Nachtblut/Todschick/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nachtblut  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Todschick"  which  will  be  released  on  February  21st  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  symphonic  and  orchestral  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  and  rough  gothic  metal  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in a   small  amount  of  80's  style  synths.  Growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well elements  of  folk  metal  also  being  added  towards  the  end  of  the  album  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.

  On  this  recording  Nachtblut  brings  out  more  of  a  symphonic  and  mid  tempo  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  contemporary  societal  issues.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nachtblut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Von  Hass  Getrieben"  "Das  Leben  Der  Anderen"  "Gotterstille"  and  "Schneller  als  Der  Tod".  8  out  of  10.

  WEBSITE

 FACEBOOK
 INSTAGRAM

 NAPALM RECORDS    

Exiled Hope Interview

 

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

 I have the 4th album pretty much done, the 5th album is in progress, and I have a bunch of covers that might make their way onto a separate album or EP. I also just released some new merch designs (which you can find in my online merch store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/). There's always a lot going on behind the scenes.

2.You have a new full length coming out early in 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It's at a much higher quality than my previous releases in terms of production and performances. Before finishing the album, I took several months off of working on original music to take lessons and work on covers in order to develop my skills, because I felt like I had plateaued and wasn't able to make the music I wanted to make. I'm a much better musician than I was on the first 2 albums and EP, and I had a professional mix engineer work on Apocrypha as well. Stylistically, this album strays a bit from the folk and progressive influences that were on the first Exiled Hope albums and plays up the black metal and power metal influences; it feels more like Kamelot and Cradle Of Filth than Eluveitie and Ensiferum.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit about your interest in this genre?

I love this genre because it uses escapism as a vehicle for working through real, personal emotions. When you take a feeling and turn it into something concrete in the form of music and/or lyrics, it's easier to process, understand, and work through that feeling. It becomes something you can choose to perceive instead of something that's vaguely perceptible and always there. As a result, my fantasy-inspired lyrics serve a purpose similar to that of fables or fairytales: they impart life lessons through storytelling.

4.You have also done soundtracks for films, what type of films have you contributed music to so far?

. I've done a vast array of short films for YouTuber John H. Shelton, generally in the urban fantasy or thriller genre. Most recently, I released a soundtrack album for the indie horror film What Happens After Midnight. I also recorded a folk-inspired soundtrack for Hallowed Paths (still in development), which is a loose retelling of a Finnish folktale. I would love to continue doing soundtrack work!

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

On a surface level, Hope is the name of the main protagonist of the first album, and she is exiled from her city after she learns dark secrets that the city's corrupt leaders would rather keep hidden. On a deeper level, the name Exiled Hope represents the hope for a better world that the fantasy genre instills in us, and reminds listeners that too often, we "exile" this hope from our spirits when we grow up and are forced to abandon things that inspired us as kids. The name is a reminder to keep pursuing the hope that society exiles from us, and to hold onto our passions.

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

 The cover artwork is The Deluge by John Martin (1834). I chose this piece to represent the turmoil that defines the protagonist's journey on this album, as he strives to find his own path in a world where he feels forced to choose sides and abandon different parts of himself.

7.You have worked both solo and with other musicians, do you prefer to work by yourself?

Generally, working by myself is easier because I'm fully in control of the project and can get the work done more efficiently. Working with other musicians requires compromise, discussion, scheduling, and waiting on everyone to send their parts over. I love working with other musicians, but I need my own personal outlet where I can work at my own pace and control the direction of the project. I also enjoy challenging myself to learn different parts, different skills, and different instruments, as I do in Exiled Hope; even though finishing a project is rewarding, the journey of creating the music is the fun part.

8.You have also collaborated on a few recordings with 'Steel Forge', musically how do you feel their style differs from yours?

Their style leans much harder in the melodeath direction than Exiled Hope has so far. It's a style that I've wanted to explore for a while, but that never really found its place in Exiled Hope. Working with Steel Forge and catering more to their members' skillsets and interests has given me the opportunity to tap into that creative energy. I wasn't just composing for myself, I was composing with other musicians and another vocalist in mind, and I think the challenge of building that seamless synergy between us resulted in some of my best work yet.

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

I am not looking to sign with a label. I am happy to create at my own pace, and I've built up a solid team and support system that cannot be easily replaced. There are many more paths to success in the music industry than there once were, and I think the metal scene in particular leans too hard on legacy thinking instead of taking advantage of the new opportunities that are available to musicians in the 21st century.

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

Extreme metal fans seem intrigued for the most part. Some people don't really understand the intent behind my genre blend, but that's ok; I'm not trying to appeal to a broad, general audience. My music is more for nerds (I say this lovingly, as a fellow music nerd) who like hearing unexpected twists and puzzle pieces in their music; I try to make it interesting to listen to. The people who get it, really do seem to get it. I've read multiple positive reviews that appear to perfectly understand my vision and ideas. I love seeing various interpretations of my music that, while all different, are often all correct at the same time. The emotional core of my music and the joy of creating something multifaceted and ambitious seem to resonate with people, and that's what matters to me.

11.What is going on with 'Forgotten Shrine' these days?

We're working on some new music, but we're still a bit unsure whether it will lead to an EP or a full album this year. We've both contributed songs to the project, and we're very excited to show them all off in one format or another.

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

I see myself: 1) making a decent side income from my royalties, album sales, and merch sales; and 2) licensing my music to and recording original soundtracks for TV, film, and game producers. I'd say those are my main goals at the moment.

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

I've been listening to a lot of early-2000s post-grunge and alt-metal (such as Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Daughtry), and some more recent power metal (such as Arion, Frozen Crown, Kalidia, and Visions Of Atlantis)

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

Thank you for your thoughtful questions and your positive reviews! I appreciate you taking the time to check out my music and put this interview together.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

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

Selvans/Saturnalia/Avantgarde Music/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Selvans  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  progressive  and  folk  influenced  mixture  of  black  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Saturnalia"  which  will  be  released  on  January  31st  by  Avantgarde  Music.

  Keyboards  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  adding  in  some  symphonic  touches  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style  and  a  lot  of  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  an  80's  metal  style.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  album.

  

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  some  of  the  album  also  adding  in  elements  of  folk  music,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  folk  and  horror  tales  from  their  home  country.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Selvans  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  folk  influenced  black  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Il  mio  maleficio  v'incalzera!"  and  "Fonte  dei  diavoli".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.selvans-official.com

https://www.instagram.com/selvanstherealone

https://www.facebook.com/selvansofficial

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

The Lightbringer/Quintessence Of Dawn/2010 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  earlier  album  from  Quebec,  Canada's  The  Lightbringer  which  went  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  power  metal  and  the  album  was  self  released  in  2010  and  called  "Quintessence  Of  Dawn".

  A  very  dark ,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  lot  of  songs.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  power  metal  style  singing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Keyboards  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing. 

Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  female  vocals  and  flutes  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments,  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Mythology,  Fantasy,  Darkness  and  Light  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Lightbringer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  power  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Garden  Of  Forsaken  Souls"  and  "Constellation  Of  The  Gate  Of  Gods".  8  out  of  10.     

  https://www.thelightbringerofficial.com/

https://thelightbringermetal.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@thelightbringermetal
https://www.facebook.com/thelightbringerofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/thelightbringerband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/42vunlIXOg69YegQhmFG05

https://www.tiktok.com/@thelightbtingerofficial    

Exiled Hope/Apocrypha/2025 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  album  from  Maryland's  solo  project  Exiled  Hope  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  self  released  album  "Apocrypha"  which  will  be  released  in  2025.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  symphonic  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  add  in  touches  of  gothic  and  power  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard along  with  one  song  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.

  On  this  recording  Exiled  Hope  takes  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death,  gothic  and  power  metal  to  create  something  very  original.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Exiled  Hope  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death,  gothic  and  power  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Day  Will  Come"  "Altar  Of  Moloch"  "Deathslayer"  and  "Forbidden  majesties".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

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

Exiled Hope/Steel Forge/Realm Of the Exiled/2025 Collaboration EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  ep  between  U.S.A's  Exiled  Hope  and  United  Kingdom's  Steel  Forge  who  team  up  together  and  bring  out  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death,  power  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  ep  "Realm  of  the  Exiled"  which  will  be  released  in  2025.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  clean  sections  are  very  heavily  rooted  in  folk  music.  One  of  the  songs  also  introduce  clear  vocals  onto  the  recording  that  are  more  rooted  in  power  and  gothic  metal  as  well  as  one  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length, the  whole  ep  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  mix  their  two  different  styles  to  create  something  very  heavy,  melodic,  symphonic  and  epic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Exiled  Hope  and  Steel  Forge  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  doom,  death,  gothic,  power  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Light  In  the  Darkness"  and  "Beyond  The  Veil".  8  out  of  10.

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdZNNjK9ieVITFmcplPs1hA 

Bandcamp: https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/ 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth 

Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/

Bandcamp: https://steelforge1.bandcamp.com/

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

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

Twitter/X: https://x.com/steelforgeband?lang=en-GB

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@steelforge8934

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3CNLoVLW2SVhYxd6aZsGyR

      

Master Dy/FRUCTUS : The Master's Zodiac/DMG /2024 Full Length Review

 

  Master  Dy  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  very  dark,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic,  pop  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "FRUCTUS  :  The  Master's  Zodiac"  which  was  released  by  DMG.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in a   very  melodic  style  and  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  When  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  power  and  gothic  metal  while  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  more  of  a  mainstream  style  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  adding  in  touches  of   black  and  death  metal  when  they  are  introduced  on  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  male  vocals,  blast  beats  and  fast  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Master  Dy  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  more  rooted  in  the  melodic  symphonic  and  gothic/power  metal  style  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  resilience,  self-reliance  and  the  human  spirit's  will  to  overcome.

  In  my  opinion  Master  Dy  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  gothic,  pop  and  power  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bad  Omens  Of  January"  "Ephermal  Void"  "Regel  Eclipse"  and  "Nocturnal  Veil".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/@MasterDyBand
https://sptfy.com/MasterDy
https://master-dy.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/masterdy_band/
https://www.tiktok.com/@Master.Dy
https://www.facebook.com/masterdy.band/
https://www.masterdy.com

      

Eternal Crypt/Stages Of Grief/2024 Full length Review

 

  Eternal  Crypt  are  a  band  from  new  York  that  plays  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  folk  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Stages  Of  Grief".

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  and  orchestration  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  and  the  harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  some  of  the  melodies  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  medieval  folk  music   touches.

   Power  metal  style  singing  is  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  and  symphonic  sounding ,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing. Some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  death  metal  growls  and  as  the  album  progresses  pianos,  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  introduced  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  nature  and  isolation  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Eternal  Crypt  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  folk  and  power  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  Notice"  "Stone  In  My  Heart"  and  "Death  Bed".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/eternalcrypt    

Terramorta Interview

 

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

 

Hello, at the moment we are in the recording phase of our second album, which we can say is already recorded. We are now in the process of trying to make our work known and to reach beyond Portugal, aiming to share it with as many people as possible.

 

2.Earlier this year you released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

 

We know that humans tend to categorize and label everything, but we’ve never even thought about a specific musical style for the band. For us, it's just metal. Of course, we can say that our music relates to the symphonic black/death metal sub-genre.

 

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

 

            Seer - The concept itself arose from a disorder that has always tormented me, chronophobia precisely, that is, the fear of time and its passing through our miserably ephemeral and empty lives. I suffer from F.O.M.O., getting older kills me inside, I have a lot of difficulty facing, understanding and accepting the passing of time, not only in myself, but also in my loved ones, family and friends, and I honestly think that with each passing day we are becoming less happy, more vulnerable to isolation, depression, lack of motivation to continue, to blackness that accelerates this path until the inevitable and certain end. At the time we were looking for coherent themes for the album, something that we could unfold and continue, trying to avoid clichés, and behold, adapting this disorder made perfect sense. We've all been through bad times, we've lived a lot, enough to put a lot of ourselves into the album, which is why we think it's very coherent and sincere, because it literally shows our fears and problems.

 

 

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

 

            First of all, Terramorta means Deadland. And it’s a place that we created and invite the listeners to visit. A place where bad things happen, a place of sorrow, deception and grief like everything that we as humans must endure in our day-to-day life. But also, a place where in the end you can find hope and strength to continue the journey.

 

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

 

To be honest, the artwork was changed numerous times until the image director, Oliver Jackson, presented us with the version that's now released. The decision was unanimous, as the image perfectly illustrated the concept of the album chronophobia. Regarding the new album, we are not in that phase yet.

 

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

 

            For us, every show has been special, from the launch show to the one with Benighted. Some of us have over 20 years of experience. Seer and Helvigario used to play in a band together, and Nero has been part of numerous projects, having recorded bands like Enthroned. We can say we’ve felt comfortable on stage, but you can check out some of our performances on our YouTube channel.

 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2025?

 

            Yes, announced shows are already in our website www.terramorta.com and we are working to make possible a European tour during 2025. We also announce future shows in our social media pages.

 

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

 

            The label was created by Nero, because after facing so many "NOs," we decided to launch the project on our own, at our own risk. We can say that no one, outside of our close circle, believed in TERRAMORTA.

 

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

 

            It's hard to say, as we are a small band, but we can share some of the statistics from our album sales, which, surprisingly, sold out quickly. We sent them to almost all of Europe, the United States, Canada, Japan, etc. On social media, fans from all corners of the world are starting to appear, and we are very grateful for the acceptance.

 

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

            Some of them yes, but at the moment nothing is really going on regarding other musical projects. We are all fully committed to TERRAMORTA.

 

11.The next album is going to be released sometime in 2025, what can we expect musically once it is released?

           

            You can expect the same musical language as the previous album, but due to personal events and life's circumstances, the album has become more frantic and chaotic. We want to take a bold approach with the production. We know the market's rules, but don't expect a modern sound or something that follows current trends.

 

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

 

            It depends from the band member, but what we hear is a mix of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, KXM, Korn, Pantera, Carcass, Rammstein, Arcturus, Symphony X, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Death, Dissection, etc.

 

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

 

            We hope you enjoy our work, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the world.

So you can check our social media pages, streaming platforms. And on YouTube you will find videoclips, the full album and live videos. And guess what, it’s for free, so what are you waiting for?

Cheers and see you on the road. \m/

https://terramorta.com/

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

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

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

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/45tDH8c6Lgm2hnsOqRV1O9

https://music.apple.com/pt/artist/terramorta/1728551178

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/253888602

Tzadok/We Are Tzadok/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Tzadok  are  a  band  from  Mexico  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  death,  power,  heavy  metal  and  metalcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "We  Are  Tzadok"  which  will  be  released  on  December  6th  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  The  clear  vocals  mix  traditional  and  power  metal  together  while  the  more  harsh  side  mixes  black  and  death  metal  together.  Elements  of  folk  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  one  song  introduces  female  vocals  onto  the  recording.

  A  lot  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  metalcore  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fat  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  love,  hope  and  justice  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Tzadok  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  death,  power,  heavy  metal  and  metalcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Redeemer  Mind"  "Andromeda"  and  "The Return".  8  out  of  10.

  www.instagram.com/tzadok_oficial

www.facebook.com/Tzadokoficial

youtube.com/@tzadokoficial6434  

TrollWar/Tales From The Frozen Wastes/2024 EP Review

 

  TrollWar  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Tales  From  The  Frozen  Wastes".

  Epic  sounding  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  parts  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Shouts  and  choir  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitars  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  power  metal  vocals. 

  On  this  recording  TrollWar  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  and  symphonic  metal  to  create  a  very  epic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  TrollWar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The   Unseen  One"  and  "The  Offering".  8  out  of  10.

  ​Trollwar.wixsite.com/trollwar | Facebook.com/Trollwar | x.com/trollwarqc | Instagram.com/trollwarmetal/   

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

Terramorta/Chrronophobia/Magnus Pike Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Terramorta  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Chronophobia"  which  was  released  by  Magus  Pike  Records.

  

  A  very  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  death  emtal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  

   Elements  of  classical  music  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  song  also  introduces  operatic  female  vocals  onto  the  album  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Terramorta  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  classical  music  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  human  condition,  dissent  and  existence.

  

  In  my  opinion  Terramorta  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  "Chronophobia"  "Burnout  Looms"  "Night  Maere"  and  "Post  Mortem".  8  out  of  10.

  https://terramorta.com/

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

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

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

https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/45tDH8c6Lgm2hnsOqRV1O9

https://music.apple.com/pt/artist/terramorta/1728551178

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/253888602  

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