Atriarch/Dead As Truth/Relapse Records/2017 CD Review

  Atriarch  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  sludge  metal  along  with  some  elements  of  noise,  death  rock  and  post  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Dead  As  Truth"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Relapse  Records.

  Ambient  noise  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  after  a  few  seconds  drum  beats  and  melodic  vocals  are  added  onto  the recording  which  leads  up  to  more  of  a  heavier  sludge  and  doom  metal  direction  and  after  awhile  elements  of  death  rock  and  goth  are  added  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  atmospheric  synths  are  also  used  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  punk  fashion and  and  on  one  of  the  alter  tracks  the  music  speeds  up a   bit  along  with  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  last  song  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording

  Atriarch  remains  true  to  the  blackened  sludge/doom  metal  and  death  rock  mixture  of  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  destruction  and  hate  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Atriarch  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  death  rock,  black,  doom  and  sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inferno"  and  "Hopeless".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.invisibleoranges.com/atriarch-void-song-premiere/

Suns Of Sorath Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
We formed in 2009, the idea to form the band came from us, Evan and Cody, and our old drummer but now it’s back to just the two of us. We were discussing the lyrical ideas and mixture of genres we wanted to make happen, and shortly after we sought out our old Guitarist and Drummer. It took us a while to come up with the name of the band, but we quickly started writing material.

2.So far the band has released an ep, single, and a full length, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on both of the recordings and also how do they differ from each other?
Continuing from the first question, we have written so much material over the last few years that we have really attempted to keep the songs in some sort of chronological order but sometimes the feeling of one song doesn’t necessarily fit the next even when its written in the same 3-6-month time span. Mostly everything we have recorded is from the same writing era, its mostly older stuff we have written except for ‘Flowers of the Lily’ and ‘Bull of Dharma’ being a bit newer. Cody also added some new stuff to the bass lines and keys while in the studio. Vocal patterns are written on the spot and lyrics where mostly written while in the studio, with the exception of ‘Tides of Macrocosm’ and ‘Bull of Dharma’ so that adds a bit of a newer feel. We are working on new material but by the time its recorded it will be old to us.

3. Between 2011 and 2017 there was no new music being released, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?
We were playing live for some of the years during that time period but for a lot of it we didn’t have a full line which ultimately led the two of us to just start recording the songs that we have written. We were both working on some of our own musical goals during that time and some of the compositions that each of us wrote are now being used for the bands future releases.

4.Your lyrics cover some Satanic, Occult, Astrological and Spiritual themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Each of us weave our Occult philosophies into the band lyrics in a poetic way so as to not make each song at all the same. There really is no set topics we talk about so far except that each song we have written relates in some way to some discussion or idea we have had about the occult/Satanism.

5.I know that the bands name comes from the angel-demon son of Lucifer, how does this name fit in with the musical style you play?
It embodies both light and dark principles in just the musical progressions alone, while all the while continuously being as Satanic as can be. That’s about as simple as we can put it. We had a long discussion when naming the band and it’s a lot to get into in a short interview.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to having a full line up again or do you prefer to remain a duo?
We both consider us to be the founding members as well as the only composing members of the band, but we are looking and would very much like to find a live drummer capable of playing the odd times and technical stuff we play as well as a rhythm guitarist for live shows.

7.What have been some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
There have been so many good shows in the past it’s hard to pick out just a few, we have played with so many good local acts and had some pretty heavy shows. Some that come to mind are when we played with some great acts such as Satan's Host, Allegaeon, Sylosis, Vale of Pnath, and Cryogen to name a few.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We are very open to finding a label, we have not spoken to any labels yet but we are not putting outside the realm of possibilities.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
This release has been better than our last, more exposure. But it’s still a slow process getting outside of the local scene and getting larger groups of people in other countries to listen, but so far the feedback has been largely 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?
Practicing piano and Suns of Sorath is mostly what I have going on musically, but there might be some other stuff in the works, about to happen. -Cody
Recently I have been playing drums in a couple bands, Pile of Priests and Amdusias, and also another project where I do guitars and vocals called Astraeus. Pile of Priests has a full length featuring me on drums and we are in the studio right now doing an EP and single, Amdusias is gearing up for some live shows and a debut album with me on drums, and Astraeus has released a full length and a music video. -Evan

11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We have a bunch of material written for our next few recordings and a lot of it has slower tempos, but is still very progressive, and experiments with styles outside of metal at times.

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?
Metal: Therion, Voivod, Akercocke, Meshuggah, Enslaved, Metallica, Dissection, Burzum, Arcturus, Bathory
Classical: Chopin, Wagner, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussey, Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Shostakovich
Jazz: John Coltrane, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller
Classic Rock: Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath
Rap/Pop (that's right): Migos, Brotha Lynch Hung, Tech N9ne, Twista, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Rittz, Michael Jackson
Punk: Misfits, Dead Kennedys

13.What are some of your non musical interests?
Anything related to the stuff we write about, anything else isn’t very interesting.  Sometimes I watch Netflix or stupid Youtube Videos, A lot of times those are music related. -Cody
I skateboard - Evan

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us!

Bandcamp

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Shrine Of The Serpent/Black Urn/Caligari Records/2017 Split Cassette Review

 This  is  a  review  of  a  split cassette  between  Oregon's  Shrine  Of  The  Serpent and  Pennsylvania's  Black  Urn  which  was  released  by  Caligari  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Shrine  Of  The Serpent  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  and  death metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with ritualistic  sounding  bells  and  drones  before  adding  in  dark  and  heavy  doom  metal  riffing  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  is  also  very heavily  rooted  in  the  early  90's  and  both  of  their  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  decent  amount  of  melody  can  be  heard  in  the  riffing  along  with  a  brief  use  of  grim  screams  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  spoken  word  samples  are  also utilized  briefly and  both  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding recording from Shrine  Of  The  Serpent  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  sludge,  doom,  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  their side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Catacombs  Of  The  Flesh".

  Next  up  is  Black  Urn  a  band  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  metal  and  grindcore.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  powerful  sounding  bass  guitars  along  with  some  melodic  guitar  leads  being  introduced  onto  the  recording  a  few seconds  later  and  after  awhile  deep  death  metal  growls  start  to  make  their  presence  known  along  with  the  music  going  into  a  heavier  direction.

    A  great  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  can  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  while  only  one  of  the  tracks  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  high  pitched  screams  are  added  onto  the  recording  they  give  the  songs  more  of  a  black  metal  feeling  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  elements  of  grindcore  can  be  heard  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Black  Urn  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "My  Strength  Is  Within  Heavenless  Plains".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  sludge,  and  doom  metal.  8  out  of  10.

https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/split-2

Hexenklad/Spirit Of The Stone/CDN Records/2017 CD Review

  Hexenklad  are  a  band from  Ontario,  Canada that  plays  a  melodic mixture  of  black  and  folk metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album "Spirit  Of  The  Stone"  which  will  be  released  on  July  28th  by  CDN  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  epic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  black  metal  screams  and  melodic  guitar  leads  are  added  onto  the  recording  a  few  seconds  later  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while t he  keyboards  also gives  the  songs  a  more  epic  atmosphere  and  after  awhile  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  fast  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  while  spoken  word  parts  are  also  used  briefly  and  they  close  the  album  with  a  very  tribal  and  shamanistic  sounding  instrumental.

  Hexenklad  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  folk  and  melodic  black  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Magick  and  Ancient  Pagan  Religions  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hexankald  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  This  Life  Or  The  Next"  "Returned"  and  "Path  To  Ruin".  8  out  of  10. 

facebook.com/hexenklad/

Zornheym/Where Hatred Dwells And Darkness Reigns/Non Serviam Records/2017 CD Review

  Zornheym  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  symphonic form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review of  their  2017  album  "Where  Hatred  Dwells  And  Darkness  Reigns"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  A  very  sci-fi  orientated  sound  starts  off  the album  along  with  some  heavy  and  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  which  also mixes  in  with  the  symphonic  side  of  the  recording  and  after  awhile  deep  yet  grim  black  metal vocals  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats can  be  heard.

  When  guitar solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in a  very  melodic  fashion  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  there  are  also  a  couple  of  brief  instrumentals  which  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  oriental  music  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals  and  spoken  word  samples  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  last  2  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic in  length.

  Zornheym  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in symphonic  black  meta  while  also  mixing  in  some  influences  from  other  genres to  stand  out  a  bit  more,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  short  graphic  stories.

  In  my  opinion  Zornheym  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 "The Opposed"  "Trifecta Of  Horrors"  and  "Hestia.  8  out of 10.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zornheym
Twitter:: https://twitter.com/zornheym
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4eqbIWlJlGq95TC3t5HRYQ/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zornheym_official

   

 

Ledge/Cold Hard Concrete/Translation Loss Records/Hibernation Release/2017 CD Review

  Ledge  are  a  solo  project  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  power  violence  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2017  album  "Cold  Hard  Concrete"  which  will  be  released in  August  as  a  joint  effort  between  Translation  Loss  records,  and  Hibernation  Release.

  Hardcore  style  riffing  and  angry  shouting  vocals  start  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  being  very  heavily  influenced  by  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  great  amount  of  black  metal,  power  violence  and  d  beat  elements  can  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also used  briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in  elements  of  harsh  noise  and  the  music  always  remains  brutal  with  no  solos  or  leads  ever  being  utilized.

  Ledge  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  with  hardcore  and  power  violence  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  violent,  angry,  and  hateful themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ledge  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal,  power  violence  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blacked  Out"  "Fuck  Yourself"  and  "Contempt".  8  out  of  10.

Bandcamp

Tele S. Therion Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
TST was established in 2007 with the purpose of creating a variable ensemble dedicated to the esoteric side of the art of noise.

2.Recently you have released an album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented n the recording?
Michel Chion define the “acusma” as a “sensory phantasm”, consisting of a sound whose true source of emission is invisible. In this way “Luzifers Abschied” it’s a device for “ghostly” manifestation of sound masses.

3.You refer to your music as being 'acousmatic black metal, can you tell us a little bit more about this term?
Extended methods and unortodox practices of "sound fixation" and "sound reproducibility" to design the audible and the inaudible.

4.Can you tell us a little bit more about the concept behind the album and also the opera it is based upon?
It is a sort of transfiguration of the homonym score composed by Karlheinz Stockhausen, originally conceived for male chorus with mass bells, good friday clappers, organ/synth, tam-tam and seven trombones (live or tape), a caged wild black bird and a sack of coconuts.
“This opera cycle revolves around 3 archetype characters, Michael, Eve and Lucifer, and over the 29 hours each of these characters are introduced, come into conflict, face temptation and finally come into union“. – Ed Chang about the opera of Karlheinz Stockhausen –
“Luzifers Abschied” was originally composed on a commission to celebrate the 800th anniversary of St Francis of Assisi, and premiered in 1982 at the Assisi Cathedral where St Francis was baptized.A suggestive link with this sub-theme of the opera, not formally related, it is the hagiographycal essays of the saint, written by Andrea Armati, “Lo stregone di Assisi - Il volto negato di San Francesco” and “Le stimmate dello sciamano”.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Tele.S.Therion'?
Echemytia.

6.Has the band done any live shows yet? TST have done also rare public sound diffusion, but not to be intended as a music show. A public diffusion for loudspeacker orchestra and audience, is conceived as site-specific artwork, deliberately focused on the psycho-acoustic experience.
If you ask to the right people, someone could explain you better what it mean, unless he too is under the rule of silence.

7.In what part of the world is the band located in?
It is kept secret.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal and other dark or underground forms of music?
“You may have immersed yourself in the blackest of metals for decades. You may feel you have embraced the sonic distillation of evil. You may have walked the deepest catacombs of black metal’s kingdom of fire and shadows, searching out the harshest creations by the most intimidating of the face painted disciples of darkness. Not one moment of all those years, searching in the black, has prepared you for Luzifers Abschied “ [...] “To listen to this album is to walk a path you have never taken before, to see sights you have never seen before, to step over the threshold” – ImperativePR -

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
Coming to know is a process of dynamic adaptation towards viable interpretations of experience. Act always so as to increase the total number of choices.

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?
There is a pragmatic relation with the studies of Luigi Russolo (a depth study about this author is the Luciano Chessa’s assay “Luigi Russolo Futurist - Noise, Visual Arts, and the Occult”), Edgard Varese and with many authors involved in the cultural framework called “last avantgarde” (circa 1950 – 1980), including: concrete, aniconic and non-objective visual artists, conceptual artists, and in the aural field, there are relations with the praxis of the electroacoustic and atonal music, sound art, non-idiomatic improvisation, metaphonic researches (including spontanous music and direct voices phenomenon), the first era of black, dark and doom metal (searching for the roots of these terms, for their sonic phenomenas, their thought-forms, before they became a music genre).

11.How would you describe your views on Occultism?
The acousmatic practices dealt into TST are focused on the mysterical degrees of the art of listening; the art of silence.

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