Liminal Shroud/Visions Of Collapse/Willowtip Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Victoria  B.C,  Canada's  Liminal  Shroud  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Visions  Of  Collapse"  which  will b e  released  in  July  by  Willowtip  Records.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  high  pitched  depressive  black  metal  screams.

  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  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  

  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  whispers  as  well  as  some  clear  vocals  also  being  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  elemental  forces  of  destruction  on  the  coast.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Liminal  Shroud  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  depressive  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Nucleonic  Blight"  and  "The  Carving  Scythe".  8  out  of  10.

  https://linktr.ee/liminalshroud

Myronath/Inferno/Dusktone/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Sweden's  Myronath  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  occult  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "Inferno"  which  will b e  released  on  May  31st  by  Dusktone.

  Dark  sounding  synths  and  ritualistic  spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  Clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  songs  also  add  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  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  Swedish  tradition.

    All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants,  spoken  word  parts  also  return  on  some  of  the  later  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Left  hand  Path  themes..

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Myronath  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  occult  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Lust  Entwined"  "The  Voracious  Sphere"  "The  Flaming  Tombs  of  Heresy"  and  "Apotheosis".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVDb7IWyWyc&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cIqqraCn2U&feature=youtu.be

  

Wurgilnõ Interview

 

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

Since the album is finished, I've been mainly focusing on promoting it. Additionally, there will soon be a Colombian version of the debut album released along with the "Angst" EP. I had to create all the artwork for this. In the meantime, I've also been working on new material and started on songs for a project with the singer of the Belgian band Nether.

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

The first album was initially intended as a demo, but Fetzner Death Records found it worthy and thus released it as an album with a bonus track. The main differences are the production, which is slightly tighter, and the fact that it was separately mastered. Also, a lot of time has been invested in researching the stories behind the songs and in the lyric writing process.

3.The lyrics cover the local legends of your home country, which stories from your local folklore have you covered with your songwriting so far?

I mainly use the stories and legends from Limburg, both Belgian and Dutch Limburg. Although the two provinces may be separated by a national border, myths and legends transcend boundaries. The most well-known legend in the region is that of the Bokkenrijders, a devilish gang of robbers who terrorized the area and spread murder and mayhem with the help of the devil. Additionally, I've used local tales such as the story of Entgen Luijten and the mining disaster in Brunssun in 1928. History is an important subject in my music.

4.I know that the bands name means 'a corpse on a gallow' in Dutch, how does this name fit in with the musical style that you play?

The name originated when I discovered in my family tree that one of my ancestors was sentenced to the gallows for his alleged activities as a Bokkenrijder; he was to be hanged until his body fell off naturally. It seemed like a beautiful inspiration for a Black Metal band. I've been playing in Black Metal bands since I was 15, starting in 1990 with Belphegor (NL), which later became Inverted Pentagram. I see Wurgilnō's style more as a collection of all the Black Metal styles that I personally enjoy.

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

The cover represents the Limburg landscape. "Krijtland" refers to the chalk that is abundant here and has been used in buildings since Roman times. Limburg has an incredibly rich history; it was once a vast sea where creatures like the Mosasaurus thrived. The Mosasaurus was first discovered in the marl here and named after the Meuse River. This river later became important for the early inhabitants and the Romans who founded Maastricht (Ad Mosam Trajectum). The marl is a time capsule that encapsulates the entire history of the region, from fossils to flint used for weapons and tools, to the drawings and inscriptions in the quarries. It's truly fascinating.

6.You are also involved in a few other solo projects, how does the music of 'Wurgilnõ' differ from your other solo material? 

Currently, alongside Wurgilnō, I'm also active in The Curse of Yig, which leans more towards Doom/Sludge with electronic influences, and we work on it with multiple people. Additionally, I'm collaborating with Joris Meeuwissen (Nether) on a project called Vergankelijk, which leans more towards Black/Doom and thematically explores the transience of the body. Musically, the main differences lie in the sound and playing style.

7.You also have worked with musicians in other bands or projects, do you feel you can accomplish more musically by working solo?

The biggest advantage is that I can record everything here at home in my own studio. Whenever I have an idea for a riff or something similar, I can record it immediately without having to consult others or discuss in a rehearsal space. A downside is the lack of feedback, and you have to be careful not to fall into a writer's block.

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

The reactions to Wurgilnō have been quite positive over the past year. So much so that soon the first album, along with last year's EP, will be released on CD in South America. That's incredibly exciting, especially considering that all the lyrics are in Dutch.

9.What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

With The Curse of Yig, things are currently quiet as we've been without a drummer for a while. With Vergankelijk, we're now making plans for the first album, which we need to start writing. Additionally, I'm working on a new album for an old project that I actually stopped 12 years ago but recently created some more songs for.

10/.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I love experimenting with effect pedals and sounds, so let's see where that takes me. I hope Krijtland gets noticed, and I can also make a follow-up album. There's no specific agenda or goal in that regard; making music is just a fun thing to do. I can express a lot of creativity and emotions through it.

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

I mainly listen to my Dutch colleagues because I notice that hardly any band in this scene sounds the same; there's an enormous amount of talent in the Low Countries. Bands like Beenkerver, Bezwering, Schavot, Shagor, Hellevaerder, and Duindwaler, all unique and very good. Additionally, I'm drawn to the darker side of music, things like Gott, Dool, Chelsea Wolfe, and Amenra.

12.Does Occultism play any role in your music?

In the past, it was more present in my lyrics than it is now, although there is still a hint of Occultism in the songs. The old tales are filled with superstition about witchcraft and devil worship. For example, the Bokkenrijders were suspected of devil worship, and even the mine disaster of 1928 was attributed to the devil because it happened on a Friday the 13th, and 13 miners lost their lives. I understand that for many people, Black Metal is associated with the occult, but I also believe that there are few bands that are actually well-versed in that subject matter. There's more to occultism than just having The Satanic Bible or The Book of the Law on the bookshelf.

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

First of all, thank you for the interview, and I'd like to say to the readers, check out the album! There's a pre-order with some great t-shirt deals on my Bandcamp, so go take a look.

www.wurgilno.nl

wurgilno.bandcamp.com

Tårfödd/Mörker/2024 Full Length Review

 

     Tårfödd  are  duo  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  very  melodic,  atmospheric  and  depressive  form  of  post  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Mörker".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  also  adds  in  some  progressive  touches  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  melodic  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  yet  depressive  sounding  black  metal  screams  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  clean  male  and  female  singing  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  The  album  also  has  it  atmospheric  moments  along  with  the  guitar  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style,  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs.

   A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  programmed,  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  mankind's  destructive  nature,  anti-religion,  feat, death,  anxiety  and  misanthropy.

  In  my  opinion  Tårfödd  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric,  melodic,  progressive  and  depressive  post  black  metal  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Naturen  Grayer"  "Radslan"  and  "Vid  Slutskedet's  Stup".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552521203774

https://trfdd.bandcamp.com/album/m-rker

https://soundcloud.com/user-334450061

https://open.spotify.com/artist/02IWK0YVu26yyYEi7QFdhL

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0eBTNjWWUMyDcpRzhRHmg        

Schattenfang/Perdurabo/Northern Fog Records/2024 Double Album Review

 

  Schattenfang  are  a  duo  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  204  double  album  "Perdurado"  which  was  released  by  Northern  Fog  Records.

  Atmospheric  and  epic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  samples.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Whispers  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  a  couple  of  songs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  clear  vocals,  the  album  also  has  its  depressive  and  melancholic  moments.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  tell  a  story  of  love  and  death  in  13  acts.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Schattenfang  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  double  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Wolfsdrang"  "Non  Omnis  Moriar"  "Leere"  and  "Arsw  Oblivionalis".  8  out  of  10.

  YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Schattenfang.Official

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Schattenfang/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/schattenfang.official/

BANDCAMP: https://schattenfang.bandcamp.com/  

Alburnum/The Withered Roots Of Reality/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Alburnum  are  a  duo  from  the  Netherlands  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  atmospheric,  melodic  and  folk  influenced  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "The  Withered  Roots  of  Reality  which  will  be  released  in  July.

  Acoustic  guitars  start  off  the  album  and  also  beings  in  elements  of  folk  music  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  atmospheric  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When t he  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a lot  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  some  clear  chants    also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  folk  instruments  onto  the  music  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  they  also  add  in  an  instrumental.   The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  presence  of  folklore  and  mysticism  in  modern,  fast  paced  life.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Alburnum  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  folk  influenced  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Wheel  Spins  Once  More"  and  "A  Veil  of  Darkness  Upon  my  Ancestral  Home".  8  out  of  10.

  

• Bandcamp: https://alburnum.bandcamp.com/album/the-withered-roots-of-reality
  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alburnum_bm/
  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlburnumBM

       

Häxanu/Greve/Naturmystik/Purity Through Fire/Amor Fati Productions/2024 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  U.S.A's  Häxanu  and  Sweden's  Greve  called  "Naturmystik"  which  will  be  released  on  May  24th  as  a  joint  effort  between  Purity  Through  Fire  and  Amot  Fati  Productions  and  we  will  start  off  the  rteview  with  Häxanu  who  return  with  their  occult  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  atmospheric  sounding  synths  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  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.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  and  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Häxanu  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  occult  black  emtal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mercy"  and  "The  Winged  Chalice".

  Next  up  is  Greve  who  return  their  their  keyboard  orientated  style  of  old  school  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  a  very  fast  and r aw  sound  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal s creams  while  the  riffs  also  add  in a   great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Most  of  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  mid  90's  era  along  with  the  keyboards  also  adding  in  some  atmospheric  touches.  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  old  school  while  the  lyrics a re  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  blasphemy,  darkness  and  folklore  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Greve  aand  if  you  are  a  fan  of  keyboard  orientated  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Gudaföraktets  Ton"  and  "Myllan  av  det  Förgångna'.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  old  school  and  atmospheric  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

 https://youtu.be/DCyLehKh1Xg