Saturday, August 31, 2024

Ascian/Sing To Me, Sweet Void/2024 Full Length Review

 


   Ascian  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in t his  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Sing  To  Me,  Sweet  Void"  which  will  be  released  in  September.


  Clean  playing  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  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  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  when  they  are  utilized.


  Vocals  are  mostly  death  metal  growls  while  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  black  metal  screams  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  wind  instruments.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  introduced  on  the  album  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melodic,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  a a  couple  of  tracks  also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  loss,  inner  emptiness  and  sorrow  themes.  


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ascian  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom,  death  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Follow  The  Serpent"  "Cold  Sun"  and  "Deathwish".  8  out  of  10.


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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ascianofficial/
Bandcamp: https://asciandoom.bandcamp.com/


    

Monday, August 26, 2024

The Hell Beyond/Cold Forests/2024 Full Length Review

 


  The  Hell  Beyond  are  a  solo  project  form  Germany that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2024  album  "Cold  Forests".


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era.


  Clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  A  lot  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  more  of  a  mid  tempo  direction  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  and  at times  the  recording  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  female  vocals,  spoken  word  parts  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.


  The  Hell  Beyond  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  as  well  as  being  very  different  at  the  same  time.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  Occultism,  Satanism,  Darkness  and  Anti  Religion  themes. 


  In  my  opinion  The  Hell  Beyond  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  solos  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Deumus"  "Druid  Stones"  "The  Ending"  and  "The  Dark  lord".  8  out  of  10.


  https://open.spotify.com/album/60BoqlYMkgBbvw00N86xA1   

Witchtrap/Hungry As The Beast/Hells Headbangers Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


    Witchtrap  are  a  band  from  Columbia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Hungry  As  The  Beast"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Hells  Headbangers  Records.


  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  speed  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal,  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  music  is  heavily  rooted  in t he  90's.


  The  recording  also  makes  a  retro  style  sound  more  modern  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.


  On  this  recording  Wirchtrap  remains  true  to  the  blackened  mixture  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Witchcraft  and  Evil  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Witchtrap  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Built  For  The  Kill"  "Heirs  To  The  Power  Of  Evil"  and  "Cauldron  of  Abominations".  8  out  of  10.


  http://witchtrap.bandcamp.com/album/hungry-as-the-beast  


  

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Torrefy/Necronomisongs/2024 Full length Review

 


  Vancouver  B.C's  Torrefy  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Necronomisongs"  which  will  be  released  in  September.


  A  very  fast  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  melody.


  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  mixed  in  with  a  few  death  metal  growls  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  tracks  also  adding  in  both  modern  and  old  school  influences,  clean  playing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  the  closing  songs  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length.


  On  this  recording  Torrefy  goes  for  more  of  a  modern  mixture  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mortality,  misanthropy,  science  fiction  and  fantasy  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Torrefy  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Of  Wind  And  Worm"  "Enslaved  New  World"  and  "Total  Perspective  Vortex".  8  out  of  10.


  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/torrefy/1142397245

https://torrefy.bandcamp.com/album/necronomisongs-3

https://www.facebook.com/Torrefy

https://www.instagram.com/torrefy/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5vBG6mPXUQGf6UsFX1qXWI

https://www.youtube.com/@torrefyofficial2410

Sidewalk Mafia/Soulcrushers/Sliptrick Records/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Sidewalk  Mafia  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Soulcrushers"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Sliptrick  Records.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a   mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  shouts  can  also  be  heard  at  times.


  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilzied  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  gothic  metal  style  while  keyboards  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.  Clear  singing  is  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


    Clean  playing  and  acoustic  guitars  are  also  introduced  on  a  few  songs  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  along  with  most  of  the  album  sticking  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Sidewalk  Mafia  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACSK  INCLUDE  "Soulcrushers"  "Hummingbird"  "Bad  Karma  Zombies"  and  "When  We  Dance".  8  out  of  10.


  Facebook | Youtube | In stagram  | On Sliptrick

Friday, August 16, 2024

Buryfication Interview

 

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


We are blackened death/thrash metal band Buryfication from Tampere, Finland. We’ve been doing this since 2021 so this is kinda new line-up. Though  all of us have been doing quite the same thing since 90’s. We just released our debut album, Gallows Rise.


2.Recently you have released your first full length, musically how does it differ from your previous ep's?


Production vice Leviathan ep and our debut album Gallows Rise are like night and day. Musically the album is more death metal driven than the ep which had quite a lot black spices with it.

One of the songs that was in the ep is a re-record for album, Trails of Blood. Generally Gallows rise is more relentless and brutal than the Leviathan ep.


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


We just did a track by track introduction for what every song is about. That is going to be on our social media. Thematically there is thin red line in

the album. Lyrics are about violence, mind of a serial killer, ignorance, false beliefs, witch hunts and similiar bedtime stories.


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


Henri (guitar) was driving home from his fathers funeral and had thought that death and burying someone close will finally purify individual from mortal realm, also the emotions and experiences of the funeral process do give some spiritual purification for self. Purification through burying. So it came to life through wordplay of those two words 'bury' and 'purification'.


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


The artwork of the album is like a visualization of the title track Gallows Rise. Song is about witch hunts. We wanted the artwork to suit the themes that are present in the album like ignorance, false beliefs, brutalism, violence and so on. Turkka from Chaos Graphics is the visual mastermind who crafted the artwork.


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


We have had lots of great shows through our short existance. Most memorable ones are the ones we did abroad in Stockholm and Uppsala, great energy there! The last one we did

here in our hometown, Tampere, were also very intense. To discribe our stage performance with two words: energetic and intense. We are always there to give all that we have in us.


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


Our next show is going to be in Estonia in Tarbariitus -festival. There are lots of planning about gigs for the end of the year and for the next spring, at this very moment it seems our near future will be really busy, more info will come sooner or later!


8.The new album was released on 'Kult und Kaos Productions', how did you get in contact with this label?


We were looking for a label that was able to release our album during this year. Kult und Kaos Productions was interested in our music and showed greed light for the schedule  and that pretty much sealed the deal.


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


Thus far feedback that we've got from the album has been good. Of course we are really unknown band but everything has been much more positive than we ever imagined!


10.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?


Henri and Mikko are part of Lifted Veil which just released their debut album this year. Mikko is also playing in Proscription which is now working on their new album, touring and stuff. Mikko has also some other projects running as well.


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


There are already few new songs ready and lots of more coming. Those songs have even more of death/thrash approach in them than those in the debut album. Musically we are not going to do very radical turns in any direction. Maybe there is going to be more tempo variation and thrash metal elements present in songs, but future will show.


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?


I think every band member has their own influences what comes to the playing, composing and arranging music. Every one of us has always been into more extreme stuff.  Influences for our music comes from death/black/thrash metal, quite much from the classic ones. Everyone of us involve in the making of the songs in some way or another.


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


Give a spin to our new debut album Gallows Rise and enjoy the ride!

https://www.buryfication.com/

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Buryfication/Gallows Rise/Kvlt und Kaos Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Buryfication  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a review  of  their  2024  album  "Gallows  Rise"  which  will  be  released  on  August  23rd  by  Kvlt  und  Kaos  Productions.


   A  very  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  guttural  death  metal  growls  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a  melodic  yet  chaotic  style.


  Black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  o0f  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  direction.


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


  In  my  opinion  Buryfication  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Plague"  "Let  Them  Suffer"  and  "Haunted,  Enslaved,  Devoured".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.buryfication.com/    


  

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Serotonin/Motiv/Narcoleptica Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 


  Netherlands's  Serotonin  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  avant  garde  form  of  blackened  death  metal and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Motiv"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Narcoleptica  Productions.


  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.


  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear a   good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffs  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  avant  garde  moments,  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at times.  


   Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  some  of  the  vocals  also  mix  in   more  of  a   melodic  tone.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  some  very  disturbing  and  thought  provoking  stories.    


  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Seretonin  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  avant  garde  black  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Climbing  The  Collossus"  "Glioma  Psychedelia"  and  "Leidmotiv".  8  out  of  10.


  https://www.facebook.com/digitalserotonin