Entropia Invictus Interview

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

ENTROPIA INVICTUS is a black/death symphonic metal band composed of 4 members: Pierjan playing drums, Laurent bass, Jordan guitar. For my part, I play guitar, make vocals, write lyrics and compose the symphonic parts.

Recently you have released an album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

With the album we aim at making a hybrid music between, on the one hand, an epic sound with orchestra and choirs and, and on the other hand, brutality brought by blasting drums, dark riffs and extreme vocals.

Some of your lyrics deal with Singularity and the writings of Kurzweil, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

The song “Singularity” is the point of view of the first enhanced human who becomes, in a certain way, a god among men. It deals with the topic of transhumanism. This theme fascinates me because it sounds like Sci Fi but it will be real very soon and it will raise ethical issues.


What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Entropia Invictus'?

ENTROPIA INVICTUS mean in Latin “entropy inevitable/invincible”. Entropy is a thermodynamic term which measures a system’s chaos. And this chaos can only become bigger and bigger. We think that this idea of an unstoppable force always in progress fits with the band’s mindset.

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

The best show that we played was perhaps during the Rock Metal Camp Fest in France. Our music is very theatrical so we try to create a staging that respect nuances because our set is composed of brutal and speed parts but also quiet and melancholy ones.

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

On May 9th we will play with your compatriot of Fleshgod Apocalypse in France. We are honored to do the opening for the kings of this style.

On a worldwide level, how has the feedback been to your music by fans of symphonic black metal?

The feedback is great. “Human Pantocrator” has been preordered in many country (Japan, Germany, Italy…) and comments about our video “I will overcome” are very positive.

Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

None of us is involved with another project, we are focused on ENTROPIA INVICTUS for now.

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

We are already working on new songs. The orchestral part will be more powerful and realistic and the metal part will be more varied with mid and low tempo.

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?

Septicflesh, Carach Angren, Behemoth have an influence on our music but also movies music, classical music. Nowadays I’m listening to “King” of Fleshgod Apocalypse, for me it’s a perfect balance between classical music and death metal.

What are some of your non musical interests?

The literature is one of my non musical interests. I read a lot of books of Sci Fi, Fantasy, Thriller, Philosophy, Psychology. I read one or two books per week.
I also go very often to the cinema to watch many kind of films, from blockbuster to art film.

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

Thanks for this interview. I hope you will be pleased to listen to our last album “Human Pantocrator” as much as we are pleased to play it.

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Hessaja/Planet Sedom :ISON/WOOAAARGH/2017 EP Review

  Hessaja  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  blackened  and  progressive  mixture  of  ambient,  doom  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  ep  "Planet  Sedom  :ISON"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  WOOAAARGH.

  Ambient  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  after  awhile  drum  beats  and  elements  of  post  rock  are  added  into  the  recording  along  with  some  aggressive  hardcore  style  vocals  and  after  awhile  the  music  starts  mixing  in  the  heaviness of  sludge  and  doom  metal.

 Both  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  influences  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the recording  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  and  experimental  at  times  and  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion  and  both  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Hessaja  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  progressive,  post,  ambient, black, sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hessaja  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  progressive,  post,  ambient, black, sludge  and  doom  metal    and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Nista".  8  out  of  10.

www.wooaaargh.bandcamp.com/album/hessja-planet-sedam-ison
►  VIDEO	www.youtu.be/c7S05EO4gMI

 

Everdying/December's Rainy Day/2017 EP Re-Reocrding Review

  Everdying  are  a  solo  project  from  Illinois  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  ep  "December's  Rainy  Day"  which  i  have also  reviewed  the  original  version  and  this  is  a  review  of  the  2017  re-recorded  version.

  A  very  heavy  guitar  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sounding  very  powerful  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  after  awhile  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  are  added  onto   the   recording  and  the  music  has  a  lot  of  90's  influences.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a very  melodic  fashion  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  one  track  also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  classical  guitars  as  well  as  being  all  instrumental  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction   which  they  also  mix  in  with  the  classical  guitars   at  times.

  Everdying  takes  his  older  material  and  makes  changes  on  how  he  wants  it  to  sound  in  the modern  era  while  still  keeping  everything  in  s  melodic  blackened  death  metal  style,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  life  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  re-recording  from  Everydying  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lamentation"  Lunar  Aura".  8  out  of  10.

https://everdying.bandcamp.com/

Hammerdrone/Dark Harvest/2017 Full Length Review

  Hammerdrone  are  a  band  from  Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  a  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2017  album  "Dark  Harvest"  which  will  be  released  on  March  24th.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  along  with  a  great amount  of  melodic  guitar  leads  as  well  as  a  mixture  of  deep  death  metal  growls  and  grim  black  metal  screams  and  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  melody  in  the  guitar  riffing.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  you  can  also hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  while  clean  playing  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain sections  of  the  album  and  ocean  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  one  of  the  later  tracks  is all  instrumental.

  Hammerdrone  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of t heir  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  history,  science,  stories  and  personel  event  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hammerdrone  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album. RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Karakoram"  "Black  Bison"  and  "Collapse  Of  Reality".  8  out  of  10. 

Hammerdrone

hammerdroneband@gmail.com

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Sarcasm/Within The Sphere Of Ethereal Minds/Dark Descent Records/2017 CD Review

  Sarcasm  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  melodic form  of   blackened death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Within  The  Sphere  Of  Ethereal  Minds"  which  will  be  released in  April  by  Dark  Descent  Records.

  A  very  heavy  sound  along  with  melodic  guitar  leads  start  off  the  album  and  the  riffs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  after  awhile  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  added  onto  the  recording  while  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  elements.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  classical  guitars  on  a  couple  of  songs  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  flutes  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  a  lot  of t he  fast  riffing  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  elements  of  thrash  are  added  onto  the  closing  song.

  Sarcasm  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back to  the  90's  era  of  Swedish  melodic  black  and  death  metal   before  the  genre  got  somewhat  mainstream,  the  production  sounds  very  professional while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophy,  surrealism,  and  universe  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sarcasm  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  "Bloodsoaked  Sunrise"  "Scars  of  A  Land  Forgotten"  and  "The  Drowning  Light  At  The  Edge of  Dawn".  8  out  of  10. 

www.sarcasmsweden.se

www.facebook.com/sarcasmsweden

Norse/The Divine Light Of The New Sun/Transcending Obscurity Records/2017 CD Review

  Australia's  Norse  have  returned  with  a  new  album  that  continues  the  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "The  Divine  Light  Of The  New  Sun"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  transcending  Obscurity  Records.

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic guitar  sound  starts  off  the  album a long  with  some  drum  beats  a  few  seconds  later  and  a  few  seconds  later  black  metal  screams  along  with  atmospheric  sounds  start  to  make  their  presence  known  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the recording.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  progressive  structures  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  avant  garde  elements  while  always  remaining  heavy.

  On  this  recording  Norse  takes  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal  in  a  more  dissonant and  bleak  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  misanthropy  and  escapism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Norse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  dissonant  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Supreme  Vertical  Ascent"  "The  Divine  Light  of  A  New  Sun"  "Sandarkan"  and  "Cyclic".  8  out  of  10.

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Sanatana Interview

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

Technically speaking ...

Sanatana is a conceptual project that we have created with my wife in 2016. Some friends of us and like-minded people from our circle, inspired by the Vedic worldview and the ancient culture, are the part of it.

The musical range of Sanatana is diverse and presented at once in several directions: metal and new age. This musical spectrum makes it possible to express all the meanings and sentiments embodied in Sanatana project.

2.Recently you have released a double album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

This is a double album consisting of two parts:

BRAHMA - Vedic metal with clean vocals

VIDYA - Vedic New Age

BRAHMAVIDYA uses live authentic instruments from various ancient cultures that fill the music with mysteriousness and charm. Also the sound of mantras and prayers represented on the album has a mesmerizing effect. They are performed in the ancient Sanskrit language from The Upanishads and other Vedic scriptures  and recited by active priests of the Vedic tradition.

3.Your lyrics cover Vedism, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this eastern religion?

Vedism is not a religious system but rather a worldview and attitude to the world!

The word Veda means knowledge. The Vedic knowledge was used throughout the history of mankind. Starting from the Arabic numerals that the Arabs brought from India and that are nowadays (under the binary form) run the entire world of computer systems and it continues to be revealed through the modern science.

The Vedas contain all the science and knowledge (astronomy, mathematics, Ayurveda, Yoga, philosophy, psychology, art and spiritual knowledge).

We found a lot of interesting concepts in Eastern religions, as well as something appealing to us as we were discovering some parallels with Paganism etc; so we naturally decided to integrate this knowledge to our art.

Leo Tolstoy, Schopenhauer, Goethe, Herder, Hegel, Beethoven, Heine, Rodin, Einstein, Nehru, Gandhi. С.Lassen, E.Burnouf, Aurobindo Ghose, L.Vallée, S.Radhakrishnan, S. Lévi, Russell, Wordsworth, R. Rolland, W. Whitman, H. Hesse and many others drew inspiration and knowledge from the Vedas!

The Vedas are close to us as they were part of the pre-Christian culture common on the lands occupied by the Slavs. They had a Vedic culture in tune with the indian philosophy.

The Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the world, they are written in Sanskrit, the language that we use on our album. Sanskrit is the source of all the Indo-European language group, or as it is referred Aryan.

Aryans are those who makes the difference between the spirit and the matter. Herewith it doesn’t matter to what ethnic group they belong to. It’s a certain  type of consciousness, not an affiliation to a particular nation!

According to Vedas earlier there was a unique culture on the planet that was based on the laws of the universe!


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

Sanatana means eternity in Sanskrit!

Everybody is asking the eternal questions about the purpose of life and death, their meaning. Where we came from and who we are led by. These eternal questions come from the consciousness (I) which is also eternal by its nature!

As Faust told to Mephistopheles:

“When I say to the Moment flying;

Linger a while -- thou art so fair!”

We found that moment, long as eternity!

5.Has the band done any live shows or is this a studio project?

This is a studio project for now, but we are planning to perform some live shows in future.

6.The guitarist also has a background playing more of a pagan style of black metal, how would you compare paganism with the Vedic religion?

We found pagan roots in Eastern teachings (and that’s the case, the roots are all there), it have seemed to us as a much more constructive and clear idea. We’ve accepted it, I don’t see any contradiction, but on the contrary, paganism became more meaningful and extended to me!

7.The compilation was released on 'Rising Moon Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

RISING MOON PRODUCTION is a young company founded by the organizers of the Ragnard Rock Festival. It’s not only a label, but also a booking agency.

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

All the feedbacks I’ve got so far are good, people are interested in.

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

We will stay faithful to the established musical tradition!

But I can tell you that for sure there will be some transformations.

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?

The spectrum of our musical tastes is very broad and diverse: from ethnic folk to heavy metal. Today we can listen in a jumble ambient, jazz, rock, metal, Vedic ragas, Downtempo, etc.


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

Yoga, Meditation, Vegetarianism. And I love working with video and 3D graphics, but for the moment I’m not good enough.

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

Become yourself a change maker for values that you would like to see in this world!

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