Mourning Veil/Heresy Code/2024 Full Length Review

 

     Mourning  Veil  are  a  band  with  members  from  Iowa  and  Nebraska  that  plays  a  very  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Heresy  Code".

  The  sounds  of  fire  burning  and  classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  album  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  technical  style  along  with  the  tracks  also  mixing  in  a  good  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements,.

 All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  track  also  adding  slam  style  breakdowns  in  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  track  and  as  the  album  progresses  classical  guitars  also  make  a  return.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  heresy  and  esoteric  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mourning  Veil  are  a  very  great  sounding  brutal,  melodic  and  technical  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Gnostic  Deceiver"  "Closing  In"  Before  The  Clutches"  and  "Conspirators  Of  Atrocity  III:  Shameless".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/mourningveilband/

  

Living Inferno/Triumvirate/2024 Full Length Review

 

   Living  Inferno  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  very  brutal,  melodic  and   blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Triumvirate".

  Stringed  instruments  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  back  up  shouts. When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.

  A  couple  of  song  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  A  lot  of  the  music  also  takes  the  melody  of  the   90's   Swedish  bands  and  mixes  it  in  with  the  brutality  of  the  old  school  American  bands  as  well  as  remaining  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  horror  and  murder  themes  and  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  written  in  Finnish.

  In  my  opinion  Living  Inferno  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Carrion  Swarm"  "Into  The  Endless  Night"  and  "Written  in  Blood".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/livinginfernoofficial

Demande à la Poussière 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?

Vince : Well, we’ve been on tour over a week in France just after the release of the album. It was great to meet the public and play new songs from Kintsugi. After a year of work on the recording without gigs we were really looking forward to playing live again. 

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

Vince : In my opinion, Kintsugi is less dark compared to the previous album. Maybe more doomy and sludgy I would say, that reminds me a bit of the first Demande A La Poussière, but we are still in the crossroads of different music genres. The main difference is the vocals done by Simon, our new singer, who brings something new for Demande A La Poussière. 

3.Can you tell us a little bit more about the lyrics that are present on the new album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

Simon: the lyrics are mainly about negative feelings from start to finish. The overall theme is about rebuilding yourself after having been destroyed by life itself, which can be viewed as optimistic, but every song is about all the excruciating mental pain you have to go through. Pain of loss, frustration, despair, … Neil wrote half of the songs, and I wrote the other half. My writing is more like, angry, coarse, straightforward. His style is more into metaphors, contemplation. There’s a duality, where one side tends to have some hope, and the other side denies every form of hope.

Over the years, my songwriting has improved quite a bit. Since I’m part of multiple bands, this is hard work all the way, but I’m having so much fun I often have trouble considering this as “work”.

4.I know the band's name means 'Ask (to) The Dust', in French, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

Vince : This name was a kind of inspiration for the recording of the first album “Demande A La Poussière”, some lyrics directly come from the book of John Fante. It made sense back in the time to relate to this book. For the next ones the lyrics has been written by ourselves, talking about life and human sorrows. 

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

Vince : The artwork of Kintsugi is done by Vade Retro, two french, very talented guys. We really like their work for bands but also different festivals. They agreed to work with us for this new record and we are truly grateful. 

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?

Vince : We played a couple years ago with two great french bands, Svart Crown that sadly doesn’t exist anymore and Regarde les Hommes Tomber who recently opened for Behemoth. It was such a great moment for us. Our first gig was also with Decline Of The I, this one is a very special one too. 

We try to give the best experience for the public in our live shows, even in small venues, in terms of sound but also with a special light synchronized show and background video. I am personally a big fan of live music, especially in metal, we all  come to the show to see a special moment. That’s what we try to do each time. 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album/

Vince : Yes we are currently working on it. It’s not finalized yet, but we want to promote this album as much as possible. We are proud of what we achieved with the work we did on the show, so let’s hope we will manage to be booked in France and elsewhere.

8.The last 2 albums where released on 'My Kingdom Music', how would you compare working with this label 'Argonauta Records'?

Vince : The work of My Kingdom Music is beyond our expectation, we are truly grateful to be supported by Francesco. Without him, it would not be the same. We have a great confidence on his judgment.  And he does a huge work on the promotion coupled with the work of Agence Singularité our press agency. 

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

Simon: lots of people loved it. We had loads of positive feedback during our promotional tour.

On a worldwide view, I bet we fell in quite a number of foreign ears!

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?

Simon: My black metal project, Anthropovore, released two albums in February, and my other black metal band, Supplices, will release its second album this year. My thrash/death metal band, Muertissima, is currently working on its second album after a line-up change. My post-stoner band, Smoke, is working on its second album. My rock band, Circle of trust, is looking forward to record its first album. My punk/rock band, Dready, is aiming to do their first gigs very soon. I am also part of a deathcore project with a friend of mine, called CHAGS. I also have a solo post-black metal project called Arachnotrone, the first EP will be released this spring.

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

Simon: more doom, more despair, more violence, more sludge, more grunge, and above all… More nasty riffs!

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

Simon: I’ve always been a huge fan of bands like Midnight Oil, and I still listen to them from time to time. I also listen to a lot of hardtek, rap, stuff like that. In terms of metal, I’m more of an early 2000’s guy. But I always enjoy listening to something new!

Vince :  I listen to a lot of different music styles myself. I go from metal to jazz, I won’t list all the bands but it could be famous bands or upcoming ones. 

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

Vince :  We would like to thank all the people following us on shows, the people we buy our record, all of this wouldn’t be possible without their support.

Simon: always remember, in dire times, there is always a light, whatever you name it.

https://www.facebook.com/DALPdoom

Synopsis/Pontifex Maximus/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Synopsis  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Pontifex  Maximus".

  Symphonic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  amount  of  90's  influences  as  well  as  remaining  modern  at  the  same  time.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals  and  when t he  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Synopsis  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  symphonic  and  mid  tempo  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Ukrainian  and  cover  History,  War,  Esotericism  and  Satanism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Synopsis  are  a  very  great  sounding  symphonic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Діти  Із  Бруду"  "Земля  Скляних  Веж"  and  "Рефлексія".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOyX_o9-pKI

VKontakte | Bandcamp

Bloodcross Interview

 

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

Bloodcross is a metal band that was started a few years ago. We incorporate a lot of different musical elements from black metal, neoclassical metal and traditional heavy metal. While not exactly a new or unique mix of elements, I think our sound is not one you'll hear from every other band.

2.You have your first full length coming out in July, musically how does it differ from your previous demo?

The album, Gravebound, is more melodic, varied and technical than the demo and quite a leap forward in my own view. While "more technical and more melodic" doesn't automatically mean that the music is better, of course, I believe that for us it represents refinement and evolution of the same elements that were already on the demo.

3.The band formed out of the ashes of 'Angelscourge', what was the decision behind splitting that band up and forming a new one?

Bloodcross forming out of the ashes of Angelscourge is correct in some ways but needs a bit of clarification. Angelscourge never quit per se, but has been on hold for a few years due to some of the members having other things to do.  Both bands share some members but not all.

Bloodcross is a different band that is less black metal and more of a hybrid as far as influences go.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

Most of the songs on the album have different themes and are about various specific topics. The themes of death, afterlife and underworlds of different mythologies are the most common themes but there are also tracks that are about something completely different. 

For example, one song on the album is based on certain Western films and a particular Yngwie Malmsteen inspired song is about various people in history who have been accused of making a deal with the devil for their musical talent.

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

There isn't any truly deep meaning behind the name. Personally, I'm fascinated by blood in an aesthetic and thematic sense and it's also kind of a reference to an Angelscourge song.

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

It's designed by a great Mexican artist by the name of Nestor Avalos. I discovered them when I was browsing through album artwork from other bands, looking for a suitable artist for our album. 

The artwork itself relates to the title track of the album, Gravebound, and its lyrics. He created the artwork based on the lyrics and various other art references I sent to him.

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

We've only played a few shows thus far but I'd say they have all been good. If I had to pick the best one, it would probably be our latest since we played with awesome bands like Jävelin and Beatrix.

We try to be energetic and also play well since our music has some technical elements that don't sound very good if played poorly.

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

Not right now but I'm sure some will come up.

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

The album isn't out yet so we haven't had that much feedback but everything I've heard so far has been positive. That usually tends to be the case with smaller bands, of course. You usually start to see more negative feedback when a band gets popular.

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

I've written some new material after the album was recorded (which was a year ago, in fact) and I'd say it's in the same style as Gravebound. What it's going to be like in a few years, I cannot say. Maybe even more traditional heavy metal influences? 

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?

From my own perspective as the songwriter, the most important and obvious influences would be Dissection, Necrophobic, Dark Funeral, Children of Bodom, Yngwie Malmsteen and Iron Maiden. 

As for what I'm currently listening to, it's mostly power metal, traditional heavy metal, guitar virtuoso music and popular music from the 80s. Extreme metal I listen to less than I used to.

12.Does Occultism play any role in your music ?

Yes and no. I'm not an occultist but I'm very interested in occult and esoteric topics in a scholarly sense. That does find its way to the music and lyrics sometimes.

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

Stay tuned for our album Gravebound and I hope you like it as much as we do. I am personally very pleased with the result and I'm excited that the album is finally getting released.

Regards,

Aleksi/Bloodcross

www.facebook.com/bloodcrossmetal 

Gorgonchrist/And Justice For Balls/Road To Masochist/2024 Full Length Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  Gorgonchrist  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of   their  2024  album  "And  Justice  For  Balls"  which  will b e  released  in  July  by  Road  To  Masochist.

  A  very  heavy  crust  punk  and  d  beat  orientated  style  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in with  some  shouts.  Tremolo  picking  can  also be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Elements  of  sludge  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  album  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  the  album  progresses  a  lot  of  the  vocals  also  go  into  more  of  a  growling  direction,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Gorgonchrist  takes  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  them together  to  create  a  very  diverse  yet  heavy  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Darkness  and  Humor  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gorgonchrist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal  and  crust  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Toaster  Inferno"  "Legs  of  A  Penguin"  "Satanic  Cunt  Slicer"  and  "Dr-Lovefire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist

https://gorgonchrist.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/IN_DQuTKdms   

Drunkelweizen Interview

 

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

Being our debut album, I would assume we fall into the "never heard of before" category for most! Haha. Drunkelweizen is what we are proud to call "Drunken Folk Metal" and is a blend of metal styles along with classical and folk influences. The name itself was brewed from an inside joke between  founding members/life long friends, and our love of beer.

2.You have an album coming out in September, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

We were really inspired by some of the pioneers of folk metal such as Korpiklaani, Trollfest, and Ensiferum, to name only a few, that made us want to play a similar style of music. However, we also wanted to incorporate our backgrounds being classically trained to our black/death metal roots. We really wanted to blend havey metal with big orchestral arrangements, and varying vocal styles to ensure each track stands apart while being cohesive as an album.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

Our debut album is an ode to those in history whose life was ever entwined with the godly nectar, alcohol. From legendary poet to notorious outlaw turned folk hero, spectacular miracles or a death that coined an unfortunate phrase, these songs are an homage to the legacy they brewed. Our opening songs tell the tale of such individuals throughout history, whereas the final songs are offered in tribute to those we did not recount, and fueled by their memory and more than a few drinks of our own.

4.I know that the bands name is related to alcohol, can you tell us a little bit more about the types of alcohol the band members consume?

We are primarily beer connoisseurs, however we appreciate most forms of alcohol. Except for gin. Never gin. Here in Portland Oregon we have quite a few craft breweries offering up a wide selection from hefeweizens (though we are partial for the true German imports), IPAs, or barrel aged stouts.  Honorable mention goes out to mead and bourbon!

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

Similar to our music, the artwork is a bit out of the norm for your standard metal album. It depicts our Beer Guarding Gnome - who as you would guess, guards our beer - on his own voyage through the ages as a Pioneer of Alcohol.

6.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

Drunkelweizen has yet to hit the stage but are open to the possibilities. Currently, we would love to find potential members for live violin, brass, woodwinds, or other unique/interesting instruments we could incorporate with our music both live and on future releases.

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

Thus far we are enjoying drinking some beers and making whatever we feel like musically. If an opportunity came around, we would certainly be interested in the possibilities.

8.On  a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of folk metal?

Folk metal is interesting here in the states, as it isn't quite as common for the general metal population. For an older folk metal project of ours, it wasn't uncommon for new fans to think we were from some far distant land. As for Drunkelweizen and on a worldwide level, we are still waiting to see how exactly it is received. Here's to hoping listeners will lift up a glass for a toast with us!

9.Do any of the band members have experience playing in other bands or groups?

All the current members have played both together and with other projects in the past. I would say the more interesting tale would be for our upright bassist who is also part of a bagpipe ensemble. I hope to never be in the room while they are performing, but kudos to them and any that endure it.

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

We are already digging into our sophomore album and want to continue to feature a variety of various metal styles. Some tracks will be the heaviest to date, while others will have even more melodic and orchestral elements. Lyrically we will be venturing into a wide variety of topics where nothing is off limits.

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?

All forms of metal from black, death, folk, power, and every conceivable sub-genre that exists these days. Between members, there likely isn't a style of music (non-metal) that at least one of us listens to, and we hope to find ways to tie it to our music in future releases.

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

We have an initial teaser track (Pioneers of Alcohol Medley) live now on most streaming platforms and will be releasing photos, lyrics, songs, and more info as we near the debut album release. We would like to lift our steins to you and your readers for the time and hope everyone enjoys the music! Cheers!

Cheers!

Chris (Lead vocals/guitar for Drunkelweizen)

facebook.com/drunkelweizen

https://twitter.com/drunkelweizen

https://www.instagram.com/drunkelweizen/

www.youtube.com/@Drunkelweizen

https://drunkelweizen.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/62dZbLDdYy8BYzktXD27E1

https://soundcloud.com/drunkelweizen