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 

  

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan

Asgaard/Lullabies For Harlots/Via Nocturna/2024 EP Review

 

  Asgaard  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  started  out  as  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  acoustic  prog  rock  and  electronic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Lullabies  For  Harlots"  which  will  be  released  on  November  29th  by  Via  Nocturna.

  Synths  and  electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  ep  while  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  programmed  beats.  Vocals  are  done  in  a  clean  style  close  to  goth  rock  an  industrial  along  with  the  recording  also  having  its  progressive  moments.

  One  of  the  songs  is  also  a  Behemoth  cover  which  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  and  also  adds  in  some  symphonic  touches  mixed  in  with  some harsh  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  and  they  also  bring  in  3  acoustic  guitars  which  also  moves  away  from  the  electronic  elements  of  the  earlier  tracks,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Asgaard  move  away  from  the  symphonic  black  and  gothic  metal  style  of  previous  releases  and  brings  in  more  of  a  mixture  of  electronic  music  and  acoustic  progressive  rock  with  only  the  Behemoth  cover  going  back  to  their  earlier  roots.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Polish  and  cover  suffering,  romance  and  death  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  Asgaard  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  acoustic  prog  rock  and  electronic  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mother  Of  Harlots"  and  "What  If...".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/9TIOl2eG3qQ

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Yog-Sothoth Interview

 

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

I started Yog-Sothoth because I really got into symphonic black metal and just wanted to write music like that. I wrote and released the EP and was surprised how much everyone liked it, so I decided to continue the project. I was recently joined by my childhood friend Zann, who is currently helping me write lyrics cause he's really fucking good at it. If you like Bal-Sagoth, you'll definitely like Yog-Sothoth. 

2.In August you had released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

When I was writing the EP I was going for a more Bal-Sagoth type sound. I think I managed to get it pretty close while also adding a bit of my own style into it and not making it just a copycat band. Other bands that inspired Yog-Sothoth's sound were Zel Agganor or Runeshard.

3.A lot of your lyrics and the band name are inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?

My first exposure to Lovecraft's work happened around 2018/2019 when a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to join him and his team in a session of the table top RPG "The Call of Cthulu". I instantly fell in love with all the Eldritch stuff and decided to start reading more about it. A few years later I permanently joined the RPG team. My new character was a Yog-Sothoth cultist - that's where the project's name comes from.

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

There's not much to the artwork - just a picture taken last winter with Yog-Sothoth in the sky. I made it and thought it looked cool.

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

If we meet any talented musicians who would like to join us, we will definitely consider adding them to the line up.

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

We got one offer but we rejected it. We're open to working with a label and it would definitely make some things way easier for us, but on the other hand it might make us treat Yog-Sothoth more like a business. We want to keep making art and if we ever find any label that will want to help us make art and not business (which is unlikely), we will sign a deal.

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

I did not expect the reaction to be so positive. After the release of "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" I got a lot of comments and DMs saying that people loved the EP and were impressed with the songwriting. It's really motivating. Thanks to everyone who listened and left such positive feedback!

8.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I finished writing music for a new album like a week ago. Zann is finishing up some lyrics. We have one song recorded already. We're not sure about the release date yet - me and Zann are starting uni in a few days, which might slow down the recording process. We're hoping to have it done by the end of the year. You can expect the release some time next year.

As for my future as a musician, I'd like to gather some people and play a few local Yog-Sothoth shows. Maybe go on tour if our budget allows it. I mainly want to keep making art and express myself through it. The direction my music goes heavily depends on the direction my life goes as my music is kind of an image of my soul.

9.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?

My musical journey started with classical music. My parents would play me classical music all the time. At the age of five my favourite song was Vivaldi's Spring. I joined a choir, and later went to music school to study playing the organ. When I was around 12 my brother got me into punk. After listening to punk for a few years, I finally discovered metal. My first metal subgenre was power metal with my first band being Powerwolf. I then discovered more symphonic bands and thought it was cool. I went through every metalhead's mandatory Mayhem phase and started looking for more black metal. That's when I discovered Bal-Sagoth. I fell in love with symphonic black metal instantly. I'd say the biggest influences on my music are Vivaldi, Bach, all the Chris Bowes' bands (mainly Gloryhammer cause of symphonic stuff), Bal-Sagoth and Zel Agganor.

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

I'd like to thank everyone who supports Yog-Sothoth in any way. It means a lot. If you're curious about the upcoming album, follow us on Facebook and Instagram - we post updates and little snippets there sometimes.

https://linktr.ee/yogsothothband

Yog-Sothoth/Through The Gates Of The Silver Key/2024 EP Review

 

  Yog-Sothoth  are  a  duo  from  Poland  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Through  The  Gates  of  The  Silver  Key".

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era,  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  Yog-Sothoth  plays  a  style  of  symphonic  black  metal  that  goes  back  to  the  classic  era  of  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  based  upon  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.

  In  my  opinion  Yog-Sothoth  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Curse  of  Innsmouth"  and  "Rituals  Of  The  Black  Pharaoh".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/yogsothothband  

    

Ensiferum/Winter Storm/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Finland's  Ensiferum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  controls  the  epic  style  of  folk  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Winter  Storm"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  orchestration  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  clear  vocals  mix  pagan  and  power  metal  together.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  introduces  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Shamanism,  Magick  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ensiferum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  enjoy  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winter  Storm  Vigilantes"  "Scars  In  My  Heart"  and  "Victorious".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.ensiferum.com

https://www.facebook.com/Ensiferum
https://www.instagram.com/ensiferummetal/

  

Alkonost Interview

 

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

Not much time has passed yet - so far we're excited and in disbelief that it's finally happened, actively promoting it on the web, monitoring the reactions of listeners and gathering feedback.

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

On the one hand, in some sense we continue the course we took about ten years ago. On the other hand, the album is different from our previous records - we can say that it turned out to be heavier and more diverse in sound. On it you can hear both classic folk moves and alternative metal, which is not quite typical for us. Sympho, doom, leisurely rhythms and some fast ones - in general, it's a fiery cocktail.

3.The lyrics on the new album cover the various aspects of fire, can you tell us a little bit about about the songwriting that is presented on the new recording?

‘’Fire‘’ concept was the starting point, it was invented and proposed by our lyricist Mare Mirkie. First of all, each song's theme was worked out, what it is about, what it should have emotional colouring, sound, etc. After that we started to work: our guitarist Andrey Losev brought the arranged music, and then each member finalised his parts and added the final touches to the canvas. Some songs were composed by third-party composers. The lyrics were traditionally written to the arranged music.

4.A lot of your lyrics and the bands name comes from Slavic Paganism and Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

As far as paganism is concerned, we can say that we are not adherents of it, if you can catch motives consonant with it, it is only in our early songs. The themes of our songs are fantasy, fairy tales and a little bit of folklore, so mythology is closer, because all this is closely intertwined with each other. In general, we don't rely on something specific, but create our own universe with our own characters and stories.

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

The author of the cover art is artist Marina Potovichenko, whose works can also be seen on the releases of other famous russian artists. We can't say that there is any special story behind the cover art - we just thought over the variants and decided to choose this one, bright and minimalistic. By the way, the most attentive will notice that this lizard doesn't quite look like a real salamander, but that was the idea - it's primarily about a deity, a spirit of fire.

6.The band has been around since 1996, what is it that motivates you to keep going after almost 3 decades?

During this time we have changed our approach to music and band work several times to refresh our sound, and each time the result has given us confidence in our chosen path. We went through some serious crises when it seemed to be over, but we always found new incentives to continue. Also some new members gave the band a new breath. And in general, the more diverse things happen around us, the more incentive for growth and creativity.

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

For a long time we only played at festivals, and they all seemed cool. The ones that have forever remained history are, for example, the legendary russian ‘Folk Summer Fest’. Of the modern ones - ‘Bylinnyi Bereg’, ‘Uletai’, ‘Imandra Viking Fest’. From the touring life we can remember a joint European tour with Arkona band in 2007, and also a big tour 2018-19 with the presentation of the album ‘Octagram’, when we travelled through the whole Russia from Lake Baikal, finishing in Central Europe.

As for our performances, we always try to make the show bright, dynamic and catchy - in this case we are helped by smoke, light, aggressive feeding and, of course, synchronised headbanging!

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

We are not planning any big tours. Next year, perhaps, we will play a few presentation concerts in major cities of our country - Moscow, St. Petersburg and some others.

9.The new album was self released while the band has worked with plenty of labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

The music industry has changed quite a lot since we were working with labels. And today, as an independent underground band, we do not see any reason to ask for support from labels again. Although, of course, everything depends on the terms and details of co-operation - we are open to suggestions.

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

We have quite a lot of fans all over the world, and if you believe the statistics of the streaming platforms, their number is constantly growing. For example, Spotify says that last year we were listened to in 137 countries. Foreign fans often write to us with words of gratitude and support, and some of them we know personally and communicate with. All in all, we like what we see. 

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

It's hard to say now, because we discuss such moments at the beginning of each album's production. The sound is also strongly influenced by the general theme of the songs and the chosen concept. So we never know where our experiments will take us next, but the signature features will certainly always be in our music!

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

Our tastes are very diverse. We listen to music ranging from electronica and 70s heavy rock to hip-hop, post-punk and extreme metal. In our headphones, ABBA can be next to Gojira, and J-M Jarre and Metallica to Death and Billie Eilish. Of course, we try to follow the trends, not only in metal, but in general.

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

Take care of yourself and your family, listen to more good music and, of course, the new Alkonost album! \m/

 

 http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Alkonost/Salamander's Gift/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Alkonost  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  folk  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Salamander's  Gift".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clear  singing  is  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  stlye.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  briefly  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  throughout  all  of  the  songs.

  Alkonost  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover  the  different  faces  of  fire  with  some  inspiration  from  Slavic  Paganism  and  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  Alkonost  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Искра"  "Оберег"  "Северное  сияние"  and  "Маяк".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.youtube.com/antalkonost

https://www.facebook.com/alkonostband/
https://www.instagram.com/alkonost_official/
https://t.me/alkonost
https://www.alkonost.ru/
https://alkonostrussia.bandcamp.com/album/--17

Deimhal/The Diabolical Liberation/2024 EP Review

 

  Deimhal  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "The  Diabolical  liberation".

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  also  introducing  symphonic  elements  onto  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  operatic  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  aggressive  yet  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.  clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  classical  gutiars.

  On  this  recording  Deimhal  remain  true  to  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  that  they h ad  established  on  their  previous  release,  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  sin  and  diabolical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Deimhal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "The  Flesh  Words  Of  Sin".  8  out  of  10.

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

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

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YluMkoNrxPDj6YM3FvkvW

bandcamp: https://deimhal.bandcamp.com    

Forsaken Rite/The Forgotten West/2024 EP Review

 

  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  band  from  Edmonton,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "The  Forgotten  West"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Folk  instruments  and  symphonic  elements  start  off  the  ep  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  while  a  lot  of  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  a  very  medieval  atmosphere  at  times  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Forsaken  Rite  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk  and  symphonic  metal  and  mixes  it  with  the  heaviness  of  black  and  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ancient  lore  and  heroic  feats.

  In  my  opinion  Forsaken  Rite  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Forgotten  West"  and  "Call  To  War".  8  out  of  10.

   Facebook.com/ForsakenRite | Instagram.com/forsaken_rite

yric Video - https://youtu.be/o8qp-l83nAI​

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4a3a8zS  

Misanthropia/Envy The Dead/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Netherlands's  Misanthropia  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  moves  away  from  the  symphonic  elements  of  previous  releases  and  goes  for  more  of  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Envy  The  Dead"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  horror  orientated  soundtrack  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  clean  playing  and  keyboards  onto  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  faster  parts  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffs  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  covering  horror,  necromancy  and  Jack  The  Ripper  and  other  historical stories.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Misanthropia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Malediction  And  Laughter"  "Maze  Of  Madness"  and  "A  Deadly  Embrace,  A  Sinister  Grace".  8  out  of  10.

  misanthropia-official.nl/web

www.facebook.com/666misanthropia
www.instagram.com/misanthropiaholland
www.youtube.com/@misanthropiaofficial4167

Spotify: MisanthropiaSpotify