My Silent Wake/Damnum Per Saeculorum/Opa Loka Records/2020 CD Review

 

  United  Kingdom's  My  Silent  Wake  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  very  haunting  and  experimental  mixture  of  ambient  soundscapes  and  acoustic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Damnum  Per  Saeculorum"  which  was  released  by  Opa  Loka  Records.

  Ambient  style  keyboard  start  off  the  music  and  also  gives  the  music  a  very  tragic  and  melancholic  feeling  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  A  lot  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumental  along  with  one  song  also  introducing  tribal  style  drums  and  field  recordings  into  the  music.

  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  to  the  songs  while  stringed  instruments  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Black  metal  screams  and  death  metal  growls  can  also  be heard  some  of  the  songs  along  with  a  clean  vocals  also  being  added  on  some  of  the  as  well  as  the  music  also  bringing  in  more  of  a  medieval  style  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.

 Female  vocals  can  also  be  heard on  some  of  the  songs along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  some  ritualistic  bells  and  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar.  The  music  also  has  its  experimental  moments  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  some  evil  sounding  whispers,  Folk  instruments  can  also be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Some  of  the  songs  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  of  the  songs  also  introducing  spoken  word  parts  into  the  music.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  operatic  choirs  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  as  the  album  progresses  melodic guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  medieval  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great recording  from  My  Silent  Wake  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ambient,  neo-folk,  soundscapes,  medieval  music,  goth,  black  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Warhawks"  "Arfyn"  "To  Feel  The  Caress  Of  Long  Dead  Lovers"  and  "Monochrome".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/MySilentWake      

Helfir/The Journey/My Kingdom Music/2020 CD Review

 

  Italy's  solo  project  Helfir  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  dark  rock  and  gothic  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "The  Journey"  which  was  released  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

  Programmed  electronic  beats  and  atmospheric  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clear  goth  rock  style  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  Clean  guitars  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  one  track  also  introducing  operatic  female  vocals  into  the  music  and  acoustic  guitar's  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  When  electric  guitars  are  added  into  the  music  they  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  goth  metal  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  Some  of  the  slower  riffing  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  doom  metal  along  with  all  of  the  songs  sounding  different  from  each  other  which  also  gives  the  album  a  lot  more  diversity.

  folk  instruments  and  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  as  well  as  the  music  also  getting  very  atmospheric  and  progressive  sounding  at  times  and  all  of  the songs  also  stick  to  a  slower  direction,  growls  and  demonic  voices  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark,  melancholic  and  esoteric  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Helfir  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  rock  and  gothic  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Game"  "Clouds"  "Traces  Of  You"  and  "Silent  Path".  8  out  of  10.

 http://facebook.com/helfirofficial

https://youtu.be/l0zuxEx7ASE

A Tribute To Tiamat/Antichrist Magazine/2020 Compilation Album Review

 

  Tiamat  are  a  band  from  Sweden  that  has  been  around  for  almost  30  years  and  started  out  playing  more  of  a  first  wave  style  of  black  metal  before  evolving  more  into  a  doom/death  emtal  direction  than  the  goth metal  style  which  they  are  the  most  well  known  for  on  this  is  a  review  of  a  compilation  album  with  bands  doing  cover  versions  of  their  songs  which  will  be  released  by  Antichrist  Magazine  on  September  30th  and  we  will  review  the  tracks  one  by  one.

  Myrholt  brings  us  "Ancient  Entity"  which  starts  out  with  some  dark  yet  heavy  riffing  along  with  some  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  The  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  synths  also  giving  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  and  elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  song  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Verdoemd  brings  us  "I  Am  The  King  Of  Dreams"  which  starts  out  with  some  heavy  riffing  along  with  some  blackened  screams  a  few  seconds  later.  When  the  music  speeds  up a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies,  the  song  also  adds  in  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and fast  parts  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  bringing  in  a  very  melodic  style  and t he  vocals  also  use  a  shouting  approach  at  times.

  Pantheon  brings  us  "In  A  Dream"  which  starts  out  with  some  symphonic  style  synths  while  the  track  is  also  very long  and  epic  in  length.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  song  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly death  metal  growls  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a   decent  amount  of  melody,  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times,  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  

  Xenos  brings  us  "Smell  Of  Incense"  which  starts out  with  some  heavy  yet melodic  riffing  while t he  solos  and  leads  bring  in  more  of  an  old  school  metal/rock  style.  Vocals  are  done  in  more  of  A  Celtic  Frost  and  first  wave  black  metal  style  along  with  some  elements  of  doom  metal also  being  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  song.  

  Ekku  brings  us  "The  Sleeping  Beauty"  which  starts  out  with some  clean  playing  along  with  some  symphonic  elements  a  few  seconds  alter  before  going  into  more  of  a  heavier  and  melodic  musical  direction.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  vocals  adding  in a   mixture  of  grim  black  metal  screams,  growls  and  spoken  word  parts.

  Zanpanzer  brings  us  "The  Scapegoat"  which  starts  out  with  some  heavy  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  high pitched  black  metal  screams. Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  clean  playing  also  being  utilized  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody,  when t he  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them. 

  Ironthorn  brings  us  "Whatever  That  Hurts" which  starts  out  with  some  slow  doom  metal  style  riffing  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard at  times  along  with  the  clean  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  or  hard  rock style  and  the  guitar  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  The  Revenge  Project  brings  us  "The  Ar"  which  starts  out  with  some  clean  playing  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also b e  heard  in t he  slower  sections  of  the  song   along  with  the  songs  also  giving  the  song  more  of  a  goth atmosphere  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  blackened  death  metal  growls.  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly

  Astralbone  brings  us  "Gaia"  which  starts  out  with  some  acoustic  guitars  and  psychedelic  sounding  keyboards.  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  along  with  the  vocals  being  mostly  death  metal  growls  as  well as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Tyhja  brings  us  "Phantasma  de  Luxe"  which  starts  out  with  some  acoustic  guitar  playing  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  neo-folk  feeling.  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  track  along  with  some  depressive  sounding  cries  also  being  utilized  briefly  and  the  song  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  Alphastate  brings  us  "Brighter  Than  The  Sun"  which  starts  out  with  some  hard  and  heavy  riffing  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  heavy  metal/rock  style.  The  clean  vocals  also  give  the  song  more  of  a  gothic  rock  feeling  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  mid  tempo style.

  Savoath  brings  us  "Cain"  which  starts  out  with  some  nature  sounds  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later.  Clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  the  slower  riffs  also  adding  in  elements  of  doom  metal  as  well  the  clean  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  a  goth  metal  style  and  touches  of  industrial  can  also  be heard  at  times.

  Rogue  Ogre  closes  the  compilation  with  "Equinox  Of  The  Gods"  which  starts  out  with  some  dark  yet  melodic  riffing  while  the  vocals  are  done  in  a  rough  yet  somewhat  clean  style  as  well  as  adding  in  a  few  growls.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard,  synths  also  give  the  song  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  towards  the  end.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  compilation  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  Tiamat,  black,  doom,  death,  goth  and  heavy  metal.  8  out  of  10.

 https://youtu.be/reHuJYdrXKM 

                     

Helfir/The Human Defeat/My Kingdom Music/2017 CD Review

  Helfir  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  rock  and goth  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "The  Human  Defeat"  which  will  be  released  in June  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

   Electronic  music  sounds  along  with  some  clean  playing  starts  off  the  album before adding  in  a  more  heavy  goth  and  doom  metal  style  which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  melodic  guitar  leads  as  well  as  some  death  metal  growls  being  utilized  at times  and  you  can  also  hear  a  lot  or  melody  in  the  riffing.

  Melodic  singing  is  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  a  great  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  while  some  tracks  also  use  whispered vocals  while  a  great  amount  of  the  tracks  add  in  elements  of  neo  folk  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Helfir  expands  on  the  acoustic  dark  rock  style  of his  previous  release  while  adding  in  elements  of  goth,  death  and  doom  metal  to  create  something  different,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Helfir  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  neo  folk,  dark  rock  and  goth  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/helfirofficial/

Helfir Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and musical project?
The name HELFIR is the summary of artistic life of Luca Mazzotta. The project stems from the need to undertake a delicate trip in the ego that acts as a real catharsis for the artist.

2.In April you have a new album  coming out, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
The sound of "Still Bleeding" is rock, metal but with influences of dark music, celtic and electronic music. The melody in the whole album has a fundamental role and every sound was chosen very carefully.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your solo material?
The lyrics express anger, resentment and draw pictures of old memories, in short, a bit 'of my life. Also in the lyrics, there is a lot of symbolism which is the continuum of the entire album.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Helfir'?
HELFIR the name comes from a series of concepts that are derived from the culture of northern Europe. Generally does not reveal why the full meaning, but I leave the listener to understand the use of the imagination, through music, what lies behind this name.

5.With this project you record mostly everything by yourself, how would you compare this to working with a full band?
Working with a full band is very difficult, you have to find people who enter into the mood of the compositions. For this reason, I prefer to always look very professional people that can easily reproduce what I have recorded in the studio.
Fortunately I have several years of experience with the bands so do not think it will be difficult to play live the album.

6.Have you done any live shows with your solo project?
Yes, I have already made several live, for example with Antimatter band, playing in acoustic set, some songs. Of course I had to rearrange the guitar sounds by electricity, the drums; all sounded very intimate.

7.On a worldwide level how have your fans reacted to your solo material that have heard it so far?
I can say that for now the answers were always very positive, genre liked and all this made me very happy. Many people have enjoyed the search of the sounds and the melody of the songs.

8.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part off?
I play with NID, a band in which propose neofolk music; they are great friends so they are realizing that to me is a time of hard work. In all this, however, have not missed all the commitments of this band. I always try to work better with everyone.

9.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?
I hope I can play around a lot, bring my music to as many people as possible. I'm a musician now for about twenty years and this work always makes me so emotional. A musician has always given me a lot of satisfaction and I hope therefore to continue to write music and play live anywhere in the world.

10.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?
This is really a good question, very difficult to summarize. I listen to all the music, without exclusion. My favorite genres, the ones that I feel very close to me are the rock, metal and celtic music (played on acoustic guitar). Currently I'm listening to a lot of metal bands (Opeth, Katatonia, Dark Tranquillity, and many records of Doc Watson (a talented musician of bluegrass music).

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
I am a PhD student in Ecology and Climate Change. Besides the music I really love nature, I like to study it and to contribute to help in scientific research. I like then study science, but I really love traveling also. Each trip is for me a huge growth as a human being.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
I wish to thank those who have believed in me, in my music, my friends who have given me so much more strength to go on. I hope that my first album can be a good start for this trip with HELFIR. I would also like to thank the label My Kingdom Music with whom now work, who believed in me and that always shows an incredible professionalism.

https://www.facebook.com/helfirofficial/

Helfir/Still Bleeding/My Kingdom Music/2015 CD Review

  Helfir  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  plays  decadent  dark  rock  with  some  metal  influences  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2015  album  "Still  Bleeding"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  My  Kingdom  Music.

  Dark  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  giving  the  music  and  atmospheric  and  ambient  feeling  and  a  few  seconds  later  acoustic  guitars  that  utilize  finger  picking  and  spoken  word  parts  are  added  onto  the  recording  and  the  music  starts  to  get  a  lot  more  powerful  once  the  dark  and  electric  guitars  are  added  onto  the  recording.

  Melodic  guitar  leads  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  on  the  recording  and  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  doom  and  post  metal  feeling  and  on  the  other  tracks  the  acoustic  guitars  also  start  utilizing  full  chords  at  times  and  you  can  also  hear  quite  a  lot  of  clean  singing  vocals  on  most  of  the  tracks  and  some  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  and  bagpipes  and  there  are  also  a  few  tracks  that  are  long  and  epic  in  length  and  towards  the  end  elements  of  trip  hop  can  be  heard  at  times.  

  Helfir  plays  a  style  of  dark  rock  that  is  mostly  acoustic  but  does  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  metal  at  times  along  with  elements  of  ambient  and  trip  hop  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and melancholic  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Helfir  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark  rock  project  with  some  metal  influences  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "My  Blood"  "Dresses  Of  Pain"  "Portrait  Of  A  Son"  and  "Night  And  Deceit".  8  out  of  10.

facebook.com/helfirofficial

Dionisyan Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
1. the DIONISYAN, a chiaroscuro of my spiritual soul, of my artistic creativity always changing, I dedicate myself totally to the writing both the music and lyrics, faces introspection Being and the Redemptive Catharsis of which I have dealt with all the compositions, arrangements, lyrics, vocal melodies and musical transcriptions for every instrument I played in the recording studio for the creation of the first album of Dionisyan (rhythm guitars 7 strings, classical guitar, lute, bass 5 strings, drums, keyboard and male voice Gregorian).  On January 7, 2015 he released the first concept album of my new musical project DIONISYAN for the Italian label Beyond Productions / Masterpiece that I think is one of the few Italian Labels series that works well at the international level and will do a decent job for the promotion, distribution to disclose the Album in the World

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the demo you have released in 2012?
2. The Sound of the final Dionisyan that I got in the recording studio, the amalgam symphonic doom metal / progressive death metal, with elements of gothic, atmospheric, funeral, heavy and epic metal, which give a touch of originality to my musical proposal, amalgamating with Baroque classical music and traditional Arab music.  Basically the first album "The Mystery of Faith" is different from the first EP "Land of Dreams" in 2012 for many factors. Ep "Land of Dreams" songs are chiaramentediverse compared Album. Meanwhile the kind proposed was atmospheric doom / melodic death metal despite having a massive dose of power, melody and gloomy arrangements. Instead I wanted to create a Music Album sulphurous a thousand dimensions. Gothic atmospheres and melancholic. A complex between Metal, Classical Music Baroque and Progressive Metal with the intention of making music from deep feelings, full of pathos, dark emotions and melancholic, mix in complex arrangements leaden, very different from anything that I composed, created and arranged with the Ep

3.This musical project has been around since 2010 but so far has only released one demo and a full length, can you tell us a little bit more about the gap between releases?
 3. At year-end 2012 to early 2014 I dedicated myself to all the compositions, orchestrations, arrangements and lyrics that are the result of my academic studies of classical music, in particular for the German and Italian Baroque style, from the end of 17 'century until the middle of the 18 'century, blended to metal music, in particular from doom metal to a large part of its sottogeneri.Sicuramente "THE MYSTERY oF FAITH" is a Piece of Music avantgarde very elaborate and attention to detail, leaving no nothing to chance. I also dealt with all the lyrics, vocal melodies and musical transcriptions for every instrument I played in the recording studio for the realization of the first concept album dedicate myself totally to the writing both the music and the lyrics. ! The voices growl is my faithful collaborator for 6 years Ignazio Conticello who sang over the first album "THE MYSTERY OF FAITH" the first EP of Dionisyan of 2012 "LAND OF DREAMS", also on the first Ep of 2011 and the first album coming out in 2015 and the last of the Leper Divine Ep of 2010 of Sortilegium.


4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?
4. I wrote a concept divided into eight parts as the songs that are part of the Album. I conceived, imagined and wrote a fantasy concept, divided into hued epic poems, romantic and introspective, speaking in key Poetics of love, psychology, philosophy, existentialism, religion and so on, directly in English, in song form in rhymed verses . A love story transcendental and contemplative, between the Angel of Redemption, called Nathaniel and Fallen angel of lust by definition, that Lilith.


5.I know the name 'Dionisyan' comes out of both Greek and Roman religion, how does the name fir in with the musical style that bring onto your recordings?
5. Everything comes to the case because living in Sicily, especially in the area of Ancient Greece, I also wanted to give an impression of my Mediterranean Culture. Since the Concept Album is set in Sicily in the fourth century, during the Greek colonization, I wrote poems that cathartic ricolelgavano to those of the Greek poets of that era.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you planning on expanding the line up in the future or do you chose to remain a duo?
6. My choice was to remain that Dionisyan my solo project, but in the studio I invited some of my academic colleagues to take part in the recordings of classical instruments recorded in the Album "THE MYSTERY OF FAITH" in Gregorian female voice, harp, violins, violas, cello and harpsichord.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal?
7. A level World am having some interest in my musical proposal made with DIONISYAN and day by day many lovers of Doom metal and its substyles become fan of dionisyan, appreciating think mainly my avant-garde musical proposal to have renewed a new genre music and the very fact of amalgamating Baroque Classical Music, Progressive Metal, Traditional Arab Music and various metal styles including primarily the Doom Metal.
Certainly the first official videoclip made to publicize the World Dionisyan think has played an important and dominant to let us know everywhere.

8.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical  projects these days that both of the band members are a part off?
8. This year will be released again for the Beyond production / Masterpiece distribuition the first album of my other new musical project, the LEPER DIVINE, which will execute and play it will record electric guitars rhythmic solos, bass and drums and Ignazio Conticello will be the voice growl !
With LEPER DIVINE propose an innovative progressive / technical brutal death metal with elements of jazz and classical music. Already there is an asset the first EP in 2011 titled 2 Contagion ".

9.Where do you see this project heading into musically during the future?
9. I'm already working on the second concept album of DIONISYAN. For sure it will be much more 'complex musically regarding the compositions, arrangements and orchestrations from the first album "THE MYSTERY OF FAITH" that already anyway presents his musical innovation at the forefront for the contrasts of genres that I mixed between them, but in the second album I'll move to other genres of music not to fossilize the DIONISYAN only to what I've done so far and go beyond the boundaries with other musical styles to get ahead in my evolutionary path as Composer, multi-instrumentalist and Teacher Music.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
10. Actually, I have no real influence by other composers and musicians, but my love for the music and the typical compositions of the Baroque Classical Music, with its Massimi exponents who have opened the roads to the entire Music contemporary, see among all; Johan Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli, Telemann and Philippe George Frederich Handel compositionally they gave me the right reflection to create compositions never ends in themselves, always evolving, in what concerns the techniques of polyphony contrapuntal that hovers over any songs that is part of the Album.  From the first to the last note of the whole album, there is a continuous logical thread made of stairs in Hungarian scope of polyrhythm polyphonic contrapuntal, with harmonic major and minor and chromatic scales tonal and tonal harmonies on various degrees of ascending and descending octaves, that make a band Dionisyan Original and differentiable for his musical and technical baggage for its Sound captivating, dark, powerful, melodic, sweetly sad and melancholy, in all its variants.

Certainly I think the immediacy of Melody, listening  of every note harmonized games much on finding a particular music, that will involve any listener who wants to get closer to hear something they can identify with. I think that can happen in Dionisyan everything.

11.How would you describe your views on Occultism?
11. I studied witchcraft, magic, paganism, the book of spells and occultism especially at its highest dawn in the Middle Ages, 400 years of succession of stories and legends that have left their mark on all those who nowadays seek answers delel in-depth astounded they do to try to find answers for centuries leave the time they find .. L 'occultism has since its a special mystique that has always fascinated me and that at the time of my musical project SORTILEGIUM wrote the lyrics dedicating their to the issues mentioned above.

Facebook

Instagram

Myspace

Twitter

Dionisyan/The Mystery Of Faith/Beyond Productions/2015 CD Review

  Dionisyan  are  a  duo  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  symphonic  funeral  doom  metal  and melodic  progressive  death  and  with  some  elements  of  goth,  classical,  Baroque  and  traditional  Arabian  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "The  Mystery  of  Faith"  which  will  be  released  on  January  7th  by  Beyond  Productions.

   Classical  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  before  going  for  more  of  a  melodic  and  heavier  doom  metal  direction  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  after  a  few  seconds  death  metal  growls  become  a  very  strong  part  of  the  recording  and  the  songs  also  add  in  elements  of  classical  music  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  A  good  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  synths  are  added into  some  parts  of t he  songs  they  bring  in  more  of  a  funeral  doom  metal  feeling  to  the  bands musical  style  along  with  a  great  amount  of  symphonic  elements  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  songs  start  bringing  in  more  clean  singing  male  and  female  vocals  and  they  also  give  the  album  more  of  an  operatic  feeling  when  they  are  utilized  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  slow  musical  direction  and  halfway  through  the  recording  elements  of  Baroque  and  Arabian  music  are  added  into  some  sections  of  the  songs.

  Dionsyan  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  that  is  very  dark,  melodic  ans  heavy  at  the  same  time  as  well  as  adding  in  elements  of  goth,  classical,  Baroque  and  Arabian  music  to  make  their  music  sound  a  lot  more  original,  the  production  has  a  very  professional  sound  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  on  the  emotions  of  Angels  and  demons.

  In  my  opinion  Dionisyan  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  symphonic  funeral  doom  metal  and melodic  progressive  death  and  with  some  elements  of  goth,  classical,  Baroque  and  traditional  Arabian  music  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band. 8  out  of  10.  

Dionisyan 

        

Eye Of Solitude Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
Sure, on the 25th of June, we have released a brand new album,our second full length entitled "Sui Caedere" released by Kaotoxin Records (Fra),have digitally re-released our  sold out self titled EP and we're getting ready for gigs with a carefully chosen set list,which includes songs from our first full length "The Ghost", "Awoken By Crows" EP and "Sui Caedere" album.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it differs from previous recordings?
Each session has given us more experience,starting with "The Ghost",and ending with "Sui Caedere", which is more mature. The sound varies from funeral doom to death metal, all encased in a sombre atmosphere. The new album sends the listener to a dark place,full of grief, anguish and despair, it's an introspective journey towards one's own self. We've tried to achieve a continuous overture of pain.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new release?
To answer that we must point that"Sui Caedere" is latin for "Suicide". The lyrics are all about negativity,anguish and despair. Each track is a reflection on life itself and at the same time, a constant struggle with suicidal thoughts, an analysis of what makes a person thinks about suicide and untimately commit this final act. We can say that the tracklist is a whole journey of how it starts, continues and ends. The difference is we have taken the concept a bit further and on the album,we try to immortalise what happens AFTER.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?
Eye Of Solitude in our vision means the centre point of loneliness. An abstract if i may add. A culminative point when an individuals find themselves surrounded by themselves. A constructive or destructive exploration of mind and soul's " Beyond".  It represents a personal rebirth, but in one's solitude, in emptiness, a high contrast of what one might think the name represents.

5. Has the band been able to play out live or is this strctly a studio project?
We have had several live appearances, thus we are not a studio project. We do not gig a lot,out of various reasons,the most important being the preparation of our live outs. Now, with a brand new album and with a brand new line-up we are prepring a bit more for live shows. Whether it be film projections,stage background,why not live actors,wheere the stage allows it. All these take time and a lot of preparation thus we are waiting for the proper time to unleash it all upon the world.

6. Currently the band is signed to Kaotoxin Records how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?
I met Nico of Kaotoxin in France while touring with my other band Unfathomable Ruination. Nico has arranged a gig in Lille and that's how we met. From there on it's all history hahaha. We got along famously both on a professional and personal level, and it went like that ever since. Kaotoxin is an extremely professional label, the support we got is incredible. Just knowing that someone believes in you as a band is probably the best support ever. All others are just material things.

7. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of underground metal?
Personally, I think "Sui Caedere" has been very well received,both by listeners and media. We have had some great reviews coming from UKEM (https://www.facebook.com/ukemrecords)
and Hymnes Funeraires (https://www.facebook.com/HymneFuneraire) and hopefully it wont stop here.

8. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?
With Unfathomable Ruination (brutal death UK) we are about to release our first full length under Sevared records (USA). We have recorded with 16 Cellar Studios (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance) and the result is devastatingly good. We've just played a kick ass gig with brutal death metal pioneers Malignancy and friends Cephalic Impurity and Murder Intentions, and for now we are preparing for more gigs.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?
We are always pushig ourselves to raise the bar. I must give away one of the insides of the band though haha,after finishing writing "Sui Caedere" I needed time to recover,the sensation is extremely unsettling and it got me towards the end.There is a huge need for mental stability to write over an hour's worth of desolating music. I reckon the next album is going to be even more devastating,more disturbing and unsettling. I can only expect better and better.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I'd rather not give any names only because they would be too many,but for Eye Of Solitude, the main influences are based in doom and doom death styles. Of course, we include various elements in our music,thus it's more of an amalgam of genres,which alltogether make EOS' music what it really is. We try to create music for the soul,from our souls.

11. How would you describe your views on Paganism?
I respect what everyone believes in,some people take belief to the extreme and that would be the negative part in the whole equation in my humble opinion.

12. Outside of music, what are some of your interests?
I enjoy most good things in life,i like nature a lot,given the fact that I'm Romanian and back home it abunds in relief forms,especially  mountains,i like animals,both as pets and as wild life forms,I enjoy spending time with all those close to me,my brothers in the bands,and family,but mostly I enjoy making music. It's my life long passion.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
We would like to thank you for this oportunity to share a few words with all of those who have'nt heard us yet,to say hello to our close ones and to have the pleasure of this interview!

Bandcamp

Facebook

Google+

Homepage

Myspace

ReverbNation

Twitter

YouTube

Eye Of Solitude/Sui Caedere/Kaotoxin Records/2012 CD Review

  Eye  Of  Solitude  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  death, doom, funeral, gothic, symphonic  and  ambient  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2012  album  "Sui  Caedere"  which  was  released  by  Kaotoxin  Records.

  Drums  range  from slow  to  mid  paced  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  fast  playing  or  blast  beats,  while  the  synths  bring  a  very  ambient,  atmospheric,  dark  and  symphonic  sound  to  the  music  as  well  as  utilizing  a  brief  use  of  violins,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  is  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  death,  funeral,  doom  and  gothic  metal  together  with  a  good  amount  of  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into  the  riffing  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  melodic  sounding  doom  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  they  use  finger  picking  to  add  more  ambiance  and  darkness  to  the  music.

  Vocals  range  from  deep  doom/death  metal  growls  to  guttural  vocals  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  while  the  lyrics  cover  paganism,  darkness  and  depressive  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  dark,  powerful  and heavy  sound  to it  with some  of  the  the  songs  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Eye  Of  Solitude  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  death,  funeral,  doom,  gothic,  symphonic  and  ambient  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  style,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Awoken  By  Crows"  "Strigoi"  "Totem  of  A  Pagan Thought"  and  "Yet  I  Breathe".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.


www.facebook.com/eyeofsolitudeband

Tiamat/Clouds/Century Media Records/1992 CD Review

  Tiamat are a band from Sweden that started out ss a black/thrash band then evolved into doom metal and later on gothic rock and this is a review of their 1992 album "Clouds" which was released by Century Media Records.

Drums are mostly slow beats on this album with some occasional fast playing and the occasional blast beat, while the keyboards have a very dark and atmospheric sound, as for the bass playing it follows the riffs coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars are a mixture between slow doom riffs with some mid paced to fat riffing that has a little bit of a black metal influence mixed with Swedish death metal, while the lead guitars are melodic guitar solos, as for the acoustic guitars they bring a small amount of light with some exotic scales played on a classical guitar to the dark music that is present on this album.

Vocals are mostly Swedish style death metal vocals that are very easy to understand with some spoken word passages, while the lyrics cover depressing, esoteric, and satanic themes, as for the production on this album which was recorded and mixed at the Woodhouse Studio in Germany sounds very professional and you can hear all of the instruments that are present on this album.

In my opinion this was one of Tiamat's best albums, and if you are a fan of Tiamat you probably already have this album. Recommended Tracks Include ""In A Dream" "The Sleeping Beauty" and "The Scapegoat". RECOMMENDED BUY.

Bandcamp (Candlelight Records)

Bandcamp (Napalm Records)

Facebook

Myspace

Official site @ archive.org

Twitter

YouTube