Ossilegium/The Gods Below/Personal Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ossilegium  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "The  Gods  Below"  which  will  be  released  in  may  by  Personal  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  melodic  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  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  Swedish  tradition  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  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Back  up  shouts  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length  and  they  also  add  in a   couple  of  classical  guitar  instrumentals.

  Ossilegium  plays  a  musical style  that  goes  back  to  the  mid  90's  era  of  Swedish  melodic  black/death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Science  Fiction,  Fantasy  and  Literature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ossilegium  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.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nightborn"  "Beyond  The  Clandestine"  and  "The  Gods  Below".  8  out  of  10.

  http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-gods-below

www.facebook.com/ossilegium.666 

  

Moisson Livide/Sent Emperi Gascon/Antiq/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Moisson  Livide  are  a  duo  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Sent  Emperi  Gascon"  which  will be  released  in  may  by  Antiq.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  good  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in a   very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  clear  power  metal  style  singing.  Folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

 All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  of  tracks  also  being  an  instrumental,  influences  of  punk  rock  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Gascon  and  cover  everyday  life  and  old  legends.

  In  my  opinion  Mossson  Livide  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  folk,  power  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "La  sèrp  d’Isavit"  "Sent  Empèri  Gascon"  and  "Caçaire d’eternitat".  8  out  of  10.

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Suffering Souls/An Iconic Taste Of Demise/Satanath Records/Fetzner Death Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Suffering  Souls  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  from  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "An  Iconic  Taste  Of  Demise"  which  will  be  released  in  may  by  Satanath  and  Fetzner  Death  Records.

  A  very  dark,  melodic  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  and  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  a lot  of  the  music  is  also  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era.

  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.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  and  female  vocals  into  the  music.

  Clear  male  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  back  up  shouts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  they  also  bring  in  a  couple  of  instrumentals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Death  and  Misanthropy  themes.    

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Suffering  Souls  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Soul  Devourer"  "A  Touch  of  Evil  Kindness"  and  "Cruelty  in  Love  And  Fear".  8  out  of  10.

  

linktr.ee/suffering_souls  

  

Miruthan/Cult Of The Dead/2024 EP Review

 

  Miruthan  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Cult  of  The  Dead"  which  will  be  released  on  April  26th.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  symphonic  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  adds  in  elements  of  punk  rock  while  the  music  is  mostly  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also be  heard  along  with  some  clear  chants  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  most  of  the  tracks  stick  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Miruthan  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  melodic  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  a  touch  of  punk  rock  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  folklore,  dystopian  and  post-apocalyptic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Miruthan  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.  RECOMMENDD  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "At  The  Barricades"  and  "Land  of  the  Damned".  8  out  of  10.

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuSAVb-oRE8    

 

Ren Marabou And The Berserkers/Helgafjell/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  are  a  band  from  Ireland  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  aggressive  form  of  viking/pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Helgafjell"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Viking  horns  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while the  vocals a re  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  at  times.  Clear  pagan  singing  is  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments,  clean  playing,  spoken  word  parts  and  synths.  A  lot  of  the  album  brings  in  more  of  a  modern  metal  style  along  with  some  old  school  touches  as  well  as  some  of  the  riffing  and  vocals  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  most  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction.  

   Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  plays  a  musical style  that  takes  viking,  pagan,  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Norse  Mythology,  History  and  Paganism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ren  Marabou  And  The  Berserkers  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  viking,  pagan,  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Journeys  Of  Rig"  "Curse  Striker"  "The  Duel  of  Flint  And  Steel"  and  "Holy  Mountain".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/renmarabou

www.instagram.com/renmarabouandtheberserkers

www.youtube.com/@RenMarabouandtheBerserkers    

72 Legions/What A God Could Be/2024 Full Length Review

 

    Cleveland,  Ohio's  72  Legions  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "What  A  God  Could  Be"  which  also  consists  of  songs  from  the  ep  of  the  same  name  and  newer  songs.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Some  of  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  touches  of  slam  death  metal  along  with  the  recording  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  72  Legions  brings  out  a  more  brutal  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  anti  religion,  darkness  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  72  Legions  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  brutal  and  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "What  A  God  Could  Be"  "Downfall  of  A  Man"  "Beautiful  In  Sin"  and  "Lamentation  Of  The  Woman".  8 out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/72-legions/1669580353

https://72legions.bandcamp.com/?mibextid=NOb6eG

https://www.facebook.com/72Legions?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.instagram.com/72legionsband/?igsh=aTB3cGE2YjZzbHdt

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4TlavEuQFHlPiB4ElR8V5d?si=NZUqeGYkSb62NGpmST2wtA&nd=1&dlsi=9e1e916b2d7b4ae6

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYjxmF76u1E0j5WcfplRl1w?si=NDII2W03hYXdpWrH  

Vesseles Interview

 

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

Vesseles was created to be an outlet for coping with my demon identity. The music is meant to convey how that feels through the progressions, instrument choices and overall atmosphere. The core feeling is existential dread, dysphoria and hatred both of oneself and the world around. 

2. In May you have an EP coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Black metal felt the most appropriate for the subject matter. So, I started with that as the main direction and influence but not as a rule. I tend to add strings, keys, horns, etc into my work because I enjoy the atmosphere it adds. Adding eerie chords and piano lines became the signature sound for this EP and project going forward.

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

The project is based around my identity so all of the lyrics relate to my experiences with that. Some relate to self hatred and others to hating what’s outside of my control. Since this EP has a storyline, the lyrics lean more into transformation of self but fall back into internal struggles.

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

The name is a play on vessel/vessels. “Vesseles” is meant to have a Latin feel. My body feels like nothing but a vessel that contains my true self. It’s not really “me”. This is where the plural version comes in. I like to think that my true vessel is out there somewhere. For now, I live through two different vessels. The reason I didn’t pick vessel or vessels is because these are two very commonly used names for projects and I always like to think of something that’s easy to remember yet is not taken.

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

Since the EP title is “I Am a Demon”, it felt most applicable to just have myself on the cover. I, at first, was thinking I’d get artwork made of this but the more I thought about it, the more it felt like having just a picture of myself was best.

6. The band is considered a solo project while you have a line up on the ep, are there any plans to expand into a full band?

I’d say “solo project” should be used loosely here. So far, there’s a live lineup and studio lineup. I’d like to expand the live lineup so the live experience is “fuller” but I don’t plan to include members in the writing process. I want to maintain the original purpose of this project which is to use it as an outlet for my own experiences with my identity. 

7. What are some of the best shows that the live line up has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We have only played one show so far but it’s certainly a great first one. We opened for Uada, Abigail Williams and Vile Rites in San Francisco. I want to invest more into our stage performance but it’s nice to have a baseline based on this show. The plan is to add more props and/backdrops as well as coordinate the piano breaks so everything feels more thematically accurate. 

8. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new EP releases?

There’s an EP release show in the works but nothing has been announced yet. 

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

Not looking for a label currently.

10. When can we expect a full length and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I am currently writing the 2nd release. I’m not sure if it will be another EP or an album. I can’t promise either one. The musical direction is certainly faster and more inspired by my previous band, Arcane Existence. So, for anyone who was a fan of that material, they should find more to enjoy in this material.

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?

Evanescence will always be my core influence. They have a lot to do with why I love adding orchestrations and piano in my music. Otherwise, Cradle of Filth, Dark Funeral, and Dimmu Borgir are a few other indirect influences. I say indirect because I don’t really listen to them actively but since I listened to them early on, they certainly planted some influences. 

I don’t listen to the extreme stuff as much as I used to. I’ll always come back to it but right now I’m listening to Spiritbox, PVRIS, Syncatto, and Greyhaven

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

This project is easily the most personal music I’ve ever written. Releasing the first single was extremely anxiety driven and I have a strong feeling the rest of this material will be the same. I hope to inspire anyone who’s struggling with their identity or sense of belonging. This music isn’t just about me, it’s about the importance of self discovery and sticking true to yourself. 

Bandcamp: https://vesseles.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vesseles/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuDHPK1_w08uh6eL27gW6fg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vesseles666/