Noctem/Oblivion/Rising Records/2011 CD Review

  Noctem are a band from Spain that plays a very heavy and brutal form of black metal that also combines brutal death and thrash metal influences into the music and this is a review of their 2011 album "Oblivion" which was released by Rising Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming with a lot of brutal sounding blast beats being thrown into the music as well as a brief use of shamanistic style tribal drumming being used, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they have a very powerful sound to them, as for the synths they are only used briefly and bring a very dark and atmospheric sound to them as well as an avant garde/experimental edge to the last song.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast riffs that combine the most brutal elements of black, thrash and death metal together with some dark sounding melodies and technical parts to create a sound of their own mixed in with a brief use of soft and clean playing, while the lead guitars are very technical and melodic sounding guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some deep death metal growls as well as the type of growling you would except from more mainstream bands, while the lyrics cover Mythology, Occultism, dark and anti religion themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion Noctem are a very great an original sounding brutal black metal band that also combines melody, thrash, death and technical metal together and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Arrival Of The False Gods" "Invictus" "Sons Of Hun-Vucb" and "Oblivion". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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http://www.lastfm.es/music/Noctem

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Black Crow King Interview

1. Can you tell us a little about about the project Black Crow King for those that have never heard of you before?
It is a solo project that came into existence mid 2011 as a means for me to explore very personal beliefs, interests and emotions. At the time I was making really harsh hate filled rage fuelled extreme electronic music that was not suitable to explore some of my other interests so Black Crow King came into existence.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?
The bastard offspring of Extreme Doom, Death Industrial, Black Metal and Dark Ambient. Think along the lines of Khanate meets Gnaw Their Tongues with some harsh electronics and black atmospherics thrown in for good measure

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects that you explore with the music?
On 'To Pay The Debt Of Nature' there is a central theme to the album, namely death but each song also explores it's own separate theme. 'I, Crow' is an exploration and homage to crows in the role they play in the natural the supernatural and occult worlds. 'The Shadow Falls' is a philosophic discussion on nihilism, misanthropy and death. In 'Vengeance' I think the title says as much as you need to know, 'Grotesque Existence' explores the grotesque nature of humanity and how the one is neglible to the many and how we as a race have become Grotesque i.e. no longer a part of the natural world and nature. 'Crowbait' is pure misanthropy and malevolence and the final track 'Excarnation Ritual' explores my interest in the funeral practice of excarnation, this is an ancient practice linked with pagan beliefs in which the deceased persons corpse was left out in the open, most commonly on a platform, as an offering to nature in the form of crows and other carrion feeding birds. The crows / vultures acted as carriers for the soul to be taken to the afterlife.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Black Crow King?
I have a deep seated interest in crows and there supernatural role, they are viewed as the bringers and companions of death in virtually every culture, so to me the king of the crows would be death himself and that is what inspired the name. There is also a character that features in the lyrics of some of my songs that I call Crowlord - this too is a personification of death. Incidentally the album title itself is a euphemism for death.

5. The album came out on badGod music, how do you feel they have helped with spreading and supporting your music so far?
badGod Music has been wonderful, Dave has supported me from the day he first heard Black Crow King and has been tireless in his efforts to promote the band however he is able to, he does it for the love of the music and supports the bands 100%. Any artist would be lucky to be signed by the label.

6. Do you have any other musical projects besides Black Crow King?
Yes but that is a conversation for another day.

7. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
I have already started work on the follow up album, the songs will still be long but for this release will follow a more structured sound and I am using a heavier guitar sound but all the other experimental elements will still remain - BCK will never be 'another run of the mill doom band', if I ever feel that is happening I will scrap the project.

8. What are some bands or musical styles that have inflenced your music?
Khanate, Electric Wizard, Burning Witch, Eagle Twin, Gnaw Their Tongues, Anaal Nathrakh, Prurient, Whitehouse, MZ.412 and N.D.E

9. Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?
Satanism does not play any role but the occult does. My interests lie in the more primal forms of paganism and the primal deities.

10. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thank you for your great review and for the opportunity to do this interview and I hope that the more adventurous people will go out and buy and enjoy the album in all it's ugly depraved beauty.


--
Regards
Corvus
Black Crow King
www.myspace.com/black.crow.king

Black Crow King/To Pay The Debt Of Nature/badGod Music/2012 CD Review

  Black Crow King are a band from an unknown location that plays a mixture of black metal, doom metal, sludge and experimental music and this is a review of their 2012 album "TO Pay The Debt Of Nature" which was released by badGod Music.

Drum programming when it is utilized range from slow to mid paced beats that are not included on every song, while the bass playing has a very strong and powerful sound with slow doom/sludge riffs that dominate throughout the recording, as for the synths when they are utilized they have a very dark ambient and evil sound to them with some harsh noise effects being thrown in at times.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced that combine black metal, doom metal and sludge together with a great amount of heavy distortion while the lead guitars when they are utilized are very distorted and noisy sounding guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are mostly high pitched black metal screams mixed in with some deep blackened growls, while the lyrics cover dark and occult themes, as for the production it has a very dark, raw and primitive sound to it.

In my opinion Black Crow King are a very great sounding black metal, doom, sludge, experimental/noise hybrid band and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Shadow Falls" "Grotesque Existence" and "Excarnation Ritual". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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Sigh/In Somniphobia/Candlelight Records/2012 CD Review

  Sigh are a band from Japan that has one of their older albums reviewed before by this zine that plays a very symphonic and experimental form of black metal and this is a review of their 2012 album "In Somiphobia" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from slow, mid paced to fast playing with some blast beats being thrown in at times as well as some tribal sounding percussion, while the keyboards bring a very symphonic, experimental and psychedelic feeling to the music mixed in with some violins and saxophones that bring out the Japenese culture in addition there are some avant garde noise effects, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast melodic sounding black metal riffs that utilize a lot of influences from thrash as well as a variety of many different musical styles, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding guitar solos and leads that do not stick to one genre and you can hear the influences from their own culture.

Vocals are a mixture of black metal screams, deep growls and clean singing male and female vocals with a brief spoken word part being utilized on one song, while the lyrics cover dark themes, as for the production it has a very strong, powerful, heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion this is another great album from Sigh and if you are a fan of this band you should enjoy this recording. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Purgatorium" "The Transfiguration Fear Lucid Nightmares" "Far Beneath The In-Between" and "Amongst The Phantoms Of Abandoned Tumbrils". RECOMMENDED BUY.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2012/02/14/join-sigh-far-beneath-the-in-between/

Eternal Decay Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Just back from the Germany & Austria shows last month, and the last few days are crazy as Hell cause we`re getting everything ready for the upcoming visit in Canada & USA!


2.How would you describe the sound of the newer material that you are currently working on and how it differs from the older music?
I would say we came a long way since “Beyond the ties of flesh” time till now, as you would compare VHS to DVD.. our sound would scratch the soul of one who listen to it.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Every Album is a key to a different part of the astral universe, its sounds probably too big to put in a cd or songs but I put the meaning of things at the highest priority. In our songs you can find the continues battle between the urge of life and the seduction of the death.


4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
The bands name truly inflicts our aspect on life as a journey, it can be nice or not but eventually you rott..

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?
The Austrians were amazing, crazy bunch of snow creatures that comes out only in the night.. we`ve loved their energy and the show came amazing.
Our performance is demonic and we hope your up for it!

6. What are your expectations of the upcoming U.S Tour?
We would like to make a stamp on the U.S soil and to come back every year with increasing CRAZY followers.

7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for your music?
We do things musically a bit different, but we do know there are label who can help push unique things forward such as Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner and Metal Blade.

8. On a worldwide level how has your music been recieved by black metal fans?
Our gender is “black metal” but we don’t really fit into that small definition, some black metal fans like it much more gloomy and less epic, but still they appreciate the music and support us as much as they can \m/

9. Are there any side projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?
This band is our full time job, Bendor Blackwolf’s composing expertise goes beyond black metal, and spread across to folk metal.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
We love speeding up things so expect more extreme black metal combine with melodic epic power metal.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I love NOX ARCANA, MORTIIS, ELEND and stuff like that, yet i cant say i do sit and listen to music..


12.What role does Satanism and Occultism play in your music and how would you describe your views on these topics?
Occultism is the fuel that drives me.. any aspect in life i drawn from the dark and unknown beyond, as for satanism it depends on the definition.. for some we are satanist.. do we worship the horned one.. no.. but we are his best friends.


13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?
Music is the breed and wine of life but add beer to that and we’re happy.

14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
I MONARCH ERHELBETA command your presence at our upcoming visit, get your necks ready, your stomachs for drinking and your ears for bleeding... Prepare to Armageddon ,Here we come

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Lord Mantis/Pervertor/Candlelight Records/2012 CD Review

  Lord Mantis are a band from Chicago, Illinois that plays a mixture of black metal and sludge and this is a review of their 2012 album "Pervertor" which will be released by Candlelight Records.

Drums range from slow to mid  paced drumming with only a brief use of fast playing and blast beats, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced sludge/doom metal riffs that are also influenced by black metal, thrash and punk while the lead guitars are very noisy and distorted sounding guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are a mixture of high pitched black metal and sludge style screams mixed in with some deep blackened death metal growls, while the lyrics cover dark, perverted and occult themes, as for the production it has a very dark, deep, heavy, powerful and professional sound to it.

In my opinion Lord Mantis are a very great sounding black metal/sludge hybrid and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Pervertor Of The Will" "Ritual Killer" and "At The Mouth". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.myspace.com/lordmantis

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lord-Mantis/216320611726895

Wykked Wytch Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Ipek- We are getting ready for the release in February. Also shooting a video next month and getting ready to tour in the spring.


2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs fromprevious releases?
ipek- The new album is a much more mature album album than the previous. Same type of extreme metal music but better songs and much more going on. This albumalso welcomes the new addition of guitarist Nate Poulson who composed the music. What we have here is raw modern and technical musically and vocally very brutal,/ inhuman sick, with still epic clean vocals. Mixture of all metal syles and should appeal everyone who likes good heavy and extreme music.

3. Whatare some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release?
Ipek-Lyrics are always evolving and express my emotions to where I was at the time and my mindset. Personal dramas effect the feelings and vision for the album, At the time of writing I was going through some betrayal and deceits. Basically lies and back stabbing issues from close friends and family.I think everyone can relate to this. Seeing true colors of a persons and despising their existence.


4. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would youdescribe your stage performance?
ipek- We have done many great shows over the years but few really stuck with me such as Kreator Tour in 2002, No Mercy Fests in 2005, & 2009 shows at California Metalfest and Portugal which was part ofo our last headlining tour in Europe.With our tour in 2009 this was our most recent line-up and I had very young yet very skilled talented musicians and they played excellent. These guys will bethe same for the tour supporting ‘ The Ultimate Deception’ so we will have thehigh energy shows. Everyone was very high energy pumped on stage unlike old burned out band members.


5. Do you have any touring plans for the new release?
Ipek-Absolutely,in the next few months everything will be announce. Especially US tour which we have neglected for so long. We were heavily focusing on Europe before because that’s where our previous label Demolition was based. But now since we have the support of our new label Goomba Music, we plan on doing much more touring in the US to support this release.


6. On a worldwide level how has your newer material been received by underground metal fans?
Ipek= Amazing and very well. Which I'm not surprised. ‘The Ultimate Deception’is fucking filler and fans have been waiting so long. I promised that the wait would be worth it. We have only released the track ‘Despised Existence’ so far which is streaming on the label site. Just getting a small dose of this beast of a single makes the fans even more excited to hear the rest of the album!


7. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
ipek- I have not changed any direction. I always had the same vision for WW. SometimesI didn’t have the right creative team behind me at the time. But as time goes on you mature with your music and you get more creative, picky, and make better decisions. Also new members bring in fresh idea and new blood which is the reason some of the past members had to go. Don’t want to settle for less. We will continue to write more technical and epic tunes. The future will just mean making better music. More complex songs, technical, melodies, catchy riff, more solos, brutal & clean singing.


8. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer material andalso what are you listening to nowadays/
Ipek- I myself been classically trained so from Bach to Rock, blues , jazz and mainly all Metal styles have captured my attention. Older and newer bands always turned me on. Mercyful Fate & Testament had a big impact on early years of my career. Dio, Black Sabbath & Death my favorite old stuff. Can’t think of all the current bands but dig Opeth, Faceless, Obscura, August Burns, Behemoth.Winds of Plague. Nate the guitarist listens to more modern bands like Periphery, Born of Osiris, After The Burial, Job For A Cowboy since he is from the new generation of musicians, but still love Pantera like us all.

9. Does Occultism play any role in the music?
ipek- No,I don’t think so. We have some fantasy type lyrics that could be interpret as occult, but no one is practicing any type of religion.



10.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Ipek- In addition to doing the band I also do a metal radio show weekly “Ipek’s WytchingHour” on www.metalmessiahradio.com and interview my favorite bands and expose new bands that needs promotion. Still love going to concerts and festivals.Love Music period. I am also very much into true crime shows that you will find on History & Discovery, 48 hour type shows with scientific data and solving death and missing person mysteries. Love independent films and also animal lover. Cooking is another passion of mine. I can't speak for the band members they all have some different hobbies and maybe have a few skeletons in their closets which I don't care to know.

11. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
Thank You for the interest in Wykked Wytch and the interview. Hope You all go out and buy the new album on February 14th ‘ The Ultimate Deception ‘and supporting the independent bands in the scene,Stay Sick!!!!!!!! Check usout at www.facebook.com/wykkedwytch
Ipek