Grey Skies Fallen/Molded By Broken Hands/Profound Lore Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  New  York's  Grey  Skies  Fallen  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going for  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black,  dark,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Molded  By  Broken  Hands"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Vocals  are mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  while  death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  90's  era  dark  metal  influences.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  clean  sections  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  melodic  vocals  onto  the  album,  when  the  music  speeds  up  briefly  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair  and  bleakness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grey  Skies  Fallen  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  dark,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Twisted  Place  In  Time"  "I  Can  Hear  Your  Voice"  and  "Knowing  That  You're  There".  8  out  of  10.

  https://greyskiesfallen.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/greyskiesfallen

https://www.instagram.com/greyskiesfallen

https://twitter.com/greyskiesfallen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUZMyX5suao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q964xa-1Mt4            

Veriteras/The Dark Horizon/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Veriteras  are  a  band  from  Seattle,  Washington  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "The  Dark  Horizon"  which  will  be  released  in  March.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  synths  also  add  in  a  symphonic  touch  when  they  are  utilized.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Elements  of  death  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  The  music  also  adds  in a  lot  of  90's  era  Swedish  influences  as  well  as  remaining  modern  at  the  same  time  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  clear  vocals  onto  the  album,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Veriteras  are  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  band.  ECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Celestial  Darkness"  "Sanctuary"  "Blinding"  and  "Light  in  The  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

  https://veriteras.bandcamp.com/album/the-dark-horizon

     

Ydolothytum/Conjuring The Primaevil Creatures/Crush The Desert Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ydolothytum  are  an  international  band  with  embers  from  Italy  and  Poland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  old  school  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Conjuring  The  Primaevil  Creatures"  which  was  released  by  Crush  The  Desert  Records.

  Folk  instruments  start  off  the  album  and  also  brings  in  more  an  ancient  pagan   atmosphere  as  well  as  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  a  lot  of  the  vocals  also  being  done  in  a  clear  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  more  aggressive  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal.  When  keyboards  are  utilzied  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  an  atmospheric  touch  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction,  when  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  recording  Ydolothytum  remains  true  to  the  old  school  black/folk  metal  style  they  had  established  on  their  demo.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  are  based  upon  Maciej  Bogusz  Stęczyński's  work  "Tatra  Mountains  in  twenty-four pictures" from  1860  with  their  own  version  of  the  primeval  creatures  mentioned  there..

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ydolothytum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  old  school  black/folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dziwożona  -  Mara  i  straszydło"  and  "Żmijoloki  -  Dusz  przekleństwo".  8  out  of  10.

  Listen a song HERE (Youtube)  

The Lightbringer/Seven Thrones/2024 Full Length Review

 

  The  Lightbringer  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  power  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Seven  Thrones"  which  will  be  released  in  March.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Operatic  female  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.

  The  cleat  male  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  power  metal  while  the  harsher  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  death  metal  growls  and  clean  playing  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  are  a  concept  album  that  explores  mythology,  light  and  darkness.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Lightbringer  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black  and  power  emtal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Worlds  Beyond"  "Pillar  Of  Creation"  and  "Mystic  Places  of  Dawn".  8/5  out  of  10.

  https://thelightbringermetal.bandcamp.com/merch

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA7skqQQUfCRXwQh9g2oKGQ/?sub_confirmation=1
https://www.facebook.com/thelightbringerofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/thelightbringerband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/42vunlIXOg69YegQhmFG05

Wandering Oak 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?

First of all, thanks for your interest in interviewing us! We really appreciate it.

Well the album has only been out for about a week and thus far we've begun rehearsals for a few regional shows (Buffalo, Boston, Baltimore) in July, and we have some new merch items down the pipeline.

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

The biggest shift is that we have pushed our sound in a much more progressive direction whilst also increasing the black metal ferocity and aggression. We've pushed our instrumental abilities much further and also pushed the envelope with influences and the scope of the compositions.

3.This is also your first release in 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

A lot! We had just come off of a short tour with Wilderun in 2019 and were poised to work on the album before COVID hit, which in a perverted way gave us time to woodshed new ideas. Also, Joe decided not to commit to the band and we spent a long time trying to find a new guitarist. We did play some local shows here in Rochester before we decided to replace our drummer, and we were essentially in album mode for about a year. 

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

Much of the music deals with the concept of overcoming hardship, be it from loss, climate change, mental illness, and fascism. We feel our sound has become a lot more sophisticated whilst still being very organic and rooted (pun intended) in our original mission statement. We've also assembled a group of musicians that I feel finally does the music I have in my head justice, while adding their own spin that creates something that is more than just the sum of its parts.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Wandering Oak'?

There are several meanings, but fundamentally it is a 'kenning', a compound or figurative phrase in Old English and Old Norse poetry used to replace a common noun, It refers to our meandering songs that drift away from the root yet stay grounded. It is also of course a reference to Ents from Tolkein's universe, and much like the term 'Led Zeppelin' is an oxymoronic description of the music - large, massive and imposing, intricate, but also down to earth and natural, yet adventurous. We want the listener to know they're in for a trip.

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

It was designed by the amazing Czech artist Moonroot who also did our new logo, and it was based off of a rendering done by a colleague of mine. It is meant to represent a tree that has weathered every season, as an analogy for the struggles of life.

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?

Some of our best performances include some of the dates we played on the road with Wilderun, not to mention the special opportunity we had to open for Negura Bunget on two of their dates on the final US tour they did. RIP Negru. Our stage performances are relatively no frills, high energy. We like to wear war paint but keep the outfits minimalist. It's more about the music than the presentation for us. We let the riffs do the talking.

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

Yes, as previously stated we have three shows booked in July of this year, and hopefully there will be more to come.

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

So far the reaction has been very good! Obviously it will take time for the album to spread through the networks but so far so good! There are definitely some that feel like we have progressed too far from our original sound or think we're too overwhelming, but honestly we feel like people in this scene just aren't used to being challenged anymore.

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?

So myself (Robert) I have my other band Goblin Hovel who are currently recording our next album, We're a more zany style of folk metal. Deidre and myself also joined The Atrocity Tourist, fronted by Hovel's lead singer. It's an avant-garde metal band devoted to the modernization of the murder ballad. CW has his black metal band Hubris which also includes our session guitarist Andy, who are also both of Ferus Din. Hubris are putting the finishing touches on their next album and you should definitely check it out. They are FIERCE. Furthermore, Andy and I are also part of the triumphant anti-fascist black metal band Helianthus, which will hopefully be working on our full length this year. Andy also has the bands Temple of Mammon and Antiquity. Our live guitarist Mitch has this cool Celtic Fusion project called Wired Tae the Moon, and I implore you to give them a listen. They're very unique.

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

More progressive, more ambitious, more aggressive, more transgressive, but decidedly darker and more pointedly sociopolitical.

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

Several of us have been listening to a lot of Havukruunu. They rip. Mitch has been listening to Dixie Dregs a lot. I've been getting back into jazz and ambient music. Also a lot of Doomsword and Borknagar. Deidre is usually listening to a lot of prog and jazz. Andy is a classically trained musician and plays a lot of early music, and his listening reflects that as well. His father was in a progressive rock band called Rodan in the 70's that opened for Gentle Giant and Mahavishnu Orchestra amongst others, and those are very much shared tastes.

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

Thanks again for taking an interest in us! We hope you really enjoy the album and maybe you can catch us live when we eventually book a larger tour. Hopefully next year. Keep your eyes peeled for some cool merch items, and follow us on http://wanderingoakband.bandcamp.com 

Goaß/Cruxifucked/Wolfmond Production/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Goaß  are  a  solo  project  from  Austria  that  plays  a  very  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Cruxifucked"  which  was  released  by  Wolfmond  Production.

   Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Vocals a re  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a   decent  amount  of  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  brutal  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  High  pitched  screams  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  influences  form  both  the  old  school  and  modern  era's  of  the  genre  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  direction.

  Goaß  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  a  very  melodic  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  brutal  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Germany  and  cover  Blasphemy  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Goaß  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  brutal  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  "Cruxifuck"  "Buried  To  Be  Born"  and  "Ziegendisziplin".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Goa%C3%9F/3540538568

Order:

https://wolfmond-production.de/shop/produkt/goass-cruxifuck/

https://wolfmondproduction.bandcamp.com/album/goa-cruxifucked    

  

Borknagar/Fall/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Borknagar  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  has  a  history  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  and  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Fall"  which  will  be  released  on  February  23rd  by  Century  Media  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  High  pitched  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  the  faster  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.

  Clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  TA  couple  of  the  songs  also  add  in a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  a  more  progressive  direction.

  Psychedelic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  Chants,  choirs  and  percussion  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  change  of  seasons  and  universal  struggle.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Broknagar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Summits"  "Stars  Ablaze"  and  "Northward".  8  out  of  10.

  www.borknagar.com   

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