Satan Worship/Teufelssprache/Folter Records/2020 CD Review

  Satan  Worship  are  a  band  with  members  from  Germany  and  Brazil  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Teufelssprache"  which  was  released  by  Folter  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  old  school  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  first  wave  influences.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  an  old  school  style.  Most  of  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  but  also  sounds  modern  at  the  same  time  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at  times,  most  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  style  with  only  a  small  amount  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  being  utilized  and  they  also  bring  in  a  cover  of  Sepultura's  "Antichrist".

  Satan  Worship  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  80's  era  of  black  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Death  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Satan  Worship  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Death  Incarnate"  "Satanik  Werewolves"  "Mass  Murder"  and  "Aokigahra".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/satanworshipofficial/

https://youtu.be/x_QbYn4sWJs



    

Funeral Cult Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new ep?

First of all we’ve got in touch with Lusitanian Music. It was the milestone in everything what is going on now. They provide the suport and experience in promotion we couldn’t imagine. This is a huge thing for us.

I don’t know if we had any expectations with these three tracks we’ve recorded. We were about to release it by ourselves and just see what will happen. One day I realized why to kick the open door. I wrote to Lusitanian Music and it started. Because of that we hired Anna Jarzynska, very talented young artist, who made all the coverart and layout for us. Lusitanian Music took care of promotion abroad and we try to do our best in Poland.

Anyway, next to all this we work hard in our rehearsal room on new songs we’d like to put on full length album.



2. You have a new ep coming out in February, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Simple but difficult question. Time passed, guys changed as people, grew up, I guess. The perspective has changed. Music has changed somehow. Old vocalist refused to take part in reactivation. I took his place. It is another huge change. My vocals are different and put the band on even black metal tracks. But still it has old soul. As Joao from Lusitanian Music said: „new material is keeping their dark ambiance but giving their new tracks more death/doom atmosphere”. I agree with that.



3. The band was broken up for 20 years, what was the cause of the split and also the decision to reform?

There is no option we live our lives without the music. This is the main factor which led us to reactivate the band. But yes, we’ve split-up for almost 20 years. The main reason was signing the contract with an unresponsible label in Poland. We went to the court at last. But it took two years. We couldn’t do anything because of the contract conditions. We had to make decison and take care of ourselves and our families. The end of story!


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

New vocalist, new inspirations. From slavic and pagan ceremonies to demonic possession. In short. Lyrics for „Possession Done” are inspired with Barian Lumley’s „Necroscope” horror series and „Exorcist”, the book and the movies. Tree sperate songs telling one whole story. A journey from being an extraordinary human to… what or where? A demon, lesser human, to hell or purgatory? You tell me…

Technically, guys create music, construct a song. Don’t ask me where it comes from. It just comes out of us. After that I put vocals into it. With random words. During this progres a story pops up. But the most important is that there is an idea for it. I know what I’m going to write about. I have always a concept. Demonic possession, loosing your soul or just being a lunatic was the idea for „Possession Done”. But it didn’t come from nowhere. We have full lenght never issued entitled „Mystery of Possession” and recorded in 1998. As new person in the band I had to close the past and open new door. This is what „Possession Done” is for.



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

The only plan was that we wanted to have a name with two words. We’ve chosen the best ones in our opinion at that time.
Of course it matches to our music very well. But subcondciously it was conneted to our interests.


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

Great job done by Anna Jarzynska & Phoenix Pictures. I’ve just told her a few details I wanted to have on the front cover of the EP. And it was far from it we’ve got back from her. Beutifly drawn my version of possession, madness, solitude, lost…



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

After reactivation we’ve played five or six shows during one year. Some say to much, some say the opposite. Anyway, one of the best performances was with PILLORIAN in our home city, Lodz. What else to say… We try to make the shows consistent with the music and lyrics. So I go on stage hooded and during the show we try to transfer a lot of Energy to the audience. And we have very positive feed back from the audience.



8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2020?

Yes. After the launch of „Possesion Done” by Lusitanian Music on February, 21st 2020, one day later we start live shows in Poland. We are going to visit big cities across Poland like Katowice, Czestochowa, Krakow, Lodz, etc. And we do it with our friends from death metal band Arcane Dust.



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

We’ve got positive reviews, a lot o magazines mentioned us, some radio stations aired our music. I think there is a lot of noise in Europe. But still a lot in front of us because we are releasing the EP in two weeks.



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

We are in the middle of creating the stuff for full lengh. I don’t know if we put any track from „Possession Done” to the full lenght. But it is not agreed yet. I have another concept for a full lenght. But it is not far from the concept for „Possession Done”. Anyway I don’t think we release full lenght before autumn 2020.

Musically there won’t be any revolution. We’ve put some faster moments in the new tracks. But still we like our rather slow doom music with some black metal insertions. Slow and simple, it makes a difference thesedays.



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?

Some say My Dying Bride, Celtic Frost, Anathema… I don’t know. It could be true. The inspiration is around us. It could be a movie, a book, an event or nature itself. We don’t have any favourite bands. We hear a lot of different music generes and styles, even non metal.



12. What are some of your non musical interests?

Aikido, shooting (not hunting), paragliding, books, movies and other stuff what makes us younger not older.



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

I’d like to thank you for the interview and your job. Many thanks to Lusitanian Music and the crew for what they do for us. Hope we go back to you with full lenght sooner than later. But for now find our EP „Possession Done” at Lusitanian Music store and other channels. Find us on Facebook and Youtube. Stay in touch.

 https://www.facebook.com/funeralcultband/

Nexorum Interview

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

Nexorum is a blackened death metal band based in Trondheim, Norway. The band includes members from various Norwegian metal bands, the most relevant being Keep of Kalessin, Chton, Khonsu and Vecordious.

The band formed back in 2017. We have spent these last years writing, recording and mixing our debut album, Death Unchained.



2.In March you have a new album, can you tell us a little bit about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Back when we started talking about forming this band this was very important for all of us.

We did not want to be a tech death metal band and certainly not another old school black metal band. We wanted the music to be heavy as fuck, groovy and “easy” to perform live, but also atmospheric, brutal and with a good song structure. From there we just evolved through each song and ended up as we are now.

During this writing process, our guitarist Roger has done a lot. He has his own home studio and he has a good ear, so we recorded the entire album ourselves with him as producer. Drums and vocals in our rehearsal place, and guitar and bass at Roger’s house.



3.Most of the other band members are also involved with other bands, what is it that you bring into the music of 'Nexorum' that you are not able to do with your other groups?

Well, mainly the death metal type of writing. Khonsu and Keep of Kalessin are very melodic and majestic. Nexorum is more brutal and in your face.


4.Some of your lyrics cover Satanism, Occultism or Left Hand Path themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

Like so many artists before us, be it musicians, writers, painters, sculptors.. you name it, we find the stories, myths, legends and the over all concept of Satan very interesting, and draw a lot of inspiration from it. This shines through in a handful of the Nexorum lyrics.


5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nexorum'?
Nexorum derives from the latin word Nexus, which literally means "binding together" or "connection". We chose this name since it represents the way we got this band together and how we create our music as a band.



6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?
We wanted something that captured the essence of the album, both musically and thematically. We sent an email to Rafal Wechterowicz with some of our visual ideas, along with a couple of songs and lyrics, so that he could get a feel of what we were all about. This is what he came up with, and we really liked it.

There's no stronger symbol for death than a human skull, so that had to be the center piece of the artwork. The snakes and chalices are slight references to some of the lyrical content.

Robin, our bass player, did the layout for the album. He put one of Gustave Doré's illustrations from The Divine Comedy in the background to put an extra layer to it all, as well as adding the frames, which ended up looking pretty sick.

Robin who also plays in Keep of Kalessin is a real artist. Design and drawing is something that he is really good at.



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 will have our first concert with Blood Red Throne in March.
It will be aggressive and we are certain that people will feel our energy from the stage.



8.Do you have any touring plans once the new album is released?
Not yet, but we will be an active live band.


9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music  by fans of black and death metal?
So far, so good.
It seems like we are hitting a nerve. Maybe people are a bit tired of the all the same stuff that is out there and really like the sound of the band and the production of the songs. The open song structure, the groove and the catchy riffs.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We are already working on 3 new songs and will aim to play as much live as possible.
The new album will be insane, although we are early in the writing process I can feel and hear already that we will nail this one as well.
It will be Heavy, groovy and brutal.


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?
Well, what can I say.. We are Norwegians and have all grown up listening to all of the Norwegian bands from Burzum to Dimmu Borgir and everything in between.
The band is trying to do things a bit different and I think we sound unique. I don’t think I've heard any bands, at least from Norway, that play quite like us.
I personally listen to a lot of Wardruna these days.



12.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?
They are lurking in the shadows with things. Stay tuned.


13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for the interview and to everyone who read this. Thank you and please continue the support by playing our music. Hornz up!

https://www.facebook.com/nexorum.official   
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdgp6IGlTLC3SEx0oxiRrqg 
https://www.instagram.com/nexorum.official

Treurwilg/An End To Rumination/2020 Full Length Review

  Treurwilg  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  funeral  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "An  End  To  Rumination"  which  will  be  released  on  February  22nd.

  Clean  playing  starts  of  the  album  and  are  also  used  on  the  other  tracks  while   spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  at  times,  Elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  riffs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  guttural  death  metal  growls.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized   they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  style,  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  slower  direction.

  Treurwilg  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  atmospheric  black,  funeral  doom  and  post  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  and  tells  the  tale   of  a  man  and  its  fears.

  In  my  opinion  Treurwilg  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  atmospheric  black,  funeral  doom  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Ruin  And  Misery"  and  "Shallow  Pools  Of  Grief".  8  out  of  10.

https://treurwilg.bandcamp.com/track/shallow-pools-of-grief 

 

 

   

Hellion Interview

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

 H: We are fiends since the high school. Our musical likes clicked since the days we met each other. The band started in september 2014 under the name Infernus. We thought it was not good enough, so we decided to change the name to Hellion. Some people don't like the name, but we don't give a fuck.

After two years of composing songs and play some little shows at local venues, we recorded a demo called "The Rising of Wizards", which was produced and released by Sabbath Productions. A year later the band started to work in the making of the first Full Length, which is called Hordes of Witchery, and was released by the label La Pija Producciones. After two years of rehearsals, shows along the country and work for musical improvement, the band signed with the chinese label Awakening Records,to reissue the existent titles, and release a new album. This last one saw the light in november of 2019, and is called "Rebel's Curse". Currently the band still composing new songs and working to spread the plague to the world of underground Metal.

2.So far you have released a demo, a couple of lengths and have been a part of a split, musically how do they all differ from each other/

H: During the years we have tried to worry to improve our selves musically and artistically. As the years pass we try to be more accurate and professional without losing the focus and devotion for the underground and raw sound. The musical influences and the song writing style haven't changed so much, but we always search to feed the new songs with the knowledge we get through the time.

3.Some of your lyrics cover Satanism and Witchcraft, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

H: The only cult we're loyal to, is the Metal cult. We're not religious for any side, we dont' believe in god or the devil more than we believe in winnie the pooh. Those are fiction characters which have inspired many stories and have given to Rock n' Roll an identity.

We're against the religious doctrines of any kind. But the christianity and all abrahamic religions are the most pure manifestation of the stupidity and not deserved human pride. An invention and excuse to feel special among the rest of the animal reign.



4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with the music?

The Metal lifestyle, women, rebellion, weed, lust, blasphemy, speed, death, the running of time... there are no bounds.

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

H: We took it from the W.A.S.P's song. There are also some texts that claim that the Hellion is the devil's child. A rebel angel, similar to lucifer. The prince of evil.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork on the current album cover?

H: It was made by the art master Wang Jiabin from Awakening Records. He just asked us for some ideas and referents, and started to work... the final result was that awesome piece of art which gives a face to our new album. He also made the artwork for the reissue of "The Rising of Wizards". Pretty insane!

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

H: Every show we play in, has something special. We enjoy each show as if it was the last.

Just to name some: Rock C4 2016 (Medellín), Silent Scream 2018 (Bucaramanga), Barranquilla Metal Massacre 2018 (Barranquilla), Whiplash Southamerican Tour 2019 (Medellín) Katio Metal Fest 2019 (Andes).

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

H: Yes, we have. We are working and dealing to tour and play at the main cities of Colombia in 2020 in order to promote the last production. There are five cities confirmed so far. We have been also planning and working to get out of the national frontiers. Let's see what happens.

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

H: There are many countries where some maniacs have shown their support and good energy. I don't know if we can call it all worldwide level, but our music has reached lots of places that we never imagined before, and we feel it well received.

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

H: As i said before, we are always working to upgrade our musical skills and become more professional through the time. We are searching for an authentic sound, without forget our roots and everlasting influences. We'll still speed, we'll still evil, we'll stay thrash.

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?

H: Almost all the 80's Metal bands from heavy to death metal have influenced our music in some way. There are also some bands in the Colombian Scene that we have grow with and developed a huge admiration for. Some new wave of old school bands have inspired our path.

H: Just to name a few: Bathory, Possessed, Warrant, DeathHammer, Metallica, Nocturnal, Exodus, Slayer, Witchtrap, Masacre, Anvil, Savage Agression, Reencarnacion, Destruction, Kreator... and the list never ends.

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

H: There only remains to say thank you, michael for the interest in our work and our history, and for keeping the flame of Worldwide metal always and forever burning!!

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Hallucinator/Another Cruel Dimension/Carbonized Records/2020 Full Length Review

  Hallucinator  are  a  band  from  Oakland,  California  that  plays  an  esoteric  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Another  Cruel  Dimension"  which  will  be  released  on  February  14th  by  Carbonized  Records.

  Synths  start  off  the  album  while  also  using  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  at  times  they  also  mix  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also done  in  a  very  dark,  old  school  and  melodic  style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  vocals  being  black  metal  screams  which  also  mix  both  the  first  and  second  waves  together.  The  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of   mid  80's  to  early  90's  era death  metal  influences  but  keeps  it  modern  at  the  same  times.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  sci-fi  or  horror  movie  and  some  of  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.  As  the  album  progresses  a  couple  of  instrumentals  are  also  added  onto  the  recording  and  they  also  do  a  cover  of  R.A..V.A.G.E's  "On  They  Slay".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  esoteric,  dark,  violent  and  alcohol  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hallucinator  are  a  very  great  sounding  esoteric  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Clotted  black  Blood"  "Ruthless  Transgression"  "Mad  Reaper"  and  "Chapel  Perilous".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.facebook.com/HallucinatorCA    

Malleus/Storm of Witchcraft/Armageddon Label/2020 EP Review

  Malleus  are  a  band  from  Boston,  Massachusetts  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  ep  "Storm  of  Witchcraft"  which  was  remastered  and  will  be re-issued  on  February  14th  by  Armageddon  Label.

  Sounds  of  wind,  field  recordings  and  dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  thrash  metal  influenced  direction.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  some  elements  of  first  wave  black  metal  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Vocals  are  mostly grim  sounding  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  an  old  school  style.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  Elements  of  speed  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  all  of the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  all  of  the  music also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Witchcraft,  Occultism  and  Demonology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Malleus  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blackened  Skies"  and  "Storm  Of  Witchcraft".  8  out  of  10.

http://armageddonlabel.bandcamp.com/album/storm-of-witchcraft-remastered