Sweden's  Bhleg  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a folk  inspired  form  of  pagan  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Fäghring"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Nordvis  Produktion.

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  folk  instruments  and  acoustic  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  clean  pagan  vocals  are  also  added  on  some  of  the  tracks.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  some  shouts  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  All  of t he  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  as  well  as  some  growls  and  spoken  words  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording.  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments   and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  can  also  be  heard. The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Swedish  and  cover  rebirth  and  nature  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Bhleg  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  folk  inspired  pagan  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Grönskande  gryning"  and  "Frö".  8  out  of  10.

https://orcd.co/faghring

https://nordvis.com/bhleg-a-4  

  Hiddent  are  a  band  from  Chile  that  plays  an  atmospheric  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Where  light  Ceases  To  Exist"  which  will b e  released  in  April  by  Sun  &  Moon  Records.

   Clean  playing  which  also  returns  on  later  songs  starts  off  the  album  before  going  into a  heavier  direction  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  having  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Clean  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  album  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling.

  The  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  vocals  also  mix  in  a  touch  of  the  depressive  style  along  with  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  parts,  towards  the  end  a  brief  use  of  keyboards  can  also  be  heard.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Hiddent  are  a  very  great  sounding  atmospheric  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Where  Light  Ceases  To  Exist"  and  "Immersed  Into  The  Consciousness".  8 out  of  10.

  DarkColdness  are  a  solo  project  form  Brazil  that  has  had  music  reviewed  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  plays  an  atmospheric  and  ambient  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released  2022  single  "Cries  Of  Anguish".

  Ambient  style  synths  start  off  the  single  while  tortured  voices  can  also  be  heard  briefly  with  the  music  going  into  a  heavier  direction  on  the  second  track.  Vocals  are  done  in  mostly  a  grim  black  metal  style  along  with  the  faster  sections  of  the  song  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  music  also  adds  in  a  decent  amount  of  old  school  influences,  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  melody.

  On  this  single  DarkColdness  starts  out  with  a  dark  ambient  track  before  going  into  more  of  an  old  school  black  metal  direction  on  the  second  track  which  is  also  different  from  their  previous  full length.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while t he  lyrics  are  written  in  Portuguese  and  cover  pain  and  anguish  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  DarkColdness  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  ambient,  atmospheric  and  old  school  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Escuridão  Sem  Fim".  8  out  of  10.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4ONRJCNGvsK2wJGBovSSaH   

  Embraced  By  Darkness  are  a  band  from  the  Netherlands  that  plays  a  very  fast,  aggressive  and  satanic  form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  ep  "MMXXII"  which  was  released  by  Non  Serviam  Records.

  Heavy  riffing  and  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  which  also  have  their  deeper  moments  start  off  the  ep  while  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing.

  The  songs  also  mix  in  both  modern  and  old  school  influences  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  aggressive  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  death  metal  at  times  and  all  of  the  music  also  sticks  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Embraced  by  Darkness  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  aggressive,  fast  and  melodic  sounding.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  destruction  of t he  false  prophet,  and  the  worship  of  the  one  and  only  evil  lord,  the  prince  of  hell.

  In  my  opinion  Embraced  By  Darkness  are  a  very  great  sounding  fast,  aggressive,  melodic  and  satanic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Black  Flames  Of  Blasphemy"  and  "Darkness  Awaits".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.instagram.com/embraced_by_darkness_official/  

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

1 Midnight Loss was formed by me (Neito Kevorkian) while I was in a internship, in 2018. Later, in 2019 other members came and gone. I wrote the lyrics of the first EP while I was still in the clinic. When I'm free, I started to record.

2.A few months back you had released a new ep, musically how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

2 Besides the absence of bass, I was cutting myself sometime when I was screaming, what makes the voice sound desperate!

3.With the exception of a couple of full lengths, demo and an ep, a lot of your releases have singles, can you tell us a little bit more about going into this direction?

3 Let's talk about Annylou, our very first single. Besides the song is a trash in my opinion, it have a special meaning to me. Because my feelings when I lost my lover Ana Luiza are registered in this song. Ana Luiza = Annylou. The same goes to the same direction, but carrying different kinds of emotions (like Dope Two, Ciclo Interrompido, Orange Skies Of The Afternoon)...

4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?

4 Addiction, Despair, Alcoholism, Loneliness, Apathy, Suicide... Whatever that comes to my mind

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

5 I was writing "Loss" (from the EP Stuck Happiness) in the clinic and then I look to the clock... Oh, it's midnight! Hmm, Loss, midnight... Midnight Loss! Nothing creative

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

6 Nothing like a rainy day in a monochrome lifeless city, huh? 

7.Most of the band members live in Brazil while some live in Mexico, what impact does this have on the musical style that you play?

7 not only Brazil and Mexico... We already had Frick (Sweden), Ashe (USA), Ghost Writer (Germany). People come and go, that's why every each release sound so different from previous.

8.Has the band done any live shows or open to the idea?

8 We almost played last year, but we couldn't deal with a guy who was troubling us. Later, others left too and it never happened. But, if I get the right people, I'm up to this.

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

9 They started to follow us with the release of "área de descarga" and it goes until the release of the third album, "A Perda da Meia Noite". After this, things happened, people started hating me without give me a chance to explain... I don't know how much I lost, but I don't care anymore.

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

10 Few days ago I "Frozen" the band. We will be back, but not for now. I need time to bettering myself as a musician to do instruments by myself like the early releases, but improved. So, for a while, I'll focus on Kuthran (I'm the vocalist of it since 3 weeks and we had already released one single "Abatido Y Podrido". When I feel it's time to, Midnight Loss will back harder and blacken than ever before!

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?

11 The first DSBM I ever get interested was Nocturnal Depression and most of my vocals on early releases were inspired by Lord Lokhraed. Later, on the second EP "Impenetrable Darkness" I was more like a blend of Lifelover and Austere (yes). "area de descarga" I can't even figure out what is that, neither "D O P E". These are my main influences. About what I listen nowadays I can say Kanashimi, Woods Of Infinity, Hysteria, Bella Dosis, Electric Wizard, Mr. Bungle, Mushroomhead, Apati, Psychonaut 4,  Julien-K and... Avenged Sevenfold

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

12 First of all, thank you for giving me space. I would like to thank everyone who listen to my music and recognize with it. I make it pulling out from the bottom of my soul and it feels just fine. In the case of one of yours has stopped to listen to me due to things that people talk at my back, feel free to message Midnight Loss fb page to erase your doubts.

Well... I just want to thank you all, hailing from Brazil! Try to stay alive!