Bewitcher/Spell Shock/Century Media Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Portland,  Oregon's  Bewitcher  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Spell  Shock"  which  will  be  released  on  September  27th  by  Century  Media  Records.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  speed  metal  direction  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  classic  metal  style  and t he  vocals  are mostly  first  wave  black  metal  screams.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  mixes  in a   lot  of  thrash  metal  elements.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  as  will  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  times  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  back  up  shouts  and  one  of  the  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Paganism  and  Hedonism  themes

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bewitcher  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  blackened  thrash  and  speed  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Starfire  Maelstrom"  "Out  Against  The  Law"  "We  Die  in Dust"  and  "Ride  of  The  Iron  Fox".  8 out  of  10.

  www.bewitcher.us

www.facebook.com/BewitcherOfficial
www.instagram.com/bewitcherofficial

Unreedemer Interview

 

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

Sure! We formed officially in early 2019, when I moved to Finland from Croatia, and we started rehearsing in a full lineup.

Pretty soon we had a couple of local gigs, and went to record the first EP. More gigs and another EP followed, and we were preparing for our first show abroad when our drummer and friend Jani passed away suddenly.

We did that show in his honour, and took some time after to consider our options.

In the end, we decided to go on, onboarded new drummer and a bassist, and are working on new material.

Initially we were considering ourselves to be a death-thrash, or groove metal, but someone suggested after a recent gig that we sound like "blackened thrash", and we liked the sound of that, so we decided to stick with it.

2.So far you have released 2 ep's, musically how do they both differ from each other?

They were recorded and produced in different studios, and featured different drummer and bassist.

Additionally, 4-19-23 was recorded live, with very little track editing, so it's more raw and "dirty", and Word Become Flesh is a bit more polished, and dare I say, mature.

Also, we experimented with some electronic sounds for the intro, and ended up sticking it to the first track on 4-19-23.

That's why we re recorded it on Word Become Flesh - so you don't have to listen to a 2 minute intro track to get to Defiance :) 

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

The topics vary wildly, but what all have in common is that it must be a personal experience. So, either something directly from my life, or something that touched me enough to leave some kind of mark.

For example, "Shewolf and an Oak" talks about my wartime memories, and my parents' experience of raising kids during wartime in Croatia, where 4-19-23 is about some gruesome murders that happened in Croatia, and made me wonder about human capability for cruelty. 

"Lutrizio" is full of personal memories about the friends that are no longer with us, and "Underdog" is inspired by being looked down upon as an immigrant.

So yeah, all over the place, but with a common theme of being my personal therapy vessel 😂

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Unredeemer'?

It represents a reversal of the religious concept of redemption, where all humans are by default relieved of sin, and therefore responsibility for their actions.

Remove that certainty, and you put the human fate back into their hands, set them free, for better or worse. 

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

"Word become flesh" was inspired by an inscription on an old german executioner sword, but we interpreted it more like "put words into action", so the cover is actually a photo of my arm while I was having the band's logo carved into it.

6.The band members also come from different parts of the world, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?

There is a bit of that, how different geographic regions prefer different types of metal on average, but I think it's more about individual preference in such a small group. 

We had a number of bandmates come and go, and I like to think each of them left a bit of themselves in the music.

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

Most notable ones were the Pannonian Rock festival in 2023 in Croatia, which we did in Jani's memory, and the one on a Shadow Room event in 2022 when we had a person doing hooked suspension during the show.

And about the performance - well, personally I don't like to see a band just climb the stage and play the music, there's got to be some energy in it. In lieu of that, I alway give my best to explode with energy and transfer it to the audience, even if the audience is just 4 drunken guys (and we played shows like that :) )

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

Only confirmed gig we have for now is next year's Tyyne Rock festival in Finland, but we're actively looking for gigs to stay in shape, so here's an open invitation to any producers and venue owners to book us!

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

Haven't really thought about it, so far the indie thing has worked for us, but who knows, if something comes along..

 

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

Hard to talk about global - the online comment we got were positive :D 

We heard only good stuff wherever we played live though, so working on spreading the word.

11.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Actually, our plan was to just release a series of singles as we make them, and then make a "singles compilation" at one point. Considering the digital distribution landscape and today's audiences' attention span, that looks like a good strategy. 

A year or so it takes to record a full album just looks like a long time to be silent, especially considering we already had a year long hiatus.

It could be a subconscious reaction, but since Jani's passing, the music we're making is a bit darker. We shifted the tuning, and introduced more of "blackish" influences, so prepare for something more sinister in the future.

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?

When we all came together it was all about the thrash and groove classics: Slayer, Patera, Sepultura, and a bit of newer stuff like Lamb of God, Meshuggah, Gojira, but we picked up some new favourites lately, and like I said previously it's generally a bit more dark and extreme.

Personally, I'm into more extreme genres, especially if the vocals are doing weird stuff, like Cattle Decapitation, Anaal Nathrak, Lorna Shore, or Archspire.

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

We end all our shows with the same message, so why not the interviews too:

We are Unredeemer, and you have all just been unredeemed.

https://www.facebook.com/unredeemer.band

https://www.instagram.com/unredeemer_band/

https://unredeemer.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ocpHtIVIQ9xrmZOL88ZxG

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp6DrCNmbKhPSBmznpzIHcw

https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCFtjKtzY7ROeQp9_GbnbQlg

Deathrite/Flames Licking Fever/Into Endless Chaos/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Deathrite  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  noise  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Flames  Licking  Fever"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Into  Endless  Chaos.

  A  very  distorted  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking.  Vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  some  death  metal  growls  and  hardcore  style  shouts  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  noise  and  punk  elements.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  old  school  metal  punk  style  along  with  the  music  also  mixing  in  a  lot  of  80's  and  90's  influences  as  well  as  being  modern  at  the  same  time,  a  couple  of  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  apocalyptic  interlude  can  also  be  heard  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Deathrite  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death  metal  and  noise  punk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  ecstasy  and  psychosis.

  In  my  opinion  Deathrite  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  noise  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crippled  Ego"  "Misanthropic  Rush"  "Deadbeat"  and  "All  Consuming  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/deathrite666       

Obsoletion/Self Titled/Sentient Ruin Laboratories/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Obsoletion  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  hardcore  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2024  album  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Sentient  Ruin  Laboratories.

  Apocalyptic  soundscapes  and  spoken  word  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  utilize  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at times  while  the  riffing  also  shows  a  good  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements.  Elements  of  hardcore  are  also  added  into  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  at  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock.,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  one  song  is  an  instrumental  which  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Obsoletion  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black, death,  thrash  metal  and  hardcore  punk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  magick,  occultism,  anti  capitalism  and  dystopian  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Obsoletion  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black, death,  thrash  metal  and  hardcore  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "SSA"  "Abominable  New  World"  "Ruin's  Lament"  and  "Inorganic  Eregore".  8  out  of  10.

BANDCAMP RELEASE

    

Blackevil/Praise The Communion Fire For The Unhallowed Sacrament/Dying Victims Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Blackevil  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Praise  The  Communion  Fire  For  The  Unhallowed  Sacrament"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  A  very  80's  orientated  thrash  and  speed  metal  style  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffing  also  mixes  in  elements  of  traditional  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  One  song  also  introduces  clean  plating  into  the  album  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  semi  melodic  tone  at  times,  Gregorian  chants  and  choirs  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  folk  instruments  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Darkness  and  Medieval  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  from  Blackevil  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Timeless  Throne'"  "Beneath  This  Pentagram"  and  "Towards  The  Carpathian  Battle".  8  out  of  10.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYdZRfmGBU0

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/praise-the-communion-fire-for-the-unhallowed-sacrament 

Damnatorum/In Umbra Mortis/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Damnatorum  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "In  Umbra  Mortis".

  Synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  also adding  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  growls.

  All  of t he  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  death  metal  style.  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts ,  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  Damnatorium  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  brutality  of  death  metal  and  mixes  it  with  the  darkness  of  black  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  dark  side  of  human  personality  of  state  of  mind.

  In  my  opinion  Damnatorium  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Te  Coram  Sto"  "Furor  Priscus"  "Animarum  Pernicies"  and  "Vobis  Mors".  8 out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/t7QX9YygYYE

Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Hild/Thrash Pa Svenska/Black Lion Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Hild  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their   2024  album  "Thrash  Pa  Svenska"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Black  Lion  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  thrash  metal  direction  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  aggressive  shouts  and  death  metal  growls.  Elements  of  crust  punk  are  also  added  into  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  influences.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized.

  A  couple  of  songs also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of    clear  vocals,  folk  instruments  can  also b e  heard  briefly  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  folklore  and  melancholy  themes.     

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hild  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "En  väv  av  intet"  "Hugg  där  det  smärtar  som  mest"  "Liksväljaren"  and  "En  dag  ska  jag  svälja  solen".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HildSweden

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

Primordial Black Interview

 

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

First of all, thank you for this interview and the interest you have in our band. We are currently in the midst of preparing our first album. I'm working on a number of demos, which I finalize with the other members. The goal is for everyone to contribute their part to the project.

This is the first time we are working as a group of four, so it's a challenge that brings a lot of good things.

2.A few months back you had released an ep, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you sent for on the recording?

The first EP is, so to speak, a snapshot of the person I was and the time in which it was created. I composed it solo, long before having any members with me, so I would say there's a lot of my DNA in it (and many of my writing quirks).

I started by wanting to emulate the dark/proto-black metal style of a band like Celtic Frost, along with some intense bursts of thrash.

But I am convinced that the inclusion of Mohamed (our drummer) and Walid (our guitarist) added a Black Metal touch that transcended the original intent.

More broadly, to describe the music of the EP, I would say it’s as if the Celtic Frost from the MONOTHEIST era were being coldly tortured by Mgła, and its traumatized body would occasionally convulse like Sepultura in a counter-reaction.

3.A lot of your lyrics are inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft, Clive Barker and John Milton, which aspects of their work have you brought out into your songwriting and also do you have any interest in other authors?

My response might be a bit long-winded.

All the authors I'm inspired by explore scale in a truly fascinating way. They focus on the theme of human insignificance, often through individual perspectives. Their characters catch a brief, incomprehensible glimpse of something beyond their understanding, which drives them towards madness or suicidal tendencies.

I use this as a literary device, operating on the idea that the Great Old Ones and other horrors in their works can metaphorically represent more relatable states of mind and suffering.

Yes, I really like many other authors, including classics of French literature such as 'The Horla' by Guy de Maupassant and the entire works of Albert Camus.

4.You have also mentioned some interest in the works of Dr. John Dee, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his occult philosophy and also do you have any interest in other occultists?

John Dee's enigmatic pursuits have deeply influenced my creation of dark music. His fascination with the occult, his quest to contact spirits, and his alchemical experiments resonate with the themes I explore in my compositions. Dee's blend of intellectual rigor and mystical curiosity mirrors the depth and complexity I seek to capture in my work. His attempt to bridge the known and the unknown inspires me to delve into the shadows of human experience, creating a soundscape that reflects both his esoteric interests and the dark corners of the psyche.

Through my music, I channel Dee's quest for the arcane and the profound.

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

For the cover and visuals of the EP, my goal was to find a balance between representing our music and creating something that could stand alone as a work of art. I aimed for something visually pleasing that doesn't necessarily need to be directly associated with our music to be attractive.

I worked on it solo, trying to avoid falling into Black Metal clichés. I have nothing against violent or demonic themes; I just find it more intriguing when things are suggested rather than explicitly shown.

Our logo seems to be quite successful, judging by the number of t-shirt I’ve seen when we performed live.

6.The band is from Tunisia, how is extreme metal treated in home country compared to other parts of the world?

To be honest, there isn't a real Metal scene in Tunisia. Things evolve in cycles. There are periods when there is a surge of new bands forming and working, but generally, it fades away as quickly as it appeared.

We're currently in a good period; things are starting to move in the right direction, and I hope it continues this way.

Our band has always chosen to forge our own path and do things in our own way and with our own means, so I don’t think we’re treated any better or worse than other bands.

It's just that we don’t really care.

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 played live only once to support the EP release. I like to think it was a very good experience; we had a lot to prove that night, and I’m proud of my bandmates who all delivered a great show. The lessons learned from that live performance allow us to compose our songs with much more determination.

We now know which aspects of our music are most communicative in a live setting.

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

We've signed with Darkside Records for the release of our upcoming album, and they have some things in store for us. That's all I can say for now.

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

One of the things that surprised us the most is the amount of positive feedback we've received from countries where I never thought we could compete. We've heard from fans in Colombia, Norway, South Africa, Australia, Egypt, and even Japan.

A special mention to Jay Parker, CEO of the label MASTERS OF KAOS and a member of the band IMMORTAL SUN, for his support and the exposure he has provided us in South America.

10.When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

The album will be released next year, and it will be a bit different from our EP since, as I mentioned earlier, we’re composing it as a group of four. Each of us adds our own touch to the drafts I create.

We will also explore themes that align with our principles, choices, and beliefs.

There will be quite a few surprises as well.

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

As for me, I've been infatuated with 'Intet • Altet' by the Danish band Orm for the past few weeks. I'm also eagerly awaiting the new Gaerea album and 'Aftermath' by The Black Dahlia Murder.

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

I want to express my gratitude for the chance to discuss our project here. A sincere thank you to everyone who supported our debut EP. I assure you that our first album will be even more dynamic and explosive.

In closing, we encourage everyone who enjoyed our music to check out the bands in our local scene.

You might discover a new favorite, and every find within this passionate community offers something unique and special.

https://youtube.com/@primordialblack876?si=IsrF_y64p00uJ3wW

Barathrum/Uberkill/Hammer Of Hate/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Barathrum  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Uberkill"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Hammer  Of  Hate.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  songs  also  incorporate  the  use  of  2  bass  guitars.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.

  Some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  shows  an  influence  of  thrash  metal  while  the  music  also  takes  an  old  school  style  and  also  makes  it  sound  more  modern.  When  the  recording  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  album  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  barathrum  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  thrash  emtal  that  is  more  rooted  in t he  80's  and  90's  as  well  as  being  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Blapshemy,  Darkness  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Barathrum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  By  Steel"  "Black  Magick  Rites"  "Denial  of  God"  and  "Uberkill".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/barathrumofficial      

The Gates/...of the River Styx/Northern Silence Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  The  Gates  are  a  band  from  Quebec,  Canada  that   has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black  metal,  gothic,  deathrock  and  occult  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "...of  the  River  Styx"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Northern  Silence  Productions.

  Synths  and  programmed  beats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  goth  rock  style  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  while  clean  playing  can  also  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with t he  more  aggressive  vocals  bringing  in  elements  of  black  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in    very  melodic  style  while t he  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  deathrock  and  80's  disco/synth  music.  Some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  metal  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  samples  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  On  this  recording  The  Gates  keeps  some  of  the  black  metal  vocals  as  well  as  focusing  more  on  a  synth  orientated  magick  metal  style  which  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  goth/deathrock  elements.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Gates  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black  metal  and  gothic  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Alone"  "Stygian  Hell"  and  "Watchers  of  the  night Sky". 8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/thegates_official/    

Grand Harvest/Till Förruttnelsen/Messor Grandis Productions/2024 EP Review

 

  Grand  Harvest  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Till  Förruttnelsen"  which  will  be  released  in  october  by  Messor  Grandis  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  clean  playing  a  few  seconds  later  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  lot  of  black  metal  screams.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  small  amount  of  blast  beats.  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in    very  dark  yet  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  On  this  recording  Grand  Harvest  remains  true  to  the  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  that  they  had  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  the  poetry  of  E.J  Stagnelius.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Grand  Harvest  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Till  Förruttnelsen".  8  out  of  10.

  https://silentfuture.ffm.to/grandharvest      

  

Primordial Black/Monas Hieroglyphia/M & O Music/2024 EP Review

 

  Primordial  Black  are  a  band  from  Tunisia  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Monas  Hieroglyphia"  which  was  released  by  m  &  O  Music.

  A  very  heavy  yet  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  Vocals  bring  in  angry  style  which  are  more  rooted  in  the  heavier  side  of  groove  metal  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  modern  era.

  Elements  of  first  wave  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard,  synths  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Primordial  Black  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death  and  groove  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while t he  lyrics  cover  the  writings  of  H.P  Lovecraft,  Clive  Barker  and  John  Milton.

  In  my  opinion  Primordial  Black  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  and  groove  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Atrocity  Guides"  and  "Only  Death  Is  Real".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://youtube.com/@primordialblack876?si=IsrF_y64p00uJ3wW

        

Veilburner/The Duality Of Deception And Wisdom/Transcending Obscurity Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Pennsylvania's  Veilburner  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  experimental  and  dissonant  style  of  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "The  Duality  of  Deception  And  Wisdom"  which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Transcending  Obscurity  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard  at  times.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  music  also  has  its  dissonant  moments.

  At  times  the  album  also  gets  very  experimental  and  atmospheric  sounding  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks.  Angry  shouts  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  technical  style.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well as  one  song  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  shadows  and  secrets  that  we  keep  form  ourselves  and  5the  idea  of  Rahu  and  Ketu.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Veilburner  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental  and  dissonant  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tem  OhP  Ab  In  Mysticism"  "Shadows  Of  A  Shadow"  and  "V.I.I  (Voured  Ivhnemous  Icon)".  8  out  of  10.

   

Veilburner Bandcamp

Veilburner Facebook

  

    

 

Venomous Invokation/Ars Moriendi/2024 EP Review

 

  Venomous  Invokation  are  a  band  from  Knoxville,  Tennessee  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  ep  "Ars  Moriendi".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  in  the  90's  era  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  old  school  style  and  a  lot  of t he  music  sounds  lime  it  could  of  been  recorded  and  released  30  years  ago.

  Venomous  Invokation  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  era  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Demonology,  Left  Hand  Path  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Venomous  Invokation  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  "War  in  heaven"  and  "Mistress  of  Blood".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/QgQ3nBGz0uY

https://www.instagram.com/venomousinvokation

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555801707807&mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://linktr.ee/venomousinvokation

https://open.spotify.com/album/3nH2pxtc3yb9unJPExYjyc

https://venomousinvokation.bandcamp.com/album/ars-moriendi

Unredeemer/World Become Flesh/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Unredeemer  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  groove  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  album  "World  Become  Flesh".

  

   Drums  and  bass  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  yet  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later.  Elements  of  groove  metal  are  also  added  into  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  a  lot  of  the  riffing  brings  in  a  more  modern  thrash  metal  style.

   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  music  also  adds  in  some  touches  of  the  mid  90's  and early  90's  metal  style  mixed  in  with  a  more  underground  take.  When  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

 

  Unredeemer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death,  groove  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  real  life  themes.

 

   In  my  opinion  Unredeemer  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  groove  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Malware  Messiah"  and  "Defiance".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/unredeemer.band

https://www.instagram.com/unredeemer_band/

https://unredeemer.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ocpHtIVIQ9xrmZOL88ZxG

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp6DrCNmbKhPSBmznpzIHcw

https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCFtjKtzY7ROeQp9_GbnbQlg  

  

     

Lava Abyss/Sacrificial Ritual of Primordial Fire/Archivist Records/2024 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Lava  Abyss  are  an international  duo  with  embers  from  Ukraine  and  the  United  States  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  which  they  refer  to  as  being  'plague  metal'  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Sacrificial  Ritual  of  Primordial  Fire"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  2024  by  Archivist  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  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  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  dark  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  Lava  Abyss  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  modern  yet  brutal  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  stupidity  of  all  kinds  of  religions  and  any  egregors  overshadowing  the  true  earthly  problems.

  In  my  opinion  Lava  Abyss  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sacrificial  Ritual  Of  Primordial  Fire"  "Supervolcanic  Obscuration"  "Ember  Of  Lava"  and  "Finishing  The  Era".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/LAVA.plague.metal

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCKTH3thE1f0JmhYFd0qcBQ

https://www.facebook.com/archivistrex      

Camos/Hide From The Light/Murder Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Camos  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Hide  From  The  Light"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Murder  Records.

  A  very  heavy  traditional  metal  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  some  of  the  vocals  also  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  production  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  true  to  more  of  an  old  school  style. 

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   decent  amount  of  melody.  Clean  playing  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  songs  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  psychedelic  moments  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  touches  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  vocals  and  when  the  album  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  

  Camos  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  early  80's  era  of  black  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  with  a  more  up  to  date  take  on  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Devil  Worship,  Anti  Religion  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Camos  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  heavy  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Desert  Devil"  "Lord  of  Flies"  "Waiting  Your  Command"  and  "Swimming  With  The  Sharks".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp | Youtube

camoscontact@gmail.com

instagram.com/camosband 

Valletta/Summer/Forcefield Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Vallenta  are  a  band  from  North  Carolina  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackened  arena  rock  and  melancholic  grunge'n'roll  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Summer"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Forcefield  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  black'n'roll  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  while  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  hard  rock  style  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  some  90's  era  grunge  influences  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  day  heaviness  as  well  as  some  of  the  vocals  also  adding  in  shouts ,  one  song  also  introduces  clear  singing  onto  the  recording,  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Vallenta  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black'nroll  and  grunge  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  duality  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Vallenta  are  a   very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackened  arena  rock  and  melancholic  grunge'n'roll  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Serpents  Of  Solomon"  "Criminal"  "On  The  Run"  and  "Almighty  Hate".  8  out  of  10.

  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/valletta/1662718827

https://vallettanc.bandcamp.com/album/come-alive-ep

https://www.facebook.com/VallettaNC

https://www.instagram.com/vallettanc/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/07mfzYjDfoP9jmi7mpdLwq

]https://www.youtube.com/@VALLETTANC          

Untervoid/Parasite/Pagan Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Untervoid  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Parasite"  which  will  be  released  on  September  20th  by  Pagan  Records.

  

   A  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  At  times  the  music  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

    Saxophones  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  very  gr  melodic  tone  on  a  few  tracks  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  synths,  angry  shouts  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are a  concept  album  based  upon  the  multifaceted role  of  humanity  as  a  parasitic  force  on  both  society  and  the  planet.

  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Untervoid  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Parasite"  "Abyss  Glares  Back"  and  "Last  Shore".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/untrvd/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/untervoid 
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2E1UQR8AkRlRwfgvFnYApe 

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/untervoid/1337781020