Terzo/Self Titled/Icons Creating Evil Art/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Terzo  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  darkwave  and  shoegaze  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2023  album  which  was  released  by  Icons  Creating  Evil  Art.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  and  electronic  sounds  start  off  the  album  while  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Darkwave  style  synths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  electric  guitars  also  giving  the  music  a  heavier  edge  when  they  are  utilized.

  When  clear  vocals  are  added  into  the  music  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  an  ethereal  and  medieval  atmosphere.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  while  some  of  the  melodies  also  bring  in  elements  of  shoegaze  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  gothic  rock  and  folk  music  touches  at  times  and  acoustic  instruments  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Terzo  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  drone,  darkwave,  shoegaze  and  gothic  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Italian  and  English  and  cover  life  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Terzo  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  darkwave  and  shoegaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Walking  Dreams  Awake"  and  "Blue  Crystal  Fire".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.facebook.com/terzoiii

http://www.instagram.com/lllterzolll    

The Infinity Ring/Nemesis & Nativity/Profound Lore Records/2023 Full Length Review

 

  The  Infinity  Ring  are  a  band  from  the  New  England  region  of  the  United  States  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental  rock,  post  industrial,  drone,  noise  and  dark  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2023  album  "Nemesis  &  Nativity"  which  was  released  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  while  clean  playing  can  also be  heard  on  a  few  tracks.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  while  the  clear  vocals  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  folk  and  the  drum  beats  also  add  in  some  ritualistic  touches.

  The  album  also  has  its  avant  garde  and  mystical  moments  while  some  songs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  acoustic  guitars.  When  harsh  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Industrial  style  rhythms  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  songs  also  showing  more  of  a  no  wave  influence,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  melodic  electric  guitar  leads  onto  the  album  and  noises  are  also  introduced  on  a  later  song  and  when  heavy  guitars  are  added  into  the  music  they  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  extreme  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Alchemy  and  Paganism  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  The  Infinity  Ring  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental  rock,  post industrial,  drone,  noise  and  dark  folk  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crown  Of  Stars"  "Pan  &  Syrinx"  "Orpheus  Dragonfly  Satyr"  and  "Prison,  Constraint".  8  out  of  10.   

  http://www.instagram.com/theinfinityring

http://www.theinfinityring.bandcamp.com/releases

http://www.linktr.ee/theinfinityring 

Locrian/End Terrain/Profound Lore Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  Locrian  are  a  band  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  mixture  of  drone,  dark  ambient,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "End  Terrain"  which  was  released  by  Profound  Lore  Records.

  Distorted  soundscapes  and  heavy  riffing  starts  off  the  album  while  the  harsh  vocals  bring  in  elements  of  black  metal.  Dark  ambient  syn5ths  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  when  the  music  speeds  up.

  Death  metal  growls  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  post  metal  style.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  clear  vocals  bringing  in  more  of  a  post  rock  style  when t hey  are utilized.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  and  some  tracks  also  add  in  touches  of  noise  and  shoegaze.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  a  future  earth  consumed  by  waste.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Locrian  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  dark  ambient,  experimental,  avant  garde  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Chronoscapes"  "The  World  is  Gone.  There  is  No  World"  "Black  Prisms  Of  Our  Dead  Age"  and  "After  Extinction".  8  out  of  10.

  https://locrian.bandcamp.com/album/end-terrain

The tour-dates would include:

7/19 – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery – TICKETS 7/20 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer – TICKETS 7/21 – Voorhees, NJ – Tunes — TICKETS (Doors Only) 7/22 – New York City, NY – TV Eye – TICKETS 7/23 – Providence, RI – Alchemy – TICKETS 7/24 – Boston, MA – O’Briens – TICKETS 7/25 – Portland, ME – Geno’s Rock Club – TICKETS 7/26 – Montreal, QC – Cabaret Foufs – TICKETS 7/27 – Toronto, ON – The Baby G – TICKETS 7/28 – Detroit, MI – Sanctuary – TICKETS 7/29 – Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade – TICKETS 7/30 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle – TICKETS (Doors Only) 7/31 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge – TICKETS

Dodssang Tempel/Old Witchcraft/Black Goat Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

   U.S.A's  solo  project  Dodssang  Tempel  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  death  industrial  and  dark  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Old  Witchcraft"  which  was  released  by  Black  Goat  Records.

  Power  electronics  and  death  industrial  beats  start  off  the  album  while  the  screams  also  add  in  more  of  a  black  metal  approach.  When  blast  beats  are  utilized  they  also  bring  elements  of  death  metal  onto  the  recording  as  well  as  some  of  the  songs  also  going  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction  at  times.

  Harsh  noises  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  programmed  beats  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  album.  One  song  also  introduces  heavy  guitars  into  the  music  as  well  as  the  slower  riffing  being  heavily  rooted  in  doom  metal,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Some  of  the  songs  also  mix  in  the  more  harsh  side  of  ambient  and  each  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other. 

  On  this  recording  Dodssang  Tempel  takes  harsh  noise,  death  industrial,  dark  ambient,  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism,  Black  Magick,  Anti  Christianity  and  Witchcraft  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Dodssang  Tempel  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  death  industrial,  dark  ambient,  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Old  Witchcraft"  "Scorching  The  Air"  and  "Mountain  Fog".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.instagram.com/norsk_demon_kvlt/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/ravsaxrecords/

https://www.ravsax.com/

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mFt68y1QrWv5N5ASHs24iy0QytZO0MKdA

https://open.spotify.com/album/2LuxNZrc4XP9Oer2WIB7nd

https://blackgoatrecords.bandcamp.com/album/old-witchcraft       

Necronomicon/The Demos/Vic Records/2024 Compilation Album Review

 

   This  is  a  review  of  a  compilation  album  which  contains  the  early  demo's  from  Germany's  Necronomicon  which  where  released  in  1985  and  showed  the  music  mixing  the  first  wave  black  metal  style  with  the  German  Teutonic  thrash  metal  sound  of  that  era  and  the  recordings  where  released  as  a  single  album  by  Vic  Records.

  The  sounds  of  war  start  off  the  compilation  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  before  going  into  a  very  fast  aggression  direction  which  also  utilizes  a  great  amount  of  blast b eats.  Vocals  bring  in  more  of  a  classic  thrash  metal  style  while  the  music  is  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  first  wave  black  metal  style.

  Tremolo  picking  is  also  added  into  some  of  the  faster  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  more  rooted  in a   thrash/speed  metal  style,  the  bass  guitars  get  more  powerful  sounding  then  the  first  demo  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  blackened  style,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.

  On  these  demo's  Necronomicon  took  the  first  wave  black  metal  style  of  the  early  80's  and  mixed  it  with  the  more  traditional  German  thrash  metal  of  their  home  country.  The  production  sounds  very  old  school  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Occultism,  Death,  Evil  and  Destruction  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collection  from  Necronomicon  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  black  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  compilation.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Genocide"  "Danger"  "Possessed  By  Evil"  and  "Bloody  Revenge".  8  out  of  10.

  https://www.facebook.com/necronomiconofficial         

Naturale Interview

 

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

The last few years it has been what I would describe as ambient psychedelic folk. Acoustic guitars, syths and voices play the main role and the tracks really take their time to build. In my mind what really makes this ambient is the willingness to let the sounds develop organically, an idea I have from David Toop which makes it more than a label. It is also a guide when writing/creating the songs. The project started in 2015 when I put out a compilation of tracks I had recorded over a few years on a tape label called It Was Gnarled. I did this without any real goal of doing any specific sound, but I liked distortion and the band Faust which I think shone through. Later I got interested in ambient music and in 2019 I had the chance to have enough peace and quiet to record Meditation Over Mørket. When the record came out three years later I was lucky enough to have quite a few friends who wanted to help me play it live. That has pushed the sound a little bit and has given me new opportunities. The music takes its time and is a lot more based on feeling than on precision. For the longer songs I describe what I would like it to sound like more than showing the others what to play. I think they like that.

2.In 2023 you released a full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

Yeah well, I wanted to do an ambient record. The recording was very loose and without any real ideas in terms of anything being written beforehand. I think I had one song, but that didn't even end up on the record. The music was also inspired by Danish jammy hippie music (something I don't like listening to but has always seemed like a lot of fun to play) and German synthesizer music from the 70's. Part of the interest I had in doing this was also to do music that wasn't based on electric guitar, which I had been doing a lot of before this. It was fun to play some other instruments and see where that took me. And to arrange vocal harmonies. That was also new to me.

3.You also have experience working with other genres with your other bands or projects, how would you compare the music of 'Naturale' to your other musical endeavors?

It's quieter than other things I have done. That's for sure. That gives you new opportunities. One thing is that the lyrics come more into focus which is nice. It has been very interesting to be able to have people be able to hear what you are singing about. Other than that I think it actually is not that different from other things I have been involved with. The looseness of the music and the focus on drones and repetition is something that exists in other things I have done for sure. I like music with a certain looseness.

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have explored so far with this project?

When I recorded the last album I was far out in the swedish countryside in the middle of winter. I live in the city so the darkness and the sounds that came from the woods had an effect on me. It has a lot to do with the feelings of dread that I had moving out into the darkness when I had to. I also related these feelings to winter depression and tried to put a positive spin on it. Coming to terms with the darkness is in a way the main theme. When I was writing the songs I was recording at the same time and when I came to the point where I would have to record vocals I would write the lyrics pretty quickly. It felt like they just came to me and as far as I recall I haven't changed anything. The lyrics are about the effect that the darkness has on people and how there is solace to find in nature. Especially fire. Because honestly the whole b-side of the record is about fire. The last song is a sort of seduction written from the point of view of the fire itself. The topic of the next record will be bureaucracy. Consultancy, ring binders, being trapped in the system. That kind of thing.   

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

In music notation there is a sign that cancels previous sharps and flats on a note. It looks like this: ♮. I felt like the way I was doing music, when I started the project, was musical ideas slowly dissolving and felt this would be a good descriptor. If you look at the physical releases of the things I have done there are also a lot of alchemical signs. In alchemy there is the very concrete practice of dissolving different materials in different liquids but there is also the idea of the individual dissolving into the soul of the world (Anima Mundi). I think the idea of music connecting you to everything in the world is beautiful and this is also part of the meaning. It feels kind of wrong to over explain all of this. It is not very important to understand this, but it is part of the underlying idea.

    

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

I just over explained all of the symbols. The photo on the front was taken by Sven from Svensk Psych Aften who helped a lot with this release. Not only did he help put it out, he also helped give me the confidence to put it out and provided feedback that made the songs better. When my original idea for a cover fell through I asked him if he had some photos. He has a cabin in Sweden and he told me that this is a photo taken from the field where he picks magic mushrooms. That has nothing to do with why I used it but it is funny. I like the look of this old barn. It fits the feel of the record nicely.

7.On the studio albums you record everything by yourself but have experience working with other musicians, do you prefer to work solo?

It is fun to record on your own. I can work very intensely that way. Write and record at the same time, and that way do a song in a day. The next record will feature some of the people from the live band I have been performing with. This makes it take a little longer but hopefully it will be worth it. I also love playing with others. Having your own band can feel kind of lonely sometimes.

8.The last album was released through 4 different labels, can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you had worked with on this release?

I already talked a little about Sven. He was very important for this album being released. Yoshiwara Collective, I think, is run by a few people but the person I was in contact with was Danny Angus who has also been very helpful and has introduced me to a lot of interesting music. They are based in Belfast which is a place I have never been, but they have put out some music that is similar to that of Naturale. United Bible Studies for instance. Danny was also very supportive with the album and has probably done the most to spread it. It seems like he has connections all over the world. Vinyltrolden (now Vinyltroll Records) is Manne who is a frequent collaborator and has been very active the last few years mostly with doom, hardcore and post-rock though. Virkelighedsfjern is my own label.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of drone, psychedelic and folk music?

I haven't felt much of a reaction from folk music people but I also have more of a history with the other groups. In general the reaction has been good. People have reacted positively to the record and to the live performances that have been very different because of the musicians involved. I think people like the vibe of the music; both some of the very slow moving songs and the more lyrically focussed. I always invite people to sit down and all of the band members always sit down too. This helps to support a relaxed environment that gives people the chance to dive into it. It is very introverted music and people seem to vibe with that which makes me happy. The record also seems to be living its own life out there. LIke you reaching out to me one and a half years after the release. It makes me happy to think that people still engage with it and that new people listen to it and like it.

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

I want to keep making things and I am getting more and more into collaborating with other bands and artists. I recently did an album with a band called The Plant X Izumisan Ensemble who play dark ambient. It is both nice to play with others and to talk to others about the music I, or they, or we are making. Just like doing this interview it is nice to have a moment to reflect on what it is that I am doing. It is good to have it put into words. In terms of the music that I am working on, the new material has a bit more tightness to it. The songs are a little more controlled and shorter. The elements are basically the same except for a few songs that feature drums in a more prominent role. I am also working on new material with GAIA, Solens Folk and Lucid Grave which are all bands where I mainly play electric guitar.

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?

The stoner and doom scene of the late 00's and early 10's along with the kraut-rock scene of the 60's and 70's are probably the biggest influences on what I do and have done. I mentioned Faust in the beginning but bands like Suma, Toner Low, Harvey Milk, Hebosagil, Boris, Neu! and Harmonia have definitely influenced my way of playing guitar and writing music. I also find a lot of inspiration in the early industrial bands like Einstuzende Neubauten, Coil and Throbbing Gristle which are all bands I have been listening to recently. I have also been listening a lot to 90's sludge especially Toadliquor and Gasp and 80's noise rock like No Trend. Something a little newer that I have been listening to is the hip hop collective Griselda, apparently also known as dad rap. 

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

I would just like to thank you for this. These were good questions and they have helped me reflect on the music I do. Thank you.

https://virkelighedsfjern.bandcamp.com/track/m-rket

Megafauna Interview

 

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

Sure, MEGAFAUNA is an ambient/experimental/electronic project that I started very casually in 2023, and that I've really been immersed in this year. I've found it to be immensely cathartic for dealing with/coping with my own struggles with mental illness and but also as a way to express the things that bring me joy. It's not something that I ever thought I'd find myself doing, so the fact that the response has been relatively positive also continues to surprise me.

2.So far this year you have put out 5 releases, musically how do they all differ from each other?

Kind of hard to believe honestly. I'll go through them all chronologically but I think they do feel like cohesive pieces of a larger project. I also think they represent me having been able to practice and get better at the production.

Before. is a collection of things that I had made before I really know what MEGAFAUNA was or before it was even a thing. A lot of it was made on Garage Band or just playing around with loops and samples. I guess it serves as a mixtape?

The Sea Meets the Sky EP is the first actual cohesive project from MEGAFAUNA. My first attempt at trying to structure something and be deliberate in my songwriting

Venator takes that further, being a full length. And is a bit more explicit in the parts of myself that I was trying to work through.

Smiling Through a Crimson Mask is a single from my upcoming record Worm Burden - coming out in 2025.

In Training. is a live album, recorded at my first show ever in Smithers BC. All of the songs are unique to that performance and that album.

3.What are some of the themes and images you bring out on your recordings?

A lot of what I make is me coping with how I'm feeling in the moment. The angst, the existential dread, the depression, sure, but also the mania and the joy and the love that I feel. I try to use MEGAFAUNA as a means of coping and processing so I like to think that's what comes across.

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

Truly I think its just one of those words that when I heard it, it stuck in the back of my brain and when it was finally time to give this project a name, that was the one. I'm not sure there is a grand meaning or story, but maybe that's something that will become apparent as I continue.

5.On the recordings you mostly work by yourself, are you open to working with a full band or do you prefer to work solo?

I would love to work with anyone, honestly. The solo thing came as a result of my geographic location, but also because of the deeply personal nature of everything that I'm doing. I've been lucky enough to have some collaborations with folks, and I would absolutely work with others if they felt like it would make sense.

6.In 2024 you have put out 5 releases so far, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music?

Not as much as I'd like, honestly.

7.What are some of the best shows that you have played with this project so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

As I write this, I've performed exactly 2 shows as MEGAFAUNA. One was great, and went more or less how I hoped it would, and the other almost had me convinced I needed to walk away haha. So the first one was absolutely the best. The show is intended to almost have a ritualistic nature to it - I perform sitting on the floor in the middle of a circle of antlers and everything is mostly improvised.

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

I do! I have a show coming up in Port Alberni on August 15th - and then in October I'll be embarking on my first ever micro-tour, called the Nosfera-tour, where I'll be providing a live score to the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu. That one has shows in Smithers, Prince George, and Hazelton, BC.

9.You also run the label 'Syrup Moose Records', can you tell us a little bit more about the releases and genres you have worked with on this label?

Yeah, Syrup Moose started back in 2022 and since then I've been able to work with folks across genres and the planet. This year we've been able to work with folks like Underneath, 18 Slashes, Ashenheart, Ivory Primarch, and lots of others - it's been a real treat.

10.The physical copies also come with a Tarot card, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Tarot decks?

The tarot card thing was an idea from the early days of Syrup Moose Records. I wanted to have a unique item to accompany each release and tarot cards were the idea that won out. So each release has an assigned card with the hope of having an entire deck created in the end.

11.On a worldwide level  how has the reaction been to your music by fans of ambient and experimental?

The reaction has been really positive if not perhaps a bit small. I'm still learning how to promote my own music and be ok taking it seriously, but there have been some really kind words written about MEGAFAUNA.

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

I really don't know honestly. I try not to pin myself down by genre and just go with what works in the moment so there's really no telling what's next for me.

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Influence-wise I'd say I am absolutely influenced and inspired by folks like The Knife/Fever Ray, Ween, 18 Slashes/Your Ancestors Knew Death/Henges, Aphex Twin, the enumerable projects of Garry Brents... I don't really know - I pull from the dark parts of my brain and I those are folks who have kind of shown me what's possible.

And as for what I'm listening to these days, I've really enjoyed the latest from SPEED, Black Pantera, Jisei, Sissyxo, Mothman and the Thunderbirds, Violent Magic Orchestra... honestly I could go on and on.

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

Check out the stuff MEGAFAUNA has released over at themegafauna.bandcamp.com and support Syrup Moose Records if you can - syrupmooserecords.bandcamp.com.

Take care of yourselves. Take your meds.

Maulen/El Miedo De Amar Pero Igual Lo Hago/Icons Creating Evil Art/2023 Double EP Review

 

  Maulen  is  a  solo  artist  from Chile  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone  and  experimental  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  double  ep  "El  Miedo De  Amar  Pero  Igual  Lo  Hago"  which  was  released  by  Icons  Creating  Evil  Art.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  ep  before  introducing  atmospheric  sounding  drones  onto  the  recording.  When  clean  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  along  with  some  of  the  tracks  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  and  clear  indigenous  type  vocals  can  also b e  heard  at t imes.

  Melodic  guitar  leads  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  some  of  the  riffs  show  an  influence  of  metal.  Bass  guitars  and  drums  also  add  in  more  diversity  when  they  are  introduced  into  the  music  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  more  of  a  ritualistic  and  tribal atmosphere,  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  on  a  few  songs  and  every  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.       

  Maulen  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  drone,  experimental  and  ritualistic  music  and  also  mixes  it  in  with  influences  of  his  metal  background  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  Spanish,  Polish,  Arabic,  Persian  and  French  and  cover  loss,  heritage,  the  feeling  of  belonging  or  not  belonging.

  In  my  opinion  Maulen  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone  and  experimental  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Rostro"  and  "El  Templo  Mayor".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.maulen.org

http://www.facebook.com/officialmaulen
http://www.instagram.com/officialmaulen

http://www.twitter.com/officialmaulen   

Mark Solotroff/Today The Infinite, Tomorrow Zero/2023 Full Length Review

 

  Mark  Solotroff  are  a  solo  project  from  New  York  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2023  album  "Today  The  Infinite,  Tomorrow  Zero".

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  each  track  is  also  over  6  minutes  in  length.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  ambient  along  with  some  noises  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction.

  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  album  also  has  its  experimental  moments.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  repetitive  sounding  along  with  each  song  adding  in  an  improvised  atmosphere  and  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  distorted  frequencies  in  with  the  extra  layers  of  synths.    

  On  this  recording  Mark  Solotroff  takes  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  ambient  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Mark  Solotroff  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  ambient,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Weight  of  Your  Own"  "Desire  Without  Wounds"  "Almost  All  Promises"  and  "The  Hold  on  Life".  8  out  of  10.

  https://marksolotroff.com

https://www.instagram.com/marksolotroff

https://www.facebook.com/solotroff

https://marksolotroff.bandcamp.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qzS0Txu14VyMELnNLjspk

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mark-solotroff/342943745

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C4G4YR5G  

The Mercury Impulse/Records of Human Behavior/20234 Full Length Review

 

  The  Mercury  Impulse  are  a  duo  from  Chicago,  Illinois  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  experimental  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2024  album  "Records  of  Human  Behavior"  which  will  be  released  in  August.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  start  off  the  album  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  a  lot  of  the  album  also  being  improvised  and  the  synths  also  add  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  when  they  are utilized.

  Drones  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  one  song  also  introduces  electric  guitar  noises  onto  the  album.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  sticking  to  more  of  an  instrumental  direction,  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  which  also  enhance  the apocalyptic  atmosphere  of  the  music,  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  The  Mercury  Impulse  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  experimental  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  The  Mercury  Impulse  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  experimental  and  if  you  are a  f an  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Keeping  my  Second  Self  Invisible"  "Miles  of  Smoldering  Trash"  and  "Lessons  of  Apathy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://themercuryimpulse.bandcamp.com

  

Naturale/Meditation Over Morket/Yoshiwara Collective/Svensk Psych Aften/Vinyltroll Records/Virkelighedsfjern/2023 Full length Review

 

  Naturale  are  a  solo  project  from  Denmark  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  psychedelic  and  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2023  album  "Meditation  Over  Morket"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Yoshiwara  Collective,  Svensk  Psych  Aften,  Vinyltroll  Records  and  Virkelighedsfjern.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  chants  and  percussion  style  instruments  a  few  seconds  later.  Drones  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  the  acoustic  guitars  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  and  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  more  of  a  melodic  style.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  psychedelic  sounding  while  keyboards  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  The  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  60's  and  70's  music  with  a  more  modern  outlook  along  with  most  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  there  is  one  song  that  is  also  an  instrumental  as  well  as  one  song  also  introducing  programmed  beats  onto  the  album.

  Naturale  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  drone,  psychedelic  and  folk  music  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Danish  and  cover  the  human  relationship  with  nature  and  the  effect  the  darkness  of  winter  has  on  the  human  psyche.

  In  my  opinion  Naturale  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  psychedelic  and  folk  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Morket"  and  "Ilden".  8  out  of  10.

  https://virkelighedsfjern.bandcamp.com/album/vir064-meditation-over-m-rket            

Megafauna/The Sea Meets The Sky/Syrup Moose Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Megafauna  are  a  solo  project  from  British  Columbian,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  ep  "The  Sea  Meets  The  Sky"  which  was  released  by  Syrup  moose  Records.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  start  off  the  ep  while  militant  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Guitar  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  most  of  the  music  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  as  well  as  the  recording  also  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  at  times.

  A  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  improvised  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  Drones  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  touches  of  dungeon  synth  when  they  are  utilized,  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  

  Megafauna  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Megafauna  is  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ethical  Consumption"  and  "My  Hands  Hurt  From  All  The  Wringing".  8  out  of  10.

  https://themegafauna.bandcamp.com/album/the-sea-meets-the-sky-ep      

Desiderii Marginis/Serenity/Rage/Cyclic Law/2023 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  recording  from  Sweden's  solo  project  Desiderii  Marginis  which  showed  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  death  industrial  and  the  album  was  released  in  2023  by  Cyclic law  and  called  "Serenity/Rage".

  Spoken  word  parts  and  dark  ambient  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  introducing  synths  into  the  music. Programmed  beats  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  one  of  the  songs  is  also  a  Brighter  Death  now  cover  which  also  introduces  elements  of  death  industrial  onto  the  recording.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  At  times  the  music  also  brings  in  the  atmosphere  of  a  horrible  nightmare  or  a  horror  movie  soundtrack  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  power  electronics  onto  the  album  

  On this  recording  Desiderii  Marginis  takes  dark  ambient  and  the  more  clam  side  of  death  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  the  contradictory  human  capacity  to  do  both  good  and  evil.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Desiderii  Marginis  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  dark  ambient  and  death  industrial,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "I  Was  Destroying  Icons"  and  "The  Hours  of  Darkness".  8  out  of  10.

  VIEW ON BANDCAMP

All Are To Return/III/Tartarus Records/2024 Full Length Review

 

  All  Are  To  Return  are  a  duo  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  and  experimental  mixture  of  death  industrial  and  harsh  noise  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2024  album  "III"  which  was  released  by  Tartarus  Records.

  Power  electronics  start  off  the  album  before  adding  in  some  harsh  noises  while  the  songs  also  mix  in  a  lot  of  death  industrial  elements.   Aggressive  screams  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background  along  with  the  electric  guitars  also  adding  in  melodic  guitar  leads  as  well  as  mixing  in  elements  of  metal.

  Programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  The  album  also  has  its  experimental  moments  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  some  synths  and  percussion  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  great  amount  of  brutality  and  apocalyptic  soundscapes.

  All  Are  To  Return  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  experimental,  harsh  noise  and  death  industrial  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  cover  the  harshness  of  life.

  In  my  opinion  All  Are  To  Return  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental  mixture  of  harsh  noise  and  death  industrial  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLDUE  "Hunger  Stones"  "Drift"  and  "Kenopsia".  8  out  of  10.

  https://allaretoreturn.bandcamp.com/album/aatr-iii  

 

 

M.B/Bacillusmetrial Entopathogen/Attenuation Circuit/Grubenwehr Freiburg/2024 Full Length Review

 

  M.B  is  a  solo  artist  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone  and  dark  ambient  and  this  a  review  of  his  2024  album  "Bacillusmetrial  Entopathogen  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Attenuation  Circuit  and  Grubenwehr  Freiburg.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  while  all  3  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized  briefly.

  Noises  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  science  fiction  soundtrack.  The album  also  has  its  repetitive  moments  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  some  of  the  album  also  captures  a  very  lo-fi  approach.

  M.B  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone  and  dark  ambient  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well as  sticking  to  mostly  an  instrumental  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi  while  the  song  themes  focus  more  on  apocalyptic  science  fiction.

  In  my  opinion  M.B  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone  and  dark  ambient  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Entopathogen".  8  out  of  10.

  

https://emerge.bandcamp.com/album/bacillusmetrial-entopathogen

    

Noisepoetnobody/The City/Scry Recordings/2023 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  an  album  from  Seattle,  Washington's  solo  project  Noisepoetnobody  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  industrial  and  minimalism  and  the  album  was  released  in  2023  by  Scry  Recordings  and  called  "The  City".

  Home  made  instruments  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  Starship  "We  Built  This  City"  samples  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  gets  mixed  in  with  a  more  experimental  and  avant  garde  style.  Programmed  electronic  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  minimalistic  touch.

  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  long  and  epic  in  length  while  noises  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  album.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  distorted  drones  also  being  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  some  of  the  beats  also  adding  in  elements  of  industrial  and  most  of  the  album  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction.

  On  this  recording  Noisepoetnobody  takes  noise,  drone,  experimental,  industrial  and  minimalism  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  recording  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  lo-fi.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Noisepoetnobody  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  noise,  drone,  experimental,  industrial  and  minimalism,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Parking  Garage"  and  "Thought  Fragments".  8  out  of  10.

  http://www.facebook.com/noisepoetnobody

http://www.noisepoetnobody1.bandcamp.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/noisepoetnobody

http://www.scryrecordings.com/posts/artist/noisepoetnobody        

Gridfailure/Interstitia/Sunyata Ontology/Pax Aeturnum/2023 Collaboration Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  collaboration  between  North  Carolina's  Interstitia  and  new  York's  Gridfailure  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  experimental,  industrial,  noise  and  electronic  music  and  the  album  was  released  in  2023  by  Pax  Aeturnum  and  called  "Sunyata  Ontology".

  Power  electronics  and  industrial  style  programmed  beats  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  electronic  music  elements.  Apocalyptic  sounding  noises  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  a  lot  of  the  music  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  dystopian  sci-fi  movie  soundtracks.

  When  electric  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  while  the  album  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  at  times.  A  great  portion  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  when  synths  are utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  dark  ambient.

  Some  of  the  album  also  adds  in  a very  psychedelic  atmosphere  along  with  the  programmed  beats  also  adding  in  more  of  a  techno  style  on  some  of  the  tracks.  When  vocals  are  introduced  onto  the  album  they  are  done  in  more  of  an  aggressive  industrial  metal  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  a  new  cold  war  with  soem  sci-fi  and  dystopian  inspirations.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  collaboration  between  Interstitia  and  Gridfailure  and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient,  experimental,  industrial,  noise  and  electronic  music,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Call  Of  The  Black  Hand"  "Traces  Of  Cult  Factions"  "A  Grim  Calling  Card"  and  "Sunyata  Ontology".  8  out  of  10.

   

https://linktr.ee/interstitiaaa

https://interstitia.bandcamp.com

https://linktr.ee/gridfailure

http://www.gridfailure.bandcamp.com

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