Moonoises/She - The Void/These Hands Melt/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Moonoises  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "She  -  the  Void"  which  will  be  released  on  march  8th  by  These  Hands  Melt.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  clean  sections  also  mix  in  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  some  of  the  clear  vocals  add  in  touches  of  80's  deathrock.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal  and  doomgaze  while  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  lot  of  post  rock  and  shoegaze  touches.  Synths  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are introduced  into  the  music.

  Some  of  the  music  also  captures  the  dark  atmosphere  of  black  metal  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  most  of  the  album  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Moonoises  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black  and  doom  metal  with  elements  of  post  punk  and  darkwave  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Beyond"  "Creepy  31"  "Cold  Grey"  and  "Mirror".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/moonoisesband

https://www.instagram.com/moonoises

https://moonoises.bandcamp.com    

Hysteria Interview

 

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

1- Hysteria is a Lyon-based Death/Black quartet formed in 1996. We have 2 EPs + 3 LPs under our belt, and we've just released our 6th misdeed titled "HERETIC, SADISTIC AND SEXUAL ECSTASY..." on Adipocères records. This new album consists of 9 tracks and apparently, according to feedback and initial reactions, it's the album of consecration. We hope that with the release of this opus, we can achieve the recognition we've always hoped for.

2.In 2024 you have a new album coming out, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2- Hysteria's musical evolution didn't happen overnight; we've been playing together for almost 30 years now. We've been both actors and fans of extreme metal since our adolescence. The metal scene evolves, and unconsciously, I think we absorb that, we change, we're influenced by what we listen to while still maintaining and evolving our own style. That's what I think makes us unique because if you listen to our discography, you'll realize that no album is alike, but you always find the Hysteria touch. This new opus has more Black metal tones than in the past. It's a logical continuation from its predecessor.

3.This is also your first release since 2019, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

3- We had dates planned to promote our EP that was just released: "From the abyss… to the flesh," but the pandemic halted our momentum. Unlike almost all other bands, I don't think this period was particularly productive musically for Hysteria. Sure, we started composing our new album, but the process was slow. Because of the distance between us and travel restrictions during this time, I'd say we spent the little time we could see each other celebrating because we were so happy to be together again.

We're not professionals, so we don't have any pressure in that regard; it's not our job, it's a genuine passion. We don't force things; we're a group of friends above all. But at some point, you have to get back into it, and that's what we've done since then!

We also made appearances at some events because we really missed the stage. We played at MUSCADEATH again; our first appearance was over 15 years ago, and it was really great. That festival is awesome! We also played at the Mennecy Festival right in the middle of recording "Heretic...". We were able to start testing some new tracks live in the process!

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

4- The lyrics are written by myself (Xavier: drummer). It's a mixture of horrifying, sexual, unhealthy tales, fantasies, fictionalized personal experiences... A sort of psychoanalysis, an outlet allowing me to exorcise my demons by feeding off my malaise. A narrative of what this world in perdition has to offer us. I think we seek to shock through our lyrics, our visuals, and also our music. The daily censorship through these modes of thinking, these emerging ideological currents, pushes us precisely to spit out our venom! We don't have any particular message to convey... It's just a statement of fact; by reading the lyrics, I think the reader can relate to certain experiences. A line like "she who spits the Venom" speaks of a person I met who left traces and caused torment in my life.

The topics addressed in this opus may be more contemporary and may denounce more things than in the past. They're also more direct and less verbose than in the past, to facilitate the placement of the lyrics on the music.

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

5- Nothing special! We were teenagers and looking for a name; we grabbed a dictionary and stumbled upon it! If we had to do it again, we would change it! You google "Hysteria," you come across Def Leppard's album, Muse's song and the French band Mass Hysteria! It's going to be difficult to be more renowned than these three!

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

6- We asked Seth Siro Anton who had already created 2 covers, a mutilated woman on a cross with tentacles entwining her. We also wanted him to be influenced by the title, which is quite evocative, and that's the final result! Our best cover to date! We made some great t-shirts, jackets, sweaters... in color! The merchandising, the digipack, and the vinyl are magnificent!

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?

7- The best memory we have, I think, was playing with Dissection during their tour to promote "Reinkaos," the only and last one! We put on a great performance that night, and meeting Jon Nodtveidt, the legend of Swedish black metal, was an honor for us! We were all still fans of Dissection! For a little story, we had filmed our show and Dissection's, and the tour manager made us erase the tapes of Dissection's show!

8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

8- We just had our release party where we played the new album in its entirety plus some bonuses. We're playing in June at the Lions Metal Fest, but fate has struck us because our lead guitarist Jérôme just had a skiing accident and has injuries that will render him unavailable for a while. Otherwise, we will probably play at a festival this summer as the opening act for a renowned band we love; we're keeping our fingers crossed for that to happen. Otherwise, the real dates will probably come in September when Jérôme is recovered

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

9- I'll respond exactly with a comment from a recent review we had! "Once the surprise has worn off, Hysteria’s stylistic shift remains very confident. From a massive Brutal Death that I described as a "steamroller" a few months ago, the band now offers us a melodious, impressive Black/Death that bewitches us in an instant."

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

10- We don't know! We'll go wherever the wind takes us! There's so much to do and so little time! We'll first digest this album and promote it as it should be! After that, in 2026, we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary, so there will certainly be a follow-up to Heretic!

11.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

11- No, I don't really think so! We don't practice that kind of belief.

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

12- Thank you for these great questions! Sorry for the delay, but the album is a huge success, and there are a lot of demands to answer. To the readers, go give a listen to our latest album; apparently, it's "transcendent" according to our fans and the reviews!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfIP0Amzu8k

Sarcasm/Mourninghoul/Hammerheart Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sarcasm  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  melodic  form  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Morninghoul"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Hammerheart  Records.

  A  very  fast,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  emtal  elements  as  well  as  all  of t he  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Classical  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  keyboards  as  well a s  the  album  also  having  its  brutal  moments,  operatic  female  vocals  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly

  On  this  recordingf  Sarcasm  gets  a  lot  more  diverse  with  their  melodic  style  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  based  upon  a  two-minded  ghoul  and  it's  journey  through  its  miserable  existence  upon  Earth  and  the  abyss.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sarcasm  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  'As  Northern  Gates  Open"  "Dying  Embers  On  Solitude"  and  "Absence  From  Reality".  8  out  of  10.

   https://youtu.be/hWGgoWAkoXk

https://sarcasm.lnk.to/mourninghoul

https://www.facebook.com/sarcasmsweden

http://sarcasmsweden.se  .

Martikor/Acedia/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Martikor  are  a  band  from  San  Francisco,  California  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  and  experimental  mixture  of  black,  sludge  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released "Acedia"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  Distorted  sounds  and  clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  post  metal  direction.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  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  going  into  on  experimental  direction  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Keyboards  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  songs,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mourning  and  brief  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Martikor  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  experimental  black,  sludge  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Soothing  Rattle"  "A  Tremor  In  Infinity"  and  "Acedia".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/martikor/1704566355

https://martikor.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Martikor/

https://www.instagram.com/martikor_music/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ZSJqYpRZHEdHw7P9LQYHg?si=td7eKsfITxePqQ8Yl_HAPA&nd=1&dlsi=5f1dac65c5884eb3

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpt6kcAnWrlfoccf9xnkATQ  

Riitasointu/Pedon Leikki/Naturmacht Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Riitasointu  are  a  duo  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Pedon  Leikki"  which  will b e  released  in  March  by  Naturmacht  Productions.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clean  pagan  vocals  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  folk  music  elements  also  being  mixed  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.

   When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.,  the  closing  track  is  also  an  instrumental  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  tales  from  the  Tavastia  region  and  the  writings  of  Aleksis  Kiva.

  I{n  my  opinion  Riitasointu  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  folk  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "1050"  "Pedon  Leikki"  and  "Impivaara".  8 out  of  10.

  https://riitasointu.bandcamp.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/riitasointu.official/

 https://www.instagram.com/riitasointu.official/

  

Hierophant/Gateway To The Abyss/Dusktone Records/2024 Full length Review

 

  Hierophant  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  playing  more  of  a  mixture  of  blackened  death  and  sludge  metal  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of  a  blackened  death  metal  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Gateway  To  The  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Dusktone  Records.

   A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  brutal  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard  and  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of the  riffing.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  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  more  of  a  90's  style  along  with  one  track  also  bringing  in  a  brief  use  of  dark  soundscapes  and  most  of t he  album  focuses  on  a  brutal  direction,  all  of the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  last  couple  of  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.   

  On  this  recording  Hierophant  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  dark,  brutal  and  aggressive  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Anti  Religion  and  Misanthropy  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hierophant  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Seeds  Of  Vengeance"  and  "Nemesis  of  thy  Mortals".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/HIEROPHANTKVLT

https://www.instagram.com/hierophantofficial/

https://hierophant.bandcamp.com/ 

Veriteras Interview

 

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

(Santtu) Well, there’s a ton of work to put out an album after things are recorded. We tracked guitars in the Spring of 2023, drums and vocals in July, and then mixed and mastered from August through November. After that we sent the album out to a bunch of labels but we decided to self-release (more on that in the question below). In parallel we were working on the album artwork, doing tryouts for a new bassist (and we also considered adding a keyboardist but decided not to), and organizing our Pacific Northwest US tour with Finnish band Event Relentless. We’ve been super busy! 

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

(Santtu) We’ll release two singles in March, and the full album will be released in April. The Dark Horizon really leans in on our old school melodic death metal roots, and as a result has a more blackened melodic death metal sound compared to our previous release, Shadow of Death. There's more tremelo picking, more blast beats, but still holding on to a very melodic core. We're very happy with how the album ended up, and we grew a ton through the process. The song writing is more mature, the lyrics are stronger because Sean wrote them all instead of me, the musicianship is better, and the mix is fantastic. We're all super excited to be sharing this album with the world, and hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it!

3.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?

(Sean) The primary lyrical theme on this album is the tension between hope and hopelessness as felt through the human experience: war, politics, creation, destruction, faith, and doubt. The lyrics are reflections on these contrasts, zooming in on personal conflict, and zooming out on civilizational conflict. The backdrop for all of this is the vastness of the universe and how it evokes a sense of existential dread or crisis; in the midst of finding meaning in our struggles, there's an incomprehensible and unknowable nature of existence beyond the horizon.

(Santtu) I think one of the ways that this album is better than our prior efforts is with the songwriting - it’s more mature and developed. As with just about everything, with more practice and experience we get better at things. Having put out 2 EPs and a full length album we’ve learned a lot about songwriting, and are able to apply lessons learned and new techniques. But even so, the core of our songwriting remains - very melodic riffs in a framework of death metal.

(Jason) Adding to Santtu's comments about songwriting, I think we've grown quite a bit simply in becoming more aware and responsive to what each other needs musically. Like for me, I feel that I have a better awareness of what the guys need from a structural standpoint. For example, how I might make a transition easier to follow or when to keep a part locked in vs. when I can open up and experiment with different drum parts that may add some variety to a song. Though I'm sure this is probably a common experience with any band that grows together, it certainly is a factor in our case.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name "Veriteras"?

(Santtu) It’s the combination of the Finnish words “veri”, which means “blood”, and “teräs”, which means “steel”. “Blood steel” would be the literal translation, although we picked that as a name because it harkens to our Scandinavian musical roots (plus Santtu is Finnish) and we thought it sounded cool. My cousin in Finland pointed out that he interpreted the name as being translated to be “bloody blade”, which is kind of cool. Maybe we should rename ourselves to be Battle Sword.

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

(Sean) The core concept of the artwork is found in the lyrics of "Celestial Darkness," which explores hope and despair when thinking about the cosmos and our place in it. I envisioned and started with a sketch of a mysterious nebula that gives life to new creation on other worlds. To me, it evokes the wonder of what other consciousness exists in the universe, and whether they look to the skies and ask themselves the same profound questions about the nature of existence. In many ways, this is a general theme across the album and the other lyrics. 

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?

(Santtu) One in particular stands out for me, which was playing at Varjobaari in Tampere, Finland during our tour in FInland in 2022. It was the last show of our tour, and a lot of people turned out for it. It just felt like we were in sync with the crowd, feeding off each other’s energy. One of the other bands we were touring with, Hagalas, was selling buckets at their merch table. We came to learn that when a new grocery store opens they give out buckets. People apparently show up early to wait in line, sort of like Black Friday in the US. So they applied the concept as merch for their band. Maybe we should try that too!

7.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

(Santtu) Indeed we do! We’ll be hitting the road a week after the album is released in the Pacific Northwest corner of the US. We’ll be joined by Finnish metal band Event Relentless for the tour, and we’re super excited to play a bunch of cities we’ve never been to before. The tour is funded in part through the generosity of the Finlandia Foundation, who provided a grant to help make the tour a reality. We’ll be playing Bellingham, Bremerton, Spokane, Richland, Boise, Bend, Portland, Olympia, and Seattle.

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

(Santtu) Yup, at the moment we’re contentedly independent. We shopped The Dark Horizon around a bit with some labels, but there was limited interest. We also realized that what we were really looking for was the PR aspect. A label would have many advantages, but we felt we could get most of the benefit by working with a PR firm. We ended up partnering with Clawhammer PR, and they are absolutely fantastic to work with. Highly recommended!

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

(Santtu) Well, keep in mind that we’re a super small amateur metal band doing this out of passion. Of the entire world of people who are melodic black or death metal fans, only a small percentage has heard our music. Of those people, an even smaller percentage has found it notable enough to respond to it. That said, we’ve been extremely humbled by the response from metal fans across the world. They’ve been tremendously supportive and encouraging, and it’s really cool to see people enjoying the music. We’ll see how folks like the new album - we had a lot of fun making it, and really like the way it sounds, hopefully others do as well (but it’s ok if they don’t…).

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

(Santtu) We’ve been super thankful for everything we’ve had the opportunity to accomplish thus far. We’re trying not to take anything for granted - who knows what the future holds. We’re certainly having a lot of fun in Veriteras, and I’m pretty sure we’ve got at least another album in us, probably more. Maybe add a bit more dashes of folk into the next album? Revisit Europe? Become a cover band that plays exclusively Veriteras songs?

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

(Santtu) For me, lately, it’s been folk metal - Grymheart, early-era Ensiferum, and Verikalpa. Also listening to a bunch of our fellow bands like Inpathos, Vesuvian, and Xoth. We’re blessed to have an awesome and vibrant local music scene - tons of bands to listen to.

(Jason) My interests have always leaned more toward straight-ahead American death metal, but some of the melodic influences of the other guys have affected my listening over the last few years as well. For example, Arch Enemy, Ensiferum, Omnium Gatherum, Lutharo, Eluveitie. Santtu mentioned folk metal and some of that's rather new to me, but I'm really enjoying what I'm hearing. Not to mention folk metal shows are different than regular death metal shows, they're some of the funnest I've ever been to.

In addition, I've been listening to Ne Obliviscaris for a while now, and I love how they integrate the violin with such heavy and pleasing melodies. Also of note is this band White Ward that I stumbled across a few months back, the first death metal band I've ever heard with a saxaphone. Maybe you could call it sexy death metal, haha. Perhaps they invented a new genre, but admittedly it's new and novel and I keep going back to it.

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

(Santtu) Thanks so much for the chance to share about our album and band!

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