Wednesday, September 29, 2021

drum cam video of Dioghaltas show (Washington state black metal)

Here are a couple of interesting things from Washington state black metal tradesmen Dioghaltas. First, their next show is in the grey and foggy forest town of Bellingham on the 16th of October. Second, there is a drum cam video of the band's full show on August 14, 2021 at The Shakedown. Dioghaltas in action sounds like a good proposition for black metal fans! The upcoming show on October 16th offers a good opportunity to experience this music. If you would like to hear the band's first studio recording, check out the Bandcamp link below.
Asema, Bystander, Dioghaltas
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021 AT 8:30 at The Shakedown
Et Vilia - Dioghaltas Full Set Drum Cam - August 14th, 2021
Decomposition by Dioghaltas
https://www.facebook.com/Dioghaltas

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

out now: Surturs Lohe - pagan metal from Germany

Surturs Lohe
Wielandstahl
September 24th, 2021
Einheit Produktionen
The pagan metal band Surturs Lohe (Germany) began in 1996 and in 1999 they did a demo, a split in 2000, and from then on the full-lengths arrived in 2001, 2002, 2011 and 2016, with some shorter recordings in between. This brings us to the new album (nine songs in some 54 minutes). Having practically perfected their art at this phase of their discography, it is an ambitious but considered interplay of various aesthetics like folk, black, opera and classical music, with a context of history-mythology in German. If their work can do inspire musicians elsewhere, it is to motivate creativity and an interest in the land and peoples, and its history and myths, in which they may find themselves.
No one particular song or segment captures the entirety of the craft of Surturs Lohe because the music plays like a concept album or a metal opera. For instance, different segments provide glimpses but never the entire range. Some parts demonstrate black metal guitar melodies, mellow/aethereal folk affinities present themselves in other places, classical influences are found throughout the work, and the vocals show well-done lower black metal growling, and various bard-like male and operatic female singing are important components to the sound. While at times the music goes at all-out black metal blazing speed, things can settle down to the serenity of a cappella, and moods in between. In short, while a couple of attentive listens will help to begin grasping the sound landscape, there is no doubt that the band's labor has resulted in a major accomplishment for them, and as such, repeated listens will only enrich the act of experiencing their music.
Surturs Lohe - Kelche von Gold (Offical Video)
Surturs Lohe - Wielandstahl (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/SurtursLoheOfficial

Thursday, September 23, 2021

XOTH (Washington state, USA) Embarking on West Coast 'Plague Survival 20XX' Tour in October

XOTH has some dates with destiny in California, Oregon and Washington state. If you have never heard the skill and sheer horsepower of this shredding, blasting melodic extreme metal machine, then a rectification is possible at the link below. Riffs in abudance, melody all over, speed to the headbanging factor, you want it, you've got it.
ABOUT: "Mixed by Joe Cincotta (Obituary, Suffocation), the group’s fourth overall release reveals a mature, otherworldly sound that is vaguely reminiscent of Death, Bal-Sagoth, and Emperor. Xoth appeals not only to the aficionado of complex time signatures, key changes and melodic composition, but also to the good ‘ol heavy metal enthusiast. Thematically, Xoth mixes themes including sci-fi, ancient mysteries, emerging catastrophes, and social commentary, lined with a layer of humor that is as magnetic as it is unsettling."
Interdimensional Invocations by Xoth
https://www.facebook.com/beholdxoth

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

A Dying Planet - melodic prog refinement, skill and songwriting

A Dying Planet
Where the Skies Are Grey
Lifeforce Records
September 17th, 2021
(January 21st, 2022 - Vinyl LP)
A Dying Planet is led by Jasun Tipton, a U.S. prog guitarist that genre fans may already be familiar with due to his work with long-running band Zero Hour (Sensory Records) that has several albums that critics and fans consider durable works of melodic progressive heavy metal with traditional singing. Jasun has often worked with his brother, the bassist Troy Tipton. Additional acts associated with the Tipton brothers are Cynthesis and Abnormal Thought Patterns, amongst others. However, it looks like Troy is not involved with A Dying Planet (the internet seems to say long-term health problems). Jasun has enlisted Paul Adrian Villarreal (ex-Sun Caged) as the singer.
A Dying Planet features good, melodic singing and prog instrumentation, still generally within traditional progressive heavy metal (like found on a band like Fates Warning), although this new album, their second, has some heavier guitar sounds, with some heavier tuning and some heavy prog grooves integrated, suggesting a bit of a more contemporary sound. There is an air of maturity and experience; a lack of pandering to gimmicks (I don’t hear cursing; avoiding clichés; no braggadocio); a style that features lots of vocal melodies that people can sing along; lyrics that read like poetry on topics of desperation, loneliness, parents’ loving reactions to the newborn child, and other such topics, as well as some vague lyrics open to interpretation. The music has the sing-ing and vocal lines at the center for the audience to connect. The music itself is melodic, not particularly complex nor crazy nor experimental but rather intellectual-sounding and mellow at times, and at other times the metal is very present, still with a certain intellect. The singing really helps to understand the music and it is likely to make the thoughtful listener go back and discover more details with repeated listens to this refined recording. Such class.
A DYING PLANET - When the Skies Are Grey (official video)
https://www.facebook.com/adyingplanet

Thursday, September 16, 2021

LARGE MARGE - Washington state truck stop wrestling grindcore

I'm so sorry. I did not want to give you the bad news.
Unfortunately, it seems that Washington state's LARGE MARGE has not split up. If something is too good to be true, it probably is.
Buckle up! The drum machine late night truck stop Tom Brady avocado sandwich Aaron Rodgers Coca Cola Russell Wilson cage fighting grindcore of LARGE MARGE is back and it's more mustard ketchup no napkin spilled milk on the car floor camping site river boat gambling wrestling grindcore than ever.
Protecting the Business by Large Marge
https://www.facebook.com/largemargegrind

Whyzdom - operatic neosymphonic power metal

Whyzdom
Of Wonders And Wars
Scarlet Records
17 September 2021
In some 14 years of activity the French band has built the reliable reputation for operatic singing within a neosymphonic melodic sound, and this fifth album (ten songs in 59 minutes) is a convincing testament to their career. Let's begin with the obvious requirement: the listener enjoys operatic singing (mezzo-soprano, says the official information), or is interested in understanding this type of singing. Of course, there is also normal melodic singing, but Whyzdom is proud to feature operatic singing, like an opera singer in a heavy metal band, backed by the splendor of an orchestra. Their objective remains the same as it has been throughout their history: a recording with the best quality that they can do at this particular time with the resources that they have, for a lush sound full of catchy rhythms, abundant guitar melodies, and the operatic singing that is their signature feature. Their sound is an amalgamation of rocking, pop, melancholic and romanticist aesthetics that characterize their elegant and cultured approach to the neosymphonic style. If you listen to the music at high volume, the band would like you to feel as if you were in big venue witnessing something like a luxurious production of a symphony behind a band performing an opera. Whyzdom is a celebration of classical music, opera and heavy metal.
Of Wonders And War by Whyzdom
WHYZDOM - Notre Dame (Official Video)
Of Wonders And War by Whyzdom
https://www.facebook.com/WHYZDOMproject/

Apostolica - neosymphonic church choir power metal

Apostolica
Haeretica Ecclesia
Scarlet Records
17 September 2021
Apostolica is a masked (like Slipknot and Ghost) neosymphonic power metal quartet of church choir grandiosity. The music is uptempo, galloping rhythms with prototypical, polished guitars; neosymphonic ambitions; and church-choir allure. The music seems like what a power metal band would create when searching to make their sound huge, like at a big opera house with a prestigious orchestra. After that, they remembered something else. They remembered that the choirs at big churches sound astoundingly gigantic too. They said to themselves, "We want the biggest possible sound!" Then, they decided to find a way to make their dream come true, which means a neosymphonic church choir power metal sound. Of course, studio magic is a big and indispensable component of the album. The listener may ask. “Is this a church choir? Is this an orchestra? Is this power metal?” With the magic of technology, the band and recording team have made something that is a “yes” to all three questions.
APOSTOLICA - Sanctus Spiritus (Official Video)
Haeretica Ecclesia by Apostolica
https://www.facebook.com/Apostolicaband

Throwback Thursday: Behind The Mask (Madagascar)

Behind The Mask is metalcore from Madagascar. This is a video from 2016. If you have more information about their recordings and the links for them, feel free to comment below and let people know. Thanks.
Behind The Mask -The Message (Official Clip Video)
https://www.facebook.com/behindthemaskofficial/

Sword of Judgement (Washington state, USA)

Metal Archives shows: "Demo 2009" and "Sword of Judgement Demo 2011" for this thrash band. Then nothing else and it looks like they are long gone. Isn't it nice that somebody at YouTube posted their demo for us to hear?! This is a local band from years and years ago that lives on at YouTube. If you like DIY old and forgotten thrash demos, this one might be for you.
SWORD OF JUDGEMENT - Sword of Judgement (2011) [Full Demo]

Swamp Lantern (Washington state, USA)

If you have lots of time and would like to dive into something to consume it, check into the "black metal heavy metal rock psychedelic rock stoner rock" of Swamp Lantern. Friend, things go sideways and every which way, and if you love to give clear genre categories to music, then go ahead and try it with this one and see how it goes. It might get messy. It is suggested that the listener get into a mood of patience and do the clicking.
Swamp Lantern
Phantasms
August 23rd, 2020
1. Shriveled Pigs Eyes 12:22
2. Corpses in the Barn 12:52
3. The Meadows Rip 09:16
4. They've Taken Our Tongues 06:08
5. Black Garbage Trucks 14:04
6. Neural Pathways Rerouted/Signals From the Witch Cabin 07:40
01:02:22
Phantasms by Swamp Lantern

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

PDF version of Metal Bulletin Zine no.217

These are two links to the PDF of number 217 of Metal Bulletin Zine. Both links contain the same PDF. Metal Bulletin Zine no.217 features: Crimson Fire, Feral Lord, Deformatory, Portrait, Ouija, Cryptae, Oxygen Destroyer (WA state), Paleos, Zalaam, गौतम बुद्ध, Trash Cult (WA), Omination, Last Year’s Tragedy
https://www.scribd.com/document/525592495/Metal-Bulletin-Zine-no-217
https://issuu.com/metalbulletinzine/docs/mb217

Necromantia (Greek black metal) - Inferno (official lyric video)

Below is a lyric video from Greek cult black metal act Necromantia. They began in 1989 and they say that this is their final album. This is the official information about the album and what the band says about it. At the bottom, there some older recordings from the band, recordings originally done in the 1990s.
Necromantia
To The Depths We Descend...
The Circle Music / Hell's Fire Records / Rabauw Records
15 October 2021
“This is our farewell album. This album in itself is a tribute to our member Baron Blood who left the mortal world in November 2019. I decided to write and record the last pieces of music as NECROMANTIA as a farewell to our loyal fans all these years. It may sound strange to their ears since we use guitars again since our PROMO TAPE 1990 but the use of the 8-string bass belongs to Baron Blood and it will remain with him. So here you have 6 new songs (+ re-recording of two of our iconic tracks “Lord of The Abyss” and “The Warlock”) which I suggest that you listen to in their entirety since they represent the many faces of NECROMANTIA’s musical spectrum and each one of them is a story of the whole. Our compass was always the desire to deliver quality and innovative extreme dark music and our head may be bloodied but it is still unbowed. So dive one last time into our wondrous Abyss and let yourself be guided by our music. From the bottom of my soul I thank you for all your support in all these 32 years of our existence.” The Magus, September 2021
Track List
1.Daemonocentric
2. As the Shadows wept (..for Baron Blood)
3. Give the Devil his due
4. Inferno
5. Eldritch
6. To the Depths we descend…
7. Lord of the Abyss MMXXI
8. The Warlock MMXXI
Line up for this album:
-The Magus: bass, vocals, keys
-George Emmanuel: guitars, keys
-Yiannis Votsis: drums
Additional guest musicians: Inferno, Yiannis “The worshiper of Pan”, Bill Zobolas
Necromantia - Inferno (Official Lyric Video)
https://www.facebook.com/necromantiaband
Ancient Pride by NECROMANTIA
Crossing the fiery path (remastered) by NECROMANTIA

music video: WoR (thrash groove)-- The Asheville Sessions - Caged

Below is the new video from the American band WoR and news about the most recent happenings within their camp. Notice that there are some concerts planned for October. Included here are a couple of other previous videos by WoR.
North Carolina, USA groove metal warriors WoR are sharing their next video from rehearsals with new drummer Dylan Jenkins. With upcoming performances at Blue Ridge Rock Festival on September 11th in Danville, Virginia plus tour dates in October with Battlecross and The Convalescence, the band entered a hunting cabin in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains in Asheville, NC to rehearse their set with Jenkins who has put his own spin on some of the older material and injected it with new life.
The band comments: "During the pandemic, we spent a lot of time behind closed doors working on refining our craft. We worked on old music and wrote a bunch of new music. We decided to film one of these sessions, isolated in a hunting cabin in the Appalachian Mountains, away from the chaos of everyday life. Just the 5 of us jamming”.
Perfectly titled "The Asheville Sessions", WoR's second video showcases the refreshed shredding ripper "Caged."
“Caged was one of our stronger singles from the album “Prisoners” and in the Asheville sessions we revamped it even more. Always a powerful track live, it was a cool experience to perform in it such a unique musical setting,” adds the band.
Their first video "Hiraeth" from a series of more to be revealed can also be viewed below.
Throwing in elements of thrash, metalcore, and even hardcore punk, everyone in WoR has taken a different musical path and the variety of influences shows through in the unique and original sound on their debut release “Prisoners”, which is an extremely energetic journey from start to finish. Groovy, raw, and old school, WoR is suitable for all fans of metal especially those with an interest in Machine Head, Sepultura, and Gojira. “Prisoners” (released Aug 7, 2020) is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other digital platforms.
Upcoming Show Dates:
Sept 11 - Blue Ridge Rock Festival - Danville, Virginia
Oct 29 - Rockstar Lounge - Fort Wayne, IN *
Oct 30 - Toledo's Main Street Bar & Grill - Toledo, OH *
Oct 31 - Diesel Concert Lounge - Chesterfield, MI *
* = w/ Battlecross, The Convalescence, The Breathing Process, Gnarcotix
WoR: The Asheville Sessions - Caged
WoR: The Asheville Sessions - Hiraeth
WoR - VI Kings (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/WoRBandOfficial

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

out Sept 17: Criminal - groove thrash from veteran act

Criminal
Sacrificio
Metal Blade Records
17 September 2021
Certain older musicians (like Napalm Death, or cult death bands like Pentacle and Avulsed) have professed their love for the 1980s thrash/death demos of the Chilean band Pentagram. These bands have also recorded Pentagram covers). Such bands in some way have helped to introduce the name to audiences in Europe and North America. After Pentagram first ended in 1988, vocalist/guitarist Anton Reisenegger in the 1990s moved on to Criminal (1991-present). Reisenegger is also involved with Pentagram, Brujería, Lock Up, and other acts.
Back to Criminal, this is the ninth album. Criminal is different from Pentagram. From the beginning, Criminal grooved like Sepultura, Pantera, Machine Head and Fear Factory (maybe similar to Sepultura's Chaos A.D., in the guitar grooves, the angry-shout vocals, attitude and lyrics). Nowadays, the groove is balanced out with some extreme metal elements. Criminal is heavy, chugging, angry-person music, and they show at times shows that, if they wanted to, they could play upfront traditional, extreme metal, but instead they prefer a variety centered around what might be called brutal chunky groove metal, with elements of extreme styles. The new album, which features at least two songs in Spanish, sees the band ever working on perfecting their signature cross-genre sound. There's plenty of chunky thrashing and shredding going on. The thrash is in there, but heavier and in a contemporary form, with a much bottom end and a groove swagger. Oftentimes the music has a near-death vibe to it, not just in the heavy riffs but in the gruff, semi-growl shouted vocals. Thrash fans looking for a heavier, chunkier execution may find the right medicine with Criminal, while death fans interested in groove mojo may want to sit up for this one. Look for the nearest mosh pit or start one.
Sacrificio by Criminal
https://www.facebook.com/Criminal.Band

Monday, September 13, 2021

Mary's Blood (Japan) - Starlight (official music video)

Long-running power metal act Mary's Blood will have its new self-titled sixth studio album (seven, if you can 2020's covers album) at the end of September. "Starlight" is the last song from the album. If you like what you hear, see their Facebook page for more information about getting the album or take a look at the information on YouTube in the description; tt has various links there. Below are a couple of other videos for more examples of their music. Practically a power metal institution, Mary's Blood is known for mighty guitars and singing, and often keeping things on faster side of the tempos.
Mary's Blood - Starlight - Music Video(official)
Mary's Blood - World's End [Official Music video]
Mary's Blood】「R.I.P.」(Mary's Blood SUPER LIVE 2020 at O-WEST)
https://www.facebook.com/MarysBloodOfficial

Thursday, September 9, 2021

out now: Last Year's Tragedy (Kenya) 2021 album Amongst Lions

Last Year's Tragedy
Amongst Lions
January 14th, 2021
The latest recording by Last Year's Tragedy (Kenya) finds them, as usual, sounding better and better. Back in 2010 their sound was a young metalcore beginning. By 2013 things were sounding tighter, improved, as they reached a more mature phase: the scream/growl vocals were heavier, the melodies were sounding nice, the melodic singing was shining. The 2015 single was also promising, as was the 2019 single. By 2019 their sound was both more metal, thrashy in a classic-style melodic death metal way, while keeping the melodic metalcore very much alive, and the melodic singing had never sounded better. Now with a full-length we can all hear where things stand. Tight riffing, good guitar melodies, pleasant keyboards, good and intelligible (slightly raspy) growling, memorable melodic singing and catchy songwriting. This engine is firing on all cylinders. Their ear-friendly combination of metalcore and melodeath makes for a fun, entertaining listen. There are other things to note, too. There is a detectable amount of melancholic vibes, almost akin to goth; sometimes there is some tremolo guitar work (has someone been listening to black metal?!), a bit of deathcore, breakdowns, blast-ing, post-hardcore, some pop sensibilities, the wonderful melodic voice of guest RISH, and other elements. Fortunately, there is a coherence to it all. I think that younger audiences in here the U.S. might really get into this band.
Amongst Lions by Last Year's Tragedy
https://www.facebook.com/LastYearsTragedy/

out now: the death doom of Omination

Omination
NGR
February 5th, 2021
Hypnotic Dirge Records
1. Crossing the Burned Wasteland 03:51
2. Apocalyptic Ignis Fatuus 10:14
3. Last Trisagion 04:50
4. Necropolis, the Backbone 07:59
5. The Sword that Came Out of His Mouth 07:28
6. Unto the Ages of Ages 08:48
7. Death(s), Love, and Life 07:43
8. Post-Apocalypticism 06:23
9. The New Golgotha Repvbliq 20:17
total time 01:17:33
DISCOGRAPHY
...Whose Name Is Worthlessness (demo) 2018
Followers of the Apocalypse (full-length) 2018
The Whirlpool of Ignorance (full-length) 2018
The New Golgotha Repvbliq (single) 2019
The Pale Horseman (EP) 2020
NGR (full-length) 2021
Omination, according to Metal Archives, has been active since 2016, and it seems like they already had some buns in the oven long before the project came out to the public. The previous recordings look like they were the one-person work of Fedor Souissi. All three current Omination musicians are Tunisian, with Fedor possibly living in Germany. Omination 2021 is generally a continuation of super-duper slow, massive heaviness of growling, with some melodies that line the slow-motion rolling snowball of sloth. What to expect, then? Scream-growled vocals, mostly, and some variety in the vocals (lower spoken-song vocals, for example), slow instrumentation in the style of funeral doom, with some variation to spice up the monolithic feel, the use of keyboards for some neosymphonic vibes, some guitar melodies for memorability and melancholy. In short, if you have the patience for 77 minutes to listen to this iceberg, then it may impress the funeral audiences big time.
NGR by Omination

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

links to PDF no. 216 of Metal Bulletin Zine

Here are a couple of links for reading the PDF of Metal Bulletin Zine number 216: Vriess, Edenic Past, My Haven, Qrixkuor, All Life Dies, Sun of the Suns, The Slow Death, Lower 13, Maze of Terror, Blitz, Washington state: Agoron, Pitiless Gaze, Impulse Noise.
Both links contain the same information, but maybe you like one platform better.
https://www.scribd.com/document/523428348/Metal-Bulletin-Zine-216
https://issuu.com/home/published/mb216

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Saloma - Celtic power metal from Cuba

Here are some videos that Saloma has posted on YouTube. Facebook shows their recent activities. They refer to themselves as "Celtic power metal." It's a contemporary melodic sound, not necessarily only power metal, but rather a bit of an ecclectic combination under the general heading of "Celtic power metal." Check it out and see if you like it.
SALOMA - Dragon's Fire (Video Promo)
SALOMA - Diamond of Doom
Until the end of desert
https://www.facebook.com/saloma.cuba

Surturs Lohe - two new songs by enduring mythological metal dignitaries

Below you will find two new songs from the September 24th, 2021 album Wielandstahl by long-running pagan metal luminaries Surturs Lohe. The songs illustrate quite well the serious quality for which the band has come to be known. In their music there is an acculturation of black metal, folk affinities, pagan aesthetics and a bit of classical music, all towards the historical metal of the German-language band. The Thuringian act has been on this path since 1996 and has established their reputation for good musicianship, and this new album is another exciting chapter in their discography. Towards the bottom here, you will find their 2016 album Seelenheim in its entirety. For new listeners, it should provide a strong indication of the modus operandi of Surturs Lohe.
Surturs Lohe
Wielandstahl
September 24th, 2021
Einheit Produktionen
1. Sohn von Glut und Stahl
2. Mimes Reigen
3. Die Schwanenballade
4. Wielandstahl
5. Von albischer Hand
6. Nidungs Reich
7. Der Lahmende Schmied
8. Kelche von Gold
9. Nur ein Vogel
DISCOGRAPHY
Urda (demo) 1999
Brennende Stürme (split) 2000
Wo einst Elfen tanzten (full-length) 2001
Vor Walvaters Thron (full-length) 2002
Odal / Surturs Lohe (split) 2004
Nornenwerk (full-length) 2011
Seelenheim (full-length) 2016
Wioland (EP) 2021
Wielandstahl (full-length) 2021
SURTURS LOHE Biography
Hometown: Meiningen/Thuringia (Germany)
Date of foundation: April 30th 1996
SURTURS LOHE were founded by Ragnfalt (guitar, bass, vocals) and Tristan (drums) as a Pagan Metal band in 1996 inspired by bands like BATHORY, ULVER, SATYRICON, ISENGARD, STORM and TUMULUS. The later can be considered to be Germany´s first ever Pagan Metal band. As the members were intensively studying Northern and German mythology as well as their regional treasury of legends, this array of topics was destined to be the basis of their lyrics. The band´s name SURTURS LOHE originates from the fire giant Surtur, who with his flame sword sparks the “Weltenbrand”, a world-destroying conflagration in northern mythology.
Through the years several SURTURS LOHE members were or still are active in bands like HELRITT, FIMBULVET, MENHIR, EMPYRIUM, TUMULUS, XIV DARK CENTURYS, ODROERIR and HERBSTNEBEL.
Back in 2005 the band HELRITT emerged from SURTURS LOHE, which released the demo "Wälder" and the album "Trotzend dem Niedergang". Between 2000 and 2011 SURTURS LOHE released three CDs for the Christhunt Productions label. Being signed to Christhunt Productions does not mean that SURTURS LOHE identified with the label or any of its bands. SURTURS LOHE were the third band signed to Christhunt Productions for the release of three CDs in 2000 after Bluttaufe and Belmez. The development of Christhunt Productions afterwards was unforeseeable and later efforts to terminate the contract remained unsuccessful. Consequently the contractual requirements had to be fulfilled, which meant that also the third full length album „Nornenwerk“ was released by Christhunt Productions in 2011.
SURTURS LOHE expressly distance themselves from the so-called NSBM scene! Our music does not contain any political messages. The band does not sympathize with religious, left-wing or right-wing ideological models.
In 2015 SURTURS LOHE signed a record deal with Einheit Produktionen and is happy and proud to have found a good partner. The fourth album "Seelenheim" had seen the light of day 2016 on Einheit Produktionen. 2018 was re-released “Nornenwerk” on follow co-operation with Black Megalith Vinyl.
Almost exactly five years after "Seelenheim" (which by now has developed into a benchmark album in the pagan scene) veteran Pagan Metal band Surturs Lohe raise their fifth album "Wielandstahl" out of the embers. "Wielandstahl" is a concept album, telling the Wieland saga in lyrically sophisticated manner. In terms of their music Surturs Lohe present themselves harder, faster but also more epic than ever before. The album was produced by Markus Stock at Klangschmiede Studio E. According to Surturs Lohe, the band will continue their cooperation with Markus Stock in the future.
Current Line-up: Ragnfalt, Heidenherz, Alraun, Ralph, Fix, Max
Surturs Lohe - Kelche von Gold (Offical Video)
Surturs Lohe - Wielandstahl (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/SurtursLoheOfficial
Seelenheim by Surturs Lohe
https://www.facebook.com/SurtursLoheOfficial

Monday, September 6, 2021

out now: गौतम बुद्ध - DIY, homemade lo-fi black metal from India

गौतम बुद्ध
पुनर्जन्म भाग १
July 16th, 2021
1.भगवान की आज्ञा से 09:42
2.पुण्य समाप्त हो जाने पर 09:27
3.पुण्य फल भोगने के लिए 09:25
4.पाप का फल भोगने के लिए। 09:25
total time 37:59
A raw, DIY, homemade black metal project, the internet says that the Indian entity’s name means Gautam Buddha, who Wikipedia describes as: "Gautama Buddha, popularly known as the Buddha, was a Śramaṇa who lived in ancient India (c. 5th to 4th century BCE). He is regarded as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism, and revered by most Buddhist schools as a savior, the Enlightened One who rediscovered an ancient path to release clinging and craving and escape the cycle of birth and rebirth." The name of the recording means "Reincarnation, Part 1." The name of the songs translated from Hindi by the internet are: 1.By God's command; 2.When the virtue is over; 3.To enjoy the fruits of virtue; 4.To enjoy the fruits of sin.
The vocals are totally shrieked, and with effects on them. The drumming must be programmed. The recording is exclusively for the very curious fan that enjoys hearing DIY recordings that most metal fans would consider bad quality recordings. Having said that, the guitar work has lots of fast riffs and some gentle melodies that will catch the interest of the most adventurous fans. The most interesting aspect is the guitar work and the various melodies that are fun to hear, if the listener enjoys lo-fi black metal recordings. Again, not recommend for anyone, except the super curious black metal fanatics.
पुनर्जन्म भाग १ by गौतम बुद्ध

out now: Trash Cult crust-acean punks in Washington state, USA

Trash Cult
2021 Demo
July 30th, 2021
1.Night Terrors 02:36
2.Leech 03:04
3.Law of Ruins 02:34
4.We Belong Dead 02:22
5.Trepanate Me 01:25
6.Throw Them To The Wolves 03:00
total time 15:01
Trash Cult is Washington state fast and rude punk-metal, like the punk cousin of black metal. The vocals are an obnoxious punk shouting scream, the guitar is rough, and the rhythm section is a strong, human rowdy beat. The guitar sometimes sounds all-out punk rock and roll, but then it can also chug and get heavier. The recording is garage-style, and fits the music rather well. Here and there, there are brief hints of tight extreme metal, and they show that maybe they could play necro black metal if they wanted to do it exclusively, but they prefer to play that style of punk that people call crust, d-beat and all things like; it’s for fans that want to hear raw, human, uncomputerized, crust-acean punk-metal.
2021 Demo by Trash Cult
https://www.facebook.com/TrashCultSeattle

out now: Undying Sun - melodic, DIY album from Spain

The band recently contacted this publication about their 2021 debut recording called Where All Begins. Metal Archives shows only a single in 2020 before this album. Below is a video from YouTube and it looks like the entire album is on SoundCloud. The recording quality is a pretty good, DIY, homemade-style melodic work that, most of all, showcases the potential for the future. Some songs are European melodic, keyboard power metal rockers while others slow things down, including in the style of ballads. I would say that this recording may interest the devoted and curious fan of Europower metal that wants to hear new bands interpreting the genre.
Undying Sun
Where All Begins
June 25th, 2021
1. Where All Begins 01:11 instrumental
2. Ascending Deception 04:56
3. The Dark Decay 04:39
4. Signs of Joy 04:02
5. Untended Light 05:34
6. Rise Up 06:44
7. The Promised Dawn 05:41
total time 32:47
Undying Sun - The Dark Decay
https://soundcloud.com/undyingsun

Sunday, September 5, 2021

WHYZDOM - operatic neosymphonic act's music video for "Notre Dame"

Album number five Of Wonders And Wars is quickly approaching. WHYZDOM now has the last song from the album ready for the world to hear. I have been listening to the album, and I can tell you that they have worked on giving fans of the operatic neosymphonic act a lush recording full of catchy rhythms, abundant guitar melodies, and of course the operatic singing that is their signature feature. If you have not heard them before, you will hear the main characteristics of the album, as they keep the album consistent, in that amalgation of rocking, pop, melancholic and romanticist sensibilities that characterize their elegant and cultured approach to the neosymphonic style. As you will notice, if you play the music at high volume, the French act would like you to feel as if you were watching an orchestra backing up them, with a choir supporting the main operatic singing. If you are already a fan, their operatic style remains as you would want. The wait is almost over. Listen to the new song and hang on a bit longer. It won't be long now. WHYZDOM has returned.
WHYZDOM
Of Wonders And Wars
Scarlet Records
17 September 2021
Wanderers And Dreamers 6:27
Child Of Damnation 6:17
Stonehenge 6:53
Ariadne 7:33
Touch The Sky 5:40
War 4:21
Metropolis Lights 4:35
Pyramids 5:38
The Final Collapse 5:12
Notre Dame 6:43
DISCOGRAPHY:
Daughter of the Night EP 2008
From the Brink of Infinity (full-length) 2009
Blind? (full-length) 2012
Symphony for a Hopeless God (full-length) 2015
Alive (video) 2016
As Time Turns to Dust (full-length) 2018
Of Wonders and Wars (full-length) 2021
Marie Mac Leod - vocals
Régis Morin - guitar
Vynce Leff - bass, orchestration
Nicolas Chaumeaux - drums
WHYZDOM - Notre Dame (Official Video)
Of Wonders And War by Whyzdom
[These are a couple of videos from their previous music.
WHYZDOM - The Page
WHYZDOM - Fly Away
https://www.facebook.com/WHYZDOMproject/

VIBORA - Guerrero (VIDEO LYRIC) [heavy metal from El Salvador]

VIBORA (El Salvador) posted a lyric video on YouTube. It looks like they posted it about a month ago. They say that they are band in the style of 1980s heavy metal. Below is the new song from YouTube and a much older song from more than ten years ago.
VIBORA-Guerrero(VIDEO LYRIC)
Vibora- Full Blast Metal(video oficial)
https://www.facebook.com/metaldevibora/

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Zalaam - Palestinian homemade DIY black metal

Zalaam
Nocturnal Luster
November 10th, 2020
1.The Calls of War 06:17
2.Uebermensch 08:31
3.Nyx 02:35
4.Eccentria 03:15
5.Into the Cave 08:30
6.After Purgatory 07:26
7.Atma 04:41
total time 41:15
Metal Archives and Bandcamp show that "Zalim" (Amir Yacoub) is a Palestinian man with a solo black metal project. All the instrumentation, vocals, lyrics, and the various aspects of recording were all done by Amir, says Bandcamp. It is homemade, DIY black metal, like a metal music demo, and there are mellow or acoustic moments, so it is not a raging black metal jackhammer, but more like a varied recording falling mostly in the category of eclectic black metal. Observe that this recording is exclusively for the very curious fan into DIY, solo and eccentric projects, and not for audiences demanding professional, studio recordings. Here are some excerpts of Amir’s explanation back in 2019: "This is addressed to my friends who know me mostly as Amir the Oud player and the nice school teacher. Most of you don't know a lot about my music preferences and creations, but a big part of my knowledge about music, harmony, counterpoint and theory came rather directly and indirectly from listening to black metal music. The way I personally see black metal is almost like a very dark extension of classical music and the opera... on steroids. … This music is filled with hellish and heavenly sounds, beauty and ugliness, fantasies and realities that reach deep levels of intellect.. but most of all, gloomy art and poetry at its best. … If I were to say something about the music in it, I'd say, even though I've striven to include the Oud as much possible in it, it's probably not for everyone (especially because of our Arab society's untrained ears), but with that said, everyone can find something in the album that they can relate to. Maybe a nuance, a melody or even a whole song." Anyway, this is all information from Metal Archives, Bandcamp and Facebook that you can check out for yourself and see what you think.
Nocturnal Luster by Zalaam
https://www.facebook.com/Zalaam-107524613963484/

ARALLU - Israeli "Middle-Eastern black metal" luminaries 2021 complete concert

Here's something pretty special.
This is as close as most ARALLU supporters are going to get in 2021 to witness the band in action.
Watch them perform their Middle-Eastern flavored black metal. The sound quality, in my opinion, is rather good, and it's nice to see them work through their material in such an enthusiastic manner. I am enjoying watching this entire concert a lot.
When can we get them to come to Seattle?!
Never say never! For now, this concert will have to do.
Below the concert, you will find some other studio albums: Six (2017) and En Olam (2019)
ARALLU full live concert 2021
"EN OLAM" - "אין עולם" (Physical​/​Digital Album​)​2019 by ARALLU
"Six" (Physical​/​Digital Album) 2017 by ARALLU
https://www.facebook.com/ARALLU666

Friday, September 3, 2021

ANIMALS AS LEADERS - Monomyth (Official Music Video)

This is the new video from Animals as Leaders, which Wikipedia describes, as "Animals as Leaders is an American instrumental progressive metal band from Washington, D.C., United States. It currently consists of guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka, having been formed by Abasi in 2007. They are a prominent band within the djent scene. Prosthetic Records released the band's eponymous debut album in 2009. They went on to release the albums Weightless (2011), The Joy of Motion (2014), and The Madness of Many (2016)."
ANIMALS AS LEADERS - Monomyth (Official Music Video)
https://www.facebook.com/animalsasleaders

TULIP - rising Texas melodic neosymphonic rockers new song "Clone"

It looks like Texas-based contemporary melodic neosymphonic band TULIP are preparing something new called The Witch EP. Below is the artwork that they are showing online and also a song from said EP. If you like that song, maybe you will like the video "The Inner Light" from their previous album High Strangeness.
TULIP - Clone (ANIMATED VIDEO) Progressive Metal / Symphonic Metal | The Circle Pit
TULIP - The Inner Light (Official Video)
https://www.facebook.com/wearetulipofficial/?ref=page_internal

Vile Effigy - Washington state orc mutant metal

Check out the latest song "Wither" by Vile Effigy. It looks like they have done two singles in 2021 so far. Below is the music that they have on Bandcamp.
ABOUT: Vile Effigy is a four piece blackend/death/thrash metal band from San Juan Island/Oak Harbor. The band formed in the summer of 2017 with Swift (guitar), Damien (vocals), Frank (bass), and later adding Joey (rhythm guitar ) to the mix. Vile Effigy is about playing true gritty old school extreme metal..........Vile Effigy SHOWS NO MERCY!
Wither by Vile Effigy
Voregasm (Revised Album Version) by Vile Effigy
Agatha Demo by Vile Effigy