Monday, February 26, 2024

Summoner's Circle/Cult/Black Lion Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Summoner's  Circle  are  a  band  from  Knoxville,  Tennessee  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  progressive  and  epic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Cult"  which  will  be  released  in  may  by  Black  Lion  Records.


  A  very  dark  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  keyboards  and  operatic  choirs  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  deep  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal.

 

 Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  music  also  has  its  progressive  moments.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when t he  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.


  Tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  ad d in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  a  few  tracks  also  adding  in  clear  vocals,  acoustic  guitars  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  religious  and  theocratic  cults.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Summoner's  Circle  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  epic  and  progressive  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cult  Of  The  Dead  Sun"  "Thirst  Of  The  Vulture"  and  "Dogmatic  Defiling's".  8  out  of  10.


  www.summonerscircle.com


    

Speedkiller/Inferno/Helldprod Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Speedkiller  are  a  band  from  Brazil  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Inferno"  which  will b e  released  in  march  by  Helldprod  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  also  add  in  more  of  an  80's  death  metal  style.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.

   
  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  is  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

   
  On  this  recording  Speedkiler  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  that  they  have  established  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  occultism,  Witchcraft  and  Anti  Christianity  themes.


    In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Speedkiller  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  (INCLUDE  "The  Birth  Of  The  Immortal  Evil"  "Evil"  "Blood  Worship"  and  "Black  Blitzkrieg". 8  out  of  10.


Sunday, February 25, 2024

Vircolac/Vereration/Dark Descent Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Ireland's  Vircolac  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Vereration"  which  was  released  by  Dark  Descent  Records.


  Female  vocals  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  stringed  instruments  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  death  metal  while  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.


  One  song  also  introduces  clean  playing  onto  the  album  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  aggressive  style  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  both  old  school  and  modern  influences.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  deathly  topics  from  ancient  cultural  lore.  .


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vircolac  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Veneration"  "All  Comes  To  Pass,  Nothing  Shall  Remain"  and  "Reflection".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vircolac/940393150

https://vircolac.bandcamp.com/album/veneration

https://www.facebook.com/vircolacdeathmetal

https://www.instagram.com/vircolac/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4emu1iD3CziD2D2DGhaZWw  

La Menäce/Erebus/Violence In The Veins/Hombre Montana/7 Lamentos Records/2024 EP Review

 


  La  Menäce  are  a  band  from  Spain  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black'n'roll   and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  ep  "Erebus"  which  will  be  released  in  March  as  a  joint  effort  between  Violence  In  The  Veins,  Hombre  Montana  and  7  Lamentos  Records.


  Clean  playing  and  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  crust  punk  and  hardcore  elements  and  tremolo  picking  is  also added  into  some  of  the  riffing.


  Vocals  are mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  mix  in  touches  of  black'n'roll  along  with  some  back  up  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  some  of  the  riffing  and  growls  also  shows  an  influence  of  death  metal  as  well a s  some  synths  also  being  added  on  the  closing  track. 


   La  Menäce  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black'n'roll  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Spanish  and  cover  Franklin's  lost  expedition  


  In  my  opinion    La  Menäce  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black'nroll  and  crust  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pierdes  el  control"  and  "Tu  propia  tumba".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/LaMenaceCrust

https://lamenacecrust.bandcamp.com/album/erebus

https://www.instagram.com/lamenace_crust/

https://youtu.be/0rodTKildQc  


  


        

Devastation/Rise Of The Dead/Empire Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Devastation  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Rise  Of  The  Dead"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Empire  Records.


  Synths  and  demonic  voices  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  very  fast  and  old  school  style  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  first  wave  elements  and  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  80's  German  influences  with  some  touches  of  80's  death  emtal.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  80's  extreme  metal  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.


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


  In  my  opinion  Devastation  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Unholy  Ritual"  "Necronomicon"  "Cathedral  Of  Lost  Souls"  and  "Wild  Hunt".  8  out  of  10.


  https://youtu.be/Ak8XLDhHkDs


https://www.facebook.com/devastation.be      


    

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Midnight/Hellish Expectations/Metal Blade Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Midnight  are  a  solo  project  from  Cleveland,  Ohio  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  speed  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Hellish  Expectations"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Metal  Blade  Records.


  A  very  heavy  80's  influenced  sound  starts  off  the  album  which  also  brings  in  elements  of  speed  and  thrash  metal.  Vocals are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  raw  energy  off  punk  rock  at  times.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  The  songs  also  take  a  retro  style  and  make  them  sound  modern  again  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  direction.


  On  this  recording  Midnight  goes  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash,  speed  metal  and  punk.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Hell,  Satanism,  Blasphemy,  Death  and  Darkness  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Midnight  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  solo  project,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Expect  Total  Hell"  "Dungeon  Lust"  "Deliver  us  To  The  Devil"  and  "Doom  Death  Desire".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeCAZz3Rhss


  https://www.facebook.com/midnightviolators/

https://www.instagram.com/midnightviolators/

      

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Ether Anduin/Г​л​у​х​о​м​а​н​ь/Atra Anduin Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Russia's  Ether  Anduin  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his 2024  album  "Г​л​у​х​о​м​а​н​ь"  which  was  released  by  Atra  Anduin  Records.


  Drum b eats  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavier  and  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  and  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.


  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  while  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  At  times  the  album  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  along  with  most  of  the  songs  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction. 

  

   All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Keyboards  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks   as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  melancholic  moments  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  ither  Anduin  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black,  doom  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Noidal"  "Arskaht"  "Kazalma"  and  "Vagedjarv".  8  out  of  10.


  https://ethiranduin.bandcamp.com/album/--4


Social: https://vk.com/ethiranduin_doom     

Autumnblaze/Auf zerfetzten Schwingen/Argonauta Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Autumnblaze  are  a  duo  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  melancholic  form  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Auf  zerfetzen  Schwingen"  which  will  be  released  on  February  23rd  by  Argonauta  Records.


  Bells  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction  while  the  vocals  are a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  clear  singing.  Elements  of  goth,  doom  and  dark  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Keyboards  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds  and  acoustic  guitars  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  being  long  and  epic  in  length,  spoken  word  parts  can  be  heard  briefly  and a  small  amount  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  towards  the  end  


  On  this  recording  Autumnblaze  takes  black, d ark,  doom  and  gothic  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  anti  war,  violence  and  belligerence  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Autumnblaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  dark,  doom  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Die  Unseligen"  "Auf  zerfetzen  Schwingen"  "Vater  Mutter  Kind"  and  "Zerfetzt".  8 out  of  10.


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

https://autumnblaze-kingdom. com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxnWxukDMQU&ab_channel=ArgonautaRecords    


    

Monday, February 19, 2024

In Demoni Interview

 


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

 

We have finished filming our video for "Tales from the Clit" in the last few days and are also trying to land new gigs.

 

2.In 2023 you also released a new album, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

 

We've taken another step forward from the previous album in terms of technical ability and the structure of the songs. However, we have built on the old material rather than completely reinventing ourselves.

 

3.This is also your first album in 5 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what was going on during that time frame?

 

After "The Grand Slam" we had a few gigs and were able to play outside of Germany until Covid came along. The material was largely finished before the pandemic, but we didn't want to release it during the lockdowns. That's why we only went into the studio after Covid and dedicated ourselves to our families and jobs in the meantime.

 

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

 

We thought it was time to include children's series. Everything else has actually become a bit stale. Maybe we're all just coming to terms with getting older.

As far as writing music is concerned, we're always pushing our own standards upwards. There are elements that always have to be included in a song. That's how we set the framework and feel our way forwards. Whether a song is finished or goes on the album is decided unanimously.

 

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'In Demoni"?

 

The name has an Italian touch because on the one hand we are influenced by Italian Brutal Death and on the other hand the sound of the name was also an influencing factor. On the other hand, we never thought about it because demons don't care about that haha

 

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

 

 

You know that short sequence from The Simpsons where Bart Skinner puts a burning paper bag outside the door?

This image in combination with the songs and the album title simply represented the perfect symbiosis and symbolism for us. So we simply had to realise it.

 

 

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

 

Best shows so far were at Nice to eat you, our first show in Poland (shout out to Astarot) or at Metal Frenzy Festival. Our stage performance consists of dancing genitals. Have a look at Youtube :D

 

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2024?

 

Shows are in the works. We are also happy to accept enquiries

 

9.The last album was self released while the band has worked with a label in the past, are you open to working with another label again in the future?

 

We are open to all deals. In the end, it has to be worthwhile for both sides.

 

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

 

It can always be more, but we also have to invest more. There are lots of fish in the tank :)

 

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

 

We are not going to reinvent the wheel. But you will find us in a niche between blast beats, slam, grind, brutal death Asian sounds and stupid intros.

 

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

 

Necrophagist, Cytotoxin, Atheist, Cryptopsy, Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation and many more

 

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

 

Spread love and be happy 

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Samael/Passage - Live/Napalm Records/2024 Live Album Review

 


  This  is  a  review  of  a  live  album  from  Switzerland's  Samael  which  was  released  in  February,  2024  by  Napalm  Records  which  showed  them  playing  their  whole  1996  album  "Passage"  live  which  also  was  the  first  album  where  they  also  started  bringing  in  elements  of  industrial  in  their  black  metal  style  and  the  album  was  recorded  on  their  25  anniversary  tour  supporting  the  release.


  Live  audience  reaction  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  electronic  industrial  elements  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  black  metal  style  and  the  keyboards  also  add  in  symphonic  touches.


  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  live  versions  of  the  songs  use  a  real  drum  kit  as  well  as  mixing  in  some  programmed  drum  beats.  Influences  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  tracks,  percussion  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.  Spoken  word  parts  and  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  whole  album  sticks  mostly  to  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.


  On  this  recording  Samael  brought  all  the  tracks  from  "Passage"  to  the  live  stage  and  most  of  them  stay  true  to  the  sound  that  was  presented  on  the  original  version.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Spirituality,  Philosophy  and  Scientific  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Samael  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rain"  "Jupiterian  Vibe"  "Born  Under  Saturn"  and  "A  Man  In  Your  Head".  8 out  of  10.


  FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

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WEBSITE      

Dionysiaque/Diogonos/I, Voidhanger Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Dionysiaque  are  a  band  from  France  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black, doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Diogonos"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  I,  Voidhanger  Records.


  A  very  slow  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard  briefly.


  The  more  aggressive  vocals  also  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  style  while  also  mixing  in  a  decent  amount  of  clear  singing.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  an  80's  metal  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.


  Elements  of  thrash  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  interludes  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  flutes  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism,  mythology  and  darkness.


  In  my  opinion  Dionysiaque  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "By  The  Styx"  "Vineyard  And  Ivy"  and  "Sparagmos".  8  out  of  10.


  https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/diogonos


  

Ischemic/Condemned To The Breaking Wheel/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Ischemic  are  a  band  from  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Condemned  To  The  Breaking  Wheel"  which  will  be  released  in  April.


  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats.  The  slower  sections  of  the  recording  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  along  with  the  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.


  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  dark  sounding  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  good  balance  between  old  school  and  modern  influences,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  


  Ischemic  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  bleakness,  gloom  and  melancholy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Ischemic  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Condemned  To  The  Breaking  Wheel"  and  "Abandon".  8  out  of  10.


  https://ischemic.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/Ischemic

https://www.instagram.com/ischemicdeath/?img_index=1

https://open.spotify.com/artist/00sXe10GT7A4Zq1dm80FQ7

https://www.youtube.com/@IschemicCanada/featured    

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Moon Incarnate/Hymns To The Moon/Iron Bonehead Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Moon  Incarnate  are  a  duo  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Hymns  To  The  Moon"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  iron  Bonehead  Productions.


  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.


  Clean  playing  is  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  the  synths  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are utilized.  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  some  screams  that  also  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.


   When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  chants.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length,  when  clear  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  touch  of  gothic  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  gothic  horror  themes.


  In  my  opinion  Moon  Incarnate  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  gothic  and  doom/death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Tempest"  "A  Graveyard  In  My  Soul"  and  "The  Kraken".  8  out  of  10.


  http://soundcloud.com/iron-bonehead-productions/moon-incarnate-the-tempest    

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Night Slasher Interview

 

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


We've been working hard to get it properly released and promoted while also planning a tour around Europe. Seeing us live is the ultimate way to experience "Night slasher" so look out, since we might just strike somewhere near your area.


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


What we had after we've recorded the album was a pretty good expression of how we felt for the last decade, since that's how long it took us to write this release. We wanted to break as many musical rules as we could while never sacrificing the intense hellish metal spirit of our music and I'd say we're pretty happy with what we have.


3.Previously the band was known as 'Alcotopia' how does the music of 'Night Slasher differ from the music you has released under your previous name?


"Night Slasher's" first album was originally intended to be "Alcotopia's" second album, but by the time we'd finished writing it we started realizing that the new music was way too dark and intense both musically and lyrically to release it with the same band name and image, so we wanted to start fresh and that's how Night Slasher was born. If you want a visual representation of how different the albums are, you can compare the album art. Both were done by Mindaugas Mališauskas (AKA Shpy) and he captured the general spirit of both albums very well.


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


Dark spiritual journeys, mental nightmares and some more tongue in cheek topics.


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


We wanted to make sure our new name was future proof, so we made a long list of candidates. We narrowed the list down and when we heard the very early versions of the record, we thought that of all the candidates it sounds most like Night Slasher.


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


We've had a very long session with the same artist that did the album art for "It Hits The Spot", our first album from when we were called "Alcotopia" and we explained to him how the music was going to be different, and he captured the new spirit of the music perfectly. It's also a representation of our hometown and you might say that's how we see it sometimes.


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


We're well known for high energy wild live shows, and we've had a lot of great ones, especially the last few. Once we headlined this kind of secret free metal festival in Lithuania, and we played for a massive crowd that was really wild and interactive we also had great sound and a bigger stage which we absolutely need to move freely and deliver the full potential of our live show.


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


We've already got a lot of live shows booked in Europe, and we're working hard to book more for Spring of 2024 so lookout, we might just be closer than you think.


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


Even with the metal scene totally over saturated by bands and endless spam we're getting really good reactions from people that manage to find us. This has been really apparent when trying to organize shows abroad and seeing the local organizers work really hard to book us just because they genuinely like our music. Or when contacting playlist curators, zines etc. the interactions are very positive and enthusiastic, so we're pretty optimistic for hitting the road in Spring.


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


We had no idea that "Night Slasher" will turn out this dark and heavy even when we were writing it, so we truly have no idea what we're gonna turn out next. One thing is clear is that it's going to be intense as hell. 


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


We like listening to various music and usually the wackier the better. Some examples are Frank Zappa, Wu Tang Clan, various synthwave artists and of course an endless supply of skull splitting metal.


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


Infernal thanks to all who read this and thanks you for the interview! If anyone reading this wants to see us live, don't hesitate to contact us on nightslasher.official@gmail.com with any useful info regarding booking or if you want to buy the album or any merch directly from us. Keep thrashing and stay nasty!


Thursday, February 1, 2024

Sarlic Bliss 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?

Daniel Fischer: 

First of all, we celebrated the release of our debut album with a big release party with a lot of our friends and fans. We wanted to reward ourselves and had a lot of fun. Afterwards there were some interviews we were allowed to give and when we had a bit of breathing space we started writing songs for album two.


2.A few months back you released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Daniel Fischer:

After we had decided to form a band together, we had actually only roughly decided that we wanted to go in a doomy direction in which there may also be black metal elements. But we also wanted to be open to all ideas. However, if you had asked me at that time whether there would also be a few musical elements, I would have said no. 

The first song was Darkest Desire and when Jochen sang on it for the first time, the results had a certain musical style. Well, we wanted to be open in all directions and to be honest we thought it sounded great. So we left it as it was (and have also included it in other songs).

Jochen Thurn:

It all started with Darkest Desire. The song simply has so many possibilities to round off the already very mature musical framework and the fitting lyrics by Frederik Georg with different vocal colours. In the end, the music and vocals came together in a dark symbiosis to form the Sarlic Bliss sound and what can I say, it just fitted. After that it was clear that this was our sound and we wanted to go exactly in this direction. The result is an album with six great songs. 


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

Jochen Thurn: 

On our first album Braegn Haeft we focused on two major themes. The first one is the study of a person suffering from psychopathy, stalking and haunting a young lady in the song Darkest Desire. Then the same protagonist takes us into his realm he exists in or longs for in the song Flotian Swefn. In the end he realizes that he is ill and copes with the situation in The truth within. Coping with the loss of a beloved person is also the toopic of the song Departed Grace feat Gogo Melone. The second thing we focused on is the effect of jealousy and lechery.


4.A lot of your lyrics are also written in Old English, what was the decision behind adding this language in the songwriting?

Daniel Fischer: 

The idea actually came more from our band name. Once we had decided for an on Old English band name, we simply incorporated it into our lyrics. For that certain mystical touch. Maybe we also hoped for a certain unique selling point (it seemded to worked since you asked us about the topic).

Jochen Thurn:

We use Old English words in our songs because it gives the music an archaic and dark atmosphere. These words add to the mystical aesthetic and create a connection to times gone by, often characterised by dark legends and epic stories. The ancient language adds a deep, powerful dimension to the lyrics and reinforces the dark, apocalyptic feeling we want to convey with our music. By incorporating Old English words, an artistic bridge is created between modern music and the past, enhancing the emotional intensity of the songs.


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

Jochen Thurn: 

Sarlic Bliss stands for painful joy. And we think that fits our music perfectly. Our lyrics and music are carried by a kind of pain that we want our doom fans out there to enjoy.


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

Daniel Fischer: 

The title of our album translates from Old English to something like imprisoned mind. To be honest, we didn't really know what the cover should look like. But at this point we were already in contact with the cover artist Gogo Melone (who also sang great on our song Departed Grace). We gave her the album title and gave her the songs to listen to and that's what she made of it. As soon as we saw it, we thought - that's it, it fits.


7.Has the band been able to do any live gigs yet or any plans for the future?

Jochen Thurn:

We are currently preparing for possible live gigs. Basically we want to get on stage and present our music to a wider audience, but in reality it's not that easy. In addition to music, we are extremely busy at work, sometimes even on weekends, which makes scheduling very difficult at times. But we are working on solutions and hope to rock the big doom stages of the world very soon.


8.The new album was released on 'MDD Records', how did you get in contact with this label?

Daniel Fischer:

 Nowadays it's not difficult to release music yourself, but it's much harder to get attention without a record label. So as a new band we decided to try and get a record deal. The old-fashioned way by sending our music to the record companies (ok - it used to be CDs, but we weren't quite that old-fashioned). MDD were one of the labels that showed interest in a joint release and after a few phone calls it quickly became clear that it was a good fit. So far we are very happy with the collaboration.


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

Daniel Fischer:

As newcomers, we're certainly not talking about the big fan masses here. But the reactions we got, both from the press and from fans, were very good. I think we definitely won the hearts of some people with our debut. Overall, we definitely got more feedback from fans in the doom metal genre.


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

Daniel Fischer:

 We have only just found our style and want to remain basically true to it. However, it is still very important for us to be open in all directions. If it sounds good to us, then it can be played.  Let's see what happens.


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

Daniel Fischer: 

I'm probably the one who listens most to what we do. My big bands are definitely My Dying Bride and Paradise Loste. But I also really like the vibe of the band Clouds. I also listen to other types of metal or can put on some Depeche Mode (ok, I'm talking about the older stuff here, I don't know what new stuff they've put out).

Jochen Thurn: 

I like to listen to power metal myself, like Dragonforce or Sonata Arctica to name a few. I really got into metal with Blind Guardian and Manowar, who I still like to listen to today.


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

Daniel Fischer:

Thank you very much for the interview. Stay doom.