Cabrakaan/Aztlan/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Cabrakaan  are  a  band  with  members  from  Mexico  and  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  symphonic  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  self  released  2023  album  "Aztlan"  which  will  be  released  in  November.

 Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  music  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  percussion  is  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  tribal per-Hispanic  atmosphere  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Symphonic  elements  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  clear  females  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  ylrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  pre-Hispanic  themes  and  Mexican  Folklore.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cabrakaan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tonantzin"  "Luces  y  Sombras"  "Yolot"  and  "La  Cigarra".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPLYXJBGXGI

Grim Ravine/Upon The Darkest Shores/Cursed Monk Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Grim  Ravine  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for a   blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Upon  The  Darkest  Shores"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Cursed  Monk  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and doom  metal.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  songs  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly  along  with  some  blast beats  and tremolo  picking  also  being  utilized  briefly  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Grim  Ravine  expands  on  the  blackened  mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grim  Ravine  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Colossal  Matter"  "Singularity"  and  "Orogenesis".  8 out  of  10.

  YouTube: https://youtu.be/JFCmCQtvv0o

Preorder Link: https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/upon-the-darkest-shores

    

Meschera/Zhatva/2023 Full length Review

 

  Meschera  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  has been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  blackened  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Zhatva".

 

Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  also  brings  in  more  of  a  medieval  atmosphere  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding    while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in   a  good  mixture  o  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Whispers  can  also b e  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Russian  and  cover the  culture  of  the  Meschera  people  a  Finnish-Ugric  tribe  from  the  13th  century.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Meschera  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  blackened  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Жатва "  "Взор  Безликих"  "Сказки  Чёрных  Лесов"  and  "Тьмою  Седых Ночей".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://meschera.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meschera_dark/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mescheradark
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meschera
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@meschera

     

    

    

Sangdragon/Hierphant/Wake Up Dead Records/2023 Double Album Review

 

  Sangdragon  are  a  band  from  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  on  the  first  chapter  and  goes  into  a  medieval  folk  music  direction  on  the  second  chapter  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  double  album  "Hierophant"  which  will b e  released  on  October  by  Wake  Up  Dead  Records.

  A  very  ethnic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  some  of  the  tracks a re  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  choirs  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  Some  of t he  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  and  touches  of  folk music  along  with  some  clear  male  and  female  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.  

  The  second  chapter  starts  out  with  more  of  a  medieval  which  was  introduced  on  the  first  disc  while  moving  away  from  the  metal  elements  of  the  first  chapter.  When  female  vocals  are utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  pagan  atmosphere  along  with  the  percussion  replacing  regulars  drums,  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  choirs  and  one  song  is  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  and  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism, Medieval  Rites  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Sangdragon  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  medieval  folk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Curse  of  Desert"  "War  is  War"  "Majesty"  and  "Back  To  Elysium".  8 out  of  10.

  Facebook : www.facebook.com/SANGDRAGON.AKHENATON.DAEMONIUM

Bandcamp (music, merch):www.sangdragon.bandcamp.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sangdragon_official        

  

Allochiria 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?

We have been pretty busy really! After the release of “Commotion” in April we headed on our third European tour in May, together with our good friends Their Methlab, playing 14 shows across the Balkans and central Europe. Afterwards we had two great shows at New Long Fest in Athens, Greece and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Rasnov, Romania. At the moment we are planning another tour for October 2023 that will include shows in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and France and we are pretty excited about it!

2.A few months back you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Το be honest we believe that it's our most complete and straightforward record so far; we do not stretch the parts and we try to keep the listeners interested, by adding or removing small details. Also, there are much fewer clean parts and the more rough parts are much more aggressive. The vocals are a bit more aggressive as well. This is how we perceive it at least.

3.This is also your first release in 6 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

A lot of things actually, mostly in our personal lives; Stavros, our guitarist, moved to Switzerland for 5 years, had two kids, Irene was in Belgium and moved to London, and of course COVID hit. The tracks for Commotion were getting completed at a slower pace, and eventually when they were ready there was no easy way to record the album! At the moment we are completely focused on Allochiria, we are already composing new songs for our 4th album and we are planning many shows for the upcoming months. 

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

Our songs and lyrics revolve around the modern way of life, the fact that many people have lost their homes and lives because of war. About the loneliness a person might feel despite the fact that they are surrounded by millions of people with whom they never interact because of the nature of life in big metropolitan areas. With regards to songwriting, I believe our progress reflects on our personal lives and how we as human beings first and musicians later are evolving. All these changes that happened to each one of us individually reflected greatly on our songwriting.

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

The following quote is from Ultragrim, the artist that is responsible for the artwork of ‘Commotion’: “What matters most in our case is the feeling that’s born by the cover, and not its exact interpretation, as it is a work of non-representational [or even semi-representational] art. The first concept that comes to mind is tension. Hermetically closed teeth tied with threads that are ending in tangled masses on both sides. These masses could be something that we universally perceive as weight. Everyday life, pain, fear, existence itself. A "disturbance" that is. However, the teeth remain closed, indicating determination and stubbornness.

At the same time, the teeth symbolize a classic depiction of worry or anxiety in the dream realm. The dark blue - almost black - background could be just that, a dream field, or it could be the seabed, something familiar, imposing and potentially terrifying. A vast no-space in which one can get lost listening to the commotion.”

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

We have played numerous gigs with many of the most influential bands of the genre, like Deafheaven, Amenra, Year of no Light, Harakiri for the Sky. Our stage performance is always passionate and honest, each show is different but we try to present our compositions as perfectly as possible. The feedback we get from our shows is consistent and we truly believe that our shows take our songs to a different level.

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2023?

Oh yes, we have had 19 shows in Europe and Greece so far this year, including New Long Fest in Greece and Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Romania a few days ago. We are planning a second tour in autumn together with Coltaine from Germany, we’ll announce it in the coming days and we’re really excited!

8.The new album was released on 'Venerate Industries', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

Venerate helped us a lot to organize the release, the video clips and the promotion of the album. Our collaboration is working really well for both parties so far. Their roster consists of many interesting bands of the Greek underground extreme music scene, which deserve more attention and produce so much with so little resources.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, sludge, post and progressive metal?

So far the feedback has been great! To be honest, we were really happy with the result and we knew we had a good album in our hands. We have seen an increase in interest in the US and Central and Latin America, which we are truly humbled by. We think that fans of the genres you mention will definitely enjoy Commotion.

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

Honestly, we don't know. Our compositions and style are being formed organically, so we can’t really “predict” something.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles the band members are currently listening to nowadays?

Gojira, Liturgy, Zeal & Ardor, Idles, Leprous, Converge, Celeste, Birds in Row, Employed To Serve. We also  listen to different musical genres like jazz, electronic, classical, drum and bass, depending on the mood and the occasion we’re in.

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

We would like to thank you for the interview and wish you all the best. We hope to see you in one of our shows in the future!

Website: https://allochiria.com/
Bandcamp: https://allochiria.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allochiriatheband/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Allochiriatheband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PWwVHwBJwSIz5SJ7nkmtt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allochiria.the.band/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/allochiria

Evilon/A Warriors Way/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Evilon  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "A  Warriors  Way"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  A  very  epic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  in  elements  of  folk  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  as  very  melodic  style  while  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  recording  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.  

  On  this  recording  Evilon  brings  in  more  of  a  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  death  emtal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  and  Celtic  Mythology  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Evilon  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  folk,  black  and  death  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Yggdrasil"  "A  Warriors  Way"  "Galdr"  and  Valkyria".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/RGkECr3Gwbk

https://www.facebook.com/Evilon

https://www.tiktok.com/@evilonofficial

https://www.instagram.com/evilon_official/

https://www.youtube.com/@evilonofficial

https://open.spotify.com/artist/67rD9VXKbjnsZZxf5rZPMx

Sodomisery/Mazzaroth/Testimony Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Sodomisery  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Mazzaroth"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Testimony  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  orchestrations  and  keyboards  also  giving  the  music  more  of  a  symphonic  feeling  when t hey  are  utilized.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  some  clear  vocals  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the recording.

   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  samples  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  but  modern  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mental  illness  in  society,  religion,  and  the  struggle  of  individualism.  

  In  my  opinion  Sodomisery  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  symphonic  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  'Coming  Home"  "A  Storm  Without  A  Wind"  and  "Demon  In  heaven".  8  out  of  10.

  “Psychogenic” / “Delusion”

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp