Saturday, November 30, 2024

Suidakra/Darkanakrad/MDD Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Germany's  Suidakra  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death  and  Celtic  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Darkanakrad"  which  was  released  by  MDD  Records.


  Dark  soundscapes  and  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  folk  music  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.


  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  back  up  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  clear  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing, one  song  is  an  instrumental  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  folk  instruments  and  they  close  the  album  with  an  At  The  Gates  medley.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Celtic  Mythology  and  Fantasy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Suidakra  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  black,  death  and  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Heroes  Abide"  "A  Tainted  Dominion"  and  "The  Last  Guardian".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/F8uVvq80EHk  

PreEmptive Strike 0.1/Pause In Chaos/Stop The Madness/Infacted Recordings/2024 Single Review

 


  Greece's  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  harsh  electro/industrial  style  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  single  "Pause  In  Chaos/Stop  The  Madness"  which  was  released  by  Infacted  Recordings.


  Riot  sounds  start  off  the  single  along  with  some  industrial  style  screams  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  more  of  a  EBM  direction.  Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  keyboards,  robotic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times.


  Spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  nit  throughout  the  recording while  they  also  bring  in  3  re-mix  versions  of  the  same  time  which  also  brings  in  a  different  approach  each  time.  The  second  song  beings  in  more  of  an  old  school  EBM  style  and  the  re-mixes  bring  in  more  of  a  harsh  approach.


 On  this  single  PReEmptive  Strike  0.1  continue  returning  to  their  harsh  electro/industrial  style  as  well  as  staying  away  from  the  more  metal  influenced  style  of  recent  material.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  chaos,  violence  and  war  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  PreEmptive  Strike  0.1  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  electro-industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  8  out  of  10.


  https://infactedrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/pause-in-chaos-stop-the-madness?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJax8IuF50M  

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Apocalypse/Pandaemonium/MiMi Sound Records & Publishing/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Apocalypse  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  had  an  album  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  viking,  death,  thrash and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Pandeaemonium"  which  was  released  by  MiMi  Sound  Records  &  Publishing.


  Keyboards  and  classical  music  elements  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.


  A  lot  of  the  riffing  mixes  in  touches  of  death  and  thrash  metal  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  slower  sections  of  the  album  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  doom  and  gothic  metal  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  melodic  traditional  metal  style.


  Clear  viking  metal  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  some  demonic  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  as  well  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  time,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and a  few songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  witchcraft  burnings  and  darkness  themes.   


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Apocalypse  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  black,  viking,  doom,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hanged,  Drawn  And  Quartered"  "The  Well  Of  Deception"  and  "Pandeaemonium".  8  out  o  10.


  Bandcamp

Facebook

Homepage

Instagram

   

TrollWar/Tales From The Frozen Wastes/2024 EP Review

 


  TrollWar  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Tales  From  The  Frozen  Wastes".


  Epic  sounding  keyboards  and  folk  instruments  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  parts  of  the  songs  at  times.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording.


  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Shouts  and  choir  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitars  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments  and  the  closing  track  also  adds  in  some  power  metal  vocals. 


  On  this  recording  TrollWar  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  folk  and  symphonic  metal  to  create  a  very  epic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  fantasy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  TrollWar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk,  black  and  melodic  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The   Unseen  One"  and  "The  Offering".  8  out  of  10.


  Trollwar.wixsite.com/trollwar | Facebook.com/Trollwar | x.com/trollwarqc | Instagram.com/trollwarmetal/   

Vorgrum/Summit Of Dreams/2024 EP Review

 


  Argentina's  solo  project  Vorgrum  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  fantasy  and  pagan  orientated  form  of  folk  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  ep  "Summit  of  Dreams".


  Epic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  ep  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats.  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  mixed  with  some  clean  pagan  vocals.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  Elements  of  folk  music  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  a  lot  of  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  soundtrack/


  On  the  release  Vorgrum  takes  fantasy  and  folk  metal  and  mixes  it  with  pagan  metal  to  create  a  very  epic  yet  heavy  sounding  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Fantasy,  Folklore  and  Paganism  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vorgrum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  fantasy  and  pagan  orientated  folk  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Summit  Of  Dreams"  and  "The  Goblin  Of  The  Depths,  With  Eyes  of  Dew".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.instagram.com/vorgrumfolk

https://www.facebook.com/vorgrum
https://vorgrum.bandcamp.com


  

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Project: Ultimate Satan Interview

 


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

Project: Ultimate Satan is an Australian east coast based Symphonic Death Metal band formed late 2019. Featuring Eschatonic Records alumni from Inhuman Remnants, Black Mountain, Terravorous, Unholy Vendetta and Somnium Nox. From its inception P:US has sought to push the sonic possibilities of our unique blend of Symphonic Blackened Death Metal; We focused on the inclusion of more symphonic elements, orchestrations and lyrical content that would suit our unique blend of eldritch sigillism and anti-abrahamic and stoic philosophy. ‘The Opus Satanas’ our debut album was forged amidst the fires and plagues of 2020 & 2021. Recorded at Studio Decay and Produced by JDecay, Mixed and Mastered by Gibb at Gibbenez Music. Featuring myself Scottanic on Vocals; Ashahalasin on Bass; JDecay on Guitars, Orchestration and Backing Vocals; Dazferatu on Keys, Orchestration and Backing Vocals; and Amorasche on Drums, Percusion and Backing Vocals. The album also features: Vocals from Jem, Rhythm Guitars by Calcifur (Terravorous), Lead Guitars by Nekros the Black (Ex-Inhuman Remnants) 


2. You have your first full length coming out towards the end of November, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style the band went for on the recording?

 We had a vision to create a band with female and male vocalists bringing both depth and harmony to the project. Whilst marrying the blackened death metal with the symphonic and orchestral elements. The goal was to try and create something just as heavy as the music black and death metal that we listen to, whilst incorporating clean keys and vocals in addition to rather than instead of. There are a lot of themes based around early-mid century Abrahamic religions, and we wanted to include chants and concepts that reflected heavy modern-day death metal, while tying in these concepts to our sounds. 


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

To understand the lyrical content of the album you have to understand the album's intent: ‘Opus’: meaning an artistic work, or a group of works on a large scale and ‘Satanas’: in our use case of Satan meaning the embodiment of the self. The Opus Satanas is made up of two movements comprising three figures each. Movement 1: Malleus Maleficarum This movement flows through concepts of persecution and the struggle it causes, while crafting self-affirmations that begin to seed the spiritual growth of the self to overcome the torment that has been visited upon them by external forces. - Figure 1: Symphony Es Infernus - An invocation of a powerful deity of satanic knowledge, and a form of modern-day patron-demon of women’s rights. - Figure 2: Humanity’s Last Breath - A discussion on the community and how it can betray you and the loss and devastation this can cause. - Figure 3: Is This How Freedom Dies - A reaffirmation of self to delve into what freedom and self-actualization in the modern world means. Movement 2. Lex Talionis The movement flows into concepts similar to Nirvana, with the ultimate goal of enlightenment being nothingness. The true power of revenge being to grow the self, and have the external effects be futile. - Figure 1: The Infallible Void - To find your own inner power sometimes you have to look into the darkest pits. - Figure 2: Footprints In The Sands of Time - This song follows the history of duality and the birth and rise abrahamic religion through the use of Egyptian lore - Figure 3: Nocturne Immortalis - Lyrically we wanted this song to retouch on all the different concepts expressed in the album, while packaged around pagan worship of eternal night 


4.How would the band members describe their views on Satanism or Occultism?

 There are many different takes on Satanism and/or the occult. Whether you want to look at it atheistically like LaVeyan Satanism, or more theistically like ToS or ONA etc, is up to the individual. There can also be many other forms of occultism and studies sprouted either directly or indirectly from the cult of Abraham, such Petit Albert, De praestigiis daemonum, The Discoverie of Witchcraft, The Three Magical Books of Solomon etc, et al. Our goal is neither to preach nor teach, but to use metaphor and metal to uplift and encourage transcendence to apotheosis. 


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

 The main album art was done by Ben Wrigley of Third Eye Visuals, created from models he made in Blender 3D. The composition consists of Lucifer’s skulls, wings, crown and halo on an altar with blood soaked white roses. Placed on a pile of gold covered human skulls and adorned with our Omega Satan sigil. As you look closer you’ll notice that the skulls appear to have been pieced back together and repaired with gold. This is a reference to the Japanese Kintsugi and is a metaphor for embracing imperfections and finding beauty in brokenness. It reminds us that life's challenges and setbacks do not diminish our worth but rather add depth and character to our journey. The bloodstained-red roses represent the personal sacrifice needed to overcome puritanical ideas. 


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

We’ve currently played 4 shows in Canberra and are traveling interstate to perform this December in Melbourne and Adelade. 2025 will see a significant increase in our show schedule as we promote the release of ‘the Opus’ with the finalisation of our second album and beyond. If there are any booking companies, or other bands that would like to work with us in the future, feel free to reach out to us at bookings@eschatonicrecords.com. 


7.The new album is coming out on 'Eschatonic Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

 Eschatonic Records is a Canberran based Independant label that focuses on putting out local bands and releases, helping grow and support local like minded musicians. ER is run by our bassist Ashahalasin and our guitarist JDecay, so putting out our debut release through the label just made sense.


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

So far, we’ve only released a few tracks with accompanying lyric/visualiser videos. The reaction from those who have heard the tunes, has been overwhelmingly positive, as well as from those within musical circles. We do also get a fair bit of backlash from god-botherers due to our name and imagery, but that’s all part of the fun. When the full album comes out on Nov 29, we’re hoping it will be positively received from the communities that enjoy symphonic black and death metal.


 9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days the band members are apart of? 

Terravorous are currently on a unannounced hiatus but are hoping to return back into the new year. Inhuman Remnants are currently undergoing a line-up change, but are also working on new music in the studio at the moment. There are also a few other bands in the process of formation with the band members working and exploring new avenues of sound and sonic violence.


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

We are currently recording our second album, with a larger push on our symphonic harmonies and tying them in with crushing guitars and bass with a lot of old-school death metal style drumming. Our goal is to take all the individual elements that we used to create the first album, ratchet them up to 11, and then create something even heavier, more layered, more symphonic and orchestral and symbolically relevant for the coming years. 


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? 

Bands that have had a lot of influence on our current upcoming album were: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, Humanity’s Last Breath, Apocalyptica and Vale of Pnath (Accursed). Bands that we’re listening a lot to while writing our next album would be: Fleshgod Apocalypse, Synestia/Disembodied Tyrant split, Oranssi Pazuzu, SunSpectre (Sunscourge/Oracle Spectre split), Vale of Pnath (Between the Worlds of Life and Death) 


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

Firstly, thanks for having us for the interview. There are many ways to transcend and to be the best version of yourself. Hopefully our release inspires in such a way. If anyone wants to hear more from us they can visit our linktree, which keeps track of all our updated releases as they come out: https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan Ave Satanas

https://linktr.ee/projectultimatesatan

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Runopatia/Archaistia/T.D.M Archivist/2024 EP Review

 


  Runopatia  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  an  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Archaistia"  which  will b e  released  in  December  by  T.D.M  Archivist.


  Keyboards  start  off  the  ep  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  while  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  and  the  vocals  have  an  aggressive  approach  that  is  more  closer  to  80's  extreme  metal  then  black  metal.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  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  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  the  recording  also  has  its  avant  garde  moments  as  well  as  some  spoken word  parts  also being  utilized  at  times,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  fast  riffing.


  Runopatia  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  avant  garde  yet  aggressive  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Polish  and  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Runopatia  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Serce  Krwawe".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/runopatia/