Creature/Eloge De L 'Ombre/I, Voidhanger Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Creature  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  progressive,  symphonic  and  avant  garde  style  of  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Eloge  De  L  'Ombre"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  i,  Voidhanger  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  prog  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  avant  garde  style  synths  and  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  one  track  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  clean  vocals  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  touches  of  progressive  rock  at  times.

  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  trumpets,  spoken  words  and  hip  hop  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Creature  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive,  symphonic  and  avant  garde  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Conscience  Mecanique"  "L'Empire  Des  Singes"  "Les  Fragements"  and  "Retrograde".  8  out  of  10.

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/eloge-de-lombre      

Aexylium Interview

 

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

Two singles have already been released, the third official videoclip will be released on October 29th, the day of the album's release.

We recently played at Feffarkhorn festival with Atlas Pain and Furor Gallico, and now we are planning the release party. We can’t wait!

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

Compared to the previous album, 'The Fifth Season' is more focused on orchestrations and the symphonic part, which is also emphasized by the presence of the vocal ensemble. In addition, the guitar riffs are more aggressive and elaborate, increasing the metal component in the songs

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Celtic and Norse Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

We are very fascinated by Norse Mythology, especially me and Steven (the singer). He read several books about it, and we also believe that this theme can blend well with this musical genre, that’s why we often draw inspiration from it.

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

In addition to Norse and Celtic mythology, our lyrics also speak of other topics, even different from each other.

'Mountains', for example, talks about the majesty and beauty of the peaks, 'Immortal Blood' instead is inspired by a videogame (Skyrim – The Elder Scrolls), 'The Fifth Season' instead talks about more current topics, such as a hypothetical semi extinction of humanity due to the consequences of man’s wicked choices.

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

'Aexylium' comes from the Latin word 'exilium' (exile) and in our imagination, it is an ancient and now abandoned place, where the worst criminals were locked up for life

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

The artwork is made by the talented artist Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove Design) who has worked with several important bands, such as Manowar and Korpiklaani. 

We asked him to draw inspiration from the lyric of 'The Fifth Season' which, as mentioned above, speaks of a hypothetical semi-extinction, and then of hope of rebirth.

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

Surely when we play at festivals the show is always memorable, because people are more excited and inclined to dance. 

One of the shows that we remember with more pleasure is certainly Montelago Celtic Festival in 2018, the audience sang with us at the top of their lungs and at the end of the performance kept asking for an encore.

8.A couple of years ago you had done a cover of the 'Games Of Thrones' theme, what was the decision behind doing your own version of this song?

We were fans of the TV series and we believe that fantasy themes can often blend perfectly with our musical genre. When we play it live, the audience really appreciates it. 

We also made our own version of the main theme of 'Vikings', and it’s really appreciated on Youtube.

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

The first album helped us to make ourselves known for the first time in Italy and abroad. Now, with 'The Fifth Season', we want to try to make our mark in this musical genre, forging our own sound. 

The reaction to the first two singles was absolutely positive, and we hope that it will be even more with the next single and all the other songs on the album.

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

I think the sound we experienced on this album may be our definitive sound. We also had a female voice as a guest in a couple of songs, it is not to be excluded that in the future a female singer may join the band permanently.

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?

If we talk about folk metal, the bands that most influence our songwriting are probably Eluveitie, Alestorm and Falconer.

But we don’t draw inspiration only from them, in fact, I believe it is precisely the musical variety that each of us listens to lead us to be creative without imposing limits.

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

Thanks for the interview and we hope you enjoy our album!

https://youtu.be/uL0YN1JIyVc 

Huronian/As Cold As A Stranger Sunset/Dolerem Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Huronian  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "As  Cold  As  A  Stranger  Sunset"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Dolerem  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  operatic  vocals  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  angry  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  Swedish  style  melodies.

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow, mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.

  Huronian  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  styles  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  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Huronian  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  "Portals  To  The  Unspeakable"  "Birds  Among  Insects"  and  "Shadow  Cast  by  Eternal  Sails".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD-Qqaj68Tg    

Chasmdweller/Flesh Crusade/2021 Full Length Review

 

 Toronto, Ontario, Canada's  duo  Chasmdweller  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  funeral  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  Flesh  Crusade".

   Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  and  elements  of  noise  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  demonic  sounding  death  metal growls.  Evil  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  also  have  their  guttural  moments.  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  an  early  90's  extreme  metal  style  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  more  of  a  ritualistic  atmosphere.

  On  this  recording  Chasmdweller  focuses  more  on  a  blackened  death  metal  style  and  cut  back  on  the  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal  elements  that  where  a  very  huge  part  of  their  earlier  recordings.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Death  and  Ancient  Evil  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Chasmdweller  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  emtal  with  some  touches  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeping  In  Agony"  and  "Hexed  Beyond  Mortality".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Deezer

Instagram

Spotify

   

Oenos/Cmo IV/2021 EP Review

 

  Oenos  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  ep  "Cmo  IV".

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  Vocals a re  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  a  brief  use  of  synths  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to a   slower  direction.

   Oenos  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  failure,  fear,  apathy  and  the  state  of  our  dying  planet.

  In  my  opinion  Oenos  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Real  Rubio"  and  "St  maur".  8  out  of  10.

• https://www.instagram.com/oenosmusic

• https://www.facebook.com/oenosmusic

• https://twitter.com/oenosmusic

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9aYSv2Rey28IvFv0vmOKmg

PreEmptive Strike 0.1/Redeclaration Of War (2006-2015)/2021 Compilation EP Review

 

  Greece's  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  have  returned  with  a  compilation  which  consists  of  songs  being  recorded  between  2006  and  2015  which  also  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  electro- industrial  style  while  more  current  releases  show  more  of  a  black  metal  influence  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  ep  "Redeclaration  Of  War  (2006-2015)".

  Synths  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  electronic  and  industrial  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed  along  with  the  tracks  also  mixing  in  a  decent  amount  of  spoken  word  samples  and  sci-fi  style  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in  an  ebm  style  while  the  aggressive  vocals  show  some  touches  of  black  and  industrial  metal.  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  the  music  also  shows  an  influence  of  the  classic  Wax  Trax  era.

  On  this  recording  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  displays  more  of  their  electro-industrial  beginnings  instead  of  the  black  metal  elements  they  alter  mixed  with  this  style  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  science  fiction  and  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  electro-industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lethal  Defence  Systems"  and  "Epos  of  The  Argonauts".  8  out  of  10.

https://pes01.bandcamp.com/music    

    

  

Aexylium/The Fifth Season/Rockshots Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Aexylium  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "The  Fifth  Season"  which  will b e  released  in  October  by  Rockshots  Records.

  A  very  epic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  folk  music  instruments  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  

  When  the  music  speeds  up a   decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  clean  male,  female  vocals  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  battle  sounds  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  one  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  album  and  as  the  recording  progresses  a  couple  of  instrumentals  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  and  Celtic  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Aexylium  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Bridge"  "Battle  At  Tettenhall"  "Yggdrasil"  and  "Spirit  Of  the  North".  8  out  of  10.

Aexylium.it
Facebook.com/aexylium

Instagram.com/aexylium_official            

Spectral Darkwave Interview

 

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

We are Spectral Darkwave, harvesters of pain across time and space - in tribute to gods most dark. We collect the suffering in vessels made of death doom metal ornamented by orchestras and the tragic events themselves. They are pulsing exhibits to the terror of existence.

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

The new album 'At Outer Dark' furthers the collection of suffering first put together in 'Last First Contact', but with a great leap in the production values. Musically, it is thicker in tone and slightly more complex in it's arrangements, to offer deeper immersion in the scenes we capture.

3.This is also your first full length since 2015, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

The first record was very much a proof of concept that stories could be told, this then allowed us to recruit The Gunner on bass and perfect our live show, considering every possible angle. This culminated in our invitation to Bloodstock 2021. Our lord Cthulu has clearly recognized our work.

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

The song lyrics focus on setting the scene in the wants, needs and desires of the human suffering on offer at a point in space time. For example, the lead single '731' focusses on the emotional turmoil of surgery on live victims in the name of Japanese patriotism. The March Of Saes focuses on the exhilaration and fear of Elephant riders in ancient Persia. The album culminates in the song 'At Outer Dark' - a paean to our quest as a crew to join with our lord Cthulu as he passed through the material realm and it's... consequences.

5.On one of your singles you also cover Norse Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Our interest is only in the amount of pain that could be harvested from the shores of Lindisfarne in AD 793. It's essence ages well in our vaults. 

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

The good ship Darkwave is the ship in which we as a crew travel through time and space. We emerge, take the horror available, sometimes milk the situation for a little more, then disappear as quickly as we came - but not entirely without trace.

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

The artwork captures our encounter with our Lord Cthulu beyond the furthest spiral arm of this galaxy. We sought to join with him, sampling but a fraction of his power. This moment of misadventure can be heard in the epic, final song of the album 'At Outer Dark'.

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

We offer, theatre, spectacle and immersion. As a result, we have been lucky to play more than few performances where the energy of band and crowd has crackled with devotion to the dark - the shared catharsis of looking into the abyss and having it stare back in musical form. Clearly, the highlight for was this year's Bloodstock performance.

9.The new album is coming out on 'Occidental Records'. can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Sadly, in more mundane matters, to release records these days has become the responsibility of the artist. Investment, promotion, distribution and monetization - all of it. With the digitization of music came the simple fact that there is a huge supply of music and the ability to record it. Supply has outstripped demand. In the capitalist system, the monetary value is low, yet the artistic value is higher than ever. So, it is our label, named after an industrial disaster and the power of empire - it reminds us making sure we do the right things to keep the good ship Darkwave afloat.

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

We genuinely believe we have an experience of high quality with which to engage audiences - but there is an awful lot of noise out there that our signal must penetrate. When people see us we are remembered, we've already had pre-orders for people from half a decade ago. However, we feel that perhaps with the length of time between albums, that this for many will be the first time - and they will hear us at our most potent.

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

Well, it would seem that after nearly 2 dozen tales of human suffering and our final encounter with HIM on the new record, that the consequences of our meeting will play out in the narrative of the next record. Musically, we will always seek to pulse, doom and terrify with arrangements that bring a grand scale to our tracks.

12.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?

It started as early some of the darkest theme tunes from 80's video games, TV shows and films. We seek to chase that sense of scale and adventure. Metal is the only genre that sense of infinite power other than the darker orchestrations of Gorecki or the choral work of Tallis. Yet we cannot say we do not admire the work of artists such as Septic Flesh, Draconian or the Vision Bleak where they too seek a sense of scale. But we seek the narrative moments themselves. 

13.Does occultism play any role in your music?

Indirectly. Our obsession with the dark gods of the universe, a reaching out to the infinite, the unknowable other beyond human perception interests us deeply. You might say it is the thoughts of historical occultism illuminated by scientific insights that more than ever declare 'there is more out there than we can ever know'.

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

Thank you for taking the time to speak to us. May this be the first step upon your conversion.

For more information on Spectral Darkwave click here
Visit Spectral Darkwave on Facebook
Hear Spectral Darkwave on YouTube
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Bloody Falls/Burn The Witch/Art Gates Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Bloody  Falls  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  contemporary  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  'Burn  The  Witch"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Art  Gates  Records.

  Epic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  groove  metal  elements.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  couple  of songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Bloody  Falls  plays  a  musical style  that  takes  black,  melodic  death  and  groove  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  The  Witch Burnings  of  the  past.    

  In  my  opinion  Bloody  Falls  are  a  very  decent  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  groove  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Soul  Reaper"  "Self  Inflicted  Pain"  "The  Witch"  and  "Last  Rites".  7/5  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/BloodyFalls/

https://www.instagram.com/bloodyfallsofficial/  

https://youtu.be/K3O9FwFdx0g        

  

Bryan Eckermann/Plague Bringers/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Bryan  Eckerman  is  a  solo  artist  from  San  Antonio,  Texas  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Plague  Bringers"  which  will b e  released  in  November.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also add  in  a  great  amount  of  grim  yet  high  pitched  sounding  black  metal  screams along  with  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  lot  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  orchestration  onto  the  album,  whispers  are  also  utilized  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

 A  later  song  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  power  metal  style  vocals  and  there  is  also  a  brief use  of  spoken word  parts  on  a  later  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  aftermath  of  the  aliens  being  beat  by  humans  and  their  resurrections  of  their  long  dead  queen  and  cloning  an  album  to  escape  their  long  dead  planet.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bryan  Eckerman  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  death  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sands  Of  The  Hourglass"  "Plague  Bringers"  "Astral  Realms"  and  "Tomorrow's  Lie".  8/5  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/bryaneckermannofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/bryaneckermann/ 

Bryan Eckermann on YouTube       

Siren's Rain/Rise Forth/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Siren's  Rain  are  a  band  from  Lakewood,  Washington  that  plays  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Rise  Forth"  which  will b e  released  in  October.

  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  poetic  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  before  adding  into  some  nature  sounds  and  also  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  clean  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of t he  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Clean  female  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  songs  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  song  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  album  as  well  as  some  angry  sounding  shouts  also  being  utilized  more  as  the  recording  progresses.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek,  Viking  and  Pacific  Northwest  Mythology.

  In  my  opinion  Siren's  Rain  are  a  very  great  sounding  folk  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Keepers"  "Pennies  For  The  Ferryman"  and  "Discarded  hope".  8  out  of  10.

Website: https://www.sirensrain.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sirensrainmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirensrainband/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sirensrainband

Pre-Order digital album: https://sirensrain.bandcamp.com/album/rise-forth  

  

    

Abstracter/Abomination/Sentient Ruin Industries/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Oakland,  California's  Abstracter  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  along  with  some  elements  of  crust,  dark  ambient  and  industrial  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Abomination"  which  will b e  released  in  October  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

   A  very  slow,  dark,  heavy  and  apocalyptic  sounding  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  crust  elements  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  Vocals  also  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in a  decent  balance  between  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a  t ouch  of  dark  ambient  when  they  are  utilized.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  industrial  style  noises  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  the  album  progresses.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  pessimism,  misanthropy,  the  apocalypse  and  antichrist  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Abstracter  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  with  some  touches  of  crust,  dark  ambient  and  industrial  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eclipse  Born"  and  "Lighteater".  8  out  of  10.

BANDCAMP RELEASE        

Alkuharmonian Kantaja/Shadowy Peripherals/I, Voidhanger Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Alkuharmonian  Kantaja  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  an  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2021  album  "Shadowy  peripherals"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  A  very  heavy  yet  avant  garde  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  keyboards  are  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  clean  avant  garde  style  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  songs  also  mix  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences  as  well  as  keeping  it  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  Whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  depths  of  the  human  mind,  spirit  and  self.

  In  my  opinion  Alkuharmonian  Kantaja  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shadowy  Peripherals"  "Hounds  Of  man"  and  "Past  the  Final  Winter".  8  out  of  10.

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/shadowy-peripherals

 

Spectral Darkwave/At Outer Dark/Occidental Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Spectral  Darkwave  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  dark,  doom,  death  and  industrial  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "At  Outer  Dark"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Occidental  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  symphonic  sounds  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  dark  and  doom  metal.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  spoken  word  parts  also  making  a  brief  return  as  well  as  the  music  also  capturing  a  sci-fi  atmosphere  at  times,  operatic  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  touches  of  industrial  can  also  be  heard  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Alien  Technology  and  Ancient  Magick  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Spectral  Darkwave  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  dark,  doom,  death  and  industrial  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "731"  "The  Founding  of  Man"  "A  Season  of  Abyssal  Screams"  and  "At  Outer  Dark".  8  out  of  10.

www.spectraldarkwave.com

https://youtu.be/-Z5WQozY028  

    

        

Nothing Is Real/Transmissions Of The Unearthly/Cave Dweller Productions/2021 Double CD Review

 

  Nothing  Is  Real  are  a  band  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  psychedelic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of their   2021  double  album  "Transmissions  Of  The  Unearthly"  which  will  be  released  on  Halloween  by  Cave  Dweller  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  elements  of  stone r rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  mostly  blackened  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  retro  orientated  style.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  progressive  moments  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  some  psychedelic  touches.

  Growls  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals,  as  the  album  progresses  a  couple  of  instrumentals  can  also  be  heard  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Nothing  Is  Real  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  and  psychedelic  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  stoner  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tyrant  of  The  Unreal"  "Sickened  Samsara"  "King  Of  The  Wastelands"  and  "A  Passion  Greater  Than  Life  And  Death".  8  out  fo  10.

  

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NervoChaos/Dug Up (Diabolical Revelations)/Xenocorp/2021 CD Review

 

  Brazil's  NervoChaos  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  mixture  of  black, death,  doom,  thrash  metal  and  hardcore  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Dug  Up  (Diabolical  Revelations) "  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Xenocorp.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  a  few  seconds  later.  Black  metal s creams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  mid  tempo  sections  also  show  an  influence  of  hardcore  punk  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  old  school  extreme  metal  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Some  of  the  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  the  music  slows  down  touches  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  briefly  on  the  closing  song.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover    Satanism,  Occultism,  Anti  Christianity  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  NervoChaos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom,  death,  thrash  metal and  hardcore  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Hate  Your  God"  "Pazuzu  Is  Here"  "Dark  Chaotic  Destruction"  and  "The  Devil's  Work".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/y1dXe4IrIkU      

Mastiff/Leave Me The Ashes Of The Earth/(eOne)/2021 CD Review

 

  Mastiff  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  grind,  hardcore  and  power  violence  and  this  is  a  review  if  their  2021  album  "Leave  me  The  Ashes  Of  the  Earth"  which  was  released  by  (EOne).

  Dark  soundscapes  and  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drum  beats  a  few  seconds  later.  the  bass  guitars  also  have  a  very  dominant  sound  throughout  the  recording  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  some  high  pitched  blackened  screams  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in t he  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements  can b e  heard  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing.  Hardcore  style  shouts  and  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  showing  influences  of  power  violence  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  short  in  length,  distorted  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  riffing  and  harsh  noises  can  also b e  heard  briefly.

  Mastiff  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  grind,  hardcore  and  power  violence  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  betrayal,  depression,  self-loathing  and  total  despair  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mastiff  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  grind,  hardcore  and  power  violence  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Hiss"  "Midnight  Creeper"  "Endless"  and  "Lung  Rust".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.mastiff-hchc.com
http://www.facebook.com/mastiffhchc
http://twitter.com/mastiffhchc?lang=en

http://www.instagram.com/mastiffhchc      

Aeons Interview

 

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

Sure. We’re from the Isle of Man, which is a large island between mainland England and Ireland. It’s isolated but beautiful and full of people who love going to the pub and watching live bands. What more is there to ask for? Aeons formed from the Manx Metal scene in 2016 and released the first album in 2019. “A Tragic End” did exceptionally well, but COVID ruined our chances of touring and promoting. So, we spent the time wisely and wrote the second album over 2020. The IOM didn’t have the lockdowns other countries had to suffer so we were lucky to be able to practice and gig locally almost the entire time. We could not have produced the new album otherwise. We were lucky.

 

2.You have a new album coming out in September, musically how does it differ from your previous release?

“A Tragic End” was us finding our feet and rising to the challenges of writing complicated music. It’s a great album and I love listening to it and playing it live but “Consequences” is like two steps ahead. The song writing is tighter, the themes more defined, arrangements dialled in and the performance honed. The thematic concepts are still very Aeons, but the package is a firmer whole. These aren’t just cool riffs with singing on the top; These are very much works from the heart.

 

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

The lyrics are an integral part of the song-writing process, so a song is shaped by its theme. For that we usually look to historical tales, emotional introspection, character studies or modern allegories. Consequences asks questions of ourselves, of others and – of course – the consequences of each of those scenarios. That’s the pervasive theme. We are looking for concepts that intrigue us with a good story to tell. There is a booklet with the CD and a digital version of the lyrics with the digital downloads because they can hopefully be read as a work of literature not just as words to a song.

 

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

In 2015 I wrote a song called “Strange Aeons” when I was in another band and while Skippy the singer was over he said “If you ever want to start a band to play music like that I’m in.” So we did. I think we were three songs in and were giving them shortened names in the group chat, so when Scott said “Aeons” meaning that song I just liked the way it looked. It speaks of deep time and sounds expansive. Which is exactly what we were looking for to describe the music. We all instantly agreed – which is the most unusual thing for the five of us to ever happen – and there you go… And of course we write long songs so it’s literally describing how long it ill take to listen to one…

 

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

Consequences was originally going to be EP1 of a two EP set, with the other being called “Gods and Monsters”, but we realised a 4-track EP wasn’t going to be enough to contain the concept so we expanded. The Butterfly cover art is a direct reflection of the chaos theory term which I’m sure everyone knows about : A butterfly flapping it’s wings and causing a tornado weeks later somewhere else. While that’s not really the exact context of the quote it’s an easily recognisable iconography and I think when you see a butterfly and the word “Consequences” they sit well together as shorthand. And it looks pretty. Which always helps.

As for “Gods and Monsters”… Well, you’ll have to wait a little…

 

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

Unfortunately, COVID scrapped our biggest plans to tour in 2020 – as I’m sure everyone else will bitch about equally! So, for now we’ve just been playing locally, again lucky enough to do so during the Pandemic while others were not so fortunate. But for me the best gig so far was the 2019 “A Tragic End” album launch where in a close, packed venue, we had everyone singing our choruses back to us and dancing along to every song. We hadn’t played live for six months before then and it blew our minds. The Consequences launch gig is coming up soon and we are already buzzing thinking about that one… The IOM music scene is the best in the world.

 

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

Heh…. Under discussion. Between ourselves and other people. We’ll let you know. I think Consequences has shown off what we can do and made some people sit up and notice us. Which is hard enough to manage when you are stuck on an island in the Irish Sea. Let’s see what happens …

 

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

We were stunned by the response! We sold A Tragic End in so many countries I lost count. I started to colour in a map I had on my wall for every country we had sold to, but it just became a nightmare to maintain. We couldn’t believe it. Again, we are so lucky the metal fan scene is so exceptionally behind the artists. We attended the World Metal Conference in 2019 and stay in touch with the Global Metal Community. Hopefully they will like Consequences as much as they seemed to enjoy A Tragic End. Every time we get an email or a FB message from someone in another country saying how much they like what we do it makes us appreciate the community even more… Again, we are lucky… You lot are awesome. Never forget that.

 

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

We try and keep a ratio of “catchy banger” to “long prog” so we don’t alienate any one musical preference over the other.  But recently we just said to each other “no genre is out of the question.” We should just do what we feel like. I hate genre boundaries. As long as it’s full of groove, melody and vocal hooks and slams like only metal can we are all in for anything.

 

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 know a lot of bands say this but we really are an eclectic bunch. Of assholes maybe but definitely eclectic. I think the only band we agree on is Aeons. As long as it’s crushingly heavy, full of melody, has dynamics and makes us want to sing along then it’s all good with us. Between us we like practically everything : Metal, Jazz, Country, EDM, DnB, Hop-Hop, Orchestral, whatever…

As far as other bands outside Aeons go we as a 5 only agree on one. Opeth. Literally that’s it. But that’s what keeps us unique. We have to satisfy 5 different tastes with everything. And it brings genre influences in way outside the usual to the writing.

Oh wait… Mick Gordon. Yeah, definitely Mick Gordon. So that’s two other bands we all agree on. Just two.

 

11.How would you describe the metal scene in 'Isle of Man'?

Fucking incredible. Honestly there is a scene for almost anything here: Celtic music, Rock, EDM, Nu-Folk, Hip Hop, whatever. But the two biggest for us are the Manx Punk and the Manx Metal scenes. Which are basically the same people at their core. Everyone respects and supports each other. I’m not just saying that to be sound gracious, I totally mean it. Again, the IOM is a special place and they are special people. You should all come over here and hang out. You’d all love it …

 

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

Just that we hope you’re all safe and happy in these troubled times, and that if you get the opportunity we’d love you to listen to Aeons and the Consequences album and hope that it makes you feel a little better about the world. And put a smile on your face and throw some horns in the air. Go on, have a little mosh around the front room. No one will mind. Not if it’s loud enough….

Head to the Aeons website
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