Nattehimmel/Mourningstar/Hammerheart Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

    Nattehimmel  are  a b and  from  Norway  that  plays  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Mourningstar"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Hammerheart  Records.

  A  synth  orientate d intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.    Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  heavier  riffs  also  add  in  a great  amount  of  melody along  with  the  vocals also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  black  metal  screams  and  the  slower  sections  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  and  avant  garde  moments.  During  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  songs  also  take  the  90's  Norwegian  avant  garde  metal  style  and  mix  it  in with  a  more  modern  approach.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  philosophy,  astronomy  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nattehimmel  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  and  progressive  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Astrologer"  "Slay  The  Shepard"   and  "The  Immortals".  8  out  of 1 0.

  https://nattehimmel.lnk.to/mourningstar  

Ardent Nova/Self Titled/Wise Blood Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Ardent  Nova  are  a  duo  from  Phoenix,  Arizona  that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2023  album  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Wise  Blood  Records.

  A  very  epic  sounding  keyboard orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  thrash  and  traditional  metal  can  also  be  head  in  some  of  the  guitar  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  a  few  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  The  songs  also  take  an  80's  style  and  mix  them  in  with  a  more  aggressive  vocals  approach  and  a  modern  day  brutality  along  with  some  blast  beats  also  being  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks,  keyboards  also  make  a  brief  return  and  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental.

  

  Ardent  Nova  plays  a  musical  style  that  take s the  melodic  forms  of  black,  pagan  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  with  thrash  and  traditional  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Ardent  Nova  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  pagan  black,  death,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rise  From  The  Ashes"  "Sound  The  Horns"  and  "Eternal  ;Liberty".  8  out  of  10.

  https://ardentnova.bandcamp.com/album/ardent-nova

Ardent Nova on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ardent_nova/ 

Ardent Nova on FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087978697755

    

  

Antitheus 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?

We’ve been hard at work promoting this album in every way we can. Overall, we’ve been very pleased with the positive response we’ve received thus far. We are also working on some other special things, but it’s too early to divulge. -Erick

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

This album is a lot more refined in comparison to our previous work, both in the composition and production. We worked very hard to put together the story for the album and make it flow effortlessly and my goal from the beginning was to achieve a more polished production. -Erick

3.This is also your first release since 2016, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during this time frame?

Our last release was when we were young and had more people in the band. Since then, we’ve all gone to do our own things, but Erick and I came together a few years ago to want to work on an album. A few of the songs were much older and written around that time frame, but all of the others were written during the pandemic. We recorded and produced everything ourselves and out of our own homes. Now we’re even across the country from one another. It’s been tough but also incredibly rewarding for both of us to finally throw our hats into the ring and have something out there. -Martin

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer release?

The biggest theme is that of humanity, the mistakes we make, and the consequences of our actions. It’s present in every song on this album. We cover the original sin of Adam and Eve, how we treat our planet, how we treat each other and the ways in which our actions in the world can have dire consequences. A lot of these lyrical themes stem from the landscape of that time and just watching every single day on social media or the news about how humanity was degrading and becoming more divisive. We get one shot at all of this, so it’s hard to watch the ways in which we fail. Thus, it’s truly about all of the faults of our kind. -Martin

5.You also written a song about 'Baba Yaga', do you have an interest in mythology?

Of course! Mythology is always a fun way to be able to talk about themes and stories. Baba Yaga for me was such a fun song to write. I am half Russian and being able to tell this gruesome version of the story allowed me to connect with that side of me a lot more. Also, the imagery of Baba Yaga and her home is a ton of fun and not one that many Americans are familiar with. It’s great to help bring it more to life and shine some light on the haunting bedtime story. Remember: don’t run away from your parents at night! -Martin

6.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Antitheus''?

In its simplest form, it means ‘devil’ in Latin. When we started the band, it was just a cool word that we found that sounded pretty metal. As I’ve gotten older, I grow more and more attached to it. For me, it’s turned into this idea of being not just anti-God, but really anti-everything. It’s helped me to think about things in a different light and just be able to write from a different perspective. -Martin

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

The artwork is so gorgeous. It was done by Luke Tucker who does these amazing oil-on-panel landscapes. We came to him with the concept of someone wandering a desolate landscape and living with the reality of the mistakes they made. We also wanted some oranges and browns in there. He took all of that direction and made an album cover like no other. The way the fiery clouds meet the blue sky is just my absolute favorite. The feeling of loneliness and isolation it evokes is exactly what I wanted. I have the actual painting hanging over me currently and I look at it every day. I’m so thankful for what he made and so proud of the look and feel of it. It’s super unique and I’m very happy with it. -Martin

8.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

We have been talking about wanting to expand our lineup. It has been many years since we’ve had a full lineup and I think I can speak for both of us in that we miss playing live. It just boils down to us finding people who are the right fit for this band. -Erick

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

There’s definitely interest on our part and we have received some label interest. Just like with our lineup, we want it to ensure it’s a good fit for us as a band. Ultimately, I’d love to see this band elevate to new heights and reach new audiences. -Erick

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

The response has been super positive! It’s been great hearing from fans all over the world telling us which song has been their favorite from the album. Because we draw inspiration from so many subgenres of metal, I think that there’s moments on this album that will resonate with everyone. -Erick

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

Musically, I don’t foresee there being much of a departure from our current sound. We have always derived inspiration from so many of the subgenres of metal which helps keep things fresh but also doesn’t necessarily put us into a box. Even on this album there are parts that touch across so many of the different styles of metal that it’s hard to define us as one specific style of metal. We will always have that melodic, blackened, death metal feel because that’s what we like to write and what we like to listen to. -Erick

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

Currently I’ve been really into the latest Brymir album, but Children of Bodom, Gojira, Meshuggah, and Dimmu Borgir are always on heavy rotation. -Erick

Right now I’ve been listening to a lot of Gojira, Sylosis, Orbit Culture, and the new In Flames album. As far as styles, all metal all the time! -Martin

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

We both just want to thank everyone who has been in support of us thus far, whether it’s listening to a song, listening to the whole album, following us on social media, buying a shirt, or however you are. We really appreciate it! If you haven’t yet, go check out The Faults of Our Kind!

https://antitheus.bandcamp.com/album/the-faults-of-our-kind

https://www.facebook.com/AntitheusBand

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ9Ine_kY_GzmvQ14uoSpog

https://www.instagram.com/antitheusband/

Maudiir/Soliloque/2023 EP Review

 

  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada's  solo  artist  Maudiir  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  melodic  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2023  ep  "Soliloque"  which  will  be  released  in  April.

  A  very  heavy,  melodic  and  old  school  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  The  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  also  brings  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  along  with  the  music  also  having  it s progressive  moments  and  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences,  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  musical  direction.

  On  this  recording  Maudiir  takes  the  heavier  side  of  progressive  metal  and  mixes  it  with  melodic  black  and  thrash  metal  to  create  a  very  heavy  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  environmental  issues.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Maudiir  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  melodic  and  progressive  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Toxic  Cloud"  and  "CH4".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook.com/people/Maudiir/100063607593649 | Twitter.com/maudiir1 | Instagram.com/maudiirofficial  

      

NorthZyklon/Inter Eos/Atra Anduin Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

      

  NorthZyklon  are  a  band  from  Russia   that  plays  a  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Inter  Eos"  which  was  released  by  Atra Anduin Records.

  A  very  fast,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  classic  Swedish  style  and  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody. 

  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  a  small  amount  of  growls.  Throat  singing  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  one  of  the  tracks  also  introduces  clean  playing  into  the  music  and  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental

  NorthZyklon  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  melodic  forms  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death  and  occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  NorthZyklon  are  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dance  Of  The  Black  Fire"  "Non-God-Non-Father"  "Sarke"  and  "Dissolving  In  A  Dream".  8  out  of  10.

  https://northzyklon.bandcamp.com/album/inter-eos      

Gorgonchrist/Fish In A Mountain/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Gorgonchrist  are  a  band  from t he  United  Kingdom  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  sludge  metal, c rust  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Fish  In  A  Mountain"  which  will b e  released  in  march.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  elements  of  sludge  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  mid  tempo  sections  of t he  songs  are  heavily  rooted  in  crust  punk.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  a  couple  of  the  songs.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  showing  an  influence  of  old  school  grindcore  at  times  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard,  clear  vocals  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  On  this  recording  Gorgonchrist  moves  away  from  the  industrial  elements  of  their  previous  release  and  goes  for  more  of  a mixture  of b lack,  sludge  metal,  crust  punk  and  grindcore.  The  productionb  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  and  humor  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gorgonchrist  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge  metal,  crust  punk  and  grindcore,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fellowship  Of  The  Christ"  "Dick  Pic  Graveyard"  "Questions  Form  A  Victorian  Mortuary"  and  "Lonely  Wanker".  8 out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/gorgonchrist

Lathebra/Angels' Twilight Odes/My Kingdom Music/2023 Demo Re-Issue Review

 

  Lathebra  where  a  band  from  Italy  that  played  a  melodic  mixture  of  black, dark  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  1997  demo  "Angels;  Twilight  Odes"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  march,  2023  by  my  Kingdom  Music.

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  demo  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  elements  of  dark  and  doom  metal.

  When  guitar  soloes  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody.  Spoken  word  parts  also  return  on  later  tracks  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful sound  to  them  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard.  Rain  and  thunder  sounds  are  also  utilized  briefly  and  keyboards  are  added  on  the  closing  track  which  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy,  yearning  and  loneliness  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Lathebra  where  a  very  great  sounding  melodic  mixture  of b lack,  dark  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Velvet  Dusk"  and  "Benighted  Embrace".  8  out  of  10.

  http://facebook.com/lathebra1996