been very fun and positive. I can say that I can't stop writing and already have a few demos for the next album but let's leave it at that for now.

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

I recently got hooked on Drudkh, a Ukrainian black metal band. Love their vibe and tone, oh that guitar tone is to die for. Also Tribulation, I'm a big fan of their new stuff as much as their old stuff. I love bands who evolve and that aren't afraid to do so. A new guilty pleasure is Dominum. So ridiculously fun and catchy. To be honest I didn't want to like them but then I got "Bam-a-lam Bam-a-lam" stuck in my head at 3 in the morning and was like "God Dammit!!!". The new Rob Zombie, Mayhem, Eihwar, Frayle, Paradise lost, Castle Rat all kick ass. Being that I don't live alone there has also been ASAP Rocky (new album in collaboration with Tim Burton and Danny Elfman), Tyler the Creator, Denzel Curry...I might get a lot of hate for this but I find Hip Hop and Rap to have a lot in common with Black and Death Metal lyrically and vocally.

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

Well first thank you for this interview and amazing review for our debut album. We are big fans of independent blogs and magazines supporting music, you are the foundation of what keeps it all going! We truly appreciate you! And for those who have discovered our music and enjoy it, thank you! Get the CD, get the Vinyl, get our Merch but if you aren't in a position to afford that then stream it, rip it, copy it, share it, make tapes, burn CD's, file share it...share what you love, not what you hate.

Oh and...welcome to Thy Sanatorium

Aries.

Thy Sanatorium/Self Titled/2026 Full Length Review

  Thy  Sanatorium  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  and  self  titled  2026  album.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  emtal  growls  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  symphonic  elements  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  clear  male  and  female  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  gothic  metal, one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  and  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  another  track  also  being  a  piano  orientated  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Thy  Sanitorium  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  gothic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Torment"  "Devil's  Heart"  and  "Thy  Sanitorium".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/VztMgLvM6Jw

Website: https://www.thysanatorium.com

Pre-orders: https://elasticstage.com/thysanatorium

Bandcamp: https://thysanatorium.bandcamp.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThySanatorium

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

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thysanatorium.bsky.social

   

Vithial/Awakened Ancient Spirits/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Vithial  are  a  solo  project from  Florida  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his self  released  2026  album  "Awakened  Ancient  Spirits"  which  will  be  released  in  June.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  atmospheric  touches  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  mixing  in  elements  of  old  school  death  metal,  clean  playing  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Vithial  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from t he  90's  and  mixes  it  with  Florida  style  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  spirituality,  death,  the  occult,  mythological  and  dark  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vithial  is  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Masquerading  Deception  Of  Tyranny"  and  "Awakened  Ancient  Spirits".  8  out  of  10.

  

Bandcamp: https://vithial.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vithialmetal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vithialmetal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vithialmetal Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KHgyf8vLvkWxM2m6VTnzE Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/hu/artist/vithial/1752297075 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vithialmetal

  

Nefarious Grime Interview

 

 1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days? 

I am currently working on 7 different projects for Nefarious simultaneously! 

2 different splits with different artists from all around the world. 

1 Goth EP and Single 

A compilation of my Noise/ Avant Garde music  

Working on an Industrial track 

And a lo-fi Dungeon Synth album 

 

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

It differs in the quality of sound and composition mostly. There is now a level of sophistication and proper structure that I’m aiming for. I usually would just improvise everything in the past and not actually compose with a goal in mind. It was a very intuitive way of writing.  

 

3.Originally the project started out more with a darkwave style while the new release shows more of a black metal style. What was the decision behind going into this musical direction? 

Black Metal has been a genre I have had a deep, long intimate love and appreciation for. It’s a genre I’ve always been curious to play and explore but never got the chance to until a year ago when my friend Vinnie of Voidrium added me to a Black Metal fest and that’s when I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try my hand at it and see what I would come up with. I was just doing it for fun and challenging myself with something new. I never thought it would take flight and be as successful as it has been.  

 

4. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years? 

My subject matter has always been and will always be of a dark, morose, and gothic nature for the most part. On my EP “Death is Immortal” I create fictional stories about vampires with insatiable hunger, resurrection through necrophilia and demonic dominions, but also touching on our own mortality and human plight such as regret, guilt and sorrow as well as the power and beauty of nature.  My older works didn’t have as much dark fiction as this EP does. For example, “A Broken Curse”, was mostly about betrayal, revenge and seeking guidance from ancestral spirituality to purify the soul from generational curses. Although it did have one vampire song also! I guess you can say I was flirting with the dark fiction back then.  

 

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

I was playing on the thought of Tautology where different words or phrases are framed side by side but have repeated meanings or ideas, in other words a form of redundancy. The word “Nefarious” means having wicked, evil or villainous characteristics coupled with “Grime” which indicates being dirty or filthy. Placed together basically means Evil Filth or Wicked Dirt, and it’s assumed dirt can be wicked, and filth can be evil. At the end of the day, it’s just a play on words and somewhat describing my tastes within music and the arts as well. I was raised and indoctrinated into Christianity, so my entire youth revolved around purity, and this was my way to rebel against that as well.  

 

 

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

The artwork is a direct representation of how I see myself when I’m in character and on stage; A hot and sensual vampire Queen, hypnotizing the masses with my banshee screams. 

 

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with musicians in other bands, do you prefer to work solo? 

I recorded the bass, keyboards, and vocals for the EP and did have help from my sound engineer who not only mixed and mastered all the songs but provided customized guitar parts for them too. The drums were drum tracks I found online.  

While I do love and enjoy playing in a band with a group of people, performing by myself is also equally rewarding and boosts my confidence in my ability to hit those vocal queues seamlessly and have a solid stage presence. It's also easier to be solo, especially when you don’t have to rely on anyone’s schedule or financial state to take the plunge and perform out of town.  

 

8. What are some of the best shows that you have done with this project and how would you describe your stage performance?  

So far, I really loved the support and energy when I performed in Portland, Oregon. It is significant because that was the 2nd out of state show I did as my solo project (Arkansas being the 1st which was also a great experience but didn’t yield as many people). So, it is a huge milestone for me as well. Although I will mention playing Florida Dungeon Fest in Orlando, FL also came close to that as the vibes and response there were immaculate too.  

 

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

Yes. My next adventure will be performing in Queens NY at The Bunker April 30th, 2026. After that, I hope to conquer Seattle in June, have a do-over in Arkansas at an actual venue in September, and try to play Colorado and maybe Ohio later in the year if possible. However, I am open to playing fests or other lineups elsewhere; I will go where I’m wanted basically.  

 

 

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

Surprisingly enough, there has been a HUGE appreciation for my flavor of Black Metal worldwide, from Spain to Australia, Germany and even Japan. I’ve gained fans from all over the world quite rapidly.  

 

11. Are you involved with any other bands or musical projects these days? 

YES XD. Way too many! But I genuinely enjoy them all.  

 

Local Projects: 

I’m the vocalist for Old School Death Metal outfit, Amenorrhea. 

 

Keyboardist and vocalist for Sludge/Doom band Snake Healer.  

 

Bassist for Post Punk duo His Panic.  

 

I’ve got a secret Black Metal project with a full lineup here in Miami. Details of this project are anticipated to be released soon, I hope! 

 

Out of Town projects: 

I’ve got a black metal project with my friend from Canada called Souffrance Eternelle; I do keyboards and vocals/ compose lyrics for that.  

 

I’ve got a goth project with a friend from Massachusetts who used to live in Miami called Martyr Opera. Slow progress with it, but the intention to start is there.  

 

I’ve got a Melodic Doom Death project called Somber Embrace with 2 friends from Virginia. We are slowly building the song structures and so far, we have about 5 songs. 

 

As mentioned earlier, I’m working on a Black Metal split with my friend in Denial of Death from Germany and a secondary split with a compilation of artists from California, Mexico and other parts of the States.  

 

Projects worth mentioning; Hiatus or Dead bands: 

My first band ever was Bullethorn; A Post Instrumental Doom project I played drums for. Apocalyptic Assault; a thrash project I played drums for. 

Dog Night Terror; a dark Punk project I also played drums for. 

 

 

 

12.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future? 

My hope is to play large festivals, not just in the States but out of the country as well.  

And eventually traveling more frequently to perform and getting a substantial allowance from that so I can continue doing what I love and eventually live off my art and music. Every artist's goals really! 

 

 

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

I’m highly eclectic with genres and constantly rotating the music I listen to based on my mood. I’m currently obsessed with Pillorian. 

Bongripper and Sexual Purity are always in rotation though.  

 

14. Does Occultism play any role in your music? 

Occultism plays a huge part in my music and aesthetics. And the next few albums will certainly dive deeper into more occult themes that are probably more obscure and not as touched upon. I’m highly curious and inquisitive, so I love to explore many different themes within the Occult spectrum. Watching documentaries, spiritual/ metaphysical lectures, and doing research about certain topics is one of my favorite things to do.  

 

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

Don’t be afraid to do things on your own. You don’t really have to depend or rely on anyone but yourself to get the job done. It’s ok to get help when needed, but you should be the master of your own craft and orchestrate your own moves at your own pace. Try to always create daily and take small steps toward your goals. It's ok to sometimes do nothing and rest when needed. When inspiration comes, DO NOT STOP, let that energy flow through you. Don’t feel discouraged if you go for a long time without creating or feeling unmotivated to start; your talent and skills never really leave you. Think of it as if you are just marinating in your creative juices, anticipating the stove of willpower to turn on so you can COOK.  

https://www.facebook.com/NefariousGrime666

Nefarious Grime/Death Is Immortal/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2026 EP Review

 

  Nefarious  Grime  are  a  band  from  Florida  that  plays  a  gothic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Death  Is  Immortal"  which  was  released  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  keyboards  also  add  in  some  gothic  and  symphonic  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  are  also   being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  of t he  genre  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  operatic  female  vocals.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Nefarious  Grime  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  90'[s  era  of  gothic  and  symphonic  black  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Vampirism,  Occultism ,  Necromancy,  Death  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nefarious  Grime  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  gothic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Evil  Dead"  and  "Mountain  Frost".  8 out  of  10.

  https://hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/death-is-immortal  

Atavistia/Old Gods Awaken/Blood Blast Distribution/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Vancouver  B.C,  Canada's  Atavistia  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "old  Gods  Awaken"  which  will b e  released  in  May  by  Blood  Blast  Distribution.

  Folk  instruments  and  symphonic  orchestration  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  some  back  up  shouts  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English,  Swedish  and  Finnish  and  cover  taverns,  forests,  storms  and  gods.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Atavistia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  and  melodic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mystic  Tavern"  "Goddess  Of  My  Dreams"  and  "Old  Gods  Awaken".  8  out  of  10.

  

• Bandcamp: https://atavistia.bandcamp.com/music
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAtavistia/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atavistia/?hl=en
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/atavistia?lang=en
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwQWMCiFZL1duPSdbdjGyCg
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atavistia
• Discord: https://discord.gg/Fj99DHRyc3
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1QoL6PD6QyjdsxvTBacepq
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/atavistia/1287070679

  

      

Vargrav/Dimension: Daemonium/Werewolf Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Finland's  Vargrav  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Dimension:  Daemonium"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Werewolf  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  aggressive  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  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  some  of  the  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Darkness  and  Cosmos.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vargrav  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ablaze  Unto  The  Nocturnal  Reams'  "The  Gates  Of  My  Dimension"  and  "Unveil  The  Enslavement  Of  Lunar  Prophecies".  8  out  of  10.

  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item-group.asp?PgpID=40795  

       

Saille/Forebode/Non Serviam Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Netherlands's  Saille  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Forebode"  which  will  be  released  on  February  13th  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  A  very  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can b e  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  are  mostly angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Clean  playing  and  spoken  words  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  clear  singing  also  being  utilized  at  times,  choirs  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  A  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length along  with all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  one  track  also  shows  the  music  adding  in  more  of  a  classical  direction  and  the  album  closes  with  3  live  songs,  classical  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Saille  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deception  Of  Decadence"  "Reminiscence  Of  Regrets"  "Eater  of  Worlds"  and "Plague  Allais".  8  out  of  10.

  https://sailleofficial.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@saille.official
https://www.instagram.com/saille.official/
https://www.facebook.com/SAILLE.Official

Nightshade/In Essence Divided/my Kingdom Music/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Switzerland's  Nightshade  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  avant  garde  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2026  album  "In  Essence  Divided"  which  will b e  released  in  February  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  An  industrial  style  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  choir  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  avant  garde  and  symphonic  sounds  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  takes  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  direction  along  with  the  album  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  metal  elements,  rap  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  music  also  showing  some  influences  of  70's  progressive  rock  at  times.  Clear  male  and  female  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  later  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  wind  instruments,  when  the  recording  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  motive  of  cosmologies  told   from  different  world  mythologies.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nightshade  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  and  progressive  black  and  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Stateless  Journey"  "Night  Torn"  "Of  Seas  &  Seeds"  and  "Brother  Of  Sleep".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightshadeMetal

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

Terramorta/The Fading Lumina's Embrace/Magus Pike Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Terramorta  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "The  Fading  Lumina's  Embrace"  which  was  released  by  Magus  Pike  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  symphonic  sounds  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  album.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,.

  Spoken  words  and  shouts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  singing  which  also  adds  in  an  operatic  touch.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  emotions  and  aspirations  of  man.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Terramorta  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Baba  Yaga"  "Deliberate  Killing  Of  Oneself"  "March  Of  The  Forsaken"  and  "The  Fading  Lumina's  Embrace".  8  out  of  10.

 hkps://terramortaofficial.bandcamp.com/album/the-fading-luminas-embrace  

 hkps://www.facebook.com/terramorta.official : 

hkps://www.instagram.com/terramorta.official/

Velzevul/Pandemonium/Satanath Records/More Hate Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Velzevul  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Pandemonium"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath  Records  and  More  Hate  Productions.

  A  very  apocalyptic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  and  choirs  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Velzevul  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  symphonic  in  the  mid  90's  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Demonology,  Luciferian,  Anti  Christian  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vezevul  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  "Nuclear  Snow"  "The  Insignificance  Of  The  Universe"  and  "The  Valley  of  Shadows".  8 out  of  10.

 https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat402-velzevul-pandemonium-2025

Chronicler Of Ardul Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project that you play?

I just updated Myrewood and by the time this comes out, Sword of Virné should also be done too. Just some remixing and rebalancing of the music. Currently working on some new music before I really get into the meat of what this project is heading toward.

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

This is much more inline with what you would hear from a soundtrack. There’s bard music, a village track, and a lot of atmospheric tracks that make you feel like you’re in a forest, underground, in a tense moment before things erupt, and some battle songs. So quite different from my previous releases, but rounding out what this project is.

3.On previous recordings you had more of a symphonic and extreme style of metal and on the new album go for more of a folk style, what was the decision behind going into this musical direction?

That’s been the plan for a long time. There are three pillars to the project: metal, stories, and orchestral soundtrack music. Sounds of Ardul is that third pillar to follow the other things I’ve done.

I sort of envision myself like a director without the movie. There’s story and world and characters and epic thematic music and melodic motifs, all that’s missing is the set and actors.

4.All of your lyrics cover fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about how your interest in this topic has evolved over the years?

I fell in love with fantasy a long time ago in middle school. My brother recommended that I read the Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. From there it was stuff like the Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy, Lord of the Rings, and other stuff. I’m much more of a fantasy nerd than sci-fi or anything else. 

And then along the way I wanted to combine my passions for metal music, fantasy, and music from my favorite video games. All that brought together is the essence of what I do.

5.On the website you also have a couple of novel's written and published, how do these novels fit in with music you create?

The music and story of Myrewood work hand-in-hand. The music gives you the epic cinematic feeling with raw visceral emotion, while the story takes you in deeper into the world and let’s you explore more and learn.

6.You also created your own fantasy universe, can you tell us a lite bit more about this world you create with your writing and also what are you inspirations as a writer?

It all started with the trilogy I’m working toward, and I thought it would be a much better idea to start to build that world before jumping into a monumental project. Myrewood was that first step.

It’s dark fantasy and a bit more old school with only four races: humans, elves, dwarves, and orcs. There’s magic and complications and gods and dangers all around. There was big cataclysmic event that split the world into the continents. And the magic is chaotic, as we saw in Sword of Virné. It’s not safe and can’t be controlled.

Right now I’m just exploring the world and seeing what stories can be told and really making it come alive.

Some of my influences are the Dragon Age games, Dungeons and Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and The Witcher. 

7.With this project you record most of the material by yourself, do you prefer to work solo?

To a certain degree, yes. Like I said before, this is a huge passion project and I like doing much of this myself. However, I can’t do vocals, at least for right now. So I’ve gotten help from great people like Thomas Blanc, Sofia Frasz, and Aaron Johnson III, who I am in a band with called Left After Death. I also worked with Maxwell Aston to do art for me and he did an incredible job.

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

There’s a really cool nature preserve close to where I live. It’s hard to find trees where I am, but this place has some great spots, and I found this cool area with that tunnel sort of bit and thought it would be a great representation of where this next project is going, sort of transporting you to another realm. And I love trees.

9.On the new album you also have a few quests, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions to the recording?

Sofia Frasz from Exiled Hope is a kindred spirit. We both tell stories through our music and incorporate orchestral elements. We had a talk at one point and wanted to collaborate and the time finally came. She did an amazing job.

The other is my vocalist and bass player in Left After Death, Aaron Johnson III. He’s a great guy and super creative, doing other style like goth rock and EDM and his own symphonic metal stuff, so it was pretty obvious to have him do some stuff on my music as well.

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

Reactions have been good! They love it, compared it to other bands like Dimmu Borgir or One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII. I recently had one interaction recently where someone said they haven’t heard of blackened death metal and fantasy, so I had to chime in and say, “Hey, I do that! And there’s orchestra stuff too!” I’m glad people are enjoying it and not saying I should give up. haha

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Just doing more. More music, get that trilogy out, other orchestral stuff, maybe work with other artists and helping them with their music, and doing more collaborations. I got a lot of music friends I want to work with. I always try to improve on what I’ve done before, so that’s the goal as an artist.

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

I’ve been listening to a little more Mental Cruelty, particularly their A Hill to Die Upon Album, as well as some Wormwitch. Just to channel those styles of riffs and be influenced by what they are doing. Then there’s always Shadow of Intent, and I’ve been playing Octopath Traveler 0, and that has great music as well.

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

Thanks for the wonderful questions! I’ve been super busy writing all sorts of stuff and coming up with ideas, so I’ll be working on stuff for a long, long time. 

Official Website: chroniclerofardul.com
Bandcamp: https://chroniclerofardul.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chronicler-of-Ardul-100063489851273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicler_of_ardul
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChroniclerOfArdul
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5h3LfVFyzZA7Tl0eBhQxKg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chronicler-of-ardul/1678862672
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicler_of_ardul

Chronicler Of Ardul/Sounds Of Ardul/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  are  a  solo  project  from  Richland,  Washington  that  started  out  playing    a  fantasy  themed  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  on t his  album  keeps  the f antasy  themes  and  goes  into  more  of  an  acoustic  folk  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "Sounds  of  Ardul"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Acoustic  guitars,  percussion  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album   along  with  some  clear  singing  a  few  seconds  later.  Some  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  an  instrumental  direction  while  one  track  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  album  and  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.

  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  a  cinematic  and  atmospheric  direction  while  most  of  the  songs  are  also  very  short  in  length.  Stringed  instruments  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  a  lot  of  the  recording  also  capturing t he  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  movie  soundtrack,  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  are  also  added  on  a  lot  of  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  goes  for  a  very  cinematic  and  symphonic  style  of  folk  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  the  mythic  world  of  Ardul

  In  my  opinion  Chronicler  Of  Ardul  are a   very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  cinematic  folk  music  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Watch  Over  Me"  "Woodlands"  "Unwelcome  Quests"  and  "Zarek  The  Bloody".  8 out  of  10.

  Official Website: chroniclerofardul.com

Bandcamp: https://chroniclerofardul.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chronicler-of-Ardul-100063489851273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicler_of_ardul
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChroniclerOfArdul
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5h3LfVFyzZA7Tl0eBhQxKg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chronicler-of-ardul/1678862672

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicler_of_ardul