France's  Ba'a  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  an  atmospheric  and  melodic  style  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Egregore"  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Osmose  Productions.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction  while  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also be  heard  briefly  along  with  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

 When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  and  tremolo  picking  can  be  heard  which  also  gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling.  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  along  with  the  solos  and  leads  also  being  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  The  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments  along  with  a  couple  of  tracks  also  adding  in  a brief  use  of  Gregorian  chants.  Operatic  voices  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording,  a  couple  of  songs  also  introduces  clean  playing  and  classical  guitars  onto  the  album.  The  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  French  and  cover  Hermetic  Philosophy  and  the  Four  Horsemen  Of  The  Apocalypse.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Ba'a  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  atmospheric  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "In  Umbra  et  Luce"  and  "Urbi  et  orbi  Clamat".  8  out  of  10.

https://baa-band.fr/        

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the musical project since the release of the new compilation?

Since the release of LEGIONS OF THE GREAT EYE pt I & pt II ( recorded 2018 & 2020 ) Drugoth has been working on the second album following the debut album UNTO THE DARKNESS SWORN.

2.Your last full length was released in 2021, musically how does it differ from your previous releases?

It is an album in length and concept.

The songs have been written to be more captivating thus resulting them to also be lengthier compared to the earlier EP’s.

In the beginning the songs were more grindy and rarely over a minute in length with the demos and EP’s.

Kind of like being bludgeoned by a great dwarven hammer - quick and to the point.

We've since grown.

3.The bands name and most of the lyrics come from the writings of J.R.R Tolkien, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in his work?

Drugoth is of the harsh black speech tongue.

Delvers may find its true meaning if they wish.

Drugoth tells tales of battles to come, battles yore and all things fell in middle earth. 

4.Since 2017 you have released a great amount of material, do you spend a great amount of your time writing and creating music?

Drugoth is all written solely by himself.

All drums, riffs, lyrics and songs.

We do not demo or pre pro anything so the recording process is the first time hearing the songs fully formed.

Then the herald of woe SHOGRAATH does the recording of the riffs and adds his signature flare as well as his monstrous commanding low vocals.

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

The compilation cover is a mid march selfie.

All the artwork for previous and future releases are created by JEROME CHAPMAN - a very gifted gentleman in the art of tattooing and artwork.

A very dearly loved brother.

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?

The very essence of the band is the duality twixt Drugoth and Shograath.

Life and death, sun and moon.

One can not exist with out the other.

Everyone else are the enemy.

7.So far you have worked with 'Corpse Torture Records','Ad Victoriam', and 'War Productions' on your physical releases. do you feel these labels have been very helpful when it comes to getting your music out there heard?

Corpse torture made a couple of cassettes which was appreciated but all communication has been nullified since.

AD VICTORIAM is the label of a dear friend of ours who is the mastermind behind CARATHIS, NARZISSUS and many more killer bands I highly recommend.

WAR PRODUCTIONS are very professional and helpful.

All these labels have aided the dark flame of Drugoth and we are very appreciative.

8.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal and crust?

This is music for orcs by orcs.

If others listen then we are grateful.

We don’t want your gold, just listen.

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

The debut SHOGRAATH record will be out soon which I highly recommend.

Drugoth is also a contributing drummer for SIGHTBLINDER, HELLNIUM and a few more projects to be released.

Drugoth offers his real drumming in a world of programmed drums that sound shit.

Contact if wanting real drums recorded.

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

THIS IS TRUE UDÛN BLACK METAL

11.What are you currently listening to nowadays?

I am a big fan of Abbath solo stuff and even bigger fan of the lyricist Simon Dancaster.

Apart from that Crowbar, Bathory, Immortal, Slayer, Watain repeat

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

Keep an eye on the horizon for the SHOGRAATH debut.

HAIL THE DARK FLAME

  Blood  Torrent  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  more  of    style  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  punk,  progressive  and  classic  hard  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Void  Universe"  which  will  be  released  in  April  by  Trollzorn  Records.

  A  synth  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  along  with  a  brief  use  of  programmed  beats  before  going  into  a  heavier  musical  direction.  Melodies  are  also  added  into  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  while  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  angry  sounding  black  metal  screams.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  van  also  be  heard  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  along  with  some  spoken  word  parts  also  being  utilized  briefly.

  Elements  of  classic  rock  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  along  with  the  mid  tempo  sections  of  the  songs  also  adding  in  touches  of  black'n'roll.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  songs  more  of  a  70's  vibe  as  well  as  the  tremolo  picking  also  giving  the  album  more  of  a  raw  feeling  when  it  is  utilized.

 At  times  the  tracks  also  captures  the  raw  energy  of  punk  rock    as  well  as  the  album  also  has  its  progressive  moments,  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  and  a  couple  of  songs  also  adds  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  along  with  the  closing  track  also  adding  in  some  melodic  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics are  inspired  by  the  works  of  Leonardo  Da  Vinci  and  George  Orwell  and  cover  existential  theory,  misanthropy,  subversion,  social,  system  critical  content ,  mental  illness  and  the  relationship  between  humanity  and  nature.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Blood  Torrent  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black'n'roll,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Knowledge  Of  Light"  "Necromass"  and  "The  Strive".  8  out  of  10.

https://youtu.be/QitTSu9DPT4

https://www.facebook.com/BloodTorrent

https://blood-torrent.bandcamp.com

https://bloodtorrent.com

https://www.instagram.com/bloodtorrent_official

  Kuoleman  Galleria  are  a  band  from  Finland  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  on  this  recording  goes  for  a  blackened  style  of  dark  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Armon  Loppu"  which  was  released  by  Inverse  Records.

  A  keyboard  orientated  intro  starts  off  the  album  while  also  introducing  grim  black  metal  screams  onto  the  recording  which  also  takes  the  music  intro  a  heavier  direction.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  great  amount  of  melody.

  Elements  of  dark  metal  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  while  all  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  decent  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  good  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.

   Growls  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  some  touches  of  their  black'n'roll  past  at  times  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  bringing  in  a  small  amount  of  clean  playing,  acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  briefly,  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  vocals  are  also  utilized  and  the  closing  song  also  adds  in  some  female  vocals.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Finnish  and  cover  the  dark  side  of  life.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kuoleman  Galleria  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  blackened  dark  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Toivomuskaivo"  "Jean  Grenier"  "Sudennahka"  and  "Armon  loppu".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.kuolemangalleria.net/
https://www.facebook.com/KuolemanGalleria/
https://www.instagram.com/kuolemangalleria/
https://twitter.com/kuolemangallery
https://www.youtube.com/user/kuolemangalleria

https://kuolemangalleria.bandcamp.com/

https://youtu.be/tyean70WMpw

https://youtu.be/ILKUxuyiSy0

https://youtu.be/LTMU4F7_j0c

  Amaltheia  are  a  band  from  the  united  Kingdom  that  plays  a  very  dissonant  and  technical  form  of  black  metal  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  titled  2022  album  which  will  be  released  in  March  by  Godz  Ov  War  Productions.

  A  very  dark  yet  heavy  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  the  vocals  are  mostly  grim  sounding  black  metal  screams.  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  and  the  riffs  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  dissonant  structures.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  technical  sounding  while  the  songs  also  add  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are utilized  they  also  stick  to  a  very  technical  and  dissonant  style  along  with  the  riffs  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  death  metal  elements  as  well  as  some  growls  also  being  used  at  times,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  clean  playing  and  spoken  word  samples  can  also  be  heard.

  Amaltheia  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  modern,  dissonant  and  technical  sounding  as  well  as  mixing  in  elements  of  death  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.  

  In  my  opinion  Amaltheia  are  a  very  great  sounding  dissonant  and  technical  black  metal  band  with  elements  of  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Pyre"  and  "Oblivion".  8  out  of  10.