Mohraang/Underworld Of Khorrendus/2016 Full Length Review

  Mohraang  are  a  solo  project  from  Russia  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2016  album  "Underworld  Of  Khorrendus".

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  water  sounds  a  few seconds  later  and  after  awhile  clean  guitars  are  added onto  the  recording  along  with  some  synths  and  it  also  mixes  in  with  the  more  heavy  and  melodic  guitars  which  also  takes  the  album  into  more  of  a  funeral  doom  metal  direction.

  A  couple  of  the tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  decent  amount  of  influences  from the  90s  as well  as  mixing  the  atmospheric  and  heavy  parts  together  and  all  of  the  songs  avoid  using  any  solos  and  leads  while  always  sticking  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.

  Mohraang  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  that  is  very  slow,  dark,  heavy  and  atmospheric  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  powerful  for being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Mohtaang  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  funeral  doom/death metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Part  II"  and  "Part  V".  8  out  of  10.

https://shadows-of-mohraang.ba ndcamp.com/album/underworld-of -khorrendus    

N.K.R.T Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the musical project these days?


Ave.

I have just finished recording the new album which will be called "Lectio Tenebrarum". Once again and as Niger Ritus or Miserere Nostri - Mhönos first album, the disc was recorded, mixed and mastered in the Sancta Crucis chapel. The designers Førtifem are currently working on the artwork of this new album.

Lately, I have repeated to prepare the concerts that will follow these recording sessions and worked on the sounds of the new instruments that I've crafted.


2.How would you describe the musical sound of the newer material?


First, as Niger Ritus, the new album Lectio Tenebrarum was fully live recorded and I've played - as I wrote just above – once again in Sancta Crucis chapel. I worked alone from beginning to end.

This album is a continuation of Niger Ritus. I changed some of the instruments employed on the previous by introducing some newly manufactured and removing others that were not appropriate to accompany the new lyrics. Overall, I removed almost all purchased instruments to replace them by the instruments I've crafted.

I worked a lot my vocals since the recording of Niger Ritus and I used various vocal techniques, some of which are new to N.K.R.T. In some ways, I reconnected with few vocal sounds of early Mhönos.

Lectio Tenebrarum is a triptych builded around three separate texts and is spread over three tracks from different recording sessions - unlike Niger Ritus which had been recorded once. Because I had more time to do it, I allowed myself to record the album several and several times to select the best shots.

Lectio Tenebrarum will be out for Winter Solstice on Nomos Dei productions, 12/21/2016.


3.What are some of the forms of Occultism you bring out in your music?

There was nothing, there is nothing, there will be nothing.

The music – trougth the texts - rather deals with emptiness of existence of the infinite struggle of our ego which tries in vain to combat the void, surviving through the complaint, the quest for visibility and handling of its reflection in other humans beings considered as mirors.

N.K.R.T doctrine can be summarized in this formula : IN SPECULUM VERITAS.


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'N.K.R.T'?

I can't answer, I'm sorry. Some things should better stay confidentials.


5.What are some of the best shows that you have done so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Luckily, I enjoy every concert even more than the last.

Music is indeed built around a highly ritualistic and ceremonial framing. Its purpose is clearly to be played on stage. I play alone, without lights, droned in deep incenses smokes.

Because I want to be totaly anonymous when I play, I hide my face under a large black hood and I play in the dark, lighted only by a few candles. It is important to me not to be recognized before or after the concerts because I do not want to play in order to be congratulated or well watched. Music must be the primary and essential thing and the individuality who plays should always disappear behind. Music has too much served my ego by the past, I wanted totally eradicate it through N.K.R.T.


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

I have no interest in touring, I prefer ponctuals and particulars concerts which have more interest for N.K.R.T.

In the next months, I will play in my town, Rouen, but also in Britany, north of France, Germany and festivals.


7.So far you have worked with Tour de garde Productions and Nomos Dei productions, are you happy with the support that they have given you so far?

Tour de Garde and Nomos Dei are true, honest, aesthetically faultless. Men who are behind are passionate but also very important actors of the dark sides of actual musics.

Their support is very important. They allowed the existence of N.K.R.T.


8.Recently you have done a collaboration with 'Clairiere', can you tell us a little bit more about it?

Clairière is a musical project led by a very talented musician who lives in my dear and beloved Rothomagus. After mutually discovered in concert, we were surprised by the many similarities of our projects and our way of thinking the music.

We decided to create something to celebrate the summer solstice and we have immortalized this performance on a self-produced cassette limited to 40 copies.

My recent experiences in bands were disasters, I had to leave some, I was fired of some others... I decided to only play alone now but Clairière came and gave me the desire to share – sometimes - the practice of music with other human beings.


9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your recordings by fans of dark and underground music?

Some person outside of France listen to my music because the labels I work with are Canadian and Russian. Foreign listeners began writing chronicles of Niger Ritus and I will give my first concert outside of France at the end of 2016.

I hope no success but I want to do more concerts in foreign countries, I'm satisfied by the way of things actually happend.


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

I see myself hidden under my hood during concerts and locked in my chapel during the recordings. All that is happening now satisfied me.

In the future, I hope to continue to find places and concert organizations N.K.R.T who appreciate and want to play me. That I most hope is to continue to find me trough this musical practice.


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?

I was marked by a concert by Attila Csihar with his solo project Void Ov Voices and two concerts done by Tibetan monks from Gyuto school which I attended. I listen to a lot of music with throat singings from Asia and Inuit areas, proto-christians and orthodox liturgies. Burzum, The Cure, Abruptum, Striborg and Xasthur are also great influences.

I was also very influenced by a band of my city that I consider as one of the most brilliant : ROSA CRUX. My city is a city both very very Gothic and industrial also has considerable influence on my way of seeing things.


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

I just want to thank you for this interview and for your interest on N.K.R.T.

Many thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/nkrtnkrt/

Aidan Baker/Tomas Jarmyr/Werl/Consouling Sounds/2016 Double Album Review

  Canada's  Aidan  Baker  and  Tomas  Jarmyr  team  up  together  to  create  a  recording that  mixes  psychedelia,  krautrock,  space  rock,  ambient,  noise  and  doom  metal  together  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2016  double  album  "Werl"  which  was  released  by  Cossouling  Sounds.

  Ambient  sounding  drones  start  of  the  album  and  the  music  also  brings  in  an  improv  feeling  once  the  drums  and  clean  guitars  kick  in  and  the  music  also  gets  very  avant  garde  and  experimental  at  times  and  after  awhile  the  guitars  start  getting  more  distorted  and  heavier  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Elements  of  both  psychedelic  and  space  rock  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  being  instrumental  and  the solos  and  leads  are  very  melodic  and  bring  in  touches  of  post  metal  and  a  great  amount of  diversity  can  be  heard  throughout  the  recording  while  the  riffs  also  mix  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal and  as  the  album  progresses  elements  of  noise  can  be  heard  and  when  bass  guitars  are  utilized  they  sound  very  powerful and  all  of  the  tracks  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  style.

  Aidan  Baker  and  Tomas  Jarmyr  creates an  instrumental  improv  that  mixes  in  done,  experimental,  psychedelia,  space  rock,  post  metal,  ambient,  noise  and  doom  metal  to  create  something  very  original  and  the  production  also  sounds  very powerful.

  In  my  opinion  Aidan  Baker  and  Tomas  Jarmyr  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  psychedelia,  krautrock,  space  rock,  ambient,  noise  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  8  out  of  10.  

https://www.facebook.com/AidanBakerMusic
https://www.facebook.com/tomasjarmyrofficial

Agonia/O Desvanecer/War Productions/2016 Cassette Review

  This  is  another  review  of  a  recording  from  Portugal's  Agonia  which  is  also  in  the  cataclismic  doom  metal  direction  with  the  cassette  being  called  "O Desvanecer"  which  was  released  by  War  Productions.

  A  very  dark  guitar  amp  sound  starts  off  the  cassette  which  also  leads  up  to  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  that  also  introduces  grim  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording  and  melodic  leads  are  also  utilized  at  times  and  the  music  also  brings  in  experimental  and  avant  garde  elements  into  some  parts  of  their  songs.

  All  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  touches  of  drone  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  clean  guitars  also  being  used  briefly  as  well  as  a brief  use  of  whispers  and  one  track  also  brings  in  melodic  chanting  and  the  same  song  is  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Agonia  creates  another  recording  that  is  very  slow,  dark  and  heavy  in  the  doom  metal  style  and  they  also bring  in  touches  of  black  metal  and  experimental  music,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  are  also  in  a  darker  direction.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  cassette  from  Agonia  and  if  you  are  a fan  of  dark/doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK "O Desvanecer".  8  out  of  10.

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Agonia/O Adormercer Eterno/War Productions/2016 Cassette Review

  Agonia  are  a  band  from  Portugal  that  plays  a musical  style  they  describe  as  being  'cataclismic  doom'  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  cassette  "O  Adormercer  Eterno"  which  was  released  by  War  Productions.

  An  atmospheric  drone  style  intro  starts  off  the  cassette  along  with  some  avant  garde  elements  being  utilized  and  after  the intro  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  which  also  utilizes  melodies  at  times  while  the  vocals  are  grim  screams  that  also  gives  the  music  a  touch  of  black  metal.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  fashion  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length  and  some  of  the  songs  have  an  experimental  approach  to  them  and  most  of  the  music  is  instrumental  and  also  remains  true  to  a  very  slow  style  and  melodic  chanting  can  also  be  heard  on  the  last  track.

  Agonia  plays  a  form  of  doom  metal  that  is  very  dark  and  heavy  sounding  while  also  having  its  experimental  and  avant  garde  moments  as  well  as  having  a  slight  black  metal  influences  that  amkes  the songs  sound  different  and  the  production  sounds  very  fark.

  In  my  opinion  Agonia  are  a  very  great  sounding  cataclismic  doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  different,  you  should  check  out t his  cassette.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Degenerescencia  Suave"  and  "Agonia  Triunfante".  8  out  of  10. 

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The Extinct Dreams/Fragmently Vechnosti/Stygian Crypt Productions/2016 CD Review

  The  Extinct  Dreams  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  funeral  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Fragmently  Vechnosti"  which  was  released  by  Stygian  Crypt  Productions.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  guitars  which  they  also  mix  in  with  the  funeral  doom  metal  sound  and  you  can  also  hear  a  great  amount  of  melodic  riffing  and  after  awhile  death  metal  growls  make  their  presence  known  on  the  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  use  a  great  amount  of  depressing  melodies.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  clean  singing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  all  of t he  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  and  also  have  a  good  mixture  of  both  modern  and  old  school  influences  and  as  the  recording  progresses  the  synths  start  getting  more  diverse  and female  vocals  are  added  onto  the  last  track.

  The  Extinct  Dreams  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom/death  metal  that  is  very  melodic  and  atmospheric  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Extinct  Dreams  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  "Karma"  and  "Fragments  Of  Eternity".  8  out  of  10.

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N.K.R.T/Niger Ritus/Tour De Garde Productions/2016 Cassette Review

  N.K.R.T  are  a  solo  project  from  France  that  plays  a  musical  style  he  describes  as  being  ritual,  organic,  black,  tortured,  ambient  drone  and  this  is  a review  of  his   2016  cassette  "Niger  Ritus"  which  was  released  by  Tour  De  Garde  Productions.

  Field  recordings  start  off  the  demo  along  with  some  Mongolian  and  Tibetan  style  chanting  in  the  background  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  shamanistic,  ritualistic  and  occult  atmosphere  and  both  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  after  awhile  bells  and  cymbals  are  added  onto  the  recording.

  Melodic  Gregorian  chants  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  a  great  amount  of  ethnic music  elements  and  grim  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  music  also  uses bones,  wood,  clay, and  stones  which  gives  the  music  more  of  a  stone  age  shamanistic  feeling  and  drones  along  with  death  rattles  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  tracks  and  the  last  song  was  recorded  live.

  N.K.R.T  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  metal,  ambient,  drone  and  mixes it  with  ethnic,  shamanistic,  ritualistic  and  experimental  music  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism themes.

  In  my  opinion  N.K.R.T are  a  very  great  sounding  ritual,  organic,  black,  tortured,  ambient  drone solo  project  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  cassette.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ante  Diem  XII  Kalendus  Iulias  Sancta  Crucis  Ritus".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=SgI7TFX3Y_Q

Self-Hatred/Theia/Solitude Productions 2016 CD Review

  Self-Hatred  are  a  band  from  the Czech  Republic  that  plays  a  very atmospheric  form  of  doom/death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Theia"  which  was  released  by  Solitude  Productions.

  A  very dark  yet  melodic  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  death  metal growls  a  few  seconds  later  and  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard  at times  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  use  a  great  amount  of depressive  and  melancholic  melodies  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  adds  even  more  of  a  black  metal  touch  to  the  bands  musical style  and  when  the  music  speeds  up a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  there  is  also  a  brief  keyboard  instrumental  before  returning  back  to  a  heavier  direction  and  later  tracks  also    bring  in  more  elements  of  funeral  doom.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in length  along  with  some  songs  using  a  small  amount  of  melodic  chanting  and  when they  mix  keyboards  in  with  the  heavier  parts  it  gives  the  music  a  more  dark and  atmospheric  sound  and  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  as  the  album  progresses  clean  guitars can  be  heard  in  certain sections  of  the  recording..

  Self-Hatred  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom  metal  that  is  very heavy,  melodic  and  atmospheric  while also  mixing  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  at  times,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  and  depressive  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Self-Hatred  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  funeral doom/death  metal b and  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out t his  alum.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Guilt"  "Attraction"  and "memories".  8  out  of  10.   

Self-Hatred Official Bandcamp