Saturday, August 22, 2020

Aeons Confer/Zero Elysium/2019 Full Length Review


  Aeons  Confer  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  dark,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Zero  Elysium".

  Sci-fi  and  cinematic  orientated  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  symphonic  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  industrial  and  dark  metal  can  also  be heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Aeons  Confer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  industrial,  dark,  symphonic  black  and  death  metal  and mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction  and  dystopian  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Aeons  Confer  are a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  industrial,  dark, black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out t his  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Impactors"  "Plasmoid"  "Nemesis"  and  "Pandemonium".8  out  of  10.

https://de-de.facebook.com/AeonsConfer
https://www.instagram.com/aeonsconfer
https://www.youtube.com/AeonsConferChannel

https://youtu.be/HaECHYqU1G4    

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Protokult Interview

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



The recording took longer than usual, studio obligations, funding, other projects, and I think COVID actually benefitted us finally releasing it, however, all the bookings and potential dates for supporting it this year have gone out the window. We’ve been looking at new merch in the meantime, writing new material and everyone has some extra time to focus on their own projects at the moment.



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



I’d say it’s the most consistent. There’s an appropriate “breathing room” here and there but it’s a banger from start to end. The age-old formula works so we try to stay true to what makes metal great in the first place,

Heavy metal is alive and well. Perhaps it’s meant to thrive in a more underground subculture and that’s part of what makes it rewarding. Specifically, musically, it’s a rush meant to be enjoyed either as a whole journey or at any entry point, we’ve ensured that.



We felt the tracks flowed really well and gelled with each other, every time we play them, we still get that rush and wanted to capture that energy and voyage on record. We approached this record with a bit more maturity and consistency so the result is heavier, faster, darker. Of course there are still some party-themed, fun moments but we never wanted to be a one-trick pony.



With Transcending The Ruins, it’s like a mature, refined version of the first record, it’s heavy where it has to be, and there are female parts (exclusively) where they have to be, so it’s not a forced fit.



3. This is also your first release since 2016, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?



Two summers were spent recording the album, we didn’t wrap up until 2019! Some members chose career paths, mortgages, so as fun as that life stuff is, it’s time-consuming. We started demoing for the album around 2017 and playing the odd gig here and there. We’re hometown heroes and faves but it’s nice to try and get out of that circle when possible, so a few out-of-town gigs, some fun acoustic ones too were played as well as some bigger ones around Toronto.



4. A lot of your lyrics cover Paganism themes, which forms of paganism do you connect with the most?



Slavonic/Eastern-European primarily, as that is where the majority of the band originates from and associates with. A lot of us have heard tales from childhood, have seen films with references, or even operas, so those forms, rituals, and superstitions tend to stick.

I’d love to explore (and admire those who do) Canadian-First Nation/Aboriginal forms but I do not think it would be genuine for us – we are still on THEIR land – the real Canadians.





5. What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with the music?



The best teacher is experience, so there are a few personal songs like Feed Your Demons, Troubled Lad and Valley Of Thorns, so of course life experience and reflection play a role. Otherwise, the fascination with folklore, history, and nature is still persistent in tracks like Mark Of Thunder, Oy Kanada, 1516, and Rusalka.





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





Inspired and fascinated by various metal genres alongside folk-culture, after a few years of experimenting, Protokult was meant to fuse the two together while paying homage to the past and honoring the underground. Essentially, it’s a tribute to all the loners, delinquents, misfits who never fit in and want to do their own thing, musically or anything else. It’s about standing up for what you believe in and hopefully bonding with like-minded individuals; a preliminary cult, so to speak.



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





The front cover and back were painted by Ukrainian-Canadian artist, Marie Cherniy and depicts a siren-like figure in a pool of blood. She is holding a dove, which represents either the possibility for peace or peace coming to an end. The blood itself acts as a portal to Transcendence (through one's own blood or that of others) and the crumbling ruins behind her evoke a need to move on and leave the past (or current state) behind.



We didn’t want something typically “metal”, but somewhat dreamy, thought-provoking, artsy, and just metal enough.



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



We’ve played a few Paganfests in our hometown over the years, often we’ll play with Arkona when they’re passing through. Great band. In 2018 we did a wild show with Alestorm and Gloryhammer at the Danforth Music Hall which was an unrelenting ritualistic assault, all night!



I guess that’s one way of describing our performance: Relentless, an intoxicating nightly assault.





9. Currently, the band is unsigned, are you open to working with another label again in the future?



We are always on the lookout and willing to review offers, as much as I support and admire smaller DIY labels, there has to be a plan and a sense of dedication, looking out for your artist/client. It’s almost like if you’re not with a major label these days, you’re probably better off being independent. And even then, a lot of “artists” would be willing to do their own thing,





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



   The fans who actually listen a little deeper to the records can attest that we’re more than some drinking-metal gimmick band (I.E people who listen to more than just a single or Get Me A Beer hah!), I don’t usually care for reviews but there have been some kind words of how we are a bit darker, more progressive than initially presented/perceived. It’s a total niche genre/market so I am grateful for all the fans and listeners willing to tune in and appreciate our art, South America, Europe, America, and of course all our dedicated Canucks! (Canadians)





11. 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 young guitar star, Jack has a few things he is a part of. Vias, Pterodactyl Problems, more rock-based but they are always keeping busy and active.

He and Kaveh (drums) actually have a great new thrash band as well- Korrosive. Very riff-based and proper.

Kaveh also has this epic-black metal thing he’s been doing for years, Into Oblivion

And Ekaterina has been focusing more on the folk-groups, which is her specialty.

Meden Glas is a group of scholars who focus usually on traditional songs from the Balkans and Blisk is a group of awesome ladies who do more of the Eastern-European tunes.



Myself, I try to honor Type O Negative with a few tribute gigs every year in a band called Xero Tolerance and I also play keyboards and compose in a symphonic-goth-doom local act, Mortalfall who have just released their first demo/EP. Highly recommended for fans of those genres.



All those groups are available online at the usual sources/links.





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



  Despite the odd experimentation or fascination, most of us are heavy metal fans/traditionalists at heart (Thrash metal, black, death) so that foundation and essence will always be there. With this new release, it’s definitely more in your face and at the forefront. We’ve already started to write a few new heavy tunes in that more blackened-thrash-speed direction (with melodic-folk finesse of course) so whether we’ll release them as singles, a split or even a possible EP we’ll see what happens over the next year or so with the industry and interests.





13. 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?



Of course the pioneers of the folk-heathen genres, Arkona, Skyclad, Skyforger, Bathory, Pagan Reign, Drudkh, Nokturnal Mortum as well as the traditional forefathers I.E Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Emperor, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Sodom to name a few.



There’s tons of new music being released and unfortunately, we cannot keep up! There’s a theory that the best music you keep coming back to is from your nostalgic pre-teen to young adult years, so obviously we still party and listen to bands/albums we listened to 20+ years ago.



New(ish) music that some of us take a fancy to these days include bands like Legend, Solstafir (both unique Icelandic groups), Midnight, Mgla, Ruins of Beverast, Tarot, Black Magick SS and Blut Aus Nord.



14. What are some of your non-musical interests?



With age, it’s essential you stay fit, both mentally and physically in this modern crazy age. I hit the gym, regularly lift weights, go bike riding or hiking in our beautiful Canadian nature, play the odd tennis game, and hit the hills/mountains snowboarding in the winter months. Traveling the world and exploring history and culture is strived for at least once or twice a year.

  I’m constantly engaged in literature, often reading 2-3 books at once, all the while trying not to get bogged down in the fear tactics and politics of the day. Family time and spending time with loved ones is mandatory too.



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


Thank you for supporting underground metal music! We will get through this and don’t let the “powers that be” bring you down! Hails!

Protokult.com
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Skyless Aeons/Drain The Sun/2020 Full Length Review


  Skyless  Aeons  are  a  band  from  London,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic,  technical,  progressive  and  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "Drain  The  Sun" which  will  be  released  in  October.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  dissonant  structures  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  growls.

  Black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  at  times.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  technical  style.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  whispered  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  some  melodies  also  being  added  in  some  of  the  riffing  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  space,  death  and  corruption  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Skyless  Aeons  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic,  technical,  progressive  and  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE "Ascension  Towards  Nothing"  "Dimensional  Entrapment"  and  "Drain  The  Sun".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook.com/SkylessAeons      

Calarook/Surrender Or Die/2020 Full Length Review


  Calarook  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  pirate  theme  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "Surrender  Or  Die".

  Bell  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  violins  a  few  seconds  later  while  epic  sounding  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Folk  music  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  melodies  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Clean  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  ship  and  water  sounds  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording,  one  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  into  the  music  and  touches  of  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  at   times  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  pirates  and  alcohol  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Calarook  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Cursed  Ship's  Tale"  "Surrender  Or  Die" "Davy  Jones  Locker"  and  "The  Undying  Sailor".  8  out  of  10.

 https://youtu.be/RZjnHD6QOqE

  

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Empyreal Sorrow Interview

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

We are a Melodic Death Metal band from Germany, mainly situated in the area around Munich, Bavaria. The roots of Empyreal Sorrow go back to 2014 when our guitar player Martin Hofbauer recorded the first song ideas with bassist Sebastian Moser. But as both of them were involved in other projects at that time there was never a real plan to do more than just playing around with some cool riffs. After Martin’s band project came to an end and he still had a massive pile of really cool song ideas, the two of them sat together again in Sebastian’s own Grotesque Studios, just plain recording guitars and getting the arrangements in shape. At that time Sebastian was also doing lot’s of studio recordings with our drummer Julian, and as Julian is an incredible talented metal drummer it was just a natural thing to ask him doing the drums on the tracks that were already laid out at that point. So in the first half of 2019 we also had the first half of instrumental tracks ready. Joining as a second guitarist at that time was Markus Winter, who already played together with Julian in another band. As with Julian before it just clicked and for the rest of the year we concentrated on finishing and recording the instruments for all the rest of the songmaterial that we had prepared. With 2020 starting we also began with giving the songs a „face“ - as Sebastian was working out the vocal arrangements, we decided for another refreshing approach on our songs; we integrated more than just one vocalist to give everything more dynamics and to serve the diversity of the songs. That’s were our singer Martin Szeike came on board. While Sebastian is serving more of the Black Metal-like singing style, Martin is bombarding you with his utterly deep Death Metal grunts.

2. You have your first full length coming out in November, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?

Martin’s vision when writing the first songs for Empyreal Sorrow was always straight Melodic Death Metal with a decent touch of this good old vibe from the 90’s. As we are all fans of bands like At The Gates, Edge Of Sanity, Paradise Lost, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity or Heaven Shall Burn it came out really natural when arranging and recording the songs. For fans of these bands our music should be a pleasing experience.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that the band has explored so far with the music?

It’s mainly devastation and destruction, the downfall of mankind. There is nothing that gives you so much inspiration as the look on today’s declining humanity. There is a constant frustration swelling inside of us because of how irrational and egoistic mankind is feeding on its own essence. It is not the most optimistic view or topic, but our music is our personal outlet for the anger and incomprehension we feel, when thinking about this planet and the swarm of human idiots flooding it.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Empyreal Sorrow'?

Most people believe in love as the strongest emotion and bond between one another. But we think that sorrow and pain unites us even more and can push you to grow beyond your own limits. We believe in this out of own personal experiences. Sorrow is more honest than treacherous love, stronger than fragile valor and more divine than hypocritical forgiveness. But with the acceptance of pain as one of the most important parts of life, you can really reflect on your own self and see through other people’s actions. Sorrow is our leader through life and our band is deeply inspired by this emotion.

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

The artwork of our debut album „PRÆY“ is a perverted adaption of the Vitruvian Man drawn by Leonardo Da Vinci - the destruction of the ideal of the perfect human being. It is the logical visual interpretation of our lyrical topics on this record and of our view on today’s society acting like a human swarm, blindly following and consuming the feces  of the overpresent (social) media. The cover was created by Björn Lensig (www.lensig.com), a very talented and amazing artist who has also worked for artists like Amon Amarth and is doing lots of illustration for games. His style was perfectly fitting our artistic vision for this album.

6. Has the band had any opportunities to do any live shows?

As you know, the current Corona situation is not an easy task, especially for the entertainment industry. There are certain chances to do live shows, but we have to see if it is worth the risk at the moment. So right now we are mainly looking into how we can reach our potential fans on other ways, via Social Media in particular. But we are also planning our future stage setup at the moment. The most important part in playing live shows is to give the audience an entertaining experience. With that in mind we try to avoid the stereotypical stage presence of so many Metal bands - just standing around, moshing and boring the crowd. All of us have longtime stage experience as live musicians and we know that activating the crowd counts way more in the end than playing every note right.

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

To be honest - we love the DIY attitude and we try to stick to it as long as possible. Sure, you need competent partners to be competitive on today’s music market. But our experiences especially with music labels in past cooperation's were not really satisfying and it showed us that if you are willing to keep pushing and work focused you can do so much yourself. We are not interested in giving other people control over what we want to do or express with Empyreal Sorrow. And maybe the most important part - as long as we as a band are working on all aspects of the band it bonds us closer together. Empyreal Sorrow is mainly about the enjoyment of making music WE love, the way WE want to and doing everything surrounding the band the way WE think it is fitting.

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

As we are writing this, the promotional activities to get our debut album out to the music loving community and Metal fans is in full swing. First reactions so far are really promising and we hope to get more and more listeners into the Cult.

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

We’ll definitely never set to one certain rule of sets. Yes, we love Death Metal and we certainly will be part of this Metal genre in the future, but: While recording our debut album we already prepared a set of songs for a future EP release that alone has the goal to widen our own musical horizon. On this EP we will experiment with some new influences and let other musicians be part of our Cult Of Sorrow.

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?

Naming musical influences is always a hard task, as so many listeners often are interpreting this as a sort of „the music will sound like XY“. But musical influences are often very subtle and subliminal. As mentioned above - it’s bands like At The Gates, Paradise Lost, Dark Tranquillity, Edge Of Sanity that surely had a huge impact on the songwriting process and you will hear that in our music for sure. But as all of us are very open to all sorts of musical influences, we have no problem with incorporating samples, clean vocals, Black Metal-atmosphere or other details that seem to fit the song. When it comes to today’s new releases - it’s really hard as there is so much new music released each day. Certainly we all have our „most loved“ bands we always stick to, but the musical range is really widespread - from Heavy Rock like Gary Moore to Thrash Metal like Anthrax or Black Metal like Dark Funeral.

11. What are some of your non musical interests?

There is definitely one non-musical-interest within the band we all share and that is enjoying nature. We all come from countrysides where you are near to the woods or mountains and if there is something that really frees up your mind - it’s going into the mountains or just grabbing the bike and breathe fresh air.

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

We invite you to join our Cult Of Sorrow and receive salvation through sound. Keep an eye on our online appearances to get the latest news regarding the release of our upcoming album „PRÆY“. And always stay Metal!

Website - https://www.empyrealsorrow.de/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/empyrealsorrowmetal/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/empyrealsorrow/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCotlWovcAgd-WXMn0es0J2w

Monday, August 17, 2020

Suffering Souls/True Godfucking Souldbright/Schwarzdorn Production/2020 Full Length Review


  Suffering  Souls  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "True Godfucking  Souldbright"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Schwarzdorn  Production.

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a   decent  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  being  a  brief  instrumental  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  musical  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  and  a  later  track  also  introduces  death  emtal  growls  onto  the  recording,  the  closing  track w as  also  recorded  live.

  On  this  recording  Suffering  Souls  remain  true  to  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  that  was  established  on  their  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Anti  Christianity,  Misanthropy  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Suffering  Souls  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beyond  The  Nocturnal  Gates  Of  Uncertainty"  "Queen   Of  The  Night"  "The  Throne  Unite  Dimensions"  and  "Punishment  For  the  Believe  To  Christianity".  8  out  of  10.



  

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Empyreal Sorrow/PRÆY/2020 Full Length Review


  Empyreal  Sorrow  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "PRÆY"  which  will  be released  in  November.

  Clean  playing start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  which  also  introduces  melodic  guitar  leads  and  solos  onto  the  recording.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very powerful  sound  to  them  while the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  era  Swedish  influences.  When  the  music  speeds  up  on  a  couple  of  songs  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  vocals  and  more  modern  elements  onto  the  album  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  making  a  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Empyreal  Sorrow  plays  a  musical  style that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  devastation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Empyreal  Sorrow  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  "Thrown  Into  The  Fire"  "Come  Down  With  Me"  "Scars  Of  Old"  and  "A  Night  Without  Armor".  8  out  of  10.

Website - https://www.empyrealsorrow.de/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/empyrealsorrowmetal/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/empyrealsorrow/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCotlWovcAgd-WXMn0es0J2w
Pre-save PRÆY - https://snd.click/praey    

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Nomvdic/Euphoria/2020 CD Review


  Nomvdic  are  a  band  from  Florida  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black,  melodic  death,  progressive  metal,  djent  and  deathcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "Euphoria".

  Melodic  guitar  leads  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  some  prog  and  djent  elements.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  bringing  in  touches  of  Swedish  style  melodic  death  metal.

  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  metalcore  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  vocals  also  having  their  melodic  moments.

  Grim  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  influences  of  deathcore  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  touches  of  blackgaze  can  also  be  heard  at  times and  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  covering  the  human  psyche.

  In  my  opinion  Nomvdic  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of   post  black,  melodic  death,  progressive  metal,  djent  and  deathcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Euphoria"  "Dysmorphia(Im  So  Sorry)"  "Dead  Oaks"  and  "Blue  Jay".  8out  of  10.

Website: https://nomvdic.com
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/34XRjMu
Facebook: https://facebook.com/NOMVDIC
Instagram: https://instagram.com/nomvdicofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomvdic     

  

Protokult/Transcending The Ruins/2020 Full Length Review


  Protokult  are  a  band  from  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk  and  pagan  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  self  released  album  "Transcending  The  Ruins"  which  will  be  released  in  October.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  synths  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  screams  that  also  add  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  along  with  some  rough  pagan  metal  singing  also  being  utilized  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  some  folk  instruments  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  and  back  up  shouts  also  showing  an  influence  of  thrash  metal.

  When  the  music  speeds  up a   decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  as  well  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  symphonic  and  orchestra  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  power  metal  style  vocals  being  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  Folklore  and  Historical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Protokult  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  pagan  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mark  of  Thunder"  "Oy  Kanada!"  "Valley  Of  thorns"  and  "Dead  new  World". 8out  of  10.

Protokult.com
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Monday, August 10, 2020

Transcendence/Towards Obscurities Beyond/Blood Harvest/2020 Full Length Review


  Transcendence  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2020  album  "Towards  Obscurities  Beyond"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Blood  Harvest.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of the musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  death  metal  screams.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  Swedish  and  90's  influences  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  s  very  melodic  style.

. The  riffs  also  mix  in  a  decent  amount  of  thrash  elements  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples,  synths,  whispered  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  darkness,  blasphemy  and  obscurity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Transcendence  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Infernal  Resurrection"  "Drowned  Screams  of  the  Departed  Souls"  and  "In  Silent  Procession".  8  out  of  10.

http://bloodharvestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/towards-obscurities-beyond 
     

Friday, August 7, 2020

Nemesium 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?
We have been in and out of lockdown due to the virus, but we have basically finished our first song for the next album and are continuing to write new material. We really wanted to be out there touring and promoting the new album but just like everyone else in the world it's just not happening. So its basically just sit down and lets get another album done!

2.In June you released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?
It's more extreme! We took one of the songs off the EP and re recorded it as we thought we never captured the true sound we wanted from it. But on the Continua album we brought it to life! Musically we got more advanced in technicallity and song structure and kept pushing on our recording abilities.

3.This is also your first release in 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?
Well after our EP we lost our bassist Luke so we had to then find a new bassist for which we found in Dave, He was in the band for about 3 years and right before bass was about to be recorded for Continua we decided to go back to our original bassist Marcus. So he then had to come back into the band and write all new bass parts for the album within a couple of months which he did amazingly! So basically we were just writing/gigging and fine tuning our line up. Which we are 100% happy with now.

4.A lot of your lyrics cover science fiction themes can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
I've been a huge Sci Fi fan for as long as I remember and movie/tv buff. So basically all my lyrics are based off Movies I love or TV episodes I love. Parallel Dimensions/Time Travel are full of endless ideas, Shit if Star Trek can make god knows how many episodes about it I can dable in the idea as well haha. And being death metal the stereo type is to sing about death etc... But its over done and to me not very interesting so I write about what I enjoy.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nemesium'?
Nemesium is Latin plural for Nemesis. The inspiration basically just came from searching for cool words

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The artwork was done by the amazing Kirill Seminov, I found him on Instagram and was hooked! I love the sci fi H.R. Giger that he goes for but he puts his own little spin on it. The idea that we gave Kirill is that each side of the cube is a different Parellel Dimension giving you multiple stories out of each world.

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?
Personally the best shows I have played is when we supported Omnium Gatherum or Krisiun in our home town. Such amazing International acts and we get to support them which was amazing!

Our stage performance we try to go as hard as we can each show and make it as aggressive as possible. It's loud and tight!

8.In 2015 you also done a 'Damaged' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?
We all grew up with Australian bands being a huge inspiration for us. And Damaged being a regional band like us and been at an international level of greatness we always wanted to pay homage to them.


9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of melodic black and death metal?
Very positive! We have been overwhelmed with positive comments and reviews. I think we have created something that is fresh and new but also keeping in with the old sound which is exactly what we were after. We all are fans of multi genres and we all bring them into the mix to create something different.

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?
Clint - I'm in a few other bands at the moment, an old school death metal band Munitions with Marcus our bassist. And also a Post Black Metal band titled Visha Kanya.
Chris - Plays in an old school death metal band also in our home town called Destruktor

11.Where do yo you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We want to basically keep doing what we're doing. We're all happy with the way we write and with the reviews coming back it looks like we're on the right track.

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?
We all love different genres of Metal and music. From old school death metal and black metal to the more modern melodic death and black, to Grind and all things tech. Even Post Rock and classics like Queen. So we have a lot of influence between us which I think is great!

Nowadays personally I can't get enough of the Post Black Metal genre so Harakiri For The Sky and Numenorean to name a couple.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?
Music is basically my main interest, outside of the bands I have a Huge family to take care of. 6 kids...... And I run my own Carpentry business so I don't have time for anything else haha

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Cheers for the interview guys! And stay tuned to our Facebook page for any new updates coming up soon. We really want to get out there and start playing live again and to show the world what we can bring to it.

But in saying that, support the underground and keep Death Metal alive!


Order Continua:
https://nemesiumblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/continua (CD, Digipak LP, Merch, Digital)
https://www.indiemerchstore.com/b/black-lion-records (CD, Digipak, LP, Merch)


For More Info:

https://www.facebook.com/NemesiumOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/nemesiumofficial_/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IUsvIFmFQ45sSuRwSbMRK

https://www.facebook.com/blacklionrecordsswe
https://twitter.com/Blacklionrecswe
https://www.instagram.com/blacklionrecordsswe
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdKzG_KjmK7A-PnunzLvzdQ   

Thursday, August 6, 2020

Midgard/Tales Of Kreia/Sliptrick Records/2020 CD Review


  Midgard  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  folk,  viking  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Tales  Of  Kreia"  which  will  be  released  on  August  18th  by  Sliptrick  Records.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  screams  adding  in  touches  of  black  metal.  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  songs  also  add  in  folk  instruments.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  music  also  showing  some  influences  of  the  Swedish  style  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style,  clean  male  pagan  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.

  Midgard  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk,  viking  and  melodic  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes  and  philosophical  issues  about  life  and  death.

  In  my  opinion  Midgard  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  viking  and  melodic  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Necromancer"  "Dwarf  King"  "Elven  Blade"  and  "Ice  Spirit". 8  out  of  10.

Official Website | Facebook | Youtube | Instagram | VK | On Sliptrick

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Journey Into Darkness Interview


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



I just released this week so not much musically, more about promotions! Although, I was working on this album up until the day it was released. I have already started on the next album, but I have no idea when that will be.





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



If I go way back, I played in a death metal band Sorrow back in the early 90s (we had 2 albums on Roadrunner). That music was of course more standard OSDM with some heavy doom influences. After we broke up I started writing all synth music that was reminiscent of intros and interludes on metal albums. But it wasn’t minimal, there were dark melodies with heavy death style drums. The music now is probably similar when it comes to the melodies and song structures, but the new stuff incorporates guitar and vocals and is way more heavy and intense.



3.This is also your first release 1996, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?



After I released that CD in 1996, I was somewhat jaded. That CD was released on a small label I started myself and honestly cost me a lot of money. It was just hard to reach people and since the music was not death metal and not dark wave or dungeon synth, it just sat in the middle and got very little traction. I continued to write music on and off for the next 20 years (holy shit) but didn’t get serious again until about 2 years ago. So not much went on musically in that time (except I did continue to listen to all the great new music that came out). I won’t bore you with my non music career LOL



4.Your earlier release was more dark ambient while the new album is more symphonic black/death metal, can you tell us a little bit more about the decision behind going into this musical direction?



The older music was sitting in between a bunch of genres, and I guess after listening to it again years later, I realized it just wasn’t heavy enough. So I added guitar to one track and was immediately excited with the result. The melody and emotion was still there, but the music was just way more intense. So I said skrew it, I might as well add some vocals too! I am very happy with the result, it blends what I was trying to accomplish many years ago with my desire to write intense heavy music again. Sought of a merging of Sorrow and my original JID album.



5.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer album?



I’ve always tried to write meaningful lyrics. The music comes first, but if you have good lyrics the sum of the whole is more than the sum of its parts. As usual, there is an anti-religious song, I can’t help it, I hate religion LOL. One song is about humanity’s deeply violent past, present and future. It’s unavoidable. Another song is about the finality of life and of the universe itself, that death is literally written into our DNA and the structure of the universe. The last song with lyrics is about how insignificant we are compared to the universe (the title gives that away ha). Not just in size, but in time as well. You can take that to be depressing or a way to alleviate the daily stress of life. Some days I choose one, some days I choose the other.





6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Journey Into Darkness'?



Quick story. The first name I came up with was Near Death Experience and the title of the first album was Journey Into Darkness. But I got a cease and desist letter from a lawyer representing a band that was using that name and had a business in a state using that name. So I switched the name of the project and the album. I am actually happy I did it. I like the name JID way better. It feel it conveys the mood and feeling of my music. When someone listens I want them to have a journey into darkness.



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



I wanted a cover representing the title Multitudes of Emptiness. That emptiness is everywhere, both on an emotional level but also in space. Life is empty, and again, you can be depressed about it or you can use it to say fuck it, nothing matters, just try to enjoy life. But space is empty too. An atom is mostly empty space, to the vast distances between stars and galaxies, the universe is empty. I didn’t want a cover that was just black of course, so having a person who was ethereal, or somewhat hollow whisking away into the vastness of space worked well.



8.With this project you record everything by yourself but also have experience working with a full band, how would you compare the two?



The obvious advantage to working solo is the creative freedom. But that makes it more difficult too. I get to control every aspect of the music but that means I also have to write every aspect. I obsess over everything, every note, every cymbal, arrangement, etc. so sometimes I second guess myself. At times it can be very nerve-racking. There were times I almost had panic attacks while working on this album. Occasionally I would ask a friend for an opinion. But for me, it is worth it to be able to bring to life my musical ideas exactly the way I want.



9.The new album was self released, are you open to working with a label again in the future?



I would be open to working with a label, I just didn’t want to wait around on this release. Although labels are still important, and I am sure they can do more than an individual, I didn’t want to wait around for months trying to get a deal and then waiting for more months to have the music released.



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



It’s only been one week, so far so good! A posted video got over 1000 streams with no thumbs down so that is good LOL. I’ve picked up a few hundred new followers on Facebook, Bandcamp, Youtube, Spotify, etc. Many people have been really receptive and like the hybrid style from both the black metal and death metal side. So I am very happy.



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



The simple answer is the newer music will be similar to this album. I am really happy with the sound and there is still a lot of area to explore within it.



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?



I’ve been around since the start of extreme metal in the 80s and I am amazed at how it has progressed over the years. The newer music is amazing and definitely prompted me a few years ago to resurrect JID. So here is a long thought that explains a lot: I love symphonic extreme metal, but sometimes it emphasizes the orchestra parts too much. I love black metal, but sometimes the music is too melancholy. I love death metal but sometimes it lacks melody. I love classical but it can be very boring. So I have tried (and I hope succeeded!) at taking all the genres I love, mixing in what I think is great about them and leaving out what I feel is not as good and creating something unique. I don’t want to name bands, there are dozens (maybe hundreds) of bands I listen to and my favorite band can change daily LOL.



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



Thanks very much for this interview, it feels great to be back making music. For anyone interested, you can visit my website for links to all social media and streaming sites: jidarkness.com





Brett - Journey Into Darkness

https://jidarkness.com/

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Noite/A Cor do Fogo/I, Voidhanger Records/2020 Full Length Review


  Noite  are  a  solo project  from  Portugal  that  plays  an  experimental  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "A  Cor  do  Fogo"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  I, Voidhanger  Records.

  Operatic  vocals  start  off  the  album  while  choirs  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clean  playing  and  drums  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also showing  an  influence  of  90's  era  avant  garde  black  metal.

  Elements  of  neo-classical  and  medieval  music  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the recording  while  the  songs  also  get  very  experimental  sounding  at  times.  Psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  the  whole  recording  also  sticking  to  a  slower  musical  direction.

  Noite  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  experimental  and  avant  garde  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  psychedelic,  neo-classical  and  medieval  music  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.   the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Portuguese  and  cover  witchcraft,  human  damnation,  hell's  nostalgia,  Devil  Worshiping  and  mordant  satire  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Noite  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  black  metal solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  that  is  very  original  sounding,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Noite  Eterna"  "Marcha  Do  Caldeirao".  8  out  of  10.

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-cor-do-fogo

   

  

Friday, July 31, 2020

Abyss Interview

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



A: I started Abyss in 2009 together with another former member. The line-up soon was completed by aspiring musicians from a rural part in Bavaria, where we are located. Our music is a mixture of Melodic Black and Death Metal. If you like classic bands like Dissection, Sacramentum and if you appreciate modern successors that draw at least a little from their heritage, you might enjoy giving us a spin.



2.So far you have released a demo, ep and a split, musically how do they both differ from each other?



A: Our early work resulted in a number of songs that had a bigger Death Metal influence. This influence is still noticeable on our last EP from 2018. Throughout the years the Death Metal ration diminished. And together with some other new elements, we solidified a specific trademark sound we were aiming for. This is what you will hear on our part of the coming split with Besna.



3.The band has been around since 2009 but waited until 2018, can you tell us a little bit more about the earlier years?



A: That´s a common question. Mainly for two reasons that deserve a little elaboration:

First one would be because of line-up changes. The number of people that had an instrument in their hands in order to play for or with Abyss comes to more than a dozen already. The changes had nothing to do with personal differences, but more with people going abroad, moving away, getting a job, etc. Those things caused a lot of delay and pauses in the past and for those very reasons you will hear two session musicians on the coming release. There is a permanent line-up though, that works on the songs and concepts and you will most likely see on stage.

Second: It took a while to build the musical skill and capacity to transfer our ideas to reality in a proper way. I can only speak for myself, but I basically learned to play the guitar with the Band.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored with the music so far?



A: We dedicated our themes to chaos. In short: Our songs should reflect mankinds unrest
about being at the mercy of this power and its search for sense, order and the higher, when there is
none of that. A rather nihilistic view on the world and humanity.




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



A: As the literal meaning depicts a bottomless pit, it reflects the symbolism and themes of our songs. No clear line, no end, no order. The name is used quite often by bands. And during the 10 years of minor public activity, it would have been easy to simply choose something more distinct. However, the name Abyss resembles a special meaning for the members. The missing puzzle piece, so to say, that binds all the other aspects of the band and brings it back to conclusion. Contrary to its meaning.



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



A: The artwork awas made by Théo Braisaz, a french artist working under the name „Mr Kiwi“. I work closely together with him for another project. He´s an excelent graphical designer. Our cooperation reached a level where I can lay down my visual ideas and from then on almost blindly trust him with the realization. For the split, the artwork gives several hints on its main themes, which revolve around unfulfilled religious -or even ideological- salvation, absence of the higher and natures indifference towards these themes.



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



A: We had many great shows. One that really stood out was our first live performance. We played in front of 100-200 people in a Band Contest of which probably only 5 % were into Metal. The feedback was overwhelming though. Everyone freaked out when the last note subsides. It was the beginning of many things and the moment when Abyss truly came to life.

As a matter of fact we often hear that our live performances are far more convincing than our releases. Our music profits from the chaotic frenzy both Band and audience find themselves in during live situations. In the past recent years we worked hard to make our show aesthetically fitting to the concept. So it´s all about increasing the intensity to make the music, the dread almost physical.



8.You have a split coming out with Besna in September, what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?



A: Already during the planning of the „Further Into Perdition tour“ working together went off smoothly. When we played together in Bratislava, they convinced us musically and therefore were our prime candidate for our intended split project. While our music has a certain drive and a pounding blast every now and then, theirs is equally wild, but more on the melancholic side and adds important aspects. Quite naturally and despite the very slight differences in the styles we play, the split reached a coherent whole.



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



A: That will mostly turn out with the responses towards the coming release with Besna. Besides playing a east-euro-tour together with Groza, Abyss stayed hidden a long time. In my eyes, the project still has to get „out there“.



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



A: One upside of the current crisis is, that naturally artists are most likely sitting at home and have time to live out their creativity. I look forward to all the „quarantine creations“ released in the future. And perhaps we will be among them. Soundwise, sometimes I wish to make our music a little harsher and messier. It is leaning towards that already and I still want to keep our melodic trademark. After all, who needs another Deathspell Omega clone.



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?



A: One main part of my songwriting work is indeed listening to new stuff. I am one of the persons that really listens to everything. I know people say this quite often and to me personally that´s actually often negatively connotated. Black Metal wise, I´m more and more intrigued by french, canadian and icelandic Black Metal. To name a few general bands I listen to quite often: Svartidauði, The Great Old Ones, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Sombres Forêts, Gris, Selbst, Be'Lakor. Sure from our style, I guess one can draw conclusions on what we mainly listen to.



12.What are some of your non musical interests?



A: As I have hinted already, Abyss is a busy band. Some members will experience some career developments in the future. The plan is to lay down enough ground work for Abyss now to still be operational when that time comes.



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



A: Thanks for the interview, check out our split. One song has been published so far (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_jkcV8_IDI&fbclid). Look out for the next one that will drop soon!

Cheers,