Esoteric  Ritual  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  demo  "Journey  Through  The  Chasm  Below"  which  was  released  as  a  joint  effort  between  Narbentage  Produktionen  and  Wulfhere  Productions.

  Ritualistic  sounding  synths  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  only  song  that  is  presented  on  the  recording  is  over  15  minutes  in  length  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody.

  When  the  music  speeds   up  a  decent  amount  of  blast b eats  and  tremolo  picking  can b e  heard  which  also  gives  the  recording  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  song  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts,  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  spoken  word  parts  also  enhancing  the  ritualistic  aspect  of  the  music  when  they  are  utilized.

  Esoteric  Ritual  plays  a  style  of  occult  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  ritualistic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  Occultism  and  Esotericism  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Esoteric  Ritual  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  8/2  out  of  10.

  https://esotericritual.bandcamp.com/album/journey-through-the-chasm-between-oblivion-and-enlightenment    .  

  Kelvikus  are  a  band  from  the  United  Kingdom  that  plays  an  occult  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2022  demo  "I".

  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  demo  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  which  also  gives  th e music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Growls  can  also  be  heard  at  times  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  atmospheric  moments.

  The  solos  and  leads  are  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized  along  with  one  track  also  being  an  instrumental  and  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  ambient  style  synths  before  closing  the  demo  with  a  heavier  track.  The  production  sounds  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Chaosophy,  Magick,  Occultism  and  Left  hand  Path  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kelvikud  are  a  very  great  sounding  occult  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  demo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "I,  Oblivion".  8/5  out  of  10.

https://kelvikus.bandcamp.com/album/i-demo     

  Calnek  are  a  solo  project  from  Nova  Scotia,  Canada  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  album  "Blood  of  The  Wild".

 Field  recordings  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  while  all  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  whispered  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  that  also  have  their  deeper  moments  while  the  music  also  gets  very  atmospheric  sounding  at  times.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  riffs  also  adding  in  a  good  amount  of  melody.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  as  well  as  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them,  when  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Calnek  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Shadows  of  Dusk".  8  out  of  10.

https://calnek.bandcamp.com/album/blood-of-the-wild        

  Høstsol  are  an  international  band  with  members  from  Norway,  Finland  and  Sweden  that  are  also  known  for  their  other  bands  Ajattara,  Manes  and  Shining  and  plays  a  very  old  school  and  Nordic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  album  "L​ä​nge  leve  dö​den"  which  will  be  released  in  2023  as  a  joint  effort  between  Avantgarde  Music  and  The  Sinister  Initiative.

  Atmospheric  soundscapes  and  operatic  female  vocals  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  direction.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  album  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  while  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  songs.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast b eats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  recording  also  adding  in  a  lot  of  90's  influences  without  sounding  out  dated. 

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  when  they  are  utilized,  Gregorian  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  one  track  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Swedish  and  cover  dark  themes. 

  In  my  opinion  Høstsol  are  a  very  great  sounding  old  school  and  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "As  Seen  Through  the  Eyes  Of  The  Prophet"  and  "Parellellt  dubbeliv".  8  out  of  10.

  Find digital preorders at Bandcamp HERE.

ttps://www.instagram.com/hostsolofficial  

1.For those that have neve heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?

Enki: well first thing , enki I started  because of a person, and that person will forever be important.

In botkyrka(sweden)also some personal issues, I decided  to do Enki because i had no one, it was my only  friend .sad story. I wont go into details.

2.Since 20220 you have released a great amount of material, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you have went for on those recordings so far?

I was just putting ideas i had into reality, if life is pain, then you might as well make the most of the pain before all light  goes out.

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

Dreams. Only dreams mostly due to social phobia, night terrors and Love.

4.On one of the albums you also went for more of an instrumental style, can you tell us a little bit more about the decision behind going into this musical direction?

I don't do much vocals because  i have a injury in my throat. Therefor music is more  important.

5.I know that the name 'Enki' comes from Sumerian Mythology, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this subject?

Yes correct, well, when i wad 12I saw in my grandfathers book, it was an old book, and one character was Enki. And it became my nickname along with Varjo. which means shadow in finish.

6.You record most of the music by yourself, are you open to working with other musicians or do you prefer to work solo?

Alone, but i aim to get someone who is more known in the dsbm scene too start something, maybe someday.

7.In the last couple of years you also have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?

All time basically, I suffer from social phobia and  wont go out Unless i have my bloody shades on my eyes. otherwise I freeze and panic. so I spend  all time on it.

8.You also have done some 'Sterbend' and 'Trist' covers, what was the decision behind doing your own version of their songs?

Sterbend was the first  band within  the genre i heard, and personally that  track  means a lot to me, and I always wanted  to do it. Even if vocals was pure pain to Do . I remember my vein almost popped and bursted during Sterbend  cover.

9.You also have been a part of a few splits, can you tell us a little bit more about the bands or musical projects that you have shared these recordings with?

Yes correct, well all bands i split with are friends, and they are all amazing individual's ,one guy i truly respect  is the guy behind drowning deeper, amazing guy and music, and franz  from dismal suffering. Truly amazing. ofc there are others, many others  and all are incredible .many asked me for splits and I also asked them.

10.You have some material coming out with members from 'Happy Days' and 'Dismal Suffering' doing session work, can you tell us a little bit more about their contributions to the recordings?

Yes , dismal suffering  vocalist  is currently recording vocals for 2 or 3 Enki  tracks that will be shown i Think  i one week or so. about Happy Days  A.Morbid  will be guest  vocalist  on one of Enki's tracks, will be out on my channel  in January.

11.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of depressive black metal?

I actually  got way to much wonderful words, and its strange, because i am not used to it, but they keep me alive, like always too deep  wounds, and its done.

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

I aim to do better full lengths with  something  unique  and something  people  will have in their  hearts until death,  i also want to do merch.

I also have a dream to join  a big label.

13.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?

First of all, there are many that  influenced me, but I would say Nyktalgia, Malfeitor  even sent me a signed tape with some Flyers  last years so he knows i am a big fan. Happy Days, Wehmut, Naeblis and Lustre.

Nowadays its relaxing piano music, i call it music for the weak. And Alice Cooper.

14.before we wrap up this interview,

Do you  have any final words of thoughts?

I would like to say thank  you

You can also expect  a split with ANTI  very very soon..

Until then

"Im Heading for the razor "

/Enki

https://youtube.com/channel/UCyGKPqy1fFCOPlrpL1Fp56Q