Abysmal Growls Of Despair/The Cold View/Songs Of The Deepest Skies/Frozen Light/2015 Split CD Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  France's  Abysmal  Growls  Of  Despair  and  Germany's  The  Cold  View,  2  solo  projects  that  have  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  the  album  is  called  "Songs  Of  The  Deepest  Skies"  and  was  released  by  Frozen  Light  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Abysmal  Growls  of  Despair  which  continues  the atmospheric funeral  doom  metal  sound  of  previous  recordings.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  atmospheric  sounding  synths  and  a  few  seconds  alter  a  very  heavy  sounding  bass  guitar  kicks  in  and  the  music  starts  going  for more  of  a  funeral  doom  metal  style  while  also  remaining  atmospheric  at  the  same  time and  after  a  few  minutes  deep  yet  guttural  death  metal  growls  start  becoming  a  huge  part  of  the  recording  and  all  3  of  his  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  they  also  stick  to  a  slow  musical  direction  throughout  his  side  of  the  recording  while  one  song  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Abysmal  Growls  Of  Despair  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  funeral  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Decay  Of  A  Man".

  Next  up  is  The  Cold  View  who  also  continues  his  mixture  of  drone  and  funeral  doom  metal  from  previous  recordings.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  acoustic  guitars  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  and  you  can  also  hear  synths  in  the  music  along  with  a  great  amount  of  drones  and  when  guitars  are  added  into  the  music  they  add  more  elements  of  funeral  doom  into  this  30  minute long  track  and  there  is  also  a  good  mixture  of  both  clean  and  heavy  parts while  the  vocals are deep  death  metal  growls  and there  is  also  a  great amount  of  percussion  work  being  utilized,  the  production  sounds  very dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  depression, darkness,  despair  and  loneliness.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  The  Cold  View  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  drone,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.

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

http://www.thecoldview.com

http://thecoldview.bandcamp.com

http://abysmalgrowlsofdespair.bandcamp.com

Temple Of Gnosis Interview

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

The best and most comprehensive way to present it is to use the introduction that stands on the official channels:

“Temple Of Gnosis is dark doom metal project founded in early 2015 by a person under the pseudonym H.M.T. If it is necessary to describe the music of this project with words and classify it in the subcategories of the genre, it could be said that the Temple of Gnosis are specifically playing "alchemical, occult death / doom metal". The concept is inspired by the Western esoteric tradition, especially the alchemical process of Enlightenment and within that, the first stage of the alchemical work called "deconstruction." Philosophically, this is the first process of transformation of mind and spirit, and it consists of catharsis (discharge and purification) and the destruction of the original structure in order for the new one to be built upon its ashes.

2.Recently you have released an ep, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

Although it’s impossible to describe in words something which can only be felt by your own senses, I can briefly say that on this release you can find a combination of dark ambient, sludge riffs and "growl" vocals, all supported by symphonic soundscapes, with the goal of creating a frightening and dark but in the same time majestic atmopshere, as if you entered the vast and secret interior of the Earth.

3.The musical project was formed early this year already has an ep out on a label, do you put a lot of time and effort in creating music?

Yes, I worked very hard on this release. Oftentimes I barely slept at night and ate. But I enjoyed every moment.

4.Our lyrics cove amount of Ceremonial Magick, Hermetic, and Alchemy topics, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in the Occult and Esoteric Arts.

I must correct you, there are no references to Ceremonial Magick in the lyrics of Temple Of Gnosis. As for Hermeticism and Alchemy, I was always interested in the areas of esotericism. What especially drew me to Hermetic art of Alchemy was its spiritual and psychological foundation. Those teachings are of utmost value to anyone who wants to reach some higher level of understanding of the world, both profane and esoteric. And you must first understand your own Self.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Temple Of Gnosis'?

The name represents a symbolical “place”, a metaphorical context through which the secret work is done and wisdom is transfered. Through this project I channel my own energy of my own Shadow-self and I introduce the secret symbols to both ignorant and wise eye. This is my own alchemical work and my own ‘temple’..

6.So far you have recorded everything by yourself with this musical project, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to remain solo?

I prefer doing certain things, like creating, myself. Artistic work is the ultimate expression of self, and I think that it’s best to be done individually. It’s the only way for the creation to be powerful and true.

7.According to the Metal Archives page you also run 'Prometheus Art & Design', can you tell us a little bit more about this company?

Prometheus Art & Design is not exactly a company, it’s just a name under which I collect and offer my works in the area of graphic design and multimedia. I’m offering services to artists, webzines, figures, brands, etc. Services include logo & cover designs, digital artwork for online presentations, flyer design, website setting up and design, blog setting up and design and video editing services. Visual aspect is sometimes more important than anything. There are many people who create fantastic stuff but they present them in a visual package you don’t want to touch, because they are not proficient in design or don’t have money to pay for it. So I offer prices acceptable to the ordinary guy who wants his creations to look great but doesn’t have money to pay some burgeoise designers. I was in this position too a few years ago, so I know very good how it is. But then I took time and learned to do it myself.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your ep by fans of extreme, dark and underground music?

I can say that the feedback is fantastic so far, I must admit I didn’t quite expect there would be so much interest in this kind of work, since it’s pretty underground, cryptic and dark. But I guess it’s heavy, archetypal symbolism and uniquely blended sounds that people react to. The music and concept reach to their core selves.

9.Are you also involved with any other bands or musical projects?

Yes, in a few, but nothing big.

10.When can we expect a full length album and also where do you see yourself heading into as a musician in the future?

I hope the full-length will be out before the end of this year. I constantly advance and evolve as a musician, there’s a constant flow and I honestly never know in what direction I will go.

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?

There are no some special bands or albums that influence my music. I can be inspired by a few seconds of some melody I hear on the streets and it converts in my head into some haunting symphony. As for this work, it’s probable that I was subcosciounsly influenced by a constellation of creations in the “dark side”, and even by random details in the sound. I generally listen to all forms of metal (of course, I prefer “darker” side of metal), rock, classical music, ambiental, industrial, soundtrack music, sacred & religious music, and so forth.

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Thank you for this interview and for the opportunity to speak about some more details of Temple Of Gnosis.

https://www.facebook.com/templeofgnosis/

Ataraxie/Slow Transcending Agony/Weird Truth Productions/2015 CD Re-Issue Review

  Ataraxie  are  a  band  from France  that plays  funeral  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2005  album  "Slow  Transcending  Agony"  which  was re-issued  in  2015  by  Weird  Truth  productions  as  a 10th  anniversary  special.

  Classical  guitars  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  background  noises  and  after  a  minute  the  music  starts  going  into  more  of  a  heavy  and  melodic  doom  metal  direction  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  on  the  second  track  death  metal  growls  start  becoming  a  huge  part  of  the  album.

  When high  pitched  screams  are  utilized  they  almost  give  the  music  a  depressive  black  metal  feeling  and  there  are  also  some  parts where  the  music  speeds  up  and  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  while  the  guitar  leads  when  they  are  utilized  are  very  dark  and  melodic  sounding  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  acoustic  guitars  also make  their return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  later  songs  also  bring  in  a  small  amount of  whispers  and  spoken  word  parts  and  they  also  close  the  album  with  a  cover  of  Disembowelment's  "The  Tree  of  Life  And  Death". 

  Ataraxie  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom   metal  that  goes  back  to  the  early  days  of  the  genre  and  also  mixes  in  a  touch  of  the  early  90's  doom/death  sound  and  a  slight  black  metal  influence  to  create  some  very  heavy  and  depressive  sounding  music,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  despair,  torture  and  suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ataraxie  are  a  very  great  sounding  funeral  doom/death  metal  band  and  if  you are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Funeral  Hymn"  and  "Another  Day  of  Despondency".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nk05ayK2fwY 

   

  

 

Temple Of Gnosis/Mysterivm Magnvm/Goathoarned Productions/2015 EP Review

  Temple  Of  Gnosis  are  a  solo  project  from  Serbia  that  plays  an  occult  mixture  of  sludge,  doom and  death  metal  with  a  touch  of  dark  ambient,  black  metal  and  symphonic  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2015  ep  "Mysterivm Magnvm"  which  was  released  by  Goathorned  Productions.

  A  very dark,  occult  and  avant  garde  sound  starts  off  the  ep  along  with  some  ambient  soundscapes  that  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  ritualistic  feeling  and  after  a  couple  of  minutes  the  music  starts  going  for  more  of  a  heavy  and  symphonic  style  of  doom  metal as  well  as  introducing  grim  growls  onto  the  recording.

  The  vocals  bring  in elements  of  both  death  and  black  metal  and  the  music  also  alternates  between  atmospheric  and  heavy  parts  as  well  as  mixing  them  together  at  times  and  all  4  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  mix  in  a  touch  of  sludge  and  the  whole  ep sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  and  when  spoken  word  parts  are  added  in  the  music  starts  bringing  in  even  more  of  an  ritualistic  atmosphere.

  Temple  Of  Gnosis  plays  a  musical  style  that  is mostly  rooted  in  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  but  also  mixes  it  elements  of  ritual  dark  ambient,  symphonic  music  and  black  metal  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very dark,  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  Western  Esoteric  Traditions,  Alchemy  and  Hermeticism. 

  In  my  opinion  Temple  Of  Gnosis  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  sludge,  doom  and  death  metal  with  a  blackened  touch  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS INCLUDE  "Mysterivm Magnvm"  and  "Thoth-Mercvrivs".  8  out  of  10.

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Plagueprayer/Forgotten Witchery/GSP Music/2015 CD Review

  Plagueprayer  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  plays  horror  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of their  2015  album  "Forgotten  Witchery"  which  was  released  by  GSP  Music.

  Ritualistic  sounds  and spoken  word  parts  start  off  the  album  and  after  the  intro  synths  are slowly  added into  the  music  being  more  on  the  lower  end  in  the  beginning  as  well  as  giving  the record  more  of  an  avant  garde  feeling  and  they  get  more  powerful  and  atmospheric  once  the  slow  yet  very  heavy  guitar  riffs  kick  in.

  Once  the  music  gets  heavy  the  music  goes  for  more  of  a  funeral  doom  metal  style  and  the  vocals  are  grim  screams  that  add  elements  of  black  metal  into  the  songs  while  deep death  metal  growls  are  used  as  well   and  most of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  they  also  add  clean  playing  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  sounds  you  hear  in  the  intro  also  make  a  return  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  very  slow  and  dark  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  end  of  the  recording  and  when  solos and  leads are  utilized  they  are  in  a  melodic  and  depressive  musical  direction..

  Plagueprayer  plays  a  very  slow,  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  style  of  funeral  doom  metal  that  also  has  the  epic  feeling  of  a  horror  movie  soundtrack,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  yet  heavy  at  the  same  time  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark themes.

  In  my  opinion  Plagueprayer  are  a  very  great  sounding  horror,  funeral  doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dark  Arcane"  and  "Contamination".  8  out  of  10.  

:https://plagueprayer.bandcamp.com/

   

Dryom/2/Solitude Productions/2015 CD Review

  Dryom are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  very  atmospheric  and  melancholic  form  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "2"  which  was  released  by Solitude  Productions.

  Clean  playing  and  atmospheric  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  a  minute  and  a  half  later  drum beats  and  guttural  death  metal  growls  are  added  into  the  music and  also  mix  in  with  the  clean  and  atmospheric  parts and  once  the  heavy  guitars  start  to  kick the  music  starts  going  into  a  funeral  doom  direction.

  All  4  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  songs also  bring  in  jew  harps  and  flutes  to  give  the  songs  an ethnic  folk  music  feeling  and  the  synths  also mix in  with  the  guitars  at  times  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  depressive  melodies  at  times  and  the songs  also  add  in  a  touch  of  dark  ambient  in  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.     

  Dryom  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom metal  that  is  very  slow,  dark,  heavy,  atmospheric  and  melancholic  sounding  and  also  adds  in  a  touch  of  folk  music  to  create  their  own  style,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature,  darkness,  melancholy  and  seclusion  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Dryom  are  a  very  great sounding  funeral doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Risunok"  and "Ona".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NZOLLBhSaA

Ommadon/Empathy For The Wicked/Golden Mantra 2015 CD Review

  Ommadon  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  very  dark,  heavy  and instrumental  mixture  of  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2015  album  "Empathy  For  The  Wicked"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Golden  Mantra.

  Harsh  noises  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  elements  of  ambient  in  the  background  which  evolve into  heavy drones  once  the  amp  and  reverb starts  to  kick  which  also  takes  the  music  into  a  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  doom/sludge  metal  direction  and  the  music  also  avoids  using  any  vocals  or  songwriting.

  Both  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic in  length  and  also  play  the  same  riff  for  long  periods  of  time  with  the  riffs  only  changing  slightly  on  the  second  side  of  the  recording  and  the  song  on  the  second  side  starts  out  very  calm  before  adding  into  ambient  drones  while  the  heavy  riffing  does  make  a  return  halfway  through  the  second  track  and  the  whole  album sticks  to  a  slow  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.

  Ommadon  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  the  slowest  and  darkest  elements  of  doom,  sludge  and  drone  and  mixes  them  together  with  a  touch  of  ambient  and  noise  as  will  as  using  no  vocals  to  create  a  style  of  their  own  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark and  heavy.   

  In  my  opinion  Ommadon  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  drone/doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  8  out  of  10.

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