Thulnar Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1.Well, I'm a one-man band based in northern Italy. I put my first mp3 online back in 2004, very raw material. That year was a discovery... meaning I had to learn everything by myself: notation, orchestration and the use of a sequencer. My long-time friend Elrick Blackcrow helped me a lot with everything and he's the other pillar of Thulnar. Oh, about the name: Thulnar is the main character's name of the lore behind all my music, crafted by Elric and I. Because, you know, if you want to label yourself "Extreme Fantasy Metal", a concept is capital.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings?
2.The musical sound is pompous and symphonic. I repeat: symphonic. Orchestra in my mind has the importance of the classic rock/metal quartet in the final mix balance, not a mere keyboard put in the rear. This often complicates things with producers and engineers, but once they understand my vision, everything flows smoothly.  So, think about Thulnar like Rhapsody (of Fire) plus Summoning and you get the idea.

3.This is the first release to come out in 8 years, can you tell us a little bit more bout what has been going on during that time frame?
3.Meanwhile, I released two demos, called "Thulnar Demo" (you cand find it online) and "The End of the Blissful Days" (try it on my Soundcloud page!).

4.Your lyrics cover Fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?
4.This answer could last pages! Apart from classic philosophy books, my other readings are related to fantasy fiction. I buy stuff and stuff on Amazon Kindle just for the sake of discovering new and interesting fantasy authors; I read them in English, 'cause the vast majority is unpublished here in Italy... even if the knowledge of the language itself is far from perfect.

5.Originally the band was called 'Darken', what was the decision behind the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Thulnar'?
5.Well, "Darken" in a very common name in the metal... culture, underground? Call it the way you prefer. So back in the days I decided to change the moniker to avoid possible copyright trouble, just in the case the band will grow.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?
6.I read, everyday, of splitted bands... Of founder members and main composer kicked out from the project they had created. Metal and rock, and metal and rock community as well, are not so deeply respectful towards composers and thus they lament downfall quality when these persons leave bands. Think about it: we remember Mozart and Beethoven, not the guys playing their stuff.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
7.I'm not actively looking, because I lost hope. And some patience as well. Very few labels now-a-days want to take risks, they want bands that already sell. So... how can you call yourself an entrepreneur without taking risks? I just don't get it.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal?
8.In eleven years now, only a moderately bad review. I can't rely on music for a living, at all, but since my songs are genre mixed I can get a bit of attention. In the beginning, I didn't have so much expectations, but now the overall project is evolving slowly, yet in a positive way.

9.Are any of the band members also involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?
9.Elric, my singer, is involved in another Italian band called "Mors Tua", where he writes lyrics and plays trumpet. Yes, he's a classical trumpet Maestro, playing in various European symphonic orchestras all year around. By the way, check this out, if you are curious about "Mors Tua"! http://ilmaleproduction.bandcamp.com/

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
10.Musically, the band will follow the same genre directions. I will try to improve the quality more and more, 'cause I'm never satisfied, of course. I'm planning to release a single in 2016,  "Bellum".

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?
11.Rhapsody are my main inspirations. Hollywood movies' soundtracks as well. Early Immortal too. Mix these three elements and you obtain Thulnar!

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
12.Gaming and sport, road cycling and bodybuilding above all!

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13.Final thoughts are about the music industry. Always remember it's the fans who make the industry. We artists are creative and we are entertainers, but our art is inside of us. Without the listeners' minds, our art is a dead end. So, listen to music without genre boundaries and support the artists!

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The Canyon Observer/FVCK/Kapa Records/2015 CD Review

  The  Canyon  Observer  are  a  band  from  Slovenia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge  and  doom  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "FVCK"  which  was  released  by  Kapa  Records.

  Drum  beats  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavy  sludge  metal  direction  along  with  some  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  elements  of  post  metal  and  after  awhile  death  metal  growls  can  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  being utilized  at  times.

   Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing  being  brought  into  some  of  the  tracks  and  the  music  also  brings  in  elements  of  experimental,  noise  and  drone  at  times  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  on  the  last  track  the  music  starts  to  speed  up  briefly  and  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats.

  The  Canyon  Observer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal,  sludge,  doom  and  post  metal  and  mixes  it  in  with  a  touch  of  experimental,  noise  and  drone  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  disturbing  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Canyon  Observer  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  metal,  sludge  and  doom  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Bounds  Tied Tight"  and  "All  Of  her,  Mine".  8  out  of  10.

Solomonic Demons Interview

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


Solomonic Demons is not just and Ordinary Metal Band even if I'm no the best skilled Musician or Lyricist outside I try to put all My effort in the composition of the Solomonic Demons music trying to give the band an Unique sound with lyrics  of Occultism, Death and Ordinary man issues this is the result of 6 years trying to find the adequate sound because Solomonic Demons is not just music is a cult.


2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recordings/


I focus in Keeping the sound  Raw and Clean; this may sound a contradiction but Metal genre has so many subgeners so is Possible even if Im not an Engineer. I know how I wanna sound it has to be Heavy Thrash and Death.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the music?


The Main Idea of Solomonic Demons was Demonology I was so obsessed with the grimoire of  the Lesser key of Solomon in 2009 that I decided to create a Project only to focus on the Invocation and description of the Demons founded on the spell books. The album Firestorm is divided in 2 parts  the first part is the Invocation  that focus Lyrics on the topic mentioned already Demonology theres no Satanic themes so far on the lyrics do not get confused , The Second part is the Evil part  were Lyrical themes are more about Death, War and Real world issues also the music is more faster and

less melodic in this part of the album.


4.Your name is Beelzebul and the band name and some of the songs are based upon the Goetia, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the occult?


Beelzebul cause destruction through tyrants,  cause demons to be worshipped among men, to excite priests to lust, to cause jealousies in cities and murders, and to bring on war when you hear Solomonic  Demons thats what you expect and only the prince of Hell can sign that thats why I call myself Beelzebul, Like I Mentioned Before I was obsessed with Demonology on some point of my life and maybe Im still

thats the Flame that Solomonic Demons always going to need.


5.From 2008 to 2013 there was no music being released can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?


The Project had to many Music changes over the years I never was satisfied until 2013 maybe 10 demos were recorded before I cud present a solid Idea thats why so many years.


6.With this musical project you record everything by yourself but also have a full band on the side, how would you compare the two?


Solomonic Demons and Notas Fantasmas are to different.  Notas Fantasmas is a Black Metal band and focus in Satanic themes is faster even blast

beats  is more nasty like a wild child running with no focus more than destruction.


7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal?


I had seen a lot of reviews and this makes me very happy by the way Im trying to make this thing even better and I can promise next music is going to be better and more technical


8.What is going on with your other band these days?


unfortunately Notas Fantasmas broke up on 2012 I couldn't Make Black Metal anymore I don't feel myself as a Satanic  person without that you cant make black metal even if you just sing just about blasphemy


9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?


I hope I can tour worldwide with the project I want people to see Solomonic Demons live more albums are coming like i said this is just the beginning


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 love Metal and I have to many influences and I cant list them all but I can list Solomonic  Demons influences: Atomizer ( Aus ) Coven ( 60s Rock band ), Amorphis, Angel Witch, Destroyer 666, Crematory, Deathhammer, Decapitated, Megadeth, Dissection, Devil Lee Rot, Mercyful fate, Metalucifer and a few more that I don't remember right now. I collect Vinyls Records I love to buy music from New bands that I like and Oldies reiused


11.What are some of your non musical interests?


I have family wife and kids so when Im not either Working or making Music Im spending my time with them


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


Im really pleased that I finally was able to exposed Solomonic Demons to the World I was working for years in this project but I promise that this just the beginning of Solomonic Demons journey

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Eshtadur/Oblivion/RebelSign/2015 EP Review

  Eshtadur  are  a  band  from  Columbia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  ep  "Oblivion"  which will  be  released in  December by  RebelSign.

  Symphonic  style  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  before  adding  in  heavy  and  melodic  guitar  riffs  that  also  add  in  a  touch  of  thrash  and  a  few  seconds  later  aggressive  vocals  make  their  presence  known  on  the  recording  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  more  modern  metal  elements  that  where  not  on the  previous  recording.

  When  the  music  speeds  up a   great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  adds  in  more  of  a  melodic  death  metal  style  along  with  some  growling  vocals  and  they  also  mix  the  symphonic  and  heavier  parts  together  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  there  is  also a  brief  use  of  spoken  word parts.

  On  this  recording  Eshtadur takes  a  modern  style  of  melodic  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  symphonic  black  metal  to  create  a  style  of their  own  on  this  ep.  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  rebellion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Eshtadur  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  the  more  melodic  styles  of  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Last  Day  Of  the  Condor"  and  "The  Currency  Of  My  Empire".  8  out  of  10.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Eshtadur-177549565617566
Bandcamp: https://eshtadur.bandcamp.com/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/Flechas666JorgeLopez
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/eshtadur
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/eshtadur
'In a Trance With Darkness' (Official Video): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C_WI--hyp8

Solomonic Demons/Firestorm/Merdumgiriz/2015 CD Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Blood Of The Wolf Interview

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So far it’s been all positive.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

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

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

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

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

I have no interest in either.

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

None. Thank you for the interview!

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