Torpor/Dungeon Descent/Dying Victims Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Torpor  are  a  band  from  Poland  that  plays  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Dungeon  Descent"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  A  very  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  The  solos  and  leads  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  thrash  metal  elements  and  the  music  is  very  heavily  influenced  by t he  80's  style.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  first  wave  black  emtal  elements  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  traditional  metal  style.  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  along  with  some  organs  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Torpor  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  first  wave  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  fantasy  and  black  magick  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Torpor  are  a  very  great  sounding  epic  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "trespassing  The  Sanctuary"  and  "Return  To  The  Surface".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/yQYmUiZBznI?si=r0xUmrBkyo-yOh36

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/ungeon-escent

  

  

Deathroll/A Woman Collapsing On The Glacier/STF Records/2026 Full Length Review

  Deathroll  are  a  solo  project  from  Japan  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "A  Woman  Collapsing  On  The  Glacier"  which  was  released b y  STF  Records.

  Keyboards  start  off  the  album  which  also  add  in  touches  of  classical  music  before  adding  in  some  clean  playing  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Blast  beats  are  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  thrash  and  traditional  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  album  also  adds  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  old  school  touches,  the  closing  track  is  also  a  Robert  Schumann  cover.

  Deathroll  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  emptiness,  grief  and  psychological  collapse. 

  In  my  opinion  Deathroll  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  heavy  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blizzard  Of  Despair"  and  "A  Distrssing  Sunset".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/Desurolu

https://www.instagram.com/kazudeathroll/

https://x.com/DEATHROLL_JAPAN

https://deathroll.aremond.net

https://open.spotify.com/album/1oGnDtoNh6DfPb885UZqru

The Fals 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?

 Hi there, thanks for the interest!Since the recording and release of the new album nothing really happened, to be honest. A little bit of promo work, some interviews, but that was it so far. Some gigs are coming up and the reaction we got to the new album were without exception positiv.

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

 2: The new album has more Heavy Metal elements in general in it and the Black Metal elements are even stronger 80s inspired (Bathory, Tormentor, Slayer, Mercyful Fate) than on the last one.

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

3: I think the aim when you make new music should always be that it is better or at least on par with the stuff you released in the past. I would'nt neccessarily say that the new album is better than the last one, but it is definitely different. The subjects we deal with are mainly dark sorcery, the barren lands of Fals ( see next question) and the things we have the feeling envoke the Black Metal FEELING.

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

4: The word "Fals" is an original creation that initially had no specific meaning. This turned out to be a stroke of luck for us—certainly by the time of our first album—because it allowed us to imbue the word with meaning ourselves. In doing so, we built an entire world and storyline around the term. "Fals" is both a land situated far beyond the Grave of the Moon and a guild of dark mages that took the name for itself, styling itself as "THE FALS." Our debut was a concept album that explored the world of Fals and its inhabitants through a continuous narrative. The lyrics on the second album also revolve around this theme, though they do not form a single, cohesive story.

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

5: A part of the inspiration of the new album and it's artwork come from a painting called "The Magic Circle" by english painter John William Waterhouse 1886. That painting stirred up such a deep feeling within me that I sort of build the title track around the scene. That witch was also the initial inspiration for the cover artwork. Khaos Diktator design captured our vision behind it in a perfect way, so we are really happy with the outcome. 

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

 6: We did no tours yet. The best shows are of course always those where you can get the crowed going. Remeber Necrobutcher: "Come on Leipzig, are you dead??" But all in all we had some inspiring evenings.

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

7: There are no tour offers, and I guess there won't ever be, but we try to play every show worth playing, so if someones hits us up and the conditions are right there's little chance that we say No, haha. 

8.The new album was released on 'Undercover Records', how would you compare working with this label to other labels that you have worked with in the past? 

 8: Undercover beliefs in our music, which is the most important part. They do much of the business stuff that no one of us likes, so that's good, to. And they are Metal Die-Hards like us.

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

9: To be honest, the few reactions we got were consistently positive. Every reviewer kind of agrees that the album needs more than one or two spins to take effect. But once people catch on and understand our intentions, they really get a kick out of it.

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

10: Good question. We really don't know yet. But in fact we will decrease the Black Metal elements that hint beyond the 80s even further. Maybe a little bit like the latest Malokarpatan album, where you have nearly zero BM-riffs but through the whole atmosphere it creates it comes across as a Black or Black Heavy Metal album nonetheless.

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

11: I listen mostly to what you could describe as REAL Metal. My fave bands are Manowar, Darkthrone and Bathory. Currently I listen a lot to 90s Mercyful Fate, Black Sabbath stuff like Born Again and Dehumanizar, the new Darkthrone Pre-Historic Metal and the Blessed Death - Kill Or Be Killed album, which is so fucking great. 

12.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

12: Yes, kind of. The conceptual narrative of the debut album *Beyond The Grave Of The Moon*—released in 2023 via the now-defunct label TeufelsZeug Records—depicts an intoxicating journey through hostile landscapes in an alien realm and era. The sole ruler of the ancient mages' guild known as "The Fals" craves power and omniscience. His morbid obsession drives him to ally with dark forces—forces that, in turn, demand sacrifices. The concept centers on exploring the question of who or what "The Fals" actually are. It is a tale of steel, mist, and blood.

Bel’ranaar is an ancient, now-destroyed city; Tar’naht is a mountain at whose foot the witch featured on the cover of the current album, *Where Cold Steel Gleams*, holds her domain; and Xar’Ghol was a ruler of Bel’ranaar who perished during the city's destruction—yet a beast of his own creation still lurks in the city's deepest catacombs (the opening track of the B-side).

It is somewhat akin to taking the lyrics from the debut Candlemass album and Celtic Frost’s *To Mega Therion* and placing them within the world of Darkthrone’s *Kathaaria*.

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

13. Thanks for the interview, good questions! Check out our latest album if you are a fan of Darkthrone, Bathory and 80s and very early 90s (Black) Metal in general. 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/L94X52ckJZw

Bandcamp: https://thefals.bandcamp.com/album/where-cold-steel-gleams 

Ruyned/Profanum Sacrificium/Osmose Productions/2025 Full Length Review

  Ruyned  are  a  band  from  Romania  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Profanim  Sacricium"  which  will  be  released  on  June  26th  by  Osmose  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitars  and  synths  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Blast  beats  abd  tremolo  picking  are  also  added  into  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  and  the  music  also  adds  in  elements  of  thrash  and  speed  metal.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  while  also  remaining  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal  style,  some  of  the  melodies  also  show  an  influence  of  traditional  metal  as  well  as  some  ritualistic  chants  also  being  used  briefly  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction.    

  Ruyned  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the witch  hunts  of  the  15th-17th  century.

  In  my  opinion  Ruyned  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Speedchain"  "Orgasm  Through  Death"  and  "Witches  Gallow".  8  out  of  10.

  Online release page: https://osmoseproductions-label.com/ruyned-profanum-sacrificium-cd-lp-mc-digital/

Pre-Order/Order on: https://tinyurl.com/ruyned-store
Bandcamp: https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/profanum-sacrificium
All Digital Links: https://bfan.link/RUYNED-Profanum-sacrificium

The Fals/Where Cold Steel Gleams/Undercover Records/2026 Full Length Review

  The  Fals  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Where  Cold  Steel  Gleams"  which  was  released  by  undercover  Records.

  A  very  dark  and  demonic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  spoken  words  can  also  be  heard  briefly  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  riffs  bring  in  elements  of  traditional  metal.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  clear  singing  and  growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  of  the  riffing  also  adding  in  touches  of  thrash  and  speed  metal,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  true  to  an  old  school  metal  style  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  the  music  also  updating  a  more  80's  and  early  90's  style  for  the  modern  era.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  rituals,  destructive  sorcerers  and  the  harsh  legends  of  the  land  of  Fals.   

  In  my  opinion  The  Fals  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  heavy  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Incursion  Of  Plains"  "Where  Cold  Steel  Gleams"  and  "Pyramids".  8  out  of  10.

  YouTube: https://youtu.be/L94X52ckJZw

Bandcamp: https://thefals.bandcamp.com/album/where-cold-steel-gleams

Bewitched/Diabolical Death Mass/Osmose Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Bewitched  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  a  history  going  back  to  the  90's  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Diabolical  Death Mass"  which  will  be  released  on  April  24th  by  Osmose  Productions.

  A  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sounding  intro  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  music  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  thrash  metal  elements.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  while  also  being  very  modern  at  the  same  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  remain  very  true  to  an  old  school  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  as  well  as  the  album  also  bringing  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  some  of  the  songs  also  show  an  influence  of  traditional  metal.

  On  this  recording  Bewitched  remain  true  to  the  blackened  style  of  thrash  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bewitched  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Diabolical  Death  Mass"  "Black  Spells  &  Unclean  Spirits"  "By  Satan  Enslaved"  and  "Enforcer  of  Evil".  8  out  of  10.

  Online release page: https://osmoseproductions-label.com/bewitched-diabolical-death-mass/

Pre-Order/Order on: https://tinyurl.com/bewitched-store
Bandcamp: https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/diabolical-death-mass
All Digital Links: https://bfan.link/BEWITCHED-Diabolical-Death-Mass

Strega/Mors Mortiys Morte/Masked Dead Records/Sulphur Music/2026 EP Review

 

  Strega  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  blackened  form  of  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  ep  "Mors  Mortlys  Morte"  which  will be  released  on  April  30th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Masked  Dead  Records  and  Sulphur  Music.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  traditional  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  some  keyboards  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  vocals  also  add  in  a  mixture  of  black  metal  screams  and  clear  singing.

  Most  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in t he  80's  era  while  also  sounding  very  modern  at  the  same  time.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  sticking  to  more  of  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction  throughout  the  recording.

  On  this  recording  Strega  expands  on  the  blackened  style  of  heavy  metal  that  they  introduced  on  their  previous  release.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Italian  and  cover  dark  fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Strega  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Mors  Mortlys  Morte".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strega.officialband

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/strega_band/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/0d8ysjxCVUOv4a5woB2CDp

Witching Hour/Descending...Where Time Has Ceased To Exist/Dying Victims Productions/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Witching  Hour  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  blackened  mixture  of  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2026  album  "Descending...Where  Time  Has  Ceased  To  Exist"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  A  keyboard  orientated  intro  start  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  with  some  melodic  touches.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the 80's  era  mixed  in  with  a  more  modern  take  on  the  genre  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  NWOBHM  touches,  when  the  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  On  this  recording  Witching  Hour  introduce  elements  of  NWOBHM  into  the  blackened  thrash  metal  style  to  create  something  very  different  from  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Witching  Hour  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Time  Has  Ceased  To  Exist"  and  "A  Night  Under  A  Crimson  Moons  Lament".  8 out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/YrxCqSJSS-I?si=eVOFGN_1jLRAY6cx

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/past-midnight

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/
https://x.com/arendiametal

Shadowmass/Wastelands/Floga Records/2026 Full Length Review

 

  Shadowmass  are  a  band  from  Greece  that  plays  a  blackened  mixture  of  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "Wastelands"  which  will  be  released  in  2026  by  Floga  Records.

  A  very  heavy  thrash  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  an  aggressive  80's  extreme  metal  style  mixed  in  with  some  clear  singing  that  also  adds  in  elements  of  power  and  traditional  metal.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal  style  which  also  has  their  melodic  moments.  Throughout  the  album  you  also  can  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  playing  is  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  a  couple  of  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

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

  In  my  opinion  Shadowmass  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  mixture  of  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this b and.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Purge  And  Savage  Preacher"  "Into  Wastelands"  and  "The  Will  Be  Crushed".  8  out  of  10.

  https://facebook.com/shadowmassgr

https://instagram.com/shadowmassgr
https://shadowmass.bandcamp.com

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

 

Arendia/Hymns Of Ember And Ash/Three Radials Media/2025 EP Review

 

  Arendia  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  blackened  form  of  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Hymns  Of  Ember  And  Ash"  which  was  released  by  Three  Radials  Media.

  A  very  fast  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  of  thrash  metal  elements  and  making  an  80's  style sound  more  modern.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  of  the  music  also  adds  in  touches  of  traditional  metal.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  ep  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clear  singing  is  also  added  on  a  few  tracks  as  well  as  some  of  the  fast  riffing  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  tremolo  picking.

  Arendia  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Paganism,  History  and  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Arendia  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Blessings  Of  Akatosh"  and  "The  Tomb  Of  Semiranis".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.arendia.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/Arendiametal/

https://x.com/arendiametal     

Celesterre/Horror And Hope/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Netherland's  Celesterre  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  an  epic  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2025  album  "Horror  And  Hope".

  Spoken  words  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drum  beats  and  psychedelic  sounds  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  Elements  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  a melodic  traditional  metal  style.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  black  metal  style  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  clear  singing  style  mixed  in  with  a  few  shouts  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  female  vocals  also  being  utilized  on  a  few  tracks.  One  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  pig  squeals  as  well  as  one  track  also  intro0ducing  clean  playing  onto  the  album, mellotron's  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  and  progressive  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  environment  crises  that  is  facing  our  planet.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Celesterre  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  epic  doom  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  TRCOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Man  Divine" "As  The  Giant  Falls"  and  "Hope".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/celesterre

    

Strega/Strix Strega Strygae/Masked Dead Records/Sulphur Music/2025 EP Review

 

  Strega  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  blackened  from  of  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Strix  Strygae"  which  will  be  released  on  April  30th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Masked  Dead  Records  and  Sulphur  Music.

  A  very  heavy  traditional  metal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  era  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  synths  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Vocals  are  mostly  grim  black  metal  screams  while  clear  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  A  lot  of  the  recording  also  makes  a  more  old  school  style  sound  more  modern  along  with  some  spoken  words  also  being  used  briefly  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard,  most  of  the  ep  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo  direction.

  Strega  plays  a  musical  style  that takes  black  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Arakkyan  and  cover  Dark  Fantasy  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Strega  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  heavy  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Til-Aar  Hyleventidar".  8  out  of  10.

  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/strega.officialband

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/strega_band/

https://maskedeadrecords.bandcamp.com/album/strix-strega-strygae

  

Hexecutor/...Where Spirits Withers In The Flesh Constrait/Dying Victims Productions/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Hexecutor  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  ",,,Where  Spirits  Withers  in  The  Flesh  Constraint"  which  was  released  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  The  sounds  of  torture  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  more  of  an  80's  extreme  metal  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  the  faster  riffing.

  Elements  of  thrash  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  first  wave  style  black  metal  screams.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

  At  times  the  music  also  mixes  in  influences  of  traditional  metal  in  both  the  riffs  and  leads  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  whole  album  also  sticking  a  heavier  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  Witches,  Darkness  and  Anti  Religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hexecutor  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Beyond  Any  Human  Conception  of  Knowlwdge"  "Paol  Goz"  and  "Marion  Tromel".  8  out  of  10.

  https://youtu.be/Hszvfos7e_0?si=goZyNT1LoXKPLEBO

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/where-spirit-withers-in-its-flesh-constraint      

Tyrannosatan/Babylons Skrack/Jawbreaker Records/2025 EP Review

 

  Tyrannosatan  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  ep  "Babylons  Skrack"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Jawbreaker  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  brutal  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  first  wave  black  metal  style  vocals  a  few  seconds  later  mixed  in  with  some  death  metal  growls.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  A  lot  of  the  music  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  as  well a s  sounding  modern  at  the  same  times  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  A  lot  of  the  riffing  also  adds  in  a  lot  of  thrash  and  speed  metal  influences   along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  adding  in  more  of  a  traditional  metal  style,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  faster  riffing.

  On  this  recording  Tyrannosatan  goes  back  to  the  80's  era  of  black,  doom,  death,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal  and  mixes  them  together  with  a  more  up  to  date  approach  to  the  genre.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  Darkness,  Babylon  and  Astrology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Tyrannosatan  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,,  doom,  death,  thrash,  speed  and  heavy  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vemhir"  and  "Astronomicon".  8  out  of  10.

  https://tyrannosatan.bandcamp.com/track/vemhir

https://www.facebook.com/tyrannosatangbg       

Tubal Cain Interview

 

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

Since recording Slime Abyss we have been working hard on some killer new songs for our next album. Bo Chrome Bones unfortunately is no longer playing with us due to living too far away.Our new bassist is Shinky Equimanthorn, we’re getting tight with the new line up

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

Slime Abyss is more slimy sounding than our previous albums. I did more guitar tracks than I have in the past. There are harmonized guitar tracks and more effects. We also have a gong now. These songs are heavily NWOBHM influenced but still with a black metal sound 

3.This is also going to be your first album since 2020, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time frame?

Since the release of Summon the Mist we have played quite a few shows in Wisconsin and kept working hard on songwriting. We put a lot of time and energy into writing great songs and playing them as well as we can 

4.A lot of your lyrics cover occultism and fantasy themes, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in these topics?

Fantasy and Occultism are part of black metal and metal in general. I think every metal head tries to read Aleister Crowley at some point. I found Crowley’s writing to very interesting and found that I have a deeper interest in occultism. Ancient, spooky and mysterious things are great subject matter for metal songs. I got into reading The Savage Sword Of Conan magazines when I was a kid which led me to reading Robert E Howard, HP Lovecraft and Michael Moorcock. Sword and Sorcery is also part of the symbolism and feeling of Tubal Cain’s metal 

5.I know that the band is named after the first blacksmith from the Old Testament, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this historic person?

Tubal Cain is an archetypal deification mask of traditional witchcraft and the left hand path. The old smithy was a direct descendant of Cain the first murderer.Tubal Cain was taught the art of forging by the fallen angel Azazel. Tubal Cain made the first plough and then the sword, the instrument of Cain’s craft. We are also forgers of Blackened Thrash Metal 

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

The album cover by Thomas Toye/ Illogical Comics, is a depiction of the ancient sea god Yam in dragon form, thrashing in the boiling sea beneath the rays of the black sun. On the shore is a depraved humanoid eating rotten fish, awaiting the return of the ancient ones 

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

In the fall of 2024 we had the pleasure of opening for Satan and Venom inc. It was great to see that people from the NWOBHM scene are still playing kick ass metal today. Another one of our favorite shows to play was the annual skate party at Forward Living skate park in Madison Wisconsin. We played the event many years in a row until the D.I.Y skate park eventually closed down unfortunately 

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

We are a tight and energetic live band. We enjoy playing our music and connecting with the audience. We’re all here together for the love of Metal.Right now we have shows booked in Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago 

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

We have been getting a really positive response from people world wide, especially in Europe and a lot of great responses to the Slime Abyss video by SZUM which can be watched on YouTube 

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

The new songs we are working on are in the same style. Raw School Blackened Street Metal For The People.We are always learning and evolving as musicians and writers. We will always have something new to bring.we never break the only rule of Tubal Cain.KEEP IT METAL!!!

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?

Some of our biggest influences are Darkthrone, Sabbat and Masters Hammer, First and second wave black metal are a big influence, as well as classic metal and thrash. We don’t only listen to metal. We also like techno, industrial, hip hop, classic rock, jazz and lots of other stuff. Lately we’ve been listening to a lot of Fates Warning and Candlemass

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

We would like to thank Darkness Shall Rise productions and all of our supporters. We hope you enjoy our new album and maybe we’ll see you at a show sometime 

Cheers 

Tubal Cain

www.facebook.com/tubalcainmetal 

Tubal Cain/Slime Abyss/Darkness Shall Rise/2025 Full Length Review

 

  Tubal  Cain  are  a  band  from  Madison,  Wisconsin  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  traditional  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2025  album  "Slime  Abyss"  which  will  be  released  in  February  by  Darkness  Shall  Rise.

  A  very  heavy  yet  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording.  Vocals  are  mostly  black  metal  screams  which  also  mix  both  the  first  and  second  wave  era's  of  the  genre  together  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  thrash  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  an  early  80's  melodic  traditional  metal  style.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  of  the  vocals  also  adding  in  some  rough  semi-clean  singing,  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  most  of  the  album  focusing  more  on  a  mid  tempo  direction,  one  song  is  also  an  instrumental  and  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

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

  In  my  opinion  Tubal  Cain  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  thrash  and  heavy  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Slime  Abyss"  "Filth  Be  Damned"  and  "Drifting  To  The  Black  Sun".  8  out  of  10.

  www.facebook.com/tubalcainmetal     

Hexenbrett/Dritte Beschwörung: Dem Teufel eine Tochter/Dying Victims Productions/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Germany's  Hexenbrett  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  heavy  metal  and  deathrock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Dritte  Beschwörung:  Dem  Teufel  eine  Tochter"  which  was  released  by  Dying  Victims  Productions.

  Horror  movie  samples  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  synths  also  add  in  more  of  a  deathrock  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  going  for  more  of  a  classic  traditional  metal  style  and  the  vocals  are  done  in  more  of  a  first  wave  black  metal  style.

  The  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  while  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  also  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up.  Throughout  the  album  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  when  spoken  words  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  more  of  a  ritualistic  atmosphere.

   A  lot  of  the  album  is  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  80's  as  well  as  remaining  very  modern  at  the  same  time  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  song  also  being  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  Satanism  Occultism,  Egyptian  Mythology  and  Horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Hexenbrett  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom,  heavy  metal  and  deathrock,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dem  Teufel  eine  Ti=ochter"  "Imhotep"  and  "Sette gocce  rosse  su  velluto  verde".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjbqAyggtu8

https://hexenbrett.bandcamp.com/album/dritte-beschw-rung-dem-teufel-eine-tochter