Profan/Bestial Awakening/Khthon/2022 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Portugal's  Profan  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of    noise,  drone,  dark  ambient,  ritual,  experimental  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2009  album  "Bestial  Awakening"  which  was  re-issued  in  2022  by  Khthon.

  Dark  ambient  style  synths  and  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  At  times  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  a  ritualistic  direction  while  drums  are  also  added  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  one  song  also  adds  in  some  clear  vocals.  Grim  black  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  on  a  few  tracks  along  with  some  death  metal  growls  also  being  utilized  briefly  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  which  also  shows  the  guitars  also  experimenting with  noise,  one  song  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  throat  singing  and  the  whole  recording  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.   

  On  this  recording  Profan  went  for  more  of  a  drone/doom  metal  style  which  also  showed  influences  of  black  and  death  metal.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism  and  darkness  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding recording  from  Profan  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  drone,  ritual  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Sea  Curses"  "Tower"  and  "Ice".  8  out  of  10.

  https://khthonios.bandcamp.com/album/bestial-awakening      

Impossible Color/Dead Leaves/Trepanation Recordings/2022 Full length Review

 

  Impossible  Color  are  a  solo  project  from  Montreal,  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  power  electronics,  drone,  experimental,  dark  ambient  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Dead  leaves"  which  was  released  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Distorted  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  power  electronics  a  few  seconds  later.  When  electric  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal  while  percussion  style  beats  can  also  be  heard  at  times   as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  being  done  in  an  improvised  style.

 Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  while  noises  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  When  high  pitched  screams  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  along  with  the  music  also  going  into  a  more  experimental  direction  at  times  and  the  whole  album also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction

  Impossible  Color  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  power  electronics,  drone,  experimental  dark  ambient  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focuses  on  nihilism,  divorce  and  being  an  addict  in  recovery.

  In  my  opinion  Impossible  Color  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  power  electronics,  drone,  experimental,  dark  ambient  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spectrum  Disorders  ()"Conceptual  Emptiness"  "Charcoal"  and  "Empathy".  8  out  of  10.

  https://trepanationrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/dead-leaves    

  

Pseudodoxia/The Sun And The Mirror/The Eerie And Radiant Doorless Rooms Of Pain/Brucia Records/2021 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album between  Italy's  Pseudodoxia  and  U.SA's  The  Sun  And  The  Mirror  called  "The  Eerie  And  Radiant  Doorless  Rooms  Of  Pain"  which  was  released  by  Brucia  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Pseudodoxia  a  duo  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone,  doom  metal,  experimental  and  noise  with  some  touches  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  along  with  some  clear  vocals  a  few  seconds  later.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  as  well  as  adding  some  noises  in  certain  sections  of  the  songs  and  the  bass  guitars  also  ad d in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.

  Melodic  guitar  leads  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  also  showing  an  influence  of  black  metal.  Screams  can  also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  both  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  different  from  each  other  and  touches  of  dark  ambient  are  also  added  in  some  parts  of  their  music,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Pseudodoxia  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone,  doom  metal,  experimental  and  noise  with  some  touches  of  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Holy  :  PIG  :  Solace".

  Next  up  is  The  Sun  And  The  Mirror  a  duo  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  orchestral,  doom  metal,  drone,  folk,  minimalistic  noise  and  psychedelic.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  along  with  some  heavy  yet  melodic  riffing  a  few  seconds  later  that  also  brings  elements  of  doom  metal  onto  their  side  of  the  recording.  Their  only  track  is  also  over  22  minutes  in  length  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  experimental  sounding.

  Clean  vocals  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  track  as  well  as  adding  in  a  touch  of  neo-folk.  When  cello's  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  more  of  an  orchestral  touch  and  the  song  also  mixes  in  touches  of  noise,  minimalism  and  psychedelia  as  well  as  always  sticking  to  a  slower  direction  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while t he  lyrics  cover  suffering  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Sun  And  The  Mirror  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  orchestral,  doom  metal,  drone,  folk,  minimalistic  noise  and  psychedelic  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.

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

https://bruciarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-eerie-and-radiant-doorless-rooms-of-pain      

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with      

Kowa Axis/Ones And Threes/Trepanation Recordings/2021 Double Album Review

 

  Kowa  Axis  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  guitar  orientated  and  improvised  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  double  album  "Ones  And  Threes"  which  was  released  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Electric  guitar  orientated  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  slow  riffing  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.  Harsh  noises  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  all  of  the  music  is  also  done  in  an  improvised  style.

  All  of  the  tracks  also  avoid  the  use  of  vocals  while  power  electronics  can  also be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  and at    tires  the music  into  more  of  a  drone/noise direction  along  with  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Kowa  Axis  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  harsh  noise  and  drone  and  mixes  it  in  with  heavy  doom  metal  guitars  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kowa  Axis  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  double  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Imposter"  "Miles  Between  Us"  "New  Way"  and  "Answer  To  No  One".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp Preview

ZAÄAR/Magická Džungl’a/I, Voidhanger Records/WV Sorcerer/Homo Sensibilis Sounds/2021 Double Album Review

 

  ZAÄAR  are  a  band  from  Belgium  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  space  ambient,  free  jazz,  psychedelic  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  double  album  "Magická Džungl’a"  which  will  be  released  in  November  as  a  joint  effort  between  I,  Voidhanger  Records,  WV Sorcerer,  and    Homo Sensibilis Sounds.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of t he  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Ritualistic  sounding  bells  can  also be  heard  briefly  along  with  some  whispered  chants  also  being  added  into  the  background  briefly  and  after  awhile  saxophones  and  elements  of  free  form  jazz  can  also  be  heard.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  while  the  percussion  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  tribal  feeling.  A  variety  of  many  different  style  of  wind  instruments  and  flutes  can  also  be  heard  and  also  adds  in  some  exotic  and  ethnic  touches  and  the  music  also  has  its  psychedelic  moments.

  When  electric  bass  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  touches  of  doom  metal  along  with  the  music  also  adding  spaced  ambient  sounds  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Drugs, Magick  and  Scientific  approaches  to  consciousness.  

  In  my  opinion  ZAÄAR  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  drone,  space  ambient,  free  jazz,  psychedelic  and  doom  metal   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Respiration  Aérobie"  and  "Grande  Oxydation".  8  out  of  10.

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/magicka-dz-ungl-a

       

Malvost Interview

 

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

Malvost is a project for me to experiment with abstract manipulated guitar sounds, trying to make drone pieces that intrigue me and coupling them with my poetry and lyrics. The project has been around for a few years before I put anything out to the public, it was during the pandemic and lockdown that I was really inspired to do more with these ideas and actually create some records with these sounds and words.

2.So far this year you have released 3 releases, musically how do they differ from each other?

The first release Invigningen was a simple raw demo, I had no idea if anyone would be interested at all in what I was doing, but a few people were and so I decided to self-release a short run tape release. I realised that the two tracks could sound better so I remastered them and put them together with a new track and an alternative version of one of the tracks, and this became the redux demo Återutgivningen. Alongside this I completed the EP Oljud, which is coming out on Trepanation Records in July. Oljud is definitely an expansion on the ideas on the demos, and it covers both the heavy drone-doom guitar and black metal vocals style as well as some more electronic ambient sounds too. The music on a couple of the tracks on Oljud had actually been around in an incomplete form since before I made the demos. Oljud is essentially the best four tracks I have made so far, both musically and lyrically, and in terms of sound are, I feel, a big step up from the demos.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you have also explored so far with the music?

My lyrics in Malvost will always cover existentialist themes in some form, and the pandemic and lockdown has certainly inspired some words on depression and solitude, but I feel existentialism goes beyond that and doesn't have to be restricted to insular and introverted themes, so I have also delved into topics of environmentalism and culture. I also like exploring the nature of memory through particularly vivid imagery, reimagining certain places and time periods in poetry.

4.On both the bandcamp and facebook page there is a reference to 'Albert Camus', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in philosophy and existentialism?

I studied philosophy at university some years ago, and I have always been a big reader of existentialist writings in the broad sense, including the likes of Sartre, Nietzshce, Kierkegaard, Husserl, Heidegger, Levinas and others. Camus has always been my favourite in many ways, his ideas being as close to nihilism as possible. The particular quote I paired with the EP is one that I read again recently, and it just struck a chord with me when thinking about the nature of my music.

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

It was taken from an artist called Henry de Malvost who made sketchings of satanic rituals and black masses back in the 19th century. There isn't much information about them, but I just quite liked the word and I couldn't find it in use anywhere else, so I thought it would be a nice name for the project. 

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

The cover image is of the Kaiser Willhelm church in Berlin. It's a landmark I have visited many times and has a certain personal meaning to me. There are some other images in the cassette too, some were taken in Berlin and some in Helsinki, both places that inspired the EP.

7.With this project you record everything by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

As it happens I am currently collaborating with another musician on a new record that will combine drones with electronic synth work and eclectic vocals. We hope to have it out before the end of the year, and I hope to collaborate with others in the future. With this kind of music I think solo artists can often have a very definitive sound, and sometimes when you combine these then some very interesting music can come into being.

8.You have put out 3 releases this year so far, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?

A fair amount, yes. I have had much more time during lockdown to make music than ever before. I play in a couple of metal bands too, so much of my free time is spent on being creative, whether it is music or words.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of ambient, noise, drone and doom metal?

Everything I have seen so far has been positive, but I hope once Oljud is released there will be more people who discover it. This music is certainly niche and there are a fair amount of artists out there doing similar things, many of whom make up the fan base anyway, so it tends to be quite a positive scene from a critical standpoint. Ultimately we're trying to make unsettling, disturbing and abstract sounds, so for fans I think it comes down more to how much the music engages you rather than 'enjoyment' in the traditional sense.

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

I am in the process of completing a full length album, though when it will be released I am not quite sure - within the next year, but possibly sooner I hope. I am putting a lot into the themes and concepts for it, and I really want to make this something quite unique.

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?

When I started it was definitely the guitar drone stuff like Sunn O))), Earth, Boris and Nadja as well as the likes of Tim Hecker and Ben Frost and older drone stuff like Éliane Radigue and LaMonte Young. Merzbow is definitely a huge influence too, even if I don't create harsh noise so to speak. I write album reviews for several blogs too, so through that I am always listening to lots of new music, but in terms of drone, ambient and noise I have been particularly enjoying some newer artists like Gnarl, Catafalque, Clawing and The Owl.

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

Thank you for the interview and for your interest in my music, it's really appreciated, and I hope people check out Oljud when it comes out.

Bandcamp: malvost.bandcamp.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/malvost

Malvost/Oljud/Trepanation Recordings/2021 EP Review

 

  Malvost  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone,  harsh  noise  and  doom  metal  with  some  touches  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  ep  "Oljud"  which  will  be  released  in  July  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Whistles  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  distorted  sounding  drones  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  guitar  riffs  also  add  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.  Black  metal  screams  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  when  synths  are  added  onto  the  recording  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  on  a  couple  of  tracks.

  Harsh  noises  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  At  times  the  music  also  adds  in  some  atmospheric  and  cinematic  sounding  drones  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  dissonant  and  minimalistic  moments  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  as  well  as  some  female  vocals  also  being  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Malvost  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient,  drone,  harsh  noise,  doom  metal  and  some  touches  of  black  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  depression,  isolation,  surrealism,  existentialism,  Norse  mythology,  the  nature  of  memory  and  the  environmental  crisis.

  In  my  opinion  Malvost  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone,  harsh  noise  and  doom  metal  with  some  touches  of  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Lamentations  From  The  Menhir"  and  "The  Desecration  Of  Beavi".  8  out  of  10.

 https://malvost.bandcamp.com/album/oljud

Facebook: www.facebook.com/malvost     

I, The Chaos Interview

 

For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band? 

‘I, The Chaos’ is the sound of urban dystopia. Music to discomfort your senses, released via amplified instruments. An experimental, post-black, drone, noise road to sonic ecstasy.

So far you have released a single and have been a part of a split, musically how do they both differ from each other?

In our single ‘Landlady is Satan’,  we use a drum machine as the main instrument and build everything around its beats and rhythm. The split cassette release is, in a way, more representative of our present sound. Rhythmless and bass heavy.

So far all of your music has been instrumental, are you open to using any vocals on future releases?

Yes, it is in our future plans to use vocals, but in unconventional ways.

You also have listed post black metal in the music description, are future releases going to show you expanding on the influence?

We are planning to expand to post-black directions in some of our future releases, playing harder and faster and maybe adding some brutal vocals, too.

What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name ‘I, The Chaos’?

An atom’s endless struggle with itself is to put its inner chaos into some kind of order. We, in the other hand, have decided to give into chaos and become chaos ourselves.

Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

The core of ‘I, The Chaos’ is duality. But, we intend to act as a sound collective, having guest musicians play in our future releases.

Are there any shows planned once the pandemic is over?

Hopefully, once the pandemic is over, we will be able to plan live shows, which will be combined with dark and eerie visuals. 

 Recently you where a parts of  a split with ‘Six Steps Above The Earth’, what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

‘Six Steps Above The Earth’ is a band that we admire and it is one of the pioneers of this sound, in our hometown, Thessaloniki. It is a great influence on our sound and DIY attitude.

On a worldwide level how has the reactions to your music by fans of drone, experimental, noise, doom and post black metal? 

The feedback we receive from the band’s social media is encouraging. Not all comments are positive, but even the negative ones motivate us to try harder.

When can we expect a full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

Nowadays, tons of music is only a click away. This fact makes us adherents of EP or single releases, since we believe that it is not easy to spend a straight hour listening to a full length album. Now, regarding our musical destination, we would like to further experiment with the mixture of heavy bass riffs with sound textures and field recordings.

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?

Sunn O))), Earth, Boris, Merzbow and Sonic Youth  are some of the acts that have an influence on our sound and music. Nowadays, we are listening to Dark Buddha Rising, Oranssi Pazuzu and some 20th century experimental music composers, like Henning Christiansen, Charlemagme Palaistine, Le Monde Young etc.

Does Satanism or Occultism play any role in your music?

No, neither Satanism nor Occultism play any role in our music. We are kind of atheists or agnostics. Religiousless.

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

First of all, we would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk about our band and our music. Generally speaking, we would like music fans to be more supportive to their local underground scene and would love to see more bands turn to DIY.

https://ithechaos.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ithechaos

Six Steps Above The Earth Interview

 

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

Six Steps Above TheEarth are the way to express our everyday emotions, having as basic tool the heavy, slow and monotone sound. Doom, Drone, Doomgaze are the paths that we follow and try to add something different in every circulation either by exploring new sounds or by collaborating with other musicians.

We have released 1 full length album, 6 eps and 4 live recordings.

Also we played some gigs in our hometown Thessaloniki(Greece) and shared the stage with band such us Jucifer, Agnes Vein, Dead Elephant, Morphine Social Club,Ghone and Nanoi.

2. Recently you have been a part of a split, musically how does your newer material differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

Our last releases have a more drone/noise character. Why is this? I think we prefer to play freely and create soundscapes with our tunes.

3. A lot of your music has been instrumental but you have used vocals on previous releases, are you open to using any vocals in the future?

Maybe yes, but who knows…. But if we decide it to happen, it will be more experimental.

4.When you had lyrics you mentioned they where from other bands and poets that you had an interest in, which artists did you take inspiration from lyrically.

This used to happen a long time ago because one of our members at the time contributed that to the group. Now we prefer to give messages with sounds exclusively.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Six Steps Above The Earth'?

The guitarist, the guy who is behind S.S.A.T.E used to live in an apartment that was precisely six steps above the earth.

6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding the line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?

S.S.A.T.E is a project behind one man, Gallo. Gallo is open to everyone who wants travel with this his spirit while creates sounds. 

7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Every show has something different to give to the audience and back to us. We can’t choose. If we can describe our shows with some words, that will be “emotionally noise reaction”

8.Recently you where a part of a split with 'I, The Chaos', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

Really enjoy to participated with these guys, because besides good friends, they are also great musicians.

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

I think it was very well appreciated.

10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We want to record a drone desert ep with a shoegaze approach.

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?

Neu, Earth, Sunn O))), Nadja, Aidan Baker

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

Support your local and underground bands, webzines, distros, labels, vinyl shops and anyone who supports you.

1. Facebook
2. YouTube

Six Steps Above The Earth/The Drone Sessions #1/2020 Full Length Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Greece's  Six  Steps  Above  the  Earth:  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture of  drone,  noise,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  'The  Drone  Sessions  #  1".

  Atmospheric  and  distorted  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  the  music  also  mixes  in  a  great  amount  of  electronic  guitar  sounds.  Noises  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  the  whole  recording  also  bein  improvised  as  well  as  the  slow  riffing  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  and  sludge  metal.

  Voices  can  also  be  heard in  the  background  at  times  while  the  music  also  gets  more  diverse  as  the  album  progresses.  Most  of  the  recording  is  also  instrumental  along  with  a  small  amount  of  melody  also  being  added  in  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Six  Steps  Above  The  Earth  focus  more  on  improvised  drones  but  still  adds  in  the  doomgaze,  sludge  metal  and  noise  elements  that  where  presented  on  previous  releases  as  well  as  keeping  most  of  the  music  instrumental  while  the  production  also  sound  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  another  great  sounding  sounding  album  from  Six  Steps  Above  the  Earth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  noise,  doomgaze  and  sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  8  out  of  10.

https://sixstepsabovetheearth.bandcamp.com/album/the-drone-sessions-1

  

Six Steps Above The Earth/Live @ 8 Ball/2020 Live Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  Six  Steps  Above  The  Earth  which  was  also  recorded  live  and  also  shows  them  bringing  in  a  mixture  of  drone,  noise,  doomgaze  and  sludge  metal  and  the  album  was  self  released  in  2020  and  called  "Live  @  8  Ball".

  Live  audience  reaction  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  distorted  sounding  drones  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  riffing  also  brings  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal.  All  of  the  music  also  also  instrumental  while  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  noise  elements  and  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing. Touches  of  shoegaze  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  sounding  very  improvised  and  always  sticking  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Six  Steps  Above  The  Earth  takes  noise,  drone,  shoegaze,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Six  Steps  Above  the  Earth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  drone,  noise,  doomgaze  and  sludge  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  live  album.  8  out  of  10.

https://sixstepsabovetheearth.bandcamp.com/album/live-8ball    

Six Steps Above The Earth/I, The Chaos/Sublimination/Submersion Records/2020 Split Album Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Greece's  Six  Steps  Above  The  Earth  and  I,  The  Chaos  called  "Sublimination  which  was  released  by  Submersion  Records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Six  Steps  Above  The  Earth  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone  and  doomgaze.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts out  with  some  distorted  sounding  guitar  drones  while  the  riffing  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  and  sludge  metal.  Their  track  is  also  over  20  minutes  in  length  while  also  adding  in  some  loud  distortion  and  elements  of  noise  along  with  a  lot  of  the  music  sounding  very  improvised  as  well  as  adding  in  some  touches  of  shoegaze  at  times  and  the  whole  song  also  sticks  to  a  slower  musical  direction  and  also  keeps  everything  instrumental.

  Six  Steps  Above  the  Earth  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  shoegaze,  doom  and  sludge metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Six  Steps  Above  the  Earth  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone  and  doomgaze  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  

  Next  up  is  I,  The  Chaos  a  band  that  plays  a mixture  of  drone,  noise,  experimental  and  doom  metal  with  some  touches  of  post  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  synths  and  atmospheric  sounding  drones  along  with  some  slow  and  heavy  riffing  that  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  while  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.  Most  of  their  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  the  music  also  getting  very  experimental  sounding  at  times.

  Distorted  sounding  noises  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  their  side  of  the  recording  along  the  tremolo  picking  riffs  also  shows  an  influence  of  black  metal.  Harsh  power  electronics  can  also  be  heard  at  times  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  being  instrumental  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  I,  The  Chaos  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  doom  metal  with  some  touches  of  post  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  the  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Harmonic  Disaster".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  drone,  experimental,  noise,  doom,  sludge  and  post  black  metal.  8  out  of  10. 

https://submersionrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sublimation

https://www.facebook.com/sixstepsabovetheearth/

https://www.facebook.com/ithechaos/     

  

Gnarl/The Great Blackness/Trepanation Recordings/2020 Cassette Review

  Gnarl  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  drone,  field  recordings  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "The  Great  Blackness" which  will  be  released  in  November  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Harsh  noises  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  heavy  riffing  which  also  adds  elements  of  doom  metal  onto  the  recording.  All  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  a  small  amount  of  melody  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  at  times  the  music  also  gets  very  repetitive  sounding.

  Most  of  the  music  is  instrumental  while  drones  and  field  recordings  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  on  a  few  songs  along  with  the  music  capturing  an  improv  atmosphere  as  well  as  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  a  bass  guitar  onto  the  album,  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction  and  towards  the  end  a  brief use  of  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard.

  Gnarl  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  harsh noise,  drone, field  recordings  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  revolve  around  the  landscape  and  folklore  of  the  British  Isles.

  In  my  opinion  Gnarl  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  harsh noise,  drone,  filed  recordings  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grey  Mare"  and  "All  Seasons  End".  8  out  of  10.

https://gnarl.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-blackness       

The Owl/Preludiemce And Exaltations/Trepanation Recordings/2020 EP Review

  The  Owl  are  a  solo  project  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  experimental,  ambient,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  ep  "Preludience  And  Exaltations"  which  will  be  released  on  August  21st  by  Trepanation  Recordings.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  ep  while  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  can  also  be  heard  a  few  seconds  later  and  also  adds  in  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal.  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  all  of  the  drum  beats  also  being  done  on  a  real  drum  kit.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  while  all  of  the  music  is  instrumental.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  recording  also  capturing  an  improv  and  ritualistic  atmosphere  at  times  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  pianos  can  also  be  heard  on  the  closing  track.

  The  Owl  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  experimental,  drone,  ambient  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  music  serves  as  a  soundtrack  to  Kenneth  Anger's  "Lucifer  Rising".

  In  my  opinion  The  Owl  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  experimental,  ambient,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Reverential  Manifesto"  and  "It  is  Time  to  Rest,  My  Friend". 8  out  of  10.

theowl.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/theowlsounds 

    

Catafalque/We Will Always Suffer/Trepanation Recordings/Cursed Monk Records/2020 Double Album Review

  United  Kingdom's  Catafalque  have  returned  with  a new  recording  which  continues  their  mixture  of  harsh  noise,  experimental,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "We  Will  Always  Suffer"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Trepanation  Recordings  and  Cursed  Monk  Records.

  Bell  sounds  start  off  the  album  before  introducing  some  field  recordings,  harsh noises  and  power  electronics  onto  the  recording.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  drums  also  speed  up  at  times  and  also  add  in  some  brutal sounding  blast  beats.

  Programmed  beats  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  the  music  also  captures  an  improv  atmosphere  at  times.  When  screams  are  utilized  they  also  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  to  the  songs  they  are  presented  on  along  with  seem  songs  also  showing  the  music  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  and  avant  garde  direction.

  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  along  with  the  guitars  also  adding  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  when  they  are  utilized.  Drones  are  also  added  into  a  lot  of  the  songs  as  well  as  every track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  as  the  album  progresses  synths  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants  and  spoken  word  parts  also  start  getting  utilized  more  often.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from Catafalque  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  experimental,  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  double  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Enjoy  The  Violence"  "No  One  Will  Miss  You  When  You're  Gone"  "They  All  Had  Such  Tiny  Hands"  and  "His  Torment  Will  Never  End".  8  out  of  10.

https://catafalque.bandcamp.com/album/we-will-always-suffer

  

   

Sunn 0)))/Pyroclasts/Southern Lord Records/2019 CD Review

  U.S.A's  Sunn 0)))  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  their  mix  of  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Pyroclasts" which  was  released  by  Southern  Lord  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  The  slow  and  heavy  riffs  are  also  very  heavily  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  an  improv  atmosphere  at  times  as  well  as  all  of  the  tracks  also  being  instrumental.

  All  of  the  songs  are  instrumental  while  the  bass  guitar  also  brings  in  very  dominating  and  powerful  presence  in  some  parts  of  the  recording.  Experimental  elements  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of  distorted  sounding  melodies  as  well  as  all  of  the  tracks  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  slower  direction.

  On  this  recording  Sunn 0)))  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  drone,  sludge  and  doom  metal  that  they  have  established  on  previous  recordings  while  also  keeping  everything  instrumental  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sunn 0)))  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  band,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Kingdoms"  and  "Ascension".  8  out  of  10.

https://sunn.southernlord.com

https://www.instagram.com/sunnofficial

https://www.facebook.com/SUNNthebandOfficial

https://sunn.bandcamp.com

https://sunn-live.bandcamp.com  

Clawing/Catafalque/Memento Mori/Trepanation Recordings/2019 Split Album Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  U.S.A's  Clawing  and  United  Kingdom's  Catafalque  called  "Memento  Mori"  which  was  released  by  Trepanation  Recordings  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with Clawing  a  band  that  plays  a  mixture of  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  dark  soundscapes  and  spoken  word  parts  while  programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  the  background.  Ambient  style  synths  can also  be  heard  at  times  along  with  one  track  also  adding  acoustic  guitars  onto  the  recording  and  after  awhile  harsh  noises  start  becoming  a  huge  part  of  the  music.

  Power  electronics  also  mix  in  with  the  other  instruments  that  are  present  on  their  side  of  the  recording.  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Clawing  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  drone  and  noise  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Concrete  Heat"and  "Subway  Rats".

  Next  up  is  Catafalque  a  duo  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  harsh  noise, drone  and  doom  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts out  with  some  drones,  field   recordings  and  dark  soundscapes  along  with  some  clean  playing.  Most  of  their  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  and  synths  are  also  added  some  parts  of  the  music.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  are  also  utilized  at  times  as  well  as  their  second  track  also  adding  in  some  heavy  guitar  in  with  the  experimental  elements,  spoken  word  samples  are  also  added  on  the  closing  song  before  going  into  more  of  a  slower  and  heavier  drone  direction  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Catafalque  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  harsh  noise,  drone  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Signs  of  Stigmata".

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  harsh  noise,  drone,  dark  ambient  and  doom  metal.  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/pAiWCVDKfCA

Gridfailure/Feel Happiness/2019 Split EP Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  ep between  New  York's  Gridfailure  and  Texas's  Feel  Happiness  which  will  be  self  released  in  September  of  2019  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Gridfailure  a  solo  project  who  returns  with  an  instrumental  mixture  of  dark  hardcore,  dark  ambient  and  harsh  noise.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  field  recordings  along  with  a  powerful  sounding  bass  guitar  a  few  seconds  later.  police  sirens  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  Elements  of  harsh  noise  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  his  side  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  touches  of  dark  ambient  and  drone  also  being  used  at  times.

  Guitar  noises  are  also  brought  into  the  music  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  being  instrumentals.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  horror  movie  soundtrack  as  well  as  all  of  the  songs  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  influences  of  dark  hardcore  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  the  production  also  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Gridfailure  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  hardcore,  dark  ambient  and  harsh  noise,  you  should  check  out  his  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "This  Liquefaction"  and  "Wetworkers  Local  845".

  Next  up  is  Feel  Happiness  a  solo  artist  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  drone  and  doom  metal.

  His  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with some  drones  while  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  Clean  playing  is  also  brought  in  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  the  bass  guitars  also  bringing  in  elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  and  avant  garde  sounding  along  with  most  of  the  music  being  instrumental.  All  of  the  songs  also  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  as  well  as  all  of  the  tracks  sounding  very  different  from  each  other,  ambient  style  synths  are  added  onto  the  closing  track  and  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Feel  happiness  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  drone  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out t his  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "God  Bless  you  All  On  The  Earth".

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

http://www.facebook.com/gridfailure

http://www.gridfailure.bandcamp.com

https://twitter.com/GRIDFAILURE

https://www.instagram.com/gridfailure

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbk4oQvuhLgZmUZ1hyceog

https://www.facebook.com/feelhappinessnoise

https://feelhappiness.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/feelhappinessnoise

https://twitter.com/xFEELHAPPINESSx       

Catafalque Interview

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



Thomas: Non-stop song writing! After we finished ‘Catafalque’ we originally planned to take a break from writing/recording, but the inspiration kept coming so we kept going!



Dan: Yep, we’re already planning a couple of splits and that tricky second album. We’re also trying to set up a few live performances before 2019 is out.



2.Recently you have released your first album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style you went for on the recording?



Thomas: Catafalque began as a collab between my Harsh Noise Project; The Dead Yesterdays, and Dan’s Drone Doom Project; Mostly Hair and Bones. We liked the result so much we decided to form a permanent band, but we’ve still maintained that collaborative approach. This is what I’ve always liked the most about Catafalque, the fact it is so natural and organic. There’s never been any strong urge to confirm to any particular musical style or genre, it’s more about responding to what the other person has recorded.



Dan: As Thomas said, we weren’t really trying to set out to make an album in a specific style. We each have a lot of different influences and it was great being able to reference whichever we liked. There were no rules at all. If we like it, we used it. We did however consciously try to fill the space in our recordings where appropriate and also leave spaces for the tracks to breathe.



3.Most of the music was instrumental while vocals where brought in at times, are you planning on expanding the vocals on future releases?



Thomas: For sure, vocals will definitely become more of a prominent feature on future releases and live shows.



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



Dan: A catafalque is a framework that supports a coffin during a funeral or whilst a person of importance is lying in state. I’ve always liked the word and I suppose it has a fairly macabre meaning to it. I suggested it to Thomas as I felt it fit the music we’d recorded up to that point pretty well. Luckily he liked it as much as I did!



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



Dan: Absolutely. Again it’s fairly macabre and is an image of an old African (I believe) stringed musical instrument made out of a human skull, antelope horns, skin, gut and hair. I came across it a while back and it stuck with me. As soon as we started recording and I heard the resulting sounds I knew we had to use it. I included the still from The Exorcist 3 inside the CD cover as it’s a fucking awesome film!



6.Currently there are only 2 members in the band, are you open to expanding your line up or do you prefer to remain a duo?



Thomas: I definitely wouldn’t be adverse to expanding our line up if the right opportunity presented itself, though given the density of our sound already I’m not sure there’s enough room left in the mix for another member!



Dan: I think for recording it works so well with just the 2 of us but I also wouldn’t be averse to guest musicians! I think live is where we’d probably benefit most from more pairs of hands!



7.The album was released on 'Trepanation Recordings', can you tell us a little bit more about this label?



Dan: Well Trepanation Recordings was started by me immediately prior to us recording ‘Catafalque’. I have run a noise Netlabel (Throne of Bael Records) for a few years and wanted to start a label focussing on the extreme and experimental side of metal which also produced limited edition runs of professionally made physical components. I thought that the album was a perfect first release so I could get a better handle on the process involved. Trepanation Recordings already has a number of other releases planned for late 2019/early 2020 and the roster is expanding. There are so many great artists and bands out there that deserve to be heard. I want to do my part in making sure they are.



8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of drone, harsh noise, and doom metal?



Thomas: I think there’s always a danger when you create something that touches on multiple genres without fitting into a neat pigeon hole that it’ll end up being unpalatable for everyone, but that really doesn’t seem to have been the case with Catafalque and I’ve been pretty humbled by the reception we’ve had so far. Particularly in Metal circles we seem to create a certain amount of consternation – folk aren’t necessarily sure what to make of us - but at the same time we still manage to pull them into our hypnotically horrible vision!



Dan: It’s been remarkably positive! I’m still shocked to be honest!



9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?



Thomas: My noise project The Dead Yesterdays as been sorely neglected while I’ve been focusing on Catafalque, but this means I’ve only been putting out a couple of releases a month! My next album ‘Adrift in the Dark’ will be released on Void Singularity Recordings on the 28th of July. It’s an hour long harsh noise wall exploring themes of alienation and isolation.



Dan: I play bass in a band called Mastiff and we released our latest album ‘Plague’ through APF Records on 1st February. We’re still playing whatever shows we can supporting this as well as beginning work on the follow up. We have a number of shows throughout the UK in 2019. Come check us out!



10.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?



Thomas: Denser and heavier atmospheres! I really want to see how far we can take this sound of ours.

Dan: I want to create the most unsettlingly hypnotic album the world has ever know.





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?



Thomas: To answer all those questions in one I think there have been some absolutely amazing music released over the last 12 months and it’s those bands who are pushing the envelope on what ‘heavy music’ means and moving in new directions which inspire me the most. I couldn’t not mention SUNN O))), and Life Metal has been in my frequent rotation since it dropped. That a band who did so much to define a genre and have such a recognisable sound can then drop an album like this which completely reinvigorates it while keeping reference points is really exciting. Other notable mentions for me would be ‘Magus’ by Thou, which I’m still not bored of, and ‘Weeping Choir’ by Full of Hell, I would definitely see ‘Weeping Choir’ as the benchmark in terms of heaviness I’d want to achieve with future releases!



Dan: As far as influences go with Catafalque, I’d have to say Sunn O))), Godflesh, ‘Psalm 69’ era Ministry, Gnaw Their Tongues and of course The Body. I’ve been listening to a lot of the early Earache bands such as Fudge Tunnel and OLD recently. I’ve also been on a massive Khanate binge and been totally digging Author & Punisher, Crowhurst and Lingua Ignota.



12.What are some of your non musical interests?



Thomas: There are things not related to music?! Seriously though I live in a small rural town on the east coast of Scotland and love hitting the trails and beaches for a good run.



Dan: I don’t have time for non-music related things! Hahaha! Seriously though, I just tend to spend quality time with my wife and son when I’m not doing music. I am a big darts fan too (although not much of a player).



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



Dan: Just thanks for taking the time to interview us and expect to see much more of Catafalque in the future.

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