ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Solomonic Demons/Firestorm/Merdumgiriz/2015 CD Review

Solomonic Demons are a solo project from New Jersey that plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of his 2015 album "Firestorm" which was released by Merdumgiriz.

A very heavy thrash influenced sound starts off the album along with some high pitched black metal screams and after awhile melodies are added onto the recording and the solos and leads use a great amount of melody while also adding in a touch of traditional metal and as the album progresses growls make their presence known.

Most of the riffs are mid paced and when the music speeds up a small amount of blast beats can be heard and the music mixes in a great mixture of 80's and 90's extreme metal influences from a variety of many genres and the whole album remains true to a very heavy and retro musical direction while the production updates the music for modern times and melodic vocals are added onto the last track.

Solomonic Demons plays a musical style that takes heavy, thrash, death and melodic black metal and mixes them together to create a musical style of his own, the production sounds professional while the lyrics cover Goetia, Evil, Witchery, Magick and Demons themes.

In my opinion Solomonic Demons are a very great mixture of heavy, thrash, death and melodic black metal, you should check out this solo project. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Firestorm" "72 Spirits" and "Brotherhood Warfare". 8 out of 10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Solomonic-Demons-150861851599182/?fref=ts
Bandcamp: https://solomonicdemons.bandcamp.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Grimorium Verum/Relict/Symbol Of Domination Records/Cold Raw Records/2015 CD Review

Grimorium Verum are a band from Russia that plays a symphonic form of black metal and this is a review of their 2015 album "Relict" which was released as a joint effort between Symbol Of Domination Records and Cold Raw Records.

A very dark ambient keyboard sound starts off the album before going into more of an epic and symphonic direction and after the intro the music goes into a very fast black metal direction along with a great amount of blast beats and high pitched screams which they also mix in with the symphonic elements.

Throughout the recording there is a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and the music is more rooted in the 90's style of symphonic black metal and the riffs also get very melodic at times and as the album progresses deep death metal growls along with spoken word parts can be heard in certain sections of the recording and when solos and leads are finally added into the music they also enhance the melody that is present on the recording along with a touch of traditional metal and a couple of the tracks are long and epic in length and one song also brings in a few seconds of clean singing.

Grimorium Verum plays a style of symphonic black metal that is more closer to the mid 90's era and also brings back some of the blasphemy that has been missing in the genre for years, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Satanism, Occultism and Anti Christian themes.

In my opinion Grimorium Verum are a very great sounding symphonic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Rising Morning Star" "Night Burning Icons" "In Satan We Trust" and "Odium". 8 out of 10.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Blood Of The Wolf Interview

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

The band started in 2012 as a project of mine while I was playing guitar in Kommandant. We became a live band in 2013. We had a few member changes since then. As of right now the line-up is myself, Mike Koniglio, on guitar and vocals, Frank Garcia on guitar and vocals, Brandon Waszak on bass and Max Colunga on drums. We play blackened death metal with a lot of blasting and a heavy dose of melody.

2.So far you have released a demo, single and a full length, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?

I would describe it as blackened death metal with a lot of blasting and a lot of melody. I would say the writing style is akin to late 90’s/early 2000’s aggressive black metal. There is a lot of fast paced tremolo picking, dual guitar harmonies and melodies, and blast beats. Lots of blast beats.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Lyrics revolve around the ethos of warfare. Sometimes the lyrics describe the gore and brutality of war, but most of time they center on the philosophy of warfare and the ideal of completely destroying your enemy.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Blood Of The Wolf'?

It has no meaning. The inspiration came from watching a Nova documentary on the Viking sword. In that show they entertained one theory that the Vikings would grind the burnt bones of their ancestors, or enemies or animals they slew and use it to forge their swords. The bone made the steel stronger. The Vikings would also name their swords, often after animals like the bear or wolf, which would then give their sword that animal’s power.

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

We played a show with Incantation, Cardiac Arrest and Abysme at the Beat Kitchen here in Chicago. That was the best so far. Our live shows are relentless. We play the songs without stopping. There is very little talking. The audience gets bulldozed.

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

Not at this point. We are just rehearsing, getting tighter and writing new material.

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

We’re not looking for a label. We’re doing everything ourselves and that’s fine with us.

8.On the new album you had done a Marduk cover, what was the decision behind during your own version of one of their tracks?

Marduk is one of my favorite black metal bands and a huge influence on my songwriting. “With Satan and Victorious Weapons” is one of my favorite songs and I thought it would sound cool with low vocals.

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

So far it’s been all positive.

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?

Our drummer Max plays with Disinter. Frank plays guitar in Asphyxiator. Brandon and I only play in Blood of the Wolf. As for me, this is my sole musical pursuit. It’s the only thing I am interested in investing my free time in.

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?

I love Vader, Marduk, Belphegor, God Dethroned, and Infernal War. I would say those bands have had a great influence on my writing style. Currently I am really enjoying the new Temple of Baal album “Mysterium” and Malevolent Creation’s “Dead Man’s Path”.

12.How would you describe your views on Satanism and Occultism?

I have no interest in either.

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

None. Thank you for the interview!

Friday, November 13, 2015

Blood Of The Wolf/I: The Law Of Retaliation/2015 Full Length Review

Blood Of the Wolf are a band from Chicago, Illinois that plays a very brutal and melodic form of blackened death metal with a touch of thrash and this is a review of their self released 2015 album "I: The Law Of Retaliation".

War samples and battle samples start off the album before going into more of a heavy and melodic musical direction t hat also introduces guitar leads that also use a great amount of melody onto the recording and all of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them and after the intor the music goes into a very brutal blackened death metal direction.

Blast beats can be heard quite a bit during the faster sections of the music and the vocals use mostly death metal growls while high pitched black metal screams can also be heard at times and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and a lot of the solos and leads bring in a 90's style of melodic death metal and as the album progresses clean playing can also be heard in certain sections of the recording and some of the heavier riffs also bring in thrash influences and they close the album with a cover of Marduk's "With Satan And Victorious Weapons".

Blood of The Wolf plays a musical style that takes the brutal and melodic styles of death emtal and mixes it in with a great amount of black metal influences and a touch of thrash to create a style of their own, the production sounds very professional for being a self released recording while the lyrics cover war, darkness and Satanism themes.

In my opinion Blood Of the Wolf are a very great sounding melodic and brutal blackened death metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "With iron Weapons And Will" "The Darkness Of Chaos" "Of Strength And Valor" and "With Satan And Victorious Weapons". 8 out of 10.

www.facebook.com/bloodofthewolfmusic

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Thulnar/Nightfall In Theros/2015 EP Review

Thulnar are a band that plays an epic form of fantasy metal that is a mixture of symphonic black and folk metal and this is a review of their self released 2015 ep "Nightfall In Theros".

A very epic and symphonic metal sound starts off the ep along with melodic guitar leads that are also a very huge part of the recording and the vocals are high pitched black metal screams and you can hear blast beats in the faster sections of the music and all of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them.

Operatic female and male vocals can be heard in certain sections of the recording while also adding in a touch of power metal and there is also a brief use of death metal growls and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts along with the riffs incorporating a great amount of melody.

Thulnar plays a musical style that takes symphonic black metal and folk metal and mixes it with a touch of death and power metal to create a style of t heir own, the production sounds very professional for being a self released recording while the lyrics cover fantasy themes.

In my opinion Thulnar are a very great sounding mixture of symphonic black and folk metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACK "City Of the Golden Halls". 8 out of 10.

https://thulnar.bandcamp.com/releases

Monday, November 9, 2015

Zardens/Blackness Unfolds/Satanath Records/Death Portal Studio/2015 CD Review

Zardens are a band from Belgium that plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of their 2015 album "Blackness Unfolds" which was released as a joint effort between Satanath Records and Death Portal Studio.

Clean guitar playing starts off the album and invokes a very dark atmosphere before adding in melodic guitar leads that start becoming a very huge part of the recording and spoken word parts can also be heard at times when the music starts getting heavier you can hear a lot of melodies and elements of thrash.

Vocals are mostly grim black metal screams and you can also hear a death metal influence in the music while the fast parts also use a great amount of blast beats and you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on the recording along with a few growls and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and the music goes back to the 80's styles of melodic Swedish black and death metal and clean playing also makes a return in certain sections of the recording and they close the album with an instrumental track.

Zardens plays a musical style that goes back to the more melodic sides of the 90's black and death metal genres and also add in a touch of thrash and some modern blackened death metal elements to create a style of their own, the production sounds very powerful while the lyrics cover obsession with death and the dark side of human nature.

In my opinion Zardens are a very great sounding melodic 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 "The Berserker" "Slave To The Moon" "Lifeblood" and "Among The Dead". 8 out of 10.

Selvans Interview

Answers by Selvans Haruspex

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Selvans is the celebration of Italic folklore and cults - through lyrics, music and aesthetics -inspired by the different traditions of our nation.

2.So far you have released a single, ep and a full length how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on those recordings?
It’s atmospheric black metal with archaic and modern Italic 'folk' instruments; the lyrics – in italian, english but also middle Italy dialect and latin – are about Italian history, legends and fables from different time periods and different points of view.

3.Your lyrics cover the different ethnic groups from Italy that dwelt there before in the past, can you tell us a little bit more about this concept?
I don't consider it a concept album: as I’ve already said, I am simply attracted by 'the other side of the coin' so I chose not to tell only facts about my region or my town, by the point of view of my ancestors possibly brave and pagan (as is fashionable). I like to study topics that interessed me so I have written songs with lyrics about the mount Soracte or the river Clitunno which are kilometers far away from me, simply documenting about their role in the ancient times and visiting them to breathe that atmosphere imagining tales and facts about braves and cowards that dwelt there before me.

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the meaning behind the masks?
They are inspired by the Hirpi Sorani myth, an etruscan legend: the priests devoted to the god Soranus could turn into wolves, probably because they were cursed. A track on the album is also named Hirpi Sorani, you can find the lyrics on our website www.templeofselvans.com

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Selvans'?
Selvans or Silvanus is an ancient divinity who represents nature, and particularly the woods are the perfect scenario for our stories: such mysterious and unchanged places are the only real thread among our songs.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you choose to remain a duo?
We’ll remain a duo.

7.At one time both of the members where in Draugr, is this band a continuation of your previous group?
No, it has nothing to do with that project. I gave a lot to Draugr because this is the way I am, but what I now do with Selvans is what I feel I should have done from the beginning.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
Astonishing. We are very surprised by the how the foreign zines and fans are welcoming ‘Lupercale’...this is probably because even if the themes and melodies are Italian, the general atmosphere is universal.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We’ll see in the future. All I can say is that some of the innovative elements you can hear in ‘Lupercalia’ will be developped in the next album.

10.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?
I listen to metal, rock, ambient, folk music and other kinds of music, that are apparently far from my works: electro, punk, italian and french songwriters, jazz...
About the influences I’d say Inchiuvatu and the eastern heathen black metal scene Nocturnal Mortum, Kroda, Negura Bunget...), but, as I told you, both Sethlans and I are influenced by everything we listen to.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Literature and literary essays (mostly historical and revisionist), sports.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for this interview! Greetings to the ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine readers...check our ‘Lupercalia’, you won’t regret it.