Orobas/Arise In Impurity/Symbol Of Domination Productions/Black Lion Productions/2016 EP Review

 Orobas  are  a  band  from  Bangladesh  that  plays a  blackened  form  of death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  ep  "Arise  In  Impurity"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Symbol  Of  Domination  Productions  and  Black  Lion  Productions.

  A  very dark,  avant  garde  and  ritualistic  intro  starts  off  the  ep  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  a  very  heavy  and  brutal  blackened  death  metal  direction  that  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  while  melodic  riffing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  done  in  a  growling  fashion.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  remain  true  to  a  very  dark  style  of  death  metal  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  some  of  the  tracks  while  some  of  the  riffs  are  influenced  by  thrash  metal  while  one  of  the  tracks  also  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  while  also  bringing  in  some  ukulele solos in  "  and  they  close  the  ep  with  a  cover  of  Venom's "Black  Metal".

  Orobas  plays  a  style  of  blackened  death  metal  that  has  a  more  darker  approach than  most  bands  of  the  genre,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Mythology  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Orobas  are  a  very  great  sounding  blackened  death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Ravana"  and  "Bad  Blood  Hunter".  8  out  of  10.

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Vanhelgd/Temple Of Phobos/Dark Descent Records/Pulverised Records/2016 CD Review

  Vanhelgd  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  around  for  awhile  and  goes  into  more  of  a  blackened  doom/death  metal  direction  on  this  recording  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Temple  Of  Phobos"  which  will  be  released  in  July  as  a  joint  effort  by  Dark  Descent  Records  and  Pulverised  Records.

  A  very  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  few  seconds  death  metal  growls  are  added  onto  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  sound  very  powerful and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  and  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  great  amount  of  90's  influences.

  A  great  amount  of  black  metal  elements  can  be  heard  throughout  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  the  solos  and  leads  remain  very  true  to  a  dark  style  of  death  metal  and  some  songs  bring  in atmospheric elements  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  acoustic  guitars  along  with  female  vocals  are  added  onto  the  last  track.

  Vanhelgd  expands  their  musical  sound  on  this  recording  while  still  remaining  true  to  their  death  metal  roots  they  expand  their  style  by  mixing  it  in  with  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  anti  religion  and  horror  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vanhelgd  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lamentations  Of  the  Mortals"  "Temples  Of  phobos"  and  "Rejoice  in  Humanity".  8  out  of  10.   

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The Pete Flesh Deathtrip/Svartnad/Critical Mass Recordings/2016 Full Length Review

  The  Pete  Flesh  Deathtrip  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  featured before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  blackened death  metal  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Svartnad"  which  was  released  by  Critical  Mass  Recordings.

A  very  dark  and  heavy sound  starts  off  the  album  and  atmospheric  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  the  music  at  times  while  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  while  the  vocals  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  both  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  it  can  get  very  brutal  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash, tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  and  the  riffs  can  also  get  very  melodic  at  times  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  doom  metal  influences  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  songs also  bring  in  a  great  mixture of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  The  Pete  Flesh  Deathtrip  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  blackened  death  metal  and  doom  of  the  previous  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  evil,  anti  Christianity,  death  and  damnation  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  The  Pete  Flesh  Deathtrip  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal  and  doom,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Burial  Shore"  "Melting  The  Forst  From  Your  Eyes"  and  "Svartnad".  8  out  of  10.

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Liquid Graveyard/By Nature So Perverse/Sleaszy Rider Records/2016 CD Review

  Liquid  Graveyard  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  the  United  Kingdom  and  Spain  that  originalyy  a  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  form  of  blackened  death  metal  with  some  goth  and  doom  elements  while t he  newer  music  is  done  in  more  of  a  blackened  death  metal  style  with  some  grindcore  influences  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "By  Nature  So  perverse"  which  was  released  by  Sleaszy  Rider  Records.

  A  very  heavy  and  aggressive  sound  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  few  seconds  black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  are  added  onto  the  recording  while  the  slower  riffs  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  while  elements  of  prog  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  guitar  riffing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  the  guitar  riffing  can  be  very  melodic  and  blast  beats  along  with  elements  of  grindcore  can  also  be  heard  in  the  music  at  times  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  they  also  bring in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion.

  Liquid  Graveyard  moves  away from  the  progressive  and  avant  garde    sound of  previous  recordings  and  goes  for  more  of  a  death/grind  style  while  still  having  a  touch  of  black  metal  in  the  vocals,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  violent  and  real  life  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Liquid  Graveyard  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom,  death  metal  and  grindcore  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Motherhate"  "The  Opportunist"  "Sour  Conspiracy"  and  "Outtrophy".  8  out  of  10.

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Nekhen Interview

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

Nekhen is an ancient egypt culture inspired, heavy and dark musical project with heterogeneous influences, blended to create a characteristic eerie atmosphere, evoked by an organic and primitive, yet refined sound.


2.So far you have released one ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

Atmospheric, evocative, dark, earthy, narcotic but stirring.


3.You label your music as 'Kemetic metal', can you tell us a little bit about the term?

Since doom, black, and other labels were not completely fitting, I created one. Kemetic come from KMT, Kemet, which means "black earth", that's how ancient egyptians called their land. That's the only defined influence of Nekhen since the musical ones are ambiguous. Actually I don't find even "metal" to be 100% right but "Kemetic metal" is the closest label I've found. It may change in the future.


4.The music concept deals a lot with Ancient Egypt, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

It's always been in me but only some time ago it really blossomed, and the more I dig into it the more it flourishes and comes out. The interest is really for the whole of it, I really cannot say I'm intrested in a particular part of it more than another.


5.So far the music has been instrumental. are you open to using any vocals in the future?

Yes. The idea is to have instrumental EPs which are interpretations of defined subjects (in this first case the Amduat as rappresented in the tomb of Thutmose III, which is the most complete one in different ways) which can cover any periods of Kemet, and full-leghts with some voice which are focused on the predynastic and early period, but are not a piece-by-piece-translation-like thing.


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

Nekhen is one of the places where it all started, in the upper part of Kemet. It's also known for being one of the first cult places of Horus. It has been one of my inspirations in the overall creative process and at the same time I thought it's the name that went better with the music.


7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians in the future?

Yes, but later on, probably for instruments I don't play like aerophones and harps, as i'm not going to use samples, or maybe some female vocals.


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

I don't have a defined idea about this and honestly haven't thought about it enough. Digital distribution by Sepulchral Silence has been offered to me and I accepted, and it's now about to start.


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

The main feedback by now is maybe about the oddness of the genre, also nice feedbacks from Kemet lovers.


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

I'm now writing the first full lenght, it's actually taking much longer than expected because the more I compose the more different evolutive possibilities unfold and they have to be explored practically. After this another EP will come.


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?

Really many and different ones, from african and persian classical music to stoner doom or experimental black metal and others. These days I'm mainly listening to Terra Tenebrosa, Belzebong and Nirali Kartik.


12.What are some of your non musical interests?

Mainly ancient egypt, oriental and ancient spirituality, walking in nature especially at dusk or later.


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

I'm very thankful for your appreciation and found your questions really nice. Keep up the good work.
dwa ntr n.k, thank you.
Ankh Wedja Seneb

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Nekhen/Entering The Gates Of The Western Horizon/2015 Full Length Review

  Nekhen  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  an  instrumental  and  ethnic  mixture  of  Middle  Eastern  music,  black  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released 2015  album  "Entering  The  Gates  Of  The  Western  Horizon".

  Middle  eastern  musical  sounds  along  with  acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  after  a  couple  of  minutes  the  ethnic  sounds  start  mixing  in  with  the  heavier  side  of  the  music  which  is  mostly  in  a  doom  metal  style  where  you  can  also  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  the  recording  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  melodies  at  times.

  Vocals  and  lyrics  are  absent  from this  recording  with  all  of  the  music  being  instrumental  and  the  whole  album  consists  of  one  song  that  is  divided  into  12  chapters  and  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  black  metal  influences  throughout  the  recording  and  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  and  experimental  at times  and  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.

  Nekhen  plays  an  instrumental  musical  style  that  takes  middle  eastern  music  and  mixes  it  with  black  and  doom  metal  to  create  an  original  sound,  the  production  sounds  very  powerful  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  song  themes focus  on  Ancient  Egypt.

  In  my  opinion  Nekhen  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  mixture  of  middle  eastern  music,  black  and doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Baw  of  the  Duat"  "West"  "Sarcophagus  of  Her  Gods" and  "With  Emerging  Darkness  And  Appearing  Births".  8 out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7n8KocK9w

Warfather/The Grey Eminence/Greyhaze Records/2016 CD Review

  Warfather  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  the  United  States,  Netherlands  and  Brazil  that  have  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a blackened  form  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "The  Grey  Eminence"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Greyhaze  Records.

  A  very  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  great  amount  of  morbid  sounding  melodies  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  vocals  bring  in  a  mostly  death  metal  growls  along  with  a  few  black  metal  screams  and  you  can  hear  some  riffs  close  to  Morbid  Angel  which  a  couple  of  the  band  members where a  part  of  at  one  time.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  some  songs  also  bring  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Warfather  remains  true  to  the  traditional  style  of  death  metal  from  the  last  album  while  still  bringing  in  a  touch  of  black  metal,  the production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Anti  Religion  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another great  sounding  recording  from  Warfather  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Orders  Of  The  Horde"  "For  Glory  Or  Infamy"  "Carnage  Of  The  Pious"  and "Fair  And  Final  Warning".  8  out  of  10.

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