Chaingün Interview

 

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

Axe: For me Chaingün is a mixture of speedy thrash metal with elements of black metal and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll. Everything started with a group of buddies who wanted to play something like Teutonic thrash metal. In the beginning we played at a rented rehearsal room and the band members changed a lot at that time. The first thing we released was our EP Under Lucifer’s Command. Our band member Budy played the drums on this EP but then later when recording Nukin’ the Heaven’s Door, our LP, he took the place of the lead guitarist. The band as it was when recording our LP has been consistent since 2024/2025. 

2.You have your first full length coming out towards the end of February, musically how does it differ from your previous ep? 

B: The LP is definitely more mature in terms of sound and songwriting, we have a lot more experience compared to when we recorded the EP. 

3.Some of your lyrics cover occult themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

 B: We just do it for the sake of the game. Like Venom, who never actually believed this stuff, they just wanted to piss off neurotic catholic parents.

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

 B: As a main lyricist, I feel obliged to answer. When I'm not writing about the occult and warfare stuff, I take inspiration from historic legends, old movies or just the world we live in. As an example, our first single, Clandestine Sorcery is loosely based on the old Polish legend of witches' sabbat from Łysa Góra. 

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

 B: I don't know, I came up with it when I started writing the first songs and thought it sounded awesome and catchy. Maaaaybe it has something to do with the fact I played a lot of Duke Nukem back in the day ;) You can tell by the artwork that we're big fans of 90s shooter games.

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

Axe: Both the EP and LP cover artworks were made by my close friend who is an artist from Krakow. Michał Stempak (igasu) created our band mascot which we wanted to be present on many of our artworks.The album cover should somewhat mirror what the music is about, so there are visions of the usual stuff for this kind of genre - hell, war, torment… 

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

 B: I would go with Barbaric Onslaught two years ago and then the mini-tour with the sexy pricks from Grimoire and R.I.P. About the stage performance, I don't see myself as a particularly excellent frontman, so I just go with the flow and if the crowd comes along, I count it as an awesome gig.

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

B: We have some shows in Poland scheduled for this year, but before we go on a fully-fledged tour we have to get our shit together.

 9.Currently the band is signed to 'Virulent Records', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

 B: It's run by our good friend Mikołaj, right now it's just a small label for friends, but he has an ambition to make the label grow organically into an important player among the indie labels. Axe: The creator of the label is the person who introduced me to Batcos and that was the moment when Chaingün became more of a band than just an idea. 

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

 B: The only time we went "international" was the tour with our Transylvanian friends of Treasondom (cheers guys!), so I don't think I can really tell for now. Maybe after we release the album we're gonna aim for some European festivals. 

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

B: Who of us isn't? Since you're asking, I also play drums in an old-school thrash/death outfit called Instant Death. We like to say out here "five musicians make six bands". Axe: Me and our drummer Bartek (Witchhammer) are also involved in a black metal band called Zdrada Iskariota. We first played together there and after seeing that we “clicked” as musicians, I invited him to play the drums in Chaingün as well. Budy and Bartek also played together in a band called Slütstation. We create new projects together from time to time as we are really just good friends who want to spend quality time together. 

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

B: Hopes are high, we want to play bigger and bigger stages and lineups and preach the old ways of metal. 

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? B: My main inspiration will always be Toxic Holocaust. Other than that, of course Bathory, Celtic Frost, Motörhead, Hellripper and old Teutonic thrash masters, especially Sodom. As for what I’m listening to these days -, the current Polish underground scene is flourishing and every month there's an awesome new release to listen to. 

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

Our music always takes from the old-school metal scene. Even though we, as a band, listen to many different music genres, in the case of Chaingün, our minds are alike about the direction in which this band is heading. Playing gigs is always a lot of fun and we were able to meet so many other metal maniacs along the way! Even though we aim at playing true metal, we still remain down to earth. Axe would like to thank all maniacs who come to our gigs, buy merch and support our band! B: Stay metal, stay blasphemous and come to our shows when we’ll be around!! 

https://www.facebook.com/Chaingun666

Nuctemeron Interview

 

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

Infernal Hails, Lunatic Aggressor here. I'll be doing the interview with you and will try to answer all your questions. So, since we finished recording in August at our friend Avenger's (Nocturnal) Somewhere in Nowhere studio, a few months have passed. We've used this time to rehearse a new setlist with many of the songs that will be on the album and to prepare for upcoming gigs. We've also been busy getting the artwork approved, the layout, taking promo photos, and all those other things a band has to do for a new Album. We've poured a lot of time and heart into these to prepare the new album, "Demonic Sceptre," exactly the way we want it.

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

So, I think we musically focused more on our roots, which are firmly planted in the heavy, black, and speed metal of the 80s. And I think you can hear that in the songs, since we wrote a lot more Speed and Heavy Metal riffs that really suit them. With the older songs, we focused more on pure speed, whereas with the new songs, we eased off the gas pedal a bit and wrote them in favor of more heaviness and aggression. I think we took our time so that in the end, all four of us were one hundred percent satisfied with every song.

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Satanic and Blasphemous themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the dark arts?

Since I'm the one who "commits" all the lyrics here, I can give you the appropriate answer. Our lyrics are always a huge part of my inner demons and, admittedly, sometimes somewhat morbid fantasies. Among other things, I have a great interest in black magic, sexual rituals, witchcraft, and things like that. I've read many books on the subject and am also a huge horror movie fan, especially of films from the 70s and 80s. I also see the whole Satanism thing we've adopted more as our counter-movement to all the religions that unfortunately dominate our world and which I despise with all my heart.

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

Of course, our lyrics also revolve a lot around heavy metal, the way we understand and live it, the way we embody and stylize it with all its clichés. But for the new album, I've also incorporated my interest in serial killers and similar topics into the lyrics. It's also about war, destruction, nuclear madness, and everything else humanity is capable of.

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

First of all, the name Nuctemeron means the unity of day and night, a complete daily cycle often imbued with symbolic, spiritual significance. Some occult or "witchcraft" movements interpret these forces as access to ancient hidden, dark energies. This, combined with the song title "Nuctemeron" from the Sodom album "Obsessed by Cruelty," which we absolutely adore, was the deciding factor for us in choosing this name as our band name.

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

The album cover was designed by Sebastian Frigerio, whom we discovered through the cover of Phantom's EP "Transylvanian Nightmare" and whose style immediately captivated us. He painted the entire cover in oils, which was something we particularly valued. He perfectly captured our vision and ideas for the cover, and we are completely satisfied with his work and all our communication with him.

7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far, which one stands out the most?

We don't really tour. We usually play a maximum of five or six concerts a year because that's enough for us and we don't want to play that often. This way, we can offer our fans a special Nuctemeron concert experience with our stage show. Our highlights definitely included our performance at "Thrash Nightmare" in the Czech Republic in 2022 and our guest appearance at "Odyssey to Blasphemy" in 2024. But actually, every gig we've played so far has been special for us in its own way and we've had a blast.

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

Of course, with the new setlist and this awesome album behind us, we want to play some awesome shows and festivals both at home and abroad. We're itching to unleash a hefty dose of Black Witching Blitz Metal of Satan on the audience and deliver an energetic Nuctemeron Metal show.

9.The new album is going to be released on 'I Hate Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels you have been a part of in the past?

We are absolutely satisfied with Peter's work at I Hate Records. He's just like us, a total metal fanatic and Die Hard Metal Maniac, which is why we clicked immediately. Peter has been a fixture in the metal scene for a long time and has already released many great albums. Comparing him to other labels is always difficult, as every label we've worked with so far has given their best, and in the end, it's always resulted in great Nuctemeron releases.

10.On the new album you also done a 'Venom' cover, what was the decision behind doing your own version of one of their songs?

Oh hell yeah! Venom were and always will be a huge influence on us and many others. After already paying tribute to Bathory with our cover version of "Reaper" on the split EP "Fuck Off (In the Name of Satan)", we thought it fitting to cover Venom's "Angeldust" for the pre-released 7" vinyl single "Rape from the Grave" and as a bonus track for the CD version of "Demonic Sceptre", and worshipping the Black Metal trio from Newcastle.

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

Over the years, we've consistently received positive feedback on our music from all over the world, which has always made us very happy. Even though, as is often said, you mainly make music for yourself, it's a special reward. I think the new album will again generate a lot of positive reactions and also appeal to people who might not have connected with us before.

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

That's a good and valid question, and I have to say that we haven't fundamentally changed our basic musical style compared to the "Knights of Hell" EP and this album. We've simply refined it and become a bit more multifaceted, and our black heavy speed metal influences are more pronounced on the album. We're completely satisfied with it and will remain true to this musical formula in the future. Fans can continue to expect uncompromising Black Heavy Speed Metal from us and won't be disappointed.

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

The four of us have very broad musical tastes and listen to pretty much everything that came out in the 80s in terms of Heavy, Speed, Thrash, and Black Metal. The classics, of course, from Iron Maiden, DIO, and Judas Priest to Manowar, Running Wild, Venom, Hellhammer, Bathory, Destruction, Sodom, and early Slayer or Metallica—it's just too much to list. But we also listen to 70s an 80s Hard Rock, AOR, Punk, and 90s Second-Wave Black Metal. And of course, we listen to a lot of current underground Metal releases from all over the world. Naturally, I don't need to mention that we're absolute vinyl fanatics and collect and adore everything else related to Metal.

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

First of all, thank you very much for the interview and Hail and Kill to the readers of the BlackenedDeathMetalZine.

RAISE THE DEMONIC SCEPTRE AND OPEN THE HELL´S CHAPTER!!!!

 https://youtu.be/90n4RKupuv4

Witching Hour/Rise Of The Desecrated/Dying Victims Productions/2026 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Witching  Hour  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  played  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2009  album  "Rise  Of  The  Desecrated"  which  will  be  re-issued  in  March,  2026  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  A  very  distorted  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction  while  blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  while  also  being  very  heavily  influenced  by  the  Teutonic  style of  that  era.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  style  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  a  heavier  musical  direction.

  On  this  recording  Witching  Hour  took  first  wave  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  Teutonic  thrash  metal  to  create  a  very  heavy  and  aggressive  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Luciferian,  Occultism,  Blasphemy,  War,  Murder  and  Violence  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  was  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Witching  Hour  and  if  you  are   a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rise  of  The  Desecrated"  "Unholy  Alliance"  and  "Cold  Grave'.  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axxP7BFxsM4

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/rise-of-the-desecrated    

  

Cruel Force/Haneda/Shadow Kingdom Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Cruel  Force  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Haneda"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Shadow  Kingdom  Records.

  Melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  riffing  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  speed  and  thrash  metal.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and  the  music  makes  and  80's  style  more  modern.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  yet  old  school  style,  back  up  shouts  are  also  used  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  one  song  being  an  instrumental  which  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  Asian  folk  instruments  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length. 

  On  this  recording  Cruel  Force  takes  the  80's  style  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal  and  modernize  them  for  the  modern  era.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  mystical  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cruel  Force  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  and  speed  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOIMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Whips  A  Swinging"  "Warlords"  and  "Haneda".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/cruelforce      

Funeral Pile/Summoning/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Funeral  Pile  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Summoning"  which  will  be  released  in  March.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  melodic  guitar  solos  and  leads  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  album  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  at  times,  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  a  couple  of  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  

  On  this  recording  Funeral  Pile  takes  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  dark  and  heavy  sounding  album.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  mythological  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Funeral  Pile  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hope  is  A  Lie"  "The  Unendurable"  and  "In  Eternal  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/funeralpile/

The Leaving/Self Titled/Personal Records/2026 EP Review

 

  The  Leaving  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Argentina,   Germany  and  the  netherlands  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2025  ep  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Personal  Records.

  Distorted  soundscapes  and  spoken  words  start  off  the  ep  before  going  into  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  keyboards  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  an  atmospheric  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  era  along  with  the  whole  recording  also  sticking  to  a  slower  musical  direction,  clean  playing  is  also  added  towards  the  end.

  The  leaving  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  and  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  mixes  it  with  doom/death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  and  cover  the  emotional  and  psychological  torment  of  those  left  behind  in  a  fractured  relationship.

  In  my  opinion  The  Leaving  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  mixture  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I"  "IV"  and  "VII".  8  out  of  10.

  http://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-leaving    

  

Chaingün/Nukin' The Heavens Door/Virulent Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Chaingün  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their   2026  album  "Nukin'  The  Heavens  Door"  which  will b e  released  on  February  28th  by  Virulent  Records.

  A  very  powerful  bass  guitar  sound  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  thrash  metal  direction  while  the  vocals   are mostly  black  metal  screams.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  first  wave  era  of  the  genre  along  with  the  recording  also  making  an  80's  style  more  modern.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  extreme  metal  style  along  with  the  album  sticking  to  mostly  a  mid  tempo  or  fast  direction  with  only  a  small  amount  of  slow  riffing,  back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  whole  recording  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Chaingün  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  war,  the  devil  and  rebellion  against  god.  

  In  my  opinion  Chaingün  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  "Covenants  Of  War"  "Deranged  Lust"  "Devils  Rnr"  and  "Clandestine  Sorcery".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Chaingun666

  

Nuctemeron/Demonic Sceptre/I Hate Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Nuctemeron  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Demonic  Sceptre"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  I  Hate  Records.

  A  horror  movie  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast  beats  and t he  vocals  are  done  in  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.

  Elements  of  speed  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  music  also  makes  an  80's  style  sound  more  modern,  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody  at  times.

  War  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  One  song  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clear  singing  and  the  closing  track  is  a  cover  of  Venom's  "Angeldust".  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  War,  Hell,  Metal,  Sex,  Mayhem  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nuctemeron  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Bat"  "Fuck  Off!!!(In  The  Name  Of  Evil)"  "Rape  From  The  Grave"  and  "Angeldust".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/blackspeedhell

https://www.instagram.com/nuctemeron_black_speed_hell

  

Brain Dead/Satanic Penetration/Grimm Distribution/WP & RO Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Brain  Dead  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black  and  speed  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Satanic  Penetration"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Grimm  Distribution  and  WP  &  RO  Productions.

  Electronic  music  sounds  start  off  the  album  while  synths  and  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  speed  metal  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  music  also  incorporates  a  lot  of  first  wave  elements  and  makes  an  80's  style  sound  more  modern.

  Back  up  shouts  are  also  utilized  at  times  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  stick  to  more  of  an  old  school  metal  style.  A  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  music  sticking  mostly  to  s  low  or  mid  tempo  direction  and  blast  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times,  bass  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks  and  clear  vocals  are  also  used  briefly.

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

  In  my  opinion  Brain  Dead  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  and  speed  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Speed  Laser  Penetration"  "Metropolis" "Suicide  Mania"  and  "Evil  Blades".  8  out  of  10.

https://grimmdistribution.bandcamp.com/album/089gd-brain-dead-satanic-penetration-2025

Türböwitch/Under Haunted Skies/Time To Kill Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Türböwitch  are  a  band  from  Hungary  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  thrash,  speed  metal  and  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Under  Haunted  Skies"  which  will  be  released  in  march  by  Time  To  Kill  Records.

  A  horror  movie  style  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  lot  of  blast b eats.  Elements  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  mixed  in  with  some  growls.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  album  also  making  an  80's  style  sound  more  modern  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  style,  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  back  up  shouts.

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

  In  my  opinion  Türböwitch  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  thrash,  speed  metal  and  punk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Markolab"  "Highways  Of  Death"  "When  The  World  Crumbled"  and  "Road  To  Resilience".  8  out  of  10.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/gJQdtMsthKg

Streaming: https://ffm.to/turbowitch-markolab

https://www.instagram.com/turbowitch_band

https://www.youtube.com/@turbowitch4489

https://www.facebook.com/turbowitch666

https://turbowitch666.bandcamp.com/

https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/turbowitch-under-haunted-skies

https://turbowitch666.bandcamp.com/album/under-haunted-skies  

Rotgut/8 Oz Cantrip/2026 EP Review

 

  Rotgut  are  a  band  from  Seattle,  Washington  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  black'n'roll,  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  ep  "8  Oz  Cantrip:.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  a  mixture  of  black  metal  style  screams  and  crust  punk  style  shouts  along  with  some  melodies  also  being  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  black'n'roll.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal/punk  style  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  ep  also  takes  a  retro  style  and  also  makes  it  sound  more  modern  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  On  this  recording  Rotgut  takes  black'n'roll,  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  heavy  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  alcohol  and  horror  movies.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Rotgut  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black'n'roll,  thrash  metal  and  crust  punk,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Slash  And  Burn"  and  "Gods  And  masters".  8  out  of  10.

rotgutofficial.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/rotgutband

ROTGUT on Facebook

Wazzara/Arbor/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Wazzara  are  a  band  from  Switzerland  that  has  bene  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  blackgaze,  post  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2026  album  "Arbor"  which  will  be  released  on  February  13th.

  Bells,  rain  and  thunder  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  being  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  and  clear  singing  is  also  utilized  at  times.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in length.  When  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  also  adds  in  touches  of  shoegaze  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

 One  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  whispered  vocals  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  introduced  onto  the  album  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style  along  with  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  and  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples.  and  synths.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a  seeker's  journey  toward  a  hidden  truth  -a  journey  of  transformation.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Wazzara  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackgaze,  atmospheric  post  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "9  Confines"  "Indigo  Sleep"  and  "Zessa  (Reborn)".  8  out  of  10.

  https://wazzara.lnk.to/arbor

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Imperanence Interview

 

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

Mateusz - 1. We are a technical death/black metal band from Poland – probably the most typical information

in the world :D But we are trying to build a deeper purpose around the band. Our message is about how

impermanent life is, how our values are temporary, and how fragile everything that surrounds us really is

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

Wojciech - 2. The foundation of our style is death metal, of course. But we wanted to aim for something that

isn't a stereotypical death metal, in the meaning of entirety. The whole album is about fragility of life, so it

was important for us to place all the emotions correctly in the composition. That's why you may hear some

black metal influences, for example in "Fugitive". But still, there's always a place for more old school-ish

bangers, like "Ascension through defiance".

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

Mateusz - 3. Everything that is impermanent is our inspiration, and our debut album approaches this idea

from different angles. For example, in “Sorrodise” we tell a story about how everything around us is

temporary – how one seemingly eternal being is replaced by another. In “Apocalypse”, you can find a very

personal tragedy: the feelings that come when you lose your loved ones and realize there is nothing you can

do about it. This is how we try to tell our stories. 

4.I know the album title came from Buddhist terminology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Wojciech - 4. Buddhism highly inspires us but not as a religion per se. It's more about subjects it tells us

about. "Anicca" is about constant changes, mortality and what you lose during your life. Such losses affect us

all - no matter if you're a Buddhist. 

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

Wojciech - 5. "Impermanence" is a term taken from Buddhism. It means that nothing lasts forever - neither

life, nor death. We find this concept and high-level spirituality truly inspiring. We knew right away what

comes with this name. The whole image of the band became clear pretty early

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

Mateusz - 6. The cover is one of my favourite parts of this release. It is inspired by our beloved Dark Souls

game franchise. However, the artwork itself is full of contradictions: there are dead trees, but also green

grass; there is a coffin, but it is open. Finally, you can see light coming from it – but what does it mean? Is it

some kind of redemption? Maybe a form of rebirth? This question is left to the listener. 

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

Mateusz - 7. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but playing live is really one of our strongest sides – it is the

main source of joy for us as a band. The first event I must mention is our recurring charity show against

depression, the second part of which took place on 17.10.25. The club was full, we invited amazing bands,

and the show was absolutely incredible. We also played twice in Slovakia, and those concerts were great as

well. People there really love metal, and we always give them everything we have to make the club fall

apart. 

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

Mateusz - 8. We have a small tour planned – 11 shows in the first half of the year. Most of them will take

place in Poland, but for four gigs we are coming back to Slovakia. We can’t wait to meet those people again.

I would also like to thank the guys from Plague of Tartar for all their help and for booking these concerts for

us.

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

Mateusz - 9. It’s hard to say. I think thrash metal fans are generally fine with us, even though we don’t really

have many thrash-style guitars or drums in our music. We are much closer to black metal. However,

whenever we played black metal–oriented shows, I always had the feeling that we needed to earn the

audience’s respect – and I’m happy to say that we managed to do exactly that. 

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

Wojciech - 10. We are already in the process of recording new songs and I can tell that we have immersed in

the atmosphere. It has come with more cleans and black metal guitar style in some moments. And yet, it's

still mostly death metal, brutal and technical. Maybe less old school. 

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?

Wojciech - 11. That's a tough question. Everyone in the band listens to extreme music but we like many

different genres and bands as well. For example I'm a huge fun of electronic music, such as DnB and

psytrance. But I think that we all have been inspired by Beyond Creation and other technical bands like

Fleshgod Apocalypse. 

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

Mateusz - 12. First of all, I hope that one day I can meet you at one of our concerts (and everyone who is

reading this). You can be sure that we always give our best. Thank you very much for the invitation to this

interview, and hopefully see you again soon! 

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Victims Of Classwar Interview

 

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

Klára: We started off rehearsing in a small basement in Schwarzbach, central Saxony, around 2010/2011. We evolved from the local punk/DIY scene around Rochlitz/Chemnitz/Leipzig. Thinking back to the beginnings, it was quite a rocket start with Arne on the guitar, Stefan on the drums and Klára on bass and vocals. After a couple of months, as soon as we thought we were fit enough to play gigs, we had the brilliant idea to go on tour, and to none other than the UK. Touring became kind of a compulsion, since we basically did a large tour plus several weekenders each year. Some of the unforgettable highlights were two shows in Israel, a two-week tour around the Baltic Sea together with our friends from Partiya (Belarus) as well as a five-day tour in Belarus. As a result, in the years 2011-2019, we’d played more than 200 shows, most of which were abroad. We’re a bit proud to say that it was 21 countries.

In August 2025 you released your first full length. Musically, how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Klára: Basically, there are three aspects: Stylewise, we moved further away from the initial crust leanings, in favour of death and black metal. Another point is the upgrade on the drums, which, thanks to Chris, are now on a completely different level. In the past, we had to review our composition ideas in terms of what our former drummer was able to play. Also, the range of music influencing us has broadened, which is also reflected in the new material. Lastly, the recording process with our friend Anton (DEATHRITE, RUMOURS) was absolutely professional, considering that our very first recordings in 2011 were done by ourselves on a shitty notebook in our rehearsal room.

Between 2015 and 2024, no new music was released. Can you tell us a little bit more about what went on during that time frame?

Klára: The main reasons were two: Firstly, it was the living situation: Arne (guitar) and I moved from Leipzig to Saarbrücken in 2013, while Stefan (former drummer) stayed living in Saxony. Secondly, we toured a lot internationally and played dozens of shows each year. So, instead of writing new songs and recording them, we toured. At least before COVID. Our last tour took place in April 2019, when I was already pregnant in the 4th month. Then we had to pause, directly followed by the onset of COVID-19 and lockdowns. Those factors let us travel less to our rehearsal room, which was still in Saxony. And Stefan was also a busy motherfucker. Whenever we wanted to rehearse or record something, he had to do his laundry …, or he came up with some other excuse, postponing planned recordings during lockdown times because he hadn’t practised. This led to him leaving the band in late 2020. After a short time of disillusionment about whether it makes sense to continue playing at all, Chris joined us. Then it took us some time to practice the material for a live set and for the often postponed recording. Chris is also a busy motherlover, with not much time left, playing in 6 bands as of now.

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?

Klára: I think the “newer” stuff includes only 5 songs that weren’t on any of our previous releases: The Funeral is Unwritten, Disappointment, Nightshift, Pigpriest, and our first composition in the new line-up – Lux Interior. The prevailing themes turn out to be around the dark side of human existence, like broken family relations, betrayal, societal decay, psychology, fate, and mortality.

I think our songwriting process pretty much stayed the same over the years. Usually, Arne comes up with a riff or five. Next would be some experimental combining of these riffs with suitable drum parts. Bass and vocals usually come last, only after I’ve gotten an idea of the overall atmosphere of the song. Once the guitar and drums play together, I join in with improvisations on the bass or on vocals. Interestingly, I hardly ever come up with pre-written lyrics. They usually evolve from exactly this improvisation, along with the instrumental composition. I just let the words, their sound, and emotions spill out of me during the rehearsals. So, the lyrics evolve and stabilise only over time. Btw, this is also why you won’t find much of the lyrics in the inlay of the record. OK, sometimes I come up with lyrics while driving my car, listening to some rehearsal recordings and screaming along with them on the motorway.

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Victims of Classwar'?

Klàra: This one is very blunt. It was our old drummer’s idea to come up with a name that should sound stereotypical for a d-beat band. To put it more intelligently, it has a straightforward leftist/anarchist meaning, trying to encourage some thought.

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

Klára: So, actually, the picture was originally a black-and-white photo of my mom and two other people during one of those compulsory civil defence training sessions in Czechoslovakia during the socialist era. The photo must’ve been taken somewhere near Rokycany/Pilsen. I glued it to paper and drew more landscape around the three figures. Then I scanned and printed it out on paper again and drew some more details with black and white pencil. The moon, these claws and the scythe were also not in the original photo.

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

Klára: Wow, that’s a tough one! But there are definitely some worth mentioning. First one that comes to my mind is our gig together with HEXECUTOR and HELLSWORD at the infamous Kontejner (RIP) in Postojna (Slovenia). Probably 50 people crammed into a tiny building container that would normally be filled with only the gear. Since there wasn’t really any space for everybody to stand, people were lifted up, crawling the ceiling upside down. Unforgettable.

Another great memory is from a gig at a totally packed AGH/Köpi, Berlin, together with SUNSHINE AND LOLLIPOPS, which used to be the band fronted by Alex of BHN (Bleeding Heart Nihilist), who has now released our LP together with Hocki (Angry Voice Records). And then, of course, practically all the gigs in Belarus. The locals were so welcoming and euphoric, despite risking the consequences of no less than police turning up, arresting everyone, and confiscating gear. At each of the Belarus gigs, most of which took place in those tiny garages, a fairly large crowd showed up, and people were totally freaking out. Everybody took such good care of us during the whole trip. It’s quite a different world over there, and many people in the scene are struggling, facing political prosecution. Regardless of that, the people we’ve met were super warm-hearted. I remember talking to a young punk in Baranoviči who was interested in how we got the patches we were wearing on our vests. He was surprised to hear that our patches were bought from the bands or ordered online. Then he proudly explained how he made all of his patches himself.

Do you have any touring or show plans for 2026?

Klára: So far it´s

7th March - Chemnitz, Germany

10th April - Berlin, Germany

11th April - Finsterwalde, Germany

Aaaand hopefully, we will finally manage to organize our gig in Prague, Czech Republic, which is one of my big wishes for this year, most likely on 1st August.

In the earlier years, the band was a part of a great number of splits. Can you tell us a little bit more about the other bands or musical projects that you shared these recordings with?

Klára: The first one was with COSTA COSANOSTRA. They were a befriended grindcore band from Leipzig, and we did a UK tour together in 2011.

The second one was with W.H.A.T. who were also from Leipzig, and we thought our styles pretty much fit together. We also played some shows together. The guys had the glorious idea to release a self-pressed LP, and they even bought such a machine for it, one with which you can cut your own LPs into vinyl. The plan sounded good until they found out that you apparently had to keep the room temperature at a constant 42°C during the production process. For this reason, each of us band members got their unique copy of the record about 3 years later, and the LP version never got to the market. We burned some CDs of this, though.

Lastly, in 2013, we released our split with PARTIYA from Minsk. Through a friend of ours from Dresden, we heard that PARTIYA were looking for a band to do a split with. I had met the guys before on one of their European tours and had made friends with them. By that time, we had just recorded and mastered some of our songs.

We think our songs on these splits aren’t representative of us anymore - they haven’t been for many years, actually! So we’re glad to finally have the LP out.

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

Klára: They’ve been successfully ignoring us.

Chris: With the LP out on the market and finally having some decent recordings uploaded online, our music seems to be constantly spreading around the world. I also recognize a steady increase of followers after our concerts, for which we always receive very good feedback. A funny side fact: The (crust) punk crowd is always cheering us for the brutal death and black metal riffs and blast beat attacks, while the underground metal crowd loves our crust punk influences.

Klára: Nah, there was actually one surprising review by Blackie Skulless, right upon the pre-release of the album on tape. Cheers for that!

Where do you see the band heading musically in the future?

Klára: Darkness and decay!

Chris: Scandinavian-influenced ’90s Black Metal

What are some of the bands or musical styles that have influenced your music, and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Chris: British and Scandinavian HC Punk, Early 90s Death Metal Classic, Swedish and Norwegian Black Metal, and 70s Prog Rock

Klára: I’m listening a lot to Balkan folk. Haha, but seriously, and besides that, most frequent listens of the last 3 years were SOFT MOON, DØDHEIMSGARD, DIVLJE JAGODE, BIJELO DUGME, SELOFAN, HARDSEQUENCER, ULVER (mostly The Assassination of Julius Cesar), HELHEIM, DOUBLE ECHO, FLEETWOOD MAC. Among the most meaningful influences that have been guiding me since my teenage years are DARKTHRONE, FLIEHENDE STÜRME, CHAOSZ.

Arne: I’m currently listening to various genres, but mainly Black Metal and Coldwave stuff. Musically, I’m certainly influenced by some bands such as DEATH and ENSLAVED.

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

Thanks to our loyal fan base from the past and the future. The funeral is unwritten!

https://www.facebook.com/victimsofclasswar

Arendia Interview

 

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

 

Hi, sure. After we released Hymns of Ember and Ash we have taken a couple of months break to get some ideas and riffs with the intention of starting to write for a full-length album which we will be starting to write in the next couple of weeks. We’ve a few ideas theme wise, but musically we expect it to carry on from the last EP.

 

 

 

 

2.A few months back you released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

 

I would say the songs are much more focused, shorter and more energetic. Musically I think its an amalgamation of all the styles we have played in the past wrapped up in those four songs.

 

 

 

 

3.A lot of your lyrics cover Paganism themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

 

Yes, much of our inspiration comes from local history, folklore and literature and is a theme running throughout our music. I have an interest in paganism in general particularly in Wicca which is the inspiration behind the song Holmwood.

 

 

 

 

4.What are some of the other lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored over the years with your music?

 

Aside from telling the tales of our nearby moorlands we have touched on the environment, alchemy, level 4 viruses and fantasy themes amongst many others. Books are a major source of inspiration for me, we have written songs inspired by David Eddings and Robert Holdstock and others in the past.

 

 

 

 

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

 

I came up with the name Arendia back when this was just a side project between myself and Simon (drums). The name is taken from David Eddings’ Belgariad series in which it is one of the main lands in the story.

 

 

 

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

 

We wanted to continue the paganism/wildwood theme that we have but also something a little darker than we have done in the past. The idea of the solitary man walking in the Holloway into the wildwoods was something that connected our fantasy themes with the paganism well.

 

 

 

7.Out of all the shows and tours the band has done so far which one stands out the most?

 

Unfortunately for a number of reasons it has been some years since we have played live, but for me our first local gig back when we first started will always be a fond memory.

 

 

 

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for 2025?

 

As of yet no, because we want to concentrate on working on a new album, although we are talking more and more about starting to play live again, possibly by the end of this year. I think we all feel that the newer songs would work so well in the live setting.

 

 

 

9.The ep was released on 'Three Radials Media', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

 

This is our own label which we started so we can release any of our music, both Arendia and solo work, ourselves and have control over it. I have some ideas which I want to explore soon as does Mark and its just really handy to be able to do this ourselves.

 

 

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

 

The reaction to our latest EP has been fantastic and positive so we’re really pleased and excited going into the next release. I would say that this has been the best received release so far of ours and it has been great to hear that our music has been played in Mexico, the US, and much of Europe.

 

 

 

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

 

I think realistically we are looking at between 18 months and 2 years for the next release. We want to take our time and let the ideas build and develop. Musically I think it will be more of the same and will carry on from the EP. There will always be those influences of Black metal, thrash, melody and atmosphere which we all enjoy. Another idea we have is to re-record an album of ours from a few years ago, “A Radial to the Sea” in the not too distant future

 

 

 

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

 

We’re all listening to different stuff but mostly metal. Simon our drummer has been listening to Trna, Blackbraid (one of my current favourites), Mogwai, Gento, Cryptopsy and Blood Incantation. Mark, our guitarist Insomnium’s epic Winters Gate along with Maiden’s A Matter of life and Death. Myself, Bathory and Darkthrone as always alongside Fen, Wayfairer, Suldusk’s beautiful debut Lunar Falls when I want something a bit more chilled out and a current favourite is Rotting Christ’s live album 35  Years of Evil Existence.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Thanks very much for the interview and support. You can find our music on all the major streaming services. Once again thanks and cheers!

https://www.arendia.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Arendiametal/
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