Noctem Interview

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

Beleth: Right now the band is writing the third album and playing on various shows and metal fests all over the state and European territory. At the moment everything seems that we are going to combine tours and periods of composition throughout 2012.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material and how it differs from previous releases?

Beleth: I think it sounds much more mature and appropriate for the band. It is more brutal and more approximated to the idea that the band has of music. For several years we always wanted to expose this material, but we were limited by our former label. Now is the time to do it.

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

Beleth: Oblivion is an album based on Mayan mythology. The Spanish conquest and the break between men and natural roots. We can't exploit only one theme in an album. We cover as much as possible and always giving a critical character.

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

Beleth: Noctem comes from the ancient Latin language. We chose this name because it reminded us of the most primitive instincts of man, including the fear of the dark.

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

Beleth: There are so many. Mainly enjoyed playing in festivals. I specially remember shows on our tour with Gorgoroth or the shows of the tour with Samael, Keep of Kalessin and Melechesh. We had really good times. I can describe it as dynamic and aggressive. We keep moving all the time and just after each show we are exhausted.

6. Do you have any plans to tour North America in the future?

Beleth: We received some good offers but I can not talk about it in this moment. I really hope to be there very soon.

7. The last album came out on Rising Records, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?

Beleth: Our manager is primarily concerned with these issues. We are pleased with the work done by Rising Records. Sometimes is difficult to find a record label to work hard and focus wholeheartedly in a band. So far no complaints.

8. On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by fans of black and death metal?

Beleth: I sincerely believe that Oblivion received a much better acceptance than Divinity. This time we had the opportunity to do whatever we wanted. Rising Records has not intervened in the slightest degree the process and this is noticed. We have drawn the worst shit we carry inside in a long time and we have spit it in the face to the world.

9. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time line-up?

Beleth: No. Mainly the musicians of this band are dedicated only to play here.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases.

Beleth: We will continue in the line that Oblivion marked. We do not want to break this job with a weird strange shit. We are really pleased with this work and we believe we can do much better in this line polishing and perfecting details this latest installment elevating it to a higher level of technical and brutality.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer material and also what are you listening to nowadays/

Beleth: Mainly I'm a listener of extreme metal. Black, Death, Grind ... I think we always have been influenced by bands like Belphegor, Dark funeral, Behemoth, Blood Bath, Decapitated, Deicide, Slayer and many more.

12. How would you describe your views on Occultism?

Beleth: As a set of knowledge and practices that seek to awaken dormant parts in man and master the secrets of nature. If you are a Christian you are an asshole and the occultim will be for you a synonym of Satanism. Fuck you social shit!

13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Beleth: Playing sports, beach, my business and my family. I have no time for much more really Noctem is a very big part of my life.

14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Beleth: A big hug to all the readers and U.S. Metal Heads. We hope to see you soon in the States fucking and destroying everything in the way we know it haha.

Thank you very much for your time has been a pleasure answering your questions brothers!


Let us know when you publish it!

Cheers.

Exo.

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Noctem/Oblivion/Rising Records/2011 CD Review

  Noctem are a band from Spain that plays a very heavy and brutal form of black metal that also combines brutal death and thrash metal influences into the music and this is a review of their 2011 album "Oblivion" which was released by Rising Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a lot of brutal sounding blast beats being thrown into the music as well as a brief use of shamanistic style tribal drumming being used, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them, as for the synths they are only used briefly and bring a very dark and atmospheric sound to them as well as an avant garde/experimental edge to the last song.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine the most brutal elements of black, thrash and death metal together with some dark sounding melodies and technical parts to create a sound of their own mixed in with a brief use of soft and clean playing, while the lead guitars are very technical and melodic sounding guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some deep death metal growls as well as the type of growling you would except from more mainstream bands, while the lyrics cover Mythology, Occultism, dark and anti religion themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion Noctem are a very great an original sounding brutal black metal band that also combines melody, thrash, death and technical metal together and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Arrival Of The False Gods" "Invictus" "Sons Of Hun-Vucb" and "Oblivion". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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http://www.youtube.com/noctemband

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http://www.lastfm.es/music/Noctem

http://www.reverbnation.com/noctemofficial

Black Crow King Interview

1. Can you tell us a little about about the project Black Crow King for those that have never heard of you before?
It is a solo project that came into existence mid 2011 as a means for me to explore very personal beliefs, interests and emotions. At the time I was making really harsh hate filled rage fuelled extreme electronic music that was not suitable to explore some of my other interests so Black Crow King came into existence.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
The bastard offspring of Extreme Doom, Death Industrial, Black Metal and Dark Ambient. Think along the lines of Khanate meets Gnaw Their Tongues with some harsh electronics and black atmospherics thrown in for good measure

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you explore with the music?
On 'To Pay The Debt Of Nature' there is a central theme to the album, namely death but each song also explores it's own separate theme. 'I, Crow' is an exploration and homage to crows in the role they play in the natural the supernatural and occult worlds. 'The Shadow Falls' is a philosophic discussion on nihilism, misanthropy and death. In 'Vengeance' I think the title says as much as you need to know, 'Grotesque Existence' explores the grotesque nature of humanity and how the one is neglible to the many and how we as a race have become Grotesque i.e. no longer a part of the natural world and nature. 'Crowbait' is pure misanthropy and malevolence and the final track 'Excarnation Ritual' explores my interest in the funeral practice of excarnation, this is an ancient practice linked with pagan beliefs in which the deceased persons corpse was left out in the open, most commonly on a platform, as an offering to nature in the form of crows and other carrion feeding birds. The crows / vultures acted as carriers for the soul to be taken to the afterlife.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Black Crow King?
I have a deep seated interest in crows and there supernatural role, they are viewed as the bringers and companions of death in virtually every culture, so to me the king of the crows would be death himself and that is what inspired the name. There is also a character that features in the lyrics of some of my songs that I call Crowlord - this too is a personification of death. Incidentally the album title itself is a euphemism for death.

5. The album came out on badGod music, how do you feel they have helped with spreading and supporting your music so far?
badGod Music has been wonderful, Dave has supported me from the day he first heard Black Crow King and has been tireless in his efforts to promote the band however he is able to, he does it for the love of the music and supports the bands 100%. Any artist would be lucky to be signed by the label.

6. Do you have any other musical projects besides Black Crow King?
Yes but that is a conversation for another day.

7. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I have already started work on the follow up album, the songs will still be long but for this release will follow a more structured sound and I am using a heavier guitar sound but all the other experimental elements will still remain - BCK will never be 'another run of the mill doom band', if I ever feel that is happening I will scrap the project.

8. What are some bands or musical styles that have inflenced your music?
Khanate, Electric Wizard, Burning Witch, Eagle Twin, Gnaw Their Tongues, Anaal Nathrakh, Prurient, Whitehouse, MZ.412 and N.D.E

9. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?
Satanism does not play any role but the occult does. My interests lie in the more primal forms of paganism and the primal deities.

10. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thank you for your great review and for the opportunity to do this interview and I hope that the more adventurous people will go out and buy and enjoy the album in all it's ugly depraved beauty.


--
Regards
Corvus
Black Crow King
www.myspace.com/black.crow.king

Black Crow King/To Pay The Debt Of Nature/badGod Music/2012 CD Review

  Black Crow King are a band from an unknown location that plays a mixture of black metal, doom metal, sludge and experimental music and this is a review of their 2012 album "TO Pay The Debt Of Nature" which was released by badGod Music.

Drum programming when it is utilized range from slow to mid paced beats that are not included on every song, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful sound with slow doom/sludge riffs that dominate throughout the recording, as for the synths when they are utilized they have a very dark ambient and evil sound to them with some harsh noise effects being thrown in at times.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced that combine black metal, doom metal and sludge together with a great amount of heavy distortion while the lead guitars when they are utilized are very distorted and noisy sounding guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some deep blackened growls, while the lyrics cover dark and occult themes, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and primitive sound to it.

In my opinion Black Crow King are a very great sounding black metal, doom, sludge, experimental/noise hybrid band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Shadow Falls" "Grotesque Existence" and "Excarnation Ritual". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Sigh/In Somniphobia/Candlelight Records/2012 CD Review

  Sigh are a band from Japan that has one of their older albums reviewed before by this zine that plays a very symphonic and experimental form of black metal and this is a review of their 2012 album "In Somiphobia" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast playing with some blast beats being thrown in at times as well as some tribal sounding percussion, while the keyboards bring a very symphonic, experimental and psychedelic feeling to the music mixed in with some violins and saxophones that bring out the Japenese culture in addition there are some avant garde noise effects, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast melodic sounding black metal riffs that utilize a lot of influences from thrash as well as a variety of many different musical styles, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads that do not stick to one genre and you can hear the influences from their own culture.

Vocals are a mixture of black metal screams, deep growls and clean singing male and female vocals with a brief spoken word part being utilized on one song, while the lyrics cover dark themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from Sigh and if you are a fan of this band you should enjoy this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Purgatorium" "The Transfiguration Fear Lucid Nightmares" "Far Beneath The In-Between" and "Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2012/02/14/join-sigh-far-beneath-the-in-between/