Nachtblut/Todschick/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nachtblut  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  very  symphonic  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Todschick"  which  will  be  released  on  February  21st  by  Napalm  Records.

  A  very  symphonic  and  orchestral  orientated  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  and  rough  gothic  metal  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in a   small  amount  of  80's  style  synths.  Growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  words  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well elements  of  folk  metal  also  being  added  towards  the  end  of  the  album  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars.

  On  this  recording  Nachtblut  brings  out  more  of  a  symphonic  and  mid  tempo  mixture  of  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  contemporary  societal  issues.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Nachtblut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black,  dark  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Von  Hass  Getrieben"  "Das  Leben  Der  Anderen"  "Gotterstille"  and  "Schneller  als  Der  Tod".  8  out  of  10.

  WEBSITE

 FACEBOOK
 INSTAGRAM

 NAPALM RECORDS    

Act Of Impalement/Profane Altar/Caligari Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Nashville,  Tennessee's  Act  Of  Impalement  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  blackened  mixture  of  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Profane  Altar"  which  will  be  released  on  February  28th  by  Caligari  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  death  metal  growls.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  black  metal  screams  can  also b e  heard  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  90's  death  metal  style  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffs  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  touches  of  crust  and  d  beat  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  History  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Act  Of  Impalement  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Apparition"  "Deities  Of  The  Weak"  and  "Profane  Altar".  8  out  of  10.

  https://caligarirecords.bandcamp.com/album/profane-altar

www.facebook.com/actoofimpalement         

Ter Ziele/Embodiment Of Death/Tararus Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Ter  Ziele  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Embodiment  Of  Death"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Tartarus  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being a   mixture  of  blackened  metal  screams  and  growls.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  some  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.  When  guitar  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  post  metal  style   along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  

  Ter  Ziele  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  haunting  side  of  the  human  condition.  

  In  my  opinion  Ter  Ziele  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  post  black,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Separation    Of  Body  And  Soul"  and  "This  Mortal  Coil".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://terzieledoom.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TERZIELEDOOM

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ter_ziele  

Mantar/Post Apocalyptic Depression/Metal Blade Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Mantar  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  moves  away  from  the  blackened  style  of  sludge  metal  of  previous  releases  and  goes  into  more  of  a  blackened  death  punk  direction  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Post  Apocalyptic  Depression"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  metal  Blade  Records.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  also  capturing  the  energy  of  punk  rock.  Elements  of  black'n'roll  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  rough  yet  aggressive  style  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  metal/punk  style.  

  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  lot  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  short  in  length  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  back  up  shouts  as  well  as  some  guitar  leads  also  being  utilized  at  times,  spoken  words  can  also  be  briefly.  One  song  also  adds  in  more  of  a  traditional  hardcore  punk  style  of  vocals  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  van  also  be  heard..

  On  this  recording  Mantar  drops  the  sludge  metal  elements  of  previous  releases  and  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  black'n'roll  and  death  punk.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mass  hysteria  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mantar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Absolute  Ghost"  "Dogman  Down"  "Church  Of  Suck"  and  "Cosmic  Abortion".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.mantarband.com 

https://www.facebook.com/MantarBand 

https://www.instagram.com/mantarband 

Throne/That Who Sat Upon Him, Was Death/Redefining Darkness Records/2025 Full length Review

 

  Throne  not  to  be  confused  with  the  band  from  Italy  of  the  same  name  are  a  band  from  Jackson,  Michigan  that h as  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  more  of  a  brutal,   melodic  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "That  Who  Sat  Upon  Him,  Was  Death"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Redefining  Darkness  Records.

  A  very  heavy  yet  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffs.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  having  their  guttural  moments.  

  On  this  recording  Throne  goes  for  more  of  a  modern  melodic  and  brutal  form  of  blackened  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death,  chaos  and  heresy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Throne  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Disentombed"  "Realm  Of  Immolation"  and  "Where  Angels  Cower  in  Fear".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp

Throne/Ossarium/Dusktone/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Throne  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  sludge  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Ossarium"  which  will b e  released  in  February  by  Dusktone.

  A  very  dark  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavier  sludge  metal  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  Vocals  are  mostly  growls  mixed  in  with  a  few  blackened  metal  screams  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.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  some  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Some  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  stoner  metal,  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.

  Throne  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  and  sludge  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Throne  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  sludge  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Morrigan"  and  "The  All  Father".  8  out  of  10.

 https://youtu.be/ALvBwTlMWMw

Exiled Hope Interview

 

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?

 I have the 4th album pretty much done, the 5th album is in progress, and I have a bunch of covers that might make their way onto a separate album or EP. I also just released some new merch designs (which you can find in my online merch store here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/exiled-hope-virtual-merch-booth/). There's always a lot going on behind the scenes.

2.You have a new full length coming out early in 2025, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

It's at a much higher quality than my previous releases in terms of production and performances. Before finishing the album, I took several months off of working on original music to take lessons and work on covers in order to develop my skills, because I felt like I had plateaued and wasn't able to make the music I wanted to make. I'm a much better musician than I was on the first 2 albums and EP, and I had a professional mix engineer work on Apocrypha as well. Stylistically, this album strays a bit from the folk and progressive influences that were on the first Exiled Hope albums and plays up the black metal and power metal influences; it feels more like Kamelot and Cradle Of Filth than Eluveitie and Ensiferum.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit about your interest in this genre?

I love this genre because it uses escapism as a vehicle for working through real, personal emotions. When you take a feeling and turn it into something concrete in the form of music and/or lyrics, it's easier to process, understand, and work through that feeling. It becomes something you can choose to perceive instead of something that's vaguely perceptible and always there. As a result, my fantasy-inspired lyrics serve a purpose similar to that of fables or fairytales: they impart life lessons through storytelling.

4.You have also done soundtracks for films, what type of films have you contributed music to so far?

. I've done a vast array of short films for YouTuber John H. Shelton, generally in the urban fantasy or thriller genre. Most recently, I released a soundtrack album for the indie horror film What Happens After Midnight. I also recorded a folk-inspired soundtrack for Hallowed Paths (still in development), which is a loose retelling of a Finnish folktale. I would love to continue doing soundtrack work!

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

On a surface level, Hope is the name of the main protagonist of the first album, and she is exiled from her city after she learns dark secrets that the city's corrupt leaders would rather keep hidden. On a deeper level, the name Exiled Hope represents the hope for a better world that the fantasy genre instills in us, and reminds listeners that too often, we "exile" this hope from our spirits when we grow up and are forced to abandon things that inspired us as kids. The name is a reminder to keep pursuing the hope that society exiles from us, and to hold onto our passions.

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

 The cover artwork is The Deluge by John Martin (1834). I chose this piece to represent the turmoil that defines the protagonist's journey on this album, as he strives to find his own path in a world where he feels forced to choose sides and abandon different parts of himself.

7.You have worked both solo and with other musicians, do you prefer to work by yourself?

Generally, working by myself is easier because I'm fully in control of the project and can get the work done more efficiently. Working with other musicians requires compromise, discussion, scheduling, and waiting on everyone to send their parts over. I love working with other musicians, but I need my own personal outlet where I can work at my own pace and control the direction of the project. I also enjoy challenging myself to learn different parts, different skills, and different instruments, as I do in Exiled Hope; even though finishing a project is rewarding, the journey of creating the music is the fun part.

8.You have also collaborated on a few recordings with 'Steel Forge', musically how do you feel their style differs from yours?

Their style leans much harder in the melodeath direction than Exiled Hope has so far. It's a style that I've wanted to explore for a while, but that never really found its place in Exiled Hope. Working with Steel Forge and catering more to their members' skillsets and interests has given me the opportunity to tap into that creative energy. I wasn't just composing for myself, I was composing with other musicians and another vocalist in mind, and I think the challenge of building that seamless synergy between us resulted in some of my best work yet.

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

I am not looking to sign with a label. I am happy to create at my own pace, and I've built up a solid team and support system that cannot be easily replaced. There are many more paths to success in the music industry than there once were, and I think the metal scene in particular leans too hard on legacy thinking instead of taking advantage of the new opportunities that are available to musicians in the 21st century.

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

Extreme metal fans seem intrigued for the most part. Some people don't really understand the intent behind my genre blend, but that's ok; I'm not trying to appeal to a broad, general audience. My music is more for nerds (I say this lovingly, as a fellow music nerd) who like hearing unexpected twists and puzzle pieces in their music; I try to make it interesting to listen to. The people who get it, really do seem to get it. I've read multiple positive reviews that appear to perfectly understand my vision and ideas. I love seeing various interpretations of my music that, while all different, are often all correct at the same time. The emotional core of my music and the joy of creating something multifaceted and ambitious seem to resonate with people, and that's what matters to me.

11.What is going on with 'Forgotten Shrine' these days?

We're working on some new music, but we're still a bit unsure whether it will lead to an EP or a full album this year. We've both contributed songs to the project, and we're very excited to show them all off in one format or another.

12.Where do you see herself heading into as a musician during the future?

I see myself: 1) making a decent side income from my royalties, album sales, and merch sales; and 2) licensing my music to and recording original soundtracks for TV, film, and game producers. I'd say those are my main goals at the moment.

13.What are some of bands or musical styles that you are currently listening to nowadays?

I've been listening to a lot of early-2000s post-grunge and alt-metal (such as Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Daughtry), and some more recent power metal (such as Arion, Frozen Crown, Kalidia, and Visions Of Atlantis)

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

Thank you for your thoughtful questions and your positive reviews! I appreciate you taking the time to check out my music and put this interview together.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/exiled-hope/1563587153

https://exiledhope.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ExiledHope

https://www.instagram.com/legally_metal/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/024Bd5ViU3F8gRFe9lnCth?si=cbd9c556aa4d441d&nd=1&dlsi=221e6a99ea844729

https://www.tiktok.com/@exiled.hope

https://x.com/exiledhope99

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