Tithe Interview

 

All questions answered by Matt Eiseman

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

We have been busy writing our next album and gearing up for the release of Inverse Rapture. 

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

Inverse Rapture is a darker sounding album. It is more blackened death and has less of a punk and grind influence. Every new album we write, the song writing is an evolution of our past efforts.

3.All of the band members have experience playing other forms of metal, how would you compare the stuff you are doing with 'Tithe' to the other musical styles that you played in your other projects?

Tithe is its own unique entity. None of the other bands we have played in or currently play in sound like Tithe.

4.Your main lyrical topics are psychedelics,  mental illness and the human condition, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Those were the themes of our last album Penance. My interest in those subjects is culled from my life experience. The themes of Inverse Rapture are universally about the evil that people are capable of.

5.On one of your tracks you also cover Luciferian themes, do any of the band members have an interest in the occult?

Luciferian Pathways Of The Forked Tongue is about using religion to divide, conquer and control the masses. Lucifer is known as the “great deceiver” and organized religion is one of the greatest cons on the human race conducted on a massive scale. I personally find some of the concepts of the occult fascinating but most of it is complete nonsense. Being a devout Satanist is just as stupid as being a devout Christian. 

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

Tithing is giving 10 percent of your income to the Church. It is a bloodsucking tradition perpetuated by false prophets to fill their overflowing bank accounts. They control your conscience and your finances. 

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

It was painted by the amazing artist Abomination Hammer. We are honored to have it as our album cover. I own the original piece. It is 60x60 inches. A truly epic work of art indeed.

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

Last year we played Northwest Terror Fest and that was definitely a highlight for us. My favorite shows to play are when the audience goes nuts and there is a pit the whole time. When that happens there is a special energy that you feel on stage no matter how big or small the crowd is. The chaos that ensues is exhilarating. 

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

So far for 2023 we are doing a couple of runs up and down the West Coast and we are in the process of booking an East Coast tour for the fall. We are looking toward a European tour in 2024 plus everything else we can fit in!

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

Our music has been well received so far. We are eternally thankful.

11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?

Our drummer Kevin also plays in Lord Dying. Alex, who plays bass in the band, also plays bass in Netherrealms. Both are great bands. Check them out!

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

We are already working on the next album. I am very excited about the new material. We are continually refining what we do and pushing the limits of our capabilities. I tend to write stuff that is beyond my current abilities and then practice the material enough to be able to play the riffs. As far as the guitar work and song structure is concerned, it is our best stuff yet.

13.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?

I listen to all kinds of music. I regularly go to the symphony and check out local jazz. I love hip hop, classic rock and old country. I thoroughly enjoy all forms of metal. I gravitate towards brutal death and black metal. Music is the best!

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

We want to tour the world! Thank you for taking the time to interview us. 

https://www.facebook.com/tithepdx

https://www.instagram.com/tithe.pdx

https://tithepdx.bandcamp.com

Death Feast/Risen From The Tomb/Haloran Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Death  Feast  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  Risen  From  The  Tomb"  which  will  be  released  on  January  31st  by  Haloran  Records.

  

  Synths  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  All  of  the  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of t he  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times,  synths  also  return  briefly  on  a  later  song  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Death  Feast  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  80's  era  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  and  metal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Death  feast  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of t hose  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crossing  The  Fire"  "Hell  Funeral"  and  "Volcano".  8  out  of  10/.

  https://deathfeast.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/deathfeastpt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHMstp9hopc 

A Vintage Death/Gruesome Shades/Archaic Sound/2023 Full Length Review

 

  A  Vintage  Death  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in t his  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Gruesome  Shades"  which  was  released  by  Archaic  Sound.

  Clear  chants  and  singing along  with  some  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  some  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing.

  On  this  recording  A  Vintage  Death  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  that  he  had  established  on  his  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  Ancient  Local  history  Stories  and  Folklore  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  A  Vintage  Death  and  if  you  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In A Glimpse  of  Penance"  "Death  Rise  Tremulous"  and  "In  A  Perpetual  Lament".  8  out  of  10.

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@avintagedeath

Instagram: https://instagram.com/avintagedeath 

Bandcamp: https://avintagedeath.bandcamp.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/08ooz...          

Wulfskol/Hexella/Goat Throne Records/2023 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Texas's  Wolfskol  and  Hexella  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Goat  Throne  Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Wulfskol  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  metal  and  punk.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and  aggressive  sound  which  also  adds  in a   great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  thrash  metal  elements.  Punk  rock  influences  are  also  utilized  at  times  while t he  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain true  to  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style.

  Death  metal  growls  can  also b e  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  can  also b e  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing,  all  of  their  music  sticks  to a   heavier  direction  and  they  close  their  side  of  the  split  with  Slayer's  "Evil  has  No  Boundaries".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism  and  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Wulfskol  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  TRQACKS  INCLUDE  "Deliver  us  To  Evil"  and  "Twist  The  Knife".

  Next  up  is  Hexella  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black'n'roll,  thrash  metal  and  punk.

     Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  the  sounds  of  night  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  amount  of  black'n'roll  and  punk  rock  elements  All  fo t he  musical  instruments  also h ave  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of t he  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  and  early  90's  era  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  an  old  school  thrash  metal  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard as  well  as  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  tremolo  picking  and  the y close  their  side  of  the  split  with  a  cover  of  Bathory's  "You  Don't  Move  Me  (I  Don't  Give  A  Fuck)".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  violent  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hexella  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black'n'roll,  thrash  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Midnight's  On  Fire"  and  "Mal  Creada".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  black,  thrash  metal  and  punk.

      .          https://wulfskol666.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/wulfskol
https://www.instagram.com/wulfskol666/

https://hexella.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/hexella218
https://www.instagram.com/hexella.218/ 

Satanika/Horde Of Disgust/Osmose Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Satanika  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Horde  of  Disgust"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Osmose  Productions. 

  Clear  chants  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  elements  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal s creams.

  A  lot  of t he  music  also  shows  roots  in  both  the  first  and  second  wave  era's  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at times,  when  growls  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  death  metal  as  well  as  a  later  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  and  clean  playing  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.  

  Sataniak  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Horror  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Satanika  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Not  Of  This  Earth"  "The  Fog"  "Tentacles  Of  Horror"  and  "Bleed  For  Darkness".  8 out  of  10.

- BANDCAMP: https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/horde-of-disgust

- All Digital Links: https://bfan.link/satanika-horde-of-disgust  

  

Gaunt/Dethcrust/2022 EP Review

 

  Gaunt  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  crust  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  ep  "Dethcrust".

  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams. Death  metal  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  crust  elements.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Gaunt  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death  metal  and  crust  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  warfare  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Gaunt  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  crust  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Void"  and  "In  The  Attic".  8  out  of  10.

  https://gauntmetalusa.bandcamp.com/releases

Tithe/Inverse Rapture/Profound Lore Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Tithe  are  a  band  from  Portland,  Oregon  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  Inverse  Rapture"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  grindcore  elements.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  riffs  along  with  the  songs  also  mixing  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  influences  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  musical  direction,  at  times  the  vocals  also  go  into  more  of  an  angry  shouting  direction. 

  Tithe  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  psychedelics,  metal  illness  and  the  human  condition.

  In  my  opinion  Tithe  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Inverse  Rapture"  Demon"  and  "Luciferian  Pathways  of  the  Forked  Tongue".  8  out  of  10.

      

https://www.facebook.com/tithepdx

https://www.instagram.com/tithe.pdx

https://tithepdx.bandcamp.com

Ilios Thanatou/Μ​α​ρ​μ​α​ρ​ω​μ​έ​ν​η Α​π​ό​γ​ν​ω​σ​η/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Ilios  Thanatou  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dissonant  black  metal,   grind  and  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2023  album  "Μ​α​ρ​μ​α​ρ​ω​μ​έ​ν​η  Α​π​ό​γ​ν​ω​σ​η".

  Clean  playing  starts  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 t hem.  Vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  grindcore  elements.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Hardcore  style  vocals  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  music  also  has  its  dissonant  moments.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants,  clean  playing  and  synths  along  with  the  closing  track  also  adding  in   some  spoken  word  parts.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Greek  and  cover  antifascist  and  solidarity  values. 

  In  my  opinion  Ilios  Thanatou  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dissonant  black  metal,  grind  and  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Νεκρή  Τάξη"  " Πνέουμε  τα  Λοίσθια"  and  "Σύγκορμο  Ρίγος ".  8  out  of  10.

  https://iliosthanatou.bandcamp.com/album/--3      

Last Legion/Metall, Blod & Aska/Grind To Death Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Lat  Legion  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Metall,  Blod  &  Aska"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Grind  To  Death  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  faster  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  brutal  sounding  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  lot  of  thrash  metal  elements.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  while  the  music  also  takes  a  lot  of  80's  and  90's  influences  and  mixes  it  in  with  a  more  modern  sound.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  A  couple  of   songs  also  introduce clean  playing  and  stringed  instruments  onto  the  album  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  spoken  word  parts  and  war  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  war,  death  and  anti  religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Last  Legion  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  "Metall,  Blod  &  Aska"  "Pansamarsch"  and  "Mansklight Avfall".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/lastlegion

https://www.facebook.com/lastlegionmusic
https://www.instagram.com/lastlegionmusic

https://www.youtube.com/lastlegionmusic  

Wait! Memories Are Fading Away/Collapsing On Our Way To Snowcloaked Mountaincrests/Fiadh Productions/Vita Detestablis Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Wait!  Memories  Are  Fading  Away  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  blackgaze,  crust  and  post  hardcore  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2023  album  "Collapsing  Our  Way  To  Snowcloaked  Mountaincrests"  which  will  be  released  in  march  as  a  joint  effort  between  Fiadh  Productions  and  Vita  Destestablis  Records.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Shoegaze  and  post  rock  style  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  when  the  music  speeds  ups  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can b e  heard.

  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  melodic  post  hardcore  elements.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumentals,  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  desolation  and  the  lack  of  expectation.

  In  my  opinion  Wait!  memories  Are  Fading  Away  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  blackgaze,  crust  and  post  hardcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wandering  Towards  new  Beginnings"  "Eclipse  on  A n  Icecold  Winternight"  and  "Okay,  But  Whos  Goodbye  Is  It  Really!".  8  out  of  10.

  Wait! Memories Are Fading Away!         

Thaumaturgy/Tenebrous Oblations/Adirondack Black Mass Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Thaumaturgy  are  a  solo  project  from  Kansas  that  plays  plays  a  very  dissonant  and  cavernous  form  of  blackened  death  metal  with  elements  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Tenebrous  Oblations"  which  will b e  released  on  January  20th  by  Adirondack  Black Mass  Records.

    A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs.  Vocals  are  mostly  very  deep  and  cavernous  sounding  death  metal  growls  and  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  The  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  90's  influences  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  touches.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  dissonant  sounding  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  synths  as  well  as  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  at  times,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  finally  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism,  esotericism,  death  and  decay  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Thaumaturgy  are  a  very  great  sounding  cavernous  and  dissonant  mixture  of  black,  death  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rites  Of  Uncreation"  and  "Withered  Flesh  Effigy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Thaumaturgy/3540491064

https://thaumaturgy.bandcamp.com/releases

https://adirondackblackmass.bigcartel.com/      

Bodyfarm/Ultimate Abomination/Edged Circle Productions/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Bodyfarm  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  with  elements  of  death'n'roll  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Ultimate  Abomination"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Edged  Circle  Productions.

  A  very  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  style.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  90's  era  while  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Elements  of  death'n'roll  can  also  be  heard  in  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  stringed  instruments  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Bodyfarm  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  90's  era  of  death  metal  which  they  also  mix  with  blackened  death  metal  and  death'n'roll  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  psychological  warfare.

  In  my  opinion  Bodyfarm  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal b and  with  elements  of  death'n'roll  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Torment"  "Blasting  Tyranny"  "Soul  Damnation"  and  "Charlatan  Messiah".  8  out  of  10.  

  www.bodyfarmdeathmetal.com

www.facebook.com/bodyfarmdeathmetal 

  

Choir Interview

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

Created to serve as a music production laboratory and sonic explorations, Choir took full form in 2020. It eventually became a form of expression of my own thoughts on humanity, the abuse we spread, and what's in the future for the world in which we live in.

2.So far you have released a couple os singles, ep and a full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you weent for on those recordings?

This project in particular offers bleak atmospheres juxtaposed to angular, atonal metal riffs and off-kilter, sometimes odd-timed, grooves. Choir's sonic goal is always about high contrast. Music tends to make a stronger point when dissonance contrasts with consonance when fast contrasts with slow when despair contrasts with hope. And of course, the beautiful sound of black holes merging into each other and drums falling from a staircase.

3.The lyrics on the recent album cover the corruption of living in a Latin American country, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

 

Allow me a small correction. Although the condition of life in nations in development heavily inspires Choir, Songs For a Tarnished World touches on different subjects. Anyway, addressing the question, I, as a person behind Choir, have been involved in politics since very early in my life. From family members participating in African-American movements from my professional career, where I worked in workers' rights campaigns and progressive political figures. Everything has been clearly solidified by the conditions of living of the people living in the same cities as me. I've been too close to abuse, murder, hunger, and other negative situations people are subjected to. I myself had guns pointed at my face many times – always by police officers.  Acting to promote change ended up being my main passion. Naturally, it heavily influenced my creative drive.

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

I wanted to tell the songs from the perspective of those who don't have a voice to be heard, such as the choir of the voiceless, or the choir of the rotten throats. Naming the project simply as Choir sounded like it could draw people in without sounding too preachy, however. Also, no band is named just "Choir" on Metal Archives.

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

Songs For a Tarnished World tells stories of a world where life isn't any more, from the perspective of inanimate environments.

The artwork features an oil painting of the dutch painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag. He registered many panoramas of the ocean, in its power and triumph, as frigates face its tempestuous waters. The decision of using it was to represent the persistence of life on this planet. As the legendary philosopher Jeff Goldblum once said in a movie, "Life finds a way".

6.You have lived in both Brazil and Singapore, how would you compare the two different countries?

Singapore is much less inspiring when you're growling about the bleak condition of human life. It still has its moments though, ask any foreign construction worker here who was literally locked for more than two years in terrible conditions during the pandemic. Great portrait of "progress" in late-stage capitalism.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

I'm a loner by nature and my best friends are my cats, so go figure. That said, I do collaborate with other musicians and bands as a producer. I recently created some electronic sounds for a Nightmarer track. My agenda is open for 2023, by the way, reach out to Solid State Rot on Instagram. Terrible, shameless, self-plug aside, Choir's process and interests are too particular to me, my points of view, and experiences to incorporate other people into it. Much of this process is slow, methodical trial and error and it involves a lot of isolation and poorly slept nights. I also see production and the technical stages (e.g. mixing and mastering) as part of my songwriting. The sonic aesthetic of music has a lot of narrative power, from my point of view. Owning the entire process certainly hinders the final product, but I'm not looking for perfection with this project. It's supposed to feel and sound human after all, like the late philosopher Daft Punk once said.

Probably sounds too self indulgent and boring to most of the metal folks I know, who are happily chugging power chords on their guitars and headbanging to the last Meshuggah album – as anyone sane should be. 

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

I'm actually signed to Total Dissonance Worship as of now and VERY excited about it. I feel so much chemistry both in aesthetics and ethics with Simon, the label's mastermind, and I can't think of a better match. Songs will be released in vinyl, tape and digital media via the label in March 24th.

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

Considering this project was supposed to be a sonic laboratory and a way to vent my mind, it's wild. Choir's music was released in a "grassroots" form, fully based on the community's passion for extreme music. It really showcases the power of the internet to give people a voice. Since the music was featured on Odium Nostrum's Youtube channel, I feel privileged for my musical voice to be heard by thousands of people. Above all, most of the money received by digital sales so far has been reverted as donations to causes I'm passionate about. In particular, Instituto Marielle Franco and Movimento de Mulheres Olga Benario that support women in need, victims of oppression and violence.

10.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

Hopefully, not stagnant and still thirsty for promoting change – either sonic or social.

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?

I'm a fan of extreme music in any sense. Extreme in either themes, words, heaviness, sentiments, or in sheer nerdiness. For the years since Choir came to be, I've been consuming a lot of contemporary jazz and underground hip hop. Possibly everyone who listened to Songs noticed my love for Sunn O))), Portal and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. And of course, much of my boomer teenage-passion-bands such as King Crimson, Fleetwood Mac, Caravan and Genesis, speaking of nerdiness. Although Choir doesn't do much alliteration of the aforementioned music, it's influenced it in many other ways, such as sonic exploration, musical freedom, not giving a shit about genres and having something to say. 

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

Support people, support small local businesses, support artists, and support the entire roster of Total Dissonance Worship – it's all awesome shit.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choirdooms/
Bandcamp: https://doomchoir.bandcamp.com/

Katatonia/Sky Void Of Stars/Napalm Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Katatonia  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  started  out  as  being  a  blackened  doom/goth  metal  band  in  the  beginning  but  over  the years  have evolved  into  into  more  of  a  progressive  mixture  of  alternative,  post  rock  and  goth  metal  over  the  years  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Sky  Void  of  Stars"  which  will b e  released  on  January  20th  by  Napalm  Records.

  Clear  vocals  along  with  some  heavy  and  melodic  riffing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Elements  of  goth  and  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful.

  Touches  of  indie,  alternative  and  post  rock  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  clean  sections  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  along  with  the  music  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  as  well  as  capturing  a  very  melancholic  atmosphere  at  times.

  On  this  recording  Katatonia  goes  into  more  of  a  progressive  mixture  of  alternative,  post  rock  and  gothic  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  melancholy  and  depression  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  decent  sounding  recording  from  Katatonia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Colossal  Shade"  "Drab  Moon"  "Sclera"  and  "Absconder".  7/5  out  of  10.

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Saram/...Lima Hell!/Werewolf Records/2023 Compilation Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Saram  are  a  band  from  Peru  that  plays  an  old  school  form  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  compilation  album  "...Lima  Hell"  which  will b e  re-issued  on  January  27th,  2023  by  Werewolf  Records.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  compilation  while  dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  being  done  in  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in   the 80's  era.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  compilation  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  tremolo  picking  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  at  times,  one  of  the  tracks  is  also  a  Sodom  cover  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Saram  plays  a  musical  style  that  goes  back  to  the  early  80's  era  of  black  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Witchcraft,  Anti  Christianity,  Evil  and  Metal  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Saram  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  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  "Satan's  Call"  "Extreme  Holocaust"  "Witches  Spell"  and  "Thrash  To  Destroy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/saram-lima-hell-vinyl.asp

    

Deus Vermin 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 demo?

I’ll start by saying thanks for taking the time to interview us, to give an update on what’s been happening with the band we have been slowly chipping away at our next release. We've been putting the work in hard at the practice space to get the songs ready for the stage. Lockdown was a huge setback for us in that regard as we very much pride ourselves on being a particularly intense band, being away from the rehearsal rooms for so long was tough as our discipline faltered. 

Since then we have managed to play two shows this year and both were excellent cathartic experiences. The demo tape is very nearly sold out. The reviews have been very positive. The next step is more shows and the completion of the album.

2. A few months back you had released a new demo, musically how does it differ from your previous ep?

The demo we released this year was much more of a collaborative effort between us on the writing side, the aim of this release was to tie up loose ends left over from Monument to Decay. We approached it in the respect that as much as MTD was a good blueprint for the band we wanted to look at reoccurring themes throughout a release as opposed to just another set of songs. We had started a lot of these tracks as early as 2019 and had been gigging a few of them for some time.

Since it’s been MT’s first recording with the band he has added another dimension and a more chaotic and varied approach to the vocal delivery which in turn means in future writing we are taking this into account to enhance our new material. 

3. This is also your first release in 4 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Yes, it has been a while since we released MTD. During that time, we had lost a vocalist and a guitarist and were in limbo for a long time as to how we were going to move forward. Luckily, we found a great new vocalist and it’s worked out very well for us. Since then it’s been a case of writing new material with the idea of only having one guitarist as opposed to two, trying to take the band in a different direction and slowly but surely ticking all the boxes we need to for the next release. 

4. What are some of the lyrics and topics the band explores with the new release and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?

We have started to explore more on the sides of human corruption, abuse and exploitation which is fitting as the music was from our perspective more intense this time around, not only in its delivery but we have started really laying into our instruments to get the desired uneasy atmosphere since everything is slightly out of tune and imperfect. As a result we feel that we’ve progressed into a more cohesive machine than we had been previously, the results we’re getting when writing newer material really show how valuable collaborating has been.   

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

The name Deus Vermin actually comes from a friend of ours Ian from Vacivus one of our members was in talks about starting a project that never got off the floor but he kindly let us keep the name.  

It‘s Latin, It means Worm God. My personal philosophy in this regard is that just as humans in worship eat of the holy eucharist and drink of the wine as a representation of the flesh and blood of Christ the worms and maggots and things that crawl in the dirt eat our flesh and blood when we are dead and rotting beneath the earth. We are all gods to the carrion that devour us.

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

The logo art was designed by View From The Coffin and the layout, photography and editing was done by Explainlater. We had initially commissioned an artist to create an image for the cover but there were difficulties encountered during the process that delayed their work. The image that they created was finally used for the cover of the exclusive, one of a kind, test pressing that we released and sold instantly.

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?

The past few shows we have done have been great, it’s been interesting to explore the new dynamic we have with this line-up. We haven’t been using the stage lights or smoke which we had used previously and concluded that it didn’t feel like one of our shows without them so when we return next year we will be bringing everything. 

8. Do you have any touring or show plans for 2023?

We have a few things lined up including a festival in Scotland, can’t speak on much now as nothing is set in stone but we are certainly aiming on doing some more weekenders to debut new material. We are always open to offers from promoters anywhere in the UK and beyond. There are a few things lined up already but we urge anyone to get in touch with us directly if you'd like to work with us.

9. According to the metal archives page the band is signed to 'Transcending Obscurity Records', when did you get in contact with this label?

We were approached by the label during lockdown and initially it was our plan to release the demo through them, due to the previously mentioned issues with our chosen artist we chose to self-release the demo instead. Transcending Obscurity will be working with us to release the full-length album that we have spent much of the last year writing. One of the songs from our demo appeared on a T.O.R. label sampler earlier this year.

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

We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all over the world. Because of the type of project Deus Vermin is we aren’t expecting to have masses of fans. The people who are into us seem to really enjoy what we have presented so far and we’re grateful for the reception we have received. As for Black and Death metal fans it’s always a mixed bag. We usually find the people that are into our music generally veer on the side of being into the same kind of things we are. Portal, Deathspell Omega and Altarage for example. It’s always good to see new names popping up catching onto what we’re doing.

11. 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?

GH has been working with A Forest of Stars and it’s very much going to be a quieter year focussing on writing and recording. Last year he started doing live session drums for Darkher with a local show and a special one in the pipeline along with a few festival performances lined up for 2023 he also plays for Black Metal project Bròn which will be releasing their next album via Nordvis in the new year.

MT’s band Fatalist are playing as many gigs as possible, hoping to find a label to release their full length that came out digitally earlier in 2022 and are working on a new ep for release next year. He’s also working on his experimental Doom band Sloth Hammer and have around 3 hours of recorded material with a release schedule queued up to last late into 2023.

CG’s currently working on various projects, some Black Metal, Hardcore and some Doom, no release dates scheduled as of yet.  

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

As mentioned earlier we are working towards a full length and the direction we’re taking the band in is much murkier and abrasive, we’ve spent a long time planning the themes as well as how the album is going to peak and dip throughout. Most of the writing is complete and we’re currently in the polishing stage as we are working through all the tracks in the practice room.

We’re aiming for immediacy, no wasted space. The riffs should hurt and the vocals should distress.

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

CG: To speak for myself I’ve hit that point where most new music doesn’t hit me like it did and due to a lot of the modern production pitfalls, a lot of bands have started sounding similar so reverted back to thrashy era Sepultura and Slayer. Just big meaty riffs and intensity. 

MT: Chat Pile, Come To Grief, Black Sheep Wall, Abstracter and Ultha have been on heavy rotation this year. Everyone should listen to our pals in Calligram, Abduction, Ante-Inferno, Coltsblood, Foetal Juice, Ulcerate, Vacivus, Haar, A Forest of Stars, Hundred Year Old Man, Fatalist, Mastiff, Geist, Still and Torpor.

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

Would like to say thanks for taking the time to contact us, we look forward to presenting some new material in the near future. If we have to say anything to the people out there it would be to just listen to what you like and ignore what anybody else has to say, it’s your taste, not the music industry’s.  

https://deusvermin.bandcamp.com/album/mmxxii

https://www.facebook.com/DeusVermin

https://www.instagram.com/deusvermin/