Eshtadur/In Darkness All Shadows Gone/Rockshot Records/2026 Full length Review

  Columbia's  Eshtadur  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "In  Darkness  All  Shadows  Gone"  which  was  released  by  Rockshot  Records.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  voices  before  going  into a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast beats  and t he  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  emtal  growls.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  the  album  also  adds  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  songs  adding  in  atmospheric  and  folk  music  touches.

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  on  song  also  introducing  clear  singing  onto  the  recording.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  acoustic  guitars   are  also  used  briefly  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mysticism,  transformation  and  innder  transmutation.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eshtadur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  and  melodic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Into  The  Woods"  "Fire  Above  Mountain  Below"  'A  Black  Winged  Waltz"  and  "Soy  Real".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/EshtadurOfficial/​

​https://www.instagram.com/eshtadur/    

Bryan Eckermann/Return To Helmbrook/Bonespill Recordings/2026 Full Length Review

  Texas'  solo  project  Bryan  Eckermann  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  album  "Return  To  Helmbrook"  which  was  released  by  Bonespill  Recordings.

  

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  playing  is  also  used  at  times  along  with elements  of  death  metal  also  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  and    when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard

  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  a  more  modern  approach  to  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a  horror  story  which  takes  place  in  Helmbrook with  some  references  to  the  occult.     

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bryan  Eckermann  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "10  Years"  "Apparitions  In  The  Attic"  "The  Spirit  World"  and  "Tragic  Endings".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/KqEk0e65joY

Stonelore/We Were Kings/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Stonelore  are  a  solo  project  from  Scotland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2026  album  "We  Were  Kings".

  

 Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  some  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  are  also  added  into a   lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  spoken  words.

  

   All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards  which  also adds  in  some  symphonic  touches.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album,  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  more  of  a  classic  metal style  when  they  are  utilized  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast b eats  can  be  heard..

  

  Stonelore  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  history  of  the  Kingdom  Of  The  Valley  of  The  Moon  -  an  ancient  dwarf  mine  whose  rise,  prosperity  and  eventual  decline  unfold  across  centuries. 

  

  In  my  opinion  Stonelore  id  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  Awaits  Those  Down  Below" "Goblin  Stop"  "I  Eat  Dirt"  and  "I  Am  The  Land".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/blackettsmusic   

Vanaheim Interview

Mike Seidel: First of all we want to thank you for giving us the chance to present our new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” in your magazine. We truly appreciate that! 

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

Mike Seidel: Our new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” was released on the 4th of September 2026. We are simply overwhelmed by the sheer amount of positive feedback we have received so far from genre veterans, metal critics and our fans. We had a different approach for this album, also because the whole team behind the band had grown since the release of our previous album “Een Verloren Verhaal”, which was our self-released debut album. We signed a record deal with Fireflash Records, joined the artist roster of Rock The Nation, who took over the bookings and, additionally, we now work closely together with Mastermold Music as our management team. Soon we will go on our first ever European tour, together with TYR, Twilight Force and Dragonland. The tour carries the name “Valhalla Calling Europe”. It will bring us to many countries we have never performed in before, with a total number of 25 shows in 15 countries. Exciting times ahead! 

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

 Mike Seidel: “Roede voor de Borst” is a concept album. It tells a completely different story than our previous album, “Een Verloren Verhaal”. While the story for our debut album was grand, epic and fantastical, the story of “Roede voor de Borst” is more down to earth, more emotional and relatable. The sound of the album reflects this aspect as well. While we are using the orchestrations in the album more focused, we shifted the epicness factor towards the use of different elements this time. For example, we recorded a real choir of thirty people in the studio. This is pretty unique nowadays, because it is common to use simple plug-ins and VTS or samples for your music and everything seems to be becoming more and more digital. Especially in the time of artificial intelligence, where everything becomes so easy and generic, it is even more important to bring back real instruments into music. All the songs on the new album are connected through the story, but still every song works on its own. Every song has its own flavor and that makes the album interesting and raises the replay ability a lot! We widened the dynamics between hard pounding metal riffs and soft melodic parts cohesive to the story of the album to deepen the feeling of the story.

3.The lyrics on the new release is a concept album, can you tell us a little bit more about the story you covered with this recording?

 Mike Seidel: The story takes place in a fictional Dutch village from the 19th century, surrounded by wetlands. Our main protagonist is the miller of the village. An old man who has seen ghostly figures around the wetlands and who thinks they are a potential threat to the village and its inhabitants. Nobody believes him when he tries to warn the villagers every night. They think that he is just a bitter and crazy old man. One night, he goes on an unexpected journey which makes him reflect on his life choices. I don't want to spoil it too much, but it is a thrilling story full of emotions, regret and hope. It supports the music really well and if you read the lyrics while listening to the album, it deepens and enhances the whole experience. We are aware that not everyone in this world understands Dutch. That is why we offer translations in three other languages (English, German and French) on our website for the lyrics. We are still working on it but the translations will be finished soon. Just go to vanaheim.nl and follow us to the lyrics section. 

4.Your earlier lyrics covered Folklore and Mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

 Mike Seidel: As a folk metal band we bring stories around the world. Stories of our heritage but also stories of our own. We love to write our own stories. That is the reason why we write a complete concept for an album, before we even start writing the music. The concept is a guideline for the music, the lyrics and the visuals that accompany the album. Folklore and mythology are a part of almost every band in this genre. With us the difference is that we like to create our own stories, which are inspired by different aspects but also by local stories, myths and urban legends. Historic happenings, culture and ethics are a big influence as well. 

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

 Mike Seidel: The album artwork is made by Julian Bauer. We had already worked with him on our debut album ”Een Verloren Verhaal” and we were so blown away by his work, that we had to work with him again. His style fits perfectly with our music. It represents epicness, displays the thrilling aspects of our music and the liveliness of his paintings tells a story. Julian can transform our music into a painting. What you see displayed in the artwork is a scene from the story of “Roede voor de Borst”. It shows a specific and tragic moment of the story and if you watch closely, you can already understand a part of the album’s story, only by watching and understanding the artwork. There is even a secret message hidden in the artwork. We are curious if you can find it. 

6.The band members live in different parts of Europe, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?

 Mike Seidel: I wouldn't say that our location has a direct influence on the Vanaheim sound or style. We do have a very wide range of influences on our music, but even though we are split over three countries, our ethical and cultural backgrounds are very similar. Most members live in the Netherlands, our guitar player in Belgium and I live in Germany. The cultural difference is actually not that big. The fact that we live that far apart, doesn't make it easier to write music. Most of the songwriting happens online, where we exchange ideas in meetings. Towards the end of the writing phase, we meet up in person to finalize song structures, melodies or lyrics. Being in the same room while writing, makes the whole process much faster in our experience.

 7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

 Mike Seidel: I guess every band member would give you a different answer to this question. For me personally, the Seafarer's Dream Tour with Ensiferum was one of the big highlights. Being able to be the support act for one of your childhood heroes is a moment that I will never forget. Back in the day, when one of my best friends gave me a USB stick with music on it, I discovered folk metal with Ensiferum. About 15 years later, I am sharing the stage with Ensiferum while supporting them with my own band. This is a dream coming true. When I discovered their music, I didn't even dare to think about this happening in a couple of years. Unbelievable! 

8.What are the touring plans for the new album?

 Mike Seidel: Soon we will embark on the “Valhalla Calling Europe” tour across 15 countries, with 25 shows, together with TYR, Twilight Force and Dragonland! Then we do have some ideas for possible tours in 2027, but nothing we can talk about yet. There are some big festivals in the pipeline, and we are looking forward to conquering the stage in countries we have never performed in before. We want to play as much as possible to bring “Roede voor de Borst” to as many countries as possible! It is so exciting to have a new album under the belt, which we can finally perform live with an energetic performance and a lot of crowd engagement.

 9.The new album was released on 'Fireflash Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

 Mike Seidel: We got in contact with Markus of Fireflash Records through someone we met after our performance at Wacken Open Air 2024. It was a total coincidence that we got in touch that day. We got offers from other labels for “Roede voor de Borst” as well, but none of them felt like a good fit for us. We almost decided that we wanted to release this album independently, like our debut album “Een Verloren Verhaal”. When we started talking with Markus, we were sure that he was the right guy to bring us forward. The collaboration with Fireflash Records has been nothing but great so far. They truly understand the vision of our band, our music and our intentions. It was a match we were missing with other labels, and we are happy that we found our way to Fireflash Records now

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

Mike Seidel: The reactions to “Roede voor de Borst” are overwhelming to be honest. It is great to see that we have created a worthy follow-up to our debut album, “Een Verloren Verhaal”. The album has received many great reviews and high album ratings so far and our fans are very happy with our new music. Some even say that we are the ones who can bring back “the golden era of folk metal”. It is not my task to judge if that is true or not, but we take these words as a big compliment! You must know that we do not simply write music for a new album and then we release it. We are making a whole story around the album with fitting lyrics, visuals, themes and so on. Everything has to be right. We want to create an immersive story or world for us and our fans. A story that they can live through while listening to the album or watching the music videos. It has to be authentic. 

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

 Mike Seidel: Since our debut album we have found our own style. We want to keep it this way but still fresh it up from time to time. Here and there we implement some new elements or influences. That keeps it interesting. We don't want to create the same album repeatedly.

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

 Mike Seidel: We do listen to a lot of different styles and music with some parallels. Three of us are big folk metal lovers. It is the music that we grew up with. Nightwish also always plays a big role in our playlists. Some others are more oriented towards folk or traditional music, while I also listen to a lot of heavy rock or black metal. It is the mixture of all these influences that creates the Vanaheim sound. 

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

Mike Seidel: We want to thank you for this great interview and all readers of the ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine. If you want to support us, buy our album in a physical format or come to our shows all around Europe. The Valhalla Calling tour is starting soon and we are so much looking forward to present our brand new concept album “Roede voor de Borst” together with an energetic performance and many crowd engaging elements. You are in for a real treat on this tour. We hope to see you on the road!

 -:𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫:

- 24.11 | SE | Malmö | Babel 

25.11 | DK | Aarhus | Voxhall 

26.11 | DE | Bochum | Matrix 

27.11 | DE | Regensburg | Eventhall Airport 

28.11 | CZ | Zlin | Masters Of Rock Café 

29.11 | DE | Leipzig | Hellraiser 

01.12 | DE | Saarbrücken | Garage

 02.12 | AT | Wörgl | Komma 

03.12 | DE | Berlin | Musik Brauerei 

04.12 | NL | Drachten | Iduna

 05.12 | BE | Brugge | Het Entrepot 

06.12 | NL | Uden | De Pul

 07.12 | DE | Stuttgart | Im Wizema

09.12 | AT | Vienna | Viper Room

 10.12 | DE | Weinheim | Cafe Central 

11.12 | DE | Geiselwind | Strohofer 

12.12 | CH | Pratteln | Z7 

13.12 | IT | Milan | Legend Club 

14.12 | HR | Zagreb | Boogaloo

 15.12 | HU | Budapest | Barba Negra

 16.12 | PL | Krakow | Hype Park 

17.12 | PL | Warsaw | Proxima 

18.12 | LV | Riga | Melna Piektdiena 

19.12 | EE | Tallinn | Helitehas 

20.12 | FI | Helsinki | Ääniwalli 

-:𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘:-:𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒:-:𝐔𝐒:-:𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆:-

https://vanaheim.nl/

https://www.facebook.com/VanaheimBand/

http://instagram.com/vanaheimofficial/

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

https://vanaheim-official-merch.myshopify.com/

Zornheym/Descending Into Madness/Noble Demon/2026 Full Length Review

  Sweden's  Zornheym  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and death  emtal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Descending  Into  Madness"  which  will be  released  on  October  2nd  by  Noble  Demon.

  A  very  dark  sounding  prologue  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  the  symphonic  and  orchestration  sounds  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Clear  singing  and  choirs  are  also  utilized  at  times 

  Harsh  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  emtal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can be  heard  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  them,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  On  this  recording  Zornheym  expands  on  their  symphonic  black  metal  style  by  adding  in  elements  of  melodic  death  metal  and  classical  music to create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Zornheim  Asylum.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Zornheym  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deus  Rex"  "Anneliese"  "The  Funeral  march"  and  "Come  Sweet  Death".  8  out  of  10.  

https://www.instagram.com/zornheym_official/ 
https://www.facebook.com/zornheym  
https://zornheym.bandcamp.com/ 

     

Forsaken Eternity/Shades Of Existence/Rottweiler Records/2026 EP Review

  Forsaken  Eternity  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric,  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Shades  Of  Existence"  which  was  released  by  Rottweiler  Records.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in with  some  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.

  Throughout  the  ep  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  words  can  also be  heard  briefly  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Forsaken  Eternity bring  out  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic,  symphonic  and  technical  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Forsaken  Eternity  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic,  atmospheric, technical  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Adrift  In  A  Twisted  Ethereal"  and  "Celestial  Witch".  8 out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/forsakeneternityband
https://www.instagram.com/forsakeneternitymetal
https://forsakeneternityrr.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/XGfw1b-py3s?si=QPA9vcP8VBh7V2MB

            

Vanaheim/Roede voor de Borst/Fireflash Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Vanaheim  are  a  band f rom t he  Netherlands  that  plays  an  epic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2026  album  "Roede  voor  de  Borst"  which  will  be  released in  September b y  Fireflash  Records.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Harsh  vocals  bring  in  a  style  similar  to  black  metal  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  symphonic  style  orchestration  and  the  riffs  also  add  in a   lot  of  melody.

  Elements  of  death  metal are  also  utilized  at  times  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  added  into  the  music  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Choir  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  introduced  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Dutch  and  is  a  concept  album  based  on  untold  legends  from t he  19th  century.  

  In  my  opinion  Vanaheim  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Geestenmist"  and  "Roede  voor  de  Borst".  8  out  of  10.

  https://vanaheim.nl/

https://www.facebook.com/VanaheimBand/

http://instagram.com/vanaheimofficial/

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

https://vanaheim-official-merch.myshopify.com/

Hrafnablót/Guðlaugar Saga/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Hrafnablót  are  a  band  from  Iceland  that  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  2026  album  "Guðlaugar  Saga"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Nature  sounds  and  whispers  start  off  the  album  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into a   heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  clear  female  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Folk  instruments  are  also  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  album  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  clear  male  vocals.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  harsh  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in a   mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

 One  song  also introduces  acoustic  guitars  and  keyboards  into  the  music  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction  with  some  symphonic  touches  along  with t he  closing  track  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  Sagas,  Magick  and  Folklore  of  their  homeland.  

  In  my  opinion  Hrafnablót  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Dísablót "  "Nornarheimt"  and  "Örlagavegur".  8  out  of  10.

  https://hrafnablot.is/​

​https://www.facebook.com/hrafnablot/  

      

Duskseeker Interview

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

Duskseeker is my solo black metal project. I am currently based in Denton, Texas. Duskseeker started in 2015 as a musique concréte black metal project. I would play just guitar by myself and do improvised free improv textural experimental black metal with lots of guitar pedal experimentation. That sound was captured on the album Black Wolf Nightmare (2017). Over time, the project has evolved to have a more "full band" sound, but I am recording all the instruments (though I perform guitar and vocals live with backing tracks). Spiralscape (2021) was the first album to go into this territory, and it had styles of symphonic black metal, ambient, prog rock, doom metal, and free improv with the incorporation of synthesizers and drum machines. The Maw is my latest album (July 2026), and it hones in on a more aggressive, industrial, synth-backed sound with symphonic black metal and death metal elements. 

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

It dials up the aggression more than my past works. The same musical freedom is still present, but with a more tightened industrial symphonic black metal sound with better production, more aggressive riffs and song writing, harder vocals, and more synths. 

3.Some of your lyrics cover Gnosticism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interestt in this topic?

I am not religious per se, but the world of the Gnostics is potent as an artistic tool and literary allegory. The world of Duskseeker that I have created borrows from the Gnostics the idea that a false, malevolent god is in charge of the world and this god is concealing beings of the earth from knowing real spiritual truth (gnosis). I take this idea and use it to critique the power structures of our real world and as a mode of self-empowerment. 

4.Lyrically you also cover 90's video games, which games have had an influence on the songwriting?

Final Fantasy VI and VII, Xenogears, Half Life, Elden Ring, Chrono Trigger, Dark Souls, Metroid, and King's Field are the primary video game influences on The Maw and Spiralscape, but there are others at well that probably came into play that I'm less conscious of or not recalling at the moment. 

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

It means a lot of different things to me personally, but to others it can mean something else. Some have told me that it reminds them of vampires, while others have said it reminds them of cowboys. I've heard other takes as well. These are interesting interpretations, and like all art, it is open to interpretation. 

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

This is the prompt I gave to Devon Grey (Weeping Wyrm), the artist who created the art :

"I want the cover to feature as its subject a cybernetic knight/dragoon with either a sword or halberd in front of a cityscape with lightning in the background. The cityscape has many ruined buildings, but has one big gothic castle but with some spires or something indicating that it might be something futuristic. The art would seem to indicate that the giant castle has sucked the life out of the rest of the city and is some sort of nexus of malevolence. Perhaps the lightning is between the knight and the cityscape. I know this sounds a lot more sci-fi than what you probably usually do, but I like the idea of it being in your style and letting your style convey a distant dark fantasy land that may or may not be like our world and just subtly convey a sci-fi element by the fact of its otherworldliness."

7.With this recording you record most of the music by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians again in the future or do you prefer to work solo?

I am currently working with other musicians on the full length Duskseeker album that I am recording. I will also be working with somebody else on the mixing and mastering for that album as well. I would like to assemble a full live band for Duskseeker in the future. I do have some friends who have said they are interested in participating in that, but we haven't gotten together to make it happen quite yet.

8.With the live line up what are some of the best shows that you have played so far an also how would you describe your stage performance?

I really liked a lot of the shows that I did on The Maw tour I did in August. Every time I tour I feel like I learn something new and get better at touring. I've had many good shows on tours in the past, but I'd say this tour was the most successful for Duskseeker as a whole so far. When I play live, I dress in an outfit that consists of a black veil that goes over my eyes, an aluminum-plated pauldron (used by real practitioners of modernistic forms of ninjutsu), gauntlets, leggings, tactical boots, and a thin scarf that I use as a cape. All in black. I play guitar and do vocals, and I play to a backing track. I also enjoy adding free improv to some of the songs. Mostly in guitar solo sections these days, but sometimes I will improvise a whole section of the set, if the spirit moves me. Improvisation and experimentation are pillars in the foundations of Duskseeker, and I continue to embrace that as the sound of the project evolves. 

9.On the ep you also done a 'Nocturnus' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

I really like the Nocturnus album, The Key, and that song resonates with me on a musical level as well as a lyrical level. I felt that the themes behind that song are in line with the material present on the rest of my album, The Maw. Nocturnus is also a very important band in terms of helping pioneer extensive use of synthesizers in extreme metal, and for that, I felt like paying tribute to them in a Duskseeker album was appropriate. RIP Mike Browning of Nocturnus and Morbid Angel, who died shortly before The Maw was released. 

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

No complaints so far that I'm aware of! Everyone I've seen or talked to has had very nice things to say, which is great. I am grateful for the positive reception. 

11. What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

Special Agent, my digital hardcore/postindustrial band has an EP up our sleeves ready to go that we are still figuring out release plans for. BONE LEECH, my sludge metal band, just tracked our debut album, which will hopefully be released in 2027. Oil Spill (black metal) has chatted about trying to get together and write sometime, but we are all collectively very busy with other obligations/projects/etc. I have thoughts for other projects as well, but those are more in the long term after I finish recording the next Duskseeker album. 

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

Some of my biggest musical influences are, in no particular order, Nobuo Uematsu, Nine Inch Nails, Death, Type O Negative, Emperor, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Johnny Cash, Scott Walker, Secret Chiefs 3, Frank Zappa, Slowdive, The Doors, The Cure, Dead Can Dance, Motoi Sakuraba, Yasunori Mitsuda, Michiru Yamane, Gyorgy Ligeti, and the list goes on. I still keep a lot of these artists in regular rotation. Some of my more recent regular rotations have been Exxûl, Blood Incantation, the Final Fantasy VIII OST, Lycia, Youth Code, the A Fox In Space OST, Madeline Goldstein, SRSQ, the Einhander OST, Enya, and Char-X, among many others. 

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

Be on the lookout for material, as well as more out of town shows. Thank you for your time. Stay cool 😎⚔️👽

https://www.facebook.com/dvskseeker/ 

Duskseeker/The Maw/Fiadh Productions/Realm And Ritual/2026 EP Review

  Duskseeker  are  a  solo  project  from  Texas  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "The  maw"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Realm  And  Ritual.

  A  very  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Elements  of  industrial  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  death  emtal  influences.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  a  Nocturnus  cover  and  the  ep  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Duskseeker  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  industrial  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  lo-fi  while  the  lyrics  cover  Gnosticism  and  90's  Video  Game  Lore.

  In  my  opinion  Duskseeker  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Command  And  Control"  and  "Moonlight  Blade".  8  out  of  10.

https://duskseeker.bandcamp.com/album/the-maw

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/duskseeker.portal

https://extraterrestrial.network/    

   

Gloomy & Grim: A Tribute To Agathon/Satanath Records/Hellhouse Records 666/Black Plague Records/Pagan Fury Records/2026 Compilation Album Review

  Gloomy  Grim  where  a  band  from  Finland  that  where  very  well  known  in t he  classic  era  of  the  symphonic  black  metal  genre  which  split  up  after  Agathon  passed  way  and  this  is  a  review  of  a  compilation  dedicated  to  his  work  called  "Gloomy  &  Grim:  A  Tribute  to  Agathoon"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Satanath,  Black  Plague,  Pagan  Fury  and  Hellhouse  Records  666  and  we  will  review  the  songs  one  by  one.

  Azhemin  brings  us  "IntroL  To  The  Death"  which  is  more  of  a  horror  movie  keyboard  interlude  to  the  rest  of  the  compilation  while  also  adding  in  some  grim  black  metal  screams 

  Unnamed  Grave  brings  us  "The  Hermit"  which  brings  in  a  very  heavy  and  symphonic  black  metal  style  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  music  is  more  rooted  in  the  classic  era  of  the  genre  and  the  riffs  and  solos  also  add  in a  lot  of  melody.

  IGIGI  brings  us  "Lucifer's  Hammer"  which  starts  out  with  some  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  leads  while  also  adding  in  some  grim  black  metal  screams  and  also  focusing  more  of  a  slower  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  also  adding  in  some  symphonic  touches  and  spoken  words  towards  the  end.

  Astralcorpse  brings  us  "Akerspoke"  which  starts  out  in  more  of  a  slower  direction  before  introducing  in  some  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  as  the  track  progresses  clear  vocals  are  also  introduced  into  the  song.

  Barathrum  brings  us  "War"  which  starts  out  with  some  keyboards  before  going  into  more  of  a  symphonic  direction  which  also  introduced  grim  black  metal  screams  that  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  style  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Wotem  MF  brings  us  "Bloody  Grim"  which  shows  the  music  bringing  in  more  of  an  80's  thrash  metal  style  

  Flesh  brings  us  "Why  Are  They  Screaming  At  Night"  which  also  adds  in  some  female  vocals  which  also  bring  in  more  of  a  gothic  metal  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  song  sticks  to  more  of  mid  tempo  direction.

  Wallhalla  brings  us  "Chainsaw  Beast"  which  starts  out  with  more  of  a  symphonic  style  before  going  into  more  of  a  black  metal  direction  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  track  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  

  

  Soulgrind  brings  us  "Children  Of  The  Underworld"  which  starts  out  with  a  more  symphonic  approach  before  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  style  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  spoken  words.

  St.  Petrov  brings  us  "Red  Giant"  which  starts  out  with  some  heavy  guitars  before  introducing  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  symphonic  elements  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  some  angry  shouts  as  well  as  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  clear  singing.

  Gloomy  Grim  closes  the  compilation  with  "Born  In  Fire"  which  brings  in  more  of  a  symphonic  black  metal  style  while  also  being  a  more  up  to  date  version  of  the  song

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  compilation  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  Gloomy  Grim,  Finnish  and  symphonic  metal.  8  out  of  10.   

https://satanath.bandcamp.com/album/sat418-various-artists-gloomy-grim-a-tribute-to-agathon-compilation-2026   

  

Profane Burial/Desolate Echoes Of Turmoil/These Hands Melt/2026 Full Length Review

  Norway's  Profane  Burial  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  progressive  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Desolate  Echoes  of  Turmoil"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  symphonic  elements  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.  

  On  this  recording  Profane  Burial  continue  to  expand  on  the  progressive  and  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  thematic  darkness  and  psychological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Profane  Burial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Prognostic  Augural  Obsolescence"  and  "Malicious Discomfort".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProfaneBurial/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profane_burial/
Bandcamp: https://profaneburial.bandcamp.com/music 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7KX7UxaY6BWCBFIfl0kqY3 
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/profane-burial/1334974854 

https://youtu.be/6FSDSOKMvuc?si=i8tU26JKfMEqoBbU

      

   

Hecate Enthroned/The Corpse of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried/M-Theory Audio/2026 Full Length Review

  United  Kingdom's  Hecate  Enthroned  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Corpse  Of  A  Titan"  which  will  be  released  on  May  29th  by  M-Theory  Audio.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts ,  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  On  this  recording  Hecate  Enthroned  remain  true  to  the  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  that t hey  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  British  Myths  and  Legends.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hecate  Enthroned  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spirits  Stir  Within  Our  Ancestors  Tombs"  "Pwca"  and  "Into  A  Vale  of  Endless  Snow".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music    

 

Wooden Shadow/Age of Tree/Inverse Records/2026 EP Review

 
  Wooden  Shadow  are  a  solo  project  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2026  ep  "Age  Of  Tree"  which  will  be  released  on  April  29th  by  Inverse  Records.

  Spoken  words  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  ep  which  also  adds  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Harsh  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  dark  metal  growls and  melodies  are  also  added  into  a  great  amount  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Clear  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments  and  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

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  On  this  recording  Wooden  Shadow  takes  the  melodic  and  symphonic  forms  of  death  and  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  metal  to  create  something  different.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  different  emotional  levels.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wooden  Shadow  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "We  Are  The  North"  and  "The  Great  Feast".  8  out  of  10.

   https://push.fm/fl/wooden-shadow-age-of-tree

https://www.facebook.com/Tormentius
https://www.instagram.com/woodenshadowofficial
https://woodenshadow.bandcamp.com

Agarwaen/The Murder Trend/Over The Border Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Agarwaen  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  melodic,  symphonic  and  horror  themed  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "The  Murder  Trend"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Over  The  Border  Records.

  Police  radio  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  and  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  angry  black  metal  screams,  death  metal  growls  and  back  up  shouts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  fast  riffing.

  Clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  album  also  adding  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,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  some  songs  also  add  in  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Agarwaen  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  horror  themed  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bad  Beginning"  "La  Coleccion"  "The  Hunt"  and  "The  Murder  Trend".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Agarwaenband/  

https://overtheborderrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-murder-trend