Thursday, May 22, 2025

Katatonia/Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State/Napalm Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Sweden's  Katatonia  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a melancholic  and  progressive  mixture  of  alternative,  gothic  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Nightmares  As  Extensions  Of  The  Waking  State"  which  will b e  released  in  June  by  Napalm  Records.

 
   A  very  heavy  and  atmospheric  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  clean  playing  and  synths  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  style.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  
  A  lot  of  the  music  also  brings  in  elements  of  gothic  metal  while  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  alternative  rock  touches.  Some  of  the  tracks  also  bring  in  a  small  amount  of  back  up  vocals  along  with  the  album  also  getting  very  progressive  sounding  at  times  and  most  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  
  On  this  recording  Katatonia  expands  on  the  progressive  mixture  of  alternative,  gothic  and  post  metal  from  the  last  few  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dystopia,  inner  demons  and  purity  themes.   

  
  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Katatonia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Thrice"  "Lilac"  "The  Light  Which  I  Bleed"  and  "In  the  Event  of'.  8  out  of  10.

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Ataudes 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?

Hi, this is Jonatan, drummer and composer of Ataudes. Thanks for writing to us.


To start with our new album “TEMPUS EDAX RERUM”,

the album started to be composed in 2020 until 2022, from then on we started with the recording period that concluded in 2024.

In this year 2025 the album was released by MEMENTO MORI in CD format and by Obscure Disharmony Records in TAPE format.

 


2.In April you had released a new album, musically how does it differ from your previous release?

There are many marked differences between the first album and the second, and some small similarities.

Among the differences are:


 - The length of the songs (longer).

 - The inclusion of guitar solos and keyboard passages.

- Much more complex drum rhythms and guitar riffs.

- More atmospheric moments.


In general lines it is a more complex album, among the similarity it still keeps the Death metal and its aggressiveness.


 3.

Like any small band we have other obligations, families, jobs, health or economic problems, and sometimes these reasons delay the times.

We always kept going, but while we were composing and recording the new album, we were also playing live our first album, and maybe we delayed more than we would have liked to release the new album.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer album and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?


Our vocalist Cristian usually explores the Lovecraft universe in all its aspects, in terms of musical composition we try to make our compositions progressively more complex, without losing the musicality.

We try to add new rhythms and melodies, keeping the aggressiveness and darkness.

Adding new atmospheres, styles like Drone, Ambient, maybe even Sludge. 


5.On the first album you also had a song with 'R'lyeh in the title, do you have an interest in the writings of H.P Lovecraft or similar authors?

Yes of course, as I mentioned in the previous question, our vocalist Cristian usually resorts to that universe to develop his themes or lyrics. 


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


Once we finished our first album, we had no name.

Maybe the name came out as a result of the pandemic.

It was a time very associated with death and maybe that led us to end up with the name ATAUDES. 


7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?


We were not lucky enough to play outside of Argentina, but here we were able to play in several interesting places and we were able to play with legendary bands like AVERNAL.

As for our live performance I think we are gradually trying to improve our performance, we are currently with a new line-up of five members rehearsing to play live, and maybe at some point we can add someone else on keyboards. 


8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new album?


Yes of course, we are currently rehearsing for an upcoming performance in the month of June, and we hope in the remainder of the year to present the album and play as much as we can live.

We hope to tour outside of Argentina as well. 


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

Fortunately in terms of streaming platforms and social networks we have had a positive reception, and the sales of the physical copies are slowly selling. 


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

To continue exploring other musical universes, perhaps expanding outside of Death and Black metal. Add electronic or ambient sections (Noise). Add other kind of layers of atmospheres, melodies or rhythms. 


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

Currently within the field of Death metal or Black metal, we are listening to current music and a little bit further back.

Among some names can be: Convulsing, Impetuos Ritual, Portal, Blood Incantation, Incantation, Spectral Voice, Full of Hell, Black Curse.


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


Thank you very much for your time and space for Ataudes, excellent interview, and I send greetings to all the music fans out there. 


 


 https://www.facebook.com/ataudesdeathmetal#

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Stygian Interview

 

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

Stygian is a black metal band from Italy, born out of a deep need to confront the spiritual decay of modern civilization. We blend elements of black metal and crust punk to create something both raw and emotionally evocative. Our music reflects resistance to religious dogma, ecological destruction and cultural homogenization. Each of us comes from a different background in extreme music, and Stygian grew naturally from our shared roots in the underground scene of our city, Ravenna.


2. You have your first full length coming out in July, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Our first full-length will be released in July through Time To Kill Records, and it represents the core of what Stygian is all about. Musically, it’s rooted in black metal, but we bring in a strong crust punk and hardcore influence not just in rhythm and tone but in attitude. Expect harsh tremolos, blasting fury and moments of haunting atmosphere. The lyrics carry a ritualistic and introspective depth but musically we keep it raw and direct, avoiding over-produced or polished elements.


3. All of the band members also have experience working with other styles of metal with different bands, how would you compare the musical style of 'Stygian' to other musical genres, you have worked with in the past or present?

Stygian feels like a return to something more primal. In previous bands, we’ve explored technical death metal, sludge, doom, hardcore but with Stygian we focus on raw emotional power rather than complexity. It's less about precision and more about channelling a visceral, almost spiritual, force. There’s an urgency and directness here that cuts deeper than our other projects.


4. A lot of your lyrics cover Paganism and Occultism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

We are deeply drawn to pre-Christian, nature-based spiritual traditions. Paganism, to us, represents a worldview where human beings are part of the natural order not above it. It’s about balance, reverence and connection. The occult, on the other hand, deals with the unseen forces that shape reality, and our lyrics often explore that liminal space between the material and the spiritual. In both cases it’s a form of rebellion against the control and repression enforced by monotheistic religions.


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

The name refers to the River Styx from Greek mythology: a boundary between the world of the living and the dead. “Stygian” evokes darkness, the underworld and the unknowable. We chose it because it perfectly represents the atmosphere and themes that deals with death, transition, mystery and the hidden aspects of human experience.


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

The album cover shows crumbling cathedrals, decaying relics of human arrogance and spiritual domination. They symbolize the fleeting and fragile nature of man-made dogmas constructions that once aimed to impose order, now being reclaimed by time. This imagery speaks directly to one of the core themes of the album: the inevitable collapse of systems built in defiance of nature.

In contrast, the booklet artwork reveals a lush forest seen from within dense, alive and enveloping. It represents the eternal dominion of nature over mankind. While the cover depicts the downfall of artificial authority, the interior artwork offers a vision of what persists beyond that fall: a return to the primordial, to the sacred and untamed. Together, the two visuals form a symbolic arc from ruin to rebirth.


7. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We’ve played a few underground gigs that really captured the energy we aim for small venues, no barriers, smoke, strobes, raw intensity. Our live shows are immersive and confrontational. We don’t just perform songs we invoke something. It’s meant to feel like a ritual, where the audience becomes part of the experience. It's not about entertainment, it's catharsis.


8. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?

Actually, we’re waiting for responses from a few booking agencies we’ve contacted. Things are not easy, the underground circuit is shrinking and it's becoming harder each year to find space for bands like ours, especially if you don’t fit neatly into trends or commercial formats. But we’re not giving up. We’ll keep pushing, keep supporting the scene, and keep playing wherever there’s a floor and an audience willing to feel something real. This music was born in basements and squats and that’s still where its heart beats strongest.


9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme metal, hardcore and crust punk?

We’re still at the beginning, but the response so far has been encouraging. People who are into raw and honest forms of extreme music seem to connect with what we’re doing. We’ve had good feedback from the local scene and some interest starting to grow abroad through our social channels and word of mouth. It’s a slow process, but we believe in building something with substance rather than chasing hype.


10. 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?

Our vocalist Emi is also active with Triceratopo, a band that blends stoner, sludge metal, and hardcore punk. Their music is characterized by a provocative attitude and lyrics that oscillate between irony and social critique.

Our drummer Rolando is younger and extremely active, he's involved in several bands like Sedna, who need no introduction and are currently working on their new album, Burning Dogma, and Cremisi, bringing his energy and versatility to each.

As for the rest of us — Paolo, Lucio, and myself (Mirko) — we’ve been friends for a long time and were previously members of Angerdome. Right now, we’re fully focused on Stygian.



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

We want to push the contrast even further harsher aggression alongside deeper atmospheres. There might be more ritualistic elements, maybe even folk instrumentation but still grounded in an extreme punk and black metal foundation. Conceptually, we’re exploring new mythologies and historical narratives that resonate with our worldview. We don’t want to just get heavier we want to get more profound.


12. 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?

We all grew up listening to early forms of extreme music: from hardcore punk to the first waves of death, black, thrash, crust and grindcore and that background naturally shaped the way we write and play. Those roots are still very present in our sound and attitude. Naming specific bands would be reductive because what shaped us is a broader culture and spirit that ran through the underground scenes we grew up in.

Lately, we’ve been listening to bands like Mgła, Uada, Full Of Hell, Svartkonst, Wormwitch, Cult Leader, probably the more well-known names among the newer bands we follow. But we also keep an eye on what’s happening in our own territory. Italian bands like Sedna, The End of Six Thousand Years, and Hierophant continue to push boundaries and carry forward a vision that feels close to our own. It's inspiring to see how even the local scene remains vital and full of substance.



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

Thanks for the space. We’ll keep doing what we do and supporting the underground scene that shaped us.

At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about: having fun, sharing something real, supporting each other and giving space to voices and themes the mainstream tends to ignore.

See you at the shows.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Primordial Black/Dark Matter Manifesto/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Primordial  Black  are  a  duo  from  Tunisia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Dark  Matter  Manifesto".


  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  ambient  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  chants  in  the  background before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  blackened  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  death  and  groove  metal  elements  and  blast  beats  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  while  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  song  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  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  along  with  some  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times.  One  song  also  introduced  industrial  style beats  into  the  music  as  well  as  some  of  the  fast  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adds  in  some  session  work  from  ,members  of  Rotting  Christ  and  K.F.R.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  metaphysical  collapse,  inner  apocalypse  and  the  silence  of  god.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Primordial  Black  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  Matter  Manifesto"  and  "Din  Of  thy  Celestial  Birds".  8  out  of  10.


  SOUNDCLOUD: https://on.soundcloud.com/JfuTiymhvqMZR9qd8

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/primordial.black.band
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/primordial_black_official
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@primordialblack876
SPOTIFY: https://tinyurl.com/3mty6czk

Symbiotic Growth/Beyond The Sleepless Aether/Bolverk Records/2025 Full Length Review

 


  Symbiotic  Growth  are  a  band  from  Ontario,  Canada  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  very  progressive  and  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Beyond  The  Sleepless  Aether"  which  was  released  by  Bolverk  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  on  a  couple  of  songs. 


  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  piking  and  blast  beats.  Keyboards  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.


  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  and  progressive  sounding    along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a lot  of  melody,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  revolving  around  the  multiverse  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Symbiotic  Growth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Painted  Skies  And  Dancing  Lights"  "The  Sleepless  Void"  and  "Trading  Thoughts  For  Sleep".  8  out  of  10.


  YouTube (Album Stream) - https://youtu.be/CSOzIaRlo6E

Spotify - https://spoti.fi/42m1Mlp

Bandcamp - https://symbioticgrowth.bandcamp.com

Facebook.com/SymbioticGrowth | Instagram.com/symbioticgrowth     

Sathamel/Opposition To Life/2024 EP Review

 


  United  Kingdom's  Sathamel  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Opposition  To  Life".


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  mixed  in  with  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  blast b eats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.


  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  On  this  recording  Sathamel  expands  on  the  blackened  death  metal  style  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  War  and  Anti  Religion  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sathamel  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Take  The  Rot"  and  "Opposition  To  Life".  8  out  of  10.


  Opposition To Life - EP by Sathamel | Spotify 

www.sathamel.bandcamp.com

sathamel | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree  

Dissentor/Flagella/2025 EP Review

 


  Dissentor  are  a  band  from  India  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  ep  "Flagella".


  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  death  metal  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  the  faster  riffing.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  whole  ep  also  sticking  to  a  very  heavy  musical  direction,  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times.


  Dissentor  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  era  of  black  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  unspoken  corrupted  path  to  purifacation.


  In  my  opinion  Dissentor  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Serving  The  Nails"  and  "Defiler".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/A6lmA7BP6wk

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