Nachtterror 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?

The members of Nachtterror for the most part have all moved on to other projects or real life stuff as of its completion, so unfortunately not very much.

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

Much more Majestic,  less about getting the moshpits going and more about thought provoking music. We've grown up from back then. And our story reflects that

3.This is also your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Members have moved onto different projects, but I (Maelkleth) still remain as the "lorekeeper"/ main songwriter for anything new.


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

Lyrically we strive to be storytellers who delve into the deeper emotions of man. Vengeful rage, bitter sorrow, hateful revenge, and fearfull understanding. As we have grown as people, so too has our understanding of our lives and the trials we've faced and for some, still struggle with every day. These reflect in our songs so others may see themselves in our position and judge themselves accordingly.

5.Some of your earlier lyrics dealt with occult topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Occultism?

We have always been interested in lovecraftian horror, video games and their soundtracks, and Id have to say our interest in Japanese Psychological Horror games was more of an influence than just the occult. Most of us are familiar with Anton LaVey, Crowley, and the Necronomicon. But our biggest influence lyrically has always been Silent Hill.

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nachtterror'?
The meaning of Nachtterror would to me be, the "Fear of what comes in the Night". At the time it was an attempt to find a foreign language word for Night terror. But over time all things have come full circle and its meaning has evolved to reflect what we aimed to do with our music in the first place.

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

The cover is representative of the start of a journey through the dark. The three Vatiel figures on the outside are meant to represent Courage, Wisdom and Power, which are virtues to be gained along the path of Judgement.  A figure is seen holding a dying woman, reflective of the story of Walter and his bride. The barren landscape represents the nightmare world which he seemingly resides. A cold forest. The doorway is the path in which he must walk to find enlightenment. The tall mountain in the distance borrowed from tarot cards using the same imagery. Looking at the Tarot for judgement one can usually see archangels blowing trumpets to resurrect the dead. In this way the three Vatiel figures are calling to Walter to become more than the guilt ridden man he has become.

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

Nachtterror has had the opportunity to play alongside some of the great Canadian Metal acts, as well as festivals throughout our history. From opening for Wolven Ancestry in 2009, to being featured at Black Mourning Light Festival,  not to mention our kinship with bands like Psychotic Gardening and Altars of Grief, among others. The Canadian metal scene and its promoters have always had a passion to support incredible bands, and we have been very fortunate to experience so many.
Our stage performance has always been centered around taking our audience to another place. We have always pushed for immersion and intensity. Whether it be in attire, ligting, or theatrical acting moments built into our live performance, we have always intended to have our live show act as an extension of our lore.

9.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?

 Unfortunately at this time there are no plans to promote the album, but thats not dismissing any possibilities in the future.

10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of black, doom and symphonic metal?

From the little feedback we recieve Id have to say fairly good. Its hard to say when we havent been super active socially as of late.

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

Depending on interest, another concept album continuing the idea of the souls journey to be reborn anew. Possibly a collection of eps rather than a full length.

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

Video game music has always been a huge influence, but bands like Cradle of Filth, My Dying Bride, Wolves in the Throne Room and Nile have always had a big part in it. Akira Yamaoka and his Silent Hill music, and the old SNES games like Zelda and Metroid are major influences for me. Also a surprising amount of older Trance music gives me the ideas to write blackened riffs. There was also local band called The Orchard,  keyboards and really badass musicianship with an often terrifying atmosphere to their live show. I really wanted to play after seeing them.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?
Most of us like Video Games to some degree, but thats fairly common. Movies and Wrestling is prevalent in the band as well. Model making, Art, Photography, are some of the hobbies members share.

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

Nachtterror is a band of brothers who grew up facing each others darkness, and understanding a bit more of themselves for it. We have all fallen, and in that darkness we have all risen up with our own "dark god" of conciousness to guide us toward a new flame of hope. With this album, I hope the listener can reflect in their own Dark Mirror of Judgement and maybe face the things they do not wish to see. So they can rise up out of the sea of dread, and become the Ruler of their own Kingdom.

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Messora/The Door/2019 CD Review

  Messora  are  a band  from  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  progressive  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019 album  "The  Door".

  A  very  dark  and  demonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  clean  playing  which  is  also  added  into  a  lot  of  parts  of  the  music.  Elements  of  prog  emtal  can  be  heard  in  some  of  the  heavier  riffing  while  the  vocals  also  add  in a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  being    an  acoustic  instrumental.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  vocals  onto  the  recording  and  throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  some  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  and  one  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Messora  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  doom  and death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Door"  and  "The  Tide".  8  out  of  10.

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King Satan/I Want You To Worship Satan/Inverse Records/2019 CD Review

  King  Satan  are  a  solo  project  from  Finland  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  industrial  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "I  Want  You  To  Worship  Satan"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  inverse  Records.

  Heavy  riffing  and  industrial  elements  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  distorted  vocals  and  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  alter.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed  while  synths  are  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  aggrotech  elements.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  hard  rock  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  samples  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  death  punk,  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Chaos  Magick  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  King  Satan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  industrial  and  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Killing  Of  God"  "All  Magick  Is  Chaos  Magick"  "The  Antichristification"  and  "The  Portrait  of  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/8uYcsWaB1j8

https://youtu.be/zzJ4CGjkPFU      

Chorea/Chronicles Of The Darkened Earth/2019 Full Length Review

  Chorea  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Chronicles  Of  The  Darkened  Earth".

  Synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  as  well  as  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  edge.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  music  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  songs  being  instrumentals.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  at  times  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  medieval  times,  plagues,  crusades,  inquisition  and  waiting  for  judgement  day  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Chorea  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  "Teutonic  Knights"  "The  Plague"  and  "The  Hooks".  8  out  of  10.

https://choreasanctiviti.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.facebook.com/chorea.band/

      

ShadowThrone/Elements' Blackest Legacy/Non Serviam Records/2019 CD Review

  ShadowThrone  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Elements'  Black  Legacy"  which  was  released  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  introduces  keyboards  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  growls  and  death  metal  growls  while  blast  beats  can  be  heard  in  the  faster  parts  of  the  songs.

  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in a  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Symphonic  elements  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  being  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  an  influence of  thrash  metal  and  as  the  album  progresses  choir  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  at  times  the  music  also  has  its  avant garde  and  atmospheric  moments,  one  track  also  introduces  spoken  word  parts  onto  the  recording  and  the  album  closes  with  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy,  Nature  and  Black  Magick  themes.

  In  my  opinion  ShadowThrone  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Endless  Dance Of The Universe"  "Saturn  off  Newborn  Era"  "Curse  Of  The  Royal  Blood"  and  "ShadowThone".  8  out  of  10.


http://www.facebook.com/shadowthrone      

Savaoth Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the musical project since the recording and release of the new ep?

Basically it has been all about promoting the material and working on some new stuff as well. Also working on some guest appearances that will probably happen on the next album.

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

It is quite different from Whispers Often Bleat. Less "cyber" and industrial sounding for sure. The music is now more mature and heavy sounding than before, the production is definitely better and the whole atmosphere is more ritualistic at times. Clean vocal work is also part of the music now. I can tell that it has a more progressive touch.

3.This is also your first release with this project in 10 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Yeah it's been a very long time ! So long that most fans don't even know Savaoth still exists ! I've been busy with Word Of Life and Arkhangelsk all this time, which are the main bands I play. I also became member of a newly formed band named Khôra. Some work for the new Savaoth material also took place of course.

4.In the beginning there was a full line up but on the new recording you turned into a solo project, what was the decision behind going into this direction?

The truth is that some former Savaoth members participate now in Word Of Life and Arkhangelsk, so we ended up playing together again after years even if we did our own thing at times ! I wanted to keep Savaoth as a personal project to release my own stuff considering that it is a separate entity not related to the other bands.

5.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the new ep and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years?

Mainly philosophical and esoteric stuff. For Neophyte I kept all the lyrics private, as there were lots of lyrics that were written in other languages than English, so most people wouldn't be able to read them. About songwriting, I think that I tend to be more straightforward and minimal now. Less is more !

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

Savaoth is one of the many "nicknames" of the Hebrew god, whose real name was forbidden to be pronounced. It basically means " powerful lord " or " lord of all powers".

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

The artwork is designed by me and it's just some cool black liquid and smoke forming random shapes. When you look at it, it reminds you of something familiar, but you can't really tell what it is. Everyone sees something different, like when you see clouds on the sky and the shapes remind you of something. It might be an alien entity, a god-like form or a dog, who knows. It represents the deeper aspects of the human soul where lots of emotions and feelings develop. Sometimes they are so deep that they are unrecognizable but yet so familiar.

8.When you had a full line up was there any live shows being performed and if so which one stood out the most?

Yeah there were many shows that took place, I can't really pick one ! Maybe the one with the Greek industrial black metal band Nyne. We had a very similar approach in music and the crowd seemed to enjoy a full night of mechanical industrial black metal.


9.The new ep was self released while you have worked with labels in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

Savaoth is not a touring band with a full line up, so this is a problem for most labels. If a label is interested in releasing the music despite the limitations then I am open to that !


10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of industrial and black metal?

It is too early to make a conclusion, but the feedback is being very positive so far.


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

We have 2 complete full lengths with Arkhangelsk and Khôra that are waiting to be released. We are also working on the new Word Of Life full length !


12.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

A new Savaoth full length is being composed as we speak. I expect it to be ready by next year. I hope I'll keep on composing new stuff for many years to come. That's the main goal, to constantly create fresh content.


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

I am listening to lots of modern progressive metal stuff lately. This has had a huge impact on my sound. I also keep an eye on the whole black metal scene, this is my main genre of preference.

14.How would you describe your views on Occultism?

We need a whole interview to cover this one haha ! Well, occultism has certainly become a trend, especially in the black metal scene, but most bands out there have no clue about occultism in reality. They approach occultism in an epidermic and naive manner just for imagery and marketing purposes with no actual knowledge and practicing background. Occultism should be about self improvement and not for showing off. I do not consider Savaoth to be an occult band though, I would prefer to say that I work on esoteric and philosophical / psychological concepts.


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

Thank you very much for this interview. I hope black metal fans out there give Neophyte a shot and I am looking forward to sharing more stuff with you in the future, cheers !

https://www.facebook.com/savaoth/
https://savaoth.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LSKDcfnk9A

Les Chants Du Hasard/Livre Second/I, Voidhanger Records/2019 CD Review

  Les  Chants  Du  Hasard  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  classical  and  orchestra  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2019  album  "Livre  Second"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.

  A  very  avant  garde  neo-classical  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  adds  in a   great  amount  of  symphonic  and  orchestra  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  which  also  sound  very  evil,  tortured  and  cavernous  at  times  as  well  as  the  orchestras  also  capturing  the  aggression  of  extreme  metal.

  At  times  the  songs  goes  for  more  of  a  clam  classical  music  approach  while  choir  male  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  and  clean  vocals  onto  the  recording  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Les  Chants  Du  Hasard  remains  true  to  his  mixture  of  black  metal,  cello  and  classical  music.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Les  Chants  Du  Hasard  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal,  classical  and  orchestra  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Le  Bossu"  "La  Course"  and  "La  Defiate".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/leschantsduhasard/