Lindy-Fay Hella & Dei Farne/Hildring/Norse Mvsic/2021 CD Review

 

  Lindy-Fay  Hella  &  Dei  Farne  are  a  duo  form  Norway  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  experimental,  drone,  dark  synth,  prog,  krautrock,  folk,  jazz  and  world  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Hildring"  which  was  released  by  Norse  Mvsic.

  Percussion  starts  off  the  album  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  tribal  feeling  while  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  world  music  elements.  Synths  are  also  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  while  all  of  the  vocals  are  also  done  in  a  very  clean  style  and  bass  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album.

  When  acoustic  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  touches  of  folk  music  while  the  album  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  at  times.  The  recording  also  gets  very  experimental  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  songs  also  showing  some  touches  of  70's  era  prog  and  krautrock  mixed  in  with  the  more  modern  era.

 Drones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  some  songs  also  adding  in  touches  of  noise,  pop  and  jazz  music.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  Sami  people  of  Northern  Europe.

  In  my  opinion   Lindy-Fay  Hella  &  Dei  Farne   are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of   noise,  experimental,  drone,  dark  synth,  prog,  krautrock,  folk,  jazz  and  world  music   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hildring"  "Insect"  "The  lake"  and  "Otherworld".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.lindyfayhella.com/ 

Laüstic/La Canzone del Cefaloforo/Cursed Monk Records/2021 EP Review

 

    Laüstic  are  a  band  from  New  York  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  noise  idm  and  extreme  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "La  Canzone  del  Cefaloforo"  which  was  released  by  Cursed  Monk  Records.

  Experimental  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  clean  chants  a  few  seconds  later  while  the  music  also  has  its  avant  garde  moments.  Idm  and  industrial  style  beats  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  elements  of  noise  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  the  keyboards  also  add  in  touches  of  ambient.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  semi  clean  electric  guitars  can  also  be  heard  at  times.  Vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  clean  style  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording  as  well  as  some  black  metal  screams  also  being  utilized  briefly.

  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  each  track  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.  A  touch  of  psychedelia  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  when  the  music  finally  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  melodic  riffing,  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Laüstic  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  noise,  idm  and  extreme  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Arca  Of  Silverpoint  Hyphae  II.  Microsopic  Ballsica".  8  out  of  10.

https://cursedmonk.bandcamp.com/album/la-canzone-del-cefaloforo

  

Drott/Orcus/Norse Music/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Drott  are  a  band  from  Norway  with  members  from  Ulver  and  Enslaved  that  plays  a  very  progressive,  experimental  and  blackened  form  of  folk  music  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Orcus"  which  will  be  released  in  September  by  Norse  Music.

  Stringed  instruments  which  also  bring  in  elements  start  off  the  album  while  the  clean  guitars  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  progressive  feeling.  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  are  also  a  very  huge  part  of  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also having  a v ery  powerful  sound  to them.

  Electric  guitars  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  they  also  add  in  touches  of  black  metal  while  most of  the  music is  also  done  in  an  instrumental  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  experimental  moments  as  well  as  one  song  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  all  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed.

  Drott  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  progressive  rock,  experimental  and  folk  and  mixes  it  with  some  touches  of  black  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Drott  are  a  very  great  sounding  experimental,  progressive  and  blackened  folk  music  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Caerdroia"  "Psychopomp"  "Grey  Gull"  and  "Orcus".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ6v8iMXXdQ    

  

Monolithe/Okta Khora/Les Acteurs De L'Ombre Productions/2020 CD Review

 

  Monolithe  are  a  band  from  France  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  moves  away  from t he  funeral  doom  metal  style  and  goes  for  more  of  a  a  very  dark,  progressive  and  cosmic  form  of  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Okta  Khora"  which  was  released by  Les  Acteurs  De  L'Ombre  Productions.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  elements  of  funeral  doom  metal.

  The  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  the  keyboards  also  gives  the  music  more  of  an  atmospheric  feeling.  Some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  vocals  being  a  mixture  of  death  metal  growls  and  screams  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  symphonic  and  cosmic  moments.

  The  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  metal  elements  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  a  sci-fi  soundtrack  at  times.  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  chants.  saxophones  and  stringed  instruments  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  some  of  the  songs  are  also  instrumentals,  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  tempo  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  upon  alien  civilizations.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Monolite  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  and  progressive  doom/death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Onset  of  the  Eighth  Cycle"  and  "Disrupted  Firmament".  8  out  of  10.

 

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Unalei/Galatea/2020 CD Review

 

  Unalei  are  a  musical  project  from  Italy  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  mixture  of  ethereal,  goth, progressive  and  folk  with  some  touches  of  post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "Galatea".

  Classical  music  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  nature  sounds  while  the acoustic  guitars  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  when  they  are  utilized.  Vocals  are  mostly  done  in  a  clean  style  as  well  as  the  music  also  bringing  in  some  symphonic  and  orchestra  sounds  and  the  electric  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  then  while  the  music  also  captures  a  goth  orientated  atmosphere  at  times.  When  female  vocals  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  ethereal  and  operatic  atmosphere  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  percussion's.

  The  songs  also  use  a  variety  of  many  different  types  of  folk  instruments,  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  as  well  as  one  track  also  introducing  whispered  vocals  onto  the  recording  along  with  some  songs  also  being  instrumentals  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts  and  black  metal  screams  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  Italian,  Spanish,  Russian  and  English  and  is  a  concept  album  based  upon  the  discovery  of  roots  through  time  and  space.     

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Unalei  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  ethereal,  goth,  progressive,  folk  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Anarada"  "Azalea"  and  "Lola".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/unaleiofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/unalei_music/

https://unalei.bandcamp.com/

Makeup And Vanity Set Interview

 

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

1. I’m basically trying to keep it together right now, like everyone else. Keeping busy. Making lots of music.

2.Over the years you have released a great amount of material, how would you describe your progress as a musician over the years?

2. I think the workflow for me is mostly accidental. I might find a sound or some visual cue that feels right or inspiring and I let it go from there. My studio is sort of like Max’s apartment in Pi; just a bunch of gear stacked all over, blinking at me. 

3.You have also done a trilogy of albums based upon the 'Nueromancer' novel, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this novel and are there any other authors that have had an influence on your music?

3. I think Gibson’s stuff just resonates for me. There’s a pretty boilerplate synthwave aesthetic and I’ve tried hard to avoid that. Gibson’s work isn’t rooted in nostalgia, it’s more rooted in reality. The technical angle being bent into characters and emotional development has always meant more to me than any nostalgia.

4.You have also mentioned certain movies also have an influence on your work, which films are you the most inspired by?

4. It varies from project to project. Lately I’ve been pouring through Criterion Channel. Just seeing where it goes. 

5.What are some of the other themes you have brought into your music over the years?

5. I just try to be honest with it. The music is a reverberation of whatever is going on around me or in life. I process a lot with music. It could be a loss, or anxiety. The music always has to be rooted in something for me. I can’t just sit down and make things aimlessly. It became especially harder the more I got into composing for film or tv- just having something to bounce off of visually or emotionally. I always want to explore some idea that guides the central theme of the music, album etc. 

6.You also have done soundtracks for films and video games, what are some of the films and games you have done soundtracks for?

6. The past few years have been more about scoring. I scored a feature for Abner Pastoll, a film called ‘A Good Woman is Hard to Find,’ shot in Ireland. I worked on ‘Godzilla vs Kong,’ for Adam Wingard. I’m currently working on season three of the television series ’The Girlfriend Experience,’ for Starz. On the games side of things, I got into game scoring on an indie called ‘Brigador,’ which has a sequel in the works which I also scored. I composed music for a game called ’Trackless,’ by Aubrey Serr. Last year I scored a game called ‘Overpass,’ which was created by Michael Molinari. 

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the mask you wear in your pictures?

7. It’s a wool ski mask. Keeps me warm in the dark winter. 

8.What are some of the best shows that you have played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

8. I’ve been lucky to tour quite a bit. I’ve also played a bunch of festivals, which are fun. I played a show in Melbourne, Australia that was really fun- part of a festival there called Square Sounds. I spent time in Melbourne and then went to New Zealand and came back through Sydney. Beautiful countries. Great food and coffee. 

9.You also have a huge discography on bandcamp, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?

9. I make music every day. I basically wake up, make coffee and switch on the synthesizers and make stuff all day long. I spent a lot of time over the past fifteen or so years figuring out a workflow that just makes that process really simple and open. The music can happen naturally. 

10.You also have worked with plenty of many different record labels over the years, can you tell us a little bit more about the labels you have worked with over the years?

10. I started off with Telefuture, which was really one of the main early tentpoles of synthwave. Post Telefuture, I’ve had releases with YK Records in Nashville, Data Airlines in France, Electric Dream Records in Chicago, and now Nailbat Tapes, based in Portland and Sound Machine, based in Nashville. I always look for people on the administrative side of record labels to collaborate with- trying to put something interesting out. 

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

11. I usually don’t try to qualify my audience too much because it always surprises me in different ways. I wasn’t sure what sort of reaction I would get from Liturgy, but it was really overwhelmingly positive. I didn’t really have any expectations. I think a lot of people who dive into my music are also doers and makers. They’ll listen to stuff while they're coding or writing or animating, etc. I like hearing that because it means that work goes out into the world and gets interpolated into the work of others, whatever it may be. The work doesn’t really belong to me in the same ways anymore. 

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

12. I’ve got a lot more score work coming in, so I think that will factor into it in 2021. Other than that, I don’t really know. I tend to just go wherever the wave is pushing me. What happens happens. 

13.What are your currently listening to nowadays?

13. I keep going back to a lot of older, spacey stuff. Lots of Rudy Adrian lately. Steve Roach. Depends on my mood. I really loved the last Harms Way album. The new Health record. I usually oscillate between long form synth stuff and metal. 

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

14. Be good to each other. Wear a mask. Go easy.  

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Makeup And Vanity Set/Liturgy/Nailbat Tapes/2020 Double Album Review

 

  Makeup  And  Vanity  Set  are  a  solo  project  from  Nashville,  Tennessee  that  plays  a  very  dark  form  of  ambient  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "Liturgy"  which  was  released  by  Nailbat  Tapes.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  programmed  beats  also  being  utilized  at  times  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in length.  At  times  the  music  serves  as  a  soundtrack  for  a  very  dark  and  disturbing  nightmare  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  bring  in  elements  of  ambient.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  diversity.  Electronic  sounds  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  music  as  well  as  the  songs  also  mixing  in  touches  of  synthwave  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  also  starts  getting  more  progressive  sounding,  pan  flutes  can  also  be  heard  briefly, 

  Makeup  And  Vanity  Set  plays  a  style  of  dark  ambient  that  is  very  diverse  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  some  progressive  and  synthwave  elements  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark,.

  In  my  opinion  Makeup  And  Vanity  Set  are  a  very  great  sounding  dark  ambient  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  double  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Crisalida'  "Asuntos  Primordiales"  "Incinerar"  and  "Tempestad".  8 out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/makeupandvanityset/  

Apprentice Destroyer/Permanent Climbing Monolith/2019 Full Length Review

  Apprentice  Destroyer  are  a  band  from  California  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  synth  prog,  krautrock  and  noise  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2019  album  "Permenant  Climbing  Monolith"  which  will  be  released  in  September.

  Synths  start off  the  album  and  also  add  in  elements  of  krautrock  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  guitar  riffing  being  mostly  rooted  in  noise  rock  and  the  songs  also  use  4  different  guitarists.

  At  times  the  music  gets  very  repetitive  sounding  while  also  adding  in  an  improv  atmosphere  in  some  parts  of  the  music.  When  vocals  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  aggressive  yet  melodic  style  and  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  in  some  parts  where  they  are  utilized  along  with  the  riffs  and  guitar  leads  also  adding  in a   decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  some  of  the  tracks  being  instrumentals  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard.

  Apprentice  Destroyer  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  experimental,  synth  prog,  krautrock  and  noise  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Apprentice  Destroyer  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  synth  prog,  krautrock  and  noise  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Permanent  Climbing  Monolith"  and  "Feeding  Canyon  Resonator".  8  out  of  10.

  https://apprenticedestroyer.bandcamp.com

 

  

Gandalf's Owl/Who's The Dreamer/Club Inferno Ent./2019 Full Length Review

  Gandalf's  Owl  are  a  solo  project  from  Italy  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  a  very  progressive  and  psychedelic  form  of  ambient  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  album  "Who's  the  Dreamer"  which  will  be  released  in  2019  by  Club  Inferno  Ent..

  Atmospheric  sounding  drones  start  off  the  album  while  guitar  leads  are  also  utilized  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  synths  and  ambient  elements  as  well  as  the  music  also  adding  in  programmed  beats  into  some  parts  of  the  songs  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  instrumentals  while  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  at  times  along  with  a  great  amount  of  psychedelic  elements  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  clean  vocals,  as  the  album  progresses  spoke  word  parts,  water  and  nature  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  the  album  closes  with  a  cover  of  Le  Orme's  "II  Vento,  La  Notte,  II  Ciele".

  On  this  recording  Grandalf's  Owl  creates  more  of  a  progressive  and  psychedelic  style  of  ambient  rock  as  expanding  on  the  sound  he  introduced  on  the  ep  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Gandalf's  Owl  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  progressive  and  psychedelic  ambient  rock,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Winterfell"  "Garmobozia"  and  "Coming  Home".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/gandalfsowl/

   

Lydia Laska/Ego Death/Edged Circle Productions/2018 CD Review

  Lydia  Laska  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  musical  style  they  describe  as  being  'True  Norwegian  black'n'roll pop'  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Ego  Death"  which  will  be  released  in  October  by  Edged  Circle  Productions.

  A  very  hard  and  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  female  vocals  a  few  seconds  alter  while  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  acoustic  guitars  as  well  as  some  indie  rock  elements  and  at  times  the  music  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock  and  some  of  the  solos  and  leads  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  70's  vibe.

  Elements  of  kraut  and  progressive  rock  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  synths  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  music  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  clean  male  vocals  are  also  used  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  as  well  as  the  riffing  also  mixing  in  black  metal s creams  on  one  song  and  some  tracks  also  capture  a  psychedelic  atmosphere.

  Lydia  Laska  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  punk,  prog,  kraut,  indie,  progressive  and  classic  rock  and  black  metal  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  real  life  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Ludia  Laska  are  a  very  great  sounding  true  Norwegian  black'n'roll  pop  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  very  original,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "You" "Taste of  Blood"  "Gout  Lord"  and  "Funeral  Fist".  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/Lydia-Laska-35882444637 

Coffinrot/Retribution Divine/ZeroBudget Records/2018 CD Review

  Coffinrot  are  a  band  from  Minnesota  that  plays  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  progressive,  thrash,  doom  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  'Retribution  Divine"  which  was  released  by  ZeroBudget  Records.

  Acoustic  guitars  along  with  some  distorted  melodic  guitar  leads start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  vocals  bring  in a   mixture  of death  metal growls  and  screams  that  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  as  well  as  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  bringing  in  a  great amount  of  blast  beats.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  adding  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  influences  of  doom  metal  are  also  added  into  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  progressive  and  as  the  album  progresses  synths  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Coffinrot  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  death  metal  while  the  progressive, thrash,  doom  and  black  metal  elements  gives  the  songs  more  originality,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  macabre and  the  dark  side  of  human  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Coffinrot  are  a  very  great  sounding  death  metal  group  with  elements  of  progressive,  thrash,  doom  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mind  Your  Elders"  "Sentenced  To  Serve"  and  "Retribution  Divine".  8  out  of  10. 

https://coffinrotmn.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/coffinrotmn/   

Zevious/Lowlands/Nefarious Industries/2018 CD Review

  Zevious  are  a  band  from  New  York  that  plays  an  instrumental  form  of  progressive  metal  with  some  new  wave.  black  and  doom  metal  elements  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2018  album  "Lowlands"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  Nefarious  Industries.

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  all  of  the  music  is  instrumental  as  well  as  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  you  can  also  hear  a  lot  of  progressive  influences.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  along  with  the  synths  adding  in  a  touch  of  new  wave  when  they  are  utilized  and  as  the  album  progresses  influences  of  black  metal  can  also  be  heard  and  the  music  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard.

  Zevious  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  progressive  metal  while  the  new  wave,  black  and  doom  metal  elements  makes  the  music  stand  out  a  lot  more  along  with  all  of  the  songs  being  instrumental  and  the  production  sounds  very  professional.

  In  my  opinion  Zevious  are  a  very  great  sounding  instrumental  progressive  metal  band  and  if  you  are  looking  for  something  different,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Tube  Lord"  "Ritual  Based  Symmetries"  and  "Slow  Reach".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/zevioustrio

http://zevioustrio.blogspot.com

  

Nerobove Interview

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
Hi guys, first of all we’d like to thank you for this interview. Nerobove started in 2011 as See You Leather, but Salvatore (guitar/vocals) and me actually started playing together as soon as we grabbed our instruments at middle school. Then Liliana (bass) and Luca (guitar/vocals) joined us and we started shaping our sound and writing something similar to actual songs. After having played lots of shows in Sicily we released our debut EP Back to Aleph (2015). In the last two years we’ve focused on writing and recording Monuments to Our Failure, reconsidering ourselves as a band. That’s how Nerobove came out.

2. Recently you have released your first full length, what was the musical style that you wanted to achieve with this recording?
To be honest, we’ve never planned anything about our style. We usually write songs by jamming together in our rehearsal room. We all listen to different genres and have different attitudes. Since the beginning our music sounded as something close to thrash and death metal, which are the tastes we have in common, but we’ve always preferred to add unusual riffs and atmospheres to our song. Since Salvatore joined Krigere Wolf, a black metal band, we grabbed some influences from this genre, which is one of my favourite ones. Personally, I also love slower kinds of metal like doom, sludge and post and I think you can find some traces of those in the album. I like when bands slip away from standards and categories – it’d be cool for us to be considered one of those.

3. A lot of your lyrics cover literature, what is some of the writings that have had an inspiration on your work?
We’ve always been influenced by literature, mostly by the works of Lovecraft and Poe. Writing lyrics for Monuments to Our Failure I looked for something other, maybe less employed by metal bands. Luckily, studying literature at school and university I had the chance to discover and appreciate lots of works from the past. Latin poets (“Nekyomanteia”, taken by Lucan’s Pharsalia), French naturalism (“La Bête humaine”, from the novel of the same name by Émile Zola), modern female poets (“Not Waving but Drowning”, inspired by a poem of the same name by Stevie Smith) – all of this has been absorbed by the concept behind the album.

4. Originally the band was known as 'See you Leather', what was the cause of the name change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Nerobove'?
We chose the name See You Leather when we were younger, and we had no clue about what image fitted best with our music, which wasn’t already well defined. See You Leather was just a silly pun but we liked it, we are anything but serious people when we are together! Lately we realized that it didn’t fit our music and our concept anymore, so we drew upon something different. Nerobove satisfied what we were looking for: a one-word Italian name, which could be easy to pronounce for foreigner speakers. It literally means “black ox”, referring both to the heavy and fat animal and to a place near our hometown Catania called “Valle del Bove” (“Ox valley”). Placed on the eastern side of the Mount Etna, this barren valley is covered in black volcanic rocks. We thought that this landscape and the images it recalls could represent our style.

5. Can you tell us a little bit more about the album cover artwork?
The cover artwork has been realized by our mate Gore Occulto. We gave him the idea of a monument surrounded by a devastated atmosphere, he did the rest – we think it embodies perfectly our songs and the album concept. The monument represented is an actual church, one of the biggest in Sicily, which is placed in our home city, Catania. Its presence is huge and frightening, but the columns on the outside façade have been left unfinished – an enormous failure standing in front of everyone. What is more, the area in which the church is placed is anything but pleasant or artistic. We chose this subject because of its contradictions, and of course because it’s a striking monument.

6. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
We have played lots of shows in very different contexts, but if I must choose one I’ll pick the release party we did for Monuments to Our Failure in June during Jettasangu Fest Vol. 4 alongside good bands and friends like Evil Share Hate and Infernalia. This was our first gig after a couple of years and the first show as Nerobove, so we felt it like a rebirth and we were really excited. The feedback from the audience has been outstanding and we couldn’t be more grateful for that. The guys played most of the show among the crowd leaving me alone behind the drumset! We love to sweat and swear on stage, I think it’s our ideal dimension and our habitat.

7. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Nothing scheduled yet, but we’re planning to play in the few venues there are in Sicily and then try to hit other areas of Italy. As I said, we show our best side when playing on stage, so we want to make the most of it.

8. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We believe that nowadays the support of a label is important, although it’s not necessary. We’re trying to do our best to promote ourselves in a DIY way, but if some labels are interested in our music we are more than available to collaborate.

9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of extreme metal?
It’s been awesome so far, we have received very good reviews and feedbacks. We think that the variety of our music could satisfy different tastes, from the old school thrasher to the fan of modern and technical metal. Of course, there’s a lot of work to do to improve, but we’re very happy.

10. 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?
Three out of four members of Nerobove are involved in other extreme metal projects. Liliana plays in Whispering Haze, melodic death metal band currently working on its debut album. Salvatore destroys amps in Krigere Wolf (black/death). They have recently released a great split album with Japanese blacksters Sabbat and I know they’re working on something new. I hit drums in BuiOmegA (post/black/doom) and we’re writing new songs hoping to enter the studio next year, after having released our debut album Decay (in which I didn’t play) in December 2017. All of these projects have different identities from our band but are bringing at the same time great influence and inspiration to our sound. Recently some of us have also experienced different musical contexts, such as jazz, funk, pop, indie.
1
1. Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We’re about to complete the songwriting process for a bunch of new songs. We are trying to maintain some similarity with Monuments to Our Failure yet evolving our style. I may say that our new material is going to be heavier and more direct that before, adding some sludgy riffs and a scorching atmosphere. Let’s see where our future jams will bring us!

12. 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?
As I said in the opening we all have different tastes, so I guess it’s difficult to spot direct influences in our music. There are bands which have been fundamental to our musical development, I mean very big names such as Pantera, Metallica, Death. Some of us share common tastes about other bands: Gojira, Mastodon, Behemoth are among my favorite acts and the guys like them. Liliana is really into melodic and modern death metal (All Shall Perish, Oceano, The Agonist), Salvatore lights candles to Bolzer and Mgla, while Luca listens to lots of classic rock. I love genres which are totally different from what we play, such as stoner and post-rock. Recently I’m listening to some Italian hardcore and post-hardcore bands and appreciating new records by Khemmis and YOB, while being totally amazed by the latest Zeal & Ardor album.

13. What are some of your non musical interests?
There are tons! Usually while together we talk about movies, videogames, politics, society. Luca is a computer science student, Liliana studies architectural engineering, Salvatore is a great cook and craftsman, I’m graduated in modern languages and I’m really into linguistic, history, folklore and literature.

14. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
We are very thankful for this conversation, keep supporting the underground scene! Don’t forget to check our profiles and listen to Monument to Our Failure on Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify and many illegal download websites!

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Nerobove/Monuments To Our Failure/2018 CD Review

  Nerobove  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  with  some  elements  of  prog,  doom  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2018  album  "Monuments  To  Our  Failure".

  Clean  playing  starts  off  the  album   before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  riffs  are  heavily  influenced  by  thrash  along  with  the  vocals  being  80's  style  death  metal  growls  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Elements  of  doom  metal  can  also  be  heard  in  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  while  the  tremolo  picking  during  the  faster  sections  of  the  tracks  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  along  with  the  vocals  also  adding  in  more  of  an  aggressive  vocals  approach  as  the  album  progresses,  melodies  can  also  be  heard  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  as  well  as  the  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  when  clean  playing  is  utilized  it  gives  the  music  more  of  a  progressive  feeling  and  clear  vocals  and  spoken  words  parts  can  also  be  heard  at  times. 

  Nerobove  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  death  and  thrash  metal  while  the  prog,  doom  and  black  metal  elements  gives  the  songs  more  originality,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  for  being  a  self  released  recording  while  the  lyrics  cover  literature  and  inner  struggle  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nerobove  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  death  and  thrash  metal  with  elements  of  prog,  doom,  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Not  Waving  But  Drowning"  "Of  Mud  And  Bones"  and  "Gloomy  Sunday".  8  out  of  10.

neroboveband@gmail.com  

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Inner Dawn Foundation/Saturnalia/2017 EP Review

  Inner  Dawn  Foundation  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  sludge,  death  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their self  released  2017  ep  "Saturnalia".

  Doom  metal  style  bass  guitars  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  drones  while  the  riffs  also  bring  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  tortured  screams  and  at  times  the  music  gets  very  ritualistic  and  all  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in length.

  Blast  beats  from  the  drums  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  riffs  always  stick  to  a  very  slow  direction  along  with  the  music  also  getting  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  in  some  parts  of  the  songs as  well  as  the  riffing  also  mixing  in  elements  of  death  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  some  of  the  vocals  also  gives  the  songs  a  more  ritualistic  feeling

  Inner  Dawn  Foundation  plays  a  style  of  doom/death  that  is  very  progressive  while  also  mixing  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  funeral  doom metal,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  occultism  and  psychology.

  In  my  opinion  Inner  Dawn  Foundation  are  a  very  great sounding  progressive  mixture  of  sludge,  death  and  funeral  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Zatmenie".  8  out  of  10

https://idfband.bandcamp.com/album/saturnalia-17-2

  

Below The Sun Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?
Hi! We're rehearsing actively, experimenting with the sound, composing new stuff.

2.You have a new album coming out in May, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
The musical sound can be described as a mix of doom, sludge, post-metal and ambient. These are main pillars of our music. Our new album is much more contrast in an emotional way. There are some aggressive riffs, some melodic clean singing, some madness.

3.The lyrics on the new album are based on the novel 'Solaris' by Stainslaw Lem, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this writer and also are there any other science fiction authors that have had an influence on your song writing?
"Solaris" tells a story of a contact. And it's not just a contact with "grey people", there are no xenomorphs, no viruses, plants or mushrooms. It's a whole different story! Intelligent ocean that covers entire planet! It's something humanity never met and can not instantly understand. This is the deep and philosophical story which, first of all, provokes introspection.

4.Originally the band was known as 'Solvindur', what was the cause of the new change and also the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Below The Sun’?
I'm surprised, where did you get this info? We played one experimental show in the woods - we had no name then. We didn't need one. Only when we decided to play on, we started to look for the name. And the name should be connected to space somehow. We browsed some options - there was "Solvindur" among them, but lasted less than a week, - and eventually took the name of one of our favorite Ahab's track.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Each show is unique. The audience feel our energy and return it back at a multiplied volume!

6.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
We're making a presentation at our city the next day after the release. It will be big Siberian summer festival, and Russian autumn tour then.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of experimental, post, and doom metal?
Although we didn't quite fit the specific genre, the worldwide feedback has been great! We were surprised how positive it was! Also, there were a lot of messages, like "It will be very hard to outperform the first album!", but we're doing all we can. And on the second album you can see our growth.

8.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?
Our drummer has a black metal project "Istina". The guitarists play in the psychedelic band "The Warp".

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We're going to play, experiment and search for our own style. This is the endless search. Maybe our next album would be something ambient mixed with other styles. We'll see, where the search brings us.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
We're listening to a lot of various music. Ranging from minimal techno to avant-garde styles. If it is specifically rock\metal bands that influenced us, then we can point out Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Ahab, Troum, Yob, My Shameful, Sunn o)) Khanate, Rabies Caste, Korn, The Mars Volta... and so on, the list is virtually endless!

11.What are some of your non musical interests?
The space!

12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Look at the stars more often.

https://www.facebook.com/BelowTheSunBand/

Vin De Mia Trix/Palimpsests/Hypnotic Dirge Records/Cimmerian Shade Recordings/2017 Full Length Review

  Vin  De  Mia  Trix  are  a  band  from  Ukraine  that  plays  a  progressive  form  of  funeral  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Palimpsests"  which  will  be  released  on  May  31st  as  a  joint  effort  between  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records  and  Cimmerian  Shade  Recordings.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drones  also  being  used  at  times  along  with  a  small  amount  of  nature  sounds  and  some  shamanistic  style  atmosphere  is  added into  some  parts  of t he  album  and  after  awhile  clean  playing  and  melodic  guitar  leads a re  added  onto  the  recording.

  All  of  the  tracks  are  very  short  in  length  while  the  slow  riffs  also  mix  in  the  heaviness  of  funeral  doom  metal  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  melody  along  with  spoken  word  parts  also  being  used  briefly  and  melodic  chants  and  both  post  and  progressive  rock  elements  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  A  great  amount  of  clean  vocals  can  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  all  of t he  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  after  awhile  death  metal growls  also  start  to  make their  presence  known  along  with  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  while the  acoustic  guitars  also  gives  the  songs  a  more  progressive  touch  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  small  amount  of  blast  beats  and thrash  influences  can  be  heard while  most  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  slower  direction.

  Vin  De  Mia  Trix  plays  a  style  of  funeral  doom  metal  that  also  mixes  in  elements  of  epic  traditional doom,  black  metal,  post  and  progressive  rock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  something  very  original,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  myths  and  archetypes  from  different  cultures  and  how  they relate to  each  other.

  In  my  opinion  Vin  De  Mia  Trix  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  funeral  doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Martarisvan"  and  "Noe".  8  out  of  10.

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Below The Sun/Alien World/Temple Of Torturous/2017 CD Review

  Below  The  Sun  are  a  band  from  Russia  that  plays  a  progressive  mixture  of  drone  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "Alien  World"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  Temple  Of  Torturous.

  Ambient  style  drones  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  atmospheric  synths  and  after  awhile  clean  playing  is  added  onto  the  recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  sound  very  powerful  while t he  riffs  mix  in  the  heaviness  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  fashion.

  Vocals  are  mostly  deep  death  metal  growls  along  with  a  few  screams  that  add  in  a  touch  of  black  metal  while  clean  singing  is  also  used  at  times  and  the  acoustic  guitars  also gives  the  songs  a  more  progressive  feeling  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in length  and  a  couple  of  tracks  are  instrumentals  and  all  of  the  songs  stick  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction.

  Below  The  Sun  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  sludge  and  doom  metal  while  also  mixing  in  elements  of  drone,  progressive  and post  rock  to  create  something  different,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  a  concept  album  based  on  a  science  fiction  novel  called  "Solaris"  which  was  written  by  Stanislaw  Lem.

  In  my  opinion  Below  The  Sun  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive  mixture  of  post  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Mirrors"  and  "In  Memories".   8  out  of  10. 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BelowTheSunBand

Bandcamp: http://belowthesundoom.bandcamp.com

 

Lord Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording of the new album?

Steven Kerchner (vocals): We've been busy since recording last August integrating our current drummer Tony Petrocelly into the creative process. We've got a handful of new songs for an upcoming EP, as well as a song in the works for an upcoming 7in split with our friends in Endmaker.


2. You have a new album coming out in May, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?


Will Rivera (guitar): We pride ourselves on never having any two of our releases sound the same or staying in one niche for too long. After having gone in a more cerebral and progressive direction on Awake, we wanted Blacklisted to be a much more visceral experience. Awake was much more of an introspective album, whereas Blacklisted moves the focus to the outside world and the music needed to reflect what we're exposed to on a daily basis. It's a much angrier and vicious release, but in the end we want to offer hope. It's easy to be the misanthropist or nihilist, but much harder to find a reason to fight through all of the filth and ugliness we see. We definitely branched out musically and anyone who has paid attention to our releases will find a red thread that connects all of our music.  In my opinion, we expanded our sound to truly represent the pedigree of the band members but still retained LORD's signature vibe.

Kerch: I think anytime LORD has a new release or begins writing new material it is drastically evolved or varied from the immediately previous effort.  In this case, Awake was an emotionally supercharged and globally conscious album, whereas Blacklisted is faster, more raw, and while still maintaining a globally conscious edge is also definitely the most pissed off ever lyrically since I joined the band.  


3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?


Kerch: Mile After Mile, the opening track on Blacklisted, is a song about a man named Tom Mitchell who lost his daughter to childhood cancer.  Seeing the eyes of this man fill with such passion and conviction as he continues to fight to bring more research, more funding, more awareness and more support to children with cancer and their families, convinced me this was a man that is an inspiration to the rest of us.  Rising above personal loss and dedicating his life to his foundation, Stillbrave, he has relentlessly improved innumerable  lives.  This song in particular is about one of his fund and awareness raising adventures where he, just a regular dude, trained and trained in order to run a 200 mile marathon, each mile dedicated to a different child and he's doing it again this year!



4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name LORD?


Will: When LORD began in the Spring of 2005, the name was just meant to invoke something powerful without necessarily aligning us with any belief system or sound.  I was listening to a lot of releases from the Southern Lord label at the time so it just seemed like the logical connection for the sound we were initially going for in the beginning. It's taken on many connotations over the years and we even flirted with a mantra on Chief by enforcing the idea of self revelation and belief, but ultimately it's a term of power.






5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over years and also how would you describe your stage performance?


Will: I can sum it up in 3 words: Loud, Passionate and Chaotic.  We give it all we have every time we step on stage, because for us it's more than just a rock show, it's truly a method of catharsis.  There always seems to have been a black cloud that has followed this band and the members and instead of letting it destroy us, we unleash that on stage.  For us, it's not about who is the most extreme or even being popular, it's about integrity and being as real as we can be...warts and all.

Kerch: The Stoner Hands of Doom Festival in 2011 is still by far one of the most memorable shows of my entire life.  LORD played immediately after Cough, who features a former band mate from my first band so it was great to play with them.  We got to the venue to find out our then drummer was stranded two and a half hours away and we rushed out to get him and rushed to get back, the whole time questioning if we would make it back in time.  We made it with just moments to spare and the sonic bloodletting that followed ranks in my top five most memorable shows that I've been a part of.

6. Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?


Will: As far as touring plans go, we're looking to do a few long weekend stints and plenty of regional shows throughout the VA/WV/MD area.  We're also hoping to branch out into other regions if time and finances allow.  We're doing this all on our own so it has to work for the 5 of us to take these risks financially without any label support.


7. Currently the band is signed to Heavy Hound Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?


Kerch: I was booking a weekly metal show at a local bar here in Northern Virginia with two friends of mine.  After building a supportive community and gaining a lot of interest from more bands in the area, the idea eventually was to be able to offer quality local shows with a revolving door of bands, not just the same ones again and again, and be able to offer these bands inexpensive studio access as well as inexpensive production of said recordings. I met Xeukatre this away and was pleased to be able to record them at K Hole Studios.  Shortly after launching the label the venue closed for unrelated reasons and things lost momentum, but I continued to release albums mostly from bands I'm involved in. 


8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of stoner and sludge metal?

Will: Not sure how much of a worldwide impact we've had considering no label, lack of distribution and constant setbacks with line-up changes over the years, but I'd have to say that the stoner/doom/sludge scene has always been very good to us and has welcomed us back time and time again despite internal struggles and growing pains.  We wanna make good on people who've invested in this band and be able to be proud of the music that we create without bowing to expectations.  We feel that all we need to do is keep pushing and get ourselves in front of the right audiences.

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?

Kerch: Palkoski released our final album in 2016 and I have since been focused mostly on LORD.  More recently however I got more serious about a hardcore grind project called Pain Tank whose debut album will be dropping not long before LORD's Blacklisted album, and I have been playing drums again in a project called Tumba Carcomida. 

Will: Tony is the main man behind the death metal band Construct of Lethe.  I am currently working on the follow-up to the Absent Sky debut and later this year will be releasing the long awaited debut EP by my dark folk project Barren River, which features the vocal talents of Ashleigh Chevalier.


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



Will: We've already started writing new material that will be released as a 7" vinyl split w/ Endmaker from Texas and also an EP that will hopefully see a Fall release.  So far, the material seems to be a cross between the progressiveness of Awake and the aggression of the Blacklisted material.  We're firing on all cylinders right now and the writing is definitely broadening our musical scope, with us incorporating influences from outside our usual arsenal.  We experiment with our sound to keep things interesting for us.

Kerch: The upcoming EP we're currently writing has quite a bit of dual percussion between myself and Tony, so it's definitely another journey, very unlike Blacklisted or any other previous effort.  I've chosen a few topics to tackle lyrically.  One song is called “Le Fleur Du Cobalt” and is about the use of child labor in the DRC to mine cobalt and other minerals needed for Western consumption.  Another one, entitled “Scorched” is a telling of the Earth revolting against its inhabitants.



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?


Will: Not many people know this but the idea for LORD was actually conceived when most of the original lineup went to see Crowbar with Entombed and The Mighty Nimbus in February of 2005.  If you add some Celtic Frost, The Melvins and Cathedral, you have the early blueprint for LORD.  Over the years, our sound has evolved and has begun incorporating post metal, death metal, thrash and even traces of old school black metal. My current musical obsessions would have to be Inquisition, Immolation, Karyn Crisis' The Gospel of the Witches, Profanatica and Mark Lanegan.

Kerch: My approach to our 2011 album Awake was heavily influenced by old school hip hop.  Sometimes people think I'm kidding, but I'm telling the truth! There's a raw honesty in a lot of old school hip hop and music that speaks to me, that is transparent, that is honest, that grips me physically with goose bumps or an increased heart rate and this is a quality I seek out in all forms of music.  This is a quality I seek to always include in my own music.  Meaning what I say in my lyrics and being passionate about what I'm saying translates through the experience of performing the song into the listen.  When I listed to what we have created I want to enjoy it too, be proud of something. 

Todd Wuehrmann (guitar): Steve has recently turned me on to Viscera Infest. I think they might be my new favorite band. Soilent Green's Sewn Mouth Secrets in currently in my disc player. 



12. What are some of your non  musical interests?


Will: I can't really say I have any non musical interests.  Music is truly my life's passion.  The only other things that occupy that aspect of my life would be film and writing.  I'd love to write a screenplay someday as well as compile some of my writing.  We'll see I guess, but music is truly what I obsess over.

Kerch:  I need to be active creatively all the time, it's a definitely a healthy outlet for me.  I have three fully active projects right now and I'm still trying to fill my time with playing more music, I can't help myself.  I've also spent a considerable amount of time learning Eyal Yanilov's Krav Maga, at one point even training to becoming an instructor.  I absolutely love spicy food and all kinds of peppers.  I have a pepper garden that is rapidly expanding every year and growing more varieties.  I love to make different hot sauces and spicy treats from my pepper garden and share them with my friends and family.

Todd Wuehrmann (guitar):  Kayaking, hiking, weight lifting. I like to keep my blood pumping.

Chris Dugay (bass): I'm a volunteer firefighter with Citizen's Fire Company in Charles Town, WV and I love hiking civil war battlefields along with other local historic/scenic sites.


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



Will: I'd like to thank everyone who has supported us through years, all of the people who've taken a chance on booking us, and the bands that have shared a stage with us.  We're sincerely grateful to be able to continue to create our art and have anyone care about what we'd do.  This is something that we would do even if there wasn't an audience, but to have anyone else invest themselves in what we do is truly humbling.

Kerch: I am grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey through life and the music that LORD has created.  Specifically in correlation to the Blacklisted album, I want to thank Tom Mitchell from the Stillbrave foundation for his role in inspiring and contributing vocals to the song Mile After Mile and the women, among them Amber Lyon of Reset, that inspired the lyrics for the song The Heart of a Hero.

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