Eonian Interview

 

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

 

Eonian is a symphonic extreme metal solo project that I started in early 2020, mostly as way to keep my mind busy during the first lockdown. It originated as an instrumental project, but as I began composing and recording the first songs, I changed directions and decided to incorporate lyrics and harsh vocals.

 

2.You have an ep coming out this year, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

 

I have always been a fan of bands that combine all the elements of metal music with epic orchestras and choirs, no matter the style of metal they play. I have spent countless hours listening to bands like Nightwish, Epica, Blind Guardian, and Rhapsody of Fire, but for this project I thought that darker compositions with black/death metal vocals fit better. 

 

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

 

“The Nomad” is a concept EP. All five songs tell the story of the protagonist, a mysterious character condemned by the gods to drift through hostile lands for eternity after his reign of terror is overthrown. The lyrics borrow from myths, legends, and fantasy, but there is also a subtle social commentary against dictatorships and the use of violence to subdue the population, which is what ultimately brings about the downfall of this character.

 

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

 

The name of my project is as a homage to one of the pioneers of this genre, Dimmu Borgir. ‘Eonian’ is the title of their latest album, released in 2018. I wanted a short name and ‘Eonian, which means “everlasting” or “continuing forever,” goes really well with the story I tell in the EP and the character’s forced exile and perpetual search for a place to call home. 

 

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

 

Spanish digital artist Javier Barjollo created the artwork for “The Nomad” and he absolutely nailed it. The cover captures the mysteriousness of the protagonist, accentuated by his glowing blue eyes that are reminiscent of those of the White Walkers from Game of Thrones and serve to dehumanize him and to show that there is something evil in him.

 

6.This band is mostly a solo project but would you consider working with a full line up in live performances?

 

Definitely. I played in a couple of bands before I moved to the US, and I miss being on stage.

Now that things seem to be slowly opening up again (at least here in NYC) it would be very cool to play these songs live and to write new songs with a band. 

 

7.You also have a great amount of session musicians on the recording, can you tell us a little bit more about who they are and also their contributions on the recording?

 

11 session musicians from all over the globe collaborated in this EP. Every single one of them brought something to the table that I could never have come up with myself. Ex-Entrails drummer Freddy Ortscheid (Sweden), Helioss’s vocalist DM (France), Koroth’s bassist Francesco Loconte (Italy), and orchestra composer Diego Soldi (Argentina), recorded in all of the songs. The rest of the guest musicians recorded solos. There are two guest guitar solos, performed by Frozen Shield’s Isaac “Whitefingers” Solanas (Spain) and Dethknell’s Manish Kashyap (India); two violin solos, recorded by Margarita Chernova (Russia) and Tales of Gaia’s Néstor Català (Spain), who shredded in his electric violin; and three keyboard/piano solos, performed by Utópica’s keyboardist Pablo Pallares (Argentina), Desvirtual’s Andrés Samboní (Mexico), and Polina Chornaya (Ukraine).

 

 

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

 

Having the support of a label obviously makes things easier and, if a label were interested, I would definitely hear what they have to say. However, getting signed is not a priority at the moment for me. 

 

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

 

So far, the feedback has been very positive. I will be able to tell you more once the EP is officially released, but I’m pleased to see that people are reacting so well to it.

 

10.Where do you see the project heading into musically during the future?

 

I already have a lot of ideas for a new EP. Like I mentioned, it would be great to transform this project into a band and to write new songs with other members. In the meantime, my plan is to start recording the first demo by myself during the summer, in order to visualize better what works and what does not. We will go from there!

 

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?

 

To write this EP, I took inspiration from bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Emperor, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Gorgon. When I’m not writing, I like listening to instrumental stuff. For example, lately I have been listening a lot to some of my guitar heroes, especially to John Petrucci, Paul Gilbert, Kiko Loureiro, Andy James, Nita Strauss, and Angel Vivaldi. I have also been listening to Bodom After Midnight’s EP. Alexi Laiho was one of the main reasons I picked up the electric guitar, and his last compositions are amazing. He influenced an entire generation of guitar players, and his legacy will live on forever.

 

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

 

I would like to thank all of my guest musicians for making this EP a reality and for their awesome performances. I would also like to thank Fernán Nebiros, from Peruvian death metal legends Mortem, for his involvement in the early stages of this project and for his valuable input. And lastly, I want to thank you for this interview and for your positive review of “The Nomad”!

Red Antlers/Deadwood/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Red  Antlers  are  a  band  from  Gothenburg,  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black  and  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "Deadwood"  which  will  be  released  on  May  21st.

   A  very  dark  and  distorted  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  being  done  in  a  very  angry  and  shouting  blackened  metal  style.

   Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  post  metal  influences.  Clear  vocals  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  one  track  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  album.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals  as  well  as  most  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  the  psyche  of  man  and  actual  real  life  events.    

  In  my  opinion  Red  Antlers  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Opia"  and  "Kenopsia".  8  out  of  10.  

https://www.facebook.com/RedAntlersOfficial/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaj-UbzD7PFSC1jbQ-IxdBA

https://www.instagram.com/redantlersswe/

Alchemia/Inception/WormHoleDeath Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Alchemia  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  goth  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Inception"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  vocals  that  also  add  in  touches  of  hard  rock  and  traditional  metal  while  King  Diamond  style  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  aggressive  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  goth  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  horror  movie  at  times  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  also  showing  some  influences  of  nu  and  groove  metal,  most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  reflection,  conscience,  mental  imprisonment,  phobias  and  psychological  disorders.

  In  my  opinion  Alchemia  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death,  goth  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grind"  "Haunting  You"  "Mind  Prison"  and  "Secret  Call".  8  out  of  10.

  alchemiaband.com

www.facebook.com/alchemiabandofficial

Morgarten/Cry Of The Lost/Inner Wound Recordings/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Morgarten  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Cry  Of  The  Lost"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Inner  Wound  Recordings.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  the  sounds  of  a  party  before  adding  in  some  clean  pagan  vocals  and  percussion  style  instruments  which  also   mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  keyboards  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling.

  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts   along  with  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  bagpipes  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  when  they  are  utilized.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  female  vocals  and clean  playing  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  legend  of  Swiss  hero  called  Arnold  von  Winkelried  and  important  events  in hid  life  during  the  medieval  period.   

  In  my  opinion  Morgarten  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  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  "To  Victory"  "Sons  Of  Darkness"  "Die  Or  Fight"  and  "Meet  The  Almighty".  8  out  of  10.

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

 Website: http://www.morgarten.net

https://youtu.be/uuE9y_JvdQA 

Eonian/The Nomad/2021 EP Review

 

  Eonian  are  a  solo  project  from  Spain  with  the  help  of  11  session  musicians  from  different  parts  of  the  world  that  plays  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2021  ep  "The  Nomad"  which  will  be  released  in  June.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  yet  melodic  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  Symphonic  elements  are  also  added  into  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  orchestra  and  choirs.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  as  well  as  some  violins  also being  utilized  in  some  parts  of  the  music.

  Eonian  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s symphonic  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  dark  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Eonian  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Versus  The  Titan"  and  "Shores  of  A  Lost  Sea".  8  out  of  10.    

TrveSovereign Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?

1.       Recently I’ve just been recovering from making The Dewerstone. I wrote and recorded that album in quite a short space of time and that drained a lot of my creative energy. However, over the last few weeks I’ve written a handful of riffs. Nothing solid yet, just ideas. I’m still looking for inspiration for the next albums concept. Apart from that, I’m in the middle of remixing and remastering the first album for its two year anniversary. The re-release should include demos and a bonus track not heard on the original album.

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

2.       I think everything on The Dewerstone was bigger and better than everything in my discography that came before it. I wanted to focus on longer, story driven songs rather than the shorter tracks I released in the past. I also put a lot more time and effort into the production and mixing. I find doing music production rather tedious. Despite this, I think that The Dewerstone’s production is a significant improvement over its predecessors. This is part of the reason why I’m re-working the first album.

3.Most of your music is heavily  rooted in the 90's Swedish style, can you tell us a little bit more about the decision behind going into this musical direction?

3.       I find that a lot of the 90s Swedish stuff is just more engaging to listen to than some of the more traditional black metal. It’s also, as far as I’m concerned, more challenging to write. I find this makes finishing a song or album even more rewarding.

 

4.The lyrics on the new album cover the history, myths and legends of South Devon and Dartmoor, England, can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrics and stories that you have covered with this release?

4.       Growing up near the moors, one tends to hear a lot of fantastical myths and legends about the area. I was originally going to write just one song based on one myth, but there are so many to choose from. After some consideration I decided to make it into an entire album. A lot of the stories you hear stories are quite similar. They tend to be based around evil witches, giants or the Devil, so I had to pick and choose the best and most varied for the album. A personal favourite is the true story of John Lee, a man famous for surviving three attempts to hang him for murder. Another is the tale of Classenwell pool in Dartmoor. It is claimed that at dusk the waters call out the name of the next parishioner to die and that their face can be seen in the surface of the pool at midnight on Midsummer's Eve.

5.Some of your lyrics also touch on the occult, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

5.       For The Dewerstone I was simply retelling stories that I had heard over the years. England has been a Christian nation since the 6th century and has only really started to let go of its faith in the last few decades. Many of the tales told in The Dewerstone are a few hundred years old. The threat of demons and witches roaming the moors seemed very real to the 18th and 19th century peasants who came up with these myths. As a result, there are many local stories about occult happenings. I’m just trying to tell them in a new way.

6.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored on the older releases?

6.       You can still find a fair few occult songs on older releases. At the time I think I figured that’s what good black metal is all about. I also wrote a couple of songs about the cosmos on Midnight in Anthemoessa, such as “Anthem for a Dying Sun” and “Enceladus”.

7.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'TrveSovereign'?

7.       When I first started the project it was called Vampyriis. Before I released the first demo I hastily changed it to Sovereign as I thought it was super cool and original. As it turns out, there are a million other bands called Sovereign and naturally that leads to some confusion. So, before I released the first album I changed it to TrveSovereign in order to make it more unique. Not good, but unique. I would have changed it to something completely different but I decide against it. Partly because I was somewhat established and didn’t want to change the name too much just before I released the projects debut album, and mostly because I had just tattooed the projects logo on a good friend of mine. I thought it would be a bit of a dick move to change the band name almost immediately after. I’m sure you can find the pictures online if you try. However, he still wears that tattoo with pride (as far as I know) so all’s well that ends well I suppose.

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

8.       The artwork was painted by yours truly. It depicts a cloaked figure with the dewerstone in the background. I didn’t paint the figure as anyone specific. Is it the Devil? Vixana the witch? The wicked Richard Cabell? It is whoever the viewer interprets it to be.

9.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

9.       I’m quite content working by myself for now. I’ve worked with a few people in the past but I think I’m a bit of a David Lee Roth to work with. Although I’m much less cool and don’t do nearly as much cocaine. A producer would be nice though. And some studio engineers. And a studio.

10.The new album was released on 'Necroplague Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

10.   Necroplague is my personal label. I was planning to start signing other bands and making something of it, but as it turns out that’s a lot of hassle. So for now it’s my own Cymophane Productions. Less murdery though.

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

11.   So far the reaction has been very good. All the reviews I have read for The Dewerstone have been around the 8/10 mark, so that’s very positive. A few tracks have been featured on radio stations all over the world and the project will hopefully be in a couple of magazines in the near future. The great thing about the internet is that even for a small artist, the world is your audience. Not just the people from your local town you can offload demo cassettes to.

12.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

12.   I’m not much of a forward-thinking guy. At least not when it comes to music. I’m just going to keep shouting into the void until I end up on the cover of Metal Hammer. That’s the plan anyway.

13.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?

13.   Taake was a big influence on The Dewerstone. At least I thought it was, no one ever seems to pick up on it. There was a bit of old and new Darkthrone in there, some Thorns and a sprinkle of Carcass’ Heartwork for good measure. As for what I’m listening to now, I’m on a bit of a black metal break at the moment. I’m currently listening to a lot of somewhat obscure 80s hair metal bands. I know that’s about as far away from black metal as you can get, but it can’t be doom and gloom all the time, right? I’ve had the first Vinnie Vincent Invasion album on repeat for the last few weeks. Also a lot of Heavens Edge, Danger Danger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Spread Eagle and a whole bunch of others.

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

14.   Firstly, thank you for having me. It’s been a pleasure. Secondly, if you haven’t already, go and check out The Dewerstone. It’s free on Bandcamp and you can find it on all major streaming services. Finally, give the project a follow on social media. It’s on all the platforms you’d expect it to be.

FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | BANDCAMP | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

Havamal Interview

 

Answered by vocalist Björn Larsson

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album? 

Ever since the recording We've been busy rehearsing for future shows, hopefully sooner rather than later, preparing for the release, finding a new bass player, define our appearance, change logo etc. It's been a busy but fun couple of months. 

2.You have a new album coming out in May, musically how does it differ from the stuff that you have released in the past? 

Our previous release was a bit faster and guitar-oriented, I'd say. The symphonic elements that the upcoming album brings is an entirely different beast, and the mid-tempo in general works wonders for the upcoming songs. It's a diverse album but with a more synchronized feel all through, I'd say. 

3.Your lyrics and the band's name comes from Norse Mythology and the Eddas, can you tell us a little bit more about how you got interested in this topic and decide to form a band based upon this lyrical concept? 

We've always been interested in our mythological heritage, and through all our suggestions We all felt that the style of music We created suited perfectly to give the hymns of old norse faith justice. It's a rich and deep lore to dive into and We've barely scratched the surface of all to come. 

4.Do you have have an interest in the other mythologies or paganism that are presented on the world? 

Of course! One of the members, guitarist Kjell, studies myths and religion for a job, and as for myself I've been told stories and legends from all around the world since I was a toddler. I love the classical greek, sami, chinese and egyptian mythology of course, but the one that's caught my attention lately is mongolian legends and shamanistic throat-singing. 

5.Musically what is that that you feel makes you stand out among other Viking metal bands? 

We're not a viking metal band by definition, rather a powerdeath group with nordic mythology in the lyrical theme. But I believe our different musical backgrounds combined with our passion for the symphonic grandeour makes for an overwhelming experience that helps us stand out amongst our kin. It's easy to get into and hard to let go. I'd also say that the story-telling is a concept that's surprisingly quite small in the area, so as a consistent theme I'd say We're in our own league. 

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

The artwork was done by Alex Rommel and it shows a shamanistic ritual where the beasts within are finally released. The monsters depicted are the norse beasts Jormungadr, Fenris and Nidhoggr, all represented on the album with one track each. To me it represents the everlasting struggle within to maintain your inner demons, your darker side, and that nothing is straight forward but more of a grey blur once you look at the detailed perspectives a bit deeper. 

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? 

My best memory was actually a birthday show for a common friend and also the closest fans. But overall We all love the live scene and can't wait to get back in full force! On stage We become the beacons of the Aesirs and dive directly into our ancestral roles, fully immersed in entertainment and to become one with the feeling our music creates. 

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the pandemic ends? 

We've had some offers, but since the entire pandemic situation is so rocky at the moment We really can't nail anything down. Rest assured that our musical raids will commence the second this pandemic is over! 

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

We have truly devoted and amazing fans, and many of them have become our close friends. We can't really express the extent of gratitude and how humbled We are by the worldwide response for our hymns. Everyone seems to find a piece that they enjoy in our music, and all thanks to the previous statement about the members different musical backgrounds. 

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

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame would be nice, haha! No, but We wish to continue to spread our music and the pagan flame to honour both the old gods and our magnificent audience all around the world. We always discuss the future, song ideas, themes, inspiration etc, so the future of the band is bright, active and on full steam ahead! 

11.What are you currently listening to nowadays? As for me, a bit of everything. I can go for some Mozart or God is an Astronaut for a chilled-out experience, Majestica and Falconer for a more epic theme of the day and of course a ton of melodic death and folk metal, too many to mention. All-time favorite is still Equilibrium - Sagas.

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

Odin give thanks to all that reads this and give us a reason to keep making music! Our own interest and our horde is the reason shield to shield why We do this and wish to continue to do for many years to come! Hope to all our Einherjars and Valkyries that our upcoming chapter will be memorable and everlasting, and hope to see you all on a liveshow in a close future! Hail our hordes! Hail ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine! Hail The Shadow Chapter! Hail the hymn-weavers! Hail Havamal!

https://www.facebook.com/Havamalofficial
https://www.instagram.com/officialhavamal