Cruentus/End Without End/Kult und Kaos Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Cruentus  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "End  Eithout  End"  which  was  released  by  Kult  und  Kaos  Productions.

    A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  used  at  times.

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.  Synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  and  spoken  words  and  melodic  guitar  leads  are  also  added  towards  the  end.

  On  this  recording  Cruentus  goes  for  a  very  aggressive,  modern  and  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  human  emotion  and  the  complexities  of  existence,

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cruentus  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Shades  Of  Thiea"  "Limitless  Conjuring"  ""M.I.A"  and  "As  My  Senses  Collide".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/FGkP6zZ4Nv

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cruentus-SWE-101581451696691

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruentus_swe/

  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cruentusswe4585

  Bandcamp: https://cruentus1.bandcamp.com/

  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0S5fJ4mSuFJOOXiqf0nbcI?si=mjfEUjBGTDmyQ_8IXygQew

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/se/artist/cruentus/416008378

Cattle Hammer/Dark Thoughts With Lights Out/Road To Masochist/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Cattle  Hammer  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom,  sludge  metal  and  drone  and  this  is  a  review of  their  album  "Dark  Thoughts  With  Lights  Out"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Road  To  Masochist.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  stars  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  recording  also  add  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  Spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  melodic  style.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  growls.  Drones  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  blast  beats  are  also  introduced  on  the  album.

  Cattle  Hammer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  pain,  suffering,  death  and  misery  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Cattle  Hammer  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom  metal  and  drone  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Gloomsower"  and  "Body  Puzzle".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://www.facebook.com/cattlehammer/

https://youtu.be/zVRItOA_K_o        

Bloodred/Colours Of Pain/Massacre Records/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Bloodred  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  and  brutal  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Colours  Of  Pain"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  massacre  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  ver4y  fast  and  brutal  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  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  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  atmospheric  touches,  clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Bloodred  takes  their  melodic  and  brutal  style  of  blackened  death  metal  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  betrayal,  censorship,  environmental  collapse,  societal  decay,  pandemic  devastation  and  global  resistance.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bloodred  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric,  brutal  and  melodic  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ashes"  "Heretics"  and  "Resist".  8  out  of  10.

  www.bloodredband.com 

www.facebook.com/Bloodredofficial 

www.instagram.com/bloodred.band 

https://youtu.be/rxKVHDRhdC0  .    

W.E.B/Darkness Alive/Metal Blade Records/2026 Live Album Review

 

  Greece's  W.E.B  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  they  take  their  symphonic  mixture  of  black  and  gothic  metal  to  the  live  stage  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Darkness  Alive"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Metal  Blade  Records.

  Live  audience  reaction  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  a  few  seconds  later  while  also  introducing  symphonic  and  orchestral  elements  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  operatic  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Touches  of  gothic  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

   Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  album  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Armageddon  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  W.E.B  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crimson  Dawn"  "Into  Hell  Fire  We  Burn"  "Necrology"  and  "Eigios".  8  out  of  10.

  https://webmetalband.com

https://www.facebook.com/webdarkness

https://www.instagram.com/webdarkmetal

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

https://x.com/webdarkmetal  

  

Daidalos/Dante/Rockshot Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Daidalos  are  a  solo  project  from  Germany  that h as  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  symphonic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Dante"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Rockshots  Records.

  Nature  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  introducing  grim  black  metal  vocals  and  symphonic  elements  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  album  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  operatic  vocals  and  clear  singing.

  On  this  recording  Daidalos  remains  true  to  the  symphonic  style  of  black  metal  which  he  introduced  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  writings  of  Dante  Alighieri.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Daidalos  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  symphonic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inferno"  "King"  "Dis"  and  "Ultimatum".  8  out  of  10.

   Instagram.com/daidalosmusic |

 Facebook.com/daidalosband

  .  

  

Starscourge Interview

 

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

Zul: Currently, we are awaiting for the reception that the album will receive upon release. I have already commenced with some songwriting concepts for new tracks. Mithun: As Zul mentioned, we are curious as to how the record will be perceived. Some lyrical ideas already exists for the upcoming songs. 

2.Recently you have released your first full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording? 

Zul: Regarding musical direction we decided on an epic Blackened Death concept, with emphasizing melody and a cinematic scope. We also wanted to encapsulate a classic Metal vibe. I began writing the tracks that were not bound to specific genre rules and limitations, and went along the path of the various riffs and melodies, concluding in each song’s completion. Mithun: I aimed to do justice to the fantastic riffs and melodies that Zul had concocted, and opted for a theatrical and diversified vocal approach. Each track had to feel different and adhere to the various lyrical themes.

 3.Both of the members are also in other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Starscourge', that you have not been able to do with your other groups? 

Mithun: When Zul and I started discussing this venture, I was playing in the punk band, Nedtur. I hadn’t involved in anything within Metal since 2020, and naturally I was drawn back to my roots. We both wanted to do something different from what we had previously played in our various projects. 

4.Your lyrics cover the Elden Ring, dark fantasy and mythology themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics? 

Mithun: Well, before Silent Images disbanded, we were in the process of a Bloodbornethemed concept album. I have always sought to lyrically compose something based off FromSoftware’s titles, and Elden Ring released at the perfect opportune moment.

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

Zul: Mithun and I started talking about starting the band and after planning out the musical and conceptual aspect we started brainstorming potential names. Eventually we decided on Starscourge. Mithun: Starscourge is the title of one of Elden Ring’s prominent characters, General Radahn also known as Starscourge Radahn during his boss fight. 

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

 Zul: Seven Kings Productions handled the artwork for all the singles as well as the album cover, and we attained permission from Maciej Wituski to utilize his excellent rendition

7.The band members live in Sweden and Singapore, what impact does the long distance in between members have on the musical style that you play? 

Zul: It would have been great if we could jam and rehearse together. Thankfully, the internet has provided a excellent medium for communication. Mithun: Indeed, Whatsapp has been a great friend. I think I correspond with Zul more than I do with my own family. Haha!

 8.On the album you also did a 'Slayer' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

 Mithun: I’ve never been too much of a Slayer or Thrash fan to be honest. I do enjoy Reign in Blood, Seasons of the Abyss and Hell Awaits. When Zul sent over this rearranged version I thoroughly enjoyed the new atmosphere and increased melodies, and went about throwing in more Thrashy vocals. We gave it the Starscourge treatment! 

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

 Zul: We are keeping our options open. It would be great to license out these tracks for physical releases. Mithun: It all depends on the deal and the possibilities at the day’s end. 

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

 Zul: It is still too early to gauge since the album has yet to launch, but we have had a decent amount of support from the singles. 

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that both of the band members are a part of?

 Zul: We both play in Chaos Imperium, a Black Metal project that I started a few years ago before I roped in Mithun this year. I am still part of Death Metal act Oshiego, and I have a few other projects underway. Mithun: Apart from Chaos Imperium, I sing with Avantgarde/Experimental Black Metal act Andharu, who’re also recording our debut as we speak. 

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

 Zul: Depending on the album’s response, we would be honoured to play live. Regardless, I’m already brewing up some new material for the next record. Mithun: The live stage would be fantastic, but we are very eager to continue making more music. 

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

 Mithun: Classic Metal will always be there, though I’ve listened to lots of epic scores as well. This year’s favourites are quite the strange bag - Afsky, Team Anarchy, Rudra, KLPS, Metaphor: Refantazio’s soundtrack, Sleep Theory, Alice Cooper, Bloody Valkyria, Nemophilia, Katla 

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

Mithun: Thank you for this interview, and for the lovely review as well. We should keep in touch! 

https://www.facebook.com/Official.Starscourge/
https://www.instagram.com/starscourge.official/

Cultic Interview

 

CULTIC INTERVIEW 

W/ Brian Magar & Andrew Harris

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

Brian: Since the release we’ve been playing shows, writing new material and ideating new concepts. This train keeps a rollin all night long.  

Andrew: Riffs and shows baby. 

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

Brian: We’re growing. LORE is really just a deeper pool of what we’ve done in the past. I think the writing is tighter and more focused in both the intros and the songs. But our overall vision never waivers. 

3.You refer to your music as being 'dark dungeon metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?

Brian: It’s a bite from Mortiis’s “Dark Dungeon Music”. We started calling ourselves “Dark Dungeon Metal” after we added the Dungeon Synth elements to our music.

Andrew: It is the sound of you rotting in a dungeon. It is what you hear when any hope of freedom you have as you rot in your cell finally fades away. 

4.A lot of your lyrics cover dark fantasy themes, which aspect of this topic do you cover with your songwriting?

Brian: All of our lyrics explore dark fantasy themes. CULTIC is a conceptual band. Each of our albums follows a specific theme, and each song tells an individual story within that theme. All of our full-length albums connect to one another, forming one continuous overarching narrative. The same is true of our album artwork. If you place all of our LP covers side by side in order, they create a single continuous image. Our next full-length album will reveal even more of that scene.

The Cliff’s Notes version of the CULTIC universe goes like this:

Our first album, HIGH COMMAND, centers on a great war fought between two powers, with each song exploring different aspects of that conflict. Our second album, OF FIRE AND SORCERY, visually depicts a warlock receiving an enchantment from a dragon statue; the album itself focuses on the sorcery used to summon the great dragon featured on HIGH COMMAND. Our most recent album, LORE, revolves around various characters who inhabit this world, while also explaining how the Warlock gained the knowledge needed to summon the dragon.

I’m essentially writing this story in reverse order.

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

Brian: The LORE album art features the NOMAD. A lone warrior and pariah who carries hidden knowledge of sorcery. He serves as the connection between LORE and OF FIRE AND SORCERY, as he’s the one who supplied the WARLOCK with the spell used to summon the great dragon.

My wife Rebecca, who is also our drummer, creates all of our cover art. She absolutely nailed this one. It’s my favorite album cover by far. I’d describe it as BOLT THROWER meets BLIND GUARDIAN.

6.Out of all the shows and tours the band has been so far, which one stands out the most?

Brian: We’re not a touring band, so I can’t really speak to that. As far as memorable shows go, there’s always something, but two come to mind. We recently opened for CONAN, which was hands down the largest show we’ve ever played and a real milestone for the band. We also played a SOUL GRINDER Records show at the Alternative Gallery in Allentown, PA earlier this year. It was a cool venue with great hospitality. I’ve been playing in bands on and off since I was a young teenager, and I’d never played a show where the band was assigned a road crew until that night.

Andrew: Conan show was cool. Really dug playing with Spiter and Total Maniac. Anytime we play with Grozov is also a good time. 

7.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2025?

Brian: The only thing we have lined up for 2026 so far is Ann Everton’s memorial show at the OTTOBAR in Baltimore. It’s a two day event Feb 30 & March 1. I’m not sure on the hard and fast details yet.

Andrew: We would love to do some festivals. 

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

Brian: We’ve done more with this band in nine years, than I ever imagined possible. 

Andrew: Absolute rabid devotion. Some real freaks out there. 

9.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?

Brian: My solo project, LAYR has been sitting on a full length DUNGEON SYNTH album for 5 years. If any Dungeon Synth labels are reading this, hit me up. I know Andrew has some stuff going on with his solo project, GRIM DISCIPLINE. He just came out with an EP called PENNSYLVANIAN THIRST. 

Andrew: yeah, I just released my first EP and will continue to write and record my solo stuff under that moniker. Check it out. 

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

Brian: Straight to the top of madness mountain. We’ll keep getting heavier and weirder. I did an interview last year where I said I was going to incorporate HARSH DUNGEON NOISE into LORE. But I didn’t do it. Maybe we’ll go in that direction in the future? Maybe more atmospheric or theatrical passages within our songs? One thing I will say is that we will not stray from DARK DUNGEON METAL!!!!

Andrew: Who knows? The riffs come down to us so I cannot predict what the gods will deliver. It is simply my duty to pass on the message. 

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

Brian: I always have a bunch of old stuff in rotation. Maiden, Priest, early Scorpions, Motorhead and so on. The real stuff.  

I’ve been slowly acquiring more BLIZARO albums this year. Big fan of that Italian horror sound. 

As far as really underground stuff goes. BALL always finds a way into my late night antics. If you have an itch for some super sleazy, drugged out, Satanic, porno loving rock and roll. Check out BALL. Fuckin Love that band. 

I’m always going to name drop the NECRO INVEST record label anytime I get the chance. If I had to guess, I think every band on the label is the same  person or group of people. Kinda has a GRIME STONE RECORDS vibe but different. It’s fun, reckless, lo-fi, unhinged, metal punk music for nuclear wasteoids. RAT OF SODOM, CREMAZIONE and SPHYNX’s rule. 

My favorite album of 2025 is PAGAN ALTAR’s “NEVER QUITE DEAD”. Really solid metal album front to back. I think it’s the only metal album that literally choked me up the first time I listened to it. This album should have received A LOT more attention than it did. 

Andrew: Old shit. 70s era Scorpions, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest. Random black metal at times. Antonin Dvorak. 

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

Brian: Always humbled. Thank you for the opportunity. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s important. 

To anyone out there looking to check us out. We have a website ( https://culticband.com  ), Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/culticband ), Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/culticband/ ), Youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/@CulticBand ) and Bandcamp ( https://cultic.bandcamp.com/ ).

Metal Rules!