The Mosaic Window Interview

 

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

Sure. I started The Mosaic Window in 2021 out of a need to express grief and an uncontrollable desire to return to playing extreme music. I grew up obsessively listening to metal and its many subgenres, and even had a death metal band in the late 2000's/early 2010's. But it's been years since that became defunct and I've grown to miss it. This time around is different, though. During the pandemic, I lost my father and grandmother. I had a lot of emotion that I never felt before, and I needed an output. The Mosaic Window was meant to be (and still is) a solo project so I could explore those emotions and put 100% of my honest and true self into it. Right now, it happens to be in the form of melodic black/death metal.

2.So far you have released an ep and full length, musically how do they both differ from each other?

Musically, the 'Hollow' EP was more rushed and "thrown together" (for lack of a better term). I wrote, recorded, and mixed the whole thing over a weekend. I just needed to get the project started and get some songs out there for my own cathartic release. I think there's a bit more openness throughout the EP compared to the album. I was listening to Ihsahn's 'After' a lot that week I guess. It was also my first go at vocals, so they're admittedly a bit rough. I spent far more time working on 'Plight of Acceptance' - over the course of a year. With 'Plight' I focused more on songwriting and being intentional with every riff. There's also more guitar solos on 'Plight' and I had the help of Damian Herring (Horrendous) for the mix and master. 

3.Your lyrics cover a lot of esoteric, mythological and existential topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

The 'Hollow' EP and 'Plight of Acceptance' both have their similarities and differences in the lyrics. They both rely heavy on existentialism, death, and the afterlife (or lack thereof). Many of the songs on 'Plight' have double 'esoteric' meanings that people may or may not figure out. I try to write lyrics that can be read and taken as-is, but also if you look a little deeper you may find a hidden meaning. Mythology is not as obvious in the lyrics - it's more of an inspiration. I studied anthropology in college and have a fascination with how different cultures operated throughout history. Specifically, I think the polytheistic beliefs of Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome are really interesting. Some of that stuff will influence what I write.

4.Lyrically you also cover horror themes, which aspects of this genre do you cover with your songwriting?

As mentioned above, my lyrics will sometimes have double meanings. Face-value and something deeper. A lot of the face-value lyrics are inspired by hauntings and ghost stories. I listen to a lot of podcasts surrounding that topic and find it all super entertaining. For example, the song 'Demon' was written as a Mercyful Fate-type spooky track talking about a possession but the deeper meaning has to do with my own mental health struggles.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'The Mosaic Window'?

The name originally came to me while out on a walk at night. I passed by a church and imagined the stain-glassed windows depicting an evil scene that serves as a doorway to another world. Later on, I realized mosaic art is something beautiful made from broken pieces of something else. So again, double meanings.

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

Yeah, it's 'Le Desespoir' by French artist Marcel Roux (1905). I knew I wanted an oil painting for the cover and felt this one captures the album's mood pretty well.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself but have worked with musicians in other bands and projects, do you prefer to work solo?

Yes, I prefer to have creative control. I love jamming with friends and playing live can be awesome, but ultimately The Mosaic Window is just too personal to allow collaboration with writing at the moment. I'm not opposed to working with other musicians in other projects, though.

8.Willowtip Records are releasing the physical version of the new album in November, can you tell us a little bit more about the newer version?

When I released "Plight of Acceptance' on Bandcamp in June, I had so many requests for physical copies. I teamed up with Wilt-Shine from Wisconsin for a small tape run (which are available on their Bandcamp) but eventually got in touch with Willowtip. They had heard the record and wanted to reissue it on vinyl and cd, which I totally agreed to as I really wanted to get some physical copies out there and I couldn't do it alone. The mock-ups look awesome and I can't wait to grab a copy.

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

So far the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. I've been sending merch all over the globe and that's something that I still can't wrap my head around. I've even had several people tell me 'Plight' is an AOTY contender for them, which is insane. I'm just so happy people are connecting with the music. It really gives me inspiration to keep doing it.

10.What is going on with 'Mauled' these days?

Wow you've done your homework! For those who don't know, Mauled is a messy death metal/hardcore project my good friend Jett and I started for fun one day over the pandemic. We only have the debut EP out on Bandcamp and streaming right now, but we do have some other songs that may see the light of day sometime in the future. No plans, really. Just all fun, when we have the time.

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

I definitely see myself continuing to write and record music under The Mosaic Window. In fact, a large amount of the next album is being written already. I'm shooting for a slightly longer album than the debut. It's definitely the same black/death metal vibe as 'Plight' but I think even more extreme in different ways. I'll probably always write stuff in that area, but I'd like to experiment more with funeral doom, sludge, and post-metal too. 

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?

Tough question! I have a lot of influences, but specifically for The Mosaic Window I think King Diamond/Mercyful Fate, Emperor, Wolves in the Throne Room, Dead Congregation, Cradle of Filth, Les Discrets, Altar of Plagues, Dissection, and Dark Tranquillity are the main influences right now. My other current obsessions include Hypocrisy, Ascended Dead, Krigsgrav, Ulthar, Lamp of Murmuur, Abduction, Mizmor, and Jupiterian. Oh, the new Voidceremony and Thantifaxanth albums are wild too.

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

Thank you so much, and thank you to everyone who has taken the time to listen to The Mosaic Window. Check out the album stream at https://themosaicwindow.bandcamp.com/album/plight-of-acceptance 

 

Sulphur Aeon/Seven Crowns And Seven Seals/Van Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Sulphur  Aeon  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal f rom  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Seven  Crowns  And  Seven  Seals"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Van  Records. 

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  dark  soundscapes  and  synths  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  songs  along  with  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard at  times  and  the  music  also  has  its  cinematic  moment.  

  On  this  recording  Sulphur  Aeon  goes  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  blackened death  emtal  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cove r Lovecraftian  horror  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sulphr  Aeon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Hammer  From  The  Howling  Void"  "Arcane  Cambrian  Sorcery"  and  "Beneath  The  Ziggurats".  8 out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/2ju2l-ekJV8  

Onheil/In Black Ashes/Black Lion Records/;2023 Full Length Review

 

  Onheil  are  a  band  from t he  Netherlands  that  plays  a  melodic  and  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "In  Black  Ashes"  which  was  rleeased  by  Black  lion  Records.

  A  very  dark  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Melodies  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and t he  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Angry  shouts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  death  metal  growls,  a  few  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks t o  a  heavier  direction.

  Onheil  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  death  and  thrash  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  apocalypse,  misanthropy  and  self  destruction  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Onheil  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Night  Terror" "Beneath  A  Steel  Sky"  and  "Master  of  Disease".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.onheil.com 

https://www.facebook.com/ONHEILMusic 

https://www.instagram.com/onheil_metal/   

Machinations Of Fate/Celestial Prophecies/Redefining Darkness Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Machinations  Of  Fate  are  a  band  from  Kentucky  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this recording  plays  a   melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Celestial  Prophecies"  which  was  released  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  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  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  One  song  also  introduces  acoustic  guitars,  clean  playing  and  stringed  instruments  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  of  the  heavier  riffing  also  bringing  in  elements  of  death  and  thrash  metal  as  well  as couple  of  songs  also  being   instrumentals.

  On  this  recording  machinations  Of  Fate  remain  true  to  the  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  scientific,  philosophical  and  esoteric  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Machinations  Of  Fate  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Split  Second  Of  Divinity"  "Cosmic  Womb"  "Void  Indoctrination  Ritual"  and  "Demise".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/machinations-of-fate/1494336487

https://machinationsoffate.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-prophecies

https://www.facebook.com/machinationsoffate

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4B75FZTL7Xk4eS1ZeLVVuC?si=lNlXjvINRB6rqzXi3PJn8g&nd=1   

Zlórtcht/Welcome To The Zlórtchterhaus/Witches Brew Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Zlórtcht  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Welcome  To  The  Zlórtchterhaus"  which  was  released  by  Witches  Brew  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  to t hem  while  the  growls  and  screams  are  done  in  more  of  Hellhammer  and  Celtic  Frost  style.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  80's  era  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  an  old  school  style.

  At  times  the  music  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  while  most  of  the  album  brings  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

   Zlórtcht   plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion   Zlórtcht   are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winter"  "Priestess  Of  The  Sun"  and  "Summer  (Parts  I-III)  I  -Genesis,  II  -  Evolution,  III  -  Termination".  8  out  of  10.

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

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

Instagram: witchesbrewthrashes

Bandcamp: https://zlrtcht.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-the-zl-rtchterhaus

Bandcamp: https://witchesbrewthrashes.bandcamp.com/music  

   

The Mosaic Window/Plight Of Acceptance/Willowtip Records/2023 Full length Review

 

  The  Mosaic  Window  are  a  solo  project  from  Los  Angeles,  California  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Plight  of  Acceptance"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  whispers  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

 

 Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements,  classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  also  introduces  synths  onto  the  album,  spoken  word  samples  are  also  added  on  the  closign t rack.

  The  Mosaic  Window  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Esotericism,  Existentialism,  Mythology  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Mosaic  Window  is  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  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'Comatic  Burial"  "Spiritual  intoxication"  and  "Consumed  By  A  Thought".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://themosaicwindow.bandcamp.com/album/plight-of-acceptance   

Skalmold/Ydalir/Napalm Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Iceland's  Skalmold  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  mixture  of  viking  and  folk  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Ydalir"  which  will b e  released  on  August  18th  by  Napalm  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  the  album  also  brings  in  elements  of  folk  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  also b ring  in  a more  aggressive  approach  that  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  black  emtal.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a lot  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  the y are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  keyboard  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a mid  tempo  direction,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  album  Skalmold  brings  in  more  of  a  melodic  and  mid  tempo  mixture  of  viking  and  folk  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Icelandic  and  cover  Norse  mythology  and  Icelandic  Sagas.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Skalmold  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  viking  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUD E "Ydalir"  "Verdandi" and  "Ullar".  8  out  of  10.

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