Thursday, July 18, 2024

Blighted Eye/Agony's Bespoke/Beyond The Top Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


    Blighted  Eye  are  a  band  from  Seattle,  Washington  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very progressive,  melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Agony's  Bespoke"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Beyond  The  Top  Records.


   Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  a heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.


  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  sounding  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.


  On  this  recording  Blighted  Eye.  expands  on  the  melodic  and  progressive  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  depths  of  the  human  psyche.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Blighted  Eye  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  blackened  death metal,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tragoedia"  "Howls  From  Beyond  The  Mist"  and  "Agony's  Bespoke".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blighted-eye/1539248696

https://beyondthetoprecords.bandcamp.com/album/agonys-bespoke

https://www.facebook.com/BlightedEye

https://www.instagram.com/blighted.eye/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3r4ChKWf69YfcccoyYKYPU?si=kPezaMHgTcODkEVEBnrZmg&nd=1&dlsi=4b40d6dd6ae94f2b

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

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Atavistia/Inane Ducam/2024 EP Review

 


  Atavistia  are  a  band  from Vancouver  B.C,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  melodic  and  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Inane  Ducam"  which  will be  released  on  July  19th.


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  while  also  introducing  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  harsh  vocals  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.


  When  the  music  speeds  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  closing  track  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length


  On  this  recording  Atavistia  brings  out  a  very  modern,  melodic  and  symphonic  style  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  beauty  and  solace  within  the  darkest  depths  of  one's  own  mind  and  soul  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Atavistia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  symphonic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Timeless  Despair"  and  "The  VOid".  8  out  of  10.


  Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialAtavistia

Instagram: instagram.com/Atavistia
Twitter: twitter.com/atavistia
Website: atavistia.com
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1QoL6PD6QyjdsxvTBacepq
Bandcamp: atavistia.bandcamp.com
Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCwQWMCiFZL1duPSdbdjGyCg

Mylingen 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?


1. Well, not much really. Just enjoy being finished with working on the album and doing some post-release PR work. I have some new material I've started working on slowly though…


2.In June you had released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?


2. The album is perhaps a bit more melodic and not as harsh as the EP. The sound is a bit more polished and diverse. I didn't want to release an album where every song sound the same and I think I succeded in that.


3.Both the band name and some of the lyrics are inspired by Scandinavian Folklore, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic and which aspects of it that you cover lyrically?




3. Yes, I wanted to explore themes related to folklore and also having the lyrics in Swedish made that easier and felt like the right thing to do. I have always found old folk tales or folklore interesting and suitable to Metal Music but I can't say that it is a special interest or that I am an expert on the subject though.


4.You also mention existentialism as another topic you cover lyrically, are their any philosophers in this field that have an inspiration on your songwriting and lyrics?


4. I guess you can put two different categories on the lyrics on the album, one half is more about Scandinavin folklore, nature and stuff like that and the other half is more personal, introverted. I guess it could be called existensialism but specifically they deal with issues of getting old, sick, dying r nightmares and mental issues and the like. These thoughts have startet appearing more and more for me over the last few years - I guess it's a natural process of getting older myself (I turned 40 earlier this year) but also seeing relatives getting older and weaker and not as capable any longer and that starts some thought process in your own head abut who you are, how you live your life and what lies ahead in the future.


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



5. Other than what I mentioned above, the song "Förlist" stands our a bit as it deals with a shipwreck and how the crew die a horrific death in the dark depths of the sea.


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


6. It is originally an oil painting made by a German Romanticism painter in the mid 1800's. It is under public domain so I could use it and edit it a bit in Photoshop. I always liked paintings of nature, especially dramatic ones and I'm not a fan of most artworks used by bands today where everything is CGI och computer generated and plastic. I wanted to use something a bit more classy and beautiful. Other than that, there is no story behind the artwork, and it doesn't particually link to any song on the album, I just found it Beautiful and fitting the mood of the music.


7.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer working as a duo?


7. I've been a solo musician for almost 20 years now, with the exception of session musicians for mostly vocal work and I really like working on my own. That is not to say that Mylingen could be expanded to a full band some day. However, I enjoy working on Music the way I do and I'm not really interested in playing live, going on tours etc. I prefer Writing, composing and recording instead.


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


8. I'm always looking for interesting partnerships, be it a label, distributor, other artists or creative people. It can be tiresome (and expensive) to do everything from recording to distributing, pr & marketing, production of physical media, copyright registration etc etc, so it would be nice to have someone else do all the boring and tedious stuff and just focusing on writing and recording. I have gotten a few offers before but didn't find them suitable so for the moment I am still very much unsigned and independent.


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


9. It's hard to say since the album just been released, but the response I've gotten so far have been great! Of course, as a new, unsigned band it is damn hard to get noticed amongst all tens of thousands of artist and bands that release Music each day but I'm trying my best!


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


10. I'm open to pretty much anything when it comes to Mylingen. What I would like to explore more on the next release is infusing more folk music or traditional Scandinavian sounds to the music while still maintaing a dark Metal backbone. I would like to incorporate more acoustic guitars and atmospheric elements.


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



11. I can only speak for my self here, but my taste in music is very broad. I listen to everything from 60's Pop music to Prog Rock to extreme Black Metal. What I can say though is that I rarely listen to new music, I prefer listening to the stuff I liked when I was growing up in the 90's and that's probably also a reason as to the way Mylingen sound a bit nostalgic and like it could have been recorded in the 90's.


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


12. Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview and I wish the readers all the best. Cheers!

https://www.facebook.com/mylingenswe/

Monday, July 15, 2024

Living Inferno 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?


Juha: “ We have taken a little break to relax and refresh our minds for the future activities. Spring has gone by working on the album release and on our day jobs. Teemu and Antti are busy working on their side projects and Kristian became a father for the second time at the beginning of the year, so everyone has enough activities outside the band.


2.In April you had released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?


Juha: Our previous release “Death Over Ostrobothnia” was more of a OSDM-oriented split album so the songs leaned more towards brutal riffs than melodies. In a way we continued on “Triumvirate” the dualistic approach we started on the “A True Believer” EP where we made two kinds of songs - death metal with brutal riffs and black(ened) death metal with sombre melodies and dynamic compositions. On “Triumvirate” everything is more matured, festered, deeper, darker and organic.


3.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?


Juha: “Not to go too much into details, “Triumvirate” is made up of stories of human suffering, either caused by other human beings or self-induced. All our songs center on the mortal, imperfect and fallible man whose trials we write songs about. These stories are mainly timeless though it is possible to draw connections from them to, say for example, events of today. After all, mankind has been repeating the same mistakes as long as memory and historical records will go and there is no change to be expected for that.


As songwriters, we always strive to overcome ourselves each time we write a new song, be it in writing better riffs, compositions, arrangements, production or lyrics wise. When we started writing music for Living Inferno in 2019, we made it our goal to bring some unique elements to each song and find a new aspects of our sound.  In this way, we strive to create a personal and memorable songs and not get stuck in a certain kind of narrow mold that produces only one kind of songs. This path has taught us a great deal but the learning never stops.”


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Living Inferno"/


Kristian: “We felt that the name was a good representation for the lyrical themes our songs mainly dealt with. “The Living Inferno” was actually a  name of one of our songs before it became the name of our band. The song was released on “ A True Believer” EP in 2021, but it is much older than that.


Originally, the name “Living Inferno” represents a kind of suffering in the real ordinary world, which gets unnoticed. It is hiding in plain sight, but remains incomprehensible for all but the one experiencing it. This creates an interesting layer of cold indifference to our world. One must not dwell on the suffering of others if one wishes to survive, thus leaving the less fortunate to their fates “


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


Juha: “ The artwork was made by our friend and tattoo artist Juha Wuorinen based on our ideas.  We wanted to have something that has symbolism and which can tie together the albums atmosphere and overall topics.


The three characters on the album cover represent the “dark triad”, a concept known in psychology: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. These three traits are behind untold amounts of suffering, wrongdoings and tragic human fates. The name of the album, “Triumvirate”, comes from ancient Rome where triumvirate meant three rulers, and in the context of this album, they form a “triumvirate of dark rulers”.


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


Juha: “Our latest gig at Heretical Fever Meeting black metal event during spring and last years gig at local heavy metal “Mecca” Bar15 were a real blasts!


Our gigs are usually quite intense and we try to interact with the audience during song breaks, otherwise we let the music speak for itself and move the audience.  We are a very honest down-to-earth band regarding our image and we go on stage as ourselves.


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


Juha: “We played one gig in the spring at local Heretical Fever Meeting, which was a black metal event organized by our drummer Teemun's Nineheaded Production & Events.  We haven't booked gigs for the rest of the year, but we'll get back to it in 2025.”


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


Juha: We might consider a label if it’s beneficial to our cause and they can support our artistic vision and help us to grow bigger. Nowadays there’s no income in releasing new music and artists mostly pay everything from their own pockets and carry all the risks. On the same time releasing music and promotion have become easier to D.I.Y so the need for labels for smaller bands has lessened.


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


Juha: “Feedback has been mostly positive and appraising, still waiting for some crushing ⅕ star reviews that really roast us, haha!” Truth to be told, we are humbled by the receive from the fans and we are pleased ourselves how the album turned out.


10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?


Juha: “Teemu has several other projects like Victimarum, Essedum and Amongst the Ashes.  Antti has HC punk band Aimo Possu. I myself work mostly on Living Inferno stuff but there is a possibility of  Satyricon/Khold oriented black metal project cooking up behind the scenes.


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


Juha: “It’s hard to say for sure where the inspiration eventually leads us. Last time I checked the unfinished material written since “Triumvirate” recordings, it seems to lean towards deeper into Morbid Angel/Deicide/Bloodbath/Deathchain territory of OSDM without forgetting sombre melodies and rock’n roll/blues solos. Time will tell and writing music is a constant process which ebs and flows chaotically.


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


Juha: Old school Morbid Angel, Bloodbath, Akercocke, Concrete Winds & Black Curse.


Teemu: Kalmankantaja, Blut Aus Nord & Vorna.


Antti: Victor Wooten, Rytmihäiriö & Asphyx.


Kristian: Black Sabbath, Behemoth & Morbid Angel.


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


Juha: “Go check out our latest album “Triumvirate” on Bandcamp, Spotify & YouTube, support your favourite bands by buying their merchandise and discover new bands on local gigs and events.

Thank you and stay metal, only death is real.”

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Vulgaris/Seat Of The Fire/WormHoleDeath Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Vulgaris  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Seat  Of  The  Fire"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.


  A  very  dark  sounding intro  starts  off  the  album  before  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  which  also  returns  on  later  song.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Elements  of  sludge  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  influences  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing,  keyboards  and  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Greek  Mythology  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Vulgaris  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Gold  Baptism"  "Prometheus  Rise:  and  "Seat  Of  The  Fire".  8  out  of  10.


  vulgaris2017.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/VBANDUK
www.instagram.com/vulgaris_band
twitter.com/vulgarisband
www.youtube.com/@vulgaris978

Spotify: SpotifyVulgaris      


  

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Maudissez Interview

 

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


Maudissez is a project by three anonymous musicians based in France who, through death-doom-noise music, try to promote anti-Catholicism ideas. We recorded our first album in 3 days live in a Catholic church that was still active at the time. For obvious reasons, the parish wishes to remain anonymous.


We address topics such as the various genocides caused by the Catholic Church, the intrinsic misogyny of most religions, and our interpretation of the historical event of the Temple of Reason that transformed Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral on November 10, 1793.



2.So far you have released one album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?




We wanted to explore the sound capabilities of the church by producing slow and heavy music, which is why we turned to doom; that was the original intention at least. Our musical background, our physical abilities, and the natural reverberation of the space, of course, evolved this "Doom" into something more aggressive.




3.A lot of your lyrics cover Anti Catholic themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your hatred for this religion?


We hate all forms of oppressive power over the people, whether it be through a system, an ideology, or a religion. Like many others, we were born into an environment where Catholicism was imposed on us before we even had the ability to think about it. We could have written about the rise of the right, fascism, or even capitalism, but since we had access to a Catholic church for the recording, we decided to go with this theme.


That being said, there are many people, even today, who do not have access to the necessary resources to think about or even find a way out of an oppressive religion. We consider ourselves privileged; we do not judge anyone, we only wish them to find the necessary resources.



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




We have only reinterpreted one of the passages often cited during masses, and even used as propaganda on billboards everywhere, Pray for them. Curse for them is "Maudissez pour eux" in french




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




We wanted a striking yet simple visual, which is why we went ahead with a very understated illustration. The details and intricacy are almost nonexistent, and the lines are bold, reflecting our music.




6.Has the band done any live shows or is this strictly a studio project?




Since we wish to remain anonymous, there will be no live performances, at least not in front of an audience. Also, we have no intention of finding disguises to hide ourselves.




7.So far very little is known about the band, do you prefer to keep a lower profile?




As mentioned above, we do not wish to reveal the name of the parish that helped us with the recording. We denounce the oppression inflicted on the people, not the people themselves.




8.'Sentient Ruin laboratories' are re-issuing your album on physical format, how did you get in contact with this label?




They are the ones who contacted us directly, and we are very pleased about it. 




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




It’s hard to believe that so many people came across our self-distributed album, including the label. We are very grateful. It seems we are not the only ones seeking a certain urgency, a sense of danger in art. Music produced for a specific clientele is not interesting; the result is a safe and comforting product, not art that makes us uneasy.




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




We don’t really know what we are going to do next, but we certainly would like to be able to record another album. We are also more than open to unusual collaborations.




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?




It is difficult to clearly define which bands had a direct influence on the composition of our music, as each of us has distinct references. Even though we intended to create doom, our vocal abilities led us more towards death, black, and raw punk. After the recording, listening to the results of the reverb and feedback exploration in the church, it was consistent to steer the album towards raw sounds and emphasize the creative space.



So the short answer is:



-Body Void


-Disrotted


-Coffin Lurker


-Primitive man


-Sumac


-Vile Creature


-NonServiam


-Lord Mantis


-Corrupted


-Sissy Spacek


-VOMIR


-Portal


-Fange


-Lingua Ignota


-Celeste


-Amenra




What we’re listening today:


-Big|Brave - A Chaos of Flowers




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




Thank you for your interest, it is greatly appreciated.


Respect others, curse the oppressors.

 https://www.instagram.com/maudissezpoureux/

Lamentari 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?

Since the release of Ex Umbra In Lucem, we've allowed ourselves a well-deserved break while keeping the creative fires burning. To celebrate the release, we undertook a headlining tour around Denmark with Xenoblight and Beltez, performing the album in its entirety —an experience that finally cemented the release.

 

2.Recently you have released your first full length,  musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?

 

With every release, we develop our sound in new areas. Thinking of your question here, we're reminded of how the album is aptly named Ex Umbra In Lucem, meaning from shadow into light, since this album both dwells in new areas of aggression (shadow) and exaltation (light).

In terms of aggression, the sound is more compact than on previous releases – Aiming to increasingly build climaxes upon climaxes, making the album reasonably saturated. In contrast, the album also features our first ballad, Dolorum Memoria, our softest song to date, starting from a solemn whisper crescendoing into a neoclassical build.

 

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

With Ex Umbra In Lucem, we dived down a hole we hadn't been before. We knew I needed to do something different.

On the previous releases, every song stood alone, but we wanted this album to be coherent. A backstory for LAMENTARI was created and found its way into the lyrics.

The whole album centers around an individual who conducts a ritual and becomes attached to an entity that essentially takes over him.

This whole ordeal plays out in a storyline throughout the album. 

 

 

4.I know that the bands name means 'a passionate expression of grief and sorrow' in Latin, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

 

Our musical style is a true witch's brew of many elements, and the word lamentari came to us through classical music. The term "lament" is commonly used in Italian operas, often as a title for a climactic part of the story where the main character sings an aria expressing deep-felt grief and sorrow.

Dido's Lament by Henry Purcell comes to mind here, which is the concluding aria to the opera "Dido and Aeneas" based on the Roman Legend of Aenas. After a story of betrayal, Dido is distraught and ends her story by singing her song of lament before stabbing herself to death on a funeral pyre. 

The poetic nature of this word and its link to the dramatic subtext of Roman Legends and operatic grandeur have inspired some of the neo-classical musical styles in LAMENTARI. In addition, "Dido's Lament" is known for having an iconic stepwise descending bassline, and in line with this, many of our neo-classical chord progressions incorporate stepwise motion either in the bassline or chordal material.

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

Seeking inspiration, we were captivated by the look of oxidized copper. It's a straightforward yet evocative design that tells a story.

This aesthetic embodies the passage of time, a key element in LAMENTARI.

We wanted to delve into its backstory and challenge ourselves to explore the deeper world we are creating.

 

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?

Since our first show in 2020, we've had quite a few "Holy shit!"-moments, but three very memorable ones come to mind. We visited the holy ground at Wacken when we played at their W:E:T stage in 2022. It was midday during the hottest day of the year, and adding some extra hellfire heat to that crowd was a blessing.

Our performance at Copenhell, Denmark, in 2023 has been our biggest performance so far. In the dark midnight hours, we lit the stage with pyrotechnics and invited a full choir and conductor to play on stage. Watching the crowd that night was like witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Germany and at Wacken, it's not permitted to start a wall of death, but in Denmark, it's allowed, and that night, we got to see our lead singer, Daniel, part of the Red Sea of people in the audience.

Witnessing these shows from the stage, we're tempted to describe them similarly to a ritual mass. There's a solemn feeling in the air when we start. There's incense in the air, and walking up on the stage is like walking towards the sacrificial altar. Few words are spoken except for the songs and moments of Daniel addressing the crowd in an almost religious fervor.

 

Another show that we'll remember for a long time is from a few weeks ago at Hotel Cecil in Copenhagen. The crowd that night was particularly enthused with fervor, and the room had a thick sense of awe. We're grateful for that

 

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

Yes. Now, after playing the album in full at the Ex Umbra In Lucem Tour, we will keep some of the songs on the set list for the upcoming shows in Copenhagen this summer.

 

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

We have received interest from labels and have discussed offers from a few. Given the right deal, a label could be a natural next step for us on this path of developing our productions—both live and in the studio. Labels come in many shapes and sizes, so it's important that we find the right collaborator for this. Until that's established, we're comfortable simply self-releasing all our music.

 

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

Since the release of our first EP, Missa Pro Defunctis, we've been amazed by the outpouring of positive feedback from the symphonic black metal world. We've found a keen audience, especially among fans of Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dimmu Borgir, and even the old synth-heavy Emperor.

LAMENTARI is not for everyone. Although the black metal tree has spread its roots into many directions, catalyzing many new fusions and sub-genres, it's also a genre that hosts fans who can be very particular about their likes and dislikes and what they deem authentic and in-authentic. Although I appreciate bands that keep a straight lineage back to the first or second wave of Norwegian black metal, it's clear that LAMENTARI is manifested to do something different. We're here to grow the roots into new soil and grow from sources that fertilize death metal, eighties rock, and classical music.

The worldwide positive reception for our type of symphonic black metal has been humbling.

 

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?

Daniel:

He Who Saw The Abyss is a side project getting ready to release an EP. We are looking forward to playing a few shows before the year is over.

Jamie:

Lysbaerer is a project Thomas and I started in the fall of 2021. It's a sort of Atmospheric Black Metal/Post-Black band, about our feelings and stories similar to our own.

We're currently gearing up to record an EP and play our first couple of shows, with Michael from LAMENTARI as one of our live members.

Lysbaerer was a catalyst for me joining LAMENTARI, as writing the first couple of tracks made Thomas ask me to play bass for LAMENTARI.

Furthermore, Michael is performing in Mother Of All, a progressive metal band featuring members from Afsky, Chaoswave, Timechild, and Withering Surface. They recently released their latest album, "Global Parasitic Leviathan."

 

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

Musically, we wish to develop our style even further. The goal here would be to retain the aggressive edge while making the songs even more dynamic, to codify the classical and cinematic storytelling in them.



12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

It's hard to catalog our influences since they're ever-changing and varied. Because the muse of inspiration comes and goes in the vortex of everyday life, the origin of the catalytic spark may easily be forgotten. LAMENTARI is a witch's brew of many styles, and we're standing on the shoulders of black metal, death metal, film scores, neoclassical, and baroque. We're listening to all the music we like, and that can be cast across a wide horizon—from Aqua to extreme metal. 

 

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

We'd like to thank you for your questions and extend our gratitude to any reader who has been curious enough to read this interview. Thank you!