And Harmony Dies/Ballast/Club Inferno Ent./2022 CD Review

 

  And  Harmony  Dies  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  avant  garde  form  of  post  black  metal  with  some  elements  of  death,  doom,  thrash  metal  and  influences  from  non  metal  genres  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Ballast"  which  will  be  released  on  January  31st  by  Club  Inferno  Ent..

  Dark  soundscapes  and  electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  at  times  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Some  of  the  songs  also  capture  the  atmosphere  of  a  movie  soundtrack  along  with  the  pianos  also  taking  the  music  into  more  of  an  avant  garde  direction  when  they  are utilized.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  decent  amount  of  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  fast  parts   along  with  synths  being  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  touches  of  world  music.  

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  showing  an  influence  of  doom  metal,  some  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  also  adds  in  touches  of  thrash  metal  and  as  the  recording  progresses  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  tracks,  one  song  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  album  and  towards  the  end  acoustic  guitars  are  also  utilized.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  issues  related  to  the  soul  of  a  human  being.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  And  Harmony  Dies  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  post  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Alhena's  Chief  In  The  Golden  Spiral"  "Leave  Now"  and  "How  To  Lighten  Daily  Weights".  8  out  of  10.

http://facebook.com/AndHarmonyDies

  

  

  

      

Destillat Interview

 

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

Destillat is a Death/Black Metal band from Leipzig, Germany. The current line-up of the band is together since 2015. We’ve put out two EP’s in 2018 and 2019 and just released our first full length album in December of 2021.

 

2.A few months back you also released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

For us, the two EP’s were a way for us to establish the current line up and also to find out how we can utilize the strength of each member and put them into our songwriting and playing. With the full-length we were able to make use of the learnings we earned from these previous two EP’s, which helped us to become better songwriters and also to sharpen the musical style that we’re going for.

 

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

What we try to do with our lyrics is to use stories, that happened in the past and put them into a context that makes them relevant today. This is really the part in which we put our personalities as well. We feel like that our society is at a point where we tend to repeat mistakes we’ve already made in the past. So we want to create an opportunity to actually learn from these mistakes and reflect our own actions by telling these stories. On the album we tried to structure this in a way where start things off with a realization (Broken Chalice), through stories of genocide (Black 47), loss (The Forgotten sons Pt. II), corruption (The Forgotten Sons Pt. I), abuse (Black Horizons) until we finally write our „Last Chapter“. The last song though is an ode to what could make live on this planet so precious and valuable for all of us. Something that is soon to be lost but still holds a glimmer of hope. Something that is worth fighting for. The „Lost Chapter“.

 

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

To be completely honest, there is really no deeper meaning behind the name. Just a general excitement for booze :D

 

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

The artwork was painted by our friend and tattoo artist Marie-Luise Thurm (Tomasdottir Artworks). The cover painting is an interpretation of the album name “Under Black Horizons”. It shows how threatening and even at times overwhelming live and the current state of our world can be. For us it also holds the meaning of darkness and death that’s going to come to all of us if we’re not able to change the way we life and treat our environment.

The additional artworks for the songs were painted by our guitarist Nick.

 

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

We personally really love the small venues, that barely have any separation between stage and audience and when the whole show is just about the energy between the band and the crowd.

 

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

We kind of see that record as the first release that really carries the identity of our band. So right now for us it’s all about finding out what people think of the record and also to make the most out of it. Introducing our music to labels is definitely a part of this, but we see that more as an opportunity for future releases and not the current album.

 

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

Reactions have been pretty overwhelming so far. Not just to the music but also to our video for “Broken Chalice” and the documentary we did companying the recording process. Also getting coverage for the band outside of Germany and getting to know people worldwide, who care about the band, is really exciting and something we never expected to happen.

 

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

The goal is to expand the sound of the band and bring in different musical styles and genres we haven’t tried before. We’re always excited about trying new things and fusing different elements into songs that we find exciting to listen to. Another thing we’d love to continue in the future is working with guest musicians who can bring new elements to the music.

 

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?

We take a lot of inspiration from bands that carry a storytelling approach in their songs, both musically and lyrically. To name a few, this could be bands like Opeth, Primordial or Eluveitie. But we also value a lot of music outside the metal genre, since we feel like there are many shades that can add to a feeling of depressions, melancholy or darkness.

 

11.What are some of your non musical interests?

We really value the community within and around the band like a family. That’s why we spend a lot of time together outside of playing music or “working” for the band as well. This could be things like having nice barbecues, planning our own vegetable gardens or nerding out on American football.

 

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

We really appreciate you for taking the time and giving us the opportunity to do this interview. It’s great to see that people care and that the record is doing so well. This album has also been a great opportunity for us to build a community of creative and caring people around our band and we’d like to thank all of them for their contributions and support. Spread the love and be nice to each other.

Bandcamp: https://destillat.bandcamp. com/album/under-black-horizons

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ destillat666

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UCQG2L7cNGmGsLydnHdy7LXg

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ album/22bgHo6UHqwiXo9qWy1WOB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ destillat_metal/

Other: https://linktr.ee/destillat

Luna 13/Gorgo/Cleopatra Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Luna  13  are  a  duo  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial,  electronica  and  bass  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Gorgo"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Cleopatra  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  industrial  elements.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Demonic  voices  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  some  touches  of  electronica  and  drum'n'bass,  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard. 

  On  this  recording  Luna  13  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black  metal,  industrial  and  electronica  that  they h ad  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Anti  Religion  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Luna  13  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal,  industrial,  electronica  and  bass  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Till  There's  Nothing  Left"  "Gorgo"  "Her  infernal  majesty"  and  "Upside  Down".  8  out  of  10.

https://luna13music.bandcamp.com/album/gorgo
http://www.luna13official.com/

https://youtu.be/49AWwpLnNhY

       

Mystic Circle/Self Titled/Atomic Fire Records/2022 CD Review

 

  Mystic  Circle  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  history  that  goes  all  the  way  back  to  the  90's  and  plays  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2022  album  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Atomic  Fire  Records.

  Cinematic  sounds  and  spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.

  Death  metal  can  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style.

  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  word  samples  also  return  on  later  songs  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  also  closes  with  a  cover  of  Possessed's  "Death  Metal".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Left  Hand  Path,  Occultism,  Demonology  and  Darkness  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mystic  Circle  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Belial  Is  My  Name"  "Letters  From  The  Devil"  "The  Arrival  Of  Baphomet"  and  "Satanic  Mistress".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGSlQQysk5c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-OkHNSsMIY

http://www.facebook.com/mysticcircleofficial

http://www.instagram.com/mystic_circle_official         

Destillat/Under Black Horizons/2021 CD Review

 

  Destillat  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  2021  album  "Under  Black  Horizons".

  A  very  apocalyptic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  acoustic  guitars  also  returning  on  some  of  the  later  songs  as  well  as  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  Swedish  influences  as  well as  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  moments,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  spoken  word  parts,  clear  vocals,  lap  steel  guitars  and  pianos  are  also  utilized  briefly,  female  vocals  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  society  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Destillat  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  "Broken  Chalice"  "Black  Horizons"  and  "Lost  Chapter".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp: https://destillat.bandcamp. com/album/under-black-horizons

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ destillat666

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UCQG2L7cNGmGsLydnHdy7LXg

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ album/22bgHo6UHqwiXo9qWy1WOB

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ destillat_metal/

Other: https://linktr.ee/destillat  

Fall Of Stasis/The Chronophagist/2022 CD Review

 

  Fall  Of  Stasis  are  a  band  from  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "The  Chronophagist"  which  will  be  released  in  February.

  Acoustic  guitars  which  also  return  on  later  songs  and  dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  symphonic  sounding  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  The  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  folk  instruments  onto  the  recording,  melodic  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  paganism,  modern  social  issues  and  personal  experiences.  

  In  my  opinion  Fall  of  Stasis  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fall  Of  Stasis"  "The  Cult"  and  "Swarm  of  Casualties".  8  out  of  10.

​Fallofstasis.com​
​Facebook.com/fallofstasis​

​Instagram.com/fallofstasis        

  

(Dolch)/Nacht/Van Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  (Dolch)  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  started  out  as  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  metal  and  drone  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  post  punk,  ambient  and  drone  with  some  touches  of  doom  metal  2022  album  "Nacht"  which  will be  released  in  February  by  Van  Records.

  Dark  ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  a  few  seconds  later  while  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of t he  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  some  touches  of  post  punk  and  the  slower  riffing  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  whispers.  Clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  (Dolch)  moves  away  from  the  black  emtal  elements  of  previous  releases  and  brings  in  more  of  a  mixture  of  post  punk,  darkwave,  dark  ambient  and  drone  as  well  as  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Night  Time  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  (Dolch)  are  a  very  decent  sounding  mixture  of  post  punk,  darkwave,  dark  ambient  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lights  Out"  "Into  The  Night"  "Bird  of  Prey"  and  "Coda".  7/5  OUT  OF  10.

https://youtu.be/E44MYlkzk9M

https://youtu.be/cz14y5ddCsg    

Atrium Noctis/Self Titled/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Atrium  Noctis  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  and  self  titled  2022  album  which  will b e  released  in  February.

  Winter  sounds  and  bells  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  symphonic  musical  direction  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Vocals are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard.

  A  lot  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  metal  elements  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  female  vocals  onto  the  recording,  flutes  and  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  a  couple  of  songs  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of  whispers  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  German  and  cover Nature,  Occultism,  Mythology  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Atrium  Noctis  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  dark  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Azazel"  "Ancient  Whispers"  and  "Spuren  eines  Wolfes".  8  out  of  10.

videos    

Apes/Lullabies For Eternal Sleep/Translation Loss Records/2022 EP Review

 

  Apes  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal,  grind  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  ep  "Lullabies  For  Eternal  Sleep"  which  was  released  by  Translation  Loss  Records.

  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  grindcore  direction  which  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals are  mostly  done  in  a  growling  or  shouting  style  along  with  some  screams  while  the  tremolo  picking  also  adds  in  elements  of  black  metal  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  show  an  influence  of  sludge  metal.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffing  also  has  its  dissonant  and  melodic  moments.  The  mid  tempo  sections  also  show  an  influence  of  hardcore  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Apes  takes  black,  sludge  metal,  grind,  hardcore  and  noise  and  mix  them  together  to  create  a  very  aggressive  sounding  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  nihilistic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apes  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal,  grind,  hardcore  and  noise,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cornwall"  and  "Sore".  8  out  of  10.

https://orcd.co/apesalbum    

Walg/Self Titled/Throats Productions/2021 Full Length Review

 

  

  Walg  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  melodic  and  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2021  album  which  was  released  by  Throats  Productions.

   A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  a  lot  of the  tracks  are  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  style.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  90's  symphonic  style  along  with  the  growls  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  when  they  are  added  into  the  music,  clear  vocals  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Walg  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  symphonic  in  the  90's  tradition  as  well  as  mixing  in  elements  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Humanity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Walg  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bring  The  Apocalypse"  "A  Prophecy  Fulfilled"  "God  Of  Famine"  and  "As  Blood  Flows  The  Altar".  8  out  of  10.

Debut Album "Walg"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VKyOqm9t6w

Official Music Video "Verlossing"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT5iJUdSPNU

Official Music Video "Help Ons Niet"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etv6l1JGs_Q

Links

Website: https://walgmetal.com/

Bandcamp: https://walg.bandcamp.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walg_metal/

Diabol Boruta/Zywioly/2022 CD Review

 

  Diabol  Boruta  are  a  band  form  Poland  that  plays  folk  metal  with  some  elements  of  heavy,  thrash,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "Zywioly"  which  will  be  released  on  January  17th.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Clean  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  folk  rock  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Nature  sounds  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  introduced  on  one  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  riffs  also  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  thrash  and  traditional  metal.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams,  percussions  and  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  on  one  song  the  vocals  go  into  more  of  an  aggressive  shouting  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  Slavic  mythology  and  one  song  also  covers  the  mythology  of  the  Australian  Aborigines.  

  In  my  opinion  Diaboli  Boruta  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  folk,  black,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pielgrzym"  "Of  Black  Faires"  and  "Ziema  (Dreamtime)".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/diabolboruta/ 
Bandcamp https://diaboboruta.bandcamp.com/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfzQ-kTZC4_dD1bzH_h4-g/videos

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2atZBxtqJxHl3LLPfp5hdU  

AngelBlast/Throne Of Ashes/Edged Circle/2022 EP Review

 

  AngelBlast  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Sweden  and  Canada  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2022  ep  "Throne  of  Ashes"  which  will  be  released  on  January  30th   by  Edged  Circle.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  being  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  an  old  school  style,  keyboards  and  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly. 

  AngelBlast  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  aggressive  and  melodic  in  the  Swedish  tradition.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Nephilim,  Giants  and  Demons.

  In  my  opinion  AngelBlast  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  blackened  death metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Tartarus".  8  out  of  10.

http://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/album/throne-of-ashes   

  

  

  

VVVLV/100 Years Of Defeat/Kontingent Records/2021 Full Length Review

 

  VVVLV  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "!00  Years  of  Defeat"  which  was  released  by  Kontingent  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  starts  of  the  album  while  the  slower  riffs  also  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  crust  punk  elements  can  also  be  heard  while  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  shouting  and  spoken  style  vocals  as  well  as one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  spoken  word  samples  are  also  added  briefly  towards  the  end.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  VVVLV  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  d  beat  and  crust  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crisis"  and  "Magnolia".  8  out  of  10.

https://vvvlv.bandcamp.com/album/100-years-of-defeat

Crowen Interview

 

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

Crowen is metal band from Finland and the music is kind of folk/black/death metal. I'm still fine tuning the style because I like different styles of music.

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

I didn’t really have a plan when I was making the songs, I just created whatever came out. I was actually surprised about the folk style myself, but I think it sounds good. The process felt natural, and I enjoyed it and just kept on going.

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

I spoke with Nina Kärki who wrote all the lyrics, expect for one song (Black), and said to her that I wanted the songs to have a Viking theme, so Nina focused on that. I wanted the songs to capture the feeling of Vikings in a battle. For example, the song Exosus is about a person who is hated by others. 

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

It comes from the words “Crow” and “Raven”. For me it's somehow mythical. 

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

I talked with my old neighbor Minna Heikkilä @minzkiva who is a professional photographer and asked her if she could take some promo pictures of me for the EP cover. We were hanging out in a forest in Tampere, Finland and listened to some terrible Viking music. Then we realized how bad it really was and just had a lot of fun doing the shoot. That way she took a lot of good pictures and a few of them ended up on the cover. 

6.Orignally the band started out as a solo project but now has a full line up, what was the decision behind bringing in new members?

Actually nothing has changed. Crowen is still my solo project, but for live shows there is a line up. 

For future live shows I need good and talented people to play with me, and a new guy Mikko Merilinna was perfect for Crowen. He plays the other guitar and all the lead parts as well. 

The song making process is still the same. I still work in my studio where I make new songs and record everything by myself. That’s my thing, and that’s what I love to do. Sometimes it's hard to hear if all the parts like guitars, bass, vocals etc. sound right. So, Samuli Peltola from the band Medeia is the other producer who always listens to my songs and tells me if something should be changed. Usually he tells me to move the guitars about 5mm back or something like that. He also checks some mixing stuff as well. He’s a very talented musician. 

7.has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

We haven't done any live shows yet, but we will in 2022.

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

I have no idea! 

9.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?

Mikko Merilinna plays in the band Khroma, and Teemu Hauta (drummer) plays in the band Nummirock. 

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

This is hard. Maybe next year or later. I was thinking about a few singles and another EP for next year. I already have two songs ready, which are coming out next year. I have a song with the working title "Nameless" which is very dark but slowly transforms into a beautiful song. I’m planning to make a very deep, beautiful and dark music video of the song with the model Kirsi Muukkonen @kkinsi. There will be a lot of blood, of course, and we will die in a beautiful way, haha. The other song has a folk, death, black style, and I'm focusing on that direction with future songs as well. 

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?

Well, it’s hard to speak for others, but I like Behemoth, Septicflesh and Finntroll. 

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

People, go to FB and Instagram and follow Crowen, thank you! You can find more news about Crowen online and listen to the Prophecy EP from Spotify. See ya! 

- Esa Uusimaa, Crowen

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crowenofficial 

Bandcamp: https://crowen.bandcamp.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Crowen86924114

Xhamain/Na Alma/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Xhamain  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  folk  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Na  Alma".

  Celtic  folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  spoken  word  parts  are  utilized  briefly  they  also  give  the  recording   more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  When  clear  vocals  are  brought  into  the  music  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  power  metal  while  symphonic  sounds  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  plating  onto  the  album,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  style.

  Xhamain  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  the  melodic and  symphonic  sides  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  and  power  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics cover  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Xhamain  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  folk  and  power  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Eterna  Soedade"  "Xunto  A  Ti"  and  "Plenilunio,  Pt.  3  (Amencer)".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/xhamain/

https://www.facebook.com/Xhamain

https://xhamain.com/

https://youtu.be/h8_n0Q0d1TE

https://open.spotify.com/album/6ZtXsqNnI529Vw67JgsAd9

  

Hellfrost 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 working hard on our online presence as well as getting show ready. We have a lot of big plans for the near future.

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

Hellfrost is an ever evolving band. I go to a lot of concerts and I audience watch. I like to feel the energy from an excited crowd. I always look at our new songs from the audience perspective. What will get the best reaction at the show? I want every album to have its own vibe. I've met fans who haven't seen us live in a long time and they always tell me that the band sounds totally different from the last time they saw us. 

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

When it comes to lyrics we usually write about what's going on in the world around us. Music is a reflection of the times. We try to avoid your typical metal themes. We don't write about Satanism or even curse in our music.

4.On one of your older albums you also covered some paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

With my lyric writing I'm always looking for new and interesting topics. I listen to other people for ideas and inspiration all the time. Our former guitarist we were working with during Pagan Son suggested the idea and we just went with it. Every album we release has its own theme. Extinction is about man destroying nature and Dark Ages is about all the craziness in the last two years. 

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

The name comes from the idea that the universe is made up of opposites. Night and day, the sun and moon, heaven and hell etc. 

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

The album cover is artwork from Psalter of Bonne de Luxembourg which is an illustrated manuscript from the year 1349. This was during the black plague era. There's a story that goes with the art called The Three Living and the Three Dead which we drew some inspiration from in the lyrics.

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?

The best show we played recently was Tampa Death Fest 2021 at The Brass Mug in Tampa FL. We brought a lively, high energy performance that the fans truly appreciated. The true spirit of Hellfrost can only be experienced in the live setting. 

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

Right now our objective is to build our fan base. To me that's more important than trying to get signed. Fans first.

9. What are you listening to nowadays?

Nita Strauss

Children of Bodom

Gojira

Terror

Dave Brubeck

The Damned

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UCfm5Oal1W0ljZkMLNoNoKEA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ album/2MJtuo29zwPc2RjoiMyuba? si=l29DmIN9Sle16-UaQK5QQg& fbclid=IwAR390NL9-ou5Ho_ aA8fz4pZcxjnd3gtJUHo7HrAd25qBH EU-sLE0FfsPYT0&nd=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ hellfrost_naplesfl/

Tik tok: Hellfrostband

VK: https://vk.com/artist/ hellfrost

Primalfrost/Lost Elegies/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Primalfrost  are  a  solo  project  from  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  album  "Lost  Elegies"  which  will  be  released  on  December  28th.

  Symphonic  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  orchestrations.

  Some  of  the  melodies  also  show  an  influence  of  power  and  traditional  metal  along  with  some  elements  of  folk  metal  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  one  of  which  is  also  a  brief  instrumental,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  battles,  quests  and  rebellion  against  tyrannical  rule  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Primalfrost  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Maelstrom"  "Voyage  into  Ruin"  and  "T4enebrous  Skies".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook.com/Primalfrost
Instagram.com/Primalfrostofficial