Starscourge Interview

 

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

Zul: Currently, we are awaiting for the reception that the album will receive upon release. I have already commenced with some songwriting concepts for new tracks. Mithun: As Zul mentioned, we are curious as to how the record will be perceived. Some lyrical ideas already exists for the upcoming songs. 

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

Zul: Regarding musical direction we decided on an epic Blackened Death concept, with emphasizing melody and a cinematic scope. We also wanted to encapsulate a classic Metal vibe. I began writing the tracks that were not bound to specific genre rules and limitations, and went along the path of the various riffs and melodies, concluding in each song’s completion. Mithun: I aimed to do justice to the fantastic riffs and melodies that Zul had concocted, and opted for a theatrical and diversified vocal approach. Each track had to feel different and adhere to the various lyrical themes.

 3.Both of the members are also in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Starscourge', that you have not been able to do with your other groups? 

Mithun: When Zul and I started discussing this venture, I was playing in the punk band, Nedtur. I hadn’t involved in anything within Metal since 2020, and naturally I was drawn back to my roots. We both wanted to do something different from what we had previously played in our various projects. 

4.Your lyrics cover the Elden Ring, dark fantasy and mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics? 

Mithun: Well, before Silent Images disbanded, we were in the process of a Bloodbornethemed concept album. I have always sought to lyrically compose something based off FromSoftware’s titles, and Elden Ring released at the perfect opportune moment.

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

Zul: Mithun and I started talking about starting the band and after planning out the musical and conceptual aspect we started brainstorming potential names. Eventually we decided on Starscourge. Mithun: Starscourge is the title of one of Elden Ring’s prominent characters, General Radahn also known as Starscourge Radahn during his boss fight. 

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

 Zul: Seven Kings Productions handled the artwork for all the singles as well as the album cover, and we attained permission from Maciej Wituski to utilize his excellent rendition

7.The band members live in Sweden and Singapore, what impact does the long distance in between members have on the musical style that you play? 

Zul: It would have been great if we could jam and rehearse together. Thankfully, the internet has provided a excellent medium for communication. Mithun: Indeed, Whatsapp has been a great friend. I think I correspond with Zul more than I do with my own family. Haha!

 8.On the album you also did a 'Slayer' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

 Mithun: I’ve never been too much of a Slayer or Thrash fan to be honest. I do enjoy Reign in Blood, Seasons of the Abyss and Hell Awaits. When Zul sent over this rearranged version I thoroughly enjoyed the new atmosphere and increased melodies, and went about throwing in more Thrashy vocals. We gave it the Starscourge treatment! 

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

 Zul: We are keeping our options open. It would be great to license out these tracks for physical releases. Mithun: It all depends on the deal and the possibilities at the day’s end. 

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

 Zul: It is still too early to gauge since the album has yet to launch, but we have had a decent amount of support from the singles. 

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that both of the band members are a part of?

 Zul: We both play in Chaos Imperium, a Black Metal project that I started a few years ago before I roped in Mithun this year. I am still part of Death Metal act Oshiego, and I have a few other projects underway. Mithun: Apart from Chaos Imperium, I sing with Avantgarde/Experimental Black Metal act Andharu, who’re also recording our debut as we speak. 

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

 Zul: Depending on the album’s response, we would be honoured to play live. Regardless, I’m already brewing up some new material for the next record. Mithun: The live stage would be fantastic, but we are very eager to continue making more music. 

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

 Mithun: Classic Metal will always be there, though I’ve listened to lots of epic scores as well. This year’s favourites are quite the strange bag - Afsky, Team Anarchy, Rudra, KLPS, Metaphor: Refantazio’s soundtrack, Sleep Theory, Alice Cooper, Bloody Valkyria, Nemophilia, Katla 

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

Mithun: Thank you for this interview, and for the lovely review as well. We should keep in touch! 

https://www.facebook.com/Official.Starscourge/
https://www.instagram.com/starscourge.official/

Morast/Fentanyl/Van Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Morast  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Fentanyl"  which  will  be  released  in  2025  by  Van  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  one  song  also  introduces  clear  vocals  onto  the  album.  Spoken  words  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Morast  goes  for  more  of  a  slow  sludge  and  doom  metal  style  which  also  mixes  in  the  aggression  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  grief,  loss  and  the  abyss  of  emotional  pain.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Morast  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Furor  And  Ecstasy"  and  "On  Pyre".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/Fy8wByYIowI  

Lamentari 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?

Since the release of Ex Umbra In Lucem, we've allowed ourselves a well-deserved break while keeping the creative fires burning. To celebrate the release, we undertook a headlining tour around Denmark with Xenoblight and Beltez, performing the album in its entirety —an experience that finally cemented the release.

 

2.Recently you have released your first full length,  musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

 

With every release, we develop our sound in new areas. Thinking of your question here, we're reminded of how the album is aptly named Ex Umbra In Lucem, meaning from shadow into light, since this album both dwells in new areas of aggression (shadow) and exaltation (light).

In terms of aggression, the sound is more compact than on previous releases – Aiming to increasingly build climaxes upon climaxes, making the album reasonably saturated. In contrast, the album also features our first ballad, Dolorum Memoria, our softest song to date, starting from a solemn whisper crescendoing into a neoclassical build.

 

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

With Ex Umbra In Lucem, we dived down a hole we hadn't been before. We knew I needed to do something different.

On the previous releases, every song stood alone, but we wanted this album to be coherent. A backstory for LAMENTARI was created and found its way into the lyrics.

The whole album centers around an individual who conducts a ritual and becomes attached to an entity that essentially takes over him.

This whole ordeal plays out in a storyline throughout the album. 

 

 

4.I know that the bands name means 'a passionate expression of grief and sorrow' in Latin, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

 

Our musical style is a true witch's brew of many elements, and the word lamentari came to us through classical music. The term "lament" is commonly used in Italian operas, often as a title for a climactic part of the story where the main character sings an aria expressing deep-felt grief and sorrow.

Dido's Lament by Henry Purcell comes to mind here, which is the concluding aria to the opera "Dido and Aeneas" based on the Roman Legend of Aenas. After a story of betrayal, Dido is distraught and ends her story by singing her song of lament before stabbing herself to death on a funeral pyre. 

The poetic nature of this word and its link to the dramatic subtext of Roman Legends and operatic grandeur have inspired some of the neo-classical musical styles in LAMENTARI. In addition, "Dido's Lament" is known for having an iconic stepwise descending bassline, and in line with this, many of our neo-classical chord progressions incorporate stepwise motion either in the bassline or chordal material.

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

Seeking inspiration, we were captivated by the look of oxidized copper. It's a straightforward yet evocative design that tells a story.

This aesthetic embodies the passage of time, a key element in LAMENTARI.

We wanted to delve into its backstory and challenge ourselves to explore the deeper world we are creating.

 

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

Since our first show in 2020, we've had quite a few "Holy shit!"-moments, but three very memorable ones come to mind. We visited the holy ground at Wacken when we played at their W:E:T stage in 2022. It was midday during the hottest day of the year, and adding some extra hellfire heat to that crowd was a blessing.

Our performance at Copenhell, Denmark, in 2023 has been our biggest performance so far. In the dark midnight hours, we lit the stage with pyrotechnics and invited a full choir and conductor to play on stage. Watching the crowd that night was like witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Germany and at Wacken, it's not permitted to start a wall of death, but in Denmark, it's allowed, and that night, we got to see our lead singer, Daniel, part of the Red Sea of people in the audience.

Witnessing these shows from the stage, we're tempted to describe them similarly to a ritual mass. There's a solemn feeling in the air when we start. There's incense in the air, and walking up on the stage is like walking towards the sacrificial altar. Few words are spoken except for the songs and moments of Daniel addressing the crowd in an almost religious fervor.

 

Another show that we'll remember for a long time is from a few weeks ago at Hotel Cecil in Copenhagen. The crowd that night was particularly enthused with fervor, and the room had a thick sense of awe. We're grateful for that

 

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

Yes. Now, after playing the album in full at the Ex Umbra In Lucem Tour, we will keep some of the songs on the set list for the upcoming shows in Copenhagen this summer.

 

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

We have received interest from labels and have discussed offers from a few. Given the right deal, a label could be a natural next step for us on this path of developing our productions—both live and in the studio. Labels come in many shapes and sizes, so it's important that we find the right collaborator for this. Until that's established, we're comfortable simply self-releasing all our music.

 

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

Since the release of our first EP, Missa Pro Defunctis, we've been amazed by the outpouring of positive feedback from the symphonic black metal world. We've found a keen audience, especially among fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dimmu Borgir, and even the old synth-heavy Emperor.

LAMENTARI is not for everyone. Although the black metal tree has spread its roots into many directions, catalyzing many new fusions and sub-genres, it's also a genre that hosts fans who can be very particular about their likes and dislikes and what they deem authentic and in-authentic. Although I appreciate bands that keep a straight lineage back to the first or second wave of Norwegian black metal, it's clear that LAMENTARI is manifested to do something different. We're here to grow the roots into new soil and grow from sources that fertilize death metal, eighties rock, and classical music.

The worldwide positive reception for our type of symphonic black metal has been humbling.

 

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or  musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Daniel:

He Who Saw The Abyss is a side project getting ready to release an EP. We are looking forward to playing a few shows before the year is over.

Jamie:

Lysbaerer is a project Thomas and I started in the fall of 2021. It's a sort of Atmospheric Black Metal/Post-Black band, about our feelings and stories similar to our own.

We're currently gearing up to record an EP and play our first couple of shows, with Michael from LAMENTARI as one of our live members.

Lysbaerer was a catalyst for me joining LAMENTARI, as writing the first couple of tracks made Thomas ask me to play bass for LAMENTARI.

Furthermore, Michael is performing in Mother Of All, a progressive metal band featuring members from Afsky, Chaoswave, Timechild, and Withering Surface. They recently released their latest album, "Global Parasitic Leviathan."

 

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

Musically, we wish to develop our style even further. The goal here would be to retain the aggressive edge while making the songs even more dynamic, to codify the classical and cinematic storytelling in them.

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

It's hard to catalog our influences since they're ever-changing and varied. Because the muse of inspiration comes and goes in the vortex of everyday life, the origin of the catalytic spark may easily be forgotten. LAMENTARI is a witch's brew of many styles, and we're standing on the shoulders of black metal, death metal, film scores, neoclassical, and baroque. We're listening to all the music we like, and that can be cast across a wide horizon—from Aqua to extreme metal. 

 

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

We'd like to thank you for your questions and extend our gratitude to any reader who has been curious enough to read this interview. Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/lamentari  
https://www.instagram.com/lamentari_band/  
https://cult-of-lamentari.bandcamp.com  
https://hyperfollow.com/lamentari 

Hysteria Interview

 

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

1- Hysteria is a Lyon-based Death/Black quartet formed in 1996. We have 2 EPs + 3 LPs under our belt, and we've just released our 6th misdeed titled "HERETIC, SADISTIC AND SEXUAL ECSTASY..." on Adipocères records. This new album consists of 9 tracks and apparently, according to feedback and initial reactions, it's the album of consecration. We hope that with the release of this opus, we can achieve the recognition we've always hoped for.

2.In 2024 you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2- Hysteria's musical evolution didn't happen overnight; we've been playing together for almost 30 years now. We've been both actors and fans of extreme metal since our adolescence. The metal scene evolves, and unconsciously, I think we absorb that, we change, we're influenced by what we listen to while still maintaining and evolving our own style. That's what I think makes us unique because if you listen to our discography, you'll realize that no album is alike, but you always find the Hysteria touch. This new opus has more Black metal tones than in the past. It's a logical continuation from its predecessor.

3.This is also your first release since 2019, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

3- We had dates planned to promote our EP that was just released: "From the abyss… to the flesh," but the pandemic halted our momentum. Unlike almost all other bands, I don't think this period was particularly productive musically for Hysteria. Sure, we started composing our new album, but the process was slow. Because of the distance between us and travel restrictions during this time, I'd say we spent the little time we could see each other celebrating because we were so happy to be together again.

We're not professionals, so we don't have any pressure in that regard; it's not our job, it's a genuine passion. We don't force things; we're a group of friends above all. But at some point, you have to get back into it, and that's what we've done since then!

We also made appearances at some events because we really missed the stage. We played at MUSCADEATH again; our first appearance was over 15 years ago, and it was really great. That festival is awesome! We also played at the Mennecy Festival right in the middle of recording "Heretic...". We were able to start testing some new tracks live in the process!

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

4- The lyrics are written by myself (Xavier: drummer). It's a mixture of horrifying, sexual, unhealthy tales, fantasies, fictionalized personal experiences... A sort of psychoanalysis, an outlet allowing me to exorcise my demons by feeding off my malaise. A narrative of what this world in perdition has to offer us. I think we seek to shock through our lyrics, our visuals, and also our music. The daily censorship through these modes of thinking, these emerging ideological currents, pushes us precisely to spit out our venom! We don't have any particular message to convey... It's just a statement of fact; by reading the lyrics, I think the reader can relate to certain experiences. A line like "she who spits the Venom" speaks of a person I met who left traces and caused torment in my life.

The topics addressed in this opus may be more contemporary and may denounce more things than in the past. They're also more direct and less verbose than in the past, to facilitate the placement of the lyrics on the music.

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

5- Nothing special! We were teenagers and looking for a name; we grabbed a dictionary and stumbled upon it! If we had to do it again, we would change it! You google "Hysteria," you come across Def Leppard's album, Muse's song and the French band Mass Hysteria! It's going to be difficult to be more renowned than these three!

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

6- We asked Seth Siro Anton who had already created 2 covers, a mutilated woman on a cross with tentacles entwining her. We also wanted him to be influenced by the title, which is quite evocative, and that's the final result! Our best cover to date! We made some great t-shirts, jackets, sweaters... in color! The merchandising, the digipack, and the vinyl are magnificent!

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?

7- The best memory we have, I think, was playing with Dissection during their tour to promote "Reinkaos," the only and last one! We put on a great performance that night, and meeting Jon Nodtveidt, the legend of Swedish black metal, was an honor for us! We were all still fans of Dissection! For a little story, we had filmed our show and Dissection's, and the tour manager made us erase the tapes of Dissection's show!

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

8- We just had our release party where we played the new album in its entirety plus some bonuses. We're playing in June at the Lions Metal Fest, but fate has struck us because our lead guitarist Jérôme just had a skiing accident and has injuries that will render him unavailable for a while. Otherwise, we will probably play at a festival this summer as the opening act for a renowned band we love; we're keeping our fingers crossed for that to happen. Otherwise, the real dates will probably come in September when Jérôme is recovered

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

9- I'll respond exactly with a comment from a recent review we had! "Once the surprise has worn off, Hysteria’s stylistic shift remains very confident. From a massive Brutal Death that I described as a "steamroller" a few months ago, the band now offers us a melodious, impressive Black/Death that bewitches us in an instant."

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

10- We don't know! We'll go wherever the wind takes us! There's so much to do and so little time! We'll first digest this album and promote it as it should be! After that, in 2026, we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary, so there will certainly be a follow-up to Heretic!

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

11- No, I don't really think so! We don't practice that kind of belief.

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

12- Thank you for these great questions! Sorry for the delay, but the album is a huge success, and there are a lot of demands to answer. To the readers, go give a listen to our latest album; apparently, it's "transcendent" according to our fans and the reviews!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfIP0Amzu8k

Sarcasm/Mourninghoul/Hammerheart Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sarcasm  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Morninghoul"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Hammerheart  Records.

  A  very  fast,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  emtal  elements  as  well  as  all  of t he  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards  as  well a s  the  album  also  having  its  brutal  moments,  operatic  female  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly

  On  this  recordingf  Sarcasm  gets  a  lot  more  diverse  with  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  based  upon  a  two-minded  ghoul  and  it's  journey  through  its  miserable  existence  upon  Earth  and  the  abyss.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sarcasm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'As  Northern  Gates  Open"  "Dying  Embers  On  Solitude"  and  "Absence  From  Reality".  8  out  of  10.

   https://youtu.be/hWGgoWAkoXk

https://sarcasm.lnk.to/mourninghoul

https://www.facebook.com/sarcasmsweden

http://sarcasmsweden.se  .

Hierophant/Gateway To The Abyss/Dusktone Records/2024 Full length Review

 

  Hierophant  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  playing  more  of  a  mixture  of  blackened  death  and  sludge  metal  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  a  blackened  death  metal  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Gateway  To  The  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Dusktone  Records.

   A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  brutal  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard  and  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of the  riffing.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  90's  style  along  with  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes  and  most  of t he  album  focuses  on  a  brutal  direction,  all  of the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  last  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   

  On  this  recording  Hierophant  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  dark,  brutal  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Anti  Religion  and  Misanthropy  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hierophant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeds  Of  Vengeance"  and  "Nemesis  of  thy  Mortals".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/HIEROPHANTKVLT

https://www.instagram.com/hierophantofficial/

https://hierophant.bandcamp.com/ 

Where The Children Play/Poems From The Solemn Black/2023 Full Length Review

 

   Where  The  Children  Play  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from t he  united  States  and  France  that  plays  an  atmospheric  and  symphonic  mixture  of  blackened  death  metal  and  deathcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Poems  From  The  Solemn  Black".

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  symphonic  sounding  keyboards  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Elements  of  deathcore  can  also  be  heard  in t he  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Murder  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Where  The  Children  Play  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  deathcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Great  Abyss  In  The  Sky"  "Wrath  Of  The  Dead"  A  Demons  Lament"  and  "The  Sorrowful  Hymn".  8 out  of  10.

  https://wherethechildrenplay.bandcamp.com/track/a-church-a-slaughterhouse  .

Executus/The Black Thrones of Chaos Abandoned/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Executus  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "The  Black  Thrones  Of  Chaos  Abandoned".

  Clean  playing  and  keyboards  start  off  the  album before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  thrash  emtal  elements  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  The  album  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  traditional  metal  at  times  along  with  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  singing  onto  the  album,  one  track  is  also  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction  and  cosmic  horror  themes  with  some  inspiration  from  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft.  

  In  my  opinion  Executus  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  " The  Lurker  At  The  Threshold"  "Behold!  A  Bloodstained  Sky"  "Invocation  of  the  Abyss"  and  "The  Worlds  Grave".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/au/album/escape-reality-ep/1272954327

https://executus.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/executus

https://www.instagram.com/executus.adelaide/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lLqBRUSaXXr0sUb8Rx5Gl

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXabWXEpLIupak9BuFnVVCg   

  

Raven Wundis Interview

 

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

The solo project was conceived to pave the way for a more diverse and personal musical exploration, having the freedom to create art without the boundaries of anything or anyone. Somehow, it liberates myself from the limitation of a band setup and gives me a fresh perspective.

2.So far you have released 2 full lengths, musically how do they both differ from each other?

In actuality, I have released just one concept album comprised of 7 previously released singles, chapters if I may say. The third chapter “A Glimpse of Being” is a 35-minute epic track, which some streaming platforms see as a full length or an EP. So it may seem that I have released to separate full lengths  but it’s actually just one. The 7 seven chapters have their own story to tell and has their own identity but all are connected.

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

“In Shadows Summons Divinity” is a 1 hour and 27 minutes long concept album which took 3 years to complete. The story is about an ancient god named Orhyd, his creations, his doubts, his failures and triumphs. It began in darkness and his journey towards the formation of the celestial sphere, eventually leading to the evolution of existence, its struggles, its expansive resilience, the vicious cycle of death and rebirth, creation and destruction. In its conclusion, existence is fully developed yet Orhyd seem to doubt his creation if it is truly a gift or a curse. The lyrical content between chapters presents a chain in which the last word of a preceding chapter is also the beginning word of the next chapter, adding to the connection and binding of the concept tale. The whole album is a single track with the same title as the album title, comprised of 7 chapters.  I am extremely confident that I have done justice to the voices in my head with this release, they are actually not pissed

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Raven Wundis'/

Raven Wundis is an anagram of my real name and I am a confessed sucker for such. It somehow depicts the meaning of shadows shrouded in mystery, and it has the nice ring to it, don’t you think?

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

The artwork is a collage of concept and mysticism as well. It has the divine hands that represent Orhyd, his creation, the firmament and the abyss, the progessing time representing the evolution, existence and darkness

6.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I am open to working with other musicians. In fact, I am currently involved with 2 bands, Corporate Fiction and The Muted Squalls. Both are also from the Philippines but it is in the opposite side of the musical spectrum

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

Yes  I am curranty unsigned and am looking for a label that could help me put out a physical distribution. 3 record labels have shown interest but somehow financial terms seem to be a little confusing so I am still on the lookout for a label, perhaps you can point me to the right direction with this

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

So far so good, and they seem to appreciate the works that I have put out with this release. Pretty much a positive reception and I really appreciate it. It has been fun and humbling at the same time.

9.Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects?

Yup, with Corporate Fiction and The Muted Squals

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

The musical direction of the upcoming releases that I cannot divulge as of yet since I write as the creative machine begins spinning, when the savage itch needed to be taken cared of. Hopefully, by that time, I am able to find the appropriate label

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?

Opeth has been a huge influence. Also Bjork, Ne Obliviscaris, Death Spell Omega, The Ocean Colective, Pain of Salvation, The Church, The Cure, Depeche Mode. I practically listen to any music that tingles my ears, regardless of genre

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

A massive thanks to ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine for this opportunity. Continue showing support to original music and keep the fire burning by raising the horns!

Official Site: https://ravenwundis.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/raven.wundis.music

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ravenwundis/?hl=en

X formerly Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWundis

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4M8inNwbtLAvU5sIWvnhqR

BANDCAMP: https://ravenwundis.bandcamp.com/album/in-shadows-summons-divinity

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/raven-wundis/1511447052

Hudič/Into The Abyss/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Hudič  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  album  "Into  The  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  2024.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  faster  sections  of t he  songs  also  adding  in  some  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  thrash  metal  influences,  synths,  clean  playing  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  and  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  

  Hudič  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  melodic  black,  death,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and esoteric  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Hudič  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "When  The  Stars  Align"  "Born  Blind"  and  "Seven  Deadly  Sins".  8 out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/HudicBE/

Orkrist 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?

After releasing the new album (January 2023) we of course tried to promote it and played few gigs in Czech republic and Slovakia. There was one special concert in our hometown, just very recently (end of June) where we played on a small courtyard, so open air, old walls, and own sound production (little bit underground style) 😊

 

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

We have a typical footprint from the late 90’s – melodic black/doom metal, with keyboards, flute, female voice and male grunts, melodic or slow doom guitars. This is something what media is telling us is wrong – that we do not change ourselves. However I am not taking that so badly, you need to have a typical footprint (Iron Maiden has, it, AC/DC as well, ...) and evolve even. We try to bring always some small elements on top – in this case it was more acoustic guitar playing in parallel with the electric one, male clean voice in few songs and live (not much to be heard in the recording) we use a timpan (hit orchestral instrument) which is very rare. (also expensive 😊 )

3.The band was also broken yup for a few years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?

We have this question in almost every interview 😊. It was simply the destiny – me (as a composer) was empty of ideas, few band members started their own families or travelled abroad. We met together after 14 years, with having family life little bit stable and tried to put something together. Since the comeback (2018) we released 2 albums, what we did not expect. We somehow thought we will only play the old songs, as we have seen many people wishing our comeback, but we had luck there were ideas even for 2 albums. 

4.The lyrics and the band name comes from the writings of J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his writings and also do you have any interest in other fantasy authors?

Apologies if you got wrong information. Inspiration by Tolkien was with us in 2003 on our 2nd album „Grond“. The last album is inspired by old Slovak (our country) faerytales and castle legends. Do you know that Slovakia is the country with most of castles / ruins per one citizen? With that lot of old legends come and we try to use them in the lyrics. Normally these are stories about unhappy love, romantic topics, wizards, dragons, witches, prophecies, curses .... all the themes from the new album are captured on the album layout if you watch carefully.

The stories normally end sadly, therefore also the album name LUEA (Living Unhappily Ever After).

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

I touched this topic in the previous answer. It is a collage of all various tales and legends being used in the song lyrics. You will find an abandoned cursed castle, maid jumping from a cliff because ending her life due to an unhappy love, wizard calling a dragon, witches flying above the mountains and few others. In te part with the mountains we incorporated the highest hill of our country, which has a typical abyss seen on the first look.

We like the artwork much and it was created by a talented guy Joan Llopis Domenech.

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

We have mainly small underground concerts (70 – 250 people in the audience) and they have one thing in common – great atmosphere coming from the fans. We try to communicate with people and lead them to support us by clapping some rhythmical parts.

 

What is maybe unusual is ( I mentioned already earlier) – using  timpani, which is a great instrument – if visually or sound wise. 

 

It is not easy to set up the sound for it, therefore we rather use it for the open air concerts. For smaller or indoor events we have an alternative – a tom hidden in  piece of wood. People always ask us if that is real. It is.

 

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

Currently we have set a summer break. We are a small band, without label – it is not easy to get to festivals, speaking about some known ones. We can rely only on luck and friendship / support of some local promoters. Here we had a great opportunity to play as support of Eluveitie last year, the last band before they started. That was great, you do not have this kind of luck normally. (we had something similar long time ago when we played in front of Nightwish). If you are successful to get to some festival, band of our size, which is completely unknown normally gets playtime very early when not much people are in.

Our dream was to get to some bigger festivals in Germany, however not successful there. Nevermind, we know that music is business as well. 

8.Currently the band is unsigned but has worked with a label in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future or do you prefer to be independent?

We released our last 2 albums by ourselves. There are pros and cons to be with some label.

Pros – much better promotion, distribution, chance to get to better concerts.

Cons – you are somehow bound, and we do not prefer that. In the current situation we have complete freedom (but of course losing the pros)

We do our music from heart, it is not our money income (rather money absorber 😊 ).

I am not saying label yes or no, but feeling fine where we are.

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

We are a small band from a country which is not that known on the worldwide metal map. We have a small, but strong and heartful fan base in our country. If I take a look where did we send our albums, then it is Czech republic, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, UK, US, Japan, Russia, .... But very small quantities – every country to be counted on fingers of one hand.

Still, it is very hard to get successful nowadays. There are so many bands, so much competition. Some of them are more stronger virtually (reactions on facebook, views on youtube), but what we learned from smaller bands – strong virtul presence does not mean autoamtically success.

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

Nobody knows. Ideas are coming as they are. There is no band with never ending source of ideas – everybody will start to repeat themselves. Here is the advantage to be not contracted with a label and feel the pressure to produce even being not convinced about well deserved result. 

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

Every of us liks something different. Schwarzwald (guitarist) likes more power bands like Statovarius, Evergrey, Kabi (bass guitar) likes Finntroll, XIII, stoleti, Rob (drums) some old Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth and of course some drum strong bands like Behemoth, Lydia (female voice, flute) likes not only metal. Myself, Crom (keyboards, male vox) loves bands from mid of 90’s – Summoning, Bal Sagoth, Therion, Hecate Enthroned, .... in the last year I listen much to old friend band from Germany – Ancient Ceremony.

 

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

What else I can do instead of – thanking you (for space for our band, and interest) and to everybody who reads this. If we are new to you and you like atmospheric melodic metal music (with emotions, little bit medieval/folk touch – flute, with keyboards, beauty and the beast vocal style, ...) drop some minutes to listen to us where you can find us online.

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

Efflore Interview

 

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

We are Efflore, a metal band from Taiwan. Our early songs were inspired by personal growth experiences, or horror myths (ex: H.P. Lovecraft). After the change of band members, the current song style is more focused on Taiwan's local culture, such as some Taiwanese history, ghost stories, horror legends...etc.

Every live performance of the band is carefully arranged, and each member also has his own character setting. In the setting, we are all messengers from the abyss, and we also use this identity setting to interact with the fans of the band.  And there will be some black humor and black witty plots.

2.So far you have released a couple of ep's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

We have released 2 EPs, 1 single and 1 collaboration single with Laang so far.

Our past works such as the EP "Abyss" were written with a single guitar structure, the rhythm guitar was added at the end. The synthesizer sound effects accounted for a high proportion of the music structure, and the recording aspect was relatively simple.

For the music of the new EP <Haunted Island >, we have greatly reduced the proportion of synthesizer sound effects, which are only used for the final embellishment. We used the thinking logic of two guitars to construct the music from the beginning, and selected some special scales in the arrangement. Of course, we also paid more attention to the quality of recording and mixing.

3.The lyrics on the new ep cover cover ghost stories, horror legends and urban legends from your home country of Taiwan, can you tell us a little bit more about the stories you have covered lyrically with the new release?

We have selected some popular stories in Taiwan, such as "Wraith in the old Well", tells the story of a woman who crossed the sea from China to Taiwan in search of her husband hundreds of years ago. She was betrayed and killed by her husband, and her body was thrown into a well. In the end, she turned into a spirit of resentment, climbed out of the well and take terrible revenge on her husband.

Another story, “Spirits of the Green Lake”. It is believed that the soul of a drowned person has no rest and is trapped in the water. They will turn into water ghosts and wander in the water until they find another human being and trick them into the water to drown them, so that the water ghosts can rest in peace and get out of the water. Taiwan's famous green water lake "Bitan" has countless people drowning in it every year. Over time, people believe that there are terrible water ghosts living in the green lake.

4.The main religions in Taiwan are Chine Taoism and Indian Buddhism, what roles do these religions play in your songwriting?

In Taiwan's religious view, there is no distinction between good and evil forces, and hell is also a place under the jurisdiction of heaven. The gods who manage hell are more like wardens sent by heaven than devils. Therefore, most of the ghosts described in the EP are souls who stay in the world because of hatred and do not want to go to heaven for trial, or evil monsters who practice sorcery.

We focus more on the state of mind and stories of these evil spirits, telling everyone that they are scary and at the same time telling some of their own thoughts and the reasons why they became like this.

5.On the first ep you also covered the Cthulhu Mythos, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the writings of H.P Lovecraft?

In the first EP, we didn't have the main axis of the whole work, we just wanted to tell scary things. So under the influence of the video games "Bloodborne" and "World of Warcraft", we studied H.P. Lovecraft.

After knowing the horror and vastness of the world of Cthulhu mythology, we even studied the language of the ancient gods, and used grammar to create some lyrics and put them into songs.

Up to now, we are still deeply fascinated by the world of Cthulhu mythology, loving the trembling unknown fear.

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

In the early days of the band, people thought about what the music of the black metal genre would look like when translated into images. And we all thought of the word "wall cancer" in Mandarin, which is a bit like the painted walls are mottled and moldy due to factors such as moisture.

Later, I found out that there is no word "wall cancer" in English, and a closer word is "Efflorescence", but "Efflorescence" has been used as the name of many bands, so we decided to take only the first few letters and change it to "Efflore". A word that is special but does not deviate from its original meaning.

Therefore, EFFLORE means "wall cancer", an irreversible weathering and moldy phenomenon of walls or buildings

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

We used a drawing method similar to Ukiyo-e.

The cover is the Tigress Witch, one of the legendary monster in Taiwan, which is also one of the songs in the album. The Tigress Witch in folklore is actually not as huge as in the painting, which belongs to the exaggerated style in Ukiyo-e, and also emphasized that tiger witches usually eat children.

The mountain forest in the blue background is a reference to the "Wangyou Forest" in Nantou, Taiwan. Due to past earthquake disasters, Wangyou Forest has created a group of dead trees that are rare in Taiwan. Some people think the forest is beautiful, and many people think that the forest is full of death.

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

Yes, the band has done a lot of live show in Taiwan since its establishment.

From the moment we put on the face makeup, we enter the role we set, performing on stage or interacting with fans. We will arrange different bridges for each performance, so that the audience can be more immersed in our world.

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

We found that fans of melodic black metal and symphonic black metal in Europe and America found our music very interesting, and some even called our music genre "Melodic Darkwave Synyh Black Metal".

People in Asia and elsewhere think our music is distinctly different from the melodic black metal of the West, a bit unorthodox, a bit experimental, but overall fun.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Since the band changed members, our main axis direction has become more clear. We believe that in two to three years we will continue to have several new singles and even full albums.

We are thinking about adding more Taiwanese percussion instruments to the songs in the future, and digging into more and deeper Taiwanese horror legends, such as the shaman belief legends of Taiwanese aborigines.

But in the near future, we will first concentrate on the promotion of the EP <Haunted Island >. We are also very much looking forward to the opportunity to perform in countries other than Taiwan.

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?

We were influenced by the early works of Taiwanese bands "Chthonic", "Anthelion", as well as "Dimmu Borgir", "Draconian", "Cradle of Filth".

Nowadays we've been listened a lot of thrash metal bands, like Dust Bolt, OverKill. Also, very immersed in the work of "The Great Old Ones".

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

It is a great honor to have the opportunity to participate in this interview. EP <Haunted Island > is our new attempt, and we are honored to have everyone's support. 

We will launch better works in the future, so stay tuned!

Band Email: effloretw@gmail.com

Instagram: @effloretw

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EffloreTW/

Bandcamp: effloretw.bandcamp.com/

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://youtube.com/channel/UChVFwy6ULNY5I21Xo7Kb94g

Abhorrent Expanse/Gateways To Resplendence/Amalgram Music/Lurker Bias/2022 Full length Review

 

  Abhorrent  Expanse  are  a  band  with  members  from  Minnesota  and  Illinois  that  plays  an  avant  garde  mixture  of  blackened  death,  funeral  doom  metal,  noise,  drone  and  free  jazz  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Gateways  To  Resplendence"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Amalgram  Music  and  Lurker  Bias.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  distorted  sounding  drones  can  also be  heard  at  times.  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  giving t he  album  more  of  a  primitive  edge  when  they  are  utilized.

  Harsh  noises  are  also  added  into  the  background  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing  as  well  as  the  home  made  percussion  also  giving  the  album  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.

  A  lot  of t he  clean  sections  also  show  an  influence  of  free  jazz  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  few  songs  also  introducing  organs,  synths  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album  and  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Abhorrent  Expanse  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  mixture  of  blackened  death,  funeral  doom  metal,  noise,  drone  and  free  jazz  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cloak  Of  Ancients"  "Gateways  To  Resplendence"  "Baleful  Reminders"  and  "Arcturian  Nano  Diamonds  From  The  Tranquil  Abyss".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/abhorrent_expanse

          

Shadu-Nar-Mattaru Interview

 

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

CLAY - It's a continuation of what we've been doing over the last 32 years - extreme metal.

CHRIS - There were some periods of inactivity with us during that time with a few efforts to get back at it and in 2019 all the planets aligned.

2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

CLAY - I put my heart and soul into this album and a little bit of my life, too.  This album is a natural progression from the eps.

CHRIS - As Clay put it, the album is a natural progression.  The main difference is some of the song writing elements i.e. structure, energy and whatnot.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover the writings of H.P Lovecraft and Weird Fiction, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these writings?

CLAY - All my life I've had an interest in weird fiction and Lovecraft, etc.  I have always loved the dark side so it is natural that I write about it.

CHRIS - Lovecraft and many other writers in that vein all deal with the unknown, metaphysics, occultism, which is interesting to write about and think about.  The unknown is very thought provoking in general.

4.You also have some satanic and occult themes in some of your lyrics, do you have an interest in Occultism?

CLAY - I write the so-called 'satanic' lyrics.  I am not a devil worshipper.  I am anti-establishment.  I hate organized religion.  Religion and satanism is fantasy to Shadu-Nar-Mattaru.  The occult is fictional as well.  My interests come from my inner self but are fictional as well.

CHRIS - I touched on that in the previous question.  Satanic lyrics are kind of an old metal thing.  It's nothing serious.  I'd say we touched on those themes more as a nod to the old days on this album.  I don't really see us elaborating further on it for future efforts, though.

5.Both of the band members where previously a part of 'Morbid Darkness', what was the decision behind splitting up your previous band and forming this newer project?

CHRIS - Back in 1996 when Morbid Darkness originally dissolved, we were both young and in the midst of our own separate problems.  Unfortunately, those problems affected the band and we had to call it quits.  Like I said earlier, our hiatus was a lengthy one, but because we each felt we were destined to make music together we eventually decided to make it happen again, back in early 2019.  It's been a constantly blazing fire ever since.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Shadu-Nar-Mattaru'?

CLAY - In English it means 'mountains of the abyss'.  That's the meaning.

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

CHRIS - The image is a photo originally created by Elti Meshau and was reworked to add even darker elements.  Basically, it represents the journey of one in the throes of sorrow.

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

CLAY - We have always been a duo and always will be a duo.  We will not corrupt ourselves with other members.  It has always been just the two of us.

CHRIS - Yeah, we've established a dynamic as a duo since the beginning.  We've no plans to expand the line-up in order to play shows or anything...we are a studio band, simple as that.

9.Since 2019 you also have released a great amount of ep's, do the band members spend a great amount of time, writing and creating music?

CLAY - Yes.  We are like a treadmill.  With Shadu the creativity is ever flowing.

CHRIS - We've got a really great system for creative process which allows for very prolific output.

10.On the album you've also done a Slaughter cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

CLAY - I first heard Slaughter in 1986.  They are a favourite.  I always wanted to be in a band like Slaughter so it is only natural that we cover Slaughter now.  In fact, this is the second time we have covered a Slaughter song in Shadu.

CHRIS - When we first heard the song on the 'Surrender or Die' demo, back in 1992, we both agreed that someday we would cover it.

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of underground?

CLAY - It has been okay, but it could be better.  The main thing is what it means to us.

CHRIS - There has been limited interaction with fans aside from locals who dig our stuff, but this is really a problem of limited exposure.  The small feedback we have received has been quite positive.

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

CHRIS - I've always got some other musical projects cooking in the background.  Shadu is the main focus, obviously, but I can say there may be a new Vhod album in the near future and few other smaller things.

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

CLAY - We are presently working on our epic 'Nocturnal Winter III' saga, then comes the new year and we're headed into the unknown.  All I can say is that it will be heavy as hell and it will be Shadu.

CHRIS - Yeah.  Basically, as it sits, we plan to do more eps and perhaps a second full length next fall.

14.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?

CLAY - With me, it's mainly still what I've been listening to for the last 35-40 years.  I haven't changed much since the 80s.  Those days influence me and that's what I'm still listening to nowadays.

CHRIS - Obviously I'm not going to list them all, but back in the day, all the good metal of the 80s and early 90s was key - a few musicians that really got me going were Mike Scaccia of Rigor Mortis and Mantas of Venom...Quorthon, too.  These days hold just as many influences for me personally.  Bands such as Revocation, Watain, Humanity's Last Breath, Bulletbelt, Rosy Finch...these are heavy influences for me.

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

CLAY - I really appreciate the interview and the support and I thank anyone out there who has checked out Shadu.  Thanks a million and stay heavy.

CHRIS - Yeah, we appreciate it and look out for new Shadu stuff real fucking soon.  Cheers!

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