Friday, August 31, 2018

Cursus Bellum/Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit/Downfall Records/2018 CD Review


  Cursus  Bellum  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Ex  Nihilo  Nihil  Fit"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Downfall  Records.

  Spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into a  very  fast  and  brutal  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  style  growls  and  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along with  some  clean  playing  also  being  used  briefly  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  as  the  album  progresses  a  couple  brief  classical  guitar  instrumentals  can  be  heard  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Cursus  Bellum  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  blackened  death  metal  style  of  their  previous  release,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  anti  religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Casus  Bellum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Soil  Companion"  "Magma  Prophet"  "Life  Eater"  and  "The  Soil  Beneath  Us".  8  out  of  10.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Piah Mater/The Wandering Daughter/Code666/2018 CD Review


  Piah  Mater  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  progressive  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018 album  "The  Wandering  Daughter"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Code666.

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  while  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  which  also  introduces  death  metal  growls  onto  the  recording  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  at  times  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  utilizing  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  screams,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

   When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well as  some  prog  rock  style  synths  also  being  utilized  at  times a and  as the  album  progresses  psychedelic  elements  are  added  onto  the  recording.

  Piah  Mater  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  atmospheric  black  metal  and  progressive  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  relationship  between  man/woman  and  nature.

  In  my  opinion  Piah  Mater  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  and  progressive  mixture  of  black  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Solace  in  Oblivion"  and  "The  Meek's  Inheritance".  8  out  of  10.

https://ninecircles.co/2018/10/02/premiere-piah-mater-solace-in-oblivion/      

Wills Dissolve Interview

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

(Shaun Weller) We all have different approaches to writing and we wanted to mix all of that together to create something unique. I guess the best way to describe it would be post progressive metal. Mixing incredibly heavy and fast parts with ambient passages and beautiful clean parts to truly capture the full gamut of humanity.



2.In October you have your first full length coming out, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on this recording?

(Branson Heinz) I think the primary strength of our band is the same as the primary strength of our hometown: diversity.  Every member of the band has a different background and is inspired by a different style of metal.  Nick’s inspiration mainly comes from post metal and progressive metal, Andrew’s from progressive and black metal, Shaun’s from doom and punk, and mine from black and death metal.  I think it is nice to mirror our hometown in that way.  It not only gives us a sound we love, but allows us to relate to our surroundings.



3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

(Nick Block) Misanthropy, faith, and cosmic horror.  Our debut album, The Heavens Are Not On Fire…, is a concept album about the Leonid meteor shower of November 1833 being mistaken for a sign from God in rural West Texas, and the destruction that follows.


(Andrew Caruana) If our album had a subtitle, it would be something along the lines of, “the grave consequences of misapplied dogmatic zeal.”



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

(NB) Andrew and I are big fans of the band Isis.  Wills Dissolve is a track off of their masterpiece, Panopticon.  It also means “ego death,” or the loss of self-identity.



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

Cauê Piloto created the beautiful oil painting for our cover art.  We provided him with the general guidelines, and he captured the spirit of the album perfectly.  The painting best captures the events at the end of the track “on this cold November night”.



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

Our favorite shows have been with our friends in Golgothan and Grave Gnosis.  The best way to describe our show is a combination of blast beats, heavy torrential bursts of energy, and ambient passages that suck you into a trance.



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

We have plans to do a southeast tour, but nothing is currently scheduled.



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

(NB) Andrew and I are both acoustical engineers and we were able to record our debut album by ourselves.  A label is something we are interested in, but are not actively pursuing.



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

(AC) We have thus far received a positive reaction to our demo.  Branson is a travel consultant, and has spread, ‘the gospel,” as it were, to people he met all over Asia and Europe. We would randomly get likes from people in Japan or Germany, and knew he was out there getting work done.  We are looking forward to hearing the response to our debut since it is being promoted a lot more aggressively.



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

(SW) The addition of synthesizers to our sound. Nick and I are very much into synths, but we wanted this first album to be more natural, considering the content of the album, so they didn't make an appearance. The next album's subject matter makes more sense to have synthesizers though, so that will be explored a whole lot more.


(AC) Given what we have already written, I’d say our blend of chaos intermixing with tranquility will only increase in severity. The trick will be to retain flow; great transitions can make or break a concept album.


(NB) Andrew and I are deep into the writing process for the next album.  It will also be a concept album, and will have an underwater theme.  The thematic writing takes a lot from H.P. Lovecraft, and deals with topics of wonder, isolation, madness, and continuing the general theme of cosmic horror.  The music will have more of a prog influence without straying too far from our death/black metal roots.



(BH) In the future, I see us taking our diversified approach to songwriting into a more extreme direction and really exploring the space of our music.  Making the ambient parts more ambient, the doomy parts more heavy, and fast parts faster and more technical.



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?

(NB) Opeth, Pink Floyd, and Isis are my primary influences.  I have been listening to a ton of Leprous and Ulver lately, which has been getting me into the right mindset for our second album.  I am also constantly spinning Vol 2 from our friends in Father Rust, who should have their third album coming out soon.



(AC) Opeth, Devin Townsend, Dark Fortress, Nevermore, and Alcest are hands down my biggest metal influences. Current favorites for this year would be Yob’s “Our Raw Heart,” and Alkaloid’s, “Liquid Anatomy.”

(SW) A lot of new stuff, Beyond Creation and Behemoth's new album is on the horizon, Obscura's new album just dropped, as did Between the Buried and Me. Just a lot of cool stuff happening right now.



(BH) I’ve personally been branching out to more unique styles of slower metal.  I’m a huge fan of bands like Starset and Red Sun Rising and I enjoy listening to them even though I’d be bored playing for them.  I’ve also been listening to bands like Ellende, Elderwind, and Portland’s None.  Great doom metal mixed with nature exaltation.  Still number one will always be black metal for me.  I still listen to great amounts of bands like Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Marduk, and Darkthrone.  That will always be my primary inspiration.



12.What are some of your non musical interests?

(NB) I am a big craft beer nerd.  I also play hockey recreationally.


(AC) Whiskey, Whisky, craft beer, video games, and working out. (running/lifting, etc.)



(SW) Drinking beer and whiskey, and watching anime is essentially how I spend my downtime. Most of my life revolves around music nowadays, so I'm usually engrossed in gear or practice.



(BH) I’m an avid long distance runner and I travel for work and pleasure several times a month both domestically and internationally.  I also collect Scotch and Japanese whiskey which I love to drink.



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

Thank you for this opportunity.  We hope everyone takes the time to listen to The Heavens Are Not On Fire… when it is released on October 26.

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Monday, August 27, 2018

Lucifericon/Al-Khem-Me/Invictus Productions/2018 CD Review


  Lucifericon  are  a  band  from t he  Netherlands  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Al-Khem-Me"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Invictus  Productions.

  Grim  black  metal  screams  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  musical  direction  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  chaotic  style  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  growls.

  Dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  fast  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  has  a  lot  of  influences  from  90's  but  still  manages  to  capture  a  very  modern  atmosphere  and  the  music  always  remains  very  heavy,  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.

  Lucifericon  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  style,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Alchemy,  Thelema,  and  Left  Hand  Path  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Lucifericon  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  "Inside The  Serpents  "I"  "Flesh  Unto  Void,  Void  Unto  Flesh  (Thr  Twofold  Gate)"  and  "Sevenfold".  8/5  out  of  10. 

http://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/al-khem-me

Saturday, August 25, 2018

Deathhammer/Chained To Helll/Hells Headbangers/2018 CD Review


  Deathhammer  are  a  duo  from  Norway  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Chained  To  Hell"  which  will be  released  in  October  by  Hells  Headbangers.

  A  very  heavy  80's  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  vocals  being  done  in  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  as  well as  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  elements  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  While  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  it  still  sounds  very  modern  with  the  way  the  music  was  produced  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  remaining  true  to  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style  as  well  as  some  songs  also  bringing  in  a  small  amount  of  back  up  gang  shouts,  at  times  the  vocals  get  semi  melodic  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  and  one  of  the tracks  is  also  an  instrumental.

  Deathhammer  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  early  80's  era  of  black  and  thrash  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Blasphemy,  Death  And   Zombie  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Deathhammer  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  thrash  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Satan's  Hell"  "Into  The  Burning  Pentagram"  and "Evil".  8  out  of  10.

http://deathhammer.bandcamp.com/album/chained-to-hell
    

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Wills Dissolve/The Heavens Are Not On Fire/2018 Full Length Review


  Wills  Dissolve  are  a  band  from  Texas  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  black,  doom, death  and  post  metal  with  some  elements  of  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "The  Heavens  Are Not  On  Fire"which will  be  released  in  October.

  Ambient  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  slide  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  great  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  acoustic  guitars  also  giving  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  as  well  as  some  clean  vocals  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music.

  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  as  well  as  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  being  very  heavily  influenced  by  doom  metal  and  most  of  the  music  sticks  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  they  close  the  album  with  an  instrumental.

  Wills  Dissolve  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom,  death,  post  and  progressive  metal  and  mixes  them  with  elements  of  ambient  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  religion,  violence  and  cosmic  chaos  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Wills  Dissolve  are  a  very  great  progressive  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death,  ambient,  and  post  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Heavens  Are  Not  On  Fire"  and  "On  This  Cold  November  Night".  8  out  of  10.   

https://toiletovhell.com/premiere-wills-dissolve-summon-a-prog-death-firestorm/

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Bonehunter/Children Of the Atom/Hells Headbangers/2018 CD Review


  Bonehunter  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Children  Of  The  Atom"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Hells  Headbangers.

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  thrash  metal  influenced  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.

  Elements  of  punk  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  heavily  rooted  in  the  early  80's  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in a  brief  use  of  science  fiction  movie  samples  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  some  of  the  fast  riffs  also  bring  in  a decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking. 

  Bonehunter  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  mixes  them together  to  create  a  style  that  is  very  retro  and  old  school,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  bitches,  destruction,  war  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Bonehunter  are    a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Demonic  Nuclear  Armament"  "The  Reek  of  The  Reaper's  Scythe"  "Cybernetic  Vampirism"  and  "Devil  Signal  Burst".  8  out  of  10.

http://bonehunter-finland.bandcamp.com/album/children-of-the-atom
 

  

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Prophets Of The Apocalypse Interview

Prophets Of The Apocalypse article with Pete Serro:
1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
The birth of Prophets Of The Apocalypse took place in October of 2017 officially. After 18 months of rebuilding Apocalypse Studios, it was fully operational, and finally, writing and recording sessions commenced. Following several months of scheduled mastering projects and musical collaborations, it became evident that all focus needed to be directed towards Prophets Of The Apocalypse. It felt as though there was a fire burning inside which was erupting into a fury of guitar riffs and drum punishment. Many songs were written and recorded in 6 months, but only those consistent with the musical vision were represented on the debut release.

2.How would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Dark Thrash War Metal is our musical genre. Our intention was the creation or raw and ferocious music driven by double-bass battle drum madness. Emotion and darkness were chosen over a polished sound. These songs were ripped from my guts, hopefully resonating with listener while leading them through an unsettling musical journey.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
In the album artwork, it reads, "Tales of War...nothing less, nothing more." The lyrics of the War Metal album portray tales medieval and viking conflict, and battles of the mind. Metaphors are often used which could either be actual battle references, or the inner conflict of man's deepest thoughts. Self empowerment and inner strength is subject matter, as well as, bloody details and gory battlefield references.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Prophets Of The Apocalypse'?
We live in a unstable time, and are on the path to destruction as race. How and when this happens is unknown, but Prophets Of The Apocalypse would like do a public service by providing the soundtrack to one chapter of our demise.

5.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the EP cover?
It is simply our Prophets logo atop silvery clouds. Honestly, I've been working in the marketing industry ever since graduating from art school. If you follow the band on social media, you will notice a theme of black and white photos, castles, dark art, and medieval imagery. Men and women would look up towards the heavens to hear the voices of the gods and prophets.

6.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other musicians, how would you compare the two?
I didn't have to deal with a drummer, so that was a plus...just kidding. I was on a mission with this release of War Metal. A sense of urgency and tight scheduling, along with around-the-clock studio sessions made it more practical, this time around, with me recording everything. I do prefer working with other like-minded musicians for sure. Writing sessions flow better, I believe, while collaborating and jamming with others. This is why I'm currently auditioning Bassists.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
First of all, Prophets Of The Apocalypse is seeking distribution worldwide. Our foundation is solid, and our fan base is increasing worldwide, due to social media campaigns, posts, networking and using publicists and PR companies. Yes, I would consider an interested record label. I am actively seeking labels as well. I was signed to a couple labels in my past with the bands Strychnine and Northwinds, so I know what, and what not, I'm interested in dealing with. I am speaking with several labels, but no deals are on the table at this moment. Feel free to contact us.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black, death and thrash metal?
Reaction worldwide has been very positive! I love it, especially, when other guitarists give me good feedback to my music. Since the vocals are old school Thrash blended with a Blackened Death style, Prophets Of The Apocalypse crosses over into these three extreme Metal worlds. I'm just singing (screaming) what needs to come out! Whether it's my guitar playing or singing, I just want it to come across as brutally raw and ferocious...straight from my soul.

9.When can we expect a full length and where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
Writing has just begun for the full length followup album in 2019. Prophets Of The Apocalypse aim to play at European Open Air Festivals in the summer of 2019. I am also personally available as a guitarist for a signed touring act in need of replacing or hiring a guitarist for tour or festival appearances. I'm very accessible if anyone is searching for me.

10.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?
Here is a list of bands from today, and the past, who I listen to: Coroner, Kreator, Arch Enemy, Testament, Possessed, Behemoth, Nervosa, Slayer, Destruction, Jinjer, Death, Obituary, Evergrey, Michael Schenker, Immortal, Suicidal Tendencies, Sodom, and Nightwish.

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Vegan cooking, graphic art and photography, vintage electronics, and traveling.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thanks for interviewing Prophets Of The Apocalypse, first of all. Thanks especially to all of you strange creatures that have showed awesome support in this short time! You can expect to hear another album in 2019 that is true to our Dark Thrash War Metal style. Songs loaded with blistering double-bass drums, an assault of turbulent guitar riffing, thundering bass, and extreme unhinged vocals. Please check out www.warmetal.net and contact us.

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Infernal Coil/Within A World Forgotten/Profound Lore Records/2018 CD Review



  Infernal  Coil  are  a  band  from  Boise,  Idaho  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black, death  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2018  album  "Within  A  World  Forgotten"  which  will b e  released  in  September  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off t he  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  music  also  incorporating  elements  of  grindcore  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  chaotic  style.

  A  great  amount  of  black  metal  influences  can  also  be  heard  in  the  music  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken word  parts  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  as  the  album  progresses  screams  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  atmospheric  drones  are  also  added  onto  the  closing  track.

  Infernal  Coil  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  brutal  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  natural  world  paradoxes.

  In  my  opinion  Infernal  Coil  are  a  very  great  sounding  brutal  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wounds  Never  Close"  "49  Suns"  and  "In  Silent  Vengeance".  8/5  out  of  10.

  

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Diabolic Force/Praise of Satan/Hells Headbangers/2018 CD Review


  Diabolic  Force  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  plays  a  mixture  of  first  wave  era  black,  thrash  and  speed   metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Praise  of  Satan"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Hells  Headbangers.

  Ritualistic  chants  and  satanic  prayers  which  are  inspired  by  the  writings  of  LaVey start  of  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  first  wave  black  metal  direction  along  with  the  vocals  also  being  rooted  in  that  era  as  well  as  some  elements  of  80's  era  thrash  and  speed  metal  but  modern  at  the  same  time.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  remain  true  to  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  short  in  length  along  with  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts as  well  as  one  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  lot  of 80's  Brazilian  influences  and  the  closing  track  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Diabolic  Force  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  80's  era  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Evil  and  Darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Diabolic  Force  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres, you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Satan's  Power"  "Blasphemic  Sound"  "Black  Light  Damnation"  and  "The  Circle".  8  out  of  10. 

http://diabolic-force.bandcamp.com/album/praise-of-satan 

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Prophets Of The Apocalypse/War Metal/2018 EP Review


  Prophets  Of  The  Apocalypse  are  a  solo  project  from  Tennessee  that  plays  a mixture  of  thrash  and  blackened  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2018  ep  "War  Metal".

  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  water  sounds  while    acoustic  guitars  are  also  used  briefly  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  after  awhile  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  and  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.

  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  one  of  the  tracks  is  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  the  music  also  mixing  in  elements  of  death  metal  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  all  instrumental  and  as  the  ep  progresses  ambient  style synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  on  one  song  the  vocals  take  a  more  traditional  thrash  approach  and  also  mixes  in  a  small  amount  of  growls  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also b e  heard.

  Prophets  Of  The  Apocalypse  plays  musical  style  that  takes  thrash  and  blackened  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  violent  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Prophets  Of  The  Apocalypse  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  thrash  and  blackened  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Battle  Eyes"  and  "Step  into  Your  Mind".  8  out  of  10.

https://soundcloud.com/prophet s-ofthe-apocalypse   

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Moonspell/Lisboa Under The Spell/Napalm Records/2018 3 Set CD Review


  Portugal's  Moonspell  have  returned  with  a  triple  album  which  has  all  of  the  material  from  "Wolfheart"  "Irreligious"  and  "Extinct"  recorded  live  on  3  different  disc's  and  also  displays  their  mixture  of  black  and  goth  metal  and  the  album  is  called  "Lisboa  Under  The  Spell"  which  will  be  released  on  August  17th  by  Napalm  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  the  material  from  "Wolfheart".

  Live  audience  inter reaction  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  dark  sounding  intro before  adding  synths  and  clean  playing  onto  the  recording  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  music  at  times  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  in  deep  yet  grim  black  metal  screams.

  When  clean  vocals  are  utilized  they  add  in  more  goth  metal  elements  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  at  times  you  can  hear  some  influences  from  the  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  style  of  the  90's  era  and  as  the  album  progresses  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  an  instrumental.

  Next  up  is  the  material  from  "Irreligious".

  Audience  feedback  and  a  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  live  set  while  also  introducing  synths  which  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  their  music  along  with  a  brief  use  of  melodic  chants  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Goth  style  vocals a re  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  set  along  with  some  black  metal screams  also  being  used  at  times  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  as  the  live set  progresses  female  vocals  are  also  used  briefly  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Next  up  is  their  live  set  of  "Extinct".

  Audience  feedback  starts  off  the  live  set  while  spoken  word  samples  are  also  used  briefly  before  introducing  synths  into  the  music  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  epic  atmosphere  while  also  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  all  of  the  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  clean  vocals  add  in  touches  of  goth  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  as  well  as  the  aggressive  vocals  bringing  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  the  last  2  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  these  3  different  disc's  Moonspell  brings  out  a  different  style  with  each  album  with  the  first  one  being  their  first  recording  to  mix  black  and  goth  metal  together  while  still  having  some  folk  influences  while  the  second  album  goes  for  more  of  a  black  metal  influenced  goth  metal  style  and  the  final  recording  shows  a  mixture  of  traditional  goth  rock  and  goth  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Paganism,  Vampirism  and  Dark  Poetry  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Moonspell  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band  you  should  check  out  this  triple  live  album.  RECOMMENDED   TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Dream  And  Drama"  "An  Erotic  Alchemy"  "Opium"  "Fullmoon  Madness"  "Breath  (Until  We  Are  No  More)'  and  "The  Future  is  Dark".  8/7  out  of  10.

www.moonspell.com 
www.facebook.com/moonspellband
www.moonspell.rastilho.com 

    

Monday, August 6, 2018

Articcircle Interview

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

We've been working on some newer tunes hopefully for a follow up EP. Also practicing a couple times a week as were are hoping to hit the road to support this album.

2.Recently you have released a new album, what are some of the things you feel you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous material?

We've really slowed things down a lot. We let more of our influences come thru on this album. We kind of just do what we feel like, we don't have a huge fan base to alienate or piss off or anything like that so we just write music that we enjoy.

3.The earlier material was more black metal influenced while the mew album has more of a stoner, heavy metal or hard rock vibe, what was the decision behind going into this direction?

The decision to go in this direction has to do with wanting to expand our sound. Sure we could blast our way thru everything but what's the point? We'll leave that to others. We are huge rock fans...classic, psychedelic, prog and it's just getting to the point where it's naturally starting to appear in the music. Rather than start some side project we've done it all under the Arcticcircle banner.

4.You label your music as 'bush metal', can you tell us a little bit more about this term?

Bush Metal is our term for what we do. We are kind of alienated from musical scenes because we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Five minutes in any direction and you are in the valley, fields, rivers, bush or other natural environments and this is where we derive a big part of our inspiration. Also, Bush Metal is the total sum of all our influences.

5.This is your first album since 2012, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time span?

We recorded the Avoid Of Blasts EP in 2014 which signaIed our start to a more Doom/Sabbath influenced sound. I moved to Edmonton for a few years and kept writing and recording demos which eventually became Where Ice Meets Ocean.

6.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer music?

Honestly, for the most part, the lyrics are very abstract and can take on many meanings. But they do touch on eternal topics like space, time, nature, the cosmos...

7.Some of your earlier lyrics also dealt with Native American Folklore and Astral themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in those topics?

 Yeah sure, my interests lie in the spiritual realms, Native folklore, magick, the macro and microcosm and all everything that falls under those headings. It started as a kid with an interest in the horror and sci-fi themes, basically the 'unknown' and progressing to where we are today. Still with an interest in the mysteries of the universe but with a grounding in reality, if you can believe that!

8.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Articcircle'?

I always thought it was cool how Black Sabbath was originally called "Earth". I wanted a name with a similar sort of vibe. Something big. A big ol' slab of metal but without the 'hate' or evil influences that sometimes defines a metal band.

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

It's a literal description of the album title. Two substances meeting that have the same elements but are very different. But if you really analyze them they are one and the same, just with different outward forms. It's an intriguing title that can mean many things. We propose to concentrate on the unity behind the apparent multitude of forms on this earth.

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

We do try to have a certain intensity when we play, this isn't an opera! Our best shows were in Vancouver, Lethbridge and Calgary. Heavy music lives out West!

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

We've got CD Release shows planned for our town and Winnipeg. Hopefully we will head west again later this summer or fall to promote the album.

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

Yes we are seeking a label to call home! Any takers?? haha No we haven't received much interest at all.

13.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your newer music by fans of metal and hard rock?

So far we've only heard good things about the album. It's quite different than our previous output so we've been expecting the worst but so far everything has been positive!

14.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?

Well i've got a side project, Rosicrucian, that i work on at home with ideas that don't fit Arcticcircle. The last couple tunes ive did have been a collaboration with R.C. of Winnipeg's Hezrou on drums. Thats kind of taken a death/doom direction lately with him involved. Drummer Jon Cloud is involved in a sort of Amrep style band with some other guys. And by this time our bass player is involved in a punk/metal project named Numbskull. Drinking tunes i believe.

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

I see us expanding on our present sound and when the time feels right we will include elements from past albums. Just because we don't blast much on this album doesn't mean we won't in the future.

16.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?

Of course heavy metal and hard rock have been with me since a kid. KISS captured my imagination as a youth and Black Sabbath brought the Doom element that we all love and cherish. All the Earache bands had a big effect on me in the '90s and local acts Kittens and Meatrack made me want to pick up the guitar and write my own songs...lately i've been listening to the new Wilt album entitled Ruin and also the debut cassette from Hezrou! 2 killer local acts with black metal influences.

17.What are some of your non musical interests?

Spending time outside, camping, hiking etc is a lot of fun and very calming. Also getting into the spiritual side of life has been a growing interest of mine. From becoming involved in Freemasonry and the sweat lodge, Kriya Yoga and meditation, Rosicrucianism and dabbling in Magick, Life has become much more interesting and worth living.

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

Check out the new album and come check out the show if we make it to your area!! Stay wild!!!

Answered by Sean Vermentor, guitars and vocals.
https://arcticcircle2.bandcamp.com/album/where-ice-meets-ocean-2

Faustcoven Interview

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



Not much. I finished working on the album as late as April, and the only activity since then has been a rehersal or two, and writing a few riffs.



2.You have a new album coming out during the end of August, what are some of the things you feel you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do with your previous releases?



Its not so much about what I have been able to do, except learning from mistakes from each past record, and trying to fix those weaknesses that I saw on previous efforts. Other than that it has more been about changing focus a little, which I something I do for every new album. This one was more riff dense, obscure and varied in structures and tempos, and that was completely by design.



3.This is your first album in 6 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?



Nothing exiting. Just life. I had two children in between the album, which together with a job that requires a lot of traveling has taken all the spare time needed to put together an album, a very large undertaking for me, taking upwards of 1000 hours of work when all is said and done.



4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as a songwriter over the years?



As usual it is a fair bit about horror, both litterary and cinematic, and I also revisit the topic of whisky in The Devils Share, a Faustcoven song that has been around for more or less 10 years now. I applaud anyone who can catch all the references in both those categories (I think, 4 movies, 2 short stories and 9 whisky destilleries). Other subjects are the typical doom and gloom, as in the title track which offers a very bleak outlook on existence, and death from the point of view of an unbeliever as explored in As White As She Was Pale. As a songwriter, I may have a few more tools in the toolbox than before, and have developed my sense of dynamics for example, but when I started Faustcoven I was already quite far along, having played guitar in bands for a decade already, and written music since 94. So I knew how to put together riffs into a song, and when I felt the inspiration then as now, the whole process of writing a new song was very natural and easy. That is more important than being «clever» with new songs; to be able to listen to the inner voice and having good instincts. Maybe that is why many artists burn out as they grow older and release more and more music, they start listening to their stock of  past knowledge and ego too much, and are not able to listen to what their instincts tell them.



5.In one interview you had said that you where interested in reading the classics, horror, history and science, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these subjects and also do they have an infleunce on your song writing?



Horror litterature and movies are a very near and dear subject to me, and provide a lot of inspiration toward topics for songs, but also to the songwriting itself. As the type of movies I like are mostly the classics from the 1920s to the 1970s from Hammer, Amicus and Universal, and in litterature, many Victorian- and Edwardian-era authors such as Blackwood, Machen and MR James to mention a few. This focus on building a slow burn atmosphere of creeping dread is something that I want to infuse my music with. Not the type of modern horror, shock laced and fast paced jump scare rollercoaster type of experience, which just does not stay with you beyond the elevated pulse of a few seconds. History and science also interest me, especially science as I work in the field of research and engineering, so there is a professional aspect to that, and keeping up to date on what is happening, but it also informs my outlook of life. And currently I am disguested with the decline in scientific litteracy that seems to be going on in the world. The «I will do my own research to fit my particular bias» movement that are becoming more and more visible. Read some books that agree with you, see some youtube videos, and you are immediatly qualified to disagree with scientists that have dedicated their life to increasingly narrow areas of expertice. A path that requires extraordinary discipline and hard mental work, beyond what most people can imagine. And they were probably far smarter than you to begin with. So maybe this makes me more cynical and pissed off, and that carries over to the songs.



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



No major intellectual process. It was a case of stringing together two names into something that sounded good, sort of like Celtic Frost, and was not already taken. But by lucky coincidence, I found that it is a good name in that it can be interpreted in few ways. Although it seems straighforward enough. A coven that has taken a Faustian oath, or a roundabout way of saying that the band has made a pact with the devil, or entered into some other dark dealing for our own nefarious reasons. It both makes sense and give the right aura for the music.



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



It is by John Atkinson Grimshaw, a Victorian painter that made these extraordinary sceneries (often nighttime) dominated by ill omened green colours and shadows. I first saw this painting 2-3 years ago, and became very attached to it as it very much evoked a fitting atmosphere, and it seemed to connect strongly with the song Quis Es Iste Qui Venit, «Who is this who is coming». Which for those that understand the connection and reference, clearly is a question that you really do not want to have answered.


8.In the studio with an exception of a drummer you have recorded most of the music by yourself, do you feel that working with a full band would ruin the vision of this musical project?



Well, the vision is mine, and the ideas that formed Faustcoven are mine, so I do not see how I could let anyone else write anything that would keep that essence. And just bringing in a full band to record, while obviously having the advantage of spreading the workload, has other drawbacks. First and foremost you must keep a band together and playing together in the years of inactivity between albums, and then you suddenly have a pressure to do release something every so often that you didnt have before. Then there are the geographical issues, the scheduling conflicts, etc etc. Then when it comes to basslines, I would spend about the same time as they are very important to me, and I just feel I need to write myself to have the proper balance between countermelody and rythmic underlining, and usually I just write them and record at the same time, so there is no time save. And if want to control everything, I might as well do everything. Well, except drums that I really cant play.


9.What are some of the best shows that you have played with the live line up and also how would you describe your stage performance?



Very meat and potatoes. No incense, gongs or gregorian choirs on stage. Luckily we have a great front man live that helps keep up the energy on stage, but I am no showman myself. I am more comfortable in the shadows of the stage, soaking up the energy of the riffs and crowd. But there are just some songs that deserve to be played live, so that was my reasoning for taking Faustcoven to the stage. It is a type of music that mostly translates very well to the live environment. However, we have not played a lot of live shows just due to time constraints, so favorite performance would probably be Hell in Hammaburg in 2014 I think.



10.Besides the 'Never Surrender' fest in Germany during November do you have any touring or show plans for 2018-19?



Hell in Hammaburg again. In 2019. Apart from that, nothing is planned, but I do want to do a few more gigs in 2019, before shifting the focus again toward songwriting.


11.The last 2 album came out on 'Nuclear War Now! Productions', how would you compare working with this label to your previous label 'Barbarian Wrath'?



Well, both are run by enthusiasts, and Hartmuth was an underground hero in promoting that type of dirty, DIY, crypt dwelling metal that put me on the scene at a time when more or less noone else was doing that stuff. He is dearly missed. But it was a much smaller operation than NWN. Everything in NWN in contrast is more organised, and streamlined with better distribution and a more options for me. It has been a very good experience working with Yosuke, and I cannot begin to understand how he manages to run the label with the amount of output, and the amount of work in organising festivals and the distro itself in addition to being a full time working family man. That is crazy work ethics.



12.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your recordings by fans of black and doom metal?



Faustcoven listeners are a special breed of enthusiasts, of which the world do not hold a great many. This is a type of music that never will be destined for mass consumption, but those who do find redemptive qualities in it are very positive and gracious to me and my creations. So far I have been overwhelmed by the reviews and the positive comments that I have gotten for all my albums. When I first recorded my first demo, I was more or less convinced that this type of music would be enjoyed by one person alone. Myself. And that is still who I write for.



13.Where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future?



Around in circles. Black Doom metal inspired by Sabbath, Hellhammer, Pentagram, Bathory, etc. I do not plan to move away from that, just vary the mix of ingredients from release to release, and write new, good riffs that are my own. I do not see myself going far away from my original idea here, but there is so much to explore in the boundries between oldschool doom and black, and not many are doing anything similar, so the ground is still fertile.



14.Are there any current musical influences that you have brought onto the new album that you where not able to do with past releases and also what are you listening to currently?



I may have grown to include more influences from the Mercyful Fate school of black metal as represented by themselves, Root, Negative Plane etc, meaning a more riff dense and frenetic experiences in addition the the heavy, more static Sabbath/Hellhammer type of riffing that Faustcoven grew up with, but that is not such a current thing, just a gradual development and realisation of what works. Curse of the Voodoo Priest off my second album in 2008 was already very Fate inspired. Just these last few days, weeks and months I have been listening to Malokarpatan and Nachash, two really good, newer bands. Nordkarpatenland is such a monster record, and its great to hear folk horror influenced music. Also the finnish madness known as Misantropical Painforests latest output, Firm Grip of the Roots, have been kicking my ass. Crushing stuff.



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



No, not at this time in the morning. Thank you for the questions, and thank you for the review of the album.


Bandcamp
Myspace

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Tyrannic Interview

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

The album was recorded at the end of 2016. It has been a while and after a dormant state, there is new material in the works. After the recording I have assembled songs for a 12" EP which has a new lineup, and currently am writing for the second full length.

2.You have your first full length coming out in August what are some of the things you have done different musically with this recording that you where not able to do on your previous demo's and splits?

I wrote all the songs although the dynamic between J (guitars) and myself has increased after the split LP, the newer songs at the time were arranged over a longer period, whereas the earlier material involved more improvisation. The lead guitars of J were more autonomous as his influences came into the fold.

3.Your lyrics deal a lot of with death themes. can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

It explores a way of seeing the other side in a way that is more real than how most are told and led to believe it is. Lyrics are usually idiosyncratic, so to speak, for the sake of removal of any outside influence. They're based on ones own experience therefore seek ways to express without the interest of connecting with an audience about it.

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

The lyrics explore death in the state of madness and the morbidly obsessed mind. It is of tyrannic spirit and autonomous with relentlessness and no compromise.

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

It's quite self explanatory, all I have to say about it is it was at dawn, and with the three piece lineup that exists no longer.

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

In 2015 things began to go quiet especially in Sydney in terms of a 'metal scene'. The very few interesting bands of the genre became either dormant or permanently inactive. Because of this we decided to obtain a power generator and to perform in complete darkness at a reserve where only people who came to see the band would be there. It was special for us to perform in a more important setting, and was more or less the only way we could do it at the time.

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

Us as the new lineup will appear later in the year in Sydney and Melbourne, shows overseas will be at some point next year.

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

Seance are close comrades and they have been supportive of Tyrannic from the beginning. Being one of the only labels that has an interesting selection of releases and also care about what they release, I am honoured to have them release our album.

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

For some time there has been contact for buys and I've been trading with others over the world throughout the years, Europe and south America particularly. People seem to like it which is nice, but I equally gain as much satisfaction from those who would think the music is utter shit.

10.Are any of the band members currently involved with any other bands or musical projects these days?

There have been many lineup changes and I haven't heard from much of them since, although J living in America now plays in Throaat.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The influences from the beginning came with Celtic Frost, Samael, Bethlehem, Iron Maiden, among other metal acts to create something dark, aggressive, bizarre and with a touch of doom. Through this time I've always delved into other stuff whether it's punk, electronic, folk, classical, whatever. Despite the fact that it's a metal band I'm not too concerned with recycling other bands' material nor do I care of the pretentiousness behind name-dropping obscure projects that people expect no one else to like.

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

Your interest in the band is much appreciated. Thanks for the interview.

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Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Articcircle/Where Ice Meets Ocean/2018 CD Review


  Articcircle  are  a  band  from  Bandon,  Manitoba,  Canada  that  started  out  more  of  a  blackend  thrash  metal  band  but  on  this  recording  play  more  of  a  mixture  of  thrash,  heavy  metal  and  hard  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "Where  ice  Meets  ocean".

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  vocals  being  done  in  an  old  school  80's  thrash  and  hardcore  style.

  Elements  of  hard  rock  and  heavy  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  some  growls  also  being  used  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  more  classic  and  retro rock  elements  are  added  into  the  music.

  On  this  recording  Articcircle  move  way  from  their  earlier  black  metal  material  and  focus  more  on  a  mixture  of  thrash,  heavy  metal  and  hard  rock,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  Native  American  Folklore,  Nature,  Astral  And  Winter  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Articcircle  brings  in a  decent  mixture  of  thrash,  heavy  metal  and  hard  rock  and  while  some  black  metal  fans  wont  like  the  new  direction,  I  can  still  see  this  album  appealing  to  fans  of  the  previous  mentioned  genres.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cosmic  Egg"  "Change  The  Wave"  and  "Into  One".  7  out  of  10.

https://arcticcircle2.bandcamp.com/album/where-ice-meets-ocean-2